Well one of my worst nightmares came true today. I got a visit from the Department of family and childrens services. Yikes and double Yikes. We were in my bedroom watching a Ken Ham video for science when the phone rang. I looked at a cell phone number that I did not recognize, so I let the answering machine pick it up. When I heard something about DFACS I was curious, so I picked up. I honestly thought it had something to do with some paper work for my adoption or someone elses. The man identified himself and asked if he could stop by for a meeting with me. I asked what it was regarding and he said that there was a call into them saying that there were children in my home being left unsupervised for long periods of time. I said he could come over, and he said he would be there in 5-10 minutes. I was pretty nervous, I briefed the kids quickly while I called Nate who happened to be having lunch at Applebees, 1 mile from the house. The dfacs guy beat Nate home however, so I had to go in alone for the first 5 minutes. I told him right off the bat that before anything else was said that I was in the middle of an adoption and I didn't want anything to interfere with that. He said that he just had some ?'s he needed to ask me about the children being left at home. I told him, before he had a chance to ask that yes it is true that I leave my children at home to go across the street to ingles to pick up something. I leave Austin at home frequently, because I feel that he is totally responsible to be home for short periods of time. The other two I hardly ever leave, but I will occassionally, when they are occupied with something and I will be gone for a few minutes. Yesterday was a prime example, we were watching our spanish video when I realized I didn't have a plantain, for the fried plantains we were suppossed to be making. I left them all watching to go get it, I can be there and back in under 7 mins most times. (truthfully) Well I know that Austin is not old enough to babysit, you have to be 13 to do that, but I've kept myself ignorant of the other stuff. He said that everything I did was fine, and not a problem. I asked him what the law was, but he didn't have an answer so I don't know if there is one. He was a young married man, and extremely nice and get trying to put me at ease by saying that they have to investigate all calls. I allowed him to question each one of the kids individually, and they did beautifully. I prayed that God would guard Luke's mouth, and he did. He asked them-
"Do you like being at home"
"Do you ever feel scared"
"What don't you like about being at home"
They all answered with things like "they don't like going to bed"
"they get scared when someone jumps out from behind a door"
"they like doing stuff with us"
"they don't like school"
He said that most likely everything would be considered unsubstaniated and there would be no investigation or anything else. But what burns me up is that I was reported in the first place. Who thinks I'm a neglectful mother? And now I have a file or something down at Dfacs. I already talked to my friendly neighbors next door who were out of town this week, and they have no idea why anyone would ever think that our kids aren't properly taken care of. (these are the neighbors that love my kids) It bugs me that someone didn't find out all the facts before calling, my other neighbors don't even know how old my kids are. 9 yr olds are allowed to be left at home, Evan is so big he looks like a nine yr old. Also I have left them alone a couple of times when I have called my friendly neighbors, just to have them keep an eye on my house while I'm gone. They don't come in my house and my kids didn't go to theirs, but they were sitting on their porch or working in the yard, or just being home. And my kids know to go there if someone gets hurt or there is a fire or fight. So everything seems to be fine. I will be calling the supervisor tommorrow to see if I ever do this again will I get in trouble. They never told me that any of the situations I presented were wrong, so I'm still uncertain if the snitch sees me leaving will they make more trouble. Another thing that is suspicous is that I always park my vehicle around the side/back so people can't see who is coming and going from my house, that is something that I have consciencely been aware of since we moved into this house. The fact that we live on a busy street and I didn't want people seeing who was home and not home. I always felt safer not announcing to the world that the house was empty. Also our van windows are tinted, so you can't really count heads, and of course they have never stepped foot outside when I'm gone. So my only problem now is tracking down the snitch and confronting them. I want them to know that I know who it was, and hopefully put their mind a little more at ease, because they don't know if I called the nice neighbors to keep an eye out or not. I don't know if I can live here knowing someone is watching me that closely. God forbid if they ever see or hear one get disciplined. I do not want another visit from DFACS ever.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
"Jumpin"
Things have been over the top busy for the Brock household. Normally I check my email twice a day, but since my last post, I think I have only checked it 3 times, hence the 168 emails in my inbox. Well friday started swim team for all my boys. It is Mon, Wed, and Fri 9-11am, the coaches didn't waste any time getting the kids ready to swim, they just told them to jump in (9ft of water) and see what they could do. I honestly feel so sorry for them, the water is freezing and the coaches "work them to death" according to Austin. Luke and Austin have done really well and have taken to it right away. Evan on the other hand is a bit nervous and hasn't gotten the hang of it yet. This is so like him though, he doesn't enjoy things that he doesn't have control over, thus his aversion to theme park rides and swimming in water that you can't touch the bottom. I am very proud of all of them though, because we are forcing them to take this 8 week course, and so far they are getting used to it, and saying that each day was better than the last. I will post pics soon because they look so cute in their goggles.
