I was dreading Dave being gone this time.

This past summer was difficult, and the year that he was gone for was even harder.  The kids didn't deal well with their dad being gone; the boys fought like cat and dog and nobody wanted to co-operate with me or anyone else on anything.

So, I was dreading him being gone again.  I'm not 100% yet, I'm still really limited to what I can do.  I was worried.

My worries were unfounded.

They've been great.  They've helped me out when I've asked them to, and they've kept their hands to themselves.  Yeah they've bickered, but they've actually apologized to each other afterwards - without my having to prompt them to.

Take yesterday.  I had to run to the store to get milk and sodas.  I'm not supposed to be lifting anything heavier than milk, so I took Jake with me.  He didn't whine or ask for anything at the store, he helped me carry the things we bought and was good natured and polite.

Before we left, I asked Davey to please unload the diswasher and reload it with the dishes in the sink.  When we came home, the dishes were still there.  I said "Hey,  I thought you were going to do the dishes?". Usually that would have been met with a groan and whine about child labor and not getting paid....but yesterday, he said "oh yeah, I forgot...sorry.  I'll do them now". 

And he did.

Shea swept and mopped the kitchen when I asked her to.  Jake took the garbage out this morning when I asked him to.  If I didn't know better, I'd think that I was in the wrong house, living with someone else's kids.

Like I said, they've bickered, but they haven't come to blows.  They've settled things in a non-violent way, and they arrived at solutions that are mutually acceptable without my having to get involved.

Times they are a'changin'.  My kids are growing; they're becoming young men and women.  Their attitudes are maturing, and it shows.

They're being fantastic.  I really couldn't have asked for more.