The Caregiver... How are YOU doing today?

I think it was my neighbor not sure but my husband case manager came to our place for her every 3 month visit to check on things then mention that the clinic is barely a smidgen from calling APS to make sure he is safe etc like CPS is doing keeping my case open cuz of some brown nosing person I refuse to associate with who has a severe drug addiction. Also at the same time this is happening ...I have a sister in law whose own children won't take care of her and her ex husband is a good man but couldn't handle her bipolar ; besides some other things. They have been freezing us out because they do not like the truth I guess. I do my job well and raise my two children fine...I cannot help this happen to my husband of nearly 12 yrs and he is young but not in his 50's yet. Still I find alot of what the heck I have to go thru this crap and I am just fed up with all of it. I need a second job to help my family more financially because as his caregiver i am not getting paid much. I am payee for my husband's ssdi and I got nearly everything financial transferred to me but TG for friends. I get no breaks and I have to raise kids...I have to do whole lot but as I informed my husband if he keeps refusing to listen to reason which makes things harder sometimes but he also has epilepsy. If he has seizure lasting more than 5 mins and I do not call the paramedics I could be arrested for manslaughter because it is called abuse and then the thin line would be murder and I do not have a mean bone in my body. I have putting up with a lot crazy bs because of ignorance and misunderstanding but what is worse is my own doctor is not listening to me so how can a woman who has gallstones and cysts be experiencing abdominal pain and act like it is nothing. Then I have some doctor saying my husband is faking his seizures but how can someone with a neurological disorder fake something most things are impossible to fake. I cant get quit smoking aid to stop smoking period. The cycle goes around and around. I am tired of being ignored and I am tired of ppl in the medical profession trying to make me look like the bad guy. Amazingly with all this bullshit going on I havent had a heart attack or a stroke myself. I can't afford a elder care lawyer to protect myself and him. I already have MPA done and in his file but hasn't been invoked cuz he is still competent yet he doesnt listen to me when he seriously needs to go to the hospital. I have too much BS and not enough time to be creative or write. I am barely mentally enough to handle it all yet I am doing it. So yes am I upsetl...I am beyond it. I am tired of not being able to monitor my own health and I am tired of my migraines getting worse. I a

Vivian, my heart goes out to you. I've had some ups and downs with my sis too. She was going to be here at Spring break and give us a couple days off. She made a big point of saying that over and over. Now, she was going to be here last Thanksgiving, but didn't come and then she said Christmas and didn't come. Guess what, after 3 months of saying I'll be there during Spring break, she didn't come. She never called and said she wasn't coming, just quit talking about it.

In all fairness to her, she lives in California (I'm in Washington) and she's a teachers aid. So not a lot of money in her pocket. I used to pay her way up here, but after several years it became too costly for me. One time she called me and said she needed to bring her daughter with her because she didn't like some of her friends and didn't want her hanging out with them while she was gone. She needed me to buy Amy's ticket too, but said Amy got paid that week and she'd reimburse me when they arrived. So I'm out $700.00 for air fare and of course I never got reimbursed. That's not the first time that happened, but I don't buy tickets anymore. My sis is not a bad person, it's just that you can't count on her.

Tough dilemma Vivian. Sounds like your sister hurt you very deeply. Still, if you could patch things up it might be of benefit to your mom. Give it some thought. Maybe she's sorry for what she said to you. Since she's so good with gifts, maybe she could pay for some respite care.

Hope you get a good nights sleep. Hugs, Cattails.

