What I've Been Thinking About Lately

Happiness is like fitness or housekeeping for me: something that takes energy and focus, does not come naturally and has been sadly neglected for a while.

So I am thinking of starting a happiness project. I first read about Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project in a great article called 10 Ways to Be Happier (Liz brought Real Simple to our girls weekend. I brought Us Weekly). The author explains how she found herself in danger of wasting her life — her wonderful life — by not working on her happiness. She started a systematic study of happiness, a blog and has a book coming out next year. I have found her inspiring. We'll see how my project goes, but one of my first tasks is to make a list of ten things I am grateful for (thanks for the assignment, Liz), in no order:

• Jason's patience
• My sense of humor
• Our health
• My amazing friends
• The hope and energy driving the election
• The fall weather
• Good books
• Lucy's energy and intelligence
• My family (the one I was born into and the one I married into)
• Our safety (something I so take for granted I rarely lock a door)

This Just In!

Potty Training Breakthrough Alert: Over the strains of Keith Olbermann I heard some faint moaning from Lu's room. Jason went in to investigate: she was grunting, half-lidded, headed for the potty. Jason came from the bathroom, pumped his fist in victory and said, "She peed like a race horse and didn't even wake up."

This is a big step from midnight cries like "DAAAAAD, I HAVE TO PEE!!!" or the dreaded "MOOOOOM, I PEED IN MY BED!!!" (and subsequent laundry).

Bad Wrap for Nap

While we were at the Children's School family picnic at the Northwest Park today, the head of school, Ms. Wallin, approached me to share a funny story about Lucy.

She said that Lucy was standing in line to go into the nap room one day last week, and as Ms. Wallin passed, Lucy said, "Excuse me, Ms. Wallin, I'm not supposed to be in this line. I am not a napper."

They proceeded to have some negotations/dialogue about the merits of napping, during which time Lucy conceded that while napping isn't JUST for babies, it is mostly for kids who are "very young, not older kids like me." Ms. Wallin explained that everyone benefits from a nap, that she herself liked to take naps sometimes, that she thought it would be quite nice to take a nap that day.

Lucy said, "Well, you can have my cot."

Conjunction Function

Today in the car, Lu said with alarm, "Uh oh, Mom, we forgot Huggie! Dad can bring him to me on his way to work, although I could take a nap without him and use one of the animals from the nap box instead."

Uh, she uses "although" correctly? She is going to be diagramming sentences soon.

Princess Persuasion

Lu knows how much I dislike the princess thing. Last night, she wanted me to read her a Disney princess book, and she tried to persuade me by explaining, "Well, they aren't princesses, they are just really pretty. With pretty dresses on. And crowns. But look, they have horses, Mom, and I know how much you like horses." I held firm. I really don't like horses all that much either.

Somebody Call the Fashion Police

LUCY WORE PANTS TO SCHOOL TODAY. And yesterday she wore a skirt. She has agreed to a new fashion rotation: dress, skirt, pants!

At the house before school this morning IN PANTS.

At the park yesterday IN A SKIRT.

Decision 2008

Small choice has always been a big part of keeping the peace in our house: it helps Lu feel some power in a world ruled by bumbling adults. But she has further slowed down any morning or nighttime ritual by insisting that all decisions be made via "Eeny Meeny Miney Mo." Which toothpaste to use? My_mother_told_me_to_pick...cinnamon! Which socks? My_mother_told_me_to_pick...blue! (The irony of this being she NEVER does what her mother tells her to do.)

This method has saved us lots of fighting and deliberation. Don't tell voters in swing states.

Beach Trip '08

We had another amazing weekend of sun, sand and friends.

Did You Know...

...that sometimes when you're sick you get the blues? Which means you're really sad, so sad you don't feel like doing anything, not even playing.

(Ed note: Lu is not sick, just thinking out loud. And her mother promises to write about Beach Trip '08 later today.)

The Story of Your Life

Please, tell me the story of your life. I mean it. I really want to know. I just spent 30 riveting minutes hearing the life story of one
of my co-workers, someone I am fond of, but don't know terribly well. I know him better now. Hearing his story has made me connected to him. The possibility of such a story in strangers makes me more connected to all of them.

You may say, "Bah, who cares about 'connectedness?' I don't want to hear everyone's life story." But you want to hear some of them, right? It's why you watch reality TV, why you read any piece of literature, why you're reading this now. Next time someone gives you the chance to hear his story in person, take it. Or send him my way.