Maybe it's just me, but....

When one is looking up the definition of a word, shouldn't the words within said definition be simple and easy to understand, so as to make it easier for the layman to grasp a better understanding of the initial word's meaning??

Take "grovel" for instance:

grov·el/ˈgrävəl/

Verb

1. Lie or move abjectly on the ground with one's face downward.

2. Act in an obsequious manner in order to obtain someone's forgiveness or favor.

"Abjectly" isn't your every day average word, and neither is "obsequious" for sure! Now I have to look up these words, as well.

Which brings me to:

ob·se·qui·ous/əbˈsēkwēəs/

Adjective:

Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.

followed by:

ser·vile/ˈsərvəl/

Adjective

1. Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.

2. Of or characteristic of a slave or slaves.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . You see my point here, right??

All I wanted to do was check my spelling to be sure that *even though it looked funny, "grovel" was in fact spelled correctly* - and now I've forgotten my original intent and have become sidetracked with a vocabulary lesson.

and a blog post.

Perhaps this is the definition of ADHD.

Lunch With My Boy

Just thought I'd post a couple pics from lunch today with my boy:

I can't expect him to be serious for too long...

Kids... Need I Say More?

So I just got back from lunch with my Gooby... I tell ya, you can learn all kinds of things at lunch with a 2nd grader!

For starters, Ethan has five girlfriends. Yes, FIVE. {They start young, don't they??} And two of his girlfriends are 1st graders; one of which is apparently named "French Jessica".

Me: "I think you mean Francesca."

Gabi: "No. It's French Jessica."

Me: "But, Gabi... That's not a name. I'm sure it's Francesca."

Gabi: [half sighing & blushing] "Whatever."

[mental note: Gabi needs to stay away from Ethan]

Gabi also pointed out the little boy... I mean, 2nd grader... that her Kindergarten brother beat up at after school care one day. [sigh... My son's a bully]

Then she showed me who Garrett is.

Apparently, Garrett is my daughter's boyfriend.

Me: "So... What makes him your boyfriend?"

Gabi: "Because he asked me." [duh, mom] "He's funny... and sweet... and he said I can do whatever I want."

Me: "What do you mean?"

Gabi: "He asked me to be his girlfriend... I asked if I can do whatever I want... and he said 'yes'."

I guess my daughter's got it like that.

I didn't get to meet this intelligent young lad, as we were leaving when his class was entering the cafeteria, but I do have this picture that Gabi drew of the new couple:

Gabi & Garrett

I gotta be honest, I thought my child was a little vain when I first saw her masterpiece.

Me: "Oh... Y'all are 'hott' huh?"

But then she explained to me (fanning herself and panting), "No, we're hot - like HOT."

I see the sweat dripping now...

Oh, And It Gets Better...

When I picked the kids up from Father of the Year on Sunday, Gabi practically leaped from the car in excitement to tell me their new motivation for "staying on green" that their father had come up with.

"Oh. Yeah, I guess I need to tell you, since it involves you," he says.

FOTY promised the kids I {Yes, I} would dish out $5 a week for each child if they would stay on green, keep their room clean, brush their teeth, shower, etc.... an allowance, basically.

Let me interject: I don't mind doing for my kids. They are my children. I love them. I want to everything I can for them.

But Seriously?!.

FOTY promised them that I would give them money??

Without consulting me first.

What is going on up there??

And by "there" I mean the spot where most individuals house a brain.

FOTY owes me two months worth of child support... and he promises my kids I will give them money.

Where does he presume this money is going to come from exactly??

And, of course, I didn't want to belittle him in front of them and his wife and stepson...

I found myself almost glad that Gabi came home on yellow yesterday (not the good color), because I don't know how I'm going to keep this promise that was made for me to my children.

Find the good, Camille.

Find the good.

The only positive thing that came from this is that Christian finally came home on green yesterday. But, honestly, I think that has more to do with his teacher, because we had a phone conference about a new method she's going to try implementing for his behavior.

That's all I have to say.

moo humbug.

The "Hows" & "Whys"

How is it that Husband#1 is allowed to live beyond his means (in a house that he couldn't afford when we were married - that he also was supposed to either sell or refinance within two years of our divorce in '06/'07), taking care of his second wife and stepson... but he can't pay his measly $300 child support he fought so hard to eradicate for our two kids?

- and I use "our" loosely -

And why can't anyone at DHS do anything about it when he gets behind? I never received child support for September, and when I call to get help from them, what do they tell me? "We don't view it as a missed month. It goes in his arrears."

So..... I'm just out that money, and there are no consequences for him?? - or at least the "consequences" don't kick in until he is $2,000 or so behind.

WTH?!.

It will take half a year (plus) for him to get that far behind, with only $300/month for two children as his child support.

I know I don't have it as bad off as some.

It could always be worse. [knock on wood]

And I am grateful for everything I have.

But it's just not fair.

I requested that the amount be reviewed.... And of course he up and quits his job as soon as DHS sends him a letter notifying him it's going to happen.

WTH?!.

They basically handed him a "get out of child support" card.

Not that it matters... My case is in line to be reviewed at some unknown time in the future.

I can't afford to take him back to court on my own, and no one at DHS can tell me anything.

This just sucks.

How can someone have no conscience?

How can a man just not care about his children?

Why do men look at it like they are doing their ex / the woman a "favor" by helping support their own kids?

How can a man be okay with seeing his children four days a month (if even that sometimes)?

There are so many questions I have; so many "Hows" and "Whys" I just can't comprehend. And complaining how unfair it is isn't going to solve anything... I realize this. But I don't know what will either.

I guess this is part of my karma - just something I'm meant to go through in this life.

Career Day

So Christian wanted to be "the donut guy" for Career Day at school...

I thought it was just about the cutest thing he could ever request. It's one of those moments that remind you how innocent and pure a child's mind is, ya know? [like when our little brother said he wanted "a car like PawPaw's" when he grows up (an old station wagon) - for which we have teased him relentlessly.] Cause Christian didn't request to be someone with a high paying job, or even something that would put him in the spotlight as the hero (like a cop or a fireman). Instead, he went with his heart... and probably stomach.

And sweeter still: When we went by Dunkin Donuts to see if they had any paper hats (like the ones at Krispy Kreme), the manager hooked us up with an official Dunkin Donuts visor and name tag - which totally made Christian's costume!