My oldest and I are so in sync, it can be scary. If you came over when just he & I were at home, you wouldn’t know any one was here. We’re just… quiet. It’s a nice quiet. My youngest has taught me SO much – the joys of being loud, and how it is not just OK, but VITAL to be contrary sometimes. It was through him I learned that I wasn’t a compliant child (I always thought I had been), I just had any rebellion beaten out of me. I rebelled in ways that ultimately hurt ME – “I’ll show you whose boss of me by using these drugs!” He’s shown me the joy of allowing rebellion, of parenting in a way that allows him to be himself, even if sometimes he’s not so… socially acceptable. Hopefully, he won’t need to hurt himself to prove who’s the boss of him: he is.

My oldest showed me how to have a love so deep it hurts. It’s hard to write about stuff with him because it hits so deep down.

Equally loved for who they are, not equally represented on my blog. I never doubted the same with you.

Being in the moment is the key. and the hardest thing to do.

My MIL sends out “all family” emails related to significant life events: So and So is pregnant again! So and so got a promotion! So and so is on CNN tonight, please watch! Etc…

We are NEVER the subject of these emails. Preggers? no email. Husband bought a second practice and he now has a business with 2 locations? no email. I got promoted and became Chief Blah-de-Blah Officer at work? no email.

My husband wisely says to be thankful. The others have negative drama – struggling marriages, lifestyle/money issues, childrearing decisions that are bizarre, etc… and they are the focus of the family gossip and good news emails. We are boring. We are happy, we can afford our lifestyle, we don’t have “issues.” (Well, nothing major.)

So he says beware the Family Email. It means you are on the radar screen, that things are not quite right, and it’s a bad sign.

I know you are glad you don’t have to post about Parker. It’s a good sign.