Hi, Honey! I’m Home!
Where have you been?Feeling neglected? Again? At least there is consistency in being inconsistent.
Life is pretty good but still a little on the exhausting side. This was a year of major accomplishments and personal growth (or shrinking, depending on your perspective).
The 21 year was home at the beginning of ‘09 then left to become an au pere in England for most of the year. For my 50th birthday (freaks me out to write that!)
She brought me a $2000.00 bottle of Italian wine.
It’s a 1959 Chianti that her boss purchased. The man owns a number of businesses in England and generously purchased a case of this wine for all his friends turning 50. The 21 year old mentioned I was part of that club and he sold her the wine for two weeks’ salary (about $200.00).
Awesome!
She came home in the fall and settled back into her old routine (no routine) until she found a job in a vet clinic. It was a difficult adjustment for her (and me) but things are settling in well. It’s hard to be the mom of an adult. It’s easy to fall into old roles and I try to be more friend than mom but MAN it’s tough. She just reminds me that I’m finished! Done with the raising! But what 21 year old doesn’t require advice and direction?
Note to self: This would kill me if I were 21 and had to live at home.
I’m grateful to have these extra years with her.
The 10 year old matured (and regressed) all year. From having a house key and making his own tea to nightly interrogations, ‘Mom, when are you leaving for work in the morning? Will it still be dark? When will you be home again?” Every. Single. Night.
He took up drums and gave up hockey. Lose/Win for me. He also reached Lego Nirvana this year with the ultimate mash up of brilliant ideas -Lego Rock Band for the Wii. Now we get to hear Ghost Busters over and over (I can’t hear you!). He now owns three fedoras and reminds me of Joey Jeremiah from the original, ‘Kids From Degrassi Street’. He can be just as goofy as the character was 25 year ago.
His pre-puberty questions are killing me.
“Mom, what is a condom”?
“There’s something I just don’t understand what are those pads in the drawer for?”
“What is an orgasm”?
“When will I get hair down there?”
Which isn’t as funny as his sister at four years old asking, ‘Do I have to grow fur down there?’
The sex talk at ten? He sat patiently as I explained things, wincing every once in a while at the details -me wincing not him. The husband was no help, he was conveniently working down the hall with the music up loud and the door closed. He might as well just cover his ears, close his eyes and yell “LALALALALALA!”
I’m grateful that the 10 year old knows the proper terms for body parts and understands that some people consider them ‘dirty’ words. Penis. Penis. Penis. and did I mention Penis?
Along with finally having a proper one-week-long vacation this past summer, the desire to create a project with the husband is percolating and hopefully we’ll have our concept flushed out this year. Hiking through woods and freezing in the summer is a great way to jump start creativity and love and respect for one’s the husband. We became a real business together this year and surprisingly there has been no talk of divorce. Murder? Yes. Divorce? No. I think we actually still like each other. Still. While many friends are going through relationship challenges (and having been there a marriage ago) it’s pretty much the ugliest place one can be. So I’m grateful for the good relationship I have with the husband.
The show I inherited to produce through it’s last season… got renewed. Employment until July! The step up to producer on set was … challenging and for the first 8 months pretty lonely. I never would have believed it would take so long to hone a job to it’s rightful place on a team. It was like trying to crack through cement walls on the best of days. Highlight? Redoing three parent rooms at Sick Kids. Low-light? Presenting the reality check about freelancing in this industry. The next episodes will have new challenges but will keep the show moving in a positive direction. I’m grateful that the company I work for and the host of the show are stellar and supportive.
In July I stopped drinking wine, got on a food plan and lost 40 pounds. I feel better but look older (think Shar Pei). It’s something I hope not to rebound from. I’m grateful for the challenge.
The Food Bank grew (unfortunately) and it benefitted from the generosity of some very incredible friends.
Food donations, toy donations, book donations, even pancake batter made such a difference to our Christmas lunch. We also built a community allotment garden in our courtyard. Fresh organic and local! This project was created by Telus and David McEldon Landscaping. It took all season to finish but we had tomatoes right up until the first cold snap! Most of all it was the donation of friends and supporters’ time that made the difference! The Hallowe’en dance raised over one thousand dollars and the costumes were spectacular -I was a Proctologist complete with tongs, meat thermometer, turkey baster and a toilet seat donation box. I’m very grateful to have this challenge and learning device in my life (no, not the tongs, managing a food bank) the clients are amazing, the weekly volunteers are supportive and partner in crime, Pat is a true gift.
My wish is that 2010 is just as amazing, no less productive and above all stays positive no matter what!
Be your own change.
