Well my probation violater has to go to court today and has enlisted the help of his family members (his sister and her boyfriend). They are just two of the group of enablers that rescued him last week from jail. I talked to the enablers and found out that they have the money to pay his ENTIRE probation off (which they got from his birth grandfather-who wasn’t around to raise him and offerred to take him last summer, but when I called his bluff he backed out…hmmmm). Of course my son has not mentioned that any money is being given to him – that’s why my services weren’t needed tonight he didn't want me knowing. I fussed her out and she said please don’t be mad at me – I didn’t give him the money. I told her – WOW – He isn’t going to learn anything from this. But what do I know. We have had to live with I won’t do chores man or I won’t do what you ask either man and I am rude to you man! Is my frustration showing yet? From my perspective, the probation officers in this county appear to be only concerned with one thing and that is getting the MONEY rather than talking to the parents of a 17 year old to help change the behaviors so they don’t end up in the BIG penal system. So now they are getting their wish- $$$$$. So do I just give up – and wave the white flag on this kid and let him just wait to get into trouble again. He will be 18 in 4 months and he can go and live with them once we are no longer legally responsible for him. I have said my piece to the others and they know where I stand. I have also called an IEP meeting for today where I am CANCELLING his IEP. As he is almost 18 and still in the 10th grade it is very obvious that he is not applying himself, not to mention that he has also been disruptive in school. Did I mention he was only in the 10th grade? We believe because of his IEP he has not been charged with Disruptive of Learning even though we were told by the school police officer that he more than qualified to be charged based on the 3 pages of discipline episodes and he was actually going to charge him, but for some reason he never was. I want this last barrier cleared away. He doesn’t want to learn anyway – that’s pretty obvious when last semester he passed PE and he has earned only 3-4 credits for the past 3 semesters when he had the opportunity to have 12. I think I forgot to mention that he is only in the 10th grade. The last time I looked you don’t get a diploma for passing 28 or 32 credit hours of PE. ----Grrrrr, so it’s time to throw the IEP out the window. So tonight after court the enablers will come home for dinner bringing with them the one and only Mr. Rude Obnxious, Won’t Do Chores and U Can’t Make Me, U Can’t Tell Me What To Do and lest not forget Mr. Smug Man (cause he thinks he has outsmarted us) and then they will retreat to the quiet solace of their lovely residence 70 miles away. They still forget I am a “Survivor” – I can OUTWIT, OUTLAST and OUTPLAY any child in this house. I may get discouraged, but then I regroup. It’s not about winning, it’s about being the lone survivor and this we will be. Yes we signed on for this adventure in parenthood, but could someone please tell the DOT, to have the crews to fill in some of the potholes in the road. A couple of them are bordering on sink holes.