It's still cold here, and next week is supposed to be cold as well.  The dogs and I are going stir crazy, so is the cat who sits by the door and meows until I open the door, then she walks away in a huff.  We've also had a lot of snow this winter, which is good, but eventually you run out of places to put it.  The photo is Miss Katie's neighborhood.

Jack is home sick today which means today will be a loooong day.  He slept with me last night because he wasn't feeling well and he tossed and turned all night, so  neither of us slept well.  On the upside, I'm retired, and don't have to book off work and feel guilty for leaving my coworkers short.  I wonder how long until I have a fever and a cough like him:)

I went to a parenting class yesterday and it was about developing resilience in children.  It was helpful and I learned a lot, like teaching your child/grandson, how to problem solve (not something that anyone ever taught me).  There was also an acronym which I hadn't heard before HALTS.

When children and adults start to unwind, check for the following.

H-hungry

A-angry

L-lonely

T-tired

S-sensory overload

All of these things cause problems for small and large brains, especially me, but Jack as well.  It's only been in the last few years that I realize how much hungry, tired, and sensory overload affect me.  It's not pretty, but being aware of it, checking myself and Jack, is a good way to stop problems from escalating.  Overall it was a great program with lots of good ideas that I'll try and use.

I was the oldest person in the class, but I'm getting used to that.  Raising a second generation gives me a different perspective which is nice; things I stressed over the first time, don't stress me nearly as much now because I realize the behavior won't last forever (even though it feels like that at the time).  My main issues are raising a traumatized child with ADHD, but we're working on it and I'm learning how to deal with myself better, and be a better role model for him.

It's February which means I'm tired of winter.  It's also the month that both of my parents died, which gets me down a little.  My dad died twenty-five years ago tomorrow.  Hard to believe it's been so long.  We had such a difficult relationship that it was hard to say goodbye to him.  I wish he had lived long enough for me to forgive him for being a fucked up human who did his best.  I wish I could have told him that when he was alive.

And on that happy note, I have decided on my next pottery project.  A teapot.