Crap Start to the Weekend, Better Saturday

I had a really crappy day at work yesterday, thanks for asking. About 3pm I was feeling like grabbing my bag and just leaving. But I'm not that kind of person and I need a job, so I didn't.

Bad thing is that these don't seem to be matters that are going to go away anytime soon.

I came home and announced I'd had a crap day and everyone should just leave me alone for a bit. I don't think the kids new how to react as I don't think I've ever done that before. I was fine after a while.

Yay Saturday!
Took Thunderbolt to some car yards, still hasn't found one he wants; it's difficult in his price range.

But Saturday got better. Took Mistyqee into town and WE FOUND THE BALL-DRESS!!

It is just spectacular and, like last year, I knew it was the right dress cos of the smile on her face when she had it on. It was the first dress she tried on, the only one like that in the shop AND IT FITTED! Anyone hearing karma karma?

Problem is the price, it is more dollars than I was thinking of being appropriate.

So she tried on many other dresses. But none felt like 'the' dress. None looked as good, none made her smile so much.

We continued on to two other shops and stopped to have lunch on the way to some more. I had her call her dad to enquire as to how much he had been thinking of for a dress.

It was more than the price of 'the' dress.

So we went back and put a deposit on it. It seems they keep a register and will register this dress for her school ball, meaning they will not sell it to anyone else attending her ball! I never knew this existed and am sure it must infringe on someones' rights, but she was very pleased about it - that no-one else at her ball is going to be wearing the same dress. (The other girls' parents are probably not silly enough to pay that much for a dress anyway, but I didn't say that to her!)

I have one extremely happy girl sitting behind me :) She keeps thanking me, bouncing, and talking about the dress, she's even given it a name - the Phoenix dress. I will post a pic once we actually have it here at home.

Yes, the ball is not until May, so we are well ahead of schedule!

I *do* love making my children happy.

Parenting Adventures - We Did Something Right
I've been helping (read pushing) Thunderbolt with his search for a job this week, and he did something that really surprised me.

I'd given him the task of writing a job application (just one!) by the time I got home.

I was surprised that he had actually done it, but was even *more* surprised that he said he realised how bad he was at writing covering letters and could I please read it and give him some help!!

Admitting you're not good at something is pretty hard for some people, as is asking for help. For Thunderbolt it's almost unheard of.

Was feeling very proud of him that night. (Oh and the covering letter was edited and his first application sent off)

Was even prouder of him when I got home the next night and he had done another one! Particularly surprised as I hadn't even told him to!

His dad and I often worry about his level of motivation to do things, and we both know we are not very good models in that arena. So I was really pleased with him; getting a job isn't something he *really* wants to do, so for him to be doing stuff off his own bat is particularly pleasing.