Daughter is a Self Cutter

My daughter is 14 years old. She has ADHD and ODD. She has learning disabilities. Her reading level recently improved to a 4th grade reading level. She is a self cutter.

She will use whatever she can to cut herself. It seems every few months. She starts cutting herself again.

This last time I was alerted by a teacher at her middle school. As I was awoken by the call. The teacher was concerned and had to pass along to me the news. She knows I have a tough time with my daughter in but I am not willing to give up on her.

My daughter latest excuse for cutting is because everyone pays more attention to her teen brothers grades, than hers. Pure jealousy. I told the teacher there is nothing I can do about the jealous. Her teen brother excels in school, where she does not.

She understood but wanted to make sure I am aware of what was going on and to make sure I was getting my daughter help. I told her my daughter sees a psychiatrist and which agency.

By law she had to report to me about my daughter. I explained to her that my daughter is using the sporks given at lunch time to cut herself. As well as other students in the school. That my daughter mention a  certain student who recently went to jail for cutting herself.

Sometimes I truly do not understand my daughter at all. Self cutting because her teen brother excels at school is one of them. I know she struggles.

One time I would like to celebrate or enjoy one of my teen son accomplishments without my daughters drama and all about her overshadowing every moment. He deserves to have a special moment too. However, I also know with special needs children it is really hard for the other children to receive the attention they deserve. I hope my teen son understands I am not trying to ignore him. I am proud of all three of my children.

Bob Evan's Review

My boyfriend and I went out to dinner the other night. We decided on going to a place we had not ate at in a while, Bob Evans. As we wanted to go to a sit down restaurant.

If you have never visited a Bob Evans before. Please by all means click on the link above to see what all is offered on their menu. They have a variety that changes with the seasons.

While my boyfriend and I scanned the menu trying to decide what we wanted to eat. We discussed what has been going on with my daughter. She is self cutting again. I'll have to write about that on my "Rant and Opinion" blog and link it back here later. As that really isn't a subject I wish to broach in this post.

We also talked about my teen son who recently received a letter for a chance to travel to the White House to talk to the Security of Dense. As he was nominated for that position. The first one in his school since 2010. What an accomplishment!

We decided to order from the three course meal page on the menu. Where you get a soup or salad, biscuits, cornbread or a muffin, the main course and a dessert. Which is a sunday.

We both decided to get the soup. We both choose the broccoli and cheese soup. Oh how I love to eat broccoli cheese soup. Bob Evans does a great job making theirs. The biscuits, we both choose, we soft and warm. No need to add butter as we dipped our broccoli and cheese soup. As no crackers were provided. The biscuits worked out out great. I only ate one of mine. I took the other one home.

As we waited for the main course to come out. We ordered a side of breaded mushrooms. It came with a side of ranch dressing to dip in. The ranch dressing portion was way to much for the amount of breaded mushrooms that were given.

I liked the breaded mushrooms. As I always wait a few minutes after receiving them to eat them. My boyfriend dug right in and grab one, dipped it in ranch dressing and made a face. Yuck! He didn't like them. He said the mushrooms were to slimy. That there was too much room between the mushroom and the breading. He quickly washed it down with Sierra Mist. I reminded him that mushroom shrink when they are deep fried. That excess oil gets in the fried mushroom. That they must sit a bit for the oils to run out before taking a bite. That is why I always wait. he refused to eat anymore. I ended up taking most of them home as well.

Finally the main course arrived. My boyfriend got the broasted chicken breasts and mashed potatoes. One of his chicken breast was raw. He informed the waitress.

Who asked if he wanted another one or something else. he asked for another one. The second one came back cooked all the way through. However, my boyfriend did not eat it. We took it home. I think he filled up on to much broccoli and cheese soup or the raw chicken turned his stomach. So, far his experience wasn't so good. The waitress was very helpful and pleasant to deal with. I left her a tip in cash on the table for her good services.

I ordered the breaded baked cod and a side of broccoli. As you can tell I received more broccoli than the piece of cod. Also the cod was not breaded or looked like the picture in the menu. Not sure what kind of fish I ended eating. However, I squeezed lemon juice over my fish and broccoli. I ate it all. It tasted good. The fish was thoroughly cooked.

For desserts we both ordered a sundae. I choose the caramel sundae. He chose the chocolate fudge sundae. The sundae's were really good. I could not eat all of mine. As I had filled out up dinner. I should have never ordered that side of breaded mushrooms. I felt stuffed. My boyfriend managed to eat all his sundae.

From a scale from 1 to 5. 5 being the best rated. I chose to rate this outing a 3.

Reasoning :

My meal was good but looked different than what I thought it was suppose to be. The fish was not breaded properly.

