My Afflation

Yes, I am having one. No, I am not PMSing. I wish I knew what to blame it on. Maybe this unholy wind blowing through SoCal at the moment. All I know is I need to get this out before I can get down to business. Meaning the job that I get paid for. If my computer manages to not blow-up, because, you know, it's overheating like it's about to blow a head gasket or something. The morning actually started quite pleasantly. I woke up from a marvelous dream, relaxed, happy, NOT STRESSED and tensed up and look, Ma! No bags under my eyes! And then I had to get my daughter up. Who had had another bout of insomnia, though not as bad as in the last few months (I've taken to just locking my door so she gets the message to let me sleep).  And then she wanted to fight with me regarding personal hygiene. I thought that was a boy thing, not a girl thing. Oh! And both her and her father neglected to mention at drop-off that her make-up report on Greece was incomplete. Well, her plan was ...

Usually, I enjoy working from home. Today was the exception that proves the rule. Today I was WFH because I finally took Joy to get seen about her  insomnia . I had planned on being imminently productive ( cue laughter ). There were good things and bad things about today's arrangement. Usually I have no issues, but today my internet seemed to freeze at the worst moments. Taking three hours to get a few emails out, not being able to do my analytics report, multiple reboots .... and having workus interruptus from said tween asking for food and being hormonal (it really sucks that she's on my cycle but hasn't started yet. I pray she doesn't have PMDD because if today is any indication, I am going to need a CASE of Bailey's and at least 5lbs of chocolate each month ! Boys are so much easier, even if they do turn into aliens). And once I finally got into a groove it was time to leave for her appointment. Also, insomnia/sleep deprivation + hormonal tween + PM...

I'm not a big fan of infographics, but this one resonated with me for the sheer fact that it's true for me and my daughter. Yes, she's 10 now, but even though both of my kids have had access to a computer since they were born, only she really tries to be like me -- or at least more digitally and technologically savvy than her older brother. My son just looks at me and says "Mom, make it work". My daughter likes knowing the ins and outs of her phone and would rather I show her how to do it than brush her off or do it for her. She's used my d80 , has her own digital camera , has had a flipcam  for 4 or 5 years now (but prefers to use my zi8), carries around my "purse dell", has my hand-me-down Aluratek eReader  and has been hinting that she wants an iPad. Her phone, Nintendo DS, and/or an old-fashioned book are *always* with her. She's recently started carrying a purse for all of these items. My son... does not take after me nor Bio Dad. Let...

Today, I am ashamed of Mamavation. Today they are acting like the bullies. I'm probably the only one with this point of view. I don't know what it's like to be the fat kid. I had the opposite problem growing up; everyone thought I was anorexic. That's teasing and hate of a different sort. Today, I am raising a daughter who weekly claims that she is fat. Somehow in the two years when she was in her father's custody it got put into her head that she's fat. She's not. She's beautiful and strong and tall, but got her dad's body type instead of mine. Because she is not stick thin, she thinks she's fat. I have to remind her every day that she's not. That she is stronger than most of the boys her age and that she is *FIT* . Being skinny does not equal being healthy . But I am teaching her healthy choices and what it means to have a healthy lifestyle even it if means she will never have my body type. I am teaching her to be strong and healthy...

Moments like this are when I miss being a stay-at-home mom. Ideally, I would have a work from home job for that elusive, mythical "work life balance". In the meantime, I'll enjoy the small moments that I do get. Tomorrow I rejoin the ranks of the working class.

What an exciting week!  Not. Tiresome. Emotionally draining. And other phrases that just thinking about them bring your spirit down. To recap: Monday – I don’t recall very well. It’s a blur. It involved Joy being sick. Green, icky, snotty, coughing, etc. Oh yeah, short day at school. Wouldn’t get up. Care provider had appointment and couldn’t watch her. Josh was supposed to pick up from school anyways. Executive decision – Joy stays home from school, supposedly bored out of her ever-loving mind, only allowed to come out of her room to eat (I wanted to make a point. If she was faking, she’d be bored, if she was sick, she would rest and be glad to). She convinced Josh to let her watch DVDs downstairs. He did get her to put dishes away and eat dinner early, so that was a win. Tuesday – Normal morning, hellish evening. Joy wouldn’t do her HW after much cajoling, posturing, punishment, caving to her demands, etc. At 9 I finally sent her to bed and told her I would wake her at 5AM ...

Disclaimer - this is a rant and involves some personal schitt that I don’t usually discuss in public. If you don't care to be a voyeur, stop reading now. I got this shirt as one of those “My xxx relative went to xxx and all I got was this lousy T-shirt” type gifts for my daughter.  It was meant to be humorous. Her attitude the last week (month????) has taken the sentiment WAY too far! Can we all say DIVA? Spoiled brat? Out-of-control?!?!?  

Or how I managed to ruin my son’s birthday Yesterday Josh turned 15. Last night I was all set to tell the world about what a great, yet small and simple celebration we had. I guess I’ll start with that.Last year and this Josh didn’t want a party because the majority of his friends are in OR and he wants to go back there for summer. He has friends here in CA, but still considers OR to be his home. The Setup: Josh asked me to pick him up a cake, I told him that I was stuck in traffic. What he didn’t know was that I had already ordered a cake and it was safely tucked away buckled in the back seat. There was traffic, but after I passed it – smooth sailing home. During the day Josh had also asked if he could open his present . I told him that he had to wait. Luckily he didn’t press the issue. Cake and Presents: We had cake and presents and Josh gave me a hug. Pretty good since he has reached the “Mom is not cool” stage. My son does love me and I love him and everyone knows it. He only show...