(07-25-2015, 04:43 PM)ramseycat Wrote: I've thought about it Tiki! I'll get over this hump. He's home from rehab. I'm just tired of court and meetings and probation. I want him to be a normal 15 year old.

Is he on or off a "pink cloud" . . . that euphoric feeling when you get straight and you see the future in a positive light?

Does he attend relapse prevention classes?

Has he changed his playmates and playgrounds?

If any of this is too personal, you won't get shit from me for not wanting to share.

"My name is Tiki . . . and I'm an ankle."

"Hi, Tiki!"

(07-25-2015, 04:23 PM)BlueTiki Wrote: Yeah!

Maybe letter carriers.

Oh . . . wait!

I'd have a hard time getting a job right now. It's like I've got little kids all over again. They're both in a private school (for now) and their hours are all over the map (and the school isn't in walking distance or bus convenient). On any given day, my son might have classes from 9:30-12:30 and another at 2:30 while my daughter could have a class starting at 1:30 or 4:30. On some days I make the drive down/back to the school 3 or 4 times.

However, MS is on to something (for me). I need a hobby (more than the gym) or maybe work from home...something to break up the tedium.

He has changed his friends. He has just a few he talks to now. He goes to a drug councilor. He's also going to NA or AA meetings about 4 or 5 times a week. The gym everyday. School starts on ⁸⁄₃ so that will keep him busy. And he wants to join the wrestling team and get a job.

I feel Ya User. It's like my schedule has to work around the kids. Working is going to be tough. But I need it.

(07-25-2015, 04:52 PM)username Wrote: However, MS is on to something (for me). I need a hobby (more than the gym) or maybe work from home...something to break up the tedium.

If you were in AZ, I'd keep you busy.

I'm bettin' MS reads this and gets a nuclear boner.

(07-25-2015, 04:59 PM)ramseycat Wrote: It's like my schedule has to work around the kids.

Good for you, Rams.

Tough love with compassion and responsibility to all.

Sign of a good parent.

I'm trying Tiki. It's just exhausting sometimes.

(07-25-2015, 05:06 PM)ramseycat Wrote: It's just exhausting sometimes.

Yeah . . . it's work.

Parenting IS a full-time job.

Without OT, Medical and Dental, PTO . . .

(07-25-2015, 05:01 PM)BlueTiki Wrote:

(07-25-2015, 04:52 PM)username Wrote: However, MS is on to something (for me). I need a hobby (more than the gym) or maybe work from home...something to break up the tedium.

If you were in AZ, I'd keep you busy.

I'm bettin' MS reads this and gets a nuclear boner.

My step-mom recently went through an episode where she was so focused on negative things that she almost ended up leaving my dad.

Day after day, she'd rehash in her mind events that weren't good (from 5-40 years ago).

She has never really held a job. She's tried and been let go or left on her own.

That day to day focus of work, or volunteering or a hobby, won't allow you to sit and stew about things.

BTW: I'm always happy to report to the ladies that no blue pills necessary here in order to spring nuclear boners.

(07-25-2015, 05:15 PM)Midwest Spy Wrote: That day to day focus of work, or volunteering or a hobby, won't allow you to sit and stew about things.

That's always been the mantra in our family.

When you are focused on helping others, you have no time to ruminate about yourself.

It saved me.

(07-25-2015, 04:59 PM)ramseycat Wrote: He's also going to NA or AA meetings about 4 or 5 times a week.

I personally wouldn't allow my kid to go to those meetings. Listening to a bunch of old drunks and drug addicts talking about how they hit rock bottom doesn't scare a 15 year old kid straight. In fact it could do the opposite and make them want to do it more. But that's just my feeling from also being forced to go to those meetings as a teenager. Plus you can score drug connections there faster than in the ghetto.

What if you sent him to his dad, would he turn him away? I'd tell that bastard you deal with him now.

(07-25-2015, 06:05 PM)sally Wrote: Listening to a bunch of old drunks and drug addicts talking about how they hit rock bottom doesn't scare a 15 year old kid straight. In fact it could do the opposite and make them want to do it more. But that's just my feeling from also being forced to go to those meetings as a teenager.

