DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Jack's House
HTML https://jackshouse.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Biographies
*****************************************************
#Post#: 4068--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: Jack Date: February 27, 2018, 4:33 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I see a couple of weeks have gone by since I've addressed this.
Kaden has been doing very well. He's loving the new kittens,
and he's been working with me and Van in training them - even
though they're 'my' kittens (as much as anyone chooses cats
instead of hoping to be chosen).
I have been making a point to talk to Kaden a bit more - I'm not
letting him give blow off answers so much. I've also started
being a bit stricter with him about bedtime (and I've spread
this to everyone younger than Van). I talked with all the boys,
and (except for TV) we've decided on an electronics off by
9:30pm approach - except for Kindle, though we're mostly book
readers here.
Since Kaden is still pretty new here, he isn't as accustomed to
the way we do things, so I've suggested a bit firmer routine.
He and I talked it out, and it actually seems to be working for
him. He does need a bit more than 8 hours sleep most nights, so
we sat a 10:30 lights out for him. Kaden showers in the
morning, so unless he's been active that afternoon (he normally
showers after basketball practice), he just has to wash his
face, care for his teeth, and he's ready for bed.
I think he might have been shorting himself on sleep, because
this simple change seems to have helped a lot, and I'm going to
give a look at the other boys though none of them seem to be
having any problems right now.
I am actually considering David's advice still. Though we have
already added Ebony and Onyx, have three more kittens moving in
today, and will be getting two puppies this weekend, I'm
thinking a pair of guinea pigs for Kaden and Leif might be a
good idea, though they'll probably end up being for Kaden's
birthday and an early present for Leif rather than rushing into
it now.
#Post#: 4461--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: Jack Date: March 18, 2018, 5:07 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The new routine we've been trying with Kaden seems to be working
pretty well. I thought I was going to have to discipline him
this week, but, when I warned him that he was pushing things, he
backed down (happened three times that I can think of, but no
serious misbehavior - just testing Dad).
A lot of the trouble Kaden and I have been having is not him
adjusting to the rules here, per se, but adjusting to the amount
of freedom he has, which is both less and more than he had with
his mom. His mom was more a spur of the moment, 'tell him what
to do and when' type person, while our house is much more about
being organized and following the plans/rules. On the other
hand, as long as he follows those rules, he can do almost
anything he wants within them. I always hated when Mom would
think of things for me to do when I asked if I could do
something (and then gripe at me for not being willing to do 'my
chores'), so I try to make sure the boys know what's expected of
them ahead of time. He likes that, but it's still an
adjustment.
His Dad had to cancel on the Spring Break visit. He's been
applying for a job in San Antonio, and he got a call back
interview, which means he couldn't get away. Kade wasn't too
upset, since that let him go to Six Flags with Kix and a couple
of other kids from school, on Thursday. Dad is going to come up
next weekend, so they can spend some time together Saturday.
He's still seeing his mom. It looks like she is going to be
released from mental health observation next month. She's
already been offered a plea agreement for the 'child
abandonment', which will basically just require her to continue
treatment, though it is conditional on her not reclaiming
custody of Kaden without court approval.
Kaden is loving the new animals. I'm beginning to suspect that
he and Kaden are going to be friends and brothers like Noah and
Mickey were - with a great deal of competitiveness between them.
I haven't seen or heard one hundred percent proof yet, but I
suspect Kaden feels like Liam treats him a bit condescendingly
at times. Kaden has been very hands on with Rusti and Rascal
and helping C&C care for them, also working with Van on training
them. He's also spending a lot of time helping me with Ebony
and Onyx. I've noticed that they will often go to bed with him,
then come get in bed with me later.
Kaden is still annoyed that I'm so strict, and it does end up
with him having to do the occasional corner time. On the other
hand, his attendance (on time arrivals) and grades have
improved, and he admits he's much less sleepy at school. He's
still a bit 'teasingly resentful' about having to turn his phone
in at 9:30 pm, and about being tucked in at 10:30, but it is
playful now, and he has admitted (in a moment of weakness, I'm
sure) that he likes having a strict schedule and being held to
it and his chores and stuff. Of course, he has also complained
that he's in high school, and he's really old enough to not need
CP anymore - especially not over the knee spankings, but he
hasn't actually asked me to stop yet, nor offered any
alternative when I asked what we should do instead.
