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I'm feeling like a major jerk right now. It's definitely a feeling I don't like to have... though it comes and goes from time to time.

Demario's adoption finalization has been scheduled for October 31. It WAS scheduled for October 9, but WE had to ask for the court day to be changed. See... October 9 is on a Tuesday, and the courthouse is two hours (one way) away from us.

We own a weekly newspaper. Tuesday is deadline day. Everybody knows that Tuesday is deadline day, and true to human nature, those who advertise wait until the last minute to put their ads in. Without ads, we don't survive. Three people get this paper out each week: my husband, our advertiser and myself (on a very part time basis, juggling the classified pages, and editorial and articles around our homeschool schedule). Two people COULD put in a really long day and get it out together, but because both my husband and I have to be at the hearing, there is only one person to do it. Either my husband or I could put in a ridiculous day and come pretty close to getting it done by ourselves, but the advertiser doesn't do articles, pictures or layout, so she can't do it alone.

Our paper is a member of the Press Association, who gives accreditation only to those newspapers who show credibility in keeping their deadlines and publishing days on the SAME DAY every week. Without this accreditation, we don't have a mailing permit to mail. And our ads will then go down the street to the next town and a newspaper there that was recently bought by a newspaper chain that has enough money to bring in trained people from other places if need be. Very rarely, the PA will grant an emergency variance on publication dates, but only in dire emergencies. In 25 years, this paper has only been late once, and that was three years ago when the office burned down on a Monday night.

Normally, we have at least two good employees who can step in when Roger and I are both gone. However, good employees in this area have been hard to find recently. So, we have only one other than ourselves.

Anyway (I'm sure that was way too much information), we obviously can't be gone on a Tuesday at this point in time. The attorney seemed to understand this (and hopefully the judge did too), and didn't act like it was a big deal... he probably made another $200 off us simply for re-arranging the date.

But GOSH... imagine how dippy it feels to say, "Well, gee, we love the kid and we REALLY want him to be a part of our family... but the court date is really inconvenient for us..." Ugh. That's just absolutely terrible... If the courthouse was in town, then we could just zip over there and get it done on the 9th as we planned. But it will be an all day trip and WE CAN'T DO IT. It just sounds like we've got our priorities totally out of whack, when really, we don't have a choice. We can't lose our business for a hearing that can be rescheduled. Yuck, yuck, yuck...

(Feeling totally awful about this)

-SusanC.

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DH delivers mail 6 days a week. Only breaks are Sunday and Federal Holidays. We had fun explaining when we took our classes that there were no subs in the office and there was a Federal hiring freeze. No one was permitted to request a day off. "Sorry, I won't be at work today, I'm calling in dead."

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What is so bad about taking your responsibilities seriously? What a great lesson to teach your kids! Work ethic is something that I think has gone out the window (along with customer service!!!) and it is nice to see folks who still understand the importance of meeting obligations.

Besides...you kids are your kids already, not having a piece of paper in your hands for another couple weeks isn't going to change that! And like you said, the lawyer won't mind, he just made another couple hundred bucks, probably the same with the judge! LOL! WE ALL KNOW WHAT GREAT PARENTS YOU ARE!

Have a great weekend! Hope the print goes well!

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Our readership has been known to lurk outside the local stores on Wednesday morning waiting to attack whoever delivers the papers as soon as they step out of the car. They literally THROW money at you and grab the newspapers out of your hands. If the paper is late, they call us and gripe about it constantly until it gets there. And don't forget or forgive either... Two years later, I'll get a phone call (at home of course) from an elderly person asking, "Is the paper going to be ON TIME this week or are you going to be late again?" ACK.

To the readership's defense - We live in an area primarily populated by elderly people and cattle ranchers. We don't have a movie theater or a shopping mall, so gossip is the main source of entertainment. Paper days are the days when they all congregate at the coffee shop or the post office with their newspapers to validate all the rumors they've been spreading around all week.

-SusanC.

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He's your kid NOW He's been YOUR KID for a long time HE knows he's YOUR KID The court date is just a formality (Yes, it's a BIG DEAL, in and of itself - but the actual date doesn't matter). Don't even think about getting all stressed out about this! OK? This may be the first time I've ever even SAID this (it's become a cliche, and I hate cliches) - but "Don't sweat the small stuff!!!" LOL!!

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I also think work ethic is a valuable lesson. My kids are well exposed to the newspaper world and the job is actually integrated into our homeschooling. We took a family field trip not to long ago with Roger while he took pictures of a flash flood. Last summer, we covered a forest fire as a family. Old press releases make great typing practice, and my kids are proficient proofreaders. They are used to hanging around the office on deadline day and watching the paper go from being 8 large, blank sheets to a sixteen page newspaper in a matter of hours. Tuesdays are their favorite day, because if anything makes us run into the evening hours then we go out for dinner. They actually PRAY for delays!

We're planning for each child to work there when they are teenagers... we figure that the experience of a weekly paper and the deadlines that go with it will enhance their ability to work anywhere else they choose. And... we're hoping that at least one of them might want to take it over someday when Roger's too tired to do it.

I'm just hoping the judge sees that our paper is not only our means to survive, but an important part of our family too.

-SusanC.

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Originally Posted By Pam

Legalization isn't going to change what is in your heart. I wouldn't feel guilty. Since Rayon came to us on April 28th, we could well have finalization on the same day as you do Wouldn't THAT be a hoot? Take care....DeMario knows how much you love him....above all else, that's what matters.