Let me start by saying "Thank you" for visiting my new blog. I have been thinking about/meaning to start this for quite some time, but have just not 'gotten around to it'. If you've read my bio you probably already guessed that I am - however slightly - type A. Anyone else? I live and breathe by my 'to -do' lists, cry if I miss the slightest details (yes, ok, I DID forget to feed the dog this morning!), and my main mission in life is to gain the approval of those that surround me. And do you know what I've learned from living my life this way (thus far)?...That all of it is a bunch of crap. While I'm wasting my time worrying about what other people think of me, I've learned that other people aren't thinking about me at all! Isn't that incredible? Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner? I could have saved myself a lot of time and energy knowing this fact, and I may have turned out happier for the wear.
So here I find myself, truly only about a year after realizing this fact in my very soul that noone gives two rips if I change jobs, color my hair, or refuse to do the dishes for a week. This last year gave birth to my thoughts about starting this blog. Why? Because the things I've learned and stories I've accumulated made me realize that although I live an "Average Jill" life from the outside, I am anything BUT average on the inside. And I thought maybe, just maybe, there are other women out there feeling as I do that could benefit - or at least find humor in - my stories and learnings.
AND SO I BEGIN - By the way my week started this week, I thought what better time than to start my blog than now. Because my week started with...wait for it...head lice. Yes. Head lice. On my 5-year-old daughter. Holy Frick, why did God ever make these hellish bugs? They serve absolutely NO purpose other than to live on a human head. That's right! That's ALL they do! Trust me, in the last 48 hours I have become a minor expert on these god-forsaken things and let me tell you they are no picnic. My daughter is a trooper though, she's sat through the nit-picking (which, by the way, I now have a whole new appreciation for that coined phrase!), hair cutting, and even vinegar washings like a champ. I'm not going to go into detail here on the treatment and prevention of head lice, sorry. Please see www.mnlicelady.comfor more information on that - fabulous site! Rather, as The Average Jill I must establish up front my view of life as seen through situations like this. Here's what I mean by that - I stayed home with my daughter yesterday and spent approximately 4 hours combing through each strand of her hair looking for nits - the lice egg that is about the size of a pin head...and I enjoyed every minute of it. Bet you didn't see that coming did you? Yes, I had a fantastic day yesterday checking my daughter for head lice. Why? You need to meet my daughter for one, this kid has taught me more about pure happiness than any other being on earth. She is a joy to be around and she can make you giggle even in the midst of your worst moments. Second, I'm just going to say it - I'm pretty damn proud of myself and my mommy abilities I displayed the last 48 hours. I am 33 years old, a mother of two, a college graduate from a fine private institution, home owner, and full-time working-world woman - and my greatest accomplishment this week was tackling head lice like nobody's business. I wasn't grossed out, I didn't panic, I only felt like bugs were crawling on me for a few hours. These small crises, however manageable and common, present moments for us to shine even if it's in front of our own mirror. While I am thouroughly exhausted from the last two late nights of treatments and all day cleaning and picking out nits, I am so incredibly satisfied. Maybe it's the gratification of my maternal instincts, being able to care and love for my daughter in a weird and different way. Maybe it's the fact I've gotten 1 1/2 days off from work just to be at home with her watching movies and baking cookies. We've shut out the world for a few short hours the last few days and just been mommy and daughter. Whatever it is, I'm liking it. The problem is, the world is waiting. Head lice and all.
So I challenge you this week, my new devoted readers - find gratification in something this week that you maybe normally would not. Be conscious that your attitude defines your gratification and your situation. What may look like head lice could be your next learning moment.
