We got the written agreement about the roof repairs etc from the seller today, and are now only waiting on the written appraisal statement from the bank. So it really does look as though the house thing is happening.

Now that it seems that it's pretty much a done deal, I've got all enthusiastic about it. I am tired of agonising about where we should be living; what a waste of energy. I made long lists of pros and cons of various living options that we have, and it didn't really help. I think we could be happy in any of the places I listed the other day. So - for now - we're here, we're happy, and that's just going to be good enough.

I've been quite productive today. Faxed back the changes to the purchase agreement. Called several insurance firms for quotes on homeowner's insurance. Set a date for Sophie's homeschool evaluation. Checked with the doctor to make sure that the big kids' immunisation records are up to date (which they are).

And realised I'm currently a useless parent to Stephen. I am just at my wit's end.

He just hauled out a bunch of clothes from his room that he wants to send to Goodwill. None of them were cheap when they were purchased, adn all of them are still - in my opinion - perfectly wearable. Some he says are too small. They don't look too small to me. Some are "dorky". Some no longer look brand-new - they have that been-washed look that t-shirts get - but they still look good enough to me. Not washed-out or shapeless or bedraggled at all.

I forbade him to to get rid of them. As far as I'm concerned, those clothes are wearable, and if he chooses not to wear them, that's what it is - a choice. I simply can't replace his entire wardrobe as soon as it no longer looks as if was bought yesterday. And you know what, even if I could, I don't think I would.

So he's livid, sulking and banging things in his room, and muttering things about how no-one else has a mother as mean as I am. Cliched I know, and I'm told all teenagers go through this, but it still hurts to hear it. I'm depressed and feeling like a failure - obviously I've screwed up somewhere if the kid's self-esteem is so totally bound up with what he wears. And the girls are doing gymnastics all around the diningroom table and annoying me. We'd better go swim right now, before I lose it with all of them.