It's been great!

Dear Wednesday Whining Community --  

 WW has been a treasured community to me! I am very grateful, and I'd like that friendship and camaraderie to continue. We have been at this site for almost 11 years, can you believe it?  And some years before that, at Phantom's place. 

After discussion among moderators, we have reached consensus that it's time to start a new iteration of the group, and therefore we are starting a closed (secret) group on Facebook -- with a format more along the lines of no weekly host, anybody can W/AW when they are moved; and members can respond to individual topics, rather than having a running thread about the everything.  It will be called Whines; Anti-Whines; Whatever Works. 

Among the reasons are these.  It has become burdensome to continue the weekly format, with hosts every week.  While this website is not searchable via google, if anybody knows the website address, it is also not entirely private -- and, some of us have held back on posting for that reason.  This site is also not very accessible via mobile devices, and members have mentioned they cannot access it via work computers -- so, it is not convenient to use (unlike FB, which is reportedly easy to use via phone). 

A "secret" facebook page is not searchable, indexed, or viewable by anyone but a member of that group.  Members are invited, and must be approved by an admin or moderator. It is NOT public. Stuff there cannot be “shared” on other FB pages.  That is what we're opting to do. 

Moderators are in FB or other contact with a good many members, current and past.  If you know of someone who has been part of this group, they can be suggested for membership in the new group.  If members are interested but not contacted in the next few days about the new site, please contact a moderator!

It's been an excellent ride.  We're holding everybody in our hearts, and are grateful for the friendships.  xoxoxo

Frazzled Edition

Greetings, Pixies. I hope everyone else's Monday is going more smoothly than mine.

Mine has been rocky and emotional.

First, I woke up to an email from a beloved friend, in response to the news that we'll be visiting her city in August, to tell us that her husband (another beloved friend of ours, who has been dealing with a rare form of cancer for several years now) is heading for one risky surgery this week, and that around when we're planning to visit their city, they'll be in a bigger city, while he has an even riskier procedure. (It's one that they previously said they'd only do as a last-minute life-saving attempt, since there is a survival rate from the procedure itself is low. Plans to do this means that they're out of options and he's doing really poorly.)

So. I started off my day emotional, and I don't know whether this means it's a good or bad idea to travel out there this August now.

And then my morning with E started off okay, until she had a weird, escalating meltdown, which started over something small, and ended up with her behaving in some really scary ways. Bad enough that one part of me wonders if we need to talk with someone about these meltdowns, and another part of me says "So many of my friends have dealt with at least one child who had terrifying meltdowns at 5, and then thought it was age inappropriate and possibly symptomatic of something bigger, because of all the advice stuff out there that says that these things taper off at 5."

It was rough. I don't deal well when my child reacts violently (and makes violent threats!). And then I get terrified that she'll react like this at school, and it'll be an even bigger problem. And it's easy to feel like it's the fault of one's parenting.

We've finally calmed things down, and have talked through a lot, and now she's listening to an Ernie and Bert record from my childhood. (She lost TV for a day or two, because the initial small issue was connected to TV.) But my anxiety levels are still really high. The weird thing is that she behaved so well, and worked so hard to be well-regulated, for the entire time that Mr. Q was out of town. And she immediately developed a bad attitude, the second he walked through the door. And he is at work today, but the bad attitude continues!

And that's my big word vomit for today. How are things going there?

Distracted edition

I may not be around so much this week, as there is a thing that needs doing for work.

Events of national importance are horrifying me presently, especially this morning's unthinkable twit explosion.  

On a brighter note, our son's birthday is tomorrow, and the first anniversary is fast approaching -- so, we'll be seeing the kids sometime soon!

Had a good weekend, especially visiting with my artistic college friend.  The weather is basically perfect just now, too!

Tonight will be chicken tikka masala, and am totally cheating by using a prepared simmer sauce.

What's happening at your house?