Theodosia, there are no words to lift a burden of grief like this. I'm sorry.

Gud, you are amazingly hard-working. You do so much for other people.

Laura, your DH is a good, good, man.

The appointment went well. We're trying Celexa. Thank you all for the kind support.

WS, I really hope it helps you.

I hope that the Celexa works well for you, WS.

Both the DH and the kid got driver's licenses yesterday. First one ever for the 21 year old. DH's was due for renewal and he had to do the whole Real ID thing. He had brought his passport and copies of utility bills, but that wasn't good enough. Then looking through his wallet he asked if his voter id would work, and it did! So he's good for 8 years now. He did have to drive home and get his glasses and go back to pass the eye exam, which might serve as a reminder that maybe he should wear his glasses while driving!

Alternating working and cleaning plaster dust today. I hauled some plants and chairs outside to see if blowing them with the shop vac does the trick.

The administration is a garbage dump. I'm so entirely sick of their shit.

I am right on the edge of an anxiety attack, I can feel it. The goal was to really hunker down and just do work today, but EVERY THING I pick up to do is a comedy of errors of people doing sloppy lazy non critical thinking work. I'm gonna lose my damn mind on them today.

I'm right there with you msbelle. I'm also at my doctor's appointment. I really don't want to hear how fat and bad at taking care of myself I am.

Both the DH and the kid got driver's licenses yesterday. First one ever for the 21 year old.

Emmett didn't get his license until this last year and we're both glad he was never a teen driver.

Can I get braggy for a minute?

Matilda got straight A's on her report card for the first time ever. Math has often been a source of tears in the past, so she's usually pulling down good grades but she's never gotten all A's.

Also, several of her teachers noted how hard working and conscientious she is.

Her friend circle includes a lot of girls who are the academic stars of her age group, so her self perception is not that she's one of the smartest girls.

And personally I think it's problematic when kids get very hooked on grades for validation and affirmation. You can tie a lot of your identity to it and then it can cause problems later.

That said, she took some pride in it and seemed really motivated at school. We lavished her with praise and Emmett called her to congratulate her.

That is awesome! Go Matilda! I do agree that too many kids stress way too much about grades. Stress over not having great grades isn't healthy, but delight and pride over good grades is wonderful.

I didn't get a license until I was 21, but I didn't live where you have to drive to get around either.

Go Matilda!!!

Stress over not having great grades isn't healthy, but delight and pride over good grades is wonderful.

Totally agree. She should be proud!

Thanks! It was nice. Emmett was very laudatory and praising - which means more to her than anything.

He talked specifically about coming late to appreciating academic accomplishment, but that he's pulled good grades himself the last couple years of college and he takes a lot of satisfaction from that.

In Other Matilda News, she made her own Halloween costume this year! She and JZ picked up various bits and bobs from the art supply store and Matilda got out her glue gun and got to work.

For as often as I regret the pernicious effects of smart phones on kids today, I will say that Matilda gets a tremendous amount from YouTube tutorials. JZ models it, of course, but Matilda is very hands-on and crafty and unafraid to get in and make something.