As my frustration brings me to my very edge of existence (again) I am here at a place once again where I get to air all my inner thoughts without so much as a peep from the peanut gallery.

SETH SETH SETH…..CARLA CARLA CARLA

Okay that feels better.

Where do we draw the line – how do we stand up for something we feel might be out of place without seeming like the over protected mother.

So my quest for a better school takes me back 2 years now. And finally I thought I had found some inner peace as to where my children were at school.

Seth diagnosed with dyslexia is at a great advantage as the teachers have been able to start teaching him to cope with this disorder. HOWEVER this year he has 2 new teachers oh sorry did I say teachers I meant WITCHES – gosh

Now we are on to 10 spelling words a day (perhaps this is normal for children who learn spelling easy in Grd 5) but for me its like climbing mount Everest every day……… in the beginning of the year it was 20 every Friday – this is still achievable BUT 10 a day they have NO CLUE…. Over and above that he gets 40 – 80 sums a day which I cannot even do without a calculator – HOW AM I TO DO THIS?

When I originally approached both this teachers I nearly had my head removed from my body because one jumped in before I could finish my sentence. And then to top it off they smiled and said. Please keep us informed if the children say anything – because they are scared of us……….. NO SHIT………………I TREMBLE…….

Then Seth says mom they tell us we are a stupid class and they always shouting at us …… and make us sit in at break to do the words we misspell. They only get 30min break – I am ready for war.

Okay so between all this writing I have now phoned the school and spoke with the principle about my grievances. She said she had just spoken to all the teachers about all the shouting going on – it’s not acceptable. NO …… And she would talk to them again. Okay so let’s see where this takes us either it will improve OR they will take it all out on Seth.

Did I do the right thing? Am I over protective – I mean we all had a witch teach us some time or another – And though the thought of that teacher will haunt me for eternity and perhaps I needed physiological help after that who knows, maybe Seth should feel the runt of the world – or maybe just maybe he will love school and his teachers – stay enthusiastic to learn – OR maybe its time to have him tested to see if we can get him on medication – for the concentration?

It concerns me the amount of verbal damage teachers are allowed to inflict on young people not only today but throughout history. IF YOU DON’T LIKE CHILDREN DON’T BECOME A TEACHER. It’s that simple – IF ITS POWER you need become a Sadist or take up chess.

I think even from my own experience at schools growing up teachers can be pretty MEAN…… and really there is no need for any of this.

Carla is doing better – well “condoned pass” is not really better – I have checked her books but it’s not going to make a difference as I don’t know what the books need to really look like. If I ask her about projects and tests – NOTHING MOM REALLY – but mysteriously somehow the teachers have magical marks they can put on the reports every term – from the non existent class work, tests and projects.

Her social appetite has grown as she is now 15 and trying to give her a little space for social networking has just led to her once again walking all over us and pushing every bit of space she gets over the limits.

Do I go back to that “NO sorry you can’t do that” mom? Once again am I too protective – ag man this is crazy – I know teens I know they have issues – but we have just been through years of heartache and new rules and putting down new boarders to get Carla just to cope in society (with ODD) and now we need to start broadening these boarders – Maybe I am just petrified.

Maybe I need the help.

OH dear poor kids

Anyway all this has got me thinking – I NEED COFFEE – so till my next whim.

A loud shout from all in the peanut gallery who feel our day should be a 25 hour day. Come on now - Because I know that when I JUMP out of bed- literally - i am not alone, after hitting the snooze button (TWICE) I feel that I somehow will overcome the snooze if I jump out of bed, sometimes i jump out so quickly i surprise myself. I don't even give my feet time to feel blood and by the time my husband leaves for work I am ready to go back to bed.

My morning like most starts with waking the kids (at least 3 times) and in between making a gourmet lunch for the family to remember me when they are at work and school (W H A T E V E R) and that they will love and appreciate me so much more for this. Jot a quick "romantic note for the hubbies lunchbox because at 6 in the morning my inspiration is overflowing (no not really however Google works 24 hours a day). Then its breakfast and tea and feed the cats. (Who by now are stalking my mothers budgies - as if to threaten me). Feed garden birds - do some bird watching with my boy as he is working on a cub badge, look up the bloody birds in bird books - brush teeth and hair and shove out the door with a kiss.

NEXT - Hubby who slowly stretches his body knowing time will stop for him as he wakes up slowly, peacefully, gracefully without a hair out of place (even the cats gather on the bed for a morning rub) And I am having HOT flushes on the other side of the room - : "SHAME baby (he says) did you not sleep well you look tiered".

Hop in shower, make sure hubby takes lunch - walk hubby to car go indoors - walk lunch to car. kiss and off to work he goes - with a hi ho hi ho.

BREATH........

My work is in the backyard, however people saying: "Oh but its a family business on the premises - how lucky you are" well chances are they have never met my boss the slave driver who by the way knows no priorities and everything and I mean everything is URGENT... ......... AKA my dad mmmmm yes the man who has not only raised me but had dedicated his last 40 years of his life to me - who has towed me more than a million times - who has bailed me out on a month short of cash, (no pressure) So saying no or later is NOT an option, SCREAMING silently in my head and wishing my coffee was Irish is however an option. Also Living on the premises does not make the work less, and instead of a 8 hour day I normally have a much longer day and lunch is a quick dash to the loo. At work i am known as SLAVE CHILD..........

