The Adventures of Adoption and Parenthood

I recently read the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. And then I read the sequel Spark Joy. And then I bought the journal. And then ... I decided to start with the prescribed first category. As I read these books, I realized with a jolt that true happiness for me lies in organization and structure. And I had fallen away from what truly makes me happy. I have found very little joy in my life of late besides my children and even they are more trying than joyful at the moment. It's time to change my life and I believe whole-heartedly in Marie Kondo's methods. I think by purging and then storing properly, I will be well on my way to living joyfully.  Clothes:  I started with tops and piled them up on my floor. The mound was as tall as my 3 year old who last measured at 33". It was easily 4' across. I picked up the first article of clothing and said out loud, "Does this bring me joy?" The answer was a quick no and I...

Yesterday was Prima's birthday. She was excited about her presents and dinner out. It was announced at school during morning announcements. Yay! And then ... This morning she was off. She was saying mean things to her sister and wouldn't stop. She was very very distracted. She wouldn't help tidy up the family room. I had her sit with me in the dining room for breakfast instead of the kitchen so that I could talk to her. As we talked she melted. Big. I carried her kicking, punching, flailing self upstairs and got her blankets and wrapped her up. I held her and she screamed and shrieked and writhed. And it dawned on me. This is not only her birthday, but also the time when she was left abandoned as a newborn baby on the sidewalk in winter time. Her body remembers that. I can imagine nothing more terrifying than being an infant left alone on a sidewalk in the cold and nobody is coming when you cry from the cold and hunger and being alone. An infant has no ability to ...