Big Fat Hairy Meltdown

Micah, Matt, and Brian were going to have a sleepover outside in Brian's tent. I should have foreseen it all. I thought Matt and Brian were getting along- well, Micah decided he didn't want to sleep in the tent because it was too small. Brian insisted and Micah said he wanted to sleep on the crow's nest and Matt agreed with Micah, and Brian then had a meltdown. Then everyone had a meltdown. What it comes down to is that Matt and Brian both want to be Micah's best buddy. I really thought only girls did this "be MY best friend but not HER best friend" thing until these 3 started this pattern last year while Steve was still in Iraq. It used to be Micah and Brian would go against Matt. Now it's Micah and Matt against Brian.

Both Brian and Matt have broken a lot of Micah's things- Matt out of carelessness and Brian out of anger. It's getting ridiculous. Matt likes to go to Sunday School w/ Micah and that always works out well. I wish my own kids were as anxious to go to SS as Matt is. Matt is spiritually hungry and deserves to be fed and loves the Christian education.

Matt comes from a very chaotic environment. 2 older brothers who are in every kind of trouble. I had to kick them out of my house for looking up every kind of porn on my computer when I gave them permission to use my computer to play games. They also get kicked out of school for smoking, causing trouble, etc. Well now that the 2 older brothers have gone to live with their "real" dad, Matt seems to be doing better (at least to me). Not as mean. Not as much filthy language and insults. I mean it used to be bad. The stuff that came out of his mouth which he didn't even understand the meaning of. I knew he was hearing it from others. I think Matt's mom is just sort of letting life happen to her and every time I talk to her she sounds like she's just woken up and is reaching for a joint.

Well the trio had a huge meltdown and it ended up in fighting. Brian punched Micah in the nose. Steve got all pissed off at the whole thing. Brian called his mom and then we sent Matt home too. Steve overreacted and was too hard on Micah. Micah rued the loss of his PS2 which Brian had "given" him in exchanged for a pea shooter (which Brian broke- add that to the remote control cars, the walkie talkie, and all kinds of other things- the kid has an anger problem). I mean they exchanged everything, shared everything. Shoes, games, clothes, toys. We had Micah return Brian's stuff.

Well of course they've had meltdowns before and I'm sure at some point they'll be on speaking terms again. This kid Brian has serious issues and it's really going to affect him- his anger problems- low frustration level.

Then there's the whole thing about Kings Island and Brian's dad, how he acted there. Now Mary (his mother) calls me for advice, counseling, etc. etc. etc. about her situation at work, where she's constantly harrassed. Always asking me for reassurance, "Am I doing the right thing? Are you sure? But what if they get mad at me?" I mean she's meek as a little mouse. I tell her go to HR, go get counsel, etc. etc. etc. each time she's sexually or just generally harrassed at work. Write it down. Now Mary really considers me her friend and I really do like her, though sometimes I just have to tell her I have to hang up.

So anyway Camp Meltdown is now closed and Micah's been here with me venting for several hours now. When he vents, the whole WORLD is a stage. The drama unfolds and keeps on unfolding for days. The Emmy goes to....