Daydreams and Reality

Posted on June 23, 2012 by jenn

 

I daydreamed about getting out of Standish.

The reality is that I’ll miss the local restaurants, and walking trails.

I daydreamed about peeling out of my office parking lot, while cranking Bon Jovi’s “Have A Nice Day” on my last day of work.

The reality is that I’ll miss everyone, and that I’ve been tearing up a little while saying some goodbyes.

I daydreamed about living close to my mother-in-law, especially since I’m not too close to most of the family members I live near now.

The reality is that  I’m still happy about living with my mother-in-law, but I’m finding that some goodbyes are hard.  Especially with elderly relatives that I might very likely never see again.

We daydreamed about moving to Wilmington on June 30th, taking the summer off, and going on an RV trip across the country with my mother-in-law.  That has become a reality, and the happiness that reality will bring us far outweighs any hard goodbyes.

Posted in family, growing up | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Kids Quote Friday – On Leaving

Posted on June 21, 2012 by jenn

Me: I have to tell you some hard news. I’m going to be leaving, and moving to North Carolina so I won’t be able to work with you anymore.

Kid: What, I’m so bad you have to leave the country?! –8 y.o.

****

Me: I have to tell you some hard news. I’m going to be leaving so I won’t be able to work with you anymore.

Kid: <refuses to talk for 45 minutes> Well, I’m just going to say, whoever gets you in North Carolina is really lucky <storms out of office> –14 y.o.

***

Me: I think you’re really going to like your new therapist.

Kid: New therapist? Who was my old one?

Me: Well, me.

Kid: Oh. What’s a therapist? –7 y.o.

***

Me: Sometimes part of the lesson I can teach you is how to say goodbye in a healthy way.

Kid: Well, I think that part of the lesson just really sucks. — 10 y.o.

***

Happy Friday, everyone!

Posted in Kids quotes Friday | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

On Blind Dating Your Blog Friends & Cooking in a Teapot

Posted on June 20, 2012 by jenn

I thought that when I got married, it meant that I would never have another first date.

Never have to throw on outfit after outfit trying to look “cool,” again.

Never have to check my hair in the mirror (or the iPhone’s front facing camera), again.

Never have the thoughts that bring nervous butterflies – will we recognize each other? do I have something in my teeth? Is that a real laugh or a OMG-This-person-is-a-psycho-nervous-laugh?

But, it turns out… meeting a blogging friend is a little like a blind date.

And low and behold, I had the pleasure of meeting Another Jennifer, IN PERSON!

And seriously, she was awesome (go check her out, seriously. Especially if you love bacon). And I’m pretty sure she doesn’t think I’m a psycho. And she recognized me right off. And I probably didn’t look cool, but it was 90 degrees and no one looks cool then. And hopefully she wasn’t afraid of the semi-afro I get in this kind of humidity.

It was kind of cool, because we already know so much about one another (from each other’s blogs – not because we are stalkers – except blogging sort of is stalkerish, but not really) that the awkwardness disappeared quickly (though I may have gone in for the first hug too quickly, d’oh!) I’m so glad we got together before I’m no longer a Maine-ah. And I got to practice before I meet all of the North Carolina-ian bloggers (there seriously a LOT of you, are y’all trying to take over the world?)

Do you see how my hair is taking over her face? OUT OF CONTROL HAIR.

Anyway, after that fabulous coffee date, I went home and was packing more. And I got hungry. Then I realized we have no bread for my go-to fluffernutter, and all of my pots and pans are packed. Which was horrible, because I had a craving for plain macaroni. A CRAVING MUST NOT BE DENIED.

So, I zeroed in on this.

Because, obviously. Who doesn’t want to pretend like they are 20 again and cook macaroni in a coffee cup over a mug warming plate with random kitchen objects? By the way, I would NEVER cook macaroni on a mug warmer. It is very dangerous, I’ve heard.

Anyway, in case you need a cooking tutorial that is totally (not) worthy of Pinterest, I present to you…..

How To Make Macaroni in a Teapot

{1} Boil water and pour macaroni in.

{2} Stir, cook for 8-10 minutes

{3} Drain (which is actually quite handy in a teapot, truth be told)

{4} Put into your Leonardo (of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) bowl, butter, and enjoy!

Clearly, I am destined for the Food Network!

****

Have a great day, everyone!

Posted in blogging family, randomness | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Right Way

Posted on June 20, 2012 by jenn

Have you ever had experiences where you just know things?

The day I saw Casey on his dating profile, I was drawn to him. I wasn’t nervous about meeting him, because something in me knew him.

When I drove out of my driveway three weeks ago, as Casey prepared to show our house to prospective buyers, I got an overwhelming feeling that these people were going to buy our house. 17 minutes after seeing our house, they were working on putting an offer together.

I wouldn’t say I’m psychic. I don’t see dead people (except on the cool Zombie Swipeout game I play on my iPhone).

But sometimes I get a little nudge from the universe that says, yes… this is the right way.

