When my daughter turned 18, I was hoping that she’d realize she was an adult and could be tried as one. I thought she’d make better choices with her future in mind. I…was dreaming. Over the years, I would tell her things I didn’t want her to do hoping that she’d respect my feelings and think about the reasons I always gave for whatever decisions I made. She listened intently and made a list. A list that she’s quickly working her way down before time runs out.

Smoking pot? Check.
Under age drinking? Check.
Making out in the back of a car with no condom? Check.
Tongue Ring? Check.
Nose Ring? Check.
Tattoo? Check and check. (One for the tattoo and one for the “If you get one, get it in an area that can be covered up.”)
Spending her trust fund on a new car rather than college? Looks like that check will happen soon.

I’m pretty proud. She’s showing so much maturity. Most kids wait to go wild until they get into college. Not my baby girl. She’s an early bloomer. Ahead of the curve. My little girl is all grown up. She’s not my baby any more.

No, really. I’m no longer legally responsible for her so don’t come to me to get a check for that money she owes you.

Thursday at one we had a child support hearing. The woman had asked us when was a good time to come back and I told her any time except Tuesday and Thursdays and I could even come those days if it was early in the morning….so she made it for 1PM on a Thursday. *sigh*

After waiting on her for an hour (she was in court), we finally went back to her office. We spent an hour filling out the same stuff we did last time. She informed me they were going to garnish my wages as well as the ex’s. She figured the ex would get all the child support on hold as back child support on Vanessa. She asked me how much I made an hour and I told her, but I told her I don’t get 40 hours a week though. She said that was fine, we’d go by the income on last years taxes. She filled out the paperwork and took it to an attorney there, then brought the attorney back with her. Since the paperwork wasn’t going to go through until June first, they were going to leave Vanessa off. The worker redid the numbers and I pointed out that she was still using the figure that included both Rebecca and Vanessa. She changed it and went back to the attorney.

The end result, I get back child support for Ethan and he pays more than he would have if he’d just left things alone. He’s apparently gotten a few raises since then or maybe the tax figure included the bonuses he claims he no longer gets. I couldn’t help but laugh a little when all was said and done. He was so worried about saving money and having me pay child support for Vanessa that it never occurred to him he makes more money and would have to pay more for the next four years. =)

I was reading a story on the net about types of friends you need and I realized something: the older I get, the more I enjoy my female friends. This might sound like a no brainer, but this was shocking to me. I’ve always been the girl that hung with guys. I’ve always been hesitant to make girlfriends because I don’t always understand them. I’m not huge on makeup and girly girl things. I have never been boy crazy. I can listen, but when they ask for my opinion, I’m afraid to give it because what if I say the wrong thing?!?! Will they get upset? Yell? Cry? Tell me they never liked me anyway? I don’t think I’m the only female that feels this way. Women can be difficult – especially younger ones.

This was even true with people on the net. When I started playing online games, there weren’t many female gamers. Sometimes I’d get accused of trying to steal boyfriends or not spending enough time with my family. When I met Cherlin and Spicie, they had similar backgrounds. I could see myself in both of them. I met Lyta, Shrike, and Crym – young women that to me seemed more in touch with the girls gone wild generation, more self confident, and very independent. I enjoyed them and could identify with them, but still wasn’t as comfortable with them as I’d like to have been. I was still afraid of saying something wrong and messing things up. One day I was talking with a friend in WoW and he said, “You really need to talk to my girlfriend. I’m trying to get her to play and I think you guys would hit it off.” He was right. That’s how I met Trin. I love her to death.

When Cherlin called me the other day, I thought about how much I enjoy girl talk with her and Trin. They’re like my long lost soul mates…lol I don’t talk with them as much as I’d like to, but I really do appreciate them and I think they helped transition to a new way of thinking – not all women are evil or scary and even if I do say something wrong, they won’t run off crying or try to gouge my eyes out….lol

I need to get better at balancing my time. I miss the good conversations and have less to blog about.

At work the other day, I was running the pick up window. A young girl of about 11 or so came up with her grandmother. The first thing she said was, “You need to color your hair again!” I looked at her to see who she was talking to and she was looking at me!!! I just smiled and winked at her.

Next she says, “I know you! You’re married to Bob the gas station attendant.”

I immediately thought of telling her, “No. You know me from when I was in soft lines helping you find a training bra small enough.”, but I didn’t think her grandmother would find that as amusing as I did. Instead, I just laughed and said, “Nope. Not me. I’m not married.” while her grandmother stood there pretending not to hear the little girl.