You know...part of me is convinced that there is a book out there along these lines (Guilty Parenting 12-step program). If not, I should damn well write one.

I admit, when I was a kid and didn't want to do my chores, my excuse was something along the lines of "Yeah, yeah, I'll do it later." or "Sorry. I forgot about it."

If I ever used the excuse of "I didn't do my chores because I don't like doing them" my Dad would have responded with "You'll hate your ass getting kicked even more! Now do your effing chores before my foot gets imprinted on your rear end!"

>Good lord you not pick things that all little boys do. Lol<

:?

Are you texting while driving?

>The added dig about school she would have all on her own if you allow her the time space and control to do so.<

This is where I (respectfully) disagree. The "Guilty parent syndrome" creates a fog of obscurity around SS and prohibits DW from being able to see the problem for what it is. This is what happened a few years ago when I told DW that I noticed something was a "little off" with SS but DW thought I was exageratting. It was only a full year and a half after I made my observation did DW finally noticed that maybe I was right and consented to have SS tested for ADHD. So *Maybe* DW will one day see the problem that SS is having in school and acknowledge the fact that SS needs more structure and discipline, but by that time, it will most likely be too late.

So no, I will not shut-up. I really do not see why some people view my talking and and having contructive conversations with my wife as a means of "control". My marriage is a two-way street with constant communication.

You got it wrong. I am not a bully. I am a warlock, patiently waiting the day for SS to fatten up so I can cook him in my shiny black cauldron and feed his bones to the flying monkeys.

LOL

I know. It's almost hilarious now.

I am afraid you are mistaken dtzy. I never said I was disengaged. I wrote that I am PARTIALLY disengaged.

And my complaints are not petty. Begign maybe, but not petty.

You and I have a very different opinion of what is "normal" teenage boy behavior. I'll agree to to disagree with you, but lets stop with the insults, okay?

SS is normally very well behaved and polite when we are around friends and other family members. The only times SS is really high strung and acting like a total air head is when he comes back from his Dad's. It takes him a few days to simmer down and actually act like a boy his age and not have total meltdowns.

But what I like most of all about SS is his creativity. He was the capacity to come up with some very good ideas when he puts his mind to it. He is also very mindful of his little half-brother and half-sister. He loves them and they in turn love him back. Again, when he just returns back from his Dad's though, I don't trust him to be alone with the my bios because he is too high strung.

Another thing I like is that he is showing a bit more independance now. As I wrote in one of my previous blogs, he is capable of navigating public transport system on his own to go out with his friends. Unfortunately, DW and I have to give him that little extra "push" to actually go see his friends....Otherwise, SS is content to just sit at home and watch TV all day.

I honestly don't see my life without him in it. I do not wish for him to be out of my life because just having him away most of the summer depresses DW. If we had sole 100% custody of SS, I may not be on this site in the first place to vent.