15 Years!!!

When I was a little girl, I dreamed about getting married. I dreamed the typical "two and half kids, white picket fence," with a wraparound porch on my two-story farmhouse alongside a creek with acreage for the dog and kids to run. Sitting on that porch with my husband, glass of lemonade (my tastes have refined a little bit and now it would be wine) in hand while we talk about our days; retirement in a place where our grandchildren could come visit. 

I was the teenage girl with a 3-ring binder filled and overflowing with everything I wanted for my wedding - flowers, dresses, place settings, venues, photo ops...the whole thing. I even had honeymoon destinations tucked away in the back. I could have rivaled Monica Gellar in my obsession with my future wedding (Friends always had relatable topics, am I right?!)!

Here is a little snapshot into what my wedding was supposed to have looked like (according to my 15-yr old self):

 

I was obsessed with the blue and yellow themes that were wildly popular in the 90s, heavy on the sunflowers. Pages and pages of floral arrangements, bridal and bridesmaid dresses, place settings, invitation samples (I even paid for a subscription to the bridal magazine, The Knot, so many of those pages in my binder were ripped straight out of the magazines, but the sample invitations...I sent away for those...), and all the trimmings. 

And then, life happened. My teenage dream of a wedding never became a reality. As a young(ish) single Mama, I didn't know if I'd ever meet my future husband because now I came with "baggage" in the form of my adorable little boy. All of a sudden, I wasn't desperate to meet just any man...I wanted to meet the right man. After a series of failed relationships and then the birth of my son, I became very selective about who I introduced him to and allowed to spend time with him. 

In late April 2006, I signed up for a MySpace account at the insistence of my sisters, in an attempt to stay in better contact with our out-of-town family. After two solid weeks of creepers messaging me, I was pretty well over it - but then this guy sent me a message, and it wasn't as annoying as the rest. He had a nice smile, seemed genuine, and lived nearby. We ended up messaging back and forth for several weeks, going from MySpace messages to Gmail chat to texting and then phone conversations, until we finally decided to meet in person. 

Shannon and I met in person for the first time at Starbucks in Marysville, WA (he was on his way to Yakima for a summer with the Ahtanum fire crew, and I was one my way home from class). We sat outside in the spring sunshine, him with his White Chocolate Mocha and me with my Mocha Valencia Frappuccino (because there is no flavor combo as good as orange and chocolate, and mixed with coffee...you'll never convince me otherwise). We talked for over an hour, and by the time I left there, I knew I'd found someone special (or that he'd found me). When we parted ways, he held me in his arms and placed his hand on the back of my neck, gently pulling me in for a hug like I've never experienced before. I was hooked.

Fast forward a little bit, we made it through our first summer (it was rocky, I won't lie), and now that he was back from the summer away, we had the opportunity to spend more time together. It didn't take me long to realize that I was falling in love with him. Unfortunately, because I was ALWAYS the first one to say those three little words in my past relationships, I decided that I had to wait for him to say them first. I already knew I was emotionally attached, but I didn't want him to feel like he HAD to return my feelings...so I waited. And not quite six months after we met, on the night of my 10th high school reunion, the wait was over. In front of several people that I'd graduated with, he told me he loved me for the first time. 

The following October, we were engaged. The next year, August was particularly dry...except for the day of August 9, 2008...the day I was getting married. I woke up to pouring down rain, gray skies, and tears that would not stop falling. I was devastated that it was raining on my wedding day...and no amount of placation in the form of "it's good luck to have rain on your wedding day" was going to convince me that it was okay. As it turned out though, at the end of the day, I was married to my best friend in the world, and no amount of rain could change that. (Plus, it did stop raining, and it was a perfect day...just a little damp is all.)

And now, here we are. Today is our 15th wedding anniversary, and I can hardly believe how fast the years have flown by. Three kids, three dogs, two cats, two homes, seven vehicles, and more love and laughter than I ever dreamed I would have. We've made it through tough times: times where the money wasn't there, where our patience with each other ran thin, where we disagreed on parenting and discipline styles, and most recently through the loss of Shannon's dad (who was one of my biggest cheerleaders from the day I met him). But with every hurdle that blocks our way, we've figured out that as long as we're doing it together, we can do and handle anything life throws at us. 

On this day, August 9, 2023, the 15th anniversary of the day we said "I do," I am taking some time to reflect back on the past 17 years together. It hasn't always been easy, but I know in my heart that this is the man God designed just for me, the one to whom my heart and soul belongs, and I am so grateful for this journey we are on. 

