On Thursday I had another play date with my friend, Heather, and her daughter, Olivia. We have started doing this weekly because Heather and I connect so deeply and well. We have had some similar life experiences, although we have come out pretty differently.
Heather is the most empathetic, gentle, kind soul. She is also one of the most intelligent people I have ever encountered. She has a rare depth of self-awareness, and it is a joy to discuss anything and everything with her. Aside from being a mom, she works part time at the MTC answering all of the call-ins with questions that stump the missionaries. It’s a job she’s had for years. It is a hard job and many people with this job end up leaving the Church. Over the years Heather has basically been asked every hard doctrinal and cultural question about the Church out there. Somehow she has managed to emerge with a graceful, thoughtful, resilient faith. Again, I love talking with her and I am grateful to be her friend.
On Thursday evening Abe and I were both tired and stressed out. I was in a bad mood because it was past bedtime and the girls kept getting out of bed to poop. Mary also pooped in her pants, something she had been doing with such extreme frequency that the pediatrician urged us to bring her in ASAP. I am so tired of taking my kids to the doctor, sometimes multiple times a week…but I do need to bring her in. The pooping in her pants is really getting out of hand.
Mary has been hell to potty train. There’s really no other way to describe it.
Anyway, Abe was stressed from ethical dilemmas at work. I was stressed because I don’t know if Mary’s pooping is behavioral or if (as in my wild worst imaginations) it is some crazy sign of a terminal illness.
We resolved our stress by watching the Olympics in bed. The women’s figure skating finals were on, and that was exciting.