Update on Gary & Sara
Also. We decided to keep it loose. Everything is flowing pretty well. We each have our own space but we have been sharing meals and watching TV and stuff in the evenings. Since we are eating meals together we are buying food together and planning meals, etc. Tom is still doing almost all of the cooking and it doesn't seem like Sara is a big cook, at least it seems that way. The only problem thus far is seating. We have 8 people and my table only seats 6 comfortably. Her kids are young so they have to sit with her. Thomas feels special though because he is the oldest and gets to sit at the coffee table and eat- his idea- totally.
We also decided it is stupid to take 2 cars to work so on days that he doesn't have late work we'll ride in together to save some $ on gas and it will leave a car home for Sara and Tom. They took my car and went shopping today after Tom took Sara to a doctors appointment.
It seems to be a good situation for all. Sara is a young mother so added adult support is helping her cope better. The boys have taken on a big brother role and it suits them well; although Kimberlee has a bit of a crush, on James, it seems. They like having someone to help with, play with, and teach.
James is all about teaching the girls to "be good girls" It is so funny watching him. If one of them does something mean he will tell her whatever she did was not nice (and why) and tell her that good girls don't act like that, ask her if she wants to be a good girl, etc. It's really cute.
It is awfully noisy though. That many people in one little house gets noisy, especially with all hardwood floors. Sara and her girls are a bit loud. And yes this coming from one of the biggest loud mouths around. However we are teaching the girls about outdoor voices and indoor voices. Sara on the other hand is harder but she is getting it. They are also following regular house rules pretty well. No eating outside the kitchen, no toys in the kitchen- just basic stuff.
I think I want to get Kimberlee started on reading and writing her name before she starts kindergarten.
De hated the idea of this and we had arguments for hours. Tom sat down with her at least two hours and I got up and left one conversation and hour and a half into it. De DOES NOT do change well. She has come around though. Sara is closer to her age than mine and they like to do many of the same girly things. Hair, make-up, etc. It is like De has a new playmate. And she is being more helpful for Sara- of course that only moves her from bump to stump, but hey, it's progress.
Tom and Gary get along well. They are so much alike it's scary. They like the same music, same comedians, same shows, a lot of the same foods, cooking. Gary plays guitar, Tom plays bass- I hope this might encourage Tom to play more.
I get along with Sara. She is a sweet girl and she tries but damn she talks a lot. I guess now I know how other people feel when I'm yammering. Sometimes, because she is closer in age to De than me, I feel like her mother, like I need to protect her and take care of her. She reminds me a lot of me when I first had Liz and De. I know I needed a lot of help so I am glad I can help her. Of course she makes me feel terrible because she cleaned my house and did my laundry for me. Sweet of her but I feel bad because I feel like I fell down on the job. I think I just have too high a standard for my self that I will never live up to in the cleaning dept. I can accept it though; put on my big girl panties and grow up. It is a big help and I felt so much better after a day from hell coming home to a clean house.
We also decided it is stupid to take 2 cars to work so on days that he doesn't have late work we'll ride in together to save some $ on gas and it will leave a car home for Sara and Tom. They took my car and went shopping today after Tom took Sara to a doctors appointment.
It seems to be a good situation for all. Sara is a young mother so added adult support is helping her cope better. The boys have taken on a big brother role and it suits them well; although Kimberlee has a bit of a crush, on James, it seems. They like having someone to help with, play with, and teach.
James is all about teaching the girls to "be good girls" It is so funny watching him. If one of them does something mean he will tell her whatever she did was not nice (and why) and tell her that good girls don't act like that, ask her if she wants to be a good girl, etc. It's really cute.
It is awfully noisy though. That many people in one little house gets noisy, especially with all hardwood floors. Sara and her girls are a bit loud. And yes this coming from one of the biggest loud mouths around. However we are teaching the girls about outdoor voices and indoor voices. Sara on the other hand is harder but she is getting it. They are also following regular house rules pretty well. No eating outside the kitchen, no toys in the kitchen- just basic stuff.
I think I want to get Kimberlee started on reading and writing her name before she starts kindergarten.
De hated the idea of this and we had arguments for hours. Tom sat down with her at least two hours and I got up and left one conversation and hour and a half into it. De DOES NOT do change well. She has come around though. Sara is closer to her age than mine and they like to do many of the same girly things. Hair, make-up, etc. It is like De has a new playmate. And she is being more helpful for Sara- of course that only moves her from bump to stump, but hey, it's progress.
Tom and Gary get along well. They are so much alike it's scary. They like the same music, same comedians, same shows, a lot of the same foods, cooking. Gary plays guitar, Tom plays bass- I hope this might encourage Tom to play more.
I get along with Sara. She is a sweet girl and she tries but damn she talks a lot. I guess now I know how other people feel when I'm yammering. Sometimes, because she is closer in age to De than me, I feel like her mother, like I need to protect her and take care of her. She reminds me a lot of me when I first had Liz and De. I know I needed a lot of help so I am glad I can help her. Of course she makes me feel terrible because she cleaned my house and did my laundry for me. Sweet of her but I feel bad because I feel like I fell down on the job. I think I just have too high a standard for my self that I will never live up to in the cleaning dept. I can accept it though; put on my big girl panties and grow up. It is a big help and I felt so much better after a day from hell coming home to a clean house.