Julie Pippert: Using My Words

You know my motto: loved ones deserve the chance to miss one another. I think it's good to get to miss one another, I think it's good to get some space for a bit in between. I think it makes us see, from a better vantage point, how much we love each other, and how important we are to each other, day to day. I think it helps us strip back a layer of taking one another for granted. This summer, instead of it being my kids off and about on a busy schedule, it's been me off and about, and it has given my kids the chance to (a) miss me, (b) see how it is with dad primary parenting, and (c) discover they are capable of being quite competent when they need to be. (Bless my heart, I'm a little overfocused on details and slightly control freakish. Like a Girl Scout Gone Wild, a bit. Everything must be prepared, planned, organized, and completely thought through, every microdetail managed. I keep mental checklists, written checklists, and am a little hypercompetent in managing an...

When the phone rang, I was a little annoyed. I'd finally gotten the kids settled into a task for longer than two minutes, with no fighting, and was actually making progress on my project. "Hello," I said, a little more brusquely than I should have. It's not the caller's fault that I'm stretched too thin in too many directions from too much multi-tasking. "Hello," I said again, this time more kindly. "Hi Julie," the voice of a lady I know said brightly, "How are you?" "Fine, fine, and you?" I said, biting back 'busy' as an answer. "So how are the kids?" she asked, omitting an answer. "The kids? They're fine. A little rambunctious, you know. It's time for school to start." "Oh," she said, "Oh. Right, they're fine, that's good news." "Why do you ask?" "Well, you know, they were over here playing the other day, and my kids are sick now. I just wan...

It can't just be me: that's wicked creepy, isn't it? Someone else, please, say yes. So as it turns out I am not that great of a juggler. I sort of figured as much when---upon considering subsequent education after graduating high school---I immediately struck off clown college. Not only couldn't I juggle but I really can't stand clowns. It's not fear, it's something else. I get to see a lot of clowns as a parent and every time, I think they sense my whatever-it-is feeling that is a lot short of "YEA! a CLOWN! Woo hoo! I LOVE clowns! They're so FUN!" I don't like them and they know it. They smell it or see it in my eyes, no matter how jovial or polite an act I put on. Patience is the same, I think. I can see it in her eyes. I hope no boyfriend ever takes her to the circus. One time I was dating this guy and he planned what should have been---would have been for any other woman---a fabulous date: the circus. I was horrified. Seriously. Trapp...