Younger Mii

Well kids, we finally did it. We bought a Wii gaming system and I am so excited about it that every night I go to its hiding place in my room and roll away dozens of skeins of yarn to peer at the pretty white box full of family fun potential. (Boys never think to look in mom’s stash bin.)

Honestly, I never thought I would care so much about a gaming thingy, but last month I had the opportunity to play at a friends house and y'all, it was a blast! Ok, so at first when she asked me to play I secretly wondered what the heck a single woman without kids would want with a video game system. Bleh! A karaoke machine, sure. A bubbly foot bath thing for pedicures, absolutely! But a Wii? Gah!

Still, I'm not one to put a damper on things so I shrugged & said “Sure!” with as much enthusiasm as I could muster...then proceeded to fall. in. LOVE. We played for hours, laughing, breaking a sweat, stopping for refreshments, and back at it again. I took the challenge thing to see my Wii age. I was FIFTY. Five-Oh. 50 in real life is not bad, I know lots of rockin' people that are 50 and they are far from "old" - so that's not my hangup. My hang up is that I Wii'd myself out and still I was THIRTEEN years older!!!! But what's a mama to do? Pitch a (wii) fit and pout? Well, sure, that's what I was doing for the last 2 weeks - until just a little while ago when I discovered news of a giveaway over on  Peeling An Orange With A Screwdriver's blog that is happening on Chocolate Covered Daydreams blog - which naturally led me to dream of chocolate covered oranges...Mmmmmm! The guidelines for entery include writing a letter to your younger self....so here goes!

Dear Younger Me,

Hold on to your mall bangs, you are in for a bumpy ride, and it’s gonna take more than a can of Aqua Net to keep yourself intact.

You're 18...

wild and free, and planning to, like totally fer sure, take a year off before heading to college to get your marine biology degree so you can train dolphins at Marine World/scuba dive along the Great Coral Reef/Save The Whales. Ok, so that's what you tell the parental figures while you play Three's Company in your new apartment with Roxanne & Mike. And mostly you mean it, especially the dolphin training gig. But that one little year? Will alter the course of your life forever. By the time your friends are registering for college, scouring course catalogs for classes (not to fret, Al Gore is working on a little thing called the internet, you'll see!), while you and  your round belly are  registering at Target, scouring the aisles with for a 2 in 1 stroller and a breast pump. You'll kiss your bikini tops buh-bye, wish your nursing bra came with a how-to manual, and wallow in self pity until the contractions are about 3 minutes apart. Take a deep breath, puuuuush, and enjoy your exhausting/exhilarating/challenging/rewarding journey into motherhood. Single motherhood. (You always were good at putting the cart before the horse.)

You're 20...
you've traded your banana clip in for pony tail scrunchies - because what's the point in doing your hair when you have a little boy that can pee a straight stream at your head everytime his diaper is changed? Every now and then stop what you're doing and go give Bobby a hug & thank her for being the best great-grandmother a girl could ever ask for...cause if it wasn't for her you wouldn't be living rent free, with a built in baby sitter so you could go to college after all. I'm not sure you realize it, but this is one of the best times of your life right now. Even if you do sing Barney songs in the shower.

You're 24...
you've endured some hard times these last few years. Marriage, ignorant bliss, another baby boy, secrets, domestic violence, betrayals, chaos, divorce. You kick yourself for taking scuba lessons instead of a self defense class. You question your faith, you're own actions, your integrity, and you wonder if love really exists. But that which does not kill you makes you stronger, so you pick up the pieces, pack up your boys, and take the next step. Waiting in an apartment down the way, a single mom named Eliska with two little ones of her own, becomes your best friend, your biggest ally, and the sister you never had. For the first time in your life you will experience the healing powers of female friendship. Oh - and "The Rachel" haircut.

You're 27...
it took some time, but you've discovered Mr. Right! He loves you, your boys, your hair, your baggage, and to prove it he hauled you off to a little chapel in Lake Tahoe and put a ring on it. (Beyonce will clear up this reference for you in a song someday. Pay attention.) I'd like to tell you that this is the happily ever after part, but I'd be lying. You're little girl, Kaitlyn, will only survive the 9 months that you are pregnant with her. Her silent birth will send you into the darkest period of your life, and even now, ten years later, I cannot find words of advice that will ease the pain of burying a child. What I can tell you is that you are surrounded by love, embrace it. Another child is in your future, he is not meant to replace his big sister, but he will save your life.

You're 33...
you've left California for a new life in Virginia, 3000 miles away from all you have ever known. For awhile you will kick and scream and every 2.5 days swear you are packing up and heading back home. Instead of throwing in the white towel, you will pick up a crochet hook, some yarn, and discover a whole new world of friendships. Nobody ever told you "hookers" were such cool people. Life is looking up. But you still don't have the guts to cut your hair like Posh Spice.

You're 37...
BMI and TMI and...IS THAT A GRAY HAIR??? Baby boy #1 is 18, Baby boy #2 is 15, and Miracle Boy #3 is 9. You tip the scale at 40 pounds over the 'target range' for your age and height. You sit down, with your slice of Mrs. Smiths Dutch Crumb Apple Pie (okay, with Cool Whip on top) and discover a Wii Fit giveaway contest and proceed to pour your heart out.....It's time to stop piling it in and start working it out....if only you can win this!

Much Love,
Me, Myself, and Irene