No Good Deed Goes Unpunished :)

I don't usually go shopping for new 'projects' or more 'work' - and I certainly don't look for problems that aren't initiated here.... I do however, like to help a friend in need when I can.... so when my college roommate's friend's daughter (age 25), whom I’ve never met- (and I’ve never met her mother either). Found herself in need of some local emotional help and guidance, I was happy to oblige... 'sure, give her my number - and my email address.' The other adults in her life were out-of-state.

I should have known better, from my own experience, that these 'projects' usually morph into my favorite mantra. 'NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED'.... and in this case, that proved true (again). It seems that friend-of-friend daughter was having boyfriend problems and was looking for a local 'friend' (ME) to help make life easier for HER. I first received a pitiful email that detailed the drama and all HER personal issues stating pretty directly.... that she would like to bring HER THINGS to OUR house and to stay HERE until she can 'get back on her feet'.... huh?

 HERE? 

She then boldly called to follow-up and.....at that point, I almost agreed for the sole purpose of teaching her a good lesson!  :)

Kids today feel so entitled and the idea of adults fixing everything has become their 'solution'. This request was stunning to me... As mentioned in my previous column, I have a chronic cough that would scare anyone....wild sassy teenagers in and out of this house .....barking dogs and oh, almost forgot - we are running a business from here too... Join the fun ! Good-sport husband wouldn't even listen to the last message from her kept saying 'Make it GO AWAY !...  MAKE IT GO AWAY ! '.... This time, I had to agree with him ! Out-of-state adults needed to 'fix' this one. :) And fortunately they did! Need to take a nap before I go to bed.. (again) 

xo
The International Laundress

'Good' Friday....NOT anymore.... :)

For Mom's with 'Good Friday' day off from school-they know intuitively, with teens, that it's not 'Good' ....what a phrase!  More arguing, no structure - everyone under foot.  The days of taking advantage of a 'day off' is over for me.  Back in the time when we could do a wonderful outing together and everyone was excited makes me recall the time when I blew it for my son.  Never to be trusted again!  

With every good intention, I bought tickets to see a famous exhibit called 'Body World'... What happens next is the makings of his future therapy sessions... we found ourselves in a very long line...to then be 'ready' to go 'in'... square in front of us was a real skinned human riding 'bare back' on a skinless horse!  Darling Son was wide eyed and breathless and I was so tried of waiting in line that I made them go 'in' (Darling Daughter thought it was 'interesting')  I have to say, in reflection....I didn't research this like I should have (quickly bought kid-tickets on line!) and standing there in the middle of all these skinned humans and animals was quite a site!  (I was pretty grossed out too)  all I could say was 'Let's go have some lunch!'... Darling Son was pale and now even years later he won't even let me mention the name of that exhibit!  He also is not interested in anymore educational tours - and he can't seem to break a 'C' in Science  hmm?.... so tomorrow will be another video game extravaganza day for him!  oh well...  nite nite!

Hidden Diseases ... Master Plan

 

Long ago ‘good-sport husband’ coined the phrase 'disease infested mongrels' ... meaning; kids in-general... are all ‘carriers’ of disease….I know it's true and from that comment, we have both suffered on and off for years with the things kids bring home.  Colds, coughs, flu, rashes…we have had everything but lice- not to say that's not coming….we're actually overdue!  I have had coughs that remind people of a Tuberculosis outbreak - the kind that turn heads like a bad muffler... lag on for months... requiring 3 different perscriptions of antibiotics to ‘kick’ - the kids are rarely sick they always bounce right back - older parents limp along behind desperate to recover never knowing if they ever will.  

Once Grammie came for a brief visit and left from here on an exciting golf vacation with pink-eye  ;) Nothing is off limits when it comes to sick-germs from kids.  The variety is fast and the onset is swift.  Today I am under-the-weather (which is really saying something with another cold/wet dreary Midwestern day) I went from ‘fine’ to chills, sore-throat and my famous cough in a matter of hours – good-sport husband is also hacking… kids are strong and vital… a master-plan to keep their enemy (us) in a weaker position to make it easier to conquer.   They win today and it's nite nite early for overwhelmed MOM... :)   tomorrow the war begins again!

xo

The International Laundress

The new meaning of "NO" - complicated at best !