Hello cousin IT here, I'm exhausted again debated whether I had enough energy to say anything, but I see Peeweedeb was here today and I have wondered about you alot since I posted on your thread about what you were going to do when your Mom was gone. You disappeared! I'm so sorry you are going through rough times. I hope you will not let go of your man. Seventeen years is such along time, you will grieve and be even more depressed. Losing a love is heartbreaking even when the relationship is a bad one. I'm so glad you came here today. Burned I'm so sorry more shit is being dumped on you. I hope you get some real medical help soon, someone who will really listen to you. I don't remember the name correctly, but I think it was something like aaa and a number, I too have 2 brothers and 2 sister and 8 nieces and nephews and they don't visit either. I was totally pissed off on mothers day when not one grandchild called. I called my sister in FL and asked her if she was going to call mom, she said she had planned to but it was 4:00pm when I called. My sister I'm no longer speaking to snuck in after mid-night and left a bouquet of flowers. My brother who lives here didn't even get her a card. Bilmo I'm glad you found a new home here. I enjoy talking to you. I heard mom let out a terrible yell, and I thought for sure I would find her on the floor, but instead she was laying in bed having a meltdown saying "they are all dying, they are all dying". I'm saying what are you talking about, and she says Grey's Anatomy they are all left in a field from a plane crash and they are dying. She is in tears and says "I'm nothing, I'm nothing, people are having so many real problems, Nathan poor Nathan,(thats my nephew that was injured in Afghanistan by an IED). I was dumbstruck she has never acted like this before. I talked to her and she calmed down and said she new it was just a tv show. I think my Aunt dying last week is affecting her more than I thought it would. It was my dad's sister. I'm still a little stunned. I wonder is it was because the doctor took her off of to heart meds and put her on a stronger blood pressure pill? I wondered if she was saying she was nothing because she spent alot of time alone today while I planted the garden, then the neighbor came over as I was finishing and she usually stays till I tell her I have to call it a night. I tried to be more patient with her (the neighbor) because she was distraught over an ugly fight with her son in law. I'm thinking for my Moms sake I should try to patch things up with my sister. It will be a bitter pill to swallow. I told her I no longer wanted anything to do with her because she couldn't help me out one day a week with mom so I could have a whole day off to myself. I also told her I wanted to give her back everything she gave me cause I didn't want gifts I wanted her time. I can't even begin to tell you all the things she said to me. I know I threw the first punch, but she beat the shit out of me in response. So much so that I came to this site telling you all I had wanted to end it all. I thank God you started this thread Jam. I am still fairly new here, but I hope all the new people will keep coming back. Love and blessing to you all. Off subject, can any one tell me where the moon has been for the last two weeks, I havn't seen it since the supermoon. I've seen lots of bright flashing "stars" bobbing and weaving around, but no moon. Is it normal? I know I've left people out I havn't learned eveyone quite yet, but I just thought of Stormy, I'm praying for your dad. Goodnight everyone, and a better tomorrow for us all I pray.

Bill: Your comments crack me up. I'm glad you are here and liking everyone. Hugs, Cattails.

I have been accused of being a gold digger and worse things by my in laws and i am still freaking tired...it has been a difficult week for all here at the house. the worst is my husband who refuses to under the seriousness of me being his caregiver and how if certain things are ignored i could be held accountable for manslaughter. I have also been told someone was gonna call adult protective services while I still have CPS coming down on me like crazy . then I went to y doctor he told me to get over the counter stuff thinking i am constipated and i also found another small lump on my right side barely less than the size of penny besides the cysts siting lower towards my hips. My migraines have gotten worse...so again the medical community is not listenting to me and I have idiots accusing me of not doing my job. I also plan to work work as a teachers aide this coming august cuz both of my kids will be in school to get extra money and then I need to totally pay off my credit card this month. Yet my husband wants to get upset because I am trying to improve my credit rating so I can better to afford to start paying off my school loans but i got the credit card for emergencies for his medical or to get my eye exam and glasses done which i need to do soon. I am so tired of having a migraine being exhausted etc etc.

Ona, if you are still here, please go to the thread, Grossed Out and read the last post from JSomebody, she tells about her neighbor commiting suicide.... her post is very reflective and very real... for those left behind.... hugs.

Happy to hear you changed your mind....

Ona, posted on your wall, but would appreciate more info on your dad... what stage is he in with Alz???? What are some of his issues and how are you having to help him... as far as your family is concerned Bilmo said it for us... but now we have to find a way to help YOU..... one thing at a time, one step at a time... get back with us and let us know more of your life... you are not alone, regardless if we are not in the room with you, we know how you feel... we do understand being that tired, that beat down, that powerless... so let us hear from you....

You are right. My siblings should be beaten. But I cannot control them. It was a mixture of about 5 diff kinds. I had one thought in mind and then changed my mind

I feel like I am on a deserted island. I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers. And 8 nieces and nephews but who sees mom and dad (they live in an addition to my house)--ME and only me. I asked for help this weekend and was told THIS IS YOUR CHOICE. I actually took 30 sleeping pills 2 days ago. I ended up throwing them up--that is how I am. Actually, I am blessed to be able to support my parents in this journey of the end stage of life.

