It's Been A While, So...

I've been a bit preoccupied since our house got hit by the tornado in February. But I can't complain too much. Due to the tornado, both stepchildren stayed with their dad - putting them OUTSIDE of our house.

Here's the irony. My marriage has been AWESOME!

It seems that when we didn't have the stepkids here, getting in trouble at OUR home, there were no "decisions" to be made. No "discipline" to be done from our house. We just had our own children... which we parent the same.

The tension and disonnance comes when I continue to parent the same way with her children... yet she DOESN'T.

So parenting has be harmonious so far since the tornado.

But things are getting back to normal.

We'll let you know how things develop henceforth.

God bless.

Passive Parenting is Pathetic

Almost a month ago, my stepson decided to 'sleep over' at someone's house. I thought it was strange because we'd never heard this kid's name before. But, my wife, the epitome of gullible, didn't think (or want to think) anything about it. But, being in the role I am, there was nothing I could do. All I could do is voice how weird I thought it was.

The night progressed.

The next morning (Saturday) I learned that my stepson and a kid that he usually hangs out with, came in our house MUCH earlier than I even woke up. Now THIS is really strange since the kid never gets up before noon on weekends or summers. And to top it off, he came in with a kid that was not even the kid he was supposed to be spending the night with?

I explained to my wife, Michelle, that this is not normal behavior and that something is definitely going on. She dismissed it, being the passive parent she is, and said, "It's not weird if the boy he spent the night with had to get up and go somewhere early."

This, my friends, is what I call D-E-N-I-A-L!

So the morning progressed without questions. . . UNTIL . . .

I went outside to get a tool that I had borrowed from my father in law. We were supposed to return it that day. So I went to get it and put it in the bed of my truck. While did, I looked over at my stepson's truck, and noticed something shoved up under his toolbox. It was an empty box that once held a case of beer.

So I brought this to my wife's attention. She called her ex-husband to find out what to do - after all he would know how to handle it since it all this happened in OUR HOME!!! (feel the sarcasm?)

When she asked him about it, he denied it of course and said they were at a party and someone tossed that in his truck and "it must have got shoved under the toolbox."

Stupid I know. But what's even more stupid is they (his mother and father) tried to believe it. I have one question for that. WHAT???!!!

I then offered some information that I withheld on purpose because I knew it would go down like that. When I felt they were trying to believe this garbage of an explanation, I asked my wife, "How do you explain the ice chest in the back yard with melted ice in it?"

That made them think twice. ("Them" being her and her exhusband. Because after all, it did happen in OUR HOME and the exhusband should make the call - right???? - again feel the sarcasm)

So now we get to 'consequences'... if they can be called that.

"He is to only do one thing on the weekend and nothing Monday - Thursday (socially). AND he would not spend the night nor have anyone spend the night for LOOOOOOOOOONG time."

Which brings us to today and this post.

Those consquences are fluff. It's like the whip cream and a cherry on top of ice cream. Just fluff and really there for looks.

As of now, the consequences are gone. He spent the night away last night, which is funny, because he wasn't supposed to for LOOOOOOOONG time. I guess time flies when you're having fun, huh?

And he's going to be doing more than one thing per weekend. I've already heard the plans. Where are the parents? Why don't they stick to the consequences? What's going on? This is so bizarre.

What's sad is I don't think this is far off from what's happening in today's society. Parent's suck! They don't understand that there will be a day that their kid will be out on his/her own. If all they've learned at home is there's no consequences to their action, what kind of civilian will they make when they get to be 25? If they aren't taught the Spiritual foundation of how to live a Christ-centered life, how will they know which way to choose when they are confronted by unBiblical moral choices?

What are the parents thinking these days? Are they stupid? Don't they love their children? How can you say you love your children but not correct them when they screw up?

This society and culture has manifested a passive parenting philosophy and it's killing this culture. It's destroying the family as we know it - and as it's meant to be. It's teaching our children to raise their children like idiots and non-grounded adults.

On one hand, I hate that this is going on in my own home. But if I were the only person experiencing and witnessing this ridiculous and stupid behavior, I would think there's still hope. But I know this passive parent syndrome is running rampant in our country like a virus that will wipe out an entire nation.

I will be dropping to my knees for sure to pray for this downfall of the youth, the family and the future of our society.

Won't you join me?

Blessings,
Mark

What A Weekend!

We have had kids that have thrown up for 3 days now. It's not been fun.

But I can deal with sick kids. But I've GOT to tell you about a situation that I really don't think is normal. It may be just me. And if I'm off base, you've got to let me know. BUT if I'm on target, you have to let me know that too.

I have 2 step children and two of my own. The two of my own are 4 and 5 years old. They have both been sick - throwing up and extremely lethargic. The 12 year old was actively trying to get sick. He said that he'd rather be sick at home than in school.

Guess what...

That's right. After playing and touching my four-year old, continuing playing with his contaminated toys and laying all over the contaminated pallett we made for my youngest, the 12 year old got the bug.

Now, I understand how stupid a 12 year old can be (not to mention how selfish that was because now he's had to go to his dad's and infect them...) :) but here's the part I just don't understand.

The boy can't even get to toilet without leaving a trail of vomit from where he was laying to the bathroom! You may be saying, "Come on Mark. Give the kid a break! He's sick. Maybe he couldn't help it."

I thought that the first time too. But he did it TWICE!! PLUS, my 4 and 5 year old had no problems getting to the toilet on multiple vomitting occasions. Doesn't make sense to me. His mother cleaned up the first vomit trail of the 12 year old. She left and he did it again when it was just me at home with him.

You've probably already figured out what I did. Yep! Gave him the chemicals and gear to clean his own regurgitation.

Gang. It just doesn't seem right to me that a kid would see what his brothers were going through and TRY and get it. THEN not even get the vomit where it needed to be. That's just SICK! :0

... and just a mild day in My World.

Welcome to My World

This is going to be fun, depressing and just all around a good time! :)

Feel free to check back here and see what's going on in my life. You'll be amazed at some of the ridiculous things that go on. Most of the time, it's not something ridiculous that I've done.

Most of the time it's my family. The things that happen are not what I would think is normal or what usually goes on in other families. If it is, this country, and possible world, is in for a HUGE disaster.

I do, however, screw up too. And I'll be the first to tell you about. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it's embarrassing. But I like to think I have a little common sense. I KNOW I have more than my family.

We're going to laugh. We're going to cry. We're going to have a great time as we witness the hilarious, but no-so-comical life of My World.

Hang on! It's about to get bumpy!

Will see ya soon!