Ukraine Adoption

A loud silence

My nearly 13 year old son wouldn't speak to me this morning, wouldn't even say good-bye, and my 5 year old daughter would only scream at me like I'm ruining her life because she can't find her shoes.

Am I doing everything wrong? Or right?

Austin is mad because I made him go to bed on time last night because he was really tired and crabby, plus I wouldn't help him with his homework because he waited until the last minute again and I had warned him about that.

Tara is crabby because she is getting smarter every day and demanding that her opinions count in all situations. She sat on her bed while I pulled shorts, pants, shirts, skirts, one by one, past the princess' scrutiny until I told her to figure out what she wants to wear and come downstairs afterward. "NO, WAAAAIT," she screamed.

When she was finally dressed and walked into the kitchen, she was wearing a blue skirt with white socks pulled all the way up her shins and pink Crocs/sandals. I gently suggested that she at least fold the socks down,( the 70s look is a bit old, ) and she wailed again that I hurt her feelings. Making her lunch a few minutes later, she studied each item with the same kind of scrutiny. "NO, I don't want THAT. And no not THAT." SIGH.

Meanwhile, as I'm dealing with an unreasonably teary Tara, Austin silently slipped on his coat and walked out the front door to catch the school bus. "Have a good day," I called out to him. He kept walking. But I noticed he was wearing one of the newly washed shirts I left out for him last night. So I guess maybe he doesn't totally hate me.