Tonya and her brood were in town for the weekend, so we went out to nannies for lunch on Sat, and the boys swam in her freezing pool for about 20-30 mins, then we headed to Bluegrass. Bluegrass encompasses bluegrass music by some local good ole boys, that what they lack in talent they make up for with enthusiasm. Bluegrass also entails, hot dogs with the works, plus anything else that people have laying around their fridges, plus all the soft drinks and marshmallows a body would ever need. All they ask in return is for some applause and a donation for the food. Bluegrass is held in a sleepy, quaint little town 20 mins north of here. Nate and I love it up there we would love to become full time residents. The mayor is a friend from our days at Toccoa Falls College, so we are always meeting nice folks up there. Sunday was church and then back to Nannies for lunch and some gun shootin before the Kissacks had to leave. No family get together is complete without golf in the front yard, driving the balls into the pasture, and some target shootin with one or more of the guns that Nate keeps in his arsenal. The van or truck is always loaded with golf clubs, and the gun paraphernalia, and now there will be even more to haul, with the addition of a set of golf clubs for me, that we picked up at Dicks friday night while we were there getting goggles for the boys.
The other thing that has happened is that Nate and I are doing a colon cleanse. I was over at my neighbors house a few weeks ago, when I saw them drinking this green sludge. It smelled awful and I told them I would never be able to stomach it twice a day, but when they told me what kind of stuff they were finding in the toilet, I went home and told Nate. He said that if they weren't joking about the friends they found, then to hurry and get some for us. All it is, is some kind of herbal fiber powder. You take a heaping tablespoon in the morning mixed with juice, and then again in the evening before dinner. You eat raw foods for the first 2 days, then on the third morning you give yourself a coffee enima (yes coffee enima) after that you can eat regularly, then on the 6th day another coffe enima. You should only have to do this for 7-10 days to see results. If nothing strange occurs then your colon and instestines are clean. I gagged and had to work to keep the bitter sludge down this morning, but tonight it was just a little gagging. Nate didn't mind it that much at all, however he is used to gross drinks, because he drinks all those kinds of protein shakes for weight trainning, and he also likes slimfast, which makes me puke. I will keep you posted on my progress. Not graphically posted, unless I find any large friends like my neighbor did.
Tonya and her brood were in town for the weekend, so we went out to nannies for lunch on Sat, and the boys swam in her freezing pool for about 20-30 mins, then we headed to Bluegrass. Bluegrass encompasses bluegrass music by some local good ole boys, that what they lack in talent they make up for with enthusiasm. Bluegrass also entails, hot dogs with the works, plus anything else that people have laying around their fridges, plus all the soft drinks and marshmallows a body would ever need. All they ask in return is for some applause and a donation for the food. Bluegrass is held in a sleepy, quaint little town 20 mins north of here. Nate and I love it up there we would love to become full time residents. The mayor is a friend from our days at Toccoa Falls College, so we are always meeting nice folks up there. Sunday was church and then back to Nannies for lunch and some gun shootin before the Kissacks had to leave. No family get together is complete without golf in the front yard, driving the balls into the pasture, and some target shootin with one or more of the guns that Nate keeps in his arsenal. The van or truck is always loaded with golf clubs, and the gun paraphernalia, and now there will be even more to haul, with the addition of a set of golf clubs for me, that we picked up at Dicks friday night while we were there getting goggles for the boys.
