12/4/2017 My daughter has been in her new city for about two months now and I’ve softened my anger toward her about the way she left the condo. If you read my last post or two, you’ll learn that she used to live in a property my husband and I own and trusted her with. She claimed that she did her very best to keep it nice and clean and damage free, but when I went in to do a…
11/2/2017 I’m still reeling from my daughter’s departure. I’m not talking about missing her or worrying about her or being nervous about her decision. No, I’m pissed off. And beyond anxious. And massively broken-hearted. On Friday, October 13, 2017, she finally got into her car (I turned over the title to her, so the car and the insurance are all hers now) and started on the road to Portland for her new life. She spent a long time planning her…
9/11/2017 I’ve said recently that I wish my daughter would just move away so I could breathe. She’s been talking about moving out of state for a very long time, but she decided to just do it. Not think too much, just go. Like within the month. She’s plotting and planning, updating her resume and applying for jobs, researching neighborhoods and applying for rentals, and planning when she’s going to give her notice at work. All of a sudden I’m…
9/6/2017 Yesterday was a letter day; today is a journal day. I’m feeling so many feelings over my formerly troubled teen—and now confounding adult—daughter. I need to express those feelings or I’ll cry and one of my coworkers will ask me what’s wrong and I’ll be embarrassed and my makeup will run and I’ll want to go home and I’ll get none of my work done and I’ll lose my job and I won’t be able to shop at Ross…
3/8/2016 So yesterday, I wrote an update on my daughter to remind myself of how far she’s come. And it’s true, she has, and I’m very proud of her in general. But today, I’m really frustrated with her for being so evasive–for days. She communicates a little—in snippets—and leaves me hanging. I don’t get it. She just had an MRI (if she showed up to her appointment) and promised to keep me informed. I got next to nothing even though…
3/7/2016 Where to begin, where to begin . . . I intended to keep up this blog to chronicle my daughter’s transformation to a normal person, but life became so mind blowing at times, that I couldn’t even think about it. Not everything is bad. In fact, most of it is very good. My daughter is 22 now, and generally a very good person. She makes many bad choices still, but she also makes good ones. Let’s see if I…
8/20/2013 I think I’m a grandmother. Before the age of 50, I’m a grandmother. I’ve taught my girls all their lives to wait until they’re in their thirties to get married, have kids, settle down. I’ve encouraged them to see the world, have experiences, live in different places, have different jobs, fall in and out of love many times before they can even begin to know who they are, what they want, and who they want to grow old with….
8/7/2013 My older daughter is back from an exciting and adventurous trip to South America and happier than I’ve ever seen her. She’s matured in magnificent ways and has such interesting stories to tell. I wish I had been keeping a blog about her all these years. I wish she’d keep a blog of her own. Because of her joy, I was surprised that she would want to deal with her sister so quickly. In fact, she’s only been home…
8/2/2013 Yesterday, my daughter made a big announcement. She’s engaged. Huh? Her boyfriend got on one knee and proposed, and put a ring on her finger. Falling in love and getting engaged are two very special events in a young girl’s life. Dreaming about spending your life with someone special is certainly normal and beautiful. I love that she feels these things after all she’s been through. But my daughter is 19 and her “fiancé” is 23 (I think). That’s…
8/1/2013 Both daughters have been asked to be bridesmaids in their cousin’s wedding (dad’s side), which is a lovely honor. Their dad is responsible for getting them to another state for the nuptials—flight, hotel, and all that stuff. He hasn’t been a problem for me and we are amicable with each other, so I don’t mind when he texts me to get information about their e-mail addresses or phone numbers or dates they’re available or whatnot. I know they don’t always…