My Independent Kids & Texts From New York City

Kid 4 is on her annual Honor Society trip right now. This is the trip that for the past two years she has earned every dollar for the cost of the trip herself by babysitting, cleaning other peoples houses and doing odd jobs for friends. For a year she has saved birthday and Christmas money. She earns and deserves these trips.

This year she is taking over New York City.

Many people have asked how I can just let my kids get on a plane or go away without me. My kids are smart, independent and self reliant. I have raised them to take care of themselves and be savvy.

When I am away I call home once per day and talk to each of the kids. You'd think that with six kids it would be a long phone call. Not usually.

Each kid will get on the phone, say yes their homework is done, ask if I left any money for junk food and then quickly pass the phone along to a sibling. Any other important updates (important meaning did I leave money) are done via text during the day.

My kids are experienced travelers. They've been flying alone since they were ten years old and navigating flight changes on their own since about 14. When they travel, there is also limited contact. I only require one text per day saying you are alive and having fun.

Many times I have literally gotten one text per day saying "I'm alive and having fun."

As I sat in Starbucks tonight getting some writing done, I got my daily text from Kid 4. It made me literally laugh out loud.

Here are the daily texts I've gotten this week:

- I told you I needed an appointment with the chiropractor before I left my back is killing me. (OK, but at least she's alive!)

- There were these people walking around Times Square BUTT NAKED they were painted red, white and blue. (Send me a picture. No picture sent)

- What was Nana's maiden name? (Oh good she's at Ellis Island and actually getting some education on this trip)

- I bought a selfie stick! (How much did you pay for that??? No response)

- The roller coaster I'm about to go on says don't go if you have back problems. I'm going anyway. (Good girl, I would too. Her back hurts but obviously she is still alive!)

And now for the text I got tonight that is the weirdest text of all:

- I literally just peed my pants in Times Square

Me: Why????

It's been an hour and no response.

But, hey, she's still alive!

Timeless Love

I'm having fun expanding my writing style and topics. Here is my latest up at Elephant Journal!

Amour Intemporelle (Timeless Love)

I always appreciate you commenting on the post and, of course, sharing the link with your friends and on social media.

ALSO...

If you look up at the top of this blog you'll see a new page heading: I Also Write For... . If you click there you'll find links to all my other writing sites. 

Now I'm Writing at Rebelle Society!

I am so excited!

My first post has just been published at Rebelle Society!

Freedom From A Self-Imposed Sexual Prison

I always appreciate you commenting on the post and, of course, sharing the link with your friends and on social media.

The Really Real Reality Of Life As A Single Mom

THIS IS THE STUFF NO ONE TALKS ABOUT

Please click the link to my newest Elephant Journal post.

I shed a few tears while I was writing it.

If you like the post too, please Tweet it, share it, Facebook it or do any other social media thing there is to pass it around.

Making My Own Yoga Sanctuary

Ah the blissful joys of a yoga sanctuary. I'll enter the separate room of my home and hear my yoga fountain bubbling in the background. I'll look over to the windows where the sun is shining and see my thriving bamboo plants creating a healthy air quality in my sacred space. 

Someday, yes someday.

But right now I live in the real world in a house not big enough for six kids, two dogs and never-ending dirty dishes.  And since I recently lost my job, going to a local studio and paying the $18 per class fee is out of the question. The good part though is it has forced me to get reacquainted with my home practice.

My home yoga space has only three criteria:

• Fit into my already over scheduled, chaotic life
• Be portable
• Be multi-functional

So this means no bubbling fountains or large expensive Buddha statues.

It does mean keeping my yoga mat, bolster and block ready and waiting in my bedroom. I don't have much open space in my room, but it's enough to pop in a DVD and roll out my mat. Assuming, of course, all the laundry has been put away. 

Even with the windows open, it feels quiet and safe back here in my room. My own little secluded area. Except, of course, when the younger kids come in and lay on the bed and talk to me while I'm flowing vinyasas. Even that is OK. Multi-functional is the priority.

When the weather is really nice, my favorite place to practice is my backyard deck. The deck provides ample space,  the perfect mixture of sun and shade in the morning, a nice breeze and even birds chirping. 

I've planted some flowers around the deck and cleared off a nice open space where I'm still secluded by the privacy fence. I'm practicing out in the open, yet still feel safe and free. Savasana is even more enjoyable when I can lay on the mat, looking up through the trees at the blue sky and fluffy clouds.

The deck is also big enough that I can invite my yoga friends over to enjoy the space. A few years ago when my regular teaching center got flooded, class continued on the deck every Wednesday morning. We slathered on the sun screen, let the kids run around the backyard and we got our yoga on.

Now that I have the deck to myself again, I'm taking advantage of this rare solitary time in an otherwise crazy life. I love the quiet, the breeze, the sun and the space to roll out my mat. And there is still plenty of room for the dogs!

Will You Listen To Me One Last Time?

Story Starter Wednesday

Let's just stop.

It's been almost 3 years. No, it's been more than 20 years.

You're mad at me. OK I can live with that.

I'm mad at you. I've lived with that a long time too.

The kids are hurting and the lawyers are getting rich.

Do you even remember why? Me neither.

Can we call a truce?

Let's move away from the hate and go back to the way things used to be. Let's go back to a time when all the fighting and anger wasn't there. Let's go back to better times.

Let's go back to indifference.

We lived that way a long time. It seemed to work.

Let's try that again.



Find weekly Story Starter Wednesday prompts at Wolf and Word.

2am phone calls