It is just possible that I am getting a life outside of Profound Stress/Teenagers/Correctional Systems. I hardly know how to conduct myself. Actually, my life still involves daily doses of the above mentioned high-points, it's more that I'm kind of over all the drama associated with it. I've decided to move on. It's like a mid-life crisis in reverse. I've decided to carpe a bit of diem, and possibly lose some weight. Really. It's self-centered in a very healthy way.
On of the most cumbersome effects of Profound Stress in my life is a double digit dress size, which I have spent the past three years ignoring. No more. I have acquired one of those step counter things which I delight to obsess over. I'm eating nuts and fruit and egg whites. I'm lifting weights and seriously dating my treadmill. I'm annoying myself with my single-mindedness. It is, however, bearing fruit. I no longer have time to think about my parenting failures, and I'm back into single digits.
The teenagers remain in a constant state of impending rebellion. To cope, I just clean up after them, tell them not to smoke in the house, and shut down WiFi from time to time to send them into confusion. It's very diverting. I was about to begin this sentence by assuring you that it's not really that bad, but then you would know I was lying.
My oldest should be out of prison soon. Gosh, I hope so. He's doing great, as a matter of fact. This year in the slammer has been a Come-To-Jesus in every sense, and he's grown up a lot. Growing up in prison is not ideal, but I suspect his life there is not any more difficult than life will be fore him once he gets out.
Don is home and working; managing to stay sober. One day at a time, baby. He's got a heart of gold, and struggles that are bigger than anything I've ever had to contend with. All I can really do is cheer him on and hope he makes the right choices going forward.
Faline is a senior in high school, and I really can't complain too much there. She has a whole teenage-girl-thing going on, and she is kind of a messy pig, but she hasn't been arrested or done anything particularly egregious yet. I'm pretty excited about that.
Aaron was my favorite all day today, though I remind him that the position is constantly shifting. He'll have to strive to maintain it. He's motivated by that kind of thing.
Tim and I took off for an over night trip to the beautiful and exotic town of Grangeville, Idaho, last weekend. I should have taken pictures. It's a small town: picture Mayberry, but with more Camo. We planned this romantic get-a-way as a byproduct of a visit to Michael in his mountaintop prison. Lovely visit with him, by-the-way. So, Tim and I stayed in a tiny hotel which I really expected to have coin operated beds (remember those?) They must have been removed when the hotel was updated sometime in the late 70's. It really wasn't so bad, just very very basic as romantic weekends go. We went out to dinner at the local Fine Dining Establishment, where everything on the menu was breaded, fried, or swimming in sauce. I ate most of a salad. One of my favorite things about Tim, though, is that he is game for an adventure. Now, I'm not saying that we would dash off there again without such provocation as a child in prison, but if we have to go back, we know how to have a good time.
See, I'm coping! I'm making sleep a priority, exercising my sense of humor, and eliminating unwanted girth. My husband and I are having fun, the kids are having independence, and Fall is in the air. I may survive this.
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