August 2012
30 posts
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Day 20: Making Room
We loaded up the rented pick-up truck today. After we had to take half of Tee had packed and put it back in her room. She had packed so much stuff. Like she was never coming home. There is no way it would all fit in on the truck my parents rented, let alone in her dorm room.
We are leaving early enough to get her to campus at 8am. She seems ready. I’m not so sure about me. I may have to go live...
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Day 19: Lost & Found
The day began with Tee thinking she had lost all the gift cards she had received at her party. Turns out she had left them in my parents’ car on Saturday.
The day ended with her finding out she will be starting college with six credits, thanks to her AP classes in high school.
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Day 18: Packed and Re-packed
Me: Everything in this suitcase is folded flat.
Tee: I know.
Me: You gotta roll everything. It makes for a better fit and more stuff can get in the bag. I learned that from white people.
Tee: White people be knowin'.
Me: Mmmhmm
Tee: *rolls*
Me: *helps*
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Day 17: Transitions Are Hard & Kids Are People Too
Today, I went shopping with Tee & my parents to get what is [hopefully] the last of the crap she needs to haul off to school with her on Wednesday.
Tee was testy and snappy with us, to the point of “GRRRR!” on all sides. She was really irking my nerves. I was ready to run out of Walmart screaming and ripping out my hair.
But transitions are hard. As an Early Care and Education...
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“Alright. I’m gonna take this fancy ass prescription Alleve and lay down.”
– Tee, on Day 16
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Day 13: Sister, Sister
Tee’s sister Niyah came to visit. Niyah is one of a set of twins (the other being Kiyah) who were born 8 months before Tee was. They all have the same father, who has been deceased for 15 years.
While Tee has grown up in the safety and nurturing guidance of my family, her sisters have been in foster care most of their lives. Their mom is “troubled” and always has been from what...
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Days 10 & 11: A Big Blur of Food, Family & Friends
The Going Away Party:
Cooking food
Packing food
Transporting food (Thanks, Tyler)
Early Guests
Late Guests
No Show Guests
Old friends
New friends
Family
Music
Relentless flies
Uncle Buddy (he always is in a class of his own)
Random 5 minute rain showers x 3
Gift cards and cash
Pack up
Go home
Sleep hard
NEXT DAY:
Wake up
Count up the gift loot
Go to Mother & Dad’s...
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random words of wisdom for the incoming college...
burdge:
nathanielfick:
stuartsometimes:
Everyone is in the same boat.
the first week of school, everyone is clamoring for friends. the friends you make in the first week will, most likely, not be the friends you end up keeping. that’s okay. keep meeting new people and talk to people in your classes.
don’t start dating someone until you’re settled. or you’ll end up in a relationship with a...
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Day 9: The Day I Realized I Was Black
“I was in 2nd grade, riding in the car with Zoe & some other kids to a field trip. Zoe’s dad was driving us. We were all chattering to each other and Zoe’s dad started to talk to us too. Zoe told him “Dad! Please! Why don’t you just shut up?!?” And he did. He shut up. I was shocked. I looked at Zoe and I looked at her dad, waiting for something to happen....
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Day 8: Everyday Party Food
Me: What kinda food do you want for your party?
Tee: Chicken.
Me: OK, what else?
Tee: Hot dogs and deviled eggs!
Me: Let's make a list so we can go shopping.
Tee: Do people make deviled eggs for other things other than parties? I mean, can I make 4 just for myself?
Me: I guess so. I don't see why not.
Tee: Good!
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Day 7: The Best Stuff On Earth
Me: *reading, eating a chicken wing*
Tee: What could make you happier than reading a book and eating chicken?
Me: *ponders* Nothing at all.
Tee: Reading and eating chicken has to be the best stuff on Earth.
Me: I'm sure it is.
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Day 6: Role Reversal
Tee: Mommy, I'm leaving.
Me: I know. Where are you going?
Tee: Dupont Circle to have lunch with my friend.
Me: Are we still going to Target today?
Tee: Yes, I'll call you when I'm on my way back home. Be ready.
Me: OK.
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“Strikingly, Muslims have not been the only targets of Islamophobic violence. A...”
– Simran Jeet Singh. (via mehreenkasana)
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“Nothing ever means anything until someone gives it some value. And if enough...”
– Tee
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Day 5: Waffle Goddess
Tee: Mommy, wake up. It's after 12pm and I made you some breakfast. Come on and eat.
Me: OK, I'm awake. I'm coming down.
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Day 4: Dreams
Tee: I had such horrible nightmare last night.
Me: Oh really? What was it about?
Tee: I dreamed I was back in elementary school and everybody was mean, and judging me. Being ugly to me.
Me: It's just anxiety. You'll do fine.
Day 3: I Might Miss These Too
*Insert heated argument here*
Complete with “OH MAH GAH!” and “YOU’D BETTER WATCH YOUR DAMN TONE WITH ME!”
Finger pointing and eye-rolling. Teen angst and parental putting down of the foot.
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That Awkward Moment When Your Period Tracker Asks...
I use the My Days app on my Android phone to keep track of all things related to my menstrual cycle: when I should expect my period, how long it lasts, when I am most likely to be ovulating, physical and emotional symptoms. Seems like a responsible thing to do as a still-yet-fertile woman, right?
Well, last night my app told me I was 9 days late and asked me if I was pregnant.
After some...
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Day 2: I Wake Up Alone
She was already gone when I got up this morning. So, I just moved on, through the empty space.
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Day 1: Timely
Me @ 8: 23AM: Tee, you up yet?
Tee [through her bedroom door]: Yeah, I'm up.
Lily: *meow*
Me: I know. Who's gonna wake her up when she's gone?
Lily: *meow*
Tee: I'll feed her.