When I was growing up I learned very quickly what the meaning of the word 'NO' was. Back then, when clearly spoken in English it had a real meaning. This word from our language had zero room for discussion let alone negotiation.

In my world, I apparently speak a different dialect and the word 'NO' is just a negotiating starting point to begin banter my darling children have perfected over the years. They are both relentless and determined- and they actually love the challenge (it's like a 'hunt') - to beat me down to then conquer. They know the weak points - they can sense opportunity even from a loud shout.  It always begins with 'WHY?' - it's like a square dance that we do... circle to the left ('WHY'?) circle to the right ('WHY'?) – I’m then holding my own- repeating myself ‘NO’…. then the do-si-do begins; (going for the kill)  about all the wonderful things they have done lately that enrich my life ! The dance continues 'allemande LEFT', 'allemande RIGHT' …. They’re masters really they are.... it's not possible to give an answer they will even hear unless it's 'oh, OK you win !'    when you are an older tired MOM this outcome is inevitable (unfortunately)

While not feeling my tip top best tonight (to start ‘dancing’)-- I received a true 'beating' that ended up going from 'NO' to me riding shotgun to 'deliver' darling daughter to a friend’s house. The negotiating was complex, but did end with someone else bringing her home! Compromise is key.. nite nite.. !
Sweet Dreams too!
xo
The International Laundress :)

Need 'LIFE REWIND' Product

As I was looking at my 'fancy' Maybelline AGE REWIND makeup today, it occurred to me they need a to make 'LIFE REWIND' ... if they did, I would be one of those people in a lawn chair lined up down the street first to buy. Actually, I would be camping to secure my position.   I'm thinking today where in my life did the tide turn ? I used to love my Estee Lauder make up until Darling Daughter ravished through my bathroom and helped herself to 'all things good' then it occurred to me (like DUH) that I don't need anything anymore that is 'good' and I went to Walgreens for all my cosmetic needs. I've gotten to know the young Hispanic girls who work there and I trust their recommendations.

The thing about parenting at a mature age- ...  right when you think you can get your life back again (and it's ironically when you are most in need of the high-end makeup and wrinkle cream) - it's the last thing you want or can have.   I guess that’s when the ‘tide turns’ …. Kids take every last cent you have for their own entertainment and dinners out and as a precaution what parent wants to leave their home unattended with teenagers in your life for even a quick movie anyway?   Need to arm and protect what little is left. Even when I am home bad things happen.

Last year another good friend and neighbor (we vow to help and protect) glanced up at our steep rooftop to find 5 teenagers (boys & girls) 'perched  on high' - on a mission! The ‘story’ being,… they were looking for 'Winky' our one-eyed cat who amazingly opened a bedroom window and took the full screen off (even bent it) and was then in-his-little-curious-way began exploring the rooftop to plan an escape?! Whew.... glad they were there to save the day!  This I believe is a news item for perhaps 'pet tube' or beyond? Talent abounds here!   I'm off to take a nap before I go to bed  ....  xo T.I.L.

'Winky' our one-eyed cat
(...dreaming about escaping from his miserable life! hee hee hee)

TV Catastrophe! Take 'Cover' as in (I need a blankee)

When I heard the news this morning I was going to run and hide in my foxhole.  It seems that good-sport husband who stays off my radar largely because he has what he needs... informed me that his beloved 'what he needs' blew up last night- and I'm not talking inflatable doll here... This sacred icon is his newish flat screen TV -- it made a 'pop' sound and it was then pronounced DOA.  I was frankly amazed by how calm hubby was with this declaration.  It was too early for wine so this calmness was kind-of-serene and reminiscent of a brewing perfect storm or could it be a tsunami coming (we'll see).    This is a man who normally has a blow-the-roof-off  tantrum when the kids have pressed the wrong buttons or worse yet, 'misplaced' the remote.  Anything ‘TV’ is on his list of things that send him into orbit.  Like most men the TV  is his respite – a place to forget the chaos that has engulfed his life.  I do respect that – like me, we both need to take a break from this life we have created.  So who is to blame for this calamity.... the storm last night, Comcast or Vizio?  Stay tuned!   I'm saving my strength and need to take a nap before I go to bed.  :)

xo

T.I.L.