The other thing that has happened is that Nate and I are doing a colon cleanse. I was over at my neighbors house a few weeks ago, when I saw them drinking this green sludge. It smelled awful and I told them I would never be able to stomach it twice a day, but when they told me what kind of stuff they were finding in the toilet, I went home and told Nate. He said that if they weren't joking about the friends they found, then to hurry and get some for us. All it is, is some kind of herbal fiber powder. You take a heaping tablespoon in the morning mixed with juice, and then again in the evening before dinner. You eat raw foods for the first 2 days, then on the third morning you give yourself a coffee enima (yes coffee enima) after that you can eat regularly, then on the 6th day another coffe enima. You should only have to do this for 7-10 days to see results. If nothing strange occurs then your colon and instestines are clean. I gagged and had to work to keep the bitter sludge down this morning, but tonight it was just a little gagging. Nate didn't mind it that much at all, however he is used to gross drinks, because he drinks all those kinds of protein shakes for weight trainning, and he also likes slimfast, which makes me puke. I will keep you posted on my progress. Not graphically posted, unless I find any large friends like my neighbor did.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Money, Money, Money
I have an obession to train my children how to handle their money in a Godly, responsible manner. It seems like the number one theme at our house. I think it is so important that children learn now the value of a dollar, how to give, and proper impulse control. So many marriages are ruined over finances, and so many people are just burdened beyond belief by their financial situation. As future heads of their homes I want my boys to have a firm grasp on their desires and impulses so that they are able to use their money to further the kingdom and glorify God. I pretty much live right in the middle of town, so most days we are hitting some kind of store, and my children are lured in by the stuff they see, so I have ample trainning opportunities. This is what we do with them, luckily my DH is about as passionate as I am about it, so we are on the same page. Plus, my kids have a great life, so I don't mind being a little hard on them now and then, they probably need it, since they are half spoiled as it is.
They each get a weekly allowance for the chores they do around the house. I have no set chores for them individually, sometimes their load is light and sometimes, depending what projects are going on it is bigger. Austin(10) gets $5, Evan(8) gets $4, and Luke (6) gets 3. They must give 10% off the top to the church or charity. Then off the top they get 20% to spend on WHATEVER they want, but they must keep that 20% in the house for a month before they are allowed to use it, that way they are forced to take a little time and decide what they want to buy, plus it adds up so they can buy something a little more substanial. They are then required to put the rest of their weekly allowance straight into the bank. I have set up saving accounts for them, and they must make their own deposits and keep up with how much they have. If they lose their money from the time I give it to them till the time we go to the bank, that is too bad. They have nothing to deposit. I try to get them to the bank at least every other week. While we were on vacation we gave them each $10 to spend however they wanted. Evan bought himself a baby shamu, and large lollipop, for a total of $8. The lolli was $3 and it is still sitting on the laundry room table half eaten. I pointed out to him(nicely) that it wasn't a great purchase choice because he didn't really enjoy it and it is kinda wasted $. Austin bought a lolli also and never finished his, but he took the rest of his money plus what he had been saving at home for a month and went to walmart and bought himself a nice lego building set. Luke bought a lolli and ate every bit, but then during the hot sea lion show bypassed the water I'd brought to purchase a $3.50 ice cream, we warned him that it would be gone in a second along with most of his money, but he wanted one. Then when he was at walmart, he was crying and wishing that he hadn't eaten icre cream and saved his money for something better. A lesson well learned. I am thankful he is 6 learning these things. Although I did feel a little sorry for him.
They each get a weekly allowance for the chores they do around the house. I have no set chores for them individually, sometimes their load is light and sometimes, depending what projects are going on it is bigger. Austin(10) gets $5, Evan(8) gets $4, and Luke (6) gets 3. They must give 10% off the top to the church or charity. Then off the top they get 20% to spend on WHATEVER they want, but they must keep that 20% in the house for a month before they are allowed to use it, that way they are forced to take a little time and decide what they want to buy, plus it adds up so they can buy something a little more substanial. They are then required to put the rest of their weekly allowance straight into the bank. I have set up saving accounts for them, and they must make their own deposits and keep up with how much they have. If they lose their money from the time I give it to them till the time we go to the bank, that is too bad. They have nothing to deposit. I try to get them to the bank at least every other week. While we were on vacation we gave them each $10 to spend however they wanted. Evan bought himself a baby shamu, and large lollipop, for a total of $8. The lolli was $3 and it is still sitting on the laundry room table half eaten. I pointed out to him(nicely) that it wasn't a great purchase choice because he didn't really enjoy it and it is kinda wasted $. Austin bought a lolli also and never finished his, but he took the rest of his money plus what he had been saving at home for a month and went to walmart and bought himself a nice lego building set. Luke bought a lolli and ate every bit, but then during the hot sea lion show bypassed the water I'd brought to purchase a $3.50 ice cream, we warned him that it would be gone in a second along with most of his money, but he wanted one. Then when he was at walmart, he was crying and wishing that he hadn't eaten icre cream and saved his money for something better. A lesson well learned. I am thankful he is 6 learning these things. Although I did feel a little sorry for him.
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