The Dreaded "C"

It finally happened. I think it was bound to happen eventually, so better now than later. Little One brought home a "C" on her report card.

I was upset when I saw the grade, but even more distraught when I saw the subject - Social Studies. I had really expected to see the grade appear in Math, as this is the subject with which she struggles most. Instead it was in a subject that she enjoys and historically has made very good grades.

Little One screwed up and didn't turn in two (2) assignments and got zeroes. One was a report/essay/theme that had a major impact on her final grade. Little One tried to blame her teacher, circumstances, and the waxing of the moon as the reasons why the work wasn't completed and submitted for grading.

Getting her to take personal responsibility is perhaps my greatest challenge. It is one of the most important lessons that she needs to learn, I think.

Lord but I need a Lackey

There are times when I really miss some of the 'comforts' of marriage. The big areas where I felt the hole the most are parenting and chores/errands. 

Parenting is a contact sport to begin with, but it can be nice to have the tag-team in effect and to be able to rotate out once in a while and let the other half deal with whatever the issue of the moment is. Sometimes it can be hard to catch one's breath.

The other issue has to do with the day-to-day minutiae of running a household, paying bills, grocery shopping, laundry, house cleaning, going to the post office, birthday cards, Christmas shopping and the like. In the last 4 years since we separated I have been doing it all. On most days it isn't that much of a big deal, but there are times when I could use a personal assistant - or a lackey.

A friend of mine's daughter makes her living as a personal assistant for the rich and/or famous. She was for several years in charge of running the household for a famous comedian/TV actor. She paid the bills, managed the comings and goings of plumbers and other tradesmen, furniture deliveries, etc. She didn't do any nanny duties, just the other. Now she does the same the thing for some software mogul on the west coast.

It is doubtful that I will ever be able to afford such a luxury. But at times I misplace a bill, or some other piece of information mailed to me that should be filed, or end up eating out because I don't have time to run to the market, etc. I am horrible with birthday and Christmas cards, so if you should ever get one, I must have been having a good week.