A Recap (warning: this is a long one)

This past week and a half has not been easy but has had some very good moments...

Mike and I finally resolved some ongoing arguments that have taken far too long to settle but at least we have gotten there...will spare you the details which are mostly petty and stupid.


I started my summer "flex" schedule at work which means I work a longer day Mon-Thurs in order to have Fridays off. Being at school until 5:15 each day has been a bit taxing on the boys but I think it is worth it overall.

Having said that, today was our first Friday off. The day was highlighted by:

• an early wake-time (considering we could have slept in a bit)
• poop on the floor, ottoman and all over Liam this morning (I am still not sure how the whole mess happened)
• yogurt in far too many places at lunch
• a bloody nose (Michael) prior to nap time.

At one point, I was thinking that maybe they would have been better off at school...We did manage a productive grocery store trip (just me and the kids) & a blissfully restful nap time for all 3 of us & many rounds of the game 'Elefun'...so the day shaped up but that poop clean-up was the worst- and I am still not sure I got every spot.

We also had a birthday party at one of those "bounce" places last Saturday for both Michael and Liam's birthdays and that was a BLAST! We have not been able to afford anything like that yet and it was nice to be able to do something more kid-oriented this year...plus they are a good age for that stuff. If our laptop ever resumes normal function, I will post pictures! We enjoyed a fun father's day topped off by dinner at Friendly's where we got to sing Happy Birthday to Liam once again, since his official birthday was the 20th.

Now on to another topic entirely...

The real kicker for the week was this: On Wednesday, I received a card in the mail from my best friend of 19 years (have known her for even longer), indicating that our friendship was no longer working for her and essentially ending our friendship. To be fair, our friendship has been rocky ever since children entered my life (our lives are not in the same place). In fact, I had a conversation with her a little over a year ago about the changes our lives have gone through and actually felt that we reconnected at that point.

Since then, the distance has grown but I had just kind of made my peace with the fact that most friendships go through an ebb and flow...I would rather have her in my life to some degree than abandon the friendship altogether. I put effort into our friendship but I can't say much of it was reciprocated. In recent months, my efforts had also diminished but were equal to hers. How many times can you invite someone to hang out, go shopping, go to dinner, whatever...and basically be ignored? Eventually, you take the hint, right?

Apparently, she does not agree that some friendship is better than no friendship... and felt that a small card with about 7-8 sentences could sum it all up. Because I know her very well, I wasn't exactly surprised. She came to the birthday party on Saturday and was very cold towards me...so I knew something was up but I didn't think our friendship was over. I know she hates confrontation but I think that a phone call would have been a bit more respectful- even if it would have been very awkward. I tried to call her the night I received the card...she didn't answer...because I know she won't call me back or contact me again, I left her a message with the best summary I could come up with. I only included a two comments that weren't as nice and was glad I didn't go down a far worse road. I ended the message by telling her that for me, our friendship was not erased and while I will respect her decision, from my perspective, the door is always open.

She is (was) Michael's Godmother--a decision I LABORED over because I didn't know at that time if she was really into our friendship. Now I am sorry I didn't ask my other friend, Emily... My brother is Michael's Godfather and since I don't have a sister, I thought that Paula (that's her name by the way) was the closest thing. I thought she would be in our lives always.

I am not outwardly a wreck about this...but I am deeply hurt. It's the type of hurt you feel when someone just cuts out of your life and you feel like you don't truly understand why...you have some ideas but you'd rather hear it right from the source. I am also deeply hurt for Michael- to the point that I am going to ask my pastor if I can literally name someone else as Godmother. I want it to be someone Michael will know...and I want it formally changed if possible. That might seem petty to some but I feel very strongly about that role.

Anyway, I could write so much more but it's late and this post is excessively long already.