My allergies hit me like a ton of bricks, and the kids broke out in whine. I responded like any rational mother and complained on Twitter and Facebook.
Solo parenting while allergies are trying to eat your sinuses suuuuuuccccccckkkkkssss
— Alex Iwashyna (@L8enough) September 13, 2012
If whining could kill, anyone within a 100 mile radius of my home would be dead.
— Alex Iwashyna (@L8enough) September 13, 2012
Right around 7:55 p.m., when all I wanted to do was hide in my bed and wait for Scott to get home, my son called out to me.
E: Mama, I need help falling asleep.
Me: Don’t stress about being asleep. It’s not even 8 p.m.. I just want you to be in your room.
E: But I want to go to sleep. Can you sing to me?
My heart melted. The fact that my scrawny voice could still help my 6-year-old fall asleep broke me into a million pieces. And then he requested “All The Pretty Little Horses,” which I sang to him and his sister every night as babies. {swoon}
Yes, I felt like schmo for complaining until my daughter got in and out of bed 13 times once I finished singing.
My daughter. 45 minutes later. In my bed.
Maybe we’ll call it even.
When I’m not buckle into the roller coaster of parenting, I’m becoming more popular by reading and writing elsewhere.
My Other Hangouts (don't tell my blog):
- How To Blog Without Hurting People: On Studio30Plus, I explain the 3 ways I keep my blog from causing harm because people are more important than page views.
- Looking Good Secretly: On This Blogger Makes Fun Of Stuff, I review Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara, which rocks as an everyday mascara, and we're giving away a mascara plus the Mary Kay Makeup Brush Collection.
- Vote For Me As A Top 25 Southern Mom: I am in the running for Top 25 Southern Mom on Circle of Moms and I think this Yankee would be a PERFECT winner if only because I've gotten yelled at for writing on Richmondmom since I've only lived in Virginia since 2002 and in Richmond since 2005. Click here and scroll down to Late Enough to vote.
Favorite posts I didn't read, I mean, write:
- Joining the Reality-Based Community: From Nation of Change, "I used to be a serious Republican, moderate and business-oriented, who planned for a public-service career in Republican politics. But I am a Republican no longer." (thoughtful)
- Feminist Anthropology Professor Blasted for Breastfeeding During Class: From Shine on Yahoo, I did not understand what the big deal about a single professor bringing her too-sick-for-daycare baby to teach her Sex, Gender and Culture class. (interesting h/t to Eve)
- The Dark Knight Meets The Avengers: From College Humor, poor Batman. So lonely. So dark. So not an avenger. (nerdy funny)
- Victor doesn’t understand family dynamics: From The Bloggess, how can an alligator hand purse go over badly? Really, it shouldn't. (funny funny)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I really liked your piece on how to blog. I try to follow similar rules. My family is passive aggressive so sometimes I will get an email of an email someone sent to someone else that questions my parenting. I often find myself responding through my blog like when I wrote about my daughter’s pacifier use:
http://itsadomelife.com/2012/08/someone-wants-to-call-the-pacifier-police-on-me.html
It is sometimes a way for me to get my views out there without calling anyone out directly (my passive aggressive response to the passive aggressive). It cuts down on the drama, although sometimes I feel a little bad about it, but then I also think my blog is a place for my story or my opinion and so I also feel it’s ok to express myself(or defend myself). I do my best not to hurt anyones feelings even though they don’t always treat me in the same regard. I don’t use real names or I keep the identity vague. I do my best, but sometimes my anger gets the best of me.
I write a lot about my husband, but I read those blogs to him before I hit publish. His family thinks they are hilarious (they know him). When one of my relatives first met my husband she told him I was writing uncomplimentary things about him in my blog. He was confused because he knew my blog was mostly about me making fun of myself. He wondered why she was trying to stir up trouble between us.
I am surprised sometimes by the reactions I get. Most of my family members don’t read my blog (most of my husbands family do) and sometimes I think maybe that is a good thing. It makes me sad that they don’t support me, but it probably cuts down on the negativity so maybe that is a good thing!
I have been surprised when someone takes what I say wrong or thinks I’m making a poor parenting choice, but I have enough cheerleaders that they help me roll it off my back if I let them. I also work very hard to not get into the passive aggressive stuff, but of course, it happens occasionally. Reminding myself how much I hate when people do it to me, helps me to resist. The 24-48 waiting period when I’m hurt helps, too. Whenever I’ve responded quickly, I find I misread or misunderstood or misspoken or just regret my response. I learned it from making those embarrassing mistakes here and on Facebook and on email — my blogging “rules” help me to stay on course but they don’t keep me perfect. So sad.
The waiting period is so important. Usually after 24 hours I don’t even care anymore so my response is less emotional. I think, for me, I sometimes just want my voice to be heard. I was a shy child growing up, soft spoken and easily rolled over. I think some of my family still sees me that way even though I am not really like that anymore. They seemed surprised to discover I have opinions and make decisions that are different than they would make. It’s not easy to break out of those molds. I’ll always be 5 to certain people.
Thanks for responding…haha!