They Are Off!

I dropped the big girls off at sleep away camp yesterday!

They are gone for 2 weeks. *hiding excitement*

They have gone to this camp in New Hampshire for several years. This is Sami's 4th summer and Casey's 3rd. It is the same camp I went to in the 6th grade!

They are so excited, as was I!

They go the same 2 weeks every year. Many of their friends go the same weeks also. It is so great, they have met people from around the world and country. They loved going and seeing all of them!

It is a "nature" camp. They will be boating, hiking and lots more. Sam is doing a Community Service project this year with her group.

This is the view out Sami's cabin!

Here we are, happy as clams, before I left!

Calling all moms of teenagers!!!!!!!!!

Will my teenage daughter ever like me again?

Casey seems to just hate me. I can't do anything right. I can't ever make her happy. We butt heads constantly.

Although, she would be happy if:

• I gave her endless amounts of money
  
• Didn't care about her grades
• Let her go wherever she wanted
• Let her stay up all night
• Let her be on the computer during the school week
• Didn't have to take her cell phone away during the school week
• Let her watch endless amounts of TV
• Didn't make her do her own laundry
• Didn't make her clean her room

And basically, didn't speak to her.....ever.

Oh...It was my fault.....partially

Ugh....
So, I get a call from a mom telling me that there was some bad things written about Casey in the science books at school. If you remember, she has been having a tough time at school with a nasty group of girls.

Well, I call the Mr. Guidance Councilor and let him know. I offer to come in after school to help go through the books.

Apparently they did it the other day. While they were doing it they also saw that Casey has written her name, herself, on pages. So they call her down and now she has in house suspension on Monday!

Don't get me wrong, she should be punished. But, if those mean girls didn't write those things and I didn't call, she wouldn't have been caught. So I am torn. I feel bad that no one knows who it was that wrote "Casey is a bitch" several times in the books, so that person will not get in trouble. Yet, my kid, who carelessly wrote her name (hello!?!?!?...not very smart to put your first and LAST name in there!) gets in trouble.

It was up to her to tell me and then the principal is calling me today. I will let you know how that convo goes.

Snow Day!

We got about 8-10" of snow dumped on us last night. The kids were so excited to head out and play.

Poor Chris, had to leave around 1AM to plow our office buildings and residential driveways. He didn't get home until Noon. He is a sleepy guy.

Casey and Kate sledding!

Tommy


Lesson learned. Spend $15 in kid shovels and the kids will go nuts shoveling. Except for a 2 year old....she will just relocate the snow to somewhere you already shoveled!

They ended the fun with some Hot Chocolate!

Bad Mom Award

Yup, I am giving this to myself tonight.

Casey's Chorus concert was tonight. I had it on the calendar for tomorrow.

At 6:10 she says "Mom, did we forget about my concert? I have to be there at 6:30!"

Ugh......

Chris has a meeting at 7:00 that he has to be at.

I have the 2 little ones here who I would rather not take to a 7th grade concert. I am pretty sure everyone there, would rather me not take them too!

What to do..........I call my very dependable friend, Donna. Who has a daughter the same age. She is a good Mom, so I know she has already fed her kids and is dressed and ready to go.

I call her....guess what? She is dressed and ready to head out the door! She came and picked up Casey and took her. THANK GOD!

Want to know a secret? I am secretly excited I didn't have to go. I have sat through every concert for 2 girls since 3rd grade! Sam is now in 9th grade. That is a lot of stinken concerts! **SHHHHH....don't tell****

Mean Girls.......and parents.

My poor Casey is having friend trouble, yet again. The girl just hangs out with the wrong crowd. Apparently they are considered the mean girls. Well, once again, they have turned on her. 6 girls ganging up on her. Calling her names and harassing her. She can't even get through lunch without one of them coming up to hear.

It started a few months back. Her and her BFF got into an argument. It has just spiraled out of control from there. You see, her BFF (I will just refer to her as BFF) and the family used to LOVE Casey. She spent a ton of time over there. When we were in FLA in April, they were there too. She spent several days with them instead of us. Us as parents, were on good terms. We never went out together, but attended kid parties ans stuff.

I wish I had my eyes more open to see what really happens in that family. The kids have no rules. They have a TON of friends over all the time. Swear and have no repect for the parents or grandmother who lives there. If they get grounded, it doesn't stick. They are even allowed to play "Ding Song Ditch" as long as they don't ring the bell of the old lady across the street!

So now, that whole crowd of girls are mad at Casey. They gather at BFF's house and the mother and grandmother feed into the arguement and make it worse. We found out the mother was telling the girls what a "bitch" Casey was. What adult does that? Needless to say, I picked up the phone and exchanged words with her. It was a wasted breath.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Casey was at a friends house who lives a few doors down from BFF. As always, BFF had about 5 people over. They asked Casey to come to the street to talk. When she got there, they spun it around that Casey wanted to fight them. Ummm......I saw the text messages and that TOTALLY wasn't the case. The GRANDMOTHER came out screaming at Casey! Calling her, get this....."Chicken Shit" and telling her to "Get the F**k back where she came frome!" UH! I was livid! I called once again and got into and arguement with the grandmother (who is in her 70's!) and the mother. How can adults be so immature? Wasted breath again.

It is totally out of control. I have contacted the school and have had talks with Casey. I the School Resource Officer on a personal level and asked him to have a "Cyber Bullying and bullying" talk with the girls. Within 1 hour, I had a call back that he sat ALL the girls in a conference room, with the VP and guidance, and spoke to them.

I feel so awful for her. She cries everyday and every night. She is trying to make new friends and of course the mean girls make fun of that. I try to tell her to take the higher road. Even Sam had great advice. "Kill them with Kindess" she said. When they give you dirty looks, smile back. When they call you a name "Say thanks!" and walk away.

What more can I do. Teenage girls are the worst. They are so mean. =(