And I love that little reassurance, because if we’re being honest here? Life is pretty freakin’ scary. Sometimes I feel directionless and hopeless. What am I doing here? What is my purpose? WTF, life?! And then, pieces of the puzzle become clear and things feel right.

A new adventure is coming our way. There are lots of unknowns. Moving. New Jobs. New Friend. New Lives. Kids. Adoption. Fertility treatments. I don’t know how it’s going to all happen, but I keep moving forward. With faith in my little family, faith in myself, and faith that the universe will keep reassuring me when I need it the most.

(right, universe?!?!?!?!?!)

Posted in growing up, joy, marriage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Top Ten Reasons I’m Glad I Was Born in the 80’s

Posted on June 18, 2012 by jenn

As the big 3-0 looms on the horizon I am reflecting back on when I was a youngin’… 😉 Kids “these days” have a lot of advantages, in some ways. But some days, I feel kinda sad for them too. Why? Because they missed out on ….

Source: amazon.com via Hazel on Pinterest

 

 

Wrapping themselves up in the cord of a phone while you talk for HOURS with your best friend about… well, not a lot really. This would prompt getting yelled at by both sets of parents … you  just saw them at school, WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY BE TALKING ABOUT?!?!

Source: google.com.au via Amanda on Pinterest

 

Not only was Super Mario Brothers EASIER and more fun to play during this time period. It taught the important lesson of having to take turns when you played two player. You’d actually have to wait for the person to take their turn before you got yours. Imagine that. Not to mention, these cartridges were SO MUCH more durable. Oh it stopped working? Just give it a good blowing out, and it’s good as gold.

 

 

Source: google.com.my via Gina on Pinterest

 

I don’t know about you, but I spent HOURS on making mix tapes. Sometimes taping the songs from the radio, or from the record player. Or tape to tape. These babies were a LABOR OF LOVE. If someone made you a mix tape, it was a sign that you were important to them. Because, we all know what happens if you accidentally tape over the last part of the song…. you gotta start ALL OVER AGAIN. Not that that ever happened to me. I never threw a mix tape across the room in anger. Never.

Source: shopbop.com via Meagan on Pinterest

 

Stirrup leggings. Now, I can pass off my hot pink version of these as a childhood indiscretion. I didn’t know what I was doing. I WAS SO YOUNG. Now? These adults that are trying to bring them back? They have NO EXCUSE.

 

Another childhood indiscretion. Crimping. And because I had curly hair, I would actually STRAIGHTEN my hair in order to then crimp it to be cool. Sigh. Sorry, hair. From the bottom of my can of Aqua Net.

 

Source: google.com via PCOSChick on Pinterest

 

I got my style tips from Punky (except the leggings, that style tip came from Paula Abdul). And I’m not really ashamed. She might be part of why I’m a social worker, I always felt bad for her. And sometimes I would pretend that I was an orphan too, and I was only allowed to eat applesauce (I don’t know).

 

Playing outside! With other kids! Without any pieces of technology! OMG! I know, right? We had to MAKE UP GAMES. We got called into dinner by parents screaming our names out the front door. Everyone in the neighborhood knew us and we couldn’t get away with anything.

 

 

Saturday morning cartoons. ‘Nuff said.

Source: google.com via Laura on Pinterest

 

We got Michael Jackson when he was good. And by good, I mean Bad! Really, really bad. You know it.

 

Source: google.com via Kristi on Pinterest

 

Music videos. They were a little strange. A little flashy. And they usually didn’t make sense, but we loved them! And I certainly made a lot of “music videos” with my Mom’s 50lb camcorder (my favorite being one to “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle in 6th grade – it was epic).

I may be hesitant about turning 30 (only because some things are so different than I imagined), but in all reality I am thankful to be born when I was. To know a life without being constantly connected to something electronic. To remember a world that was a little simpler, and a little bigger. And full of mix tapes. I really miss the mix tapes. How about you? Are you happy that you were born when you were?

****

Happy Monday, everyone!

****

Linking up by list with Stasha over at The good Life for Monday Listicles!

Posted in growing up | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Around Here

Posted on June 17, 2012 by jenn

Oh, you wonder why I haven’t been updating?

Here’s why….

and this……

and some of this….

and I can’t forget this….

So that’s what we’ve been up to.

T minus 13 days until we hit the road to North Carolina.

In honor of father’s day, I will leave you with a link to my favorite post about my Dad (and apparently your favorite, too, it’s one of my most popular posts!)

So, what have y’all been up to?

Let’s have a cup of sweet tea and catch up!

Posted in randomness | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

What They Don’t Know…

Posted on June 12, 2012 by jenn

We are in the midst of a lot of goodbyes in our lives right now.

I have told many of my clients that I am leaving, with mixed emotions (from them and me).

I often wonder what they’ll tell their next therapist when he or she asks “what kinds of things did you do with Jenn?”

