>Suburban Turmoil HAPPY!
>A commenter informed me yesterday that there is not enough HAPPY in my blog, that while some of my blog is funny, there is no HAPPY in it, and that I need to post something HAPPY.
This comment couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been up nearly every night for more than a week changing sheets, pajamas and diapers in the wake of the puke/diarrhea that comes with Baby’s rotovirus, I have a cold, a fever and a broken foot, I’m six-and-a-half-months pregnant and I’m trying to meet interview/writing deadlines for a couple of writing projects that are due before Christmas. All this in addition to the normal carpooling/doctor’s appointments/Christmas shopping/meal preparing/housekeeping duties that don’t miraculously disappear, no matter how many times I click my heels. I don’t write much about all this stuff because, well, it’s not very HAPPY.
But apparently, that’s not good enough. I’ve been instructed to “post something HAPPY” and I have to say that I really, really love it when people tell me what I should be writing on my own blog. That in itself makes me very HAPPY.
So, dear commenter, in lieu of a long post on why rotovirus sucks (average sick period: 10-14 days), along with people who bring their rotovirus-carrying kids to my Christmas party (and while I don’t know who you are, I’m quite sure you do), I will grant your wish and instead offer up the following:
>I love the kid with the two upraised middle fingers!
>I love that pic…it sure found its way around the net fast. That little boy is going to famous…see him on the street and be like “HEY! That’s the Bird Boy from the picture on the internet!” I wonder if his parents know!ANYWAY! Yeah, thanks for not posting about puke and diahhrea. Just not fun. I don’t think she was trying to piss you off, but I hate being told what to write as well…ahem. You do your thing, girl. We all love it or we wouldn’t come back…20 times a day…
>OMG! I hated that rotovirus! Poor you! That got to be the worse, puking and diarrhea, and it’s green too. YUCKY! I hope she’ll get better soon. Boy, that kid giving the 2 middle fingers will go far…NOT!
>Um. First time at your blog. I’m thinking HAPPY thoughts for you? Does that count? And, I would like it noted, I’m HAPPY with whatever you would like to blog about. Very, very HAPPY.
>Aw, thanks, guys. I just got a worried e-mail from a friend who said, “I just read your blog- do you need help?”I’m fine, I swear! I’m going through a time nearly all of us go through at one time or another.But I’ve read other people’s blogs when they’re a little down, and I can’t IMAGINE telling them during that time that I’d appreciate it if they could post more HAPPY. Like they’re writing just for me. Gah.
>Part of the reason I like your blog is that you don’t feel the need to dress it up with obvious statements like “But of course I love my family and treasure this time I’m spending at home with my kids!” I think that goes without saying (especially on days, when, ahem, it’s not exactly true). I think there’s a great deal of mommy mythology out there, including the notion that having and raising children is the absolute best, most satisfying, and important thing a woman can do, and if you feel the need to have anything else in your life, well, you’re flawed.O-k, so I may have gotten comments like that before sent in my direction, and typically, I feel that the person should just read something else if they don’t like the slice of life I choose to write about.And I gotta say, I think the best part is calling someone SubTurm, as in below turm, and instructing them to think happy thoughts.
>Love the pic. Before I looked more closely I said “I hope one of the kids is flipping the bird for a good effect.” and there he was, front row. Classic.Love you, in all your turmoil. Besides, who’s really HAPPY right now???
>Good grief, if anyone is happy in the days leading up to Christmas, it is surely not the parents of the world. Children [bless their sweet, beautiful hearts] magically turn into monsters [ha, or worse, get sick!] in the days leading up to the holiday, and no amount of threatening about Santa will fix that.There’s just too much anticipation and activity for everyone….I can’t wait for Christmas, so I can SIT DOWN!So, please post whatever you want….lots of us are commiserating with you. π
>Looks like Boogaloo Bug has come to your house, too.
>Tuche! Or is it Too-shay.. or Two-shai or Too-chay. Either way, awesome. I always feel like my mother when I use that word… tuche. But, it was most appropriate for this post.
>Wow, it’s way too happy around here. That picture actually made me smile and there’s very little turmoil anywhere. Sheesh. I even have that Partridge Family song in my head…”C’mon get happy!”Ick.
>Don’t worry. Be happy. Dammit.
>Will you fucking cheer up already?Ha ha kidding. Hope the carnage stops very soon. Also? I hope whoever sent you that email poops brown juice until the 26th. Heh. I’m so juvenile.
>Oh that picture is too funny (not really happy, though…hmmm…).You poor thing. Hang in there. My youngest has pneumonia and have I finished shopping or even mailed cards yet? NO. People will just have to deal.Hope Baby feels better very soon and you catch a break.
