Hil, if you need a ride to the doctor, give me a call.

Thanks for the offer. My doctor is the student health center, which is just a few blocks away, so I'll be OK.

Hil, most stomach bugs usually pass in a day or so. If it goes on too much longer, or you think you're getting dehydrated, then call the doctor.

I just want him to be a good person who can tend to his own happiness and bring that to others. Letting him discover and explore his strengths and giving him tools and confidence to deal with his weaknesses.

This. Exactly this. That's what I want for my kids.

Joni Mitchell's Twisted:

Technically Annie Ross' Twisted, though Joni's cover is excellent. (Joni always called Lambert, Hendricks and Ross her Beatles.)

Jeez, Erin, what a fucking a week. I'm glad those kids have you in their lives though.

I think Gloomcookie would be an excellent Mom should she choose to take that route.

you don't want to be some old lady with a little kid.

Heh. I'm gonna be in my fucking sixties when Matilda is in high school.

Hec, I was secretly hoping you'd come talk about good enough parenting, which is actually something I've adapted for my own life.

As an example...at Emily's graduation party I couldn't find bowls to put the dip in. Emily finally looked at me and said, "What do you need bowls for? Put them out in the containers. That way everyone knows what's in them." I was like, "Ok. I guess that's what Hec would call 'good enough.'" I've even referenced it in therapy. That and Theodosia's "stupidity tax" are a couple of my therapist's favorite skill adaptations (although, she won't actually let me call the stupidity tax "stupidity tax." I have to call it a living life tax, or some such thing).

Hil, most stomach bugs usually pass in a day or so.

This is day three now.

Guess I ought to get dressed and get over to student health.

Uh. People put dip out in bowls?

I consider dip in the container to be flat-out "good," not "good enough."

I am so white trash.

you think you're getting dehydrated, then call the doctor

Oh yes! I began getting wicked dehydrated but got some generic pedialyte stuff from cvs that, sipped like a mouse would (teeny sips) stayed down and made the arid feeling go away failry quickly.

Guess I ought to get dressed and get over to student health.

Yeah, you should. Feel better.

good enough parenting

Excellent way to look at it. I think I do that without ever having thought about it that way, precisely. Actually, I think I do a lot of things that way, and probably should do more.

I am terrified that anyone who meets us thinks that Em is dumb and I'm a horrible mother.

Honestly, Aimee, I love seeing you and Joe with Em. Obviously very loving parents. Obviously still very much yourselves. And Em is very obviously blossoming into Em. She's very bright and playful.

Thanks for the offer. My doctor is the student health center, which is just a few blocks away, so I'll be OK.

okay, but it's raining, so I can give you a ride. Also, let me know if you need Gatorade or pedialyte or whatever.