Boyfriend broasted chicken breast was raw. Boyfriend had issued with the breaded mushrooms. He also would of ordered a salad over a soup. However the place doesn't carry French dressing.

For these reasons I must give the rating a "3". We will eat there again. However, it will be a minute before we do.

My Son Received A Letter To Go To Washington

A celebration is in order. My teen son was nominated to go to Washington to the White House to talk to the Security of Defense for six days.

This is a huge honor. The only problem is the expense of the trip. I would really like him to go. The boy is smart, athletic and is on the right path to going places.

As a mother I am going to do my best to see he can go as far as possible. I want him to meet his goals. I gave everything up to be a mother. I don't want my son to have to give up his dreams. I don't regret giving mine up. As I am very proud to the mother of all three of my children.

I am going to do my best in trying to figure a way to get my son to Washington. I may have to start a GoFund, as I know I can't do it on my own. I am a disabled mom living on a monthly income.

This is not letting something stop my son from going places. This is a side step til I can get him there. That alone is a cause for a celebration.

Wordless Wednesday #5

Wordless wednesday is sharing a post with few to no words. Also sharing anywhere from one to multiple photographs.

Birds are chirping feed me

Beautiful sunset 

Tree budding in the front yard

Dandelions growing on the side of the house

Throwback Tuesday Link Ups

I decided to create a Throwback Tuesday, instead of a Thursday as I am changing it up a bit, for those who wish to bring more attention to an older post, article or blog.

Or to share a link about something old. It can be an old photograph, memory of someone that has past away. It can be about antiques, old cars. Really it can be about anything from yesterday year or an older post, or blog you would like more attention to you content.

This link up will be going on all week long. So, you have a chance to link up. Thank you for taking the time to view my Tuesday Link up.

FYI : Besides me visiting your link. I also share on multiple social media after viewing it.

Monday Madness Blogger Link Up

Good Morning, good affternoon, and good evening my fellow bloggers! Trying once again to get others to link up for my Monday Madness Link Up. Last time only 4 blogs were linked up. Let's see if we can beat that amount this time. I am hoping others will join in this linkup.

You can submit as many links you want from any blog or writing website you want. If you have time, please check out some of the other linkers links.

Thank you in advance for linking up and sharing this link up with others.

French Toast

I just love making and eating French toast. Making French toast is one of the easiest ways to use up bread that is starting to get hard. I have been doing this with all sorts of bread and it always turned out so yummy and easy to cut.

The last time I made French toast. I used sourdough bread. As it was hard on the outside. I sliced the sour dough bread up in slices. It was really easy to slice up. I got out several eggs, cracked them open and make them open to dip the bread in. I place a slice of the sourdough bread in the egg mixture. When I feel the egg mixture has soaked in good enough. I turn the slice of bread over. And soak the other side. I start placing the bread soaked in the egg mixture in a pan and fry it in a little oil. When the bread is done frying, I place it on a platter till all is done. I grab a couple of slices, lay them on a plate, and add a little sugar to them. All done. For the left over eggs mixture I scramble it up in to scrambled eggs. As part of the meal.

Sometimes my family will use powder sugar or syrup instead over the french toast. I have also added a mixture of cream cheese with fruit in between slices before as well. We also have this for dinner or lunch as well as breakfast.

There are many ways to make French toast.

What is your favorite way of making French toast?

Photo from Google free use image.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I love to write. Whether it is writing on a website, my blog, Facebook, or jotting something down in a notebook. I can look out the window and see all sorts of things to write about. When I get ideas I write them down. When I am riding in a vehicle, I look out and think of things to write about.

I get my inspiration from viewing the world. I love to take photos and write about what I took pictures of. I really can write about anything right of rip.

I use to be a member of a forum where we were challenged to write poems and short stories. There were always some condition that had to be met. Such as certain words had to be used in the poem or short story. Usually about ten of them. Other times one subject was given to write about.

One member was chosen to have the top poem or story. That member in turn gave the next challenge or conditions that had to be met. Sometimes, it was a holiday theme based. Other times, it was geared towards writing a review.

Having those conditions and challenges opened my eyes to the possibility of writing about any subject out there, at any time given. Once you learn to write to your hearts content about anything and everything. It really is hard to stop. I have a lot to talk about to the world. I get it out through my writings.

Challenge : Write about what inspires you to write

Photos from Pixabay.com

#writers #writing #writings

A - Z Emotions Challenge : H - Handicapped

Many of readers are aware I am handicapped. Others have no clue unless I talk about it. I am one of those prime examples that you can't tell if someone is handicapped by looking at them.

I was shot by my estranged husband some years back. The bullet struck and went straight through my right calf. I have permanent nerve damage. I had my muscle blown out of one side of my leg. My right calf is smaller and is weaker than my left calf. I suffer from muscle spasms, chronic nerve pain, and my leg giving out on me for no reason. 

