Making Waves

My life is a series of advocacy commercials.  Between my mother and Bailey, I am constantly navigating, arguing, and figuring out what works in any given situation.  This week I seem to be attracting the opportunity to be on the defensive for both.    With Mom, I am simply trying to find the right caregiver…

The Fall

Yesterday I had a plan.  First day everyone was out of my house and back to their regular routines, I was spending time writing before I would venture to a photo shoot for one of the magazines that I contribute to.    I was smug. My mother would be having a fill-in caregiver until they…

The Picky Princess

“I don’t think this is going to work,”  my mother whispered as she talked away from the new caregiver.    This is the first day she has been there and I personally found her delightful.   I left them to get to know each other, but it wasn’t even an hour before I heard those…

Medusa

I pride myself on being less reactive these days.  Learning to pause when agitated and sometimes simply walking away can help dissolve any harsh outburst that may want to spill out.   Funny, yesterday, that sentiment went flying out the window when I became Medusa mixed with a sprinkle of that chick from the Exorcist…

Sitting On The Edge

“Bryce has news.” This is the text I read after an evening of dealing with my mother while the rest of my family attended Trinity’s football scrimmage.   I always say that vague disclaimers are no one’s friend, so I respond back asking if the news was good.  He responds yes.   So, knowing that…

The Phone

Last night, I opted not to travel to Northern Kentucky to see Bryce’s high school football team scrimmage.   There were a lot of reasons for my decision, but if we were doing a Dave’s top ten, number one would be “I WANT TO BE ALONE.”   There were a lot of opinions sprinkled around…

The Second Time Around

When Brian and I married twenty-five years ago, we opted for a seven minute ceremony at the country club where the reception would be held.  Quick, easy, and very convenient.   Sometimes a McDonald’s drive-thru takes longer than our wedding lasted.  Raised Catholic, we weren’t interested in jumping through hoops to get to the altar.…

The Agreement

I have been writing a lot this week on the situation with my mother.   The transition between caregivers is giving me the opportunity to step in and pick up the slack.  I have also shared that my mother can be difficult and we struggle to maintain some sort of peace between us.  I gather…

Looking Back

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the anniversary of getting my first fake body part.  I know what you are thinking, “wow, I wondered if she had a boob job”, but sadly, you would be wrong.  Anyway, I would fire that guy.   The girls are a bit saggy.   I am referring…

On The Edge

By yesterday at 10 am, I wanted to runaway.    Between my mother’s caregiver situation and some other issues that were being addressed, I was teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown.   Honestly, I would have welcomed it as would have been a well-deserved time out.  But, I am an adult and I…