For once, this post will mostly be about me, but it's immoral to blog without posting pictures. Gabby really likes Sparky (is that his name?) the Firedog. She's met him several times, and I could tell the multiple introductions were paying off here. Boldly did she approach, and strongly did she proclaim, "Hi, Puppy." Yes! I love that forwardness! Don't wait to be introduced! Make the other person [or dog] feel comfortable!
Okay, one more. I love this shot, particularly because just days before it was taken, I got called out for imitating Michael Jordan while directing the choir at church. Like Mike, like mother, like daughter, apparently.On a side note, Gabby will soon be moving out of her room into the other bedroom, because Baby Boy will be taking over her room. This means that she loses the closet door with the MJ cereal box poster left behind by the last family who lived here. We never took it down. (Who would?!!!) However, it's comforting to know that both our kids will start life out well - in a Carolina blue room with The Greatest Player of All Time guarding their jammies.
Now, on to the main purpose of this post. Just a little more than 5 weeks to go before this kid is due to arrive. 5 weeks, 2 days. But who's counting? I've got tons to be excited about. Christmas break, family visits, brand-new life to meet, and... MATERNITY LEAVE! Okay, I don't hate my job. In fact, I really like it most days. But, who would not be excited about a little change of pace? This is a tough time of year on musicians/music teachers anyway, so yeah - I'm just a little thrilled to think that soon enough I'll be spending a few days simply focusing on my little family, trying to get us through the first weeks of Baby Boy's life.
Despite my excitement, I haven't forgotten what maternity leave was like. Okay, yeah, I'll be ready to go back to work eventually, because I'm a person who needs structure imposed on her. And not just that - life's flat out hard sometimes when you're not sleeping. Ooooh... can't forget the hormone changes. And I haven't even tried this with another kid in the house. So I know it won't be all daisies and rainbows. I've been considering what I might like to do to stay connected to the rest of the world during my six-week semi-hibernation. I could blog daily, but I'm afraid that could push me over the edge of the Self-absorbed, Aren't-my-kids-the-cutest, I-haven't-a-clue-what's-happening-with-anyone-else Cliff. I was thinking about something... more interactive. Like Facebook.
What I'm about to say may offend some of you Facebookers, but hear me out.
Facebook could be a great way to spend some time. It doesn't require physical exertion. I'd like to find out what folks are up to. It would fight against my aversion to popular stuff. (I was the only 3rd grader in 1988 that really hated New Kids on the Block.) It would probably push me to face some old friendships that I regretfully neglected, which is a little intimidating. (Will these people "friend" me, yet secretly hate my guts?) Anyway, it would be good to go ahead and resolve some of that, right? If I feel bad for not keeping up with important folks from certain periods of my life, why not try to catch up with them in a way that seems normal to everybody else? Additionally, I could say to myself, "Smalltown, USA has not succeeded in its quest to turn me into a backwards bumpkin. People can no longer stare at me like I have a goiter when I say I'm not on Facebook."
Facebook could also be a terrible waste of time. I've heard/read you Facebookers' laments about how addicting it is. I was once addicted to Minesweeper during exams. It is not far-fetched to imagine me not hearing Gabby's cries for a PBJ because I'm glued to Suzy Q's photo album. And I don't even know Suzy Q. Most importantly, I'm still trying to determine the value of communicating this way. Is this really the kind of "connection" I want to support? Isn't it a bit superficial, and am I helping to normalize to a serious problem of my generation - being connected to everyone and no one?
So - the comment button is begging to be clicked. What say you? I'm especially interested to hear from those of you who've booked your faces... or whatever.
Larlo --
ReplyDeleteWhat is Facebook??
Just kidding (mostly)!
If you choose to do this, I will miss you terribly, but hopefully we would eventually restore our relationship.... when maternity leave is over!
Love you no matter what, "lil pumpkin"
Daddio
Facebook is what you make of it. I have really, really enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, and also keeping tabs on everyone. It kind of puts everything at your fingertips, so to speak. The deal is, how much time you spend on it is up to YOU. I have enjoyed browsing through some photo albums, but then I also realize when I just don't have the time. There is also a ministry aspect to it as well, because I can't even count the number of times that I have been able to encourage someone (or even minister to them, pray for them, etc) because of a status message or something that showed their pain/struggle. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I.S.! I knew someone could add some to my positives list. Although, that does put a heavier weight on my negatives--- I'm not nearly as disciplined as you and will have a harder time telling myself to log off. :)
ReplyDeleteFacebook, schamacebook. I think you should be a writer. This stuff is funny! Or you could write on facebook- hmmmmmmmm, now you've got something to consider.
ReplyDeleteI'll stand up, and admit it. My name is Rachel, and I'm semi-addicted to facebook. (Looks around the room for others to clap and nod.) I am semi-addicted, because I know that if someone were to delete my account, and I was never allowed to logon again, I'd be pretty upset!! However, it's not a thing I typically spend hours a day on.. maybe 15 minutes? Okay, 20. Rarely 30, but often times 45! As long as you are still showering daily, it's not an addiction. That could pose problems for you Laure. Upon further examination, maybe I do need to delete. BUT I say join, because you never know when you'll be asked to be a date to a wedding from someone you haven't seen in years......... but you're married, so that might not be good for you. I just don't know what to tell you!
Whats that saying? It's better to have facebook and lost, than to never have facebooked at all.
you're hillarious. I love you and your family!
ReplyDeletei was skeptical when justin signed me up, but i decided to be ok with it, especially once i realized i could find people i hadn't "seen" in a really long time. and yes, it can be quite addicting the first few months. you're busy finding out who your friends are and what they've been doing. you'll even obsess over putting something cool in your own status and checking everyone elses. but once the novelty wears off, you'll check it daily or not. and then soon, you'll have a little one to chase in addition to gabby. and we'll all love seeing the pics on FB AND your blog. (p.s. you can put a feed in FB that will put your blog posts on your profile. it's great because people will comment via FB as well)
ReplyDeletehave fun on maternity leave!
Well as a sentimental person who has a problem losing their friends I have to admit I do not facebook. I have a page with no picture and no friends because someone made me make one so they could send me something. That was my first and last interaction with it. I have plenty of friends that I never see through video games and such so I understand a “superficial” relationship to some extent and I see the merit in them. It is always nice to get the occasional email from an old friend. As a person who has most likely been addicted to a digital media I would say be wary though. Can you handle it … sure I have met you I know you can handle it but you can not let you computer screen get in front of your family that’s behind it. Maybe if the people on facebook wanted to talk to you so bad they would not have lost your number in the first place or maybe there are different levels of friends and it would be nice to say hi to someone from years ago.
ReplyDeleteSo, I don't have a Facebook account but I can imagine that it could be addictive. I'm very much addicted to Flickr. Ah, the *friends* I've made through that site. But the fact is sometimes it's easier to communicate through these social networks. I like people and I don't think I ignore the ones I see face-to-face (that much), but it feels good to communicate with people who share my same interest without the added day-to-day stuff. It's strictly interest based. As I've gotten older, it's hard for me in Smalltown, USA to find certain kinds of connections - um, just connections that are specific to my own interests. Most (real) people are too swamped with their daily life to communicate only about their interests outside of their jobs and family....
ReplyDelete