Shannon, you are the love of my life, a faithful husband and father, my peace when I am anxious, my lover and confidante, and my future is bright with you in it. Thank you for everything you do for us, and everything you are to me. I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll love you for all of our tomorrows. You are my person, and I love you and the life we've built together. 

Dog Person v. Cat Person: Which Are You?

 All my life, I've had pets. 

When I was growing up, my dad had hunting dogs (Black Labrador Retrievers and Spaniels) and my mom had lap dogs (miniature dachshunds, mostly). I had a bunny named Thumper. I had a cat named Cuddles Cutie (that's a story for another time, but I will say that I was 6 when I named her...and she was anything but cuddly). My sister had a cat named Boots. We had fish, a pig (that we rode on in the garden), a turkey, and I'm sure there was more that I'm forgetting.

(Cuddles Cutie and Tiny Me)

Our neighbors had livestock: horses, cows, chickens, and goats (visiting the babies was always a favorite spring pastime for me and my sisters), so we were often there with the animals too. 

I've just always been around animals. And yet, up until about 5 years ago, I don't know if I could have identified myself as an "animal lover." They were just always there.

Many who know me well know that for most of my adult life, I've wanted a "pocket" dog. I met Daisy about 15 years ago (she belonged to a friend of Shannon's family), a mini Yorkshire Terrier who literally weighed 4 pounds, and I fell in love with that breed. I've pined for years over how expensive mini Yorkies are, and never could justify the cost, especially with a young family and a full-time job. And yet, that desire was still there.

(Brooklyn holding Daisy, the first time I met her)

(Me holding Daisy one of the last times I saw her)

When Shannon and I met, he had two cats, Isis and Osiris (affectionately known to us as "Baby Girl" and "Baby Boy"). They had moved up to Washington from California with him, and were very territorial when it came to their human. They did not like me...not then, and not by the time they both passed - although they did learn to tolerate me (and I learned to tolerate them too). They were definitely his babies, and this new woman (me) who showed up wanting his attention was NOT welcome. But we managed. 

(Osiris and Isis - maybe the last picture I have of them together)

We have Tazer, whom you've met...a 13+ year old Beagle, our first dog as a family after Shannon and I bought our house (turns out, finding a rental that allows pets can be VERY challenging). He has a laundry list of health concerns, not the least of which is a thyroid disorder (hello, expensive non-generic Rx meds), but he's a good boy and loves to be loved on. His favorite thing to do is avoid the other animals at the dog park, preferring to sniff his way around the perimeter of the park and eating as much grass as his tummy can handle. He came to us as a 7-week-old puppy (who thought he was a cat for the longest time, since that's what his "siblings" were), and is just the goodest old boy. He's definitely slowing down though, is going blind and deaf, and as much as it breaks my heart, I don't know that he'll see another Christmas. 

(Tazer on his first day with us)

(Old Man Tazer)

We had discussed getting another dog after we lost the cats, but the timing never seemed to work out. I had clear ideas of what I wanted in our next pet (if I had to get one, I wanted a say in it), but so did Shannon. After the Covid shut-down in March of 2020, we started talking about it again...I was home all day every day, he was working from home, the kids were schooling from home, so the timing sort-of made sense. I just happened to be flipping through Facebook on one of our very LONG mornings of remote learning, and a friend of mine from high school had posted about a litter of puppies she had (it was actually two litters, 15 puppies total!). I reached out to her, discovered that the mixed cattle dog breeds were just what Shannon was wanting, and after a VERY brief conversation between us, I reached out to her.

That Mother's Day weekend, we drove to Eastern WA to pick up Togo, a tiny little fluffball with big brown eyes. She is an Australian Shepherd and Border Collie mix, and was the perfect fit for our family. Tazer tolerated her (they actually like each other now), and the hope was that she would become a trail buddy for Shannon and Greyson when they would go mountain biking. She was the cutest little thing, and then...she grew up. She's significantly bigger as an adult than we thought she would be, about 45 pounds, and as it turns out, she's afraid of anything with wheels...not a trail dog after all (at least with bikes). She is 3 now, and so eager to please everyone. She loves to say hi (she actually stands on her back legs and waves...we call it "doing the Togo" because she does it ALL THE TIME), and is very protective of her people, her food, and her toys. 

(Togo on the day we brought her home)

(Togo on our Labor Day camping trip, living her best life)

When we recently started realizing how much Tazer is slowing down, we began discussing getting ANOTHER dog...Togo will need a playmate once Tazer is gone (not that he actually plays, but he's just always there), as she is a very social dog. I have been on the fence about it, I won't lie...I'm ready to be able to go places without having to make sure dogs are covered, fed, cared for, etc. 

BUT...

in Early May of this year, some friends of ours posted a video on Instagram of their foster puppy. A 7-week-old chihuahua mix rescue that had been dropped off at the Whatcom Humane Society after 3 days with his first owner. He was super cute, so I asked if I could come meet him. I did go over there to meet him, and that next day, I filled out the adoption paperwork. It was a no-brainer (although when I told Shannon I wanted him, his response was "Okay, but that's YOUR dog"). 

So without further ado, allow me to introduce Beans! He's currently 4 months old, 4.5 lbs., and has the absolute CUTEST overbite!! He has the sweetest temperament, loves to play with the big dogs, sleeps on my lap whenever it's available (I even take him to work with me), and has been the best thing for me! He's my "emotional support animal," and I have him registered as a Psychiatric Service Animal (hello, depression and anxiety). He's got a cute little bark, which we are working on...my acupuncturist told me about this tool called Pet Corrector, which has worked great for us (with treat reinforcement, of course). He chews all the time, and his new favorite is a Himalayan Yak Cheese stick...hard enough for a good chew session, but won't break his teeth. He loves his stuffed cat, which is bigger than he is, and his duck with the squeaker. 

(Beans on the day I met him) 

(Beans at Elizabeth Park on one of our walks)

(Beans feeling silly but looking oh so cute!)

He and I have a very co-dependent relationship, which is beautiful and tedious. He sleeps in my bed (I swore that would never happen with any dog EVER), down by my feet, and cuddles with both Shannon and me through the night. He has to be able to see me if someone else is holding him. When we're on our walks, he looks up at me every 4 feet or so just to make sure I'm still there (and probably to receive praise for how great he's doing). When I leave him at home or with Brandi (and her new little pup, Pip), he whines for about 30 minutes after I leave before settling into a routine. When I get home after being gone all day (or when I get out of the bathroom, if he hasn't followed me in, or when I run downstairs for 30 seconds), he gets so excited to see me that he goes into full "Piranha mode" on my face and piddles all over my shirt! My laundry pile is much bigger these days! 😂 

(Beans and Pip napping in between play sessions)

He's the chillest Chihuahua puppy I've ever been around, and Togo plays so well with him! She's incredibly gentle (most of the time), and they love to play tug-o-war with the rope toys. Togo will literally drag Beans around the house on the end of the rope because he's so small! 

So I finally got my packet dog, and I couldn't love him more. He completes our chaotic household with his energy and feistiness, and we are all in love. 

(And I finally determined...I'm definitely a "dog person.")

On the Topic of Friendship...

1. [ˈfren(d)· SHip]

NOUN

1. the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends:

   "old ties of love and friendship" · "this is an ideal group for finding support and friendship"

   SIMILAR:

   company

   companionship

   fellowship

   comradeship

   camaraderie

   
   

   • a relationship between friends:
     "she formed close friendships with women"
     SIMILAR:

     relationship

     attachment

     alliance

     association

     bond

     tie

     
     
   • a state of mutual trust and support between allied nations:
     
     

Truth time: I just turned 45. (I know, right?!?!) As I get older, I have become [much more] introspective, and have started to recognize the different types of friends I have. I have to say, I'm pretty lucky. 

 

(My best friend Brandi and I on a birthday weekend in Port Townsend...she's the ostrich, and I'm the goat.)

I have spent a lot of time in my adult life searching for true friendship. It comes in so many forms, from the people you meet through church, work, or school, the people you meet through other friends, the people you meet through your KIDS (make no mistake, Mom friends are HARD to find, but so worth it), and so on. Finding someone whose values align with yours, with whom you have interests in common, and who lifts you up and adds to your life in positive ways...those individuals are gold. 

