For years I have been picking my battles and negotiating and compromising. I have at times been more lenient than I imagined I would.
No more.
We are at full Mexican Standoff mode here.
The stakes have been raised. The problems continue mounting. The lies have multiplied. For each inch given a mile is taken.
Enough is enough.
My husband is in agreement with me. We have talked and pondered and made decisions.
The line is being drawn in the sand.
The Mexican Standoff has begun.
Goals
1. We will provide a roof over our kid's heads and clothing and healthy food to eat. We have family rules that must be followed. A couple of very easy chores must be done by each child, like taking the food out to the compost bin and rolling the trash can curbside.
2. Our children will be supplied with the opportunity for good physical and mental health. This is the top goal. To this end we are accessing not just basic care covered by insurance but are paying out of pocket for high quality care and treatments which are not covered by insurance.
3. Our children will be afforded the opportunity for a high quality education at home. If this does not work out, school will be used. Learning is not optional, it's a state law requirement. Period. Private tutors are hired when necessary to supplement home education or to supplement paid courses.
4. Priviledges and fantastic things like a $2400 trip to the 2013 Boy Scout Jamboree or the $2000+ trip to Key West for Boy Scout Sea Base are offered if the rules of the house are followed and if #1-3 are being met with success.
5. Lesser wonderful things such as not just basic clothing but the trendy fashions of their choice, iPods, laptop computers, high end mountain bikes, sports team participation, mobile phones with texting and any number of other optional fun entertaining things are available if #1-3 are done with success.
6. Driving in the teen years is not necessary but is the highest priviledge of all. Not only must #1-3 be done but responsibility and maturity must be displayed on a consistent basis. If and when this ever does happen, we will figure out who will pay for what. Insurance for teen boys is expensive, and a busy kid doing a sport and Scouts and possibly still, the robotics team, has little time for a paid part-time job. Getting the driver's permit on the 15th birthday did not happen here. Turning a certain age does not mean the kid will get to do it. Period.