She does this much too often--changes her mind after the fact and weeps to undo the done thing (she'll cry after mac'n'cheese because she realizes now that she wanted spaghetti, she'll cry at the end of the day because she wants to have worn this shirt all day instead of that one, etc.). I love her dearly, but the age of reason cannot come one minute too soon to suit me.

Oh dear - I'm so sorry Dylan is sharing his brain with Matilda.

Kat, man, that is all sorts of fucked up. I didn't realise that there would be a difference between keeping her in care or having her home. That makes it even more unfair.

June is officially LGBT Pride Month.

Though, really, I know it's a trivial thing and it'll pass eventually. I didn't mean to derail the conversation away from the hugely justified rants at the make-too-much-to-qualify-for-assistance/still-too-little-to-get-by-without-it Catch 22.

Ah, you guys. Why isn't everything easier??

One of the funniest (and assiest) parts of toddlerdom is the amazing amount of certainty that a child feels. "I ASKED for this without skin!" or "Jacob bit my arm" things that just aren't true.

It's funny when it isn't maddening.

Oh yeah, ita, we paid $0 out of pocket expenses when she was in the facility. So if we had left her there, I assume, we'd still pay $0.

I do wish I could use the facility as a pantry for things like meds, formula, diapers, durable equipment.

It's only one piece, I know, Kat, but is there a time when Grace won't need the formula anymore?

"I ASKED for this without skin!" or "Jacob bit my arm" things that just aren't true.

I feel bad for feeling so inexpressibly irritated by it - I mean, I'm not only the grown-up here, but I made her, out of nothing, I know damn well she hasn't learned to logic yet - but, really; she begged to help me peel the apple, she stood there and watched every second of the delicate operation with great and intent fascination. When she starts welling up and saying, "No, I really always wanted the exact opposite of the thing I wanted so much five minutes ago it made me well up then!" it just makes me want to go Dobler on her, grab her by her tiny lapels, and bawl, "Dude. DUDE. YOU MUST CHILL."

just logged on an saw the news about -t's husband. I am so shocked and sorry.

My mom worked as a Medicaid Examiner, which meant, basically, that she met with people input their numbers in to a formula, and determined whether or not they could recieve aid. There was no autonomy, leeway, or any personal judgement able to be used in determining aid or amount. She was really haunted by this, and really hated her job because she couldn't help those that needed it. Not only were their families on the edge, like Kat's, but also wealthier families who manipulated the system to keep wealth within the family and have the state pay for nursng homes, etc for their elderly parents. Not that the state shouldn't, but it was hard to see people in the middle struggling to pay for things, when people who could pay for them knew more about the system and thus were able to use the state.

it just makes me want to go Dobler on her, grab her by her tiny lapels, and bawl, "Dude. DUDE. YOU MUST CHILL."

Without the grabbing, this is pretty much it, though. As far as I can tell, this is how they learn the consequences of choices. A simple, "You asked for no skin. I'm sorry," and then leave her to cry, is what I would do. I'm known as Mean Mommy, though.

if we had left her there, I assume, we'd still pay $0.

And yet every obvious best ending for Grace is to have her at home--best for Grace, best for you, best so that some other child who can't be at home can have a place at the facility. Nonsensical.

InCOMPLETELYothernews: Sack tapping. Now, I have to admit, I've hit a fair number of guys in the groin, but it was pretty much...well, not consensual exactly, but they knew what they were at risk of. Plus, you know, protective gear. There's something more than dysfunctional about having a go at someone's groin without warning.