Overall, I think this is a pretty happy kid who's on his way to
being well adjusted.
#Post#: 4463--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: db105 Date: March 18, 2018, 7:37 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm glad to hear Kaden is doing well :)
#Post#: 4468--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: kalico Date: March 18, 2018, 12:27 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
That’s great he is doing good and with minimal problems......
Thanks for sharing jack
Hugs kal
#Post#: 4891--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: Jack Date: April 2, 2018, 6:01 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Kaden's birthday is Thursday, and he and I have talked a bit
about what we're doing for his birthday. The matter is
complicated by the fact that his mom is going to be released
this week.
I'm pretty sure I've already said this, but I officially have
full custody of Kaden, and there's a good chance he'll be here
until he's ready for college. His mom was offered and took a
plea bargain, and part of it is that she has to jump through an
entire series of hoops before she has a chance to regain
custody, and then it has to be decided through a judge. The
judge did talk to him about his dad, and he said he wouldn't
mind living with his dad, but he will NOT live with Dad's wife.
Considering his age, the judge took his view strongly into
consideration. And the honest fact is, even if his dad could
take him in right now (which we already know is basically
impossible until some issues settle down, and thanks to the
Republican congress and Texas government, there are a lot of
issues with last years disaster still unfinished and
incomplete), and his step-mother wasn't an issue, Kaden is 14,
in high school, and moving like that would be a major disruption
to his life.
His mom will be staying in a halfway house for a while. She
will be continuing therapy while she gets a part-time job and
stuff, to make sure she is coping with everything well. I'm
still not sure of what all happened leading up to and during her
absence, but it was apparently really stressful, and she's a
little nervous about getting back into the world.
We've talked it over. His mom won't be able to get out of the
halfway house much the first week. We were hoping she'd be able
to join us for Kade's family dinner on Thursday. There is a
chance she'll be able to, but we probably won't know for another
couple of days. It looks like she'll be able to get free Sunday
afternoon, so I'm trying to arrange for them to be able to spend
some one on one time together.
In the meantime, he and I talked it out. It took quite a bit of
talking, but we finally decided his friends are going to arrive
here for a brunch Saturday, late morning. We're going into
town, where they'll spend about 3 hours at Main Event, playing
laser tag a couple of times, then probably spending some time in
the arcade, before ending up with a pizza party. We'll come
back here, where we'll have the actual cake and ice cream, and
then they're going to retire to the theater. I think he's
decided on a double feature of Captain America: Civil War and
Thor: Ragnarok, so they'll be caught up for Avengers: Infinity
War.
It's nothing really special, but he's getting to invite who he
wants, which includes several of his brothers and friends from
around here, from school, and from his old apartment, and it's
his day. He's really excited.
#Post#: 4896--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: Leti Date: April 2, 2018, 9:59 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
It is great, Kaden will have a great birthday celebration for
his 15 years!
Thanks for sharing Jack
Hugs
Leti
#Post#: 4900--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: db105 Date: April 3, 2018, 3:15 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm glad for him. Let's see how his mother's release goes.
Hopefully, she will think of her son's interest first. I'm not
just talking about custody issues, which apparently are settled
for the moment, but also about her behaviour.
#Post#: 4907--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: kalico Date: April 3, 2018, 11:43 am
---------------------------------------------------------
That sounds like a very nice birthday celebration and I hope
everything with his mom goes well and that she gets to see him
on his birthday dinner but if not it’s very nice that your
working so he can get a few hours with her...
Thanks for sharing jack
Hugs kal
#Post#: 5813--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: Jack Date: May 21, 2018, 4:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Kaden is actually doing fine.
