Archive | Offspring: ecstasy and agony RSS feed for this section

Keeping me grounded

by Mir on January 9, 2013 in Offspring: ecstasy and agony, Retail Therapy

My Prednisone-fueled pace for 2013 continues unabated. I don’t know that I’m actually accomplishing anything beyond what a normal, functioning adult should be doing—possibly the last year has left me with a bar that is not so much low as it is smashed-on-the-ground and therefore easy to clear—but it certainly FEELS like I am Getting Crap Done in various areas of my life.

And yet, between cleaning things and getting work done and spending hours on the phone with the government (that’s… a whole ‘nother story for another time, and it shall be called Medicaid May Actually Be A Unicorn) and Getting Healthy Again (This Time With Feeling) and on and on and so forth, I have been a bit lax about doing some of those… shall we say… elusive “nice things for myself.”

So today, I did. I went out to lunch with a friend! And on my way home I stopped in at a consignment shop where I brought some stuff a looooong time ago, and lo, I had credit to spend, and before I knew what was happening, my “find a sensible black purse” mission had been supplanted by “OOOOH PURPLE!” and I was walking out of there with a “magenta leather” bag I clearly needed to have. LOOK AT ME, being wild and crazy. A purple purse! I may as well dance naked in the pale moonlight! (No, I am not getting out often enough; why do you ask?) [Edited to add: I did some research because I am NOT a Purse Person and was curious what I'd gotten. It's this Coach Alexandra, from a 2009 (?) line.]

When I picked up Monkey from school, he pointed to my new bag on his seat and said, “What’s that?”

“My new purse!” I said, ever so pleased with myself. “It’s my favorite color!”

“You’re dressed head to toe in your favorite color,” he observed, with a small smirk. This was perplexing, as I’m not wearing any purple today at all. I’m wearing blue jeans and a black shirt. My face must’ve registered my confusion, because with a sweep of his arm, he proclaimed, “BRUISE. Now that you have that bag, the look is complete.”

So, uh, apparently my favorite color is “bruise.” He’s not wrong. (But I did enjoy that hour or so of feeling all sassy before I was schooled….)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 35 }

Now we are thirt

by Mir on January 4, 2013 in Aspi(e)rations, Offspring: ecstasy and agony

We’ve been arguing about it for months. MONTHS! Every time you said, “I’m going to be a TEENAGER soon,” I replied with a swift verbal smackdown:

“No. NO YOU’RE NOT. I won’t allow it. You can’t!”

You laughed, every time. The joke never grows old. (Then again, when has a joke ever grown old with you? Exactly. Wait, let me guess: You’re Batman? I thought so!)

About a week ago, you told me you had the solution. “Mom. Mom! Since you don’t want me to be a teenager, I’ve decided I’ll just turn THIRT. No teen, see?” I agreed that this was an excellent solution. “Maybe when you stop freaking out then I can add the ‘teen’ part back.” I assured you that that would never happen.

You don’t understand why I’m taking this so hard, why I simply cannot wrap my brain around the idea that there’s no denying you’re on your way to adulthood. I wasn’t like this with your sister. (more…)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 88 }

Jeepers, creepers

by Mir on January 2, 2013 in Offspring: ecstasy and agony

Based upon the last post, you might be tempted to believe that the most extensive craft that happened here at Casa Mir during Chickadee’s visit was the Great Vision Board Extravaganza. It was certainly the craftiest thing that I, personally, did, but it wasn’t the craftiest thing overall.

That saying about absence making the heart grow fonder was never more true than it has been for my children this year. Monkey doesn’t so much wear his heart on his sleeve as he just walks around in a giant Monkey-heart-suit, gushing blood and hugs everywhere he goes. Every single time Chickadee was hospitalized he missed her terribly; every time she was home, he wanted to be with her (even if she had no desire to be with him).

Chickadee, on the other hand, was plenty busy wrestling her various demons, and so if she missed Monkey, in the beginning, it certainly wasn’t apparent. And then his clingy version of love during her stints at home were largely unwelcome. I think until she moved away in October, she had convinced herself he was a standard Pesky Little Brother, end of story. But AFTER she left, things changed. I mean, yes, LOTS of things changed, but in particular, I think Chickie came to see Monkey in a new, kinder light. She missed him, maybe for the first time.

And so she began plotting. (more…)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 54 }

No one shot their eye out

by Mir on December 26, 2012 in It's not a regret, it's an "experience", Offspring: ecstasy and agony

Was it a successful Christmas at Casa Mir? I think it was. No one threw up, no bones were broken, there were no car accidents or kitchen fires or other disasters.

I mean, sure, I discovered mid-afternoon that somehow my father has never seen A Christmas Story, but that was easily remedied. Even as Chickadee loudly and frequently proclaimed that this was “the dumbest movie ever,” I noticed that didn’t stop her from watching it with us. Because really, no matter how you think you feel about it, once you happen upon this movie on the television on Christmas day, you are legally obligated to complete the viewing. And even if you think you hate it, you will still laugh in all of the appropriate places. (“… only I didn’t say ‘fudge.’”)

So all in all: A lovely day. There were some highs and lows, of course. (more…)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 29 }

The opposite of silent night

by Mir on December 24, 2012 in Offspring: ecstasy and agony

First: Thank you for your kindness and enthusiasm on Chickadee’s post. Her head no longer fits through doorways, and she has proclaimed every one of you to be “totally cool.”