My life is that of colour - so just to brighten it a little more I added a few things, I run a cell group, I volunteer as a mommy helper at cub scouts on a Tuesday and run all the games, I run the youth church on a Sunday (about 40 high school kids) and now and then feed the homeless. Some say amazing others say SUCKER.......... I personally feel some days its SUCKER ........ and feel that some times when volunteers are needed I have a label on my forehead reading "PICK ME - YOU KNOW I CANT SAY NO"

However the work day reaches the end, I rush home to start or finish homework during making dinner - hubby comes home - feed kids feed husband and then I feed the cats (who by now are literally climbing into the fridge every time I open it ) feed any other persons / animals that walks through the door. (no i don't always know where they come from)

Get kids to bath - read a story and the then its about 9 o clock time for planning games or lessons FINALLY its 10 ME TIME so when I collapse into bed i normally like to read however i dont think I ever get past the first paragraph and wake up with a book on my face. And my husband saying Ag shame baby you so tiered shame babes would you mind giving me a back rub. No no not at all, I am sure I can squeeze it in - so thinking about it i don't think that its really a 25 hour day i need - its more a red bull.

So for all you other "normal moms - like me" out there - know this one thing not only are you not alone - but one day the kids will be all grown up and you can retire and if you are like me catch up on some reading.

I find it tiring to listen to people who sit in their comfy zones and complain as the world passes them by, how will positive change come about if we sit back - now even though I blog so seldom - I think its time to air my opinion on the world once again. I recently attended the Coke Zero Rock Fest - It was more a Zero Rock than anything else. However having gathered my grievences to the official "Coke fest blog" Maybe its the word BLOG that my eyes start to twinkle. So the head it by saying - did it rock or not -So, if you attended the Coca Cola Zero Fest 2009, let us know in the comments below which event you attended, what bands you liked or disliked, what you thought of the venue and anything else you want to add.

Comment away!

I mean COMMENT AWAY!!!

So I did and it was actually the second time I had posted the same post and the first time someone left a comment saying - PFFT.... Cindy if you cannot afford it dont go . However this was not my overall problem - So they asked for it - Likes and dislikes and thats what I gave them - only for people to give a mouthful back --- PFFFT back at them ....so here is my letter in its entirety: If anyone has a problem with spelling in the following letter please go to www.cindys owndictionaryWHATEVER...................com.....

mmmmmmm well in all honesty perhapes if I was a millionaire and could afford the drinks (alcholic and non) well it might have been a little more pleasant due to the numbing effect, of the drinks. I suppose i should start with COKE - your advertising was amazing clearly you could not miss the fact that coke was a sponsor. However R10 for a coke or water - come on guys what do we look like - our economy is already bad however you ripped us off. FREE dodge water if you were squished in front is what you gave us………. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING….. A few button badges and some sweeties oh yes and a plastic braclet did not make me feel very special. The problem is that no one saw a mention of BIG Concerts (except on our pink badges) SO all the complaining was against COKE - and it is seen as a COKE only function. Jack Daniels . . . R30 for a shot ARE YOU FOR REAL…… oh yes with a R10 coke, my wallet thought it knew the word BARE however you guys gave new meaning to this word. BIG CONCERTS My hubby and I see few luxeries in life however bought our tickets nearly 2 months before so we could be GOLDEN CIRLCLE ooooooooo, only to find that tickets were not only being sold the day before the concert but golden circle pink bands were handed out by big bouncers to “pretty chicks” I dont think I have EVER experienced that amount of people in a golden cirlcle in my entire life. It was like a stampede & perhapes for the big boys upstairs this would be a huge “profit” for them as a South African (of not the richest class) felt appaulded by the conditions we had to endure for the day. Getting out of the circle was a joke - as people got angry and agressive with people around them standing on their things. And who can blame them - and i was at the only little tree in the circle the whole eveing and witnessed people becoming so angry i was shocked - even the band dirt skirts had a nasty run in with a man behind me that would not let them pass. My hubby could not even get out to go to the loo. He eventually came back upset and said he would wait. Security could not handle the stampede coming in and out of that circle. I was stopped 3 times in one go going in to have my bag checked as hundreds passed by me without a word…??? Location - was not bad - i felt it was closer than the last venue (me coming from pta) and parking was handled well - lighting was execlent too. BANDS Our SA bands should really really be chosen with utmost consideration - as we go on stage with international bands, Besides one or so of our 5 bands I was dissapointed and amused that we could put such amatuer bands on stage (how embarresing) that afrikaans / arabian band - I did not even know he was singing Afrikaans till about 3 songs in - I actually asked my friend what language he was singing. Snow patrol and panic were very good - they had a stage presence that was amazing - OASIS was dissapointing - giving us the feel that they were there only because they choose to be - thousands left by about their 4th song. But that is no ones fault. Overall I thought after paying R600 for a ticket and being made to feel no more special than the Joe next to me - I am dissapointed in how it all went down. And not only that i am so bankrupt now its not funny - I am amazed however no one else has said anything about this since I overheard many people complaining.

SO thats it ..... Honest and direct but too the point, i thought anyway ..........Change only comes about when we are not complacent. DUH!!!

Anyway my rant and rave was good ........... i feel a peace falling over me ...... thanks