Here's why I love you: when I post a paranoid column about my hypochondria and psychosomatic exhaustion and neurotic wasting of doctors' time and also my vague personality disorders, your write me lovingly to say, "Maybe you should get your thyroid checked!" It's like a virtual community of mothers. "They're just jealous!" you say to me. You say, "It's only because you're so passionate!" and "We would have done the same exact thing!" Thank you for that. I see why they call it "support." You know?
Meanwhile, an April Fool's Day post--of all the repulsive things--has lingered here for weeks. Malingered. Forgive me. I can only send you to this column and this one instead. And scare you with the very fierce and frightening Caped Growly Girl King.
oooh do I really get to be first today??!! Your column about Birdy being sick was really touching. My little Ben recently had 104 fever for 4 days and I bravely resisted calling the doctor because I didn't want to be the panicky mom and there had been a virus going around school. Finally we took him and of course, it was not the 'daycare' virus, it was bacterial and he was hours away from pnuemonia. And then I felt like the worst mother on the planet...
ReplyDeleteOoooooh, what a fierce and scary growl you have, naked yet caped and crowned Super! Might be the greatest photo of Birdy yet!
ReplyDeleteOh she's completely FIERCE, both in the traditional sense and in the Wigstock sense.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry she's sick, I know what you mean about not being able to turn away. I hope by now she's feeling better.
I love that song by the way, its our happy song, singing in the car song, I hope it goes back to being that for you guys too!
I hate the sickness. But I've been much more mellower lately, and I attribute that to changing doctors. Apparently, I didn't really have the much faith in our previous ped, cause I always felt so anxious, even after they diagnosed. Now, not really so much. Thanks for sharing, as always, so beautifuly!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about the sickness, and I'll be sending up what even people who know me well call prayers. There's been a lot of illness, grief and pain in the lives of my family and loved ones lately, and prayers are just about all I'm capable of. I'm happy to add Birdy to the list, even though you all are "only" loved ones I know through the computer - love you all I do.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME picture of Birdy! She is so fierce as she reigns gloriously...and nakedly. I since major photographic blackmail in the future!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Caped Growly Girl King. Your photo made my day.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear poor Birdy is sick. When my Gigi gets a fever that high she scares me to death with her fever-induced hallucinations: "Mommy! There's an angry lizard in my bed!" and "Hey, Scooby, what you doin' on the ceiling?" Usually I find that my presence turns the scary hallucination into a pleasant one (i.e. Lizard to Scooby) - kind of like being a "guide" for a three-and-a-half-year-old on acid, but it still freaks me out!
ReplyDeleteHey Birdy that is quite an outfit...you would fit in at our house for sure!
ReplyDeleteI love the picture! She is too cute. Made us smile on this otherwise sad day. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhen does the wild rumpus start? Am I invited? Oh,please????
ReplyDeleteCatherine, I never feel clever or witty enough to leave a comment for you but I wanted to let you know, especially today, that your writing always has the most amazing effect on me. You frame the experiences of being a mom in such a way that it makes me feel better about my own mothering. It makes me see my relationship with my daughters in a whole different way, and I love it. God, reading back over this makes me worry you're going to think I'm saying I feel like I'm a better mom than you, please don't think I'm saying that. I'm on no sleep and perhaps doing a bad job of expressing myself but I really wanted to thank you for your wonderful writing.
ReplyDeleteSo I've been reading The Poisonwood Bible, the part about where youngest daughter gets malaria and almost dies. While reading your column about sick Birdy and her high temperatures, my mind intertwined the two stories and I got all panicky. Then I realized that, hmm, Birdy probably doesn't have malaria, and will probably be fine. I felt much better - if a bit foolish. Whew.
ReplyDeleteThis photo of Birdy is AWESOME! I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a uber-fabulously fierce and passionate girl! You are so blessed to have two such amazing and beautiful children in your life!
ReplyDeleteI could not love your writing any more! Please write another book as soon as Birdy stops coughing. I am more paranoid and worrisome than you are (and yes, I'm one-upping you...because I am quite sure that there is no one else in this world who worries about cancer more than I do!)To add fuel to the fire...I have just recently found out that I am pregnant. Though I am happy as can be...I am more filled with worry about the doctor visits and ultimately, the health of this peanut inside me. I read Waiting for Birdy cover to cover....write another as I can not live on Wondertime columns alone......
ReplyDeleteps..the pic is perfect