1. Bear graciously included me in dinner plans Friday night with her friend. That’s only a smidge of snarkiness there, mostly because I was explicitly not invited to dine with the tweens the last time plans came up. I was invited to pay for it, yes indeed, but it was gently suggested I might sit “someplace else” in the restaurant. Bwahahaha!!
2. After some nibbles we wandered around the outdoor mall for a bit. Me. And two twelve-year-old girls. Wandering. Around a mall. Yep.
3. I’m gonna need someone to explain the power of Victoria’s Secret Pink to me. And not for nothing but “Hey, mom, can we go to Victoria’s Secret?” tops the list of things that never in a million years would I have ever EVER said to my mom. Ever.
4. You have to walk a fine line hitting up Pink with a couple of tweens. Can’t hover too close because awkward, can’t leave the store because possibility of pervy men looking at skimpy undies. This leaves meandering pointlessly around the room, maintaining a reasonable distance between all parties. Close enough to overhear most of what’s happening but far enough away that they don’t feel like I know what’s happening.
5. No one really talks about how much of parenting is a high wire act.
6. Kudos to the stranger who studiously avoided eye contact in the store as I praised Bear for body positivity while simultaneously giving an emphatic Hell No to the tube top option. Bless.
7. On Saturday we took the kids to see the movie The Hate U Give and oh.my.word. I’m blogging about it this week because there’s no way can I do it justice in a Monday morning rundown. It’s a powerful movie. Go. See it. You won’t be sorry.
8. Putting up this week’s calendar gave me a bit of the heart palpitations. I just keep telling myself one foot in front of the other and I’ll get where I need to be in the end. Cross your fingers I don’t forget something big along the way.
9. So the calendar’s packed through Thursday. Packed! Me, the kids, school, volunteering – it hit hard this week. On the plus side some relief will be coming over the weekend. I’ve learned to protect those hours for recharging with ferocity.
10. Last night’s youth group lesson had to do with understanding our worth and leaving behind our baggage. Know your worth – one of the lessons driven home in The Hate U Give. I hope my kids are picking up some of that.
Riddle from the Middle 
PINK. Ugh. I’m okay with PINK underfings, and the PINK puppies, and the PINK bags — but must the jogger breeches read PINK on my daughter’s bottom??? The connotations of PINK are umm, less than pleasing. Those are things fun-aunties buy, not mamas.
Tube tops are to be worn in the back yard, and not by anyone sportin more than a B cup. Lest one frighten the birdies away.
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Indeed. The only thing saving me from the PINK plastered all over her underfings (because even I will bend for 5/$25) is knowing no one sees them except girls changing for P.E. Let’s not speak of when she gets older…
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I read the book “The Hate U Give” and am reluctant to see the movie. The book was excellent.
As to VS – a store for alternative reality, methinks. Not for real people.
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I just picked up the book from the book fair and told the daughter I need to read it first. The librarian warned me it’s pretty graphic — cussing, drugs, partying on page 2 so I can only imagine.
I highly recommend the movie. It was completely appropriate for my 12- and 14-year-old. The violence was hard to watch but not overly graphic (in my opinion).
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My reluctance should have been explained. I am usually disappointed in the translation, so i either read the book or watch the movie. Maybe when it gets to Amazon video.
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Ah! Yes, I get it. I almost always prefer the book, actually, so sometimes I won’t see a movie if I think there’s no way they could have captured it.
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LOL – I busted out laughing…those first VS visits are excruciating…wait until they grow to adulting and give you tips on what to buy – you’ll be done with grannie pants, I guarantee it, not that you wear them, just saying…!
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Oh lawd, maybe, maybe not. I struggle GREATLY with the price point in there so she can give me all the tips she wants but unless she’s paying… 😆
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My shopping experiences were filled with “no, not that store. Not that section. Not that aisle. Here’s some money, I’ll wait here.”
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I see that in the very near future. BLESS THEIR HEARTS. 😆
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Is that the southern “Bless their hearts”? The one that might mean anything…
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Yep. 😉
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