I am susceptible for falls. Which one nasty fall down a flight of stairs landed me in the hospital with a torn rotator cut. That healed, only for issues with my daughter for it to be hurt again. It is mostly healed now. I still have pains. If I cough hard, I feel pain, like my shoulder blade is going to pop out of my skin.  Another time I fell on cement, the whole side of my body was bruised from such a hard fall.

If I know I am going on long walks, I take my walking cane with me. As that will be my only means to keep walking with the amount of pain that comes. I walk slow to make sure I don't fall. Which irritates people. 

I have been called names because of my handicap. I have been made fun of. Worse of all. I have been told I am faking it. I am not faking it. I never have. People try to rate my pain and tell me I can do something when I clearly can not. I have been forced into situations which has humiliated me because of my handicap. Only to be told,"Oh my God! You really aren't faking it."

You see my leg isn't my only handicap. I also suffer with 4 pinched nerves in my spine and lower back. Two in my neck.  All from being rear ended within 6 months of being shot by my estranged husband. Plus, my hips randomly pop out of place from an issue when I was much younger. I have issues with my neck popping out of place causing severe migraines ever since the accident.

I have other unseen handicaps. Such as partial hearing in both ears. People think I am ignoring them or not listening. Really, I can't hear you. I especially have troubles in noisy places.

I am legally blind in my left eye. I have astigmatism in my right eye. I wear glasses I picked up from the Dollar Tree in order to be able to read. As everything is blurry without them. I am waiting for my two years to be up. So, I can be seen by a an eye doctor where my insurance will pay partial payment to get my eyes checked and get new glasses. 

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, which places me in daily pain. I can tell when the rain is coming. As my whole body hurts and swells up. Some days I hurt so bad I can't pick up a laundry basket without being on tears.

I also found out a few years ago I am a type 2 diabetic. Which explains the issues I have been having with open wounds not healing properly or as fast as they once did.

Currently, I am between doctors. That means I am not taking any meds for my conditions. The pain is worse, its intense some days compared to others. The more I move the more I do. The worse the pain is.

I know people can't see my pain. There is no way they can rate my daily pain. I wish people would be a little be more understanding of my situation. Instead of thinking I am faking things because I can't keep up. 

It really hurts when family is the one telling you are faking a handicap. When you clearly aren't. One sibling made fun of  me and would repeatedly tell me I am faking it. This same sibling ended up breaking her ankle. It required metal pieces and screws to be fixed. She received her humility living in a wheelchair for awhile til she was able to regain her walking ability. Now this same sibling suffers from back pain that is requiring surgery. 

I am using my sibling as an example of what can happen if you humiliate a handicapped person. Things can change in a blink of an eye, where it can place you in the same position or worse than the handicap person you made fun of. Never tell someone they are faking it. Or their handicap isn't as bad as they making it out to be. You are not a doctor, judge or jury. 

Instead give compassion and try to understand where the handicapped person is coming from. Be polite. Ask if a handicapped person needs help. Don't assume they need it. As being handicapped I have figured out how to do daily routine things in a different way in order to still live a productive life without being stuck in a chair all day long. 

Here's a list of my other articles in this series :

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Abandoned

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Blessed

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Complicated

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Delightful

A- Z Emotions Challenge : Emotion

A - Z Emotions Challenge : Forgive

A - Z Emotions Challenge - G, not one many

Photo from Pixabay.com

An InLinkz Link-up

Wordless Wednesday #4

Wordless Wednesday is an article or post with few to no words. Can you pull one off? I challenge you to create a Wordless Wednesday.

Not a very clear picture. I mentioned a squirrel that was a white / brown mix. Here it is playing with a brown squirrel. Others in the neighborhood think it looks more like a ferret. You be the judge.

This is photo #2. My boyfriend took it will his smartphone. He had a hard time trying to capture the mixed colored squirrel.

Here are what ferrets look like up close. Nothing like squirrels to me.

On what you have seen through these pictures. Do you think it is possible for a ferret to be loose and playing with squirrels in the neighborhood? Or do you think it is very possible for a squirrel to be mixed with brown and white?

Monday Madness Blogger Link Up

Good Morning, Afternoon, and Evening my fellow bloggers! Trying once again to get others to link up for my Monday Madness Link Up. Last time only one person linked up. I am hoping others will join in this link up.

You can submit as many links you want from any blog or writing website you want. If you have time, please check out some of the other linkers links.

Thank you in advance for linking up and sharing this link up with others.

Strawberries

Pixabay.com

Strawberries are one of my favorite fruits I can buy year around at the local supermarkets. Either fresh or frozen.  I like to buy them in bulk when strawberries are on sale and freeze them for later use. I have heard you can can strawberries for later baking. However, it is something I have not tried yet.

