Halloween

C was a midnight fairy. She came home from school is a good mood and ready to have a nice evening... was excited to put on her costume. The problem came when the new case manager came and asked to speak to me alone, upstairs.

When the worker and I were finished talking, C was short with the worker and clearly irritated. Once the worker left, she was even worse, snapping at me and the kids. I got in front of her, made clear eye contact, and asked what was wrong. She told me she was upset that she was down stairs by herself and then the babies came down and touched her things. All I could do was appologize that the situation happened, and ask if we could move on. For a moment, things were fine. She was reinvigorated about trying on her costume and having me do her eye makeup.

We got everyone together and loaded up the car. We first went to a church carnival and then to trick-or-treat in Grandma's neighborhood, followed by a trip to the immediate neighbors in our cul de sac.

Her attitude went sour the minute we hit the car. She was complaining that we weren't going to any garage haunted houses. As if we knew where they were and would just change our plans to do it. Once at the church, she was very controlling and self centered. We had met my two neices and their mom there, which C loves. But she didn't want to stay with the group and we had to work to keep her content while still trying to have fun as a group. There was a lack of gratitude and a lot of complaining. It wore on me, and I stayed patient as I tried to get her in line.

By the time we got to Grandma's, she was in rare form. I finally pulled her aside and said that she either needed to get in with the group or go wait in the car. That the attitude needed to stop. "I don't have an attitude!" Yeah right!

We headed home with 4 tired kids and 2 wore out parents. It was fun for the little ones. They were oblivious to the struggles, but I don't think C really had fun by her own chosing. Sad choice.