Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something

"To Kill A Mockingbird".

It is a book that makes you reflect on how you treat people. A book that makes you realize that even if you do the right thing, it may not work out and "be ok". But you still have to be the best person you can.

Challenges

There are things in life that are quite the challenge.  I'm a firm believer in pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.  Pushing boundaries.  I mean really, it's not going to kill you to try it, is it?  So what if you fail. You didn't really fail because you learned something.  See, it's all in the approach.

But sometimes it's more of a challenge because it's not just you.  Sometimes your kid has difficulties and you can't fix it.  You want to, but you either 1) don't know how or 2) can't.

Hello dyslexia and ADHD.  Oh, I noticed you a few years ago and tried to get the teachers to listen, but was told it was fine and you would outgrow it.  And now I have a wonderfully bright child that is falling behind in math.  And I suspect it's like a foreign language to the child.  A foreign language I just can't explain to them, because I have no freaking clue how to translate it in a manner in which makes sense to them.

And I'm frustrated because the teacher is making it seem like the child isn't trying hard enough.  Really?  This is not for lack of trying.  It's a lack of their brain processing the information exactly the way you want it to.  (or I secretly want it to, because that would make it so much easier).

Day 16 : Someone or something you definitely could live without.

Dead brother-in-laws.  Or maybe a more accurate thing would be drunk drivers.  Because they certainly suck monkey-ass on many levels.

Child abusers.

Thieves.

Day 15 : Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.

A car.  I don't care how lame or materialistic that is, but it's true.  A car can take me to my family.  Gives me the option to leave a place when I need to protect myself.  Let's me drive late at night with Gumby with the windows down, listening to music.  A car facilitates so much.  I hated not having one.

Day 14 : A hero that has let you down. (letter)

Dear Hero -

Really?

Signed -

Me

Yes.  This one is a cop-out.  But I'm not going there.  And I know who it's addressed to.  And I know that writing a letter to anyone else would have been dishonest.  So get over it.

Day 13 : A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)

Dear Dave Matthews Band -

You have been an inspiration to me for many years.  Like way more years than I want to admit, because that would really show my age ;)

But I can specifically remember losing the first pregnancy.  I remember most people wanted to ignore it.  Or tell me it would be alright.  Except it wasn't going to be alright.  I had made up my mind that I wanted that child more than anything else and would protect it.  And here I couldn't even protect it from my own body.  I remember driving under the "Whale Wall" here, sobbing, listening to "Lie in our Graves" and suddenly it hit me.  I couldn't spend the rest of my days mourning.  I was letting life pass me by.  It was OK to mourn, to be sad at the loss of life.  But I needed to celebrate it too.

And I'm not going to lie and say I was suddenly OK, but it let me start to move on.  To not be focused on the loss, but rather what was to come.

So thank you for that.

Something you never get compliments on.

That's easy.

Toe jam.

My sparkling floors.