Thoughts on Slaton & Alek. . . .

Well, Slaton could only take four months of his mother so he is moving back to Amarillo. He should be here today. His "mom", Mary is a sorry sack of #?!@. Pardon my french! She hasn't done one thing for or with her boys in 9 years, and she couldn't even be a decent mom to him for a few weeks. He is very excited to be back. But he isn't moving back with us. Jeremy told him if he came back, he would not be able to move back into our house, but that we would help him out getting into a place, etc. Alek and Aidan are so excited to see him!!!!

On another note, I am not quite sure what to do or think about Alek. Last year he made alternate in the spelling bee. The morning of, he basically had a panic attack in the car when Jeremy was dropping him off, and begged not to have to go to school in case he had to take someones place. The thought of getting up in front of the whole school had him in meltdown mode. He didn't even study or try to do it, I guess spelling comes a bit easy to him, like it did me. Anyway, last nigt during prayers, he actually prayed not to make it into the spelling bee because he didn't want to get up in front of the kids! I mean, there are kids that try for this and don't make it, and he makes it pretty easily but doesn't want to do it. I was shy like that, and I am not sure what to do to get him over it or make it easier or better. I am afraid he is not trying at things for fear of having to perform or compete, and fear of failng. Examples; swim team, spelling bee, wrestling. I want him to excel and be proud of it, not scared of it. What if it spills over into his school work? Spiritual Life? Anyone have any suggestions?