This was a loooooonnnnng week with SS14. We had winter weather that closed schools from Tuesday afternoon onward, which meant he was here in the house nonstop for days. (Hopefully DH can find something to send him to do this summer.)

He continues to sneak food up to his room, then lie about it. It's particularly annoying because if he'd just ask to have a snack, the answer would be yes. And if he'd obey the rules and show some responsibility, we would let him have food up there.

I blogged over a month ago about SS14 getting suspended for fighting. (He didn't start it, but he escalated it.) I agree with what people have said about defending against bullying, etc., and I agree. But it doesn't sound like that's what was happening.

Yesterday, he got in-school suspension for "horseplay." DH asked him about it. A kid tripped and knocked into SS, and SS responded by shoving him so hard he fell down. SS confirmed that, yes, the kid bumped him by accident.

DH: Then why did you shove him like that?

SS: Because he bumped into me.

What is it about parents who seem scared of their kids?

As long as I've been around, it's been obvious DH and BM will twist themselves in knots to avoid telling SS13 "no." DH is better about not giving in to SS on everything, but even he avoids the no. They'll discuss trying to steer SS in a certain direction or hiding something from him so he doesn't find out about it. But they never just tell him he can't do or have something.

Two weeks ago, SS13 went home from school Wednesday because he "threw up." Was perfectly fine on Thursday (district policy is he couldn't come back the next day). Friday morning, like clockwork, he told BM he threw up, so she kept him home again.

SS has acid reflux and has had it since he was 6. It causes him to spit up sometimes, but not outright vomiting. He also has a prescription, which he hasn't taken in months.