I'll be reading Growing Up with Tamales for story time at Blue Willow Bookshop, in Houston, on Thursday morning, May 15. Tell everyone you know with kids in the Houston area. How do you find and support local indie book stores like Blue Willow? By going to Booksense.
On Saturday, May 17, I'll be in Dallas, reading and signing at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, for the 13th Dallas Children’s Book Fair & Literary Festival.
On June 22, here in Houston, I'm going to do a poetry workshop. It's free and open to the public, y'all, and they're having one every Sunday in June, taught by local poets I love and respect. So come on down.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Sad NewsMy middle son is going to live with his father for a semester.
I'm sad about it. But it's not about me. It's about him, trying something new and hoping for certain improvements in his life. So I support his choice, like any parent would.
It's apparently a more common occurence than I'd previously thought -- kids wanting to try living with the other parent; courts allowing siblings to live apart. It's all been arranged better than I could have hoped, and all three brothers will still spend most weekends together, happily.
And that's it on this topic for now. Even if I felt like saying more about this, I wouldn't because I've agreed not to. In advance, I'd like to thank anyone who wishes to express concern. And I'll ask that they instead just send my son good vibes. Thanks.
Good News
We also got some good news recently, concerning my writing.
Annoyingly, I can't disclose the details of that, either. Yet. Sorry! I just wanted to tell y'all there was good news, too, so the more sensitive among you wouldn't worry too much.
:)
(This is me keeping my chin up. I'm like a British soldier in a Vonnegut novel, that way. Keep your chin up, keep your dignity intact, keep your stoicism fresh, etc.)
something different on which to conclude
I found a really exciting magazine. It's called Shop Smart. I'd seen it before, but assumed it was a knock-off of Lucky. Then, the other day, its cover caught my eye, and I flipped through and realized it was actually Consumer Reports, but for smaller things.
Are you like me, in that you've always loved the idea of Consumer Reports, but don't buy enough cars, trucks, washing machine, or bagless vacuum cleaners to make a subscription worth it? If so, I'm thinking they made Shop Smart for us. This month's issue rates hot cocoa mix. (Nestle's got hated on.) It calls out department store "sale" prices, comparing them to MSRPs. (Sears got burned.) It shows you which Barbies are worth money and gives you tips on decorating for the holidays. In short, it's awesome, and it's all I can do not to call in sick so I can read it cover to cover instead of going to work.
Labels: domestic, materialism, parenting, writing
6:06 AM #Comments:
Good vibes on the way for you, your son, his brothers, and whoever else you would like vibed in this situation.# posted by
Lex : 3:20 PM
This is me, sending your son good vibes. I hope it works out for him!
# posted by
: 3:59 PM
Between the idiot boss and the news about your son, may I be the first to express my profound admiration of your ability to keep that Vonnegut chin up? Because mine would be just all over the ground.
# posted by
: 8:57 AM
It's really irritating when senior people are blindingly incompetent and complete assholes. How did they get their jobs? How do they keep them?
I'm sending good vibes to your son and good vibes to you as well for being a good and loving parent even when it's hard. Congratulations on the writing stuff.
# posted by
kate : 9:24 AM
Playing the Beach Boys for both you and your son(s)....Goooooood, gooooood, gooood, good viiibraaaatiooooons.....
Mike in Ohio
# posted by
еdë §téè£ : 7:54 PM
I'm sending you and your son plenty of good vibes. I've got an 18 year old son and have dealt with shared custody issues for years, and I know the sadness of having to give up time with a wonderful kid. Hope there's a happy ending waiting for you both.
# posted by
susan : 10:19 PM
I hope everything works out for your son. And your writing, but since you are such a good writer, I will just assume that's going to be great.
And thanks for the magazine recommendation. I love Consumer reports too.
# posted by
That Chick Over There : 6:50 AM
My children went back and forth between our houses as teenagers, and while it was sometimes painful for me it was something their father and I could agree on. It's not the worst thing, and it's not a bad thing for a boy to get a closer look at a man in daily life, and to know for sure that both his parents want him.
# posted by
ellen : 9:37 AM
Very curious to know your good news.
My best friend from childhood had her son move a few states away to live with his father. I think it was hard for her but understandable for many reasons--I think at that age boys sometimes do want to solidify that relationship with their father.
# posted by
: 6:23 PM
Thanks for the vibes, y'all, and for sharing your experiences. A lot of my friends have been telling me about their own living-with-the-other-parent histories, and it helps a lot to know how common it is, and how often it works out for the best.
(Jennifer: I went back and deleted that first thing. It felt so good to get it out. Then, a few hours later, I realized it probably wasn't worth the risk of leaving it online. :) )
Ozma: Stay tuned. I'm allowed to make the announcement tomorrow morning, I think.
# posted by
Gwen : 4:18 PM
Gwen; (((((HUGS)))))
I've been a long time reader since oodles of years ago and I know how much this bites for you. BUT good things WILL come from this. Continue to be strong. Chin UP is the only way to handle this and I'm sooooooooo proud of you!!!
HEY! and congrats on the new news!!! WHAhooooooooooooooooo!!
Now tell us more about your holiday decorating, you couldnt wait to get into your own house for decorating opportunities and now I wanna hear about them dang gummit!!!
-Pixielyn!
# posted by
: 9:49 AM
Pixie: Thank you! Oh, and you don't want to hear about my non-existent xmas decorating. I was apparently lying about being into that stuff, because I haven't done any at all. :)
Kate: Thank you.
First, I somehow missed approving your comment, until just now.
Then, I deleted the part of the post to which you refer. (ANNOYING-ASS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES WHO NOT ONLY CAN'T USE COMPUTERS, BUT WHO SPEND MOST OF THEIR WORK DAY TRYING AND FAILING TO HIDE THAT FACT AND DEFLECT BLAME ONTO PEOPLE WHO DON'T DESERVE IT.)
Then, I made your comment show up here, way after the fact, so that it no longer makes sense and it looks like I purposely ignored you.
Sorry about that! I hope it all makes sense now!
:)
# posted by
Gwen : 11:09 AM
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