So a Thief, A Dentist and My Period Walk Into a Bar...

Try funny first. It's on our list of things our family tries to do. I think more accomplished families build Family Mission Statements and then they get to capitalize the sentence and maybe have it turned into a mural in their living room. Perhaps even have hats or t-shirts made up that really seal the "we are a team" deal, and cement their identity together. Succeeding.

We just yell it at each other in the middle of the shitstorm.

The shitstorm this week includes a stolen blower and trimmer from our shed, worth just a tiny bit less than our house insurance deductible. It includes a dentist bill in the hundreds of dollars, most of which will not be paid by our insurance, for filling in cavities in both my children's teeth. It includes some low-grade PMS (ha!), an event only days away that threatens to fail, and several other small bits and bothery things that steal joy.

TRY FUNNY FIRST!

My energy of course, is limited. I can only spend it in one direction at a time, and right now it is a herculean task just to turn down the voice that is booming, "You're DOOMED! DOOOOOOOO-OOOOOMED!" Finding energy to also remember that money isn't the best measure, that boys aren't four and a half forever, and that cavities aren't a form of child abuse seems unlikely.

But maybe finding energy to giggle at the DOOMED voice? Maybe I could do that. I picture the voice belonging to one of the muppet ghosts of Marley and Marley in the Muppet Christmas Carol. And truly, when I imagine that, I smirk. I smirk at those two guys rattling around in my brain, trying to convince me that hope is foolish. They're muppets for G-d's sake!!

Off to laugh my way through the rest of the day. Or at least smirk. If it doesn't work, I'll be at the bar.