I believe this post needs a brief introduction.
Our city is a small one of about 120,000 people. Our apartment complex is low income and, for a town this size, it is "high crime".
My husband, Andy, and I have two mentally disabled teenage sons, both of whom live in supervised settings not far from us. Tyler, the younger of these boys, came over to visit this afternoon, his usual mid-week routine.
We also have a nominally hyperactive son in kindergarten, the last of our brood. However, still not satisfied, we recently "adopted" a thirty year old man from Morocco. We met him on Facebook, as he was preparing to come to the U.S. on a ten year visa. Houcine thought New Jersey was a real zoo-HA! He came to live with us and found that here, the "animals" roam free!
Welcome to our home!
As you bear all this in mind, share the late afternoon with me....
My God, it's hot in here!
We had to take Tyler home early, for unruly behavior. Austin just bit one of the neighbor kids, hard enough to draw blood. He went in to time out. There was great wailing and gnashing of teeth (no pun intended).
Suddenly, said neighbor kid, and his brother, invaded not only the apartment, but my bedroom-and bed! There I was, scrunched up with Austin and his friends (who made up by now), as they played, watched TV and made me break out in a sweat!
I exited the room and they followed me, stalking behind me like cheetahs. Now in the living room, they loudly played video games, as Houcine and I tried to mentally shut them out, he with his iPhone and me on my laptop.
Andy found a back route into the now vacant bedroom and disappeared. Shortly, however, he reappeared in the kitchen and loudly exclaimed, "Woman, where is my dinner?". He then retreated down the hallway, ruining the aim I had on his head.
I walked across the living room, navigating between boys and toys. Sitting down next to Houcine, I quietly said, "I am going to cook now. And, if you are smart, you will eat and then barricade yourself in your room." He smiled, and kissed my cheek (sweet man).
With that, I flew in to a flurry of cooking motion, then served the men their plates. I suggested to the neighbor boys that their mother was surely waiting for them to join their own family at the supper table. Adam replied, " Mom told us not to come home until dark." I was too stunned to answer.
I reclined to the bedroom once more, fearing if I invited these poor orphans to eat, they would remember this and be back tomorrow.
Finally, Andy came to the rescue, loudly announcing, "Time to go home boys! Thanks for coming over!" He shooed them out the door with their roller skates in hand.
That was over an hour ago and I am still "detoxing". I think the menopausal hot flashes are under control now. I feel better-really. I did, however, double check the deadbolt on the front door. I also told Austin if he ever bites a neighbor kid again, I will have his front teeth professionally extracted!
Until tomorrow, I am over and out!
Our city is a small one of about 120,000 people. Our apartment complex is low income and, for a town this size, it is "high crime".
My husband, Andy, and I have two mentally disabled teenage sons, both of whom live in supervised settings not far from us. Tyler, the younger of these boys, came over to visit this afternoon, his usual mid-week routine.
We also have a nominally hyperactive son in kindergarten, the last of our brood. However, still not satisfied, we recently "adopted" a thirty year old man from Morocco. We met him on Facebook, as he was preparing to come to the U.S. on a ten year visa. Houcine thought New Jersey was a real zoo-HA! He came to live with us and found that here, the "animals" roam free!
Welcome to our home!
As you bear all this in mind, share the late afternoon with me....
My God, it's hot in here!
We had to take Tyler home early, for unruly behavior. Austin just bit one of the neighbor kids, hard enough to draw blood. He went in to time out. There was great wailing and gnashing of teeth (no pun intended).
Suddenly, said neighbor kid, and his brother, invaded not only the apartment, but my bedroom-and bed! There I was, scrunched up with Austin and his friends (who made up by now), as they played, watched TV and made me break out in a sweat!
I exited the room and they followed me, stalking behind me like cheetahs. Now in the living room, they loudly played video games, as Houcine and I tried to mentally shut them out, he with his iPhone and me on my laptop.
Andy found a back route into the now vacant bedroom and disappeared. Shortly, however, he reappeared in the kitchen and loudly exclaimed, "Woman, where is my dinner?". He then retreated down the hallway, ruining the aim I had on his head.
I walked across the living room, navigating between boys and toys. Sitting down next to Houcine, I quietly said, "I am going to cook now. And, if you are smart, you will eat and then barricade yourself in your room." He smiled, and kissed my cheek (sweet man).
With that, I flew in to a flurry of cooking motion, then served the men their plates. I suggested to the neighbor boys that their mother was surely waiting for them to join their own family at the supper table. Adam replied, " Mom told us not to come home until dark." I was too stunned to answer.
I reclined to the bedroom once more, fearing if I invited these poor orphans to eat, they would remember this and be back tomorrow.
Finally, Andy came to the rescue, loudly announcing, "Time to go home boys! Thanks for coming over!" He shooed them out the door with their roller skates in hand.
That was over an hour ago and I am still "detoxing". I think the menopausal hot flashes are under control now. I feel better-really. I did, however, double check the deadbolt on the front door. I also told Austin if he ever bites a neighbor kid again, I will have his front teeth professionally extracted!
Until tomorrow, I am over and out!
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