I've had lots of "friends" in my life, and I've lost lots of friends too. I put the term "friend" in quotations because, in all honesty, there are different levels of friendship. I've seen diagrams depicting friendship, read articles describing friendship, and personally experienced different types of friendship, too.  The blog, SocialSelf.com, posted an article called The Four Levels of Friendship (According to Science) - this is how they describe each level:

1. Acquaintances: These are people you recognize and who recognize you. You may chat with them occasionally, know some basic facts about them, and make small talk. Acquaintances are polite and friendly when they happen to meet, but they don’t make plans to see one another. For example, if you’ve met someone at the library on several occasions and chatted about books without making firm plans to see each other again, they would be considered an acquaintance.
2. Casual Friends: Casual friends enjoy one another’s company and usually make plans to meet up. Unlike acquaintances, casual friends go beyond shallow topics during conversations. They tend to go beneath the surface and share slightly more personal things. A casual friend might share that they don’t like their coworkers much and are thinking of looking for a new job. However, at this stage, you don’t share sensitive personal information or open up about delicate or controversial topics. For example, you probably wouldn’t tell a casual friend about your relationship problems.
3. Close Friends: At this level, two people feel and show meaningful affection and concern for one another. Compared to casual friends, close friends usually want to see each other more often and offer more emotional support. You both feel able to reach out to each other at any time; you are happy to help one another in times of need; You have a mutual sense of respect and appreciation; You both feel comfortable showing your true selves; neither of you feels a need to put on a “mask” or persona; You ask one another for advice because you have faith in each other’s judgment; You invite each other to important celebrations and events, such as birthdays, graduation parties, etc.; You are slow to judge one another. You don’t always approve of each other’s choices or opinions, but you try to empathize and understand rather than criticize or condemn. (Research shows it takes around 200 hours of quality contact time to build a close friendship!)
4. Intimate Friends: An intimate friendship is similar to a close friendship. Intimate friends trust, accept, and support one another. However, an intimate friendship involves an even deeper sense of connection. With an intimate friend, very few topics are off-limits; you might feel able to talk about anything and everything. The friendship feels safe and familiar. Another term for an intimate friend is “best friend.”

As kids, all we want is to have a "BEST FRIEND." As a little girl, I remember the coolest thing about having my first friend was buying each other friendship necklaces with two halves that make up a whole heart, or making friendship bracelets out of colored embroidery floss. (Not gonna lie, I have a friend today who loves the matching friend things...apparently some of us never grow out of that! I feel seen!) 

As adults, it's so much more challenging to find people with whom we have a true connection. And even with that real connection, there is a continual need to feed that relationship to keep it alive! Not unlike marriage, true relationships aren't just about matching jewelry...there's a lot of work involved!!

I try to be a good friend. My nature is one of nurturing, caring and building up...sometimes that's just a conversation, sometimes it's a random "thinking of you" token like flowers, and sometimes I go over the top to make sure my friends know how much they are loved. I'm an empath, I feel all the things, and I am hyper-aware of how I make others feel...a blessing and a curse, sometimes.

There have been a lot of years where I felt let down by the friends I thought I had. Birthdays have come and gone without notice. Bridal and baby showers were ill-attended. Post-surgery meal trains had little to no response/follow-through. When I was sick with Covid last summer, I had a couple friends promise to come by with sustenance for my family while I was unable to provide, and then never showed. And recently, a friend of over 30 years decided that she didn't agree with some of my choices and was tired of not being able to change me into the person she thought I should be, so she ended that friendship...over email. That hurt, and it made me [re]realize that not all friends are created equal. And once again, I found myself thinking about the true nature of friendship.

Honestly, I'm not sure where the idea to write about this came from, other than last weekend for my 45th birthday, my husband and I, my best girlfriend, and her husband got away for a night to Port Townsend, WA for a celebration. WE HAD A BLAST! Shannon was not feeling well, but rallied for the night, and we visited a couple of places I have wanted to go but had never been (PSA: Finnriver Farms & Cidery in Chimacum - 15 minutes outside of Port Townsend - is a RAD place to visit...although next time, we'll try for a less rainy day so we can enjoy the entire farm, instead of the plastic covered picnic area). We stayed in a cute little inn on the water - I didn't know until after we'd checked in that this is where An Officer and a Gentlemen was filmed...they even have a sign on the door to the room used in the film denoting its fame. We had a fabulous dinner at Nicko's Grotto, and drinks at Sirens Pub afterwards. Cribbage, conversation, laughs, drinks, good food, and a beautiful place to just be together...it was perfect! And it made me think that maybe, at 45 years old, I'm finally feeling what it's like to have intimate friends!

So I'll leave you with a picture of me with some of my tribe...my people...my friends. It's a wonderful feeling to have these people to share my life with!

Gotta Be Real For A Minute...

I just saw this...

...and right now, today, I needed to hear it. I know I'm not alone. Sometimes life just gets to be too much. Either our work life is stressful or our home life is stressful. Financial situations. Physical ailments. The list is endless. 

