Newsflash! It’s N week! I considered doing nothing/nada for N week, but there was no way that would fly around here. So we made nachos and nibbled on nectarines.

For years I served selfishly. I preferred to take a meal into somebody rather than watch their kids because other people’s kids scared me. But after I had more kids, I preferred to babysit someone’s kids rather than clean their house because I could stay in my normal routine. I served in ways that were convenient for me.

Look who is turning 8! …. in May. So why am I writing about Crew’s 8th birthday this early? Because when you are a Mormon, 8 is the age when we are generally baptized.   We believe children know right from wrong and can make their own choices at this age. …

My mom is officially done with all of her cancer treatments! Yeah! Now this does not mean that she is all good. She is still bald and way tired and her body hurts and she has a long road ahead of her to find a new normal, but the chemo and radiation are done. And that is worth celebrating! So we threw a party.

The Ethan I was thinking of had a mom that looked like Barbie. Literally. Giant boobs. Tiny waist. Bleached blonde hair. Size 2 the day after having a baby. Wore high heels every time I saw her. Lots of make-up. Always done up. The kind of mom that sticks out at the school dance festival or basketball game because she looks unreal to us less fortunate than her.

I am a debriefer. One definition of debrief is “to carefully review upon completion” so a debriefer is a person who carefully reviews upon completion. I debrief after parties, talks, vacations, activities, lessons, holidays, events, etc. — anything that I was in charge of. I basically analyze what I did well and where I could improve. I like to pat myself on the back but then give myself room to grow.