Status Updates From Thinky Thoughts: All Grown ...

Author's Final Note and Acknowledgements complete. Both made me smile. The first might drive me to actually write instead of only talking about it. The second was such a pleasure. No I don't know the people that were being thanked but it was wonderful to see the sincerity and heart in the words of appreciation.

I'm Batman, Grief's Bystander, Kid Free, and Fucking Around to Find Out complete. Four essays about being human, a spouse, a parent, an introvert and doing the best you can in all areas. The second is rough and I feel it personally. The last has good thoughts regarding teaching growing kids by letting them make their own choices and mistakes.

Is Mommy Reading Porn?, Not a Hugger, Neutered, and Jazz Rules complete. The first had great observations and is something I've delt with in my life. The third was a 'choosing myself' poem. As a mom that is hard for me. I will take away lessons from Jazz Rules to use with my family.

The Evolution of the Fridge, From a Long Winter's Nap, The Couch's Memoir, Shallow Puddles, and To the Friends That Faded complete. Essays and poems. The second made me laugh. The third had me sappy, and it's told from the point of view of the couch! The others each have moments I have lived or see around me.

Rollercoaster, Mother's Day, and The Slow Descent into Adulthood complete. Two essays and a poem. The first has interesting bits about being close with your kids when you have nothing in common. The poem made me smile. The third I nodded along with entirely. I agree with it all.

Realistic Expectations; Robust; Dipped, Dyed, Inked, and Stabbed; two essays and a poem. The first highlights the importance of words, especially when they are spoken around kids, and making manageable goals. Then celebrating the small wins. The second is a very relatable poem. The third has me thinking about my body and brain.

I Don't Know How I Feel About The Salad complete. Another essay the hours home. I relate to being isolated by an ex partner. To thinking about things they said and did, even though I'm now divorced by several years. To being annoyed/frustrated that my ex is still getting time and energy in my brain. We all cope in our own ways. Counseling and working on myself(for myself because I deserve it and for my kids) helps.

Creamed Corn complete. Good lessons in this essay. The comparison of learning to cook and to learning to parent made sense. The most important part I gleaned is taking responsibility and apologizing when we mess up either one. Because we will, it is inevitable, none of us are perfect, nobody has all the answers and no one gets everything right all the time.

Valentine-Gram; Cliché Story Name About Phoenixes, Ashes, Rebirth, and Other Shit People Say About Divorce; and Hope Is Brown complete. Oof, these three hurt to read. The first I think we've all felt. The second I felt to my core. Divorce is hard when you've been in an abusive situation. The third I haven't had to resort to yet but I know how close I am to it. SNAP may be the only way I can feed my kids one day.

The Song the Trees Sang Me, Unclear, Daddy Issues, Road Rage, and The Magic of Christmas complete. I enjoyed these five essays. They hit hard, caused smiles and tears, are heartfelt and honest. The first got a highlight as did the last. The second was incredibly relatable. The last smacked me in the face. I've lived the end of it. 'I'm a mom. I'm the magic. Merry Christmas.'

Foundational Experiences and I Have No Idea How to Hydrate Myself complete. Two essays about taking care of yourself. Being aware of and supporting your foundation. Ensuring your body gets enough water by listening to it. Everyday struggles. Though mine is the right kind of food rather than enough water. Either way, I need to take better care of my foundation.

Parenting Unexpert complete. Relatable. "I have no idea what I'm doing" is the first line of the essay. Big, verbal, yep from me as I read. It ends with, "It's okay that you aren't an expert. It's okay to not know. You'll figure it out." Embracing that is difficult for me. I know it intellectually but in my heart, most of the time, I feel that I fail as a parent. Good writing causes introspection. This is good.

Title Goes Here and The Bean Theory complete. So much to appreciate and relate to. My mind also takes off on tangents. I also am an introvert who needs alone time to recharge my social battery. I enjoyed the bean explanation and Ms. Laithland is right I will "never look at beans the same way again. Or social interactions." She has indeed ruined me.