{{{Sheryl}}} Getting your kid the help he needs makes you a good mom.

I wanted to separate my random work problems but I do want to say that my concern with the openly reading has way less to do with how the workers (who are no longer students, which it is why it is a concern) spend their downtime than how other gossipy/somewhat malicious people might react and how that might lead to the closing of the position as “not needed” because I have allowed downtime. So I would really just prefer they “look busy”. I have provided training opportunities and a framework for documenting operations that they can work on in downtime which have not been worked on and they probably need guidance, but the reality is that 6 out of 8 hours, I am in Zoom meetings so my preference is that they at least look like they are busy. I know that is terrible. But they no longer have the student worker studying excuse I can use so I am afraid I will be told to tell them to clock out instead of waiting for me to give them something else and I want to give them hours…

Thanks everyone.

Matilda's friend Carlin is here for a sleepover...

Me: What do you want for dinner?
Matilda: How about fried rice?
Me: Okay. Carlin, any dietary restrictions? Ham, chicken, egg...
Carlin: Nope!
Me: Got it.
[after I leave]
Carlin (to Matilda): OMG, this is the first time I'll have fried rice by a white person!

[It was deemed acceptable. Probably due to my copious use of Fish Sauce, Garlic and Five Spice.]

Went back after....

Me: Okay, how was it?
Carlin: It wasn't BAD...
Me: But not as good as your grandmother makes it?
Carlin: Right.

I mean, fair enough. Who's going to match Grandma's skills ever, anywhere? I, however, do not have grandma fried rice bias, so... anytime, is what I'm saying. (Banana pudding on the other hand, Grandma Gilmore has a lock, I'm afraid.)

Continued moving -ma!

I saw something a longish while ago about a young man who was traveling and his grandmother worried that he wouldn't be eating well or eating enough. So, as he traveled, he found grandmothers who were willing to feed him and sent pictures to his grandmother. They showed him sitting down to a good meal with a beaming grandmother nearby.

Phew, good the fried rice at least passed muster! So many of Hec's creations look so good. Yum!! Although, Grandma's cooking should be the best.

That is adorable, Todd. Btw, how are you doing?

I am afraid I will be told to tell them to clock out instead of waiting for me to give them something else and I want to give them hours…

Maybe just tell the workers that?

Sheryl, what everyone else said. You are doing what a good parent should in a really difficult situation-- getting your child the help they need.

Sheryl, what everyone else said. You are doing what a good parent should in a really difficult situation-- getting your child the help they need.

I neglected to add my voice to this, Sheryl. Sending you support vibes.

Feels like we're in a Steeplechase where I can see the next obstacle arising and we have to clear it and then tackle the one after that.

Obstacle 1: Monday had to finish clearing out all the media (CDs, DVDs, LPs) from wall shelving so it could be taken down on Tuesday. Success!

Obstacle 2: Need to clear out nerdhole and kitchen table because movers are coming tomorrow to take boxes and furniture over. Status: Unfinished!

Obstacle 3: Occupy new house all day tomorrow as three scheduled events happen: 1) movers bringing stuff over; 2) Mattresses being delivered; 3) Cable/WiFi gets hooked up.

Obstacle 4: Finish clearing out kitchen and nerdhole in current apartment Thursday night because floor guy comes in on Friday morning to put in new linoleum.

It's a freakin' blur!

But new floor should be finished within three days after which Emmett & Kalena can move over. So sometime by the middle of next week we should all be switched, and even the window restoration (which started in April) should be done. We shall see!