I had a tough time today but God is good. I was talking to my son about childhood on Thursday and started remembering this great time when my cousins from the south came to visit us. I told him about that time and I had never spoken on it. Tell me why the next morning my mother tells me a cousin from the south was coming that afternoon to attend a funeral for another one of her close cousins about 20 minutes away from my town? I didn't know this person. My cousin is not doing financially well and she was not able to attend funerals in our area at least twice in the last few years. One she was really close to, our beloved cousin Maria she was not able to come. She is about 15 years older than her and she thinks people felt bad for her so someone bought a round trip ticket for her to come this time.
It was a delight seeing her yesterday. I did notice my son was off during the week and tried to deal with his behavior in different ways (taking away entertainment). Today at church we had to use a different area due to another funeral occuring in the sanctuary. Strange that my cousin was not too far away attending a funeral and here at my church there was a different service going on. I set about getting things set up with the piano and trying to keep my son from going out of the are we had permission for. After I finished working with my class I had to talk to my son a few times to get him in line. I went to the piano for service and when it was children's story time I looked and noticed my son was not in the room. I went looking for him to find another sis having to restrain him and keep him from hitting his head on the wall. He was trying to hit his head and in complete meltdown. He has not done this in years. I literally had an IEP meeting yesterday and we agreed he could move on to the inclusion class for next year. He is a national honor society candidate, honor roll, doing great with his animation channel and doing other projects, how could he be going backwards like this. Several people had to chase him and eventually I was able to take him home. He has calmed down and we talked but now I have to get behavioral support again and reconsider his class for next year. Before the meltdown, I talked to him in the hall and he started crying telling me two children were bullying him. I pulled one parent and child aside and we had a talk. I intended to do the other but I had piano responsibilities during the main service so I planned to do it later today. I wasn't able to get the child but did tell the mom what he communicated. Some people don't see it that way but I know my son is not lying about things like this. I know how terrible people can be and teach generation gets worse and worse. I strongly dislike coming to church and people asking if my son is on his meds. My son doesn't take psychotropic meds and I refuse to go that route. He has been great since first grade and I hate that when people see behavior like this they think he is lacking in other areas and he is not. I know that is something I may face when going back next week.
I told my mother what happened and she recommended I get a pet for him. He needs something to look forward to, something to take care of. I refuse to get a dog, they are cute but absolutely disgusting creatures. Cats bite and scratch you. The kitty litter stinks and they shed alot. I was bit by someone else's cat two weeks ago. So no. I thought about a toothless snake but that would be hard to find. My mom is terrified of snakes. She will never come over again. So a bird. It's not enough for us to already have male peacocks coming to my door to eat their breakfast and dinner. We talked about it, my mom, my son and I and I think we will leave out after sunset to seek out a bird to add to this chaotic family. My dad shouted he needed a dog in the background. We pay him not mind.
So I need prayer over all this. My son's mental health, our new pet??, my sons education and future, help at church, and my own sanity and pockets. I'm not doing vet bills. If we come home with someone I hope to give them a good life but I hope he or she will be someone my son loves, enjoys, looks forward to interacting with and caring for. Birds require alot. .....I could do an aquarium but I've had fish before. Blah. It's a problem I don't want to create and have. We'll see. Happy Sabbath.
*** Update. 9:06pm. I spent more time talking to my son and thinking about things. It makes no sense to get a pet and I'm not going to. He is passionate about animation, videogames and enjoys being outdoors. I have tried a fish with him in the past and his attention was too short for it. It wasn't long before I was the only one seeing about it. Same for his plants. He's had several indoor plants and has a larger veggie fruit garden than I have yet by June, he has consistently refused to come outside to check on things or tend to it despite the initial excitement. I end up having to tend to it. I'm out doing lawn work every week. To get a bird will not be fair to the bird. I do not have the time to give to it. It is not financially responsible either. I have real goals I'm working towards and want to ensure my son and I are good by the time he turns 18 and I start giving serious thought about retirement. Too many people in dire straights with ruined credit and pay check to pay check all too often are pet owners. I hear many stories of people going into debt to pay their pet's medical bills. I don't have the heart to see an animal suffer so I know I too would likely be one of those broke people giving a kidney and a lung to save it...to spare it another 5-6 years. I don't have the energy to risk it escaping the cage and struggling to secure it again. I don't like the fact that it would be in a cage. I want it to be free but not inside my house. I already buy alot of food for the peacocks and they don't even live here. Birds can stink too. I have a child, a tropical rainforest throughout my home, the peacocks and myself to look after. Having a baby won't make him stay and treat you right. Same goes for buying a bird or other pet. Its creating problems that don't need to be made. Someone else can give those pets a better home. Not me.
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