Meet Sandy, our foster dog from the Animal Protective League.  She has mange (skin disease) and needs treatment before she can be offered for adoption.  She’s two years old and full of life!  This picture is deceiving.  It appears my daughter is taking full care of Sandy.  The truth is, right now Gabrielle is at a friend’s house while Mom and Dad are sitting home with the dog who is whining non-stop.  We’ll see how this test of responsibility goes!

I just finished my second running race and I feel good!  Two years ago, I set a goal for myself to run a half-marathon, which I did.  It’s been an uphill battle since then.  I didn’t enter anymore races, didn’t advance to bigger goals like a marathon.  After running 13.1 miles - a huge accomplishment for me -  3 miles became a struggle.  I didn’t expect that.

Thank goodness I met Mary Kay last summer.  We were both attending the same wedding and got to talking.  She was six months pregnant and wanted a fitness goal after giving birth.  We challenged each other to train for a race.  Yesterday was our day!  We both completed the Chagrin Blossom Time Run, 5.25 miles.  We were four minutes apart in time and darn proud.

I learned something about myself too.  Without a commitment, it’s too easy for me to fade away.  Excuses come too easily.  But, on the high of being around all those runners (it felt like at least 1,000) I want to keep going.  The River Run half-marathon is just around the corner.

There is something my kid has that I want:  Information.  I try to pry it out of her.  Boy, do I try.  It sounds something like this, “How was your day?  What did you do?  What was a highlight?  Any challenges?  Who did you seat with at lunch?  Do you have any homework?”  Sound familiar?

Her answers are less than satisfactory.  She gives me one or two words, no details, no dramatic stories.  That is, not until later.  She’ll wait until I’m in the middle of a project, running out the door, or totally engrossed in a TV show.  Then, and only then it seems, she starts talking and she won’t quit!  I listen of course, but I think to myself, why didn’t you tell me this earlier when I asked?

Back to the one-word answers:  control.  It’s all about control.  Most kids, mine included, yearn for a sense of control.  There is little they can do, few decisions they can really make about their lives without adults running interference.  But, when it comes to the intimate details of their day, they have total control over what they share.  Most times they won’t share it all because they don’t want nosy parents taking over.  So they sit, and wait, and talk on their own time schedule.  I calm my inquisitive mind by knowing I’ll get the information I want, just not when I want it.

I was delivering a workshop recently on the differences in gender communication.  An audience participant raised her hand and asked, “Why is it when my husband does the dishes or some other household task he has to announce it?  I do the same things every day and they go unnoticed!”  Sound familiar?

The same is true in my household.  Just yesterday I asked my husband to do the weekly grocery shopping, something I don’t believe he’s done in oh - 10 or 15 years.  But, I was feeling overwhelmed and it was time to ask for help.  He was assisted by our ten-year-old daughter who basically did the whole job for him.

Talk about announcing!  He sent me seven pictures of him “doing the shopping” and posted them on Facebook.  You’ll have to excuse me - I need to go take pictures of me unloading the dishwasher, folding laundry, and completing the bills…