A Mother's Woes

I am so incensed right now that I should not be posting on my blog, but against my better judgement I am going to do it anyway. Dennis and I have been struggling with Devin recently--he is lazy! He does a half-hearted job at everything, and then has to redo it because he did a lousy job the first time. What, does he think we won't check back?

Case in point, yesterday Aspen fell asleep on our walk and dropped her sunglasses somewhere along the way. Since we were almost home when we realized it (with Aspen asleep and Connor needing to go to bed), we asked Devin to walk the route again while we put them down. Dennis went out in the car to help them. Devin was already on his way back, hadn't even gone where we'd asked him to, and was going to tell us he couldn't find them. Dennis went right where we asked him to go, and there they were.

Dennis and Devin had a huge discussion last night about laziness and doing a good job the first time. ARGH!!! Devin wants to be a fireman, and Dennis gave the example that if there was a burning building and it just seemed too tough if he was going to just give up and let the building burn down and then make up some excuse for why he didn't do it. What if there was a baby inside? Would he let it die? He's also talked about being a policeman--will he just let the criminal go if he doesn't feel like chasing him down?

So today I told him he would need to spend the day helping out around the house to make up for his lack of zest to assist the family. He did great this morning. Got his chores done, played with Aspen and Connor, studied, etc. I have been trying to give the kids some independence with their studying, so I asked him several times if he needed help and he told me he didn't. I told him I wanted to look it over when he was done. He did not bring it to me, so I got it later this afternoon. CRAP! He just wrote down anything (most of which didn't make sense) and left it at that. He was asked to match 25 of the states and their capitals--he matched two, and one was incorrect. WHAT?!? I was furious. He was supposed to be outside weeding but was playing with a friend. WHAT?!? Not on my good list today.

Dennis and Shaylee are up at girls' camp, so I planned a fun FHE swimming at my mom's--guess we get to stay home and redo homework. Ugh. Okay, end of rant.

I should not leave it on that note. Devin is really a great kid. He is wonderful with Aspen and Connor, he loves to help cook dinner, and he is one of my most affectionate children--always gives me a hug and tells me he loves me before leaving the house, etc. He does try to do what's right, and he is learning. He has been studying hard, doing what is required of him, and honestly trying to do his best (I hope). He is working on his Articles of Faith for his Faith in God, and I am truly proud of him. I am going to need to focus on all of the positive before I deal with him again.