trixxx

ok so this blog is a two parter...Halloween first...It went well considering all the choas of a last minute surprise visit from the monster in law, and a drunk crazed neighbour wanting me to dress her daughter up. Des really really LOVED it . He is 3.5 now and gets it. He was a lion and roared his way up and down the street and had a blast. this was Oscar's first halloween really. he is 19 months and usually a little more reserved than his outgoing craxy bro so I wasn't sure how he would do. He was a kangaroo and he really enjoyed it. I think the comfort of having Des lead him up to houses gave him courage and he seemed to really enjoy it all. even now as I type this I can see him running and laughing up to the houses with his 'roo tail bouncing behind him. I dressed karl up as a good frankenstein to take them out and I got my sis in law to come over and help with the baby and answering the door. She (at the last minute) got in the spirit and came dressed as catwoman to the deight of all the kids. She lost custody of her kids except for weekends and this was the first halloween without them so it really cherred her up to be invololved with ours...she was happy, the kids had fun and I had help with it all sooo it was splendid!

part two

So in the spirit of delegation..I was explaing to a neighbour (the crazy mom i mentioned earlier) how busy I am. I take care of all three babies , alone all day. I make sure that they are not in front of tv every minute so they have art projects and outside time every day. I also have a thing for keeping our large house perfectly clean and laundry up to snuff. I cook all 3 meals a day from scratch and made healthily soo long story short.. I am overworked. I asked her about the neighbourhood girl named nora, I have spent time with her at the park when there with my kids. She started grade nine this year and I really think she is sweet and nice. I could tell she was poor and maybe not well fed but lovely girl. She said she sometimes hires Nora to watch her girl. She has played with my boys often at the park and seemed responsible and nice. I asked for her phone number to maybe help me around here for cash but was informed she doesn't have ahome phone. I just happened to catch her the other day walking by and nabbed her. She took the boys to the park for 1 hour, aloowing me to spend alone QUIET time with the baby before supper choas and it was great. I gave her a pop, snack (she looked hungry) and ten bucks for it..I mentioned this to the mom next door and she started to tell me more about Nora. and it broke my fucking heart! I found out the reason why she has shaved head is because the school made her as her "mother" wouldn't buy the shampoo for headlice and it went on for year until the school took action. So she stared grade nine bald and without even one new peice of clothing, and probably dirtyu and hungry like I see her often. The mom also told me that Nora asked her for pads one day because her mom had never bought any and told her to use a rag for her periods. She told me her mom is skitzo (dont know real spelling for it) and her dad is alkie who abuses her. I don't know what to do. I came home and cried. when she brought the boys back I gave her more money and told her not to lell her folks about the cash (i'm worried they would take it) and invited her for dinner, she declined but maybe next time. This al;l happened in the last two days. Since then I have talked to my Karl about her (who also cried at the situation) We are gonna "hire" her whenever we can, and I have some clothes to give her but it feels like not enough. We are struggling ourselves so I can't get too crazy. I can't really call Childrens Aid as I don't know the REAL story or her full name or where she lives...I know shes not the only kid on our block like this and thats what burns my ass. We are in a working class neighbourhood. I grew up working class and we never went hungry even though money was always tight. Our house was clean ALWAYS but not fancy. We wore clothes that weren't always in but my mom kept us clean for fucks sake. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE TREATING THIER KIDS WORSE THAN DOGS?!?!??! Poor or not, take care of your kids people. It doesn't take money to keep them clean and fed. the cheaest food to buy is fruits and veggies or rice and beans...

I know this was a huuuge rant but I'm beside myself thinking of her and the other girls I know on my very own block who live in houses with gargae piled up inside and their druggie parents neglecting their kids. Mu mom told me this morning "you can't help them all honey..."

I don't know how to feel , other than thankful and angry.

I don't know what to do, other than try to help one or two...

poor Nora