Hey, Blondie! It's You Calling

Dear Black Sheep,

I'm not going to admonish you for "falling into the wrong crowd" because, honey, you didn't fall. You chose. But, hey, life is unfolding and blossoming all around you and inside you. These things that are happening now are good in the cosmic sense of you-wouldn't-be-who-you-are-today. And, today, you are incredible. Yup. Incredible.

You do live to be "old" (despite your endless renditions of Neil Young's Hey Hey, My My) and you give life, in more ways than one. You've touched lives and changed lives and, if you go, they'll never know your light. What will happen to them? Watch It's a Wonderful Life a lot.

Embrace your wit and intelligence and stop using your blonde hair as a sheild. (And, by the way, you're brunette now--by choice..ha!) Keep all that teen angst poetry. Shred your journals. Know that you're cool--who cares if others think it, you need to. You are so kind and caring--respect yourself the way you respect others. And know that you do find your place and that you do wind up, dare I say it?, happy. Be open to the everything-happens-for-a-reason philosophy.

Love,
Older, wiser (and brunette) you.
Onward.

P.S. There are people who think Black Sheep are pretty damn cool when you're older so eff the family stereotype.

P.P.S. Your idea of "thirties" being "your time" is right on.

Love and light, sister.

Thanks for the writing challenge, Amy!

Weekend Warriors

We don't leave the house on weekends.

My 1 year old is going in for his nap while my 3 year old is getting a snack and demanding our attention and whining that he's tired (aka "bored"). Then one of us takes said 3 year old for a walk to do something "FUN!" like pick up rocks and throw them in the sewer then he has his lunch. As he goes in for his nap, 1 year old is waking up. 1 year old has his lunch (and, on a good day, doesn't throw it back up) and one of us takes said 1 year old for a walk (provided he hasn't thrown up--if so, it's bathtime instead). Then it's time to get 3 year old up and we have a mad dash to all leave the house together and do something "FUN!" like pick up trash or play "is it mulch or dog poo?" (One of our lovely neighbors has graciously provided us with hours of "FUN!") The mad dash ends up in someone peeing, pooping, throwing up, or falling and smacking his head. Then, just as everyone is finally ready--clean, awake, and not bleeding--it's time for 1 year old to go in for his nap. When he wakes up...time for dinner!