"good enough" parent confession #2

This is a story about poop.

I suspect you might find it a little bit gross and a little bit funny.
I should probably triple-think about whether to post or not.

But, in the day of a life of {being human} - you know what they say:

Shit happens.

It was a beautiful day to take a walk into town.

Our infant was settled comfortably in the stroller as we bumped along the river

and then took in the storefronts along main street.

We were out quite a while, taking in the crisp warmth of the day, 

before I realized I hadn't stopped for coffee as I'd originally intended.

I quickly detoured into a local shop before returning home to catch nap time.

As I reached into the basket of the stroller for my coffee mug, I noticed a familiar scent.

We abandoned the line and strolled into the bathroom.

I pulled our infant from the seat to find his diaper had been no match for his business.

I immediately got to work: I stripped him down, cleaned him up, wiped down the stroller, and reached for a clean diaper and clothes.

 -

Nothing

-

Think fast. 

Shake out excess poop from pants. Create makeshift diaper from paper towel. Place baby back in stroller. Cover baby with poop-smeared blanket. Hope no one notices. Return to line. Order coffee.

Heart beating, ears burning, and completely self-conscious, I hand my travel mug to the barista.

As the mug exchanges hands, I notice the non-industrial, disgustingly biological smudge along the silicone sleeve.  I remain silent.  My palms start to sweat.  I avoid eye-contact.

The barista rinses it out and hands it back to me, filled with liquid comfort.

I say thank you and leave a tip in the jar 

{it is the least I can do}

She wipes her hands on her apron and helps the next person in line.

Exit stage left.

confession #two

Most days you are not as prepared as you would like to be {or envision in your head}.

Sometimes improvisational reactions go without a hitch

{and}

Sometimes, you have poop on your coffee mug and request a refill anyway.

just do it

I have {finally} launched my website!

www.daphnebrydon.com