Second: I am rightthissecond eavesdropping on a giggle-filled sibling session of LEGO Lord of the Rings on the Wii. Maybe I’m over-romanticizing because I’ve missed these sounds so much, but I really do think the kids hadn’t realized how much they missed each other. I want to freeze this moment in time, even if it is punctuated with Chickie screeching and Monkey laughing so hard he keeps doing things like accidentally throwing quest items into the river (which makes her screech more, which makes him laugh harder, which… you get the idea).

Third: Merry Christmahanukwanzakah to all. I hope you are feeling as blessed and happy as I am right now.

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 29 }

Happy, happy reunion: A guest post from Chickadee

by Mir on December 21, 2012 in Offspring: ecstasy and agony, Woohoo!

She’s home! SHE’S HOME! I shall love her and hug her and squeeze her and call her George Chickadee. Oh, wait. I already did that. And then, she wrote you this post. MAH BAYBEE, growing up and stuff. Enjoy! —M

What have I missed most about being home? Is it the home cooked meals, or the dog licking my tonsils every time I open my mouth to talk? Or maybe it’s the higher-than-30-degrees weather?

No. No, it would definitely have to be my brother waking me up in the morning by repeatedly hitting me in the face with my own dirty sock. Ah, home sweet (er, smelly) home.

After that lovely encounter, the morning festivities began. There was a whirlwind of smoothies, dog slobber, and coffee* (which apparently I’m not supposed to share with the dog. Who knew?) We are very busy here at the Georgia house, obviously. (more…)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 195 }

Moving right along

by Mir on December 6, 2012 in Aspi(e)rations, It's not a regret, it's an "experience", Offspring: ecstasy and agony

Despite my insistence that time SLOW DOWN ALREADY, life continues to zip right by at a maniacal pace. And now we can all stop and consider that statement and laugh at my fickleness, because wasn’t I JUST wishing for 2013 to get here? And now I’m complaining that the year is nearly over and I’m not ready?

I am nothing if not illogical. (No, YOU!)

It’s not clear to me what I feel the need to DO or FINISH this year—I mean, other than the usual sort of “everything!”—but here I am, feeling like time is spinning by and I’m on a deadline. What or when that deadline actually IS remains a mystery, but my brain is convinced it exists. I feel like it may be related to the fact that I’m working a lot and also shoveling all available food into my mouth as often as possible, but who knows. (I mean, I could work less, and maybe take the dog for a walk or something, but let’s not get CRAZY, now.)

So how about a few updates? Yes, let’s! (more…)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 74 }

Exactly

by Mir on November 26, 2012 in Haven't been hit by lightning yet!, Offspring: ecstasy and agony

I knew, but didn’t really know, that the holidays would be hard this year. I knew intellectually, but didn’t really grok how it would feel. It felt wrong to have Thanksgiving without Chickie—as thankful as I am for so many other things—and although we usually do the tree and the decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving, I didn’t say anything, and neither did Otto or Monkey, so we just let it go. There’s plenty of time. She’ll be home in a few weeks, for a bit, and we’ll try to figure out how to cram in all of the family togetherness we need around this year’s unprecedented weirdness.

So we had a nice meal with friends and have been doing Leftoverpalozza ever since. Yesterday was the first batch of soup, and the moving-of-all-leftovers-from-giant-containers-to-slightly-smaller-containers, and this morning I lovingly packed turkey sandwiches for the boys to take in their lunch. (“Turkey again?” YOU WILL SHUT UP AND EAT IT AND YOU’LL LIKE IT.) Some things are the same as always, even with other things so very different.

But I am trying to get into the Holiday Spirit. (more…)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 23 }

Still learning

by Mir on November 13, 2012 in Aspi(e)rations, Offspring: ecstasy and agony

Today’s post over at Feel More Better is dedicated to Monkey, the child I never could’ve imagined, before he came into my life, but who has patiently taught me to be a better human being. Both of my kids have done this for me, of course, but Monkey brought Hippie School into our lives, and the lessons there ripple outward and touch our entire family.

So today, it’s for him, for me, for every non-round peg who ever tried to be something else. Square pegs are awesome. Other shapes, too. I only wish it hadn’t taken me so long to figure it out. (I’m a slow learner… thank goodness my kid is patient with me.)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 4 }

Spoiler: The ship sinks

by Mir on November 12, 2012 in It's not a regret, it's an "experience", Offspring: ecstasy and agony

A couple of years ago, Titanic Pigeon Forge opened and my darling husband said to me several dozen times, “We should totally go see that.” The only thing Otto likes better than cars is other big vehicles, like boats and subs and airplanes and stuff. Apparently a really big boat that hits an iceberg is WAY up on the list of Cool Things.

Being the loving, supportive partner than I am, I responded with, “Mmmmhmmm,” and went back to whatever it was I was doing.

But then one day we all got an email from Merry that said, “Hey, I was thinking it might be a really cool Hippie School trip for us all to go see the Titanic exhibit at Pigeon Forge. What do you all think?” Otto thought Christmas had come early; I thought something more along the lines of “Hmmmm, that’s kind of far away for a school trip, how is this going to work?” But I guess enough people said “let’s do it” and Merry began plotting.

Last week it was finally time. Merry rented a 12-bedroom house in Tennessee and bought the tickets and we all handed in our money and set up carpool arrangements and hit the road. We were going to have an ADVENTURE. (more…)

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Kirtsy
  • StumbleUpon
Comments { 26 }
« Newer Entries
Older Entries »
Design by LEAP