#31WriteNow Blog Challenge

When writing and I are in the midst of a love affair, things are good. Sentences and turns of phrase come to me without hesitation. Paragraphs feel as if they write themselves. And the best part? I like what I’ve created.

But writing and I aren’t together right now. Putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard feels like a chore. I often face a blank screen instead of inspiration.

Life has pulled us in two different directions. A new baby, a new job for Hubby, and a quasi-new job for me are just a few of the forces that have grappled for my attention. Over the past few months, I’ve been trying to get us reunited. It’s been a series of fits and starts.

So when I ran across Awesomely Luvvie’s post about a 31-day blog challenge for August, I was intrigued. The challenge is to post new content every day from now until the end of the month. No throwbacks.

After my initial interest settled, doubt began to creep in. I have too much to do. Work is starting to pick up. Hubby will be leaving town soon. The three posts a week I’ve been trying to write are hard enough; there’s no way I can handle a post a day.

Doubt moved to worry: What if I fall off after a week? What if I can’t think of anything to write?

Worry gave way to fear: What if I my writing is awful? What if the love affair never returns?

Our relationship may not become what it once was, or it could come back stronger that ever. I won’t know, though, until I try. So I’m closing my eyes, taking a deep breath, and digging in.

I hope you will come along for the ride.

Another Baby?

When I was pregnant with Lil Ma, I often walked to a local diner for salted caramel milkshakes. During one of my trips, I ran into a man who I’d seen from time to time in my office building.

“Wow! You’re just like my parents,” he said.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“You’re having babies like stair steps, one right after the other.”

“What?” My neck started to roll.

He gulped. “Don’t you have three or four kids?”

“No.” My eyes narrowed.

I wanted to throw my shake at him, but that would have been a waste of a perfectly good beverage.

When Lil Ma’s was born, Hubby was out of town for work. My mom, who can no longer drive, had to hitch a ride with a friend. Until it was time to push, I watched TV and read magazines. (Epidurals are wonderful!) Mom held my hand while her friend gave Hubby the play by play via phone. It took less than five minutes.

“I’ve never seen a birth go so smoothly,” her friend said. “You could probably do this again. Don’t you want to try for a boy?”

I had to stop myself from cursing.

If I had a dollar for every conversation like these that I’ve had, I could buy Bentley.

The decision to have a baby is deeply personal, and only the parties involved know the factors that weigh in to the final decision. When you ask someone about family planning, you could be hitting a nerve.

I doubt that most people mean to be intrusive. I think they get swept up in the excitement that baby talk can bring. Before I had kids, I was guilty of that. And if you are reading this, please accept my apology.

The questions died down for a while, but now that Lil Ma is a year old, they’re starting to pick up again. I want to address the queries gracefully, so I’ve refined my response:

If the girls wanted another little brother or sister, they would have brought one with them.

What do you say when asked about having kids?

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Best Laid Plans

I had my weekend all planned out. It was full of rather dull but necessary things that I had put on the back burner. Laundry. Dusting. Grocery shopping. Watering the plants.

Saturday started out as scheduled. I readied the girls and headed out for errands. Lil Ma made it through two stores with no semblance of a meltdown.

She saved it for when we got home. That, an unexpected work project, and a call from my dad, who had taken a tumble down a flight of stairs, closed out the rest of the day. Thankfully, my father is fine. He has a few minor aches and pains that will heal in a few days.

As I was lying in bed Saturday night, reviewing my list of undone chores, I decided that a lovely summer weekend should not be wasted on vacuuming.

“Let’s go to the zoo tomorrow,” I announced to hubby. He agreed.

I wanted to get there early so we could be on our way home by noon. Because none of us could get out of bed, we got there at 12:30, during the zenith of hot weather. Mini Me loved showing baby sis her favorite exhibits. The butterfly house was a highlight for them both.

A late lunch led to me not cooking dinner. An epiphany on how to improve my last-minute work project sent me back to my office. Mini Me kept me company by reading aloud excerpts of old Barbie magazines I saved from my childhood.

I still have laundry to do. Everything is dusty, and I forgot to buy ground turkey. The overly anxious me would be having a fit, but she seems to be on vacation. And that’s fine with me.

I was, however, able to squeeze in a few minutes to water the plants.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Few Words on Wednesday: Five Minutes for Daddy

This isn’t the best photo, but I love it because it shows my favorite family moment. After dinner, Hubby gets on the floor, and the girls climb all over him. Little toes and knobby knees poke him in the eye, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

They took it easy on him this time. Mini Me asked for his help designing a dress with her handheld video game, and Lil Ma joined in.

I doubt that I say it as often as I should, but I married a great guy. I couldn’t ask for a better husband or father for my girls.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad