4th,5th,6th entry: diary of a soldier's wife

My new job in Brisbane is ok. Up and down days as always in childcare.  I thought about what I had suggested to my mum for my son's Christmas present form his Uncle in Sydney and I suggested a football.  As family is interstate it was not a good gift idea and I called myself an idiot for suggesting it like I always do, then tell myself to stop.  Mitchell has been good with Jarrod until the weekend, then problems on the weekend.  It usually ended with Mitchell walking one way and saying, "I can't handle it anymore", and Jarrod walking off the other way saying the same thing.  Jarrod keeps saying that he feels like he doesn't want to do anything for him anymore.  They just can't seem to communicate well a lot of the time.  Jarrod can be like his blood father and very head strong, even at 8 yrs old! Jarrod getting fed up and is cranky a lot of the time.  I suggested we find someone to talk to.

22/01/01
Mitchell seemed to have a good day when I picked him up from vacation care..  vacation told us there were only one or two incidents that he had to be spoken to.  Mitchell jumped off a ledge and hurt his arm.  Mitchell complained about her reaction, as she said it was stupid! I didn't reply.

At dinner Mitchell asked if I could put his sun top in his bag.  I was tired and I went on about having
 a  hundred things to remember, not a 'superwomen' blah, blah, blah.  Not a good reaction as he didn't need to hear that.  I sounded like my mother.  Anyway, Mitchell said, "will you stop it already!"  .  Made me think that I should be encouraging him to be more independent, not whine
 when he isn't and act like a mater. Later Mitchell is asked to go to bed and he whines himself and gets angry in a second.  We threaten with taking star chart down.  Mitchell goes to star chart and rips it off wall in a rage and he his sent to his room.  We didn't give him a warning that bedtime was coming up and this is the reaction we get.  Later I found number of a psychologist.  Family counsellor in practice is $85.00 an hour! but I leave a message.

24/01/01
Too tired to write last night to write.  Mitchell again did not want to go to bed at agreed time, even with a warning.  He said to Jarrod, "That's it, I've had enough!" and walked out of house in his pyjama bottoms! He came back a few minutes later and asked if we heard him.  We said, 'yes' and continued to watch television and I reminded him it may get cold outside.  He went out the door again.  Jarrod went out to him a few minutes later and Jarrod went to bed.  I had a bit of an absent minded afternoon today.  A plant tipped over in car that I didn't secure properly, also forget about appointment with the person giving a quote for some blinds and I went to the shops twice!  Maybe I am starting to worry about Jarrod going away for work soon to east Timor.  Spoke to mum on the phone in Adelaide.  Her and her new boyfriend might go to Sydney at Easter. Rang my girlfriend, Nicky and asked if she wanted to go to the movies tomorrow night.  I think I need some time out.