He got into that trouble a couple of weeks ago, where he and Kix
had gone out with Alex and Liam, which resulted in them getting
a pretty major curfew violation. In that case, instead of
punishment, I made it very clear to him that he's 15 years old,
and he needs to be responsible for himself if he wants to be
allowed a driver's license. Even if he's with one of his big
brothers, it's his curfew, and he'll face the consequences if
violates it. I also reminded him that his phone is a privilege,
not a right, and the primary reason he has it is not for
entertainment, but so he can contact me if something's going on
(like being late for curfew).
I'm not 100% sure he didn't understand that before, but I am
sure he understands it now.
Outside of that, Kaden's just doing real well. He's mostly an
easygoing kid. He and Leif have been rooming together for a
couple of months now, and they still seem to get along fine,
outside of the occasional spat. Both of them are making new
friends, since they attend different schools. Kaden played
basketball for BCA this year, then moved on to baseball, and
he's firmed up a bit and lost a hint of chub he had.
Remember that Kade moved in with me not long before Christmas,
and the Christmas break here is only a couple of weeks before
the end of the semester (which has never made sense to me, but
that's another topic). While he and I have had a few problems
over chores and homework, it looks like his grades are going to
be much higher this semester.
Looking back, I see my last post for him was before his
birthday, so I should probably mention that everything went
great, and he had a wonderful time. If you don't know how 14
and 15 year old boys are, they can be trying so hard to be
serious and mature, then they'll turn into little kids in a
blink of a moment. There was a period when someone (I think it
was Scott Malone, but I'm not positive) decided it was time for
Kaden's birthday spanking, and it turned into a huge wresting
free for all, but it was too darned cute for me to get upset.
His father wasn't able to make it for Kaden's birthday, but he
was able to come up the weekend after. I'll remind you that
things are right for them right now (between having other kids
and they hurricane last fall), but he still took Kade to 6 Flags
for the day, and he brought a couple of gifts (a universal,
multi-outlet charger, and a gift certificate he can use to buy
Aps, music, or video, which is less personal than I like, but
honestly probably perfect for a teenager these days).
His mom is doing well. It looks like she's going to start a
part-time job in a couple of weeks, and she might be allowed to
move into her own apartment a month or two after that. She and
Kaden were able to spend Mother's Day together. Most of her
stuff is still in storage, so he got her a nice potted plant, a
card, and a package of this Mexican candy she apparently loves
(Salsaghetti?)
There is a reason I'm posting this update today.
In their room, Kaden and Leif have a hairbrush and bath brush
(of course), as well as a shared copy of the Red Maple. They
also have a Jokari paddle right now, for a small number of
serious swats (I've yet to use it for actual discipline, though
Leif has had a couple of 'test swats' with it, when he and I
were having a disagreement that led to me leaving it there).
Kaden earned a third chore strike last night. We talked about
it, and I'm going to say that the kid has a good sense of humor,
and he does manage to argue with me without being disrespectful.
He was begging for another chance, but he already had two
strikes, a workoff, and a warning, and this was not a chore he
should have been half-assing or making forgetting (nothing
horrible, but he'd left clothes in the dryer for at least a
couple of hours, which led to me having to re-dry them with a
wet cloth, so he won't be wrinkled, meaning my load of wash
wasn't done until after 10pm).
I had to get up and fetch the Red Maple but I let him keep his
boxers on while I put him over my lap. He didn't quite resist,
but he wasn't actually compliant, until I told him that he was
about to irritate me. He sighed, but he took his boxers down
himself and went over my lap. We talked another moment, more
about why I was spanking him than why chores are important. He
agreed with me that a whupping was a lot easier and quicker, and
he'd rather have it than any type of grounding or restriction.
It wasn't a hard spanking - fast and firm, but only enough to
get some yelps and redden him some. He wasn't mad. When I let
him up, he was rubbing, but he quickly gave me a rather rueful
grin, then a firm hug.
#Post#: 5816--------------------------------------------------
Re: Kaden Connelly
By: kalico Date: May 21, 2018, 9:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Aww Kaden....
Happy things for the most part are going good for him and that
he is settling in ....
Thanks for the update Jack
Hugs kal
*****************************************************
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page