I suspect lots of them will say “we played games!” What they don’t know is that they learn best through games. That what they really learned in that game of chess or Yahtzee is how to finish what you start, how to be a graceful winner, how to try again when you lose, how to take turns, how to anticipate what others are going to do, how to predict consequences of your actions, how to take chances.

Some might say, “we drew pictures and colored!” What they don’t know is that through art, kids express their feelings and emotions. A dark day may be expressed through black scribbles or rain clouds. Secrets and life stories can be told through art when the right part of your brain takes over and leaves logic behind.

Other kids might say “we pretended we were other people!” because what they don’t know is that through role playing kids can learn how to react in social situations, how to initiate conversation, how to increase their self esteem, how to have hard conversations, how to fit in just the right amount while still being who they are.

My adult clients will probably say “we just talked,” even though what they don’t know is that they entered a healthy therapeutic relationships with boundaries and expectations that they may not know or experience in many of their other relationships. They were held accountable, they were challenged, and most of all – they were supported and validated. If I’ve been doing my job right they felt valued and important, because they are.

There are so many things in “therapy” that we teach, not through a long lecture where kids or adults are forced to listen to concepts they don’t care about or don’t understand – but through how we interact with them. The tools we create to support them.

So, their next therapist might think “wow, all she did was color, play games and talk?” But if they’re any good at all, they will hear what my clients are not saying – they will pay attention to they things my clients learned without even knowing it.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Kid Quotes Friday!

Posted on June 8, 2012 by jenn

Kid: If you had a full tank of gas in your car and went down my road, you would be out of gas before you got to my house.

Me: WOW! Your road is 350 miles long?!

Kid: You can drive 350 miles on a tank of gas?! Can I buy your car?

Me: Sure, do you have $20,000?

Kid: How much did you buy it for?

Me: $16,000

Kid: HEY! You’re hussling me!

—8 y.o.

*****

Me: What do you think is the biggest achievement that you’ve made in therapy?

Kid: Well, just look how much taller I am! I even had to get new sneakers! Did you know they make me run WAY FASTER THAN YOU?

—5 y.o.

*****

Kid: Mrs G.? Can I bring these marbles home?

Me: No, they have to stay here. You don’t have any marbles at home?

Kid: No, I don’t have any and my Mom told me she lost hers.

—6 y.o.

*****

Happy Friday, everyone!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Who googles this stuff?

Posted on June 7, 2012 by jenn

Here’s an update on some of things people Google that somehow lead them here.

Baby Daddy Quotes. Okay, people. I wrote a post about how father’s love their daughters. NOT BABY DADDIES. That is a LOOSE interpretation, Google. LOOSE.

Mom loves Mom. Okay. That’s good. Can’t get enough love in the world. But I have no idea what post this lead someone to.

Inappropriate Mom son. No! NO! Stop Googling this crap! AND GET OFF MY WEBSITE YOU CREEPER!

Googling Your Therapist. I fully expect this to happen. Which is why my name isn’t linked on here (though I’m sure someone could swiftly find me if they tried hard enough). Thankfully when you get married and change your name, it takes awhile for the internet to catch up with you.

No wonder you’re so angry with that stick up your a$$. I know, right?

I don’t love lines. That’s cool. More of a circle person? Draw on, my friend.

Pimpin’ 101. That’s right folks, stick around for all of our pimpin’ advice.

***

People also continue to find us by searching for whether or not triathlons are addicting. I’m so thankful that they can find us, and learn that no, no they are not. We are truly providing a public service here.

****

Happy Thursday, everyone! Try and get that stick out of your a$$ and you won’t be so angry 😉

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Full Steam Ahead

Posted on June 6, 2012 by jenn

I’ve got to start practicing southern. So I’ll start by saying…

Y’all, I am STRESSED. Hopefully I used that correctly. I’m stressed in a wonderful way, but it’s still stress.

You don’t even want to see my moving to-do list, or you might join me over here in the corner, crying, rocking back and forth muttering about packing tape.

But it’s good. I know (logically) that it will all get done. That in a brief few weeks, I’ll be kicking back with a glass of sweet tea, with a shotgun by my side, saying things like “y’all ain’t from around here, are ya?”.. (wait, y’all don’t do that?)

So, an awesome blogging friend , Kristen suggesting that I start taking pictures of things I will miss. To help me soak in my time left in Maine. So I am. And I’ll compile them all at the end. The end of this chapter of time.

I had this training today on basically how it’s OKAY to take care of yourself (the presenter was from North Carolina, kismet, no?). So if I need to eat a pint of ice cream every night for dinner from now until June 30th, that’s okay right?

(Someone say yes).

My thoughts are scattered, my brain is running a hundred miles a hour.

I mean, I don’t know what to think when something we have worked SO hard for, actually comes to fruition.

Isn’t it funny? We get what we want and then we freak the heck out.

Ah, human beings. We’re an odd bunch!

But hey, thanks for listening.

Posted in blogging family, growing up | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments