In September 2010, Illinois raised the fines for speeding. The minimum offense that was $75, was changed to $125.

I admit it, I do have a lead foot, especially on the highway. In town, sometimes. Most of it when it is only myself in the car. For me, I have no problem with other people speeding – at long as they are not tail gating, cutting off people and just looking like a mess on the road, I am fine.

However, the crotch rocket (motorcycle – not traditional bikes, but the sleeker and sporty ones) riders are really pissing me off. I saw a guy pass at over 100 miles an hour on the highway and was cutting off people, not even using blinkers or even passing people properly. Sometimes in town I see this type of behavior and I just want to scream that someone is going to die – and it might be them.

Sure, motorcycles are cool, but not enough to die for. The articles I read in the local newspaper about motorcycle accidents mostly involve reckless driving or drinking and driving recklessly while on a crotch rocket.

Funny enough, some teens were speeding around in the local strip mall area in Centralia on a moped. Several times I observed them cutting in and out of a crowded parking lot, filled with moving and parking vehicles. I got concerned because – 1, I was not sure if all the of teens had their license to drive, and 2, it was reckless and the speed limit was only 10mph. They were clearly blowing that on the moped. I called the local cops, waited, and sure enough, the police turned up to take care of it. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I might have prevent someone’s kid from being hit in a parking lot for driving recklessly.

I have not married Sean. However, he and I have been living together a little over 2 years (since 2008.) It was difficult at first to be somewhat of a parental figure to his son because … well, he and I are not married, and his son is not my own.

I myself have lived through 2 different stepmothers. One of which is the best thing in my dad’s life. I think she is finally convincing him of her ways, which I agree with, even if it might not always work in my favor. Why? Well, I trust her and I have listened to her frustrations as an adult… and she is his wife. So it is not my job to be a decision maker in a home that is no longer mine.

However, for me, Sean’s son comes from a difficult household when he is with his mother. She is not the best person and to my knowledge, her reputation has consisted of burning bridges in relationships, especially with co-workers. This bothers me and I hear it from Sean’s son.

I am not a perfect mom. I think I have said that here at Mommy Blogger plenty of times and will continue to do so – because it is true and I would not be cocky enough to say I am. HOWEVER, I am proud of Angel. He does great in school, and is generally a good boy. He is a bit hyper, but that is to be expected. I love him and he knows that.

With Sean’s son, I can give him hugs and say I am proud, and verbally reprimand him when his is wrong. I am conscerned though that he cries on a dime and has nothing good to say about his own mother. He missed Halloween Trick or treating because.. well, she did not feel like it at the last moment. Sean made it up to him by taking him to the local parade, which earned in probably a lot more candy than if he would have gone out trick or treating.

I feel helpless that all I can do is listen to Sean’s son and pray that things will get better, but after a couple years of the same, and things seem to be getting worse, it is frightening to see how he will mature in his current environment. He has no place to play, no consistent home or school, and his mother would rather him be in his room.

It is frustrating and both Sean and I can do nothing unless there is some kind of proof of negligence.

*sighs*

November is NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month. Last year was my first year trying it out and I had fun. It was not a problem writing every day at Blondish.net, but since I have really been neglecting my Mommy Blog, I really wanted to dedicate posting each month.

It should not be hard coming up with at least 200 words in an entry, which is my usual self set preference to qualify as a blog post (unless it is a photo blog.)

However, I do realize it is difficult. Trying to juggle my life and my online life are two different things, especially since my online life is not my priority, except for my work. I can understand with other moms that it can be difficult to sit down and write an entry when kids are hollering, or running…. or just about to. The blogging part is easy – the getting to get a chance to sit down and blog is the challenge.

However, it is a challenge I am willing to take up this month. I also took up the challenge for NaNoWriMo, which is National Novel Writing Month. So, that is a lot to do this month in between everything else.

I admit when my ex-husband announced that he wanted a divorce that I was nearly broken down. It took a couple years of counseling and some oddly revelations to find out that it was not me that was the problem.

I kept clean house.
I attended to my husband’s needs.
I took care of my son.

My ex-husband completely ignored my efforts and tried to put me in a position where I felt unappreciated. Of course, we did go out and we never suffered financially. However, emotionally… it was like anything I did was never enough.

Once my ex-husband and I divorced, things simmered down and we began to be more civil. No family to interfere, we passed our son in between our homes, and each of us worked our own careers.

I am fortunate that I get along with my ex. My boyfriend cannot say the same as his ex is an ugly person inside. I cannot understand how he copes other than notice that he is sad after dropping off his son. I too am sad when I have to drop off my son, but I do not have the added stress of having to get in a kerfuffle everything we see each other.

I know it is a bit difficult on my son. He asks when he can see me and I see him when it is possible. The only thing that makes it odd for him is the way my ex and I raise him.

I grew up a military brat. It was understood that if I acted inappropriately in public, it could mean that my father was penalized. As the oldest, I earned the privileges to participate in sports, the school newspaper, and any other extracurricular school activity. My own father went through 2 divorces before finding the right person for him. I was half way through highschool when that happened.

For Angel, Luis and I divorced when Angel was 4 years old.

It had been three years, and Angel does know the difference. I remember when Angel was 6 years old that he had once asked why his dad and I were not living together. He expressed how much he wanted his mommy and daddy to live together.

It broke my heart.

It breaks me heart when he asks if I can give him a brother or sister that looks like him. He is a sweetie, even though he has as much as a strong A dominant personality that his father and I have.

All I can do is try to be there for him. I call him when he is not with me. I arrange with my ex times outside our divorce agreement when I can see him. I know I am lucky in this as a lot of people I know do not have the same privileges with their own kids.

However, I know that my ex knows it would break me completely if my time with my son were limited to only once every other week. I am grateful for his understanding. Every moment I can spend with Angel is a blessing.