One of the things forced to go when you become a parent is your potty mouth. Aren’t you more aware of other people’s foul mouth?
Walking along the street or TV where the “F” word is flying. Sometimes I think, “hey, settle down.” Although, when I am in the company of adults only, I like to take the censor off my mouth and go gutter.
The kids really do pick up what you say, I found out the hard way.
Sometimes you feel like family with people who are not relatives, actually often. I have a brother who is not my “real” brother. For any of you who knew me in my radio days you’d know Dr. Dean Edell is a very important person in my life. I produced his radio show and he gave me a chance to become not only his on-air foil, but to co host a TV show of his. Professionally I owe a great deal to him. In Addition, his influence on my life as a mentor is so immense I have called him my “second dad”, sometimes I have even suggested that he “re-raised me.” Some people need to grow up again, I was one of those people. As if that were not enough, he and his wife Sharon have been warm friends to me.
I reluctantly stepped away from the show, because I felt I had to grow professionally and creatively. If you’ve ever had to separate from a mentor you know how hard it can be. I gave him 10 months notice.
That was in mid 1999. We have kept in touch and I have even filled in for Heather sometimes, my friend who took over my producing job. But, I have missed talking to Dean and getting his counsel. This past weekend Vivien and I went to Northern California and spent the weekend with he and his wife Sharon in their home at the intersection of nowhere, and where the hell am I? It is really, really remote. I loved catching up with them, but most of all to see them with Vivien filled my heart.
You know how you feel when your parents and your kid are digging each other? That’s how being with Dean and Sharon felt for me. Dean kept trying to connect with Vivien and make her laugh, sometimes she was shy, and sometimes it worked. He is a pro, he and Sharon have 8 grown children between them and about 7 grand kids.
We were walking back from the river one day and Vivien, who was walking with Sharon and I suddenly said, “I want to run and catch up with him.” She dashed to catch up with Dean (her floaty on his head), and took his hand. They walked hand and hand back home.
Another family portrait.
Ladies, if you want your man to give you another child, or a child at all you don’t want him to see this. But, for guys who want the truth, I lay it out. This video is an explanation of what fatherhood is going to mean to his relationship with you.
From my world o’cold I’m swimming in, I must depart this word of warning for the multitasking mom. My sister Cecily was curling her lashes Thursday, getting ready to meet us out for a girl’s dinner. She decided to multitask, also known as sitting on the can while curling said lashes, but she stumbled. The result? Half her eyelashes are now gone from her left eye. A clear chunk o’ lash is missing. When will it return? Who knows?
(Here’s Cecily with Vivien, eyelashes intact.)
She said it doesn’t hurt, but sometimes it’s better to take the 3 seconds to complete things. When something like that happens to me, I always think I dodged a bullet. That it could have been worse; I could have been distracted and in a hurry and plowed my car into a tree. So, don’t stop making yourself pretty, just do one thing at a time. That’s my takeaway.
I’m fortunate that I have a mother-in-law who likes me. And I like her, as well. Not that bumps in the road don’t arise sometimes. Which is probably why Cafe Mom has a support group to deal with the in-law. I also love the the site where you can rag on your husband’s mom anonymously.
I have found that I have to share Mother’s Day – “my day” – with her. Of course, the irony is that right after I did this Vlog, she told me she is going to see my sister-in-law for Mother’s Day weekend, and my stepson is to be with his mom. But my husband is still working, so it was just me and Vivien. She’s too young to give me breakfast, but I got some hand-picked flowers from the weeds in the sidewalk! Fine with me. I’m so happy I have my daughter.
And by the way, if you do want to complain about mother-in-law here, please feel free. A lot of them aren’t that net savvy.