January 8, 2016

4:47 beats a 5:55 a.m. clock by a lot, but I really didn’t want Maggie & I to oversleep for her Quoia Café job again, like last time.  Had her to school by 7:15, had Ethan to school by 8:15, and I walked into Juvie at 8:30.  

I nailed out all my sessions – most kidsappreciated it, one not so much, but that’s to be expected.  There was also a lot – and I mean A LOT of screaming (not by me) to the point that my throat hurt.    I guess some folks don’t want to be there. As I sat in there, doing a lot of nothing at times (because I am locked in), I thought about when I was a kid.  I’d roam around and explore all over that West Texas land – places with scorpions, rattlesnakes, all sorts of nasty things and we kids did it alone.  I just think about how things have changed since my day.

THREE Hips shows - that's what I managed to get tickets for today -which made it a TERRIFIC day.  Race back to work – enter notes into the computer then grabbed the kids at school. The plan was to head straight to Ikea, but Mags was hungry and requested pot stickers, so we headed off to procure such.  Dropped Mags at home and Ethan and I headed to Ikea, where I was honored enough to see a Muslim man doing his daily prayers.  I’ve never seen that before and I loved watching him briefly, but I also didn’t want to impede so Ethan and I headed into that huge blue and yellow shoebox.  “A quick trip to Ikea” is about the dumbest thing I have ever thought.  After finally getting what we needed (thank god I asked the guys at the service desk), home…

…where we put together the bed – the three of us, a united team.  Mags and I headed off to the store to grab some bread and something else * and as we drove, she said something to me which floored me: “I hope I am as happy as you are when I grow up.”  She said this to a person who used to fervently wish for death every night of her life, who didn’t want to wake up.  Yet now, every day is an Adventure of Possibility for me.  I love what sobriety brings.  She also told me she put me down as the person she admired the most – a single mother, raising her kids, going to grad school to follow her dreams.  I am so honored that my daughter thinks this, but made sure to quickly tell her that without her dad and grandmother and a ton of other helpers, I couldn’t have done this – that no one does anything alone.

 

And then…we got to the store and headed to the flower department.  We bought a special something for Ethan (with his input) for a special occasion tomorrow.  I’ll fill you in on that one tomorrow. 

Pictures:  Settin' up the calendar; It's not chow mein, it's chow FUN; Beautiful skies; Setting up Ethan's bed, where everyone but him tests it out.

December 29, 2015

The day before, a hike….  It soothed the soul somewhat, except for all those people (about 8 – like friggin’ Central Park at a free U2 concert).  Yesterday, an adventure to IKEA to get a bed-frame (which is too little for Ethan’s mattress, of course) and a dresser for Mags.    It was fun at IKEA; I think that is the first time Maggie and I have been.  We also picked up a wool rug which will last forever and be brought to Europe.  It was a fun trip.  We picked up Ethan on the way home, and then Mags and I stopped for dinner while Ethan sat in the car.  It was here I learned of Lemmy’s death.  Makes me so sad: he had found out 2 days before his death that he had cancer.  Horrible.

Today the alarm was supposed to wake me, but I beat it by an hour.  I was going to juvenile hall today to start learning ropes.  It isn’t as strict (obviously) as Folsom Prison – I can wear any work-appropriate clothing, not specific colors and types of clothing like at FSP, I can wear an under-wire bra.  Still, no scents, no jewelry.  

No deets on the kids there – but what an experience.  I go back tomorrow for more shadowing.  It’s going to be tricky in a few weeks.  I will be pushing more than a full load, which is tough in this field.  

 

Home to children who…had not finished putting together the furniture (well, Ethan had finished his bed-frame yesterday), had not made a fire, had not cleaned the house.  Rats.  I need to leave a pumpkin-do list next time.  

 

I made the best damn soup ever in the history of the world, but as it simmered, I popped to the store to get butter and a few things for my ultra-super-healthy muffins.  After I found the pop tarts, which were cleverly disguised in a box of pop-tarts, I headed home and we ate.  Ohhh, my gawd, it was so damn good!  Mags and I made more healthy muffins 9and I learned I didn’t even need the butter, then we ate tator tots in honor of Napoleon Dynamite and I burnt the muffins.  Again.  Just like the first time.  We watched more scary shows….  Earlier to bed, though.  Ortho appointment in the morning.

NEWSFLASH:  Boy child just showed me that white/gold or black/blue dress again.  I CAN SEE BOTH VARIATIONS!!!!  This is why I'm a therapist. 

Pictures: Mags constructing her dresser.  I start my kids at an early age;  "Are you gonna eat your tots?" ~ Napoleon Dynamite