Welcome cattails, have been reading your stuff all over the place, very concerned and caring....and that's what we like here, supportive and non judgemental.... When you first joined the sight, I felt you were a little harsh with some answers but you always came back and either apologized or explained.... so that counts for alot... some people are very fragile when they first post a question and have stepped out of thier comfort zone.... and you get that now, not that you need me to be proud of you, but we all need all the support we can get, and to have a place to lovingly express our opionions....So come on and join in the chaos, as Jam says, we'll leave the light on for ya...

Hello to all on this thread: I've been reading some of your posts and Beck, I love your stories. Lildeb, too and others. I forget now, who is the hairy cousin. I know you told Bilmo not to ask why, but my curiosity is getting the better of me.

Lildeb, have you told your friends here what your mom likes to do when she sees her poop in the toilet. Lord, now that's funny.

I don't believe I have posted on this thread. I have on others and I try to be encouraging, but sometimes I put my foot in my mouth. If you all don't mind, I will join you. You are a pretty awesome group.

Hugs, Cattails

Hi girls and boys, just wanted to let ya'll know that dad has developed a huge knot(lymph node) maybe under his chin. We don't know what it is but it came up all of a sudden like monday night sis noticed it. So sis and dad are on their way to the ear nose and throat dr. now to hopefully find out some answers. I also noticed he had some swollen lymph nodes under his right arm. Same side where his tumor was found. I just know they are going to come back with no answers. I hope sis asks him all the questions i wrote down. I wrote down "Tell doctor to feel his neck". And mainly the other questions were pertaining to the other lymph nodes that are swollen in the neck area. Maybe i will hear something shortly. I will keep ya'll updated. Love and hugs stormyyy

Tshirtlady, sorry I didn't welcome you, and we all have it hard one way or another... so don't compare your hard work and sleepless nights... it is honored and valued by the rest of us....hope you get a real break soon.... hugs to you and hope you come back and let us get to know you....

PWdeb, yes , life is difficult.. and it is hard to salvage a relationship amidst all that caregiving entails... please let us know how things are and how you are after this conversation....But what if he doesn't want to leave???? In many ways I hope he doesn't , I never like to see relationships break apart...hugs and prayers to you...
Bilmo, whether you misunderstood or not has nothing to do with you still needing to have your say and to be safe doing it.... but usually posters will preface something by saying, I hope this doesn't offend you, or I'm not trying to hurt your feelings... there is still a way to say what we want to say without 'post bombing' someone.... and you know what, it's ok to get our feelings hurt, to not understand all and everyone's intentions... some days we are just tired, depressed, don't see an end in sight, have no family support, and those are the days, I DARE someone to get stupid with me... Hasn't happened here, but like you, I don't feel like I should have to start a post with a disclaimer of " I just need to vent, don't care what you think i should do." And there are some UGLY folks on this sight, one went after me here and I see her posting her vile stuff all over the place... like I told some one the other day, I just add it to my gratitude list that I am not HER.... at the end of the day or a hundred years from now.... do I really CARE what she said.... ummm, NO... so hope you have found a home here... we get silly stupid, not stupid stupid.... and as Jam said, it won't be tolerated here.... It's not all happiness and light, not a damned feild of daisys in sight, and yet I laugh here everyday....
cmag, glad you are feeling better... try not to project too much in the future, takes all the energy you need for today.... and you already know that... right????
I hear the laundromat calling me, but to hell with it for awhile, I'm going to rest....
hugs across the miles to ya'll...

I don't think that I'm doing so well today at all. As a mtter of fact; I think I'm really doing terrible!! First; I'm going to talk to my boyfriend of 17 yrs and tell him to go on with his life without me anymore. I can't keep draging him through this mess of caring for my mom with me anymore. I feel terrible, like I'm holding him back. I never have time for him anymore. It's just not fare to him. This is not going to be easy. He seems so lonesome, and please don't tell me how after 17 years he understands and ya, ya ,ya. I feel that he has had enough! I know him. I can see it in his eyes. I can't do this to him anymore. I love him too much. I have to let him go. Whew...... life is so difficult, isn't it?

And Bilmo! I haven't read too many of your posts but just the last few! My only comment to you is often times (depending upon where we are in our heads) we take what is said to us out of context. I know that is true for me! I hear you talk of your depression and totally understand! I hope you are seeing a doc for that. This caregiving is not a "walk in the park". It's very difficult and heartbreaking stuff! You must take care of you - some way some how! We must all do that! Otherwise we're toast!

