Well, Anyway... #9- If You Give a Mouse a Microphone
...he will prevent you from doing your job.
My, my, my, the last week has been, shall we say… eventful. It’s spring break around these parts, which always leads the life of a single parent into a little bit of chaos. If you would like to hear me recount ridiculous tales of mice and mayhem from this past week, you’re going to want to be sure to stick around until the end.
But First- The Weekly Recap!
Podcast Out Yesterday- Tracking All the Things (from our cycles, to books, to relationships and more, I give all the details in this solo episode)
Five Friday Favorites 10th Edition- Lashes, Mini Makeup Erasers, Hair Turbans, Detangler, and Falcon & the Winter Soldier (aka- it’s a good one!)
In Patreon
LIVE Streams- This week we have chatted about Spring & Summer Indoor and Outdoor Lighting, Purses, and had a badge Ceremony for all the ladies who complete our March Spring Cleaning Challenge.
Zoom Call for Eliza Level- The Elizas got together on Zoom and talked about our current favorites. It’s always a good time when the Elizas meet for a chat!
We’d love to have you join the fun on Patreon! Next week we are releasing our first Minicast for the month and it’s extra fun because Katie and I had both of our almost 15 year old sons join us. It’s hilarious!
Of Mice and Men and Parental Whiplash
It all began when I was innocently working in my recording studio last week (insert 90s sitcom dream sequence music here). It was a cool day, nothing out of the ordinary. However, soon after sitting down to podcast I became distracted by the sound of something quickly making its way around me on the foam-covered walls. As I gingerly glanced behind myself and spotted the movement, my first thought was, “Lizard!!!!”
However, that makes absolutely no sense at all since I live in the Inland Northwest. The second answer, which came to me as I was ejecting myself like a rocket from the sound booth and across the garage whilst screaming at the top of my lungs, was more logically, “MOUSE!!!!”
So, this is now my life. And by that I mean, daily trying to get all the men and boys in my life to empty mouse traps for me. We have caught three so far but we know that there are more. I feel like I am living in a less fun and far less Parisian version of Ratatouille. I mean, none of them are even making me dinner!
I also am going to just have to suck it up and get back out in my studio. I have a voiceover job lingering and mice or no mice, mama has got to work!
Pray for me.
To add to the spring break drama, my kids came back on Wednesday and we have fully entered the “Parental Whiplash” stage of their return. Other single parents out there, I know you feel me. It’s not that they didn’t want to be home and it’s not that I didn’t want them back as soon as I could possible get them. It’s not even just that things operate differently at the two homes they oscillate between- it’s more than that.
For my kids, I see all the things they have been bottling up for the last 5 days come spilling out as soon as they get home. They are desperate for attention, and affection, and reassurance, and may have some attitudes and bitterness to work through as well. They are sad about anything I’ve done without them, even though they know I would have chosen to have them with me if I could have. There is an angst from having not even been allowed to talk to me and a homesickness that takes nothing but time to come down off of.
And I love having them back. I long for them to be home the entire time they are gone. But boy-howdy are those first couple of days exhausting! I feel constantly like I’m being pulled in four directions- drawn and quartered, if you will. By day three everyone has mostly come down off the feelings of instability but it takes an incredible amount of effort.
To try to cut the tension and allow us all to just let loose a little bit, we all played “Do You Really Know Your Family,” together this morning during breakfast. We all needed to just be our goofy selves and remember why we all like each other so darn much, even if it’s hard… a lot.
So, to all you other parents out there who know this exact scenario all too well- I feel you! I wish I had the magic serum to make it all easier, but I don’t. It is hard won work. It takes time, and flexibility, and large quantities of Care/of Chill Factor (pour it in my veins!). But know, that in how lonely and difficult it can all feel, there are others of us out there who know exactly how much effort you are pouring in, even when you feel like it’s never enough. You are seen and known in this.
And if you happen to be the friend of some such single parent, don’t let the times they get their kids back be the times you pull back. Press in here! They need all the support and help and distractions that you and your people can muster to make it through those transition days. And to all of you who do this so well- thank you! We can’t say it loudly and clearly enough. We appreciate and love you!
Until next week friends- go be bold and gracious!
-MacKenzie
(oh, and I used a couple affiliate links in this newsletter. Thanks for supporting!)
Your titles this week—a real piece of witty work, my dear. 5 stars!!! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️