Pixabay.com

You ask what is a strawberry? A strawberry is a fruit. Fruits are healthy for if you eat in moderation. If look back through history, strawberries have been mention since the 1300's. Strawberries have fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. researchers have ranked strawberries as the 27th best antioxidant food in the United States. As they are fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free with low calories.

Pixabay.com

Strawberries are made in to cakes, cookies, jams, jellies, ice cream, and other delicious desserts.

Strawberries are delicious eaten by themselves.

Taken by rusty2rusty

One recipe my family will beg me to make is Strawberry Fluff Stuff. It is great to take along to a pot-luck or other social gathering. It can be made in to a diabetic recipe version.

Challenge : Write about Strawberries

Wind

Wind is something we feel when a breeze flows through the air. It can be a gently feeling as the wind flows through or hair. Or violent destruction from the wind of a tornado or a hurricane.

I thought I would share a couple songs I like that talks about the "wind". I am not sure how to embed Youtube videos in to blogger. So, I will share the links.

1. Wind beneath my wings by Beaches

If you listen to this song, make sure you have tissues handy.

2. Candles in the wind by Elton John

3. Wind of Change by Scorpions

This song has always spoke to me.

4. In the air tonight by Phil Collins

Phil Collins is a very talented musician who can play multiple instruments. I would listen to this song when I was having a bad day.

5. Dust in the wind by Kansas

6. She's like the wind by Patrick Swayze

Many people don't realize Patrick Swayze could not only act but sing as well. Sad to know such a talented man died early from a disease.

Challenge : Write about breeze, wind or air

Photo from Pixabay.com, a free photo sharing website.

A- Z Emotions Challenge : G

I was going to write about being Grateful. I have decided not. As I have already had a couple posts like that. That has not done well with views or comments. I have decided to write about a couple different emotions that start with the letter "G". Not only one today.

Yesterday, my boyfriend helped unload a truck at a new local food bank. My boyfriend was Gracious enough to leave his job. Where he is self employed to Give his time to help those in need. Since, his business is barely staying afloat. Plus, I don't bring much income in. Our family qualifies to receive help from the food bank.

What I really like about this new food bank. The people who have started it, is Going out of their way to hand out healthy food. It isn't food donated from local stores or unhealthy easy to prepare food in a box. It is drinks like V-8 juice. Real meat not out dated. Turkey sausage. Fresh eggs. A case of bottled water. The list goes on. It isn't a few bags. You get a couple boxes of food. The food bank freely Gives every two weeks.

I personally know a couple of the men who are helping with the food bank. They are Generous Giving souls who wish to help out their community. One suffers from Type 2 diabetis like me. Who has to eat good healthy foods in order to help control the disease. What was being handed out at other local food banks was not cutting it in forms of trying to fight the disease.

A food bank like this is something my community needed. I am proud of my boyfriend for helping and giving of his time. Even if it was as simple as unloading a truck. The Giving, Gracious, and Generous nature of strangers amazes me. When I start to loose hope. Some Goodnatured stranger shows the Good in people again.

An InLinkz Link-up

I Pulled A Fast One On You

The other day was beautiful. I was able to get some amazing shots of the pups playing out in the fenced in backyard.

Both took turns running after the toys being thrown. Moose is trying to get Rascal's attention.

Moose the Chug, poses long enough for me to get a quick snapshot of him on the move again. While he waits on rascal the Chihuahua mix.

"Oh my! What's that I smell in that spot?", says Rascal the Chihuahua mix.

"Oh, Moose you win. I am down for the count. 1, 2, 3.", bellows rascal the Chihuahua mix.

"Hey Rascal," hollered Moose the Chug,"Come check out this new spot I found."

Moose yells,"No silly, over here. Rascal, where did you go?"

Rascal peeps up,"Hee hee behind you brother from another mother."

Rascal asks," What did you find? I don't smell anything new."

"No, not over there you silly pup." Moose says in a huff, "Quit goofing off. I am trying to show you something."

"Don't lick the yellow spot. I just pee'd there." Announced Moose.

"Buster, Did you see the trick Moose played on me?" Rascal asked. "I can't get enough water to get that taste out of my mouth."

"Ha, ha, what are little bro's for if not able to play jokes on.", replies Buster.

"Mom," cries Rascal. "Did you see what Moose tricked me in doing? Buster laughed at me too."

"Thank you mommy," said Rascal. "You always know ho to make me feel better. Let's play."

Rascal hollers," Ha, ha, I told mom on you. Your in trouble now, Moose."

"Come back here you little rat." Yells Moose. "Your mad because I pulled a fast one on you" As Rascal runs away laughing.