Tami ohio, My Walnut Grove was in Indiana. They tore it down some years back. It was still a pretty nice building when they did. It was a new building when I first started going to it in the early forties. It wasn't big enough and not what they needed I guess for the kids now a days. I have a brick from it somewhere. My Mother worked as a cook from the time I was in the second grade and on beyond after I graduated from there. She was able to go to work to and from on our school bus with my sister and me. I really liked the cafeteria food they had and when I was in Jr. high I worked in the cafeteria doing dishes during the lunch time. We would eat in a hurry. We worked and got our lunch free. When I was older for a couple of years I worked for my lunch, but was in charge of counting up all the lunch money, rolling the coins and totaling up what there was. Oh, that was 57 years ago when that ended. I have 3 of the recipes the cafeteria used to use, chocolate pudding, American Spaghetti, and their peanut butter cookies. My Dad was in the television business, in the early days and our school bought a television from him to have in our study hall for certain times to watch. I can remember going with him on the Saturday to deliver it and help him put the antenna up on the roof. We went through an attic door if I remember right to get onto the roof. Our last day of school was only to get our report cards and you just went there and then could go home. One of the years I rode my pony there and got mine. That was so much fun. I think it might have been about 6 miles away. I am not sure. Sue

I read through the OP & some of the posts, but stopped at this one & had to respond before I continue on with reading the rest of the posts. (so forgive me if I missed something that was posted after this) "Why can't you respect someone who works 2 jobs (see your first post)? What is not to respect about that? Did anyone notice this comment????" I noticed it. My first thought was "at least she's working". I've also had similar difficulty with my own feelings/judgments, etc regarding my SD12's BM. She is 38 and has never worked a real job. She was lucky enough to get a minimum wage office job, instead of fast food... but a real job that gave her some good responsibility, but she screwed that up by stealing from her boss & ended up being convicted of embezzelment. Now, at 38+, how is she ever going to work & support herself? I stuggle with judging her for that because I have worked since I was 14 and often worked 2 jobs to support my kids... she sits on her backside all day, thinking of ways to get others to take care of her. Our values & lifestyles are such a stark contrast to each other, I cannot relate to her at all. It's much easier to judge & criticize her than to try & understand something I can't begin to comprehend. Just as I can't understand her relationship (or lack thereof) with her kids... I loved kids, I wanted kids & when I had my kids, I live for them... there's nothing I wouldn't do for them. I can't count the sleepless nights, how many miles I've driven to do things for them, everything I've gone without so they can have. So, I don't get someone that lets her child run around in the cold with shorts & no shoes. I don't get someone that relies on others to be taken care of when I know eventually, those people will be gone. and what bothers me most, which really ISN'T my problem, is that she is modeling her "everyone should take care of me" lifestyle to her daughter... and if falls back on me & DH. I wonder what it will be like when SD is 25 & has kids... can't keep a relationship together (like her mom) and comes back to us for help. She won't go to her mom because her mom is already nearly 40 and can't even get a minimum wage job because she's a convicted thief. I guess in a way, my opinion or judgment of BM could be seen that I think I'm better than her... and there is some truth to it. I am proud that I supported my kids, raised my kids, and would do anything for my kids. If I were a BM that wouldn't work, fought supporting my kids, let someone else raise my kids & made excuses every time my kids needed something or wanted me to come to one of their things... then I would feel like a loser. But, that comes from MY perspective from the parent that I am. I can't understand what someone else feels when they do things so differently. There is no shame in manual labor at any age. There is no shame in an honest day's work at any age. I can only imagine that someone "at her age" chooses to be a waitress because she may enjoy the interaction with customers... she may be a bus driver because she enjoys being around kids & likes the schedule. It's not always about the money or prestige. My aunt started a landscaping company at age 55 when she divorced her husband. It's something I would never do but she enjoys it. I gave up a secure office job with benefits to have the freedom of self employment but sometimes, when the phones don't ring for days & the bank account starts dwindling... and I don't have my bi weekly paycheck to count on, it's scary but I love what I do so it's worth it to me. I try to understand SD's BM... not working, etc. I imagine she enjoys each day, sleeping in & playing games on her computer all day without a worry in the world. I couldn't do it, but I am getting better at seeing another perspective.

Aww Thank you all much. So I ask Tim when the bully and other bullies ask to play football with you why did you say sure....he said grandma if they are having fun with Alex and me they won't want to be a bully again. Don't get me wrong I'm not against these kids comming here to play I just wanted to know Tims reasoning. Hope I don't regret this, because I'm wondering why all of a sudden they want to play football with Tim..I suppose they just heard Tim and Alex talking about it and wanted to join in the fun....no teasing to and from school today...one of the bullys offered Alex a unopened poptart.

I rode the school bus for most of my high school years, even well into my senior year (before my family moved from a rural address to the big city). Oh, how I hated it. Our school district was small then, and I had to ride with ALL ages -- even kindergarten kids. One of the characters on the sitcom "Teachers" described the bus as smelling like "warm milk and bologna farts", and yes -- that was EXACTLY what the bus was like, but combined with the noxious odor of diesel wafting through the windows. I can't help but think back to my own experience every time I see a school bus, and my heart actually goes out to the driver, who has to put up with all the little hellions on board. Well, that's what my bus was comprised of. Maybe things are different these days and kids are more civilized. ;-)