I believe there are meetings exclusively for specific demographics.

Teen, stag, women-only, gay, smoking, Mockers . . .

I don't see Ramsey sending him to the ex-hole. He's fucked up in his own right and as awful a role model as there could possibly be.

(07-25-2015, 07:05 PM)BlueTiki Wrote:

(07-25-2015, 06:05 PM)sally Wrote: Listening to a bunch of old drunks and drug addicts talking about how they hit rock bottom doesn't scare a 15 year old kid straight. In fact it could do the opposite and make them want to do it more. But that's just my feeling from also being forced to go to those meetings as a teenager.

I believe there are meetings exclusively for specific demographics.

Teen, stag, women-only, gay, smoking, Mockers . . .

I guess it could be different now, but the ones I remember were a bunch of old fucks reminiscing about their drug using days. Which for some of them was about 2 hours ago. Other ones were just released from prison and only there because they were court ordered to be. Everyone gets up one at a time to tell their story almost as if they're bragging about it. Drug addicts love to talk to other drug addicts about the shit they've done. No way would I want my kid around those fucking losers.

There is a teen-anon which is exclusively for teens, but I think NA and AA are for everyone which is mostly loser adults and teens are forced to go and listen to their loser stories.

(07-25-2015, 07:06 PM)Duchess Wrote:

I don't see Ramsey sending him to the ex-hole. He's fucked up in his own right and as awful a role model as there could possibly be.

There are two sides to every story and I think I asked her before if he was really that horrible of a father and she said no. She did marry him and have two kids with him.

Maybe if he's faced with it he'd put a foot up the kids ass like he needs. Doesn't matter what the kid wants at this point.

I asked him to take Zack a few weeks before he went to rehab. I thought getting him out of here might help. His response was no at first. Then he said maybe for a few weeks but not for good. But only if Zack was ok. If he was ok why would I want to send him up there?? Vince is a selfish drunk and always will be.

(07-25-2015, 08:00 PM)sally Wrote: There is a teen-anon which is exclusively for teens, but I think NA and AA are for everyone which is mostly loser adults and teens are forced to go and listen to their loser stories.

It's not like that Sally. People do share their stories. But their point usually is look at what I lost to drugs and alcohol. Now I'm 40 something and it took me 5 years to get myself in a somewhat decent position in life. Most of his meetings are people closer to his age or in their 20's. I don't let him go alone though just for the reason that there could be some asshole dealer there looking for easy pickings.

(07-25-2015, 09:45 PM)ramseycat Wrote:

(07-25-2015, 08:00 PM)sally Wrote: There is a teen-anon which is exclusively for teens, but I think NA and AA are for everyone which is mostly loser adults and teens are forced to go and listen to their loser stories.

It's not like that Sally. People do share their stories. But their point usually is look at what I lost to drugs and alcohol. Now I'm 40 something and it took me 5 years to get myself in a somewhat decent position in life. Most of his meetings are people closer to his age or in their 20's. I don't let him go alone though just for the reason that there could be some asshole dealer there looking for easy pickings.

I wasn't even talking about drug dealers, I think most everyone is there with good intentions. But not everyone there is sober or is ready to be sober. And the thing with drug addicts is misery loves company. So yeah, I wouldn't let him go alone. He might meet some one like my sister.

Also my dad and all his closest friends met at NA. They're all dead now. And not from old age.

Neither of my kids have any experience or history with drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately. There's a lot of resources out there for kids abusing drugs or alcohol but mine took that "just say no" shit to heart.

I jest but if they'd gotten involved in substances, I'd have a lot more options. Hell, neither kid will take a freaking Motrin easily. They HATE medications.

I suggested, with her Dr's okay, that my daughter take some Arnica for her swelling. She looked at me like I was suggesting she take rat poisoning.

Whatever.

Arnica Schwarzenegger is flexible and will swell to enormous size when intimidated.