F*cked Off!!

Sometimes I think Cruella is right I am no more than a cook, cleaner, bank and babysitter to the boys.
A few weeks ago Charlie asked me to help him with his homework, he had to complete his family tree and replace each family member with a celebrity (not sure if I blogged about it or not). Anyway I helped him and a few hours later he had a (tactfully) completed family tree - not easy when there are two of everything!

The plan was that he than had to complete his family tree, from the one we did , in German - so he would cut out the celebrity pictures one by one from the homework and complete the German version in class time.

When sorting his bag out this weekend, I noticed he'd had the completed version marked returned to him. Feeling really excited as we'd put so much work into it I was so pleased he'd been given an A grading......Until I noticed that every other member of his family was there just as we'd arranged it - everyone except for me!!

I asked Charlie why he had left me off and he replied 'Oh, did I? I guess I must have forgotten about you!'.

So, I excused myself before I blew a gasket!

I just can't believe him sometimes. He's 12 years old and his parents have been separated since he was 3. He remembers who I am when he needs help with something, when he needs driving somewhere, when he needs something bought for him - but I obviously sit way under his radar when he thinks about his 'family'.

You know what - I'm off to have a pity party all by myself. 6 miles on the treadmill with my I*pod should just about calm me down enough to be able to cook him tea without saying something I may later regret.

The season has started - Minnie says so!

Minnie has officially declared open season on BM - so let the BM Bash 2009 begin. Not one to be rude, I feel I must partake in this sport so I'll load it and then I'll fire it!

So where do we begin? After the farce of Christmas (on Cruella's part) and the irresponsibility of New year (letting a 10yr old stay up and text Mr M at 02.40hrs) we had the feeling that 2009 was going to be one of those years!

Sunday 4th January 2009 - Cruella thrusts a tatty envelope at Mr M before storming into her car and pulling off at break neck speed. The contents of the envelope...... £25 and a signed authorisation for Charlie to go on a school residential trip for 3 days in June. What she had failed to tell Mr M was that she expected us to pay the other £25 (the deposit) and that it needed to be paid no later than the morning on the 5th - 12 hours away! If thats not enough she then expects.......wait for it...... us to pay half of the remaining £232 that is due in March. WTF? A three day school trip that costs £282 - oh did I forget to add that this is a camping trip no more than 60 miles from our home? So with no time for discussion and Charlie in tears - Cruella has had this letter since the begining of December and told him he could go - we pay the remaining £25 (obviously I changed the envelope).
What really freaks me off isn't so much the cost (ok, it is! When you consider all six of us are travelling to France for 9 days in August for £580 total!) it's the fact that she didn't even have the decency to pick up the phone and talk to Mr M. She is such a piece of work - she's fat, lazy and darn right rude - Thank goodness the boys take after me!

She should be ashamed of herself!

Charlie's school trousers - sent for him to wear from Cruella - remember this?

The other leg! Like I would honestly send him in these? I sat & lovingly sewed a nice hem on them yesterday, so they are now 4" shorter & fit him a treat!

The crossing out in Charlie's homework book (remember this and this)- accidental my arse!!

The final straw!

AAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!

Did I tell you how much I hate Cruella? No, but I bet you had an inkling!

So Charlie and Woody arrived yesterday (whilst I was at work) and on my return this morning I was greeted with a pile of their stuff that needed sorting. Within said pile was the brand new boot bag, football boots, shin pads and socks I bought for Charlie last week- refresh yourself with this. So as they had left for school before I got home I have no idea what they are doing here - believe me when I say that I fear the worst in all situations relating to Cruella. I will update you all later!

Also within the pile of stuff was Charlie's school/home log. As it tends to be me that does his homework with him - lets face it complex fractions are beyond Cruella - I always sign his log on a Wednesday morning and date it. Can you believe that the F***ing Bitch has crossed my name out on every page and signed her own chicken scrawl - WTF?? I am so freaking angry right now, that if I had one ounce less of self control I would drive over and whoop her fat arse!

So your guess is as good as mine, what on earth is she playing at? One thing is for sure, I'm playing the long game and will continue to sign his log every week no matter what she does. I figure she is only making herself look stupid and putting Charlie in a potentially awkward position - what's he supposed to say when his tutor asks what it's all about? "Sorry Miss, it's just my Mum being a complete and utter T*at?
So if she wants a reaction she's not going to get one , I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

Why am I crying?

Tonight I cried as I ironed the boys' school uniforms. I cried because for the first time ever they will go to school tomorrow in uniform that is too big, too small, too grey and too worn.

I've reached the point where I can no longer battle with Cruella over school uniforms, neither can I afford to keep buying more to replace the ones that go to her cave and never return. She has told me I do not need to be so involved - she's told me to butt out!

So we have made a decision - we will send the boys to school in whatever Cruella sends with them, regardless!

So tomorrow Charlie will go to school in trousers with an elasticated adjustable waist (he's almost 12 for goodness sake) that are at least 6 inches too long for him. His shirt is grey (should be white) and the collar is so crumpled it looks like a fashion shirt. He has no jumper so I hope it's mild.
The Woody will go to school in trousers which hit somewhere around the rim of his socks and have (almost) holes in both knees. His shirt is grey (should be white too) and has a lovely pink paint stain on the front. He too has no jumper.

My heart is breaking, I can't believe it has come to this. But we both agree that the boys are old enough to either tell Cruella the uniform she is sending is unsuitable or they have to realise it is not us who are letting them down. We've told them that they will go with whatever she sends and if she doesn't send any, then they will go in none uniform and she can explain to school why.

Are we so off the mark, what options do we have? Should we keep hiding their mothers neglect and leave them to think she is so darn wonderful and it is us who always create a fuss over nothing (as she regularly tells them)? Regardless, it doesn't make me feel any better knowing that my boys will leave here in the morning looking a state!