We ended up taking my stepdaughter back home. Things just got unfathomably difficult. However, I'm still hopeful that some day things will get better. Right now we are going to back off and let her decide if she wants to come visit, rather than forcing it. It's been somewhat difficult (she didn't even call on Father's Day), but we feel as though we need to respect our decision to do that.
That being said, things are so much better at home. I feel like we're finally enjoying our home. Even though it's hot as Hades, I enjoy sitting on the back patio and watching my dogs play (drink in hand of course!). I haven't had much of a summer yet. When Abby was here, I was permanent chauffeur taking her to camp, Vacation Bible School, play dates etc. I didn't mind it at all, but I never realized how much driving can tire a person! I am writing 7th grade Language Arts curriculum, so that has keeps me busy. In addition to that, I subbed twice last week for summer school and attended the AVID conference the past four days. I actually enjoyed the AVID conference, but it was nice to sleep in this morning. One really cool thing about AVID is that it is nationwide so I ended up seeing my 7th grade Science teacher and 9th grade English teacher at the conference! Who would've thought? Some other highlights from the AVID conference: riding the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit= read: light rail)....it was kind of liberating (I've never lived in a city that was large enough for a light rail..although Dallas's public transportation is minimal) until I sat in a seat full of questionable liquid (I hope it wasn't PEE!), getting lost at the Hyatt and ending up in the kitchen, getting lost at Union Station, Mr. Bill embarrassing our group, getting in a debate with the people in my morning strand over the legalization of drugs, oh and learning strategies to meet students' needs and prepare them for the college curriculum.
I'm hoping July and August will be less busy, but I'm afraid it won't. We have friends coming to visit both months and some trips to make. My high school reunion is at the end of July and we're hoping to squeeze in a weekend trip to Austin as well. We are having people over for the 4th of July and for Murad, Sampson and Maya's birthday. We had hoped to take another cruise, but Murad doesn't finish his summer semester until August 9th....bleh! I'll be glad when he's done!
I am excited about the rest of the summer and 2010. Murad will graduate in December and will sit for the LMSW exam. With that, he's hoping to work at the VA Hospital here in Dallas and if things work out he would make our current salaries combined....which means if we have kids I could stay home. However, y'all know me. A. I love to shop so we need that extra money. B. my personality is not that of a stay-at-home mom. I am not internally motivated, so I would be one of those moms who lives in her pajamas rather than be productive. Plus, I grew up with a working-mom and saw the value in seeing her go off to work each day. I knew she had a life outside of the home that did not revolve around me. And in the era we live in, kids need to see that the world does not revolve around them. sometimes my students teach me invaluable lessons! However, I think stay-at-home moms work harder than the public gives them credit for. I have so much respect for what they do day in and day out and they rarely get a break.
Well, that's it for the soups! Hope your summer is well. I will post pics when I can of our home!