Look for the help on this site - it is here. Love to you

Jam! Thank you for sharing! I didn't offer any excuses to them - I simply replied that I have a full plate taking care of my mom and getting to docs
appts. Which is true! I simply am tired of trying to have a courteous relationship with them for the sake of my husband, Peter Pan! Also, I've been trying to have a relationship with the children as I've have no children myself. Thought perhaps I could be a good grandma! Well, I've lived the past 64 years childless and I can go another few years!

I should have left the first time I was treated rudely and my husband overlooked it. I simply thought it would get better with time! (How many times have you heard that?) Guess what? It's been almost 16 years. The son was 22 and is now 39! Now for the last 10 years is a wife who behaves the same way!

I think we caregivers are wonderful people who try to be there for everyone in every situation! Always hoping for the best. We have the attitude that if we try harder something will change to make our situation better. The news is - we take care of ourselves first! No matter what! No matter who gets mad! We must learn to give the treatment we get to some degree - no with anger and hatred but with sheer "matter of factness".

Love to all of you!

Jam, thanks for the reminder of the historical origin of this thread and thank you for starting it.

I got good news today that my testosterone level is finally normal once again after changing to a new endocrinologist. The new version of the treatment for this is double strength, condensed, and thus I don't have to buy as many bottles of it.

On a more morbid note and I don't know why my mind keeps wondering about this, in light of what I know now, there is a high probability that with the next 6 months my step-mother will die from her pulmonary fibrosis; some time within the next year I think my MIL will die from her heart problems followed by very likely my dad dying within the next two years given how weak he is and how lost he will be without my step-mother and somewhere parallel to that time frame my step-dad might pass away given he is the same age as my dad and not in good health, but my mother might last another 3 or so years in the nursing home.

golfgirl.................as soon as I get finished doing my dancing around the room for you and give you a WOOT WOOT WOOT..............I just have to say inconsiderate snots those step-kids are and I'm very proud of you. It never ceases to amaze me that some kids think our names are mat....as in doormat........Now my question is...where are you going on those days they want you to sit? Or the first week in June? Please don't tell me you are staying home.....no, no girlfriend...go someplace, anyplace! I sympathize because I have 2 daughters who stopped speaking to me years ago.....one because I asked her what she had done during the day because my house was dirty and I paid her to clean weekly and the other one because she was trying to be someone she wasn't....fit in with a snobby crowd....and a teenager didn't fit in with that.....so she was dumping her daughter with a father that she had been kept from for years....I disagreed with the way it was handled....so now I'm a useless Mom....:( The only thing I regret is the loss of grandchildren in my life.....out of 8 I have one I still see constantly and she is my son's.

bilmo....don't kill yourself trying to get recognition from siblings....they don't know you exist until "after"...if you know what I mean....then they will dislike you because they will see you as getting what should be theirs. I have 2 younger siblings that I spoke to, not on a regular basis unless one of them wanted something, but when my Mom passed away in 2010 they turned on me like I was a snake. I was her main care giver, even though she was in a NH which was her preference, and sister rarely saw her....brother never. And they had already "borrowed" a big chunk of money that she got when her husband died.....so what the hell? Come back and pull up a chair....

Well ladies I so love reading these posts! This is such a good support group! Love to all of you!

Haven't posted much about my mom lately. I'll refresh by saying she is in rehab after falling in the small yard of her condo on March 29. Broke her femor and fractured her hip at 90! Been complaining about everything. Goes to the bathroom 10 to 11 times per night. Been through two rounds of antibiotics for UTI. Wearing the aides out! She begins toe-touch on May 25. Hope she has enough mental capacity to understand what that means and doesn't rebrake her leg! Now on to my real problem of the day!

Well I married Peter Pan 8 years ago! Peter is currently on a golf trip and has another one planned the first week of June! Only requirement I had from Petie was that he leave his cell on just in case of emergency! Petie has one son (thank God) who hates me! The one son has three daughters (school age). I've tried numerous times to get close and have a relationship. Never happened. In fact, haven't seen them since Christmas eve! No phone calls - nothing! My husband was invited for Christmas eve and I assumed that meant me as well. When we arrived, there was no offer of coffee, soft drink - nothing! They even went so far as to go upstairs and put on their pajamas! Even gave me some of my gifts to take back! I swore I'd never be in their company again! These people have been incredibly rude to me for the last 10 years! I've hung in there for Peter's sake! Yesterday, I get an email asking me to babysit for 4 days! Un (friggin) believeable! I fired it back - Full Plate-Can't Help!

