Personal crisis involving Kleenex

Oh.
Hi...

When I haven't written for a few days, the blinking cursor on the blank screen seems quite accusatory. I did beging writing the other day, but it was melodramatic and maudlin, so I slammed the netbook shut and pursued vigorous baking.In fact, I've been in the kitchen a great deal since Tim started his new job. I've made lots of cookies for the kids, and dinners for the family. I love cooking for people who love eating. It's such a validating experience.

There's been way too much to do around here. With Tim leaving early for work, I am getting up really early. Then I'm productive before the kids even get out of bed, and I like that morning quiet time. I am finding, though, that I have no time to sit down all day. It's making me even more grateful for the past couple years, where I was on a sabbatical as much as Tim was.

There's been more than housework going on, though, and no mistake.
-Health issues of loved ones
-friend's marriage crisis
-And my own personal favorite....My Teenager.

Let's discuss
My teenager ( I have three, but only one causing me grief at the moment) Is stressing me out. This kid has always been well-mannered, sweet-natured, if slightly bossy, and beautiful. (Come to think of it, that could describe more than one of my children.) Anyway, this child is making abominable choices. By abominable, I mean that the choices are bad enough that I am not going to tell you what they are. They are that bad. I am telling you this much because there is not room between my ears for much more than that, so it neccessarily limits my creative powers regarding blogging.

I'm not much of a weepy sort, but lately I've had some of those gasping, sobbing, hicupping crying jags. I wish I was like one of those movie stars that looks glassy-eyed and lovely with tears streaming down her face. This is not my experience. My nose runs, my eyes turn bright red and swell shut, and I can't breathe. I look like a zoombie.

So, the other night at the dinner table, one of the kids said something that made me start to laugh (an ironic, somewhat hysterical laugh) and then I started to bawl. While laughing. You know how that is? Well, my 9-year-old, who is Clueless in a charmingly childish way, thought this was terribly funny. He started laughing loudly and with delighted appreciation for what he said were my "tears of joy." Now, everyone else at the table knew that joy was not a factor, so they started laughing at how clueless Aaron was (Michael singing "If I only had a brain!)...which he interpreted as mutual family jocularity....by that time, it was. Now Aaron thinks the phrase "tears of joy" is a punchline guaranteed to get a laugh, so he says it every time he senses the merest hint of a glassy eye. It's bound to be a family joke for years to come.

There's more to tell, but it's now time to get going.
I'm so glad we had this little chat.