I realize as the weekend creeps in, that this time last Friday I was feeling the same level of exhausting, frustration and gratitude that it’s the weekend. It’s been an incredible week.

1. Last Friday, our attorney emailed me a mound of paperwork from the school district of things they want me to respond to over the next few days, making more work for an already pretty busy mom. I’m highly frustrated that I have to take the time to respond.
2. On Monday, I discovered that Kay, despite doing an excellent job last semester of self-policing and keeping herself on track academically (and making great grades), is not doing that this semester. All of her absences, due to the funeral, a sinus infection and an orchestra competition, have left her behind. And apparently she’s not been making up her assignments. Her grades are in the basement. So Mama, the Hammer had to come down. This has not been a “happy home” since, and probably won’t be until those grades come up.
3. LuLu continues to have physical symptoms and problems with her periods, so I spent a great deal of time on the phone as her medical case manager, talking with doctors’ nurses and emailing to coordinate bloodwork and get their opinions.
4. Yesterday I realized that I had not filed the W-2 paperwork with the federal government for my nearly-dead consulting business nor had I done my Partners in Policymaking homework. I’ve been scrambling today for sure.

Last Friday evening, I was a frustrated mess…and Super Dad seeing this, suggested immediately that we go out to eat with friends (don’t you love him). This Friday, I’m sad to report, he and LuLu have once again observed and suggested a restaurant may be in order. But the interesting thing is how calm, concerned and compassionate LuLu is through it all. Her week has been a good one.

She started the week with a field trip to the science museum (her favorite). She had an awesome time at therapy. Yesterday afternoon, she and a friend of ours spent two hours making pots that will be fired in a kiln soon. Today she wrote a four-(count ‘em 4) paragraph essay. I was stunned. And the paragraphs have about 5 (very run-on with misspelled words, since we haven’t edited it yet) sentences in them. But this is so much more than she's done before.

So, the major difference I can see between last Friday and today, is that I’ve been blessed with a good week with LuLu, no matter what the rest of the world is doing!

Photo Credit