I'd like your thoughts here! Thanks all! I just can't believe people have such nerve!

Morning and welcome tshirtlady.......I will have to figure out a nickname......yes, feels like all of a sudden you raise your head and a year has passed. I started caring for my mil right in the middle of being injured at work and having to retire on a disability, and I'm now working on almost 3 yrs and she is in a NH since last Oct. Where the heck has the time gone? A year after I retired, my husband retired and what should have been "our" time, became more time devoted to care giving. I admit to feeling a sense of relief when we placed her in the NH.....there is only so much we can do before it starts to affect us mentally and physically. What are you doing for YOU? Taking vitamins, eating well, getting naps when Mom is gone? Do you have any outside activities that you like to do? Come and tell us more......we'll leave the light on for you!

Good Morning! After reading some of the posts I think it's time to make the creation of this thread a little clearer for those who don't know how it came to be. First, we all know how difficult care giving is, the daily care is different yet similar in some aspects for all of us. The website was created just for the purposes of aging and caring for those with infirmities. If care giving was all lightness and love, as some would have us believe, there wouldn't be a need for websites and it would prove that all the rest of us are nuts! The one thing that is for certain, is that not a single one of us knows what goes on in your home or life....we only know what you choose to tell and share with us. There are some who take that limited knowledge and in their ignorance create a lot of strife....and unfortunately they don't stop with just one. Yes, I originally began posting elsewhere and soon encountered that ignorance, thus I felt the need to make a safe place where a care giver can come to talk about true feelings and the burdens of care giving. That includes the use of humor, the Dark Side and wherever else your mind might start to wander. If anyone's postings start to harm the others here then that person will be asked to stop posting. We come here for assistance and understanding......not to be looked down on because we all know care giving is not running through a field of daisies with flowers in our hair.

bilmo.......I understand exactly what you are talking about. I, too, was treated horribly by ignorance of my situation and through it all the one thing that bothered me the most? That person was responsible for someone else and to me that made them a horrid care giver. A gold digger? Pretty harsh terms for someone to use simply because we don't want to see our loved ones life savings flushed down the toilet. So I'm right there with you, call me one too!

Okay, I'm climbing down off my soap box now........I hope you all have a wonderful, productive day....sending hugs to each of you!

Even though my situation may not be as difficult as others. I feel like my life has passed me by and have regrets. I am sad today and tired of the stress and the emotional side to watching over my mother. I am blessed that she goes to daycare during the day. I do not have much energy lately and do not sleep well. I worry that she will not be ready to go to the daycare so I get up even before she does to make sure she is .

One last thing, haven't had time to go to the Laundromat, so my wrinkled clothes will look like my wrinkled face, it's sorta like camoflauge....maybe M won't be able to see me and I will have a good day.... love ya'll

Cousin IT, you had an awful time there didn't you... sorry, seems when one thing goes wrong, it all goes to hell... thanks for the thoughts and well wishes for my son... His daugher is getting to come visit him this weekend... my little grandangel is just what we need right now.... I will tell him you are sending thoughts and prayers for him....He knows how much all of you mean to me.... he hears me speak of our laughter all the time... I don't tell him the personal stuff, and some of what we talk about here would smooth gross him out..lol...
But this is one place I get to be me, not mom, not professional caregiver, not anything but a tired person needing support... and it is here...Thanks again Jam, for providing us a safe place... gotta get going, another long day....hugs and angels to everyone....

Bilmo, we are a bunch of whiners here too, rarely, if ever is there ugliness on this thread... and yes the world is an ugly place.. but at the same time there are people who do see the kitties playing and the tiny wildflowers in the yard... most of us here on this thread appreciate this kind of thing... none of us here are ten foot tall and bullet proof, sounds too self righteous for us.... we are just plain folks with large hearts, too much responsiblity, and we have come together on this thread that Jam provided for us, and we whine, we laugh, we see the light at the end of the tunnel.... and yes there are viscious people in the world and some have landed on this sight... but we welcome all who need a place to put there feelings and a soft place to land after a hard day.... I would not be who I am without some of the friends I have made here....so maybe you will give yourself a chance and come back and see that all is not dark and evil in the land of Caregiving....and in regard to your "inner monster' well, keep that bad boy handy.... we all have one, just not everyone owns it....so hope after watching the kitties play and hopefully some rest, you will see this as the land of people who really do care.... I have nothing but positive things to say about the folks on this thread.... I wouldn't be here myself if it were any other way... I need friends, laughter, hope, and more laughter.... so hope you give yourself a chance to see not all threads are created equal.... hugs to you if you want them.... and by the way, this thread was started because of ugliness elsewhere on this sight... so see.... there are good and caring people in the world, you didn't post here last night by accident....