>You bitching makes ME happy. ;p
>Yeah, happy is over rated. I like the bitching, much more entertaining. If you were happy all the time it would annoy me and then I wouldn’t come here.That commenter should bugger off to a smurf website or something.Hope you all get well soon.
>Hmmm. Well, if I were ever to have a kid, that’s the school I’d send them to!Cheer up, biotch. It’s your duty to make ME smile! π
>OMG I am LMAO at the kid flipping the bird. I know good and well if that was my child I would die but some one else’s it is funny.
>lol!! toooooo funny… posting that must have cheered you up rigth! kid giving the finger is hilarious! (you know, cuz he ain’t mine!)
>Oh no! Rotovirus is the worst! I was a pediatric nurse for 13 years, and I can tell you how much it sucks. I would get in every other year or so from those germ infested little patients. I hope your little one is feeling better soon! :)(And you too)love the photo…
>My goodness you do have it bad. I hope Christmas break comes soon so the girls can help you around the house more and give you a much needed break. Sending get well wishes to you and baby.
>well..i know in the great scheme of things this really doesn’t matter, but seeing that picture really really made ME happy.here’s to getting thru all the shit with a sense of humor and the grace to write about it honestly
>I’m definitely happy now. LOL!
>Ugh to the horrid virus! Happy Happy!Hope y’all are feeling better for Christmas.Some of your commenters crack me up. Entertaining, really.
>I’ve dealt with a toddler with rotovirus while pregnant. SO not fun. At all. I hope happy-post-exhortation gal feels suitably chastised now.
>I actually had to go read the comment…damn!You know, I say if said critic wants happy then go write your own damn happy story!’mean thoughts, mean thoughts…’ok, it’s Christmas. screw it…more mean thoughts…
>You know, I come here just to get a break from all the smothering, viral, overwhelming sense of HAPPY that saturates the rest of the interweb, and I really don’t appreciate you doing this to me. To me! For whom you blog! Dangit, I want complaining and sarcasm, and I want it NOW. Shame on you, you HAPPY freak.;-P
>I read that comment, and completely disagree. That is rubbish. I love to read what is honest. Your blog regularly makes me laugh and doesn’t humor make people happy anyway? Well, I’m your fan, despite the errant emotions involved. Hope you and Baby feel better SOON!
>Ahhβ¦the rotovirus…my deepest and sincerest sympathy. It is so hard and sad when your baby is sick, but to add insult to injury why does the rotovirus have to cause such horrible smelling, um, stuff!!??
>a day in the life of momhood…where’s the happy, woman?ha ha ha
>Call me crazy but…laughing makes me happy. You just keep writing whatever you want, L. You’re doing something right. There’s plenty of happy on babycenter. You know, if you can weed through all the grammatical strugges of mom2cadynne265
>er..that’s struggles. Apparently I have my own strugges with typing.
>I’m sure the boy’s parents are truly proud of that sign language he’s learned, lol!Whoever told you to be HAPPY ought to go shove HAPPY up his/her ass. You are who you are, and I LOVE how you write…You should have added a caption to this photo – Hey…Happy THIS!
>HA! So funny! Love the picture.You have so much on your plate at present, and you manage to make it all funny, if not “happy.” The critic can go start her own happy blog if she chooses to do so. P.S. The kid in the front row did make me really happy.
>You write about whatever you want to write about! If that dumb reader wants happy there is a gazillion happy mommy blogs and they bore me to tears. And for goodness sakes, take the help your friend has offered! You deserve it. And it will make you happy! π
>Now you’ve made me HAPPY! I love that picture! It’s filled with HAPPY! I’m quite certain your commenter will now be super HAPPY! Your job is done. Hahahahaha
>I am a horrible writer. So I come to you blog to be inspired to get better at writing.I love what you write about so keep writing.screw happy!
>I happen to hate that picture. I also happen to love your blog.Happy day to you π
>Yes, yes. Back Seat Girl had the rotovirus when I was pregnant with Back Seat Boy and had a sinus infection. I didn’t have a broken foot, though. Either way, I don’t remember thinking too many happy thoughts while cleaning her butt and washing her sheets and clothing and filling cups with pedialyte in the hopes she would not become dehydrated.I have some great news, though. I just took Back Seat Boy for his first shots, and they now have an oral rotovirus vaccine. So, that is a HAPPY thing, dammit.
>HAHAHAHA. I love the pic. Amen, honey, and good god if they want something happy there is always hours of Elmo on DVD.I hope all goes well for you because OH MY GOD that’s a lot of crap to deal with right now.