Freaky friday

I've written a couple different posts these last few days... But because of issues with the internet, they didn't post. We have, however, solved the internet problem, so I should be connected from now on.

This week has not been a very good week. Cayden's either teething or going through a spurt or something - so he's just be crazy moody and VERY clingy. Well... He's been clingy for awhile now. The kid seriously calls for Mommy in his sleep. I'll go and check on him, and he'll still be out cold. There's an old wives tale that says if you have one sex and are pregnant with the opposite sex, your child becomes clingy. We'll see if this is true on the 24th. Mostly I just think that he senses me being pregnant and even though we've talked about it, he doesn't really understand so...

The other stressor is just money. Always money. We've cut back A LOT - no cable, no internet, stopped eating out, stopped going out... And the only thing we really "splurge" on lately is Cayden. Trying to get his birthday party stuff, his presents, Christmas. And even then, we've been INSANELY frugal and I think the most I've spent on one item is five bucks (thanks to the crazy Kmart sales.) Our Kohl's store is remodeling and keeps sending me 10 dollar gift cards, and then I've used some Amazon cards from swagbucks. So, we've snagged some deals. It's still scary though. Money is INSANELY tight - so tight that it looks like at the end of September we'll probably have to move in with my Mom. We're crazy behind on the rent - and while our landlord has been nice and worked with us a lot, he's got a business to run too. We're looking into assistance and stuff, but neither of us can dins a job - even at Wendy's, and it's just... Well, it's the crappy position a lot of people are in right now. I thought it would get better, and it hasn't. It makes me nervous. I know Cayden won't know if Christmas is scarce but I'll know, and I'll feel horrible. Not to mention we have a baby on the way, and while luckily we still have major items from Cayden (except a crib) I did give my old clothes to a friend and am not giving them back - so I have pretty much no 0-12 month clothes. I am watching craigslist, thrift stores, and once upon a child, and my Mom has been WONDERFUL about helping out. But I wish I could do it myself. Not to mention, the season is changing and Cayden's going to need new clothes soon. Ugh. It just grates on you after awhile.

Then last but not least - today is Friday the 13th and it's just been kind of a kooky day. I ended up backing into a pole today (luckily very little damage to the car - just a scratch on the bumper) people driving was horrible. My sister said at her job (she works at a clothing store) someone PEED in the dressing room. She said it wasn't a little kid because it was all over the walls and not just in a puddle. She also said it wasn't a man because they don't get very many men in the store and they tend to notice them more - they haven't had any all day. So, gross.

Then, I get a text message from my neighbor, Natalie. We have issues with neighborhood kids - they just aren't supervised at all, and the parents I do know of speak little to no english. Our next door neighbors are very sweet - but the mother speaks very little english, the father is gone all the time on business, the oldest girl is special needs, and there are two younger boys - one is 7 and the other is a little over a year. The 7 year old drives me nuts. We used to leave our toys on the back porch so the kids could play with them. But after several of them went missing or broken, we started bringing things in. Then there's certain toys that are for the little kids, and as much as I've told the 7 year old, he just won't stay off them. He doesn't listen, takes toys from the little kids, doesn't share...

Anyway, the mother often lets the one year old out - either by himself (I don't know if she assumed we'll watch him. But she doesn't ask.) or with the 7 year old to "watch" (and needless to say, he's easily distracted.) the one year old is constantly in the street and just all over the place. Tonight was the icing on the cake.

We weren't home, but our neighbour Natalie who has a child Cayden's age was outside waiting for us to come home so our kids could play. She said she saw the one year old go to the dumpster, and he looked like he was eating something. She asked the 7 year old if the one year old had something to eat, and the 7 year old said no, and went over to see what the one year old was eating...

Someone had left a dirty diaper by the dumpster and the kid opened it up and was eating poop!

I think I'm going to call CPS - I hate to do it because I don't think the mother is meaning to neglect her child, I just think honestly where she comes from, it's safe for kids to wander around. And it's not safe here. I would try to talk to her about it, but she can't understand me. I just feel like I'm stuck... I don't want her to get into trouble, but at this point I'm worried about the little one getting hurt.

What would you do?