Well I was going to slip in here tonight and be a troll like I've been doing alot lately. I've been too exhausted to post, but I see my good friend bilmo has come to the right place finally where he can freely express himself and not be judged. Bill and I have shared alot lately on his thread, and I have been shocked and dismayed at some of the unfeeling, inconsiderate people on his thread. I think if they had nothing supportive to say they should have kept their damn mouths shut. Although I did encounter more ugliness on another thread when a women said she did not feel comfortable fulfilling her grandmothers wish of her being there with her children when she died. Some people were so vicious telling her how selfish and inconsiderate she was. I love bilmo, I think he has a great sense of humor. It sounds like you are having a really dark day, and I hope things will turn around for you. I'm praying for a good outcome at your meeting on the 19th with your evil siblings and I hope you get some financial relief soon. I have been thanking God today for all his blessings. I've tried to seen the good in whats been happening here for it could have been much worse. I'll start with today and work backwards. The water pump went out in the middle of the night so we had no water. Blessing 1. we are technically part owners of the well next door even though they tore down the house last year. We have electricity running to it,(the pump) so we hooked up a couple of garden hoses and they reached to the front porch, so I was able to fill a bucket to flush the toilets. Blessing 2. The same neighbor gave us a water pump a couple of years ago and its been sitting in the garage. Blessing 3. My brother-in-law whose wife I am no longer speaking to hooked us up with an honest and reasonalbe plumber. I had Mom call and do the asking. B-I-L who works at an HVAC-pluming supply store said it would have cost over $400. for the pump. We had to pay $285. total, but I am grateful I had been putting money in savings, and we had it. I know alot of people can't afford it when things go wrong. Blessing 4. I went on facebook, and thats where I had to learn that my nephew had been injured in Afghanistan by an IED. I'm told thats a roadside bomb. He has a severe concussion, bruises and scrapes, but he is ALIVE. So I am grateful for that. I was fuming that no one thought enough of Grandma to give us a call, and I had to learn about it on facebook. Blessing 5. We had a cardioligist visit Tues and he said he thought Mom was doing well even though her blood pressure was 180/90. He didn't seem to worried about that, and that kind of concerns me. He did change her meds to a stronger kind, and he took her off the one that controls her heartrate. Blessing 6.Monday we saw the retina specialist and she said Mom's macular degeneration is the dry kind and it should not get much worse than it already has. She says eye vitamins are the best treatment, so she at least doesn't have to go through getting shots in the eye. I can't believe I'm typing this book, I'm so damned exhausted. I tried to catch up on the laundry after the pump was fixed, and it seemed it took forever to clean the kitchen. Had to do the laundry because Mom refuses to wear a depends, and she has to have a water pill and she cannot get her pants down fast enough and she went through four pair of pants today. She would be absolutely mortified to know I told another living soul her personal problems. I know I'm safe with you all. Since finding this site I know I have become more patient and kind with my mom because I read how many of you are dealing with mean ungrateful parents. Bilmo, please come back and stay with us, I have found sanity here. I am known here as hairy cousin "IT" please don't ask why. Ladee, I love reading your posts, you always make me smile. I'm praying for you and your son. I don't want to give you all the impression I'm all churchy, I don't go, but I do believe in the power of prayer and meditation. Love and Light. IT.

I havent been able to post much and I barely write directly to one person but this is the place to vent and let go. Yes, its ok to whine I do it all the time cuz of how difficult my situation is and if I insulted you I apologized. Right now I been trying to straighten my son's attitude and trying to get his bedtime back on schedule. He is 5 yrs old and throws fits like he is 3 yrs old. He does so much whining and arguing with everyone . He still going on ....have to stop it before he starts school. He has gone beyond my nerves here lately. I got him in time out and hoping he goes to sleep.

bilmo.....my philosophy is if I haven't pissed off at least one person today....my day isn't complete....:) who's Wheaties did you step in? You sound really down and having a terrible day....would you care to share? Maybe we can help you to feel better.

ladee.....when you call for assistance ask if they charge. Most entities will give an assist just as a courtesy....although there are some that charge a "response fee".