Perspective

How many people in the world would love to open a full cupboard, a bulging refrigerator and try to decide what to feed their kids?

Keep it in perspective. This isn't so bad.

Max got skin tests yesterday for egg and milk and the flu shot. He was cleared for the shot and got it, grimacing bravely. He still can't have dairy products or anything egg-laden, though.

Keep it in perspective. This isn't so bad.

A filling fell out of Max's mouth and a small cavity formed.

He has a bumpy rash all over his torso that the allergist thinks is viral. At the allergist's office, in fact, Claire smashed her finger in the hinge side of a door. I must've turned white when I saw her soft, small pinky stuck in there, because it looked flat.

Claire's chest hurts. Dull, she says. Often. Like mother, like daughter? Or something worse?

Keep it in perspective. This isn't so bad.

Max's handwriting is horrendous and requires extra lessons. That I need to provide. We have to go back to Kindergarten books so he can relearn how to shape his letters. And Claire's speech. Claire's speech. So cute, yet so distorted. The schools tell us to wait. She doesn't need therapy. My gut tells me she does.

Keep it in perspective. This isn't so bad.

Worry. I'm worrying more than usual these days. Reminding me of my former, pre-medicated self. I'm a little too flustered. A little too lonely. Yet all I want is to be by myself.

Keep it in perspective. This isn't so bad.

My kitchen is nice. Granite. Semi-fancy appliances. But...all that time I have to spend in there. All that damn deciding and cooking and cleaning up. The kitchen. It drives me insane.

   

 

Comments

[Jennifer Jo]

Keeping things in perspective? Something I'm NOT good at when feeling blue. Do you have other medication options? Could you take C to a private speech therapist?

My son's handwriting is atrocious, too. The professionals were HORRIFIED. I ignored them (and cried in private) and now he's older and his handwriting (when I sit on him) is much better. There's still room for improvement---my hope is that by the time he's 15 or so he'll know how to make his written words smoothly.

And remember, there's always keyboarding lessons. Perspective, you know...

[kcinnova]

With boy #3, the school said "wait." We moved to a different school district 3 years later. I was able to get boy #3 into speech therapy (Finally! In 2nd grade) where they wished they'd seen him sooner but at least they also took boy #4 while still a preschooler.

Having gone through allergy issues with boy #2, I understand the craziness. But someday you will meet someone who has it much worse and you will gain that perspective.

A friend just told me that a Vitamin D deficiency contributes to that blueness. Perhaps we all need increased doses?

[Stacy]

Ah yes, perspective. My kitchen, as you know, is starkly clean; my refrigerator contains beer and batteries. But, my desk at work; that's another story. I feel like that is where most of my life is spent lately, Desk of doom. I considered taking my camera to the office and posting my own video, showing ever-faster swirls of stacks of paper, pens, highlighters, binder clips... but I have this image of myself getting dizzy, falling and hitting my head on my massive desk and laying undiscovered until Monday. So, no video. Because, really; what a way to go.

[MSH]

That video pretty much sums it up. Right on.

[Jessica Lei]

Moms always know best. Go with your gut. Don't settle for "isn't so bad" just because you don't want to worry. Worry is natural for moms.

AND what a brave little boy you have!

[Rita]

I am SO glad to see someone else who both, worries aobut EVERYTHING and HATES her (really quite lovely) kitchen.

Also? The line about being lonely but wanting to be alone? Spot-on.

Love your blog, by the way. You are an amazing writer.

[Mrs. G.]

It's the season. Hang in there woman.

[Cactus Petunia]

I'm with Mrs. G.: hang in there.
But trust your gut when it comes to the kids. I have a 30 year old still struggling in college because of a learning disability that apparently wasn't desperate enough to qualify for special ed when he was in middle school. Perspective.