Normal?

I was bringing my mom up to speed on Alex and his issues (She doesn't read my blog. No one in my family does. Which is probably a good thing? Right?) and about him not putting away his clothes correctly and she reminded me that my brother did the same thing.
Then I mentioned that Alex is sick, mopes around, looks at me with big sad eyes and thinks the world will end and she reminded me that that is a boy/man thing. Which is true. When my boys/man are/is sick - they really can't do much but lay around and feel sick - and want to be waited on or sleep forever - whereas we girls just keep going - for the most part. 

(My apologies to my one male reader....Andreas.)

But it dawned on me. Alex's issues just might be Alex's issues?  And have nothing to do with being neglected and raised in an orphanage. Perhaps this is his normal?  Sure he wants to pawn his issues off on his past life. With the generic,  "I am meant to live in orphanage" or "My Ukraine mom was too drunk to teach me." But sincerely kids have issues. All kids, not just adopted, previous Ukraine orphans. Yet, I'm always trying to link his issues to his past. "He must act like this when he's sick because he's use to being sent to a hospital for every ache, pain or pimple." "Or maybe he can't remember to put away his clothes because of the alcohol his mother drank while he was in the womb?"

Maybe.

Or maybe he's just a man-child when he's sick and just like other 13.5 year old's that cram their clothes in any nook and cranny without a thought or care to order or their mother's feelings.

Maybe. 

I still think the lying and cheating are ingrained traits that he carries from the orphanage. That's not to say my other children have never cheated. Everyone has a time or two but they learn a lesson and get over it. Whereas with X, he just keeps repeating the same behavior over and over.

His honesty issues,  I think has everything to do with living in an institution in Ukraine where lying and cheating were the norm. In fact, as I look back on our adoption experience, I think the adults we associated with there lied and cheated too. The whole adoption process was crooked and full of bribery. What is normal for Ukraine - is devious and deceptive over here. Which is so hard for Alex because what was normal and acceptable there is called lying and cheating here.

In other behavior news, Austin has 11 U's. Which translates to 44 detentions. Not for fighting, swearing or poor citizenship. Nope. For tardies. Tardies? Seriously?

It will be a happy day if-and-when this child walks with his cap and gown clutching his diploma in hand!

Devree was thinking Austin's detentions were pretty funny until it was pointed out that her RIDE to school now has to leave at 6:45 each morning and stay after 45 minutes each day. Truth be told, the reason for some of Austins' tardies would be Devree. Her 1st period teacher doesn't take tardies. Austin's does. And he's always waiting on her to get out the door! Just like the whole family is waiting for her in the car - honking - to get to church.

Rylee is miffed that I wouldn't let her go to a basketball game last night. A basketball game a particular cute boy was playing in that she just happens to really like.  Give me a break. She's twelve! The problem being that while on our cruise my brother in charge let her go to one. I just told her to count that as lucky because had I been home? No way. I know. I'm a mean mom. And I know it's hard to be 12 and see her 15 and 17 year old siblings going to such activities but such is life. She already gets lots more privileges and allowances then the older kids got at her age.

I am just now getting over my cold. The cold that James gave me. The cold I gave to Alex. Alex is convinced his voice has dropped because of his cold and is quite concerned.  I assured him that his voice - like mine - will return to normal when this cold passes.

I really need to post pictures of our cruise :)  and the funeral :(

 Not sure when that will happen. 

Just trying to keep my head above water right now. Get everyone where the need to go, feed 'em, keep 'em in clean underwear and remember how to log into my jetBlue computer. 

That's about all I can handle right now.

But I see a light. 

Maybe in a day or two I'll be back to normal. 

Normal for me that is.....