We’re not quite out of the calm and (relatively) more peaceable golden years before teenagerhood, but I can see the signs. Like how, when being told to basically anything (wear a coat, brush her teeth, tidy up her things), instead of getting a chipper ‘okay!’, I’m more than likely to get a ‘uggghhhhHHHHHHHhhhhhhh’.

It’s been a while since a teenage girl has made me feel like the dumbest creature to ever crawl out of the primordial ooze; not sure I’m looking forward to Round 2: The Call Is Coming From Inside The House.

Deep breaths. It’s developmentally appropriate for her to question everything I’ve ever taught her in order to seek her own truth, even if that thing is ‘plaque exists and your teeth are forever’ or if ‘you need to wear long pants in the autumn.’

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian readers! This year, I’m most thankful for the incredible support system that’s kept me afloat. Chez Baby took a couple big hits to the belly this year, starting with a traumatic loss of a friend and mentor in January, but I’ve been able to keep on makin’ things through it. I’m so grateful for friends, for our continued (mostly) good health, and, as always, for you. <3

One last reminder that I’ll be in Penticton for The Penti-con this weekend! We’re anxiously watching the snow report for the interior highways and we’ll probably have to make a game-time decision on whether it’s safe to make the drive. I’ll mostly likely update Bluesky with the latest!

TRANSCRIPT

Panel 1: Momo stands before a projected PowerPoint slide, arms crossed resolutely with a laser pointer
Slide: CONSIDER: – Not nitpicking everything I do

Panel 2: Lindsays, wearing a suit, stands before a similar PowerPoint slide, also with a laser pointer
Slide: CONSIDER: – Actually doing what we tell you to do  – Doing it right the first time   – Seriously we’ve been saying the same things for twelve years