For everything there is a season

Is life always this hard?

And of course "hard" is a relative thing. Right now I'm struggling, but I can think of others, some I know, some I know of, who are going through worse, more difficult situations. That can change my perspective but not my situation.

Depression probably has something to do with this mess. I can feel it creeping over me like a shroud. I've been better recently. Over the past few months my depression has been lighter and I've had strange feelings of hopefulness, excitement, optimism. Strange, but nice. This darkness is familiar, but not so fun.

The hard parts that hold my attention right now involve parenting troubled teenagers. Again. As always. They are so difficult. Sproing seems bent on making poor decisions. He's failing half his classes, which is an improvement from a few weeks ago when he was failing everything except PE. He can be such a nice fellow, and he's intelligent. Intelligence is very different from wisdom. Yes, most almost-15-year-olds lack wisdom and have bad attitudes. This kid is extreme. He has always been extreme. Superman and I don't know quite how to deal with him.

In other news Diva is doing better. Not great, but better. Her attitude only stinks sometimes. But when she gets irritated her temper flares hot and high. She got two days suspension for insubordination to a teacher then to the assistant principal. She was home Thursday and Friday. Thank the Norns she goes back to school Monday. Unfortunately Tuesday is the last day of school before the winter break.

Maybe that's why I'm depressed. I'm looking at two weeks of having these little creatures underfoot all the time. Sproing is grounded until at least the end of December. Oh, I didn't tell you (I don't think) about him being on probation. That happened when I wasn't blogging these last few months.

He and a "friend" committed burglary in the second degree and malicious damage to real property less than $2000. He has to pay restitution, half of the whole, in the amount of $302.50. I'm thankful it wasn't any more expensive. He's working off the money around the house. Which of course means we are paying it. Getting some work out of him, but paying nevertheless. And he bitches about having to do anything. We don't work him hard enough, that's part of the problem. We are way too nice. He is on probation for six months or until he pays off his restitution, whichever is longer. So six months is the minimum (with time off for good behavior, which he hasn't earned yet) with a possibility of being extended if he doesn't pay. Since we're managing the money, "he" is paying. Of course if he doesn't do the work, he won't have the payment.

Superman mentioned the old apprenticeship system. If things still worked that way he would be apprenticed to someone by now, and a couple of years into it. We'd see him on holidays and such, but he'd be working for and living with someone else. And Diva turned 15 a couple of weeks ago, so she'd be married off by now, or close to it. Of course life expectancy back in those days was a lot younger, so me at 50 and Superman at 52 would be dead or close to it. Meh.

Superman and I are going out to dinner at our favorite place this evening. It's 'bout time to go. Perhaps we can have a fun evening. Beer and pizza are involved, so the prospects for fun are good.