Mom learns a lesson! Only took 16 years!

I talked with the Clark County Sheriff the other day.  He agreed with me that what we went through was absolutely unacceptable and would be looked into so that it doesn't happen to someone else in the future.    On Friday, I spoke with a Sgt. at the Sheriff's Department who was assigned to my complaint and spent about 1/2 an hour on the phone with her.  I'm not quite sure that she understood as the kept talking about protocol and which county has to handle what.   Frankly, I don't give a rat's a$$ about that.  I want to know that if I need help from the Abbotsford Police Department after 5 p.m., that I can get in touch with them!   That's all I want.  It seemed that I was finally able to get that through to her and I'm hoping something will be done.   For us, it appears that the easiest way around all of this is to simply call from the store, which is in Abbotsford, which is served by the Clark County Sheriff's Department.   That's no comfort for the folks that live near us and have kids in school in Abbotsford.   I'll be revising my Letter to the Editor and will be sending another letter to the Clark County Sheriff's Department.

Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything from the Marathon County Sheriff's Department, which, in my opinion, is unacceptable.  They will be getting another letter from me asking why they have not bothered to address this issue.

We HAVE taken steps to ensure that we NEVER have a problem like that again and that means that both Aaron and Erica now have their own cell phones.   They were absolutely THRILLED when I gave them each their phones.    At least now, I don't have to worry about being able to contact them and find out where they are when they're not where they're supposed to be!  

Aaron is paying for his monthly bill from his job at County Market, and Erica is paying for her monthly bill by working for me at the store on weekends, withOUT complaint!  That's the biggie -- no complaining!     Today was her first day, and she did GREAT!     Doing the happy dance here!   

Aside from our dealings, or lack of them, with the Sheriff's Departments, we seem to be back to a "normal" pattern of life here, whatever that is!       The store is open on weekends again, so I don't have much time to work around the house and I must say really miss that housework!    :lol:    

For the most part, the house is in good shape, but kids being kids, will try to get away with whatever they can.   When it comes to cleaning a room, they decide who is supposed to do what, and then if that person doesn't do it, it never gets done!  I can holler all I want, and they just say "so and so was supposed to do it."  Then when I talk to "so and so" they claim it wasn't their job.  It's frustrating, to say the least.

Yesterday, I told the kids that they had to clean our office (which THEY dirtied up!), their computer room and the family room.  Those are all rooms in the lower level (we have a tri-level).   However, this time, I told them that I didn't care who did what, or who was "assigned" to do what, but that it had BETTER be done by the time I got home from the store.  If if wasn't cleaned "party ready" (a word I used to use when we'd have birthday parties for them at the house and went nuts cleaning everything!) then ALL of them would lose ALL electronics, including cell phones, TVs, video games, computers, radios, etc.    In essence, EVERYTHING they enjoy!    

Of course, there were huge outcries, but I stood firm.   I don't care how you decide who is supposed to do what.  Work TOGETHER to get the job done and all will be fine.  

At 10 a.m., I got a call from Abby that a friend wanted her to go ATVing with him!   WOW!  How cool is that!  They have two (child size)  ATV's, so she could ride one of theirs.  I told her the lower level had to be done or she couldn't go.  Oh, the outcry!    I reiterated what I said earlier about working together and just doing the work.  Believe it or not, but by noon, they had everything cleaned, put away, dusted and vacuumed!!!!!!!!!!  WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!     I damned near fell over when I saw how nice it looked!  

OK, so it only took me 16 years as a mom to figure all this out, but hey, better late than never!  



So, Abby went ATVing with her friend and is now spending the night there!  No surprise in that!  

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow will be as good a day as today!   

Happy Trails!

Julie