I've been struggling for the past 3+ weeks with excruciating back pain. Not just the annoying little kink when  you wake up having slept funny, but the hurts-to-breathe, catch-your-breath-with-every-movement, can't-get-away-from-it-no-matter-what-you-do kind of pain. 

It started with a migraine on a Thursday morning, causing me to miss work that day to nurse my aching head...it think I was out of bed for 45 minutes that day. The next morning, my back was so painful, and I had no idea what was going on. I made an appointment with my chiropractor, who is amazing...she got me in that day. I spent 30 minutes with her, and left still in pain. No relief at all. Enter the muscle relaxers and ice packs.

I started that week seeing an acupuncturist, hoping that she would be able to help. I've seen her 4 times so far, and I'm still suffering. More muscle relaxers and ice packs.

I saw my doctor and got x-rays. Nothing new in the images compared to my films from 12 years ago. More muscle relaxers and ice packs.

I'll admit that my day-to-day life, while hectic, is often very sedentary. I sit at a desk for 8 hours per day. I drive to and from work. Finding time to exercise, especially in winter when the weather is always a wildcard, is nearly impossible. I get home in time to make dinner (most often a collaborative effort between Shannon and I), then have a few minutes to sit around before it's time to get the bedtime routine underway. 

The past few weeks, so much of the "at home" stuff has fallen to Shannon - I just don't have it in me. I jokingly tell people that I'm surviving on muscle relaxers, but the truth is, that's exactly what I'm doing. I have to move slowly, very intentionally, and forget about lifting...my purse is often too heavy for me. Sleeping is hard, tossing and turning to find the most comfortable position...for a minute, before I have to shift again. 

I am, quite literally, using all of my energy to just survive. 

Shannon, I love you. Thank you for taking care of me and our family while I'm not able to contribute. Thank you for being patient and understanding. Thank you for supporting my ice pack habit. Thank you for not complaining that it's too much...I know it is, but thank you for not saying so.

There ya go...my moment of "real." Still no end in sight, but I'm surviving.

In true internet fashion, we (I) often share only the parts of life that I'm excited about or proud of...but these moments are just as, if not more, real. And if you're reading this...well, thank you for that too. I see you. I know. You're doing great.

Who Am I??

You guys. I honestly don't even recognize myself. 

I watched the 🏈Superbowl🏈. I mean, I actually sat and watched it! If you know me, this is how I "watch" football...

BUT...

I wasn't puttering around in the kitchen. I wasn't actively trying to avoid it (which is my normal). I sat on the couch with Shannon and Brandi and watched almost the whole thing! I didn't care who won the game (and in all honesty, we DID turn it on mostly for the commercials and half-time show), but I actually got super into it and even called out a couple times when there was a great play...

WHO AM I????

I made a monster pot of queso (I'd never made it before, and was a little shocked that I actually paid money for Velveeta "cheese", but it turned out so good), Shannon made yummy guacamole, and Brandi brought over the most tender steak bites...so simple and so good! Add some tortilla chips for dunking, and some leftover candy from "movie night", and of course, adult beverages (if you haven't tried it yet and you love a good Moscow Mule, got grab some Fever Tree Blood Orange Ginger Beer and try it...OMG!!). 😋

Nick had to work, so couldn't join us, and Brooklyn wasn't with us this weekend. Greyson hung out with Brandi's son, Tucker, and they played video games all afternoon. I didn't take any amazing pictures of them like the first time I hosted a Superbowl party, but Brandi and I did get a couple gems! Shannon took a couple photos too, of Brandi and I laughing and staring at the pictures on our phones. 😂

And then, of course, I had to take pictures of the dogs. Togo is almost 3 and still has the biggest case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) that I have ever seen...she makes me crazy, but we love her. And Tazer is our old man at 13 years old, who really only gets excited about one thing anymore...food. 

Well, there you go. That was my BIG news...aren't you so glad you read the whole thing!?!? 😂

6 years later...

I just happened to log into my Blogger account today - I was curious about how long it's been since I last posted anything.

I won't deny, I was a little surprised!

The last post I made was in 2017. HOW??? It is absolutely amazing to me how fast the days go by - the last post I started drafting was when Nick turned 18 and was getting ready to graduate high school...and now he's 22. HOW. DOES. THAT. HAPPEN???

Now, as I type, my family is waiting for me to get home for Movie Night. I promised popcorn 🍿 and movie theater candy 🍬 (from the Dollar Tree), so I'm headed there in a few minutes, and then home to spend time with my crew (well, most of them - Nick has to work tonight, and Brooklyn isn't with us this weekend). We are going to watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Should be good!

This past few years have been crazy. I can't even begin to list all the things that have changed in my world, much less all the ways I've changed. Six years is long time to think back on...Greyson was barely in school the last time I posted! 

UN-FORGIVEABLE!!!

I'm not about to lie to myself and say that I'll "post once a week" from now on...I know myself better than that. However, my sincere hope is that I can get here more often with photos, updates, etc. 

But for now...I'm going to watch a movie. 😁

Shaking My Head (Part One?)

I consider myself to be a pretty even-keel kind of person. I might get frustrated or irritated by things, but most of the time, you'd never know it to look at me...I can usually keep myself pretty well in check. There are some things, however, that just chap me, and occasionally I'll find myself muttering or fuming or just simply shaking my head in disbelief. Here are a few that have gotten me recently:

• I went to get my nails done a few weeks ago, and there was a woman sitting at one of the stations who was on the phone the ENTIRE TIME I WAS THERE. And not just on the phone, but talking into her Bluetooth headset because, well, nails. Of course, she was sitting right next to where they sat me, so I was "able" to overhear much of her conversation with the various people she decided to call while there (when one phone call ended, she would call someone else...of course). My favorite part was hearing her mutter into her BLUETOOTH that she didn't want to go into specifics about something to do with her and her boyfriend because there were too many people around, then hearing her immediately proceed to go into said details regardless of her audience. #SMH
• Last month while grocery shopping, I found myself in the bread aisle. I was shopping for mini bagels for Greyson's school lunches. The bagels I wanted are located on the bottom shelf of that section, so I was squatting down in front of my cart to grab what I needed, and I pulled a bag of bagels off the shelf. I'm pretty careful when buying bread to make sure that it's not rock hard or moldy, so I was inspecting the bag per usual...and noticed something I'd never seen before - a hole in one corner of the bag. But not just any hole...this one was a hole from someone's teeth...and just behind the hole in that bag was a mini bagel with a bite taken out of it. You guys, I'm serious!! SOMEONE TOOK A BITE OF A BAGEL THROUGH THE PLASTIC BAG, THEN PUT IT BACK ON THE SHELF!!! And that missing bite...GONE!! It was not in that bag!! Now, I watch my children pretty closely at the store ("stop touching things," "put your hands in your pockets," "no, you can't have that," "no, we already have that at home, we don't need another one," "yes, you can go get a cookie, but only one," etc...), so to see that there was a shock to my Mom-brain...seriously!! I put the defiled bag of boiled bread in my cart along with a bag that was unsullied, and took it up to customer service. Wow. Just wow. #SMH
• Two weeks after the bagel incident, I was again in the bread aisle at the same grocery store, this time for bagels and for buns for Labor Day hamburgers. I just recently discovered Brioche buns for hamburgers, and I'm telling you what, I may never eat another type of bun again (unless it's a pretzel bun, because seriously OMG yum). Burned once before, I check the bag of bagels for anything strange, find nothing and go home. Get home, unload groceries, and hey, what do you know...those lovely Brioche buns that I didn't inspect as closely...? Yep. Someone took a bite out of those too!! Which meant going BACK to the store to return them and get new ones, as if I don't already have 8479 too many things on my plate as it is. I'm speechless. #SMH
• I work in an office building, 15 floors of professionals who rent office space in order to conduct their businesses. I'd wager that at least 40% of the tenants in this building are attorneys, our office included. The attorney I work for handles Family Law cases as well as Estate Planning and Probate law. Most of the family law cases we are currently working on have children in the mix, which makes what I do very challenging at times...especially when our clients bring their kids to appointments with them. Don't get me wrong, I understand that childcare is expensive...I'm so grateful to not be writing checks for daycare anymore...and I totally understand that stuff comes up. BUT when you have 4 children under the age of 6 and an appointment with your attorney regarding your separation from your children's other parent, it's usually a really good idea to either find someone to look after your precious cargo for a couple of hours OR reschedule your appointment for another time when childcare is available. It's really NOT a good idea to bring your 4 adorable children to your appointment with you, leave them in the hallway by the elevator under the "direction" of 5-yr old big sister for an hour, and let them run up and down the hallways screaming their heads off and generally disrupting the entire floor. Your children are beautiful, you should be proud of them...please leave them with a sitter next time. #SMH

I'm certain that there will be more "Shaking My Head" posts in the future...the hits just keep on coming! At least it's not boring!!

XOXO