I’ve spent the weekend reading the wonderful comments left by many of you on my Friday post. What great affirmation and encouragement you gave. Thank you!
As new to blogging as I still am, I find myself in awe of this cyber-community. Online friendship may have limitations, but I’m finding it to be more rich and fulfilling than I’d ever anticipated.
So… I’m feeling better today. A lot of that has to do with hormones, if you know what I mean. Absent estrogen intoxication, I might not have shared all that I did on Friday. So it goes to show that God will even use PMS to his glory.
***
Speaking of PMS, (way to alienate my male readers, huh? Sorry guys.) I think I’m seeing evidence of some hormonal swings in Hannah, my 9-year-old. Yesterday she went from giddy to angry to silly to crying hysterically.
The pinnacle was the conversation I had with her in the Publix parking lot.
We’d gotten out of the car to spare the other kids her wailing.
Hannah: Everyone’s being MEAN to me!
Me: No Sweetie, you’re being mean to everyone.
H: NO I’M NOT!
Me: Don’t you remember telling me you hate me and then calling me a jerk?
H: YOU WERE BEING MEAN TO ME!
Me: Even if I was — which I wasn’t — does that ever make it okay?
H: NO! But you were being MEAN to me!
(sensing that this was going in circles, I tried a new tack)
Me: Sweetie, remember how we talked about puberty and how it can make people moody? That’s what’s going on with you today. It means that no matter how nice people are to you, it FEELS like they’re being mean.
H: But they ARE!
***
Oh, this puberty thing is gonna be a Barrel of Laughs. But for the sake of her future husband (and all of us right now) , I need to keep teaching her that perception does not always equal reality. Especially at certain times in a woman’s life.
***
On another note: Our dishwasher is making some C.R.AA.A.A..Z.Y noises. It must’ve heard me when I mused to Charlie that someday I’d like to get a new one.
(Dishwasher, it wasn’t personal! I’m just tired of your 2-hour cycles!)
(Possible Christmas gift Charlie and I give each other: a dishwasher. Whoopee.)
10 responses so far ↓
1 Annie K // Dec 8, 2008 at 11:13 am
Oh, Steph, I know how you feel. My daughter is 16 and I have experienced every facet of those lovely hormones.
2 @ngie // Dec 8, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Yes indeed, there is some very nice pseudo snow action going on over here.
You are a good mama to help your daughter. Now you might want to have a chat with your menopausal (no offense intended to anyone) dishwasher.
Oh, and about the cyber-community… never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the strength, encouragement, fun and connection that would be derived from tippidy-tapping on my keyboard a bit every day.
I saw a piece of flair on facebook once that said: I love my computer because my friends live in there. Good one, eh?
3 SHerri // Dec 8, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I’ve raised 3 boys so imagine being THE ONLY woman in a house full of men–they just don’t get it!
When my middle son was about 17 and giving me fits with the “middle child syndrome” I walked him over to the calender, circled the last week of the month (my cycle) and said, “Look. I don’t know if this is just a coincidence or what, but you need to start layin’ low during this week! Take the calender, count 28 days from the last month, circle it in red and be on your BEST BEHAVIOR for that week. Trust me, it will be much better for all of us!”
Before this, he was always doing sumthin’ that would just send me over the edge EVERY MONTH during this very “fragile” time for me.
He took my advice, other brothers and husband circled it on their calenders too and it’s been smooth sailin’ ever since!
4 thedomesticfringe // Dec 8, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Ha, Ha, I just read the bit of advice about the calendar from your last commenter…now that’s smart!
I don’t think my houses is big enough for both my daughter and I to PMS. My poor husband. I have enough hormonal problems for an entire harem.
5 SHerri // Dec 8, 2008 at 4:07 pm
OKAY- I’m here searching for the link about the nasel rinse you promised? WHere is it?
STEPH HERE: It’s here.
And may God have mercy on your soul…
6 Leigh Anne // Dec 8, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I left a comment on Friday’s post…it is now floating out there in cyberspace. Darnit.
And you have completely frightened me for the puberty talks with my eldest. Just last week she gave me her edict on only wanting to wear panties that were not “big and high.” She wants panties that “look good on my body.” She’ll be 7 next month. Sigh…
I love the snow falling on your blog–it’s soothing. I may sit here a while and just watch it. Do you mind?
7 Steph // Dec 8, 2008 at 5:17 pm
@Annie K, That’s not what you’re supposed to say! You’re supposed to tell me it gets better! I have SEVEN more years of this???!!!
@ngie,
Love the flair quote. Every time I mention a friend now, the kids ask, “A computer friend?” Think I’m spending too much time online?
@Sherri,
A calendar! I can see its value with guys. I always warn the husband about when to be extra nice to me. But with my girls (yes, I have TWO), I’m afraid that when they’re both in puberty, we’ll all be synchronized and H#LL to be around for that week. The guys might have to schedule a man week away once a month. Then again, the husband’s presence might be the only thing that keeps us from killing each other.
@Leigh Anne,
Thank you for the lovely invisible comment. I’m sure it was profound and encouraging.
As for the puberty thing… You SHOULD be afraid. The talk was relatively easy. The daily management, not so much. I didn’t know it was possible, but today with Hannah was actually WORSE than yesterday.
Please stay for the snow for as long as you want. I find it quite tranquil myself. (It’s where I hide from Hannah)
8 katdish // Dec 8, 2008 at 9:59 pm
My son just watched “The Puberty Video” at school the other day. I am not looking forward to that aspect of the next few years.
I have some friends who have four girls. The husband is the only man in the house (including pets). He is a super macho, man’s man kind of guy. When his oldest was about 10, I would remind him that, in a few short years, he would have to borrow the forklift at Sam’s club in order to pick up the entire pallet of tampons and sanitary napkins that he would need to bring home.
He didn’t find that nearly as funny as I did. I find the snow both relaxing and distracting…
9 Andrea@Under Grace & Over Coffee // Dec 10, 2008 at 12:34 am
I am so glad that I was right about my own 9 year old’s moodiness!! And seriously, were we ever that bad?!
10 Tanya Dennis // Dec 10, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Oh, you’ve got me nervous about puberty now. My daughter’s almost five and already has moody days.
BTW, I hopped over here from Moms, Ministry & More. Love your site! Look forward to coming back.