Thank you.

I was probably about 13 or so when my mom threw an entire tuna casserole down the stairs. I was giving her major attitude, and she snapped. Later on, I found out that her and my dad had just received news that my dad’s brother had passed away. He was very close to both of my parents. Like Sarah said, I don’t remember it with negativity or judgment, it just was. She was very upset at the world, and a tuna casserole paid the price. I never liked tuna casserole, anyway.

Can you have that toddy today?

JEN – A nice little getaway, despite the car drama?

And, would you believe there was a boy named Gale in my 1st grade class!! And he was a total dweeb. His mother dressed him in a shirt and tie every day, the poor fellow, and made him the smelliest lunches. Maybe that was the beginning of my nickname obsession.

And lastly, when I was pregnant for the first time, my husband and I, after prolonged and sometimes heated discussion, chose Jennifer Erin as a girl’s name – because, of course, we didn’t know if it was a girl or a boy. But after her delivery, I was asked by the nurse what we would be naming our new baby girl, and when I told her our choice, she gurgled, “Oooooo. I just love that name. There are three other Jennifers in the nursery.” You have to remember that was just about the time Love Story came out – Ali McGraw as Jennifer, dying a poignant death with a cute Ryan O’Neal mooning and moaning around her. Which was NOT why we had chosen the name. Well, back to the drawing board. What other name could we agree on? Our next choice was Melanie Megan, which Jen shudders at now, and my mother put the kibosh on then. After three grueling days of indecision, and the “wanky wench from SS” arriving every day with pen in hand, we finally returned to Jennifer. Because we both liked it. And I still do. How about you, Jen?

And yes, we have arrived in a good place through some kind of crazy luck, determination and hard work, and abiding grace. And the love that has bound us always. Problems will always arise. Nothing will ever be perfect. I will always worry. But I know in my heart of hearts, that my kids and grandkids are and will be OK. And there’s the historical perspective, for what it’s worth.

And yes, day eight and momalom withdrawal. But fortunately, Sarah and Jen have a new idea brewing. : )

As for the ultimate perspective, I think I’ll give that honor to my own mom. Mother of 6, grandmother of 17 (depending on how you count), great-grandmother of 15 (again, the counting thing). She’s a wise old bird, my mom, sitting in her catbird seat, and watching all of us scurry around like mad. Every once in awhile, she’ll drop a pearl of wisdom on you, and shock you back into reality. Thanks Mom!