The sweetest, friendliest, most lovable child I have ever known is now a sullen, sarcastic, incorrigible ten year old.

I am bewildered, frustrated, and angry. Trouble at school, trouble at home, and getting too big for her britches. She is defensive, aggressive, and unapologetic. She has cheated and lied, cheated and lied, disrupted class, verbally attacked, ignored, refused, and protested. I have tried to talk to her, withheld priviledges, provided consequences....questioned, lectured, yelled, cried, pleaded; and then...remained aloof, maintained composure, stated things matter-of-factly.

She is stubborn, and that quality isn't all bad. Right now though, she is scaring the shit out of me!

Reagan cheated on a test. She actually took a test for two of her friends. Then she lied about it (when I asked her if she wanted to tell me anything...she got beligerent instead of confessing). She also had her friends writing her sentences (that Paul assigned) for her. She is not the least bit remorseful for any of it. She is angry and I don't know why. She chose to do this the week of her field trip to the state capital, and the week before Spring Break. So now she is more mad at me because I "won't let her go on her field trip". I didn't make that decision until she was rude and hateful with me instead of telling me what she did. I gave her ample opportunity to confess. :(

Reagan was able to retake her test, and she did better. She still wasn't back up to a 9th grade reading level, but she was happy with her results. She also caught up on her chores and her schoolwork after missing two days. I know she still didn't feel well, but she really wanted to get back to school and get caught up.

My birthday was really nice, in spite of sick children.

It included sushi and chocolate, so I was happy. I got an hour or two to myself and a nice lunch with Paul before returning to the house of ILL.

Reagan was running a 102 temp and just lying around. Libby barely moved from the couch until I got home. Ari was happier, but still running a fever. William seems ok, but he has a cough. Poor boy ended up doing everyone else's chores.

x-posted everywhere