Swimming In Churning Waters

This morning I took the boys to their annual check-up and cleaning at the new dentist in Kapolei. I really like the sixteen mile drive. Once you get to a certain point nearer Kapolei on H1 you can see Honolulu/Waikiki and Diamond Head in the distance. I told the boys that it is amazing to think that in about an half hour we could be over there from here. Crickles kept saying it was amazing and beautiful.

Crickles is all clear with instructions to brush better and floss regularly! Of course, he also needs to use ACT rinse nightly. He has good teeth, and good enough enamel, but not the best enamel. So, he must be diligent. We also left with a referral to an orthodontist, which I knew was coming - had he not said so I would have asked for one. He has big toofers in a small gob. Got to get it fixed.

Squirrel Boy was handed information we already knew from our prior dentist: very shoddy enamel. The temporary crown must be removed and an adult/permanent one placed. He recommends we use gold as it is pretty much indestructible whereas the porcelain one (like I have) are good, but fragile in a sense. The sense he means is: wear and tear. I still chew ice, just not on that side of my mouth - if I did, I'd likely need my crown replaced.

I need to stop chewing ice altogether, even though I chew so much less than ever.

So, he has a few cavities and a crown.

Anyway, he recommended SB get braces to sort out the mild crowding in his front teeth as it essentially makes it easier to clean and keep the teeth clean and flossed. He will always have problems with his teeth, but the more vigilant he is now, the longer he can keep them and remain pain free.

Poor SB.

Then SB had to return to school and he was so pissed. He hates school. He has no friends. He hates Hawaii. He wants to move back to MD.

It is so awful being in a place where you cannot do much to help your child. I sympathize with him. This move was not easy. I do not want to remind him how many times I heard him say he hated MD and he had no friends there and all that negative teenager angst, too. The angst came along to HI is all. But it's hard. I love this kid with every inch of my being, but he's so negative I could scream and pull my hair out! God forbid I suggest he TALK to anyone at school. God forbid I suggest he rejoin Boy Scouts! God forbid I ask him to get involved at Church - to assist at Mass. God forbid I suggest I'd rather take a pick ax to my skull a thousand times over if it would make the kid SMILE and BE HAPPY! Choose to be happy, damn it!!!!

It's taking a toll on me, that is for sure. And, it does effect his sister and brother. Those two are the happiest kids most of the time. They respond appropriately to life's stimulus or lack thereof. They get it that some days are great, others not, and many are fun and "the same". They are okay with that. SB is not okay with every day just being ordinary. He has to be willing to do for others (he is in theory and will when asked) and put himself aside. Stop thinking about what he hasn't got and focus on what he does have . . . Lately he has been the "glass half empty" guy and I don't know what to say or do any more.

Of course, I'll probably pay for it later, but when Chief gets home we are both standing together/falling together . . . the boys will return to Boy Scouting. The boys will sign up and altar serve at Mass. Teenie has found a niche with drama club at school, whereas neither boy has bothered to find an activity after school. Teenie would altar serve, but I don't believe girl's should be up there unless.there.are.no.boys.or.grown.men.to.serve. Just my opinion, and recently, I learned that it's also the teaching of the Church. Ahem.


(I can't get the italics to go away now . . . c'mon!)

Anyway, so this is what I've been doing between intensive "please, God, help my son" and "Or help me help him."

A British Kensington Palace Guard . . . or Queen's Guard. Whatever. It's a bear. Cute. (pics do enlarge if you click on them).



The Japanese Kokeshi stamps for Christmas. A few designs I've done.



Same design, just showing the other two "dolls". They are so cute I can hardly stand it! They remind me of my friend Joyce. HUGS, girl, massive HUGS!!!


I wanted to use ribbon under the stamped image, but I do not have that fancy half moon punch where I'd feed the ribbon through. *an idea from a Christmas card my friend, Erika, made one year . . . her cards are fabulously rich and delish! She may say it isn't true, but she's being humble. I think she should blog her cards*

Yesterday I made a lot of cards after not doing so in a long while, so I plan on finishing up that Guards red jacket today. Tomorrow, I'll count and recount my way up and start his fluffy black hat. If UkOk (Deb) could enlighten me, I would know what to call this "hat". I'm sure one of you know and will tell me in the com-box.

AND ANOTHER THING that is bothering me: the educational system here is having problems with money. To combat the issue, rather than give pink slips to tons of teachers, they are creating a new school year calendar that will include days called "furloughs" - 17 of them to be added. 17!! to the already "x" obscene amount of days the kids already don't go to school - plus these weird Monday's early dismissal for High Schools and early dismissals for middle and grade schools on Wednesday's . . . insane! I'm glad no teacher will go jobless, but where are they going to make up time lost instructing the kids? Crickles said PE is a thing of the past now . . . I'm not sure he's right, but his teacher was saying how PE would be canceled with the furlough days in place. Those days will be Friday's, from what I gather, and begin October 23rd.

I told my husband about this over the phone last night - he's on the West Coast of the US until this weekend - and he was like, What the wonky chicken legs is this? *we really actually used language not becoming of good parents - even though our concern comes from good parenting. We promise to do better next time.

See, SB? Some days are just like this. You live through them. Then you look back and laugh.