I remember this now -

[kyburg]

Back when I first left home in 1980, I moved into the cutest little apartment in San Bernardino for $165 a month, and went to school over at San Bernardino Valley College. (Ska? Last time I drove past, the place had been boarded up ala crack house bust. AMUSING.)

Driving my pride a joy, a 1966 Ford Falcon fondly dubbed 'Chewie.'

Driving it home one day, I hit a dip too hard and tossed the battery into the fan. Yes, the way it was put together, you could do that. (Clamps? Not so much.)

Opening the hood to see what happened, I got a facefull of battery acid, aerosoled.

Not enough to kill me. But damn if I wasn't compromised enough to spend a week recovering from it.

Fatigue. Oh damn, I'd forgotten. It's like being at 10,000 ft.

That's what it's like - with a side order of 'you'd better pay attention this time or else' to go with it.

And still coughing up a bit of stuff - fortunately, the blood has petered out.

I stay on my feet well - the kick now is to get OFF my feet and stay off for a week. If I can.

In other news, we're getting on better at home - and looking back, I can see where assumptions went awry, expectations were misplaced and my personal favorite right now is 'you won't know what kind of kid you have - you won't and don't be surprised/broken by it.' There's some serious facepalming going on here - as well prepared as we were, I truly think I let some 'attachment specialists' talk me into doing some things and assume others that didn't help anyone. I'm good - if I do this again, I'll be better - but boy, I may have some apologizing to do (and likely, we'll laugh about it) when the kid gets old enough to discuss it from an academic point of view.

Right now, he doesn't want to leave his swim trunks and water shoes at school - they HAVE to come home at night. This is a kid ready for swimming lessons, methinks. Now, if Mom could just get well enough to 1) shop for a new suit and 2) take him to lessons.

Today, I've suggested sprinkler action in the yard. This was met with much anticipation before I left for work. Sunday? One can only hope - I'm really concerned about how well we're going to do. Me? Watching television about the level I can handle. Kid? UH.

Comments

Go mom! =D

[turandot.livejournal.com]

my personal favorite right now is 'you won't know what kind of kid you have - you won't and don't be surprised/broken by it.'

I think that's an awesome attitude, and one that even biological parents sometimes have a hard time mustering at first. Children are not and cannot extensions of yourself (I am not saying you thought that, just that I have seen some parents holding on to that illusion for far too long), they are their own person first, foremost, and always. The goal for any parent is to get to know them over the years by watching them grow, accepting what you find them to be (faults and all, the faults seem the hardest part for most parents), and loving the whole package... and even then don't be surprised if they change on you again once or twice over the years in unexpected ways. ;)

So glad to hear you are feeling somewhat better, and home stuff is also getting settled down a little. Not an expert on kids (NO ONE can truly be, btw), but from my own childhood: anything he likes, encourage it within reason. That's a bridge for the future you're building right there, and later on the supportiveness is something the kid will remember about you and love you for it.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Please try to take care of you. I can't see anybody in your state without thinking "That's how I ended up on disability in a wheelchair", so I worry.