Flailing.
Hey! I have a job!
It's a little job and it's not 'the' solution to our situation but you know every little bit helps and perhaps this will ease my mental load enough to focus on some of the other projects I have going right now.
Logan also got two freelance jobs today.
I'm afraid to say things are looking up but could they be?
Also, I was talking with friends today about some of the ugliest moments we've had while parenting and we all had some hairy moments to share. We comforted ourselves with the thought that in the end these hairy moments aren't the moments they'll remember.
Tonight after dinner we all ended up in Madison's room and we were listening to her music and dancing. I wasn't dancing, I was laying on the bed watching because....I AM NOT USED TO WORKING! I'm only used to laying on my arse all day waiting for clever emails to come through my inbox in between endless games of Whack A Mole.
Logan is a really shitty dancer. While he danced he begged me to please make sure Madison takes her dance tips from me and not from him. I'm not a particularly good dancer but I'm better than Logan who calls 'flailing' dancing.. Robots can't dance.
But there was my beautiful family dancing and laughing in my little girl's bedroom and I just pray that one day those are the things my children remember about growing up in this house.
Fun times punctuated by momentary bursts of insanity. From all of us.
When I tell you the song we were listening to you're going to wonder how our children will ever make it to adulthood unscathed.
Peace Frog from The Doors.
In my defense it is kind of a catchy tune. Of course, I wasn't completely aware of the lyrics. The good news is the kids are already familiar with the entire Rage Against The Machine library so they were already fucked. At least Peace Frog is totally danceable. Unless you're Logan and then it's totally flail-able.
Lots of flailing with momentary bursts of stillness.
congrats on the job! oh and on surviving the flailing.
Posted by: sweetney | 2005.02.24 at 11:04 PM
yea!!!! congrats on the job! i'm looking forward to having little moments as well...
Posted by: Sarcastic Journalist | 2005.02.24 at 11:04 PM
"Hey! I got a job!"
THAT'S IT?!? That's all we get?? I mean the other stuff was all nice and warm and fuzzy yadda yadda...but little job, or no - this is BIG! Yeah?
Congratulations, Melissa. It takes a first step to climb a mountain. Or something like that.
Posted by: Jennifer | 2005.02.24 at 11:13 PM
Woohoo a job! Now it's time to buy work clothes!! Only reason I work, to justify a trip to TJ Maxx every now and then for new shoes.
You are such a better mom than me, I refuse to play Whack a Mole, that's what the siblings are for.
Posted by: Lisa | 2005.02.24 at 11:26 PM
The Doors are great to flail to. You reminded me that when my oldest, now almost 16, was a baby, I used to pass her off to her Dad the minute he got home from work, and they would dance to "Box of Rain" by the Dead while I went to take a shower. We used to play that song over and over in the car too, since she was not a good traveler and it calmed her down.
Congrats on things looking up!
Posted by: Liz (also in Maryland) | 2005.02.24 at 11:31 PM
Congratulations! And I think Madison and Max are lucky to have you two as parents, even with the flailing.
Posted by: Erica | 2005.02.24 at 11:34 PM
Congrats! Best of luck on the new job.
Posted by: Sarah | 2005.02.24 at 11:51 PM
Congratulations on the new job!! You have no idea how incredibly happy I am for you. And I know exactly what you mean about kids getting fucked up from their parents music. Hell, my 2 year old is always asking to listen to the Pixies. :)
Posted by: Kay | 2005.02.24 at 11:54 PM
Way to GO! Yeah! Any details to share??
Posted by: Maia | 2005.02.25 at 12:07 AM
Huzzah! Hip hip! Et cetera! And don't forget to pay taxes as you go on the freelance work, or your soul will slowly erode. I speak from, um, experience.
Posted by: Phil | 2005.02.25 at 01:28 AM
Holy shit. That's an unbelieveable last sentence.
Posted by: Lindsay | 2005.02.25 at 06:50 AM
YEAH CONGRATS! I am so excited for you (and a little jealous) that you got a job. I hope it's fun and I hope it makes you feel a little better. Good thoughts are sent your way :)
There is abso-freakin-lutely NOTHING wrong with the type of music you listen to...hell, I may come over and dance with you. Sounds like our libraries would be pretty similar :) Dance away, Summers Family, Dance away!
*side note...I never listen to country music. NEVER. But my Mom does (have I taught her nothing?) anyway, 'I hope You Dance'...that's all I'm going to say......geesh, I don't know if I can do the link thing here, sorry, if I can't....
Posted by: SueFromohio | 2005.02.25 at 07:11 AM
Congrats on the job!
My in-laws have repeatedly subjected their grandkids to Floyd Cramer. No telling what damage that will do.
Posted by: kelly | 2005.02.25 at 07:53 AM
A job!! Congratulations! I'll drink to that!! (wow excessive use of the exclamtion point on my part, too!!)
Posted by: elisabeth | 2005.02.25 at 08:57 AM
Congrats on the job! Yeeehoo!
And dancing is good for the soul, whether you're good at it or not.... at least that's what I tell myself when I'm home alone, dancing. :)
Posted by: andrea | 2005.02.25 at 09:06 AM
yeah on the job!
Don't worry about the music warping your kids. My dad used to sing me to sleep (he's actually a lousy singer, BTW, but it was still sort of endearing) with "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia." And dead teenager songs from the 50's ("Tell Laura I Love Her," "Teen Angel" that sort of thing.)
Posted by: MamaKaren | 2005.02.25 at 09:14 AM
Great news on the job front!
I wish I had thought to do that (dancing) yesterday, because I am not just tired of snow, I am tired of these kids never getting any fucking exercise (except when they jump up and down on the sofa). Yours sounds more fun.
Posted by: landismom | 2005.02.25 at 09:24 AM
Woot for the job, and for Logan's freelance work! I hope this is the beginning of a nice steady upswing for your family.
Re. the music weirdness.... we get the kids into their pajamas by altering the words from "Baby Take Your Teeth Out" by Zappa to "Jacob, take your shoes off, try it sometime..."
So my kids will be just as strange (and hopefully happy) as yours.
Posted by: JT | 2005.02.25 at 09:32 AM
Congrats on the job! Do we get any details?
I'm sort of glad to hear that there's something Logan can't do perfectly. Sorry.
Posted by: Karen | 2005.02.25 at 09:32 AM
Oh the job is a little silly and that's why there's no details but it's doing some clerical type work for a friend's realtor parents. They're so nice and wonderful and I really like them. It's stuff I can do on my laptop and at my house and when I need to work in their office I can do it while Max is at preschool or when Logan is home. So no childcare.
The husband part of the realtor team is well connected so who knows where the position could lead. It should work out quite well for now. And like I said it's so flexible I can keep up my job search while doing it and work on other things I have up my sleeve.
Posted by: MelissaS | 2005.02.25 at 09:38 AM
That is great Melissa, all good things and all that happy horse stuff... you know. It definitely was time.
Posted by: Michelle | 2005.02.25 at 09:40 AM
Congrats! Yes, things are looking up.
What? There's something Logan CAN'T do? Sure robots can't dance, but cyborgs can.
Posted by: Heatheranne | 2005.02.25 at 10:06 AM
So you're going to work on your arms, eh? Interesting!
Posted by: MonoCerdo | 2005.02.25 at 10:20 AM
Congratulations, Melissa.
Hey, can you put up a video of Logan doing the robot dance? You know, like in that Geico commercial.
Posted by: Ken | 2005.02.25 at 10:52 AM
Congrats. Also, I am picturing Logan doing the Elaine dance - with his thumbs sticking out and all. Priceless.
"Sweet fancy Moses!"
:: christy ::
Posted by: christy | 2005.02.25 at 11:16 AM
woo hoo! see, i knew you would get something.
and alas, it's murphy's strange law...if you have a job, it's a lot easier to find a job.
congrats! you deserve it!
Posted by: heather deeeee | 2005.02.25 at 11:21 AM
yay, yay, yay!! so happy for you. would love to hear more about it!
Posted by: hotsauce | 2005.02.25 at 11:25 AM
Congrats on the job. I hope things continue to go well for you.
I agree with you that dancing with your kids is the best. I've also discovered that dancing with my nearly three-year-old daughter is pretty good exercise too, especially if I just copy her and jump up and down waving my arms in the air for an entire song!
Posted by: Carolyn | 2005.02.25 at 11:32 AM
rock and roll! you know it's those funny moments the kids will remember. i hear talk now that i'm grown-up about how poor we were, and how miserable the financial stuff was with my folks, but i don't remember any of that. i only remember the fun stuff, and there was a lot of that.
i'm so happy for you and your job!
Posted by: receptionista | 2005.02.25 at 11:44 AM
I think we need a little more info, here, madam! Cough it up! (But I totally hear you on the "not used to working" thing... my first week, it was all I could do to stay up until I had the kids in bed at 7:30 each night.)
Posted by: Mir | 2005.02.25 at 11:58 AM
sounds like bliss...
and it absolutely IS what they will remember.
Posted by: blackbird | 2005.02.25 at 12:27 PM
Congratulations. I'm sure it feels good to be doing some work. Looking for a job is the pits, but keep going, you'll find something!
Posted by: Milly | 2005.02.25 at 12:29 PM
Congratulations on the job Melissa!
Posted by: cursingmama | 2005.02.25 at 12:59 PM
My husband is a total flailer too. Watching him dance actually causes me physical pain. It's like seeing a car accident happen - it hurts your soul.
Yay for the job!
Posted by: Amanda | 2005.02.25 at 01:39 PM
Big congratulations on the job, we all really mean that, but... Don't tell us any more about it! We DO NOT want another Dooced on our hands. At least, that is, until you've got the perfect job, and then you can tell us all about *this* one!
Posted by: Stace | 2005.02.25 at 01:49 PM
Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations! Here's to hoping things are on the up for you.
XOXO
Posted by: Very Mom | 2005.02.25 at 02:01 PM
Congrats on the job(s)! By the way, it is perfectly normal to dance to Peace Frog. But do note that our family dance tune is "Lola" by The Kinks.
Posted by: Marie | 2005.02.25 at 02:20 PM
Yay!!!
Posted by: traci | 2005.02.25 at 02:21 PM
I think I have been taking all the tension, stress & moodiness for the whole family this past week or 2, so I am glad it's working for you... Can you take some back now? just a little, maybe?
But, you know, "little job" or not, it's still a job, so what are you doing on Saturday afternoon? (okay, late afternoon/early evening?) I'll bring the potables. We've got work to do. Call me for details (and your refreshment of preference- let's get tore up! or maybe just a tiny bit giggly...), as I am showing up regardless.
THERE'S CELEBRATING TO BE DONE!
miao.
Posted by: Lil' Sis | 2005.02.25 at 02:29 PM
Congratulations, Melissa! A small step for America, but a giant leap for Summers-kind.
Posted by: Jamie | 2005.02.25 at 02:37 PM
Congratulations...
My husband's father used to turn out all the lights and make the three boys lie next to him on the floor in the dark and listen to the Doors. He wanted them to FEEL the music. They're all reasonably well-adjusted now or enough so anyway. Not to worry about the music selection. It may even make you cool in the teenage years. If that should matter.
Posted by: Meredith | 2005.02.25 at 02:55 PM
Great post Melissa.
And CONGRATS on the job, yaaaaay!
P.S. My parents both love to dance and I have so many happy memories of dancing around in the kitchen with them as a child, the Janis Joplin "Pearl" album playing on the stereo. Good times.
Posted by: Mary | 2005.02.25 at 03:06 PM
Great news!
Posted by: Busy Mom | 2005.02.25 at 03:55 PM
Yay! Enjoy your new less-stressed life!
Posted by: Sara for lack of a better name | 2005.02.25 at 04:02 PM
Yay! Congrats on the job and on life looking up in general.
Posted by: alice | 2005.02.25 at 04:12 PM
Happy happy!
Joy joy!
:)
Posted by: MollieBee | 2005.02.25 at 04:21 PM
Woot?
Posted by: Zach | 2005.02.25 at 06:01 PM
Hey! No job is a "little" job when it gives you such psychic relief! Maybe it's a 'tweener but I am SO happy for you!!! Yippee!!!
Posted by: julia | 2005.02.25 at 07:37 PM
"Psychic relief"?
Well, I don't know what the term is that means relief of the psyche. You know what I'm getting at :-)
Posted by: julia | 2005.02.25 at 07:39 PM
And here I was thinking that I was the only one flailing to "Peace Frog." My oldest daughter (2 1/2) likes Rage Against the Machine and the White Stripes, while my son (4) likes 70s disco. They both dig "college music", as we dubbed it in the 80s. The youngest is only 8 months old, but what on earth is left or her? Country? I am not a country girl, unless you count Wilco and Whiskeytown.
Anyway, congrats on the job.
Posted by: Lisa S (& Riley, Bella, & Adelyn) | 2005.02.25 at 08:01 PM
First off Melissa Congratulations! on the job, and as you said who knows where it will lead!
Secondly I am sure Madison will remember times like flailing with daddy and just being with the 2 of you during a fun moment.
I have just recently started visiting here, and enjoy it! Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Darlene | 2005.02.25 at 08:59 PM
Congrats on the job. That must feel WONDERFUL.
Also, I love that your children know all the Rage Against the Machine ditties. I thought we were the only ones. Unfortunately, my husband and daughter have banded together against me and enjoy grooving to, yech, Radiohead.
Posted by: SuzanH | 2005.02.25 at 10:06 PM
*** CONGRATULATIONS! ***
I'm so happy for you and your new job. Silly or not, I'm sure it will take a little weight off your shoulders.
Posted by: Becky | 2005.02.25 at 11:04 PM
Congratulations on the job!
I think the universe is conspiring to make us all recount our hairy parenting moments (we're talking about Bad Mommy Confessions on my blog right now, and some are truly hilarious and some are truly scary) as a transparent offense against accusations of bad parenting.
Posted by: Moxie | 2005.02.26 at 12:24 AM
Oh, yay for you! I'm so glad for you.
Posted by: Psycho Kitty | 2005.02.26 at 10:15 AM
I love it! If I had a tagline for our family, I would totally steal this from you: Fun times punctuated by momentary bursts of insanity.
My four year old is obsessed with the new iPod commercial, down to imitating the dance. He's actually rather good at it. But being a boy he makes this hysterical face that leaves me dead with the giggles.
Posted by: coffeegirl | 2005.02.26 at 02:03 PM
I love the iPod commercial too. I have TiVo and skip the commercials, but I stop for that one. I don't even have any use for an iPod, but I love that commercial.
Oh, congrats on the part-time job, Melissa. Congrats to Logan on the freelance jobs. By the way, what does he do? In the near future I'm going to be looking for a logo designer for a new business.
Posted by: Flippy | 2005.02.26 at 02:49 PM
Yay!!!!!
Posted by: flea | 2005.02.26 at 07:00 PM
wack a mole, is this something i should try? have you tried snail mancala? it's where it's at, man. seriously.
and, of course, hooray for the job. can you feel all this internet lovin'??
Posted by: chelsea | 2005.02.27 at 12:09 PM
Delurking to say congratulations!
Posted by: Bonnie | 2005.02.27 at 07:58 PM
Hey... am I the first to buy a t-shirt?
Posted by: Ken | 2005.02.27 at 10:02 PM
Congrats on the job.
Posted by: emily | 2005.02.27 at 10:05 PM
the job sounds perfect -- flexible hours, and you don't have to get all dressed up and leave the house to do it. I have been in the so-called workforce for 20+ years, and consider it highly overrated. There's a reason WORK is a four-letter word, and they don't call it PLAY. For me, even if I enjoy what I do for work, I'm still ready to give it up for any opportunities to play that come my way.
Posted by: alice, uptown | 2005.03.01 at 02:45 PM