I hope CJ and Mac's respective classes go well.

For those who enjoy a well done mocumentary, here's a bit on artisanal water. [link]

Wow, 9th grade. They just keep growing, I tell ya!

I am vaguely dreading school starting next week, just as I was vaguely dreading summer back in May. Summer turned out okay. I do wish I knew the trick to raising motivated children who have focus and interests that they genuinely want to pursue, and who do things like homework without massive crying jags, etc. I have failed my kids in that arena. My kids are so smart and yet they couldn't give half a shit about much of anything beyond instagram in the one case, and the history of video gaming in the other. sigh.

Burrell, those are developmentally appropriate interests. Signed, 11 y o is watching the Chipmunks sing Bad Romance while 9 y o watches Nova Science Now.

My kids are so smart and yet they couldn't give half a shit about much of anything beyond instagram in the one case, and the history of video gaming in the other. sigh.

That seems really, really normal. I've had the exact same issues with my kids.

I do wish I knew the trick to raising motivated children who have focus and interests that they genuinely want to pursue, and who do things like homework without massive crying jags, etc.

Pretty sure,my dad wishes he did, too. Mom always said to herself that Ansel Adams and John Muir looked like they had no idea what they were doing well into their 30s

All I asked from tonight's swim was that it faster than yesterday's rather bad one.

I posted times that I haven't seen in about 2 years. Slowest lap was faster than the averages I've been managing lately. IDEK. I'll take it, but random. Hope I can maintain it.

I'm lying on the carpet in my empty living room trying to convince myself to get up and go to Target. I will be happier when I have a pillow for sleeping and a coffee maker for the morning.

I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow's furniture delivery because I desperately need a couch to flop on.

Yay carpet! Pillows and coffee makers are of the good.

I just had the most complicated/adorable passport applicants. Two one month old girls, not twins, born a day apart to (I think) different gestational surrogates, with Swedish same sex couple dads. And one grandma was there, too.

Aww, that does sound complex and adorable!

I do wish I knew the trick to raising motivated children who have focus and interests that they genuinely want to pursue, and who do things like homework without massive crying jags, etc.

Hahahah, I don't believe it exists. Even moreso than ROUSes. Unless by interests you mean like "obsessed with video games" or "can't put down a book to say hello" or "really really thinks horses are so cool and wants to have a pony but hasn't ever actually met a horse" or something. Those are possible.

shrift, gotta say, I'm impressed with the speed in which you pulled this off. I know it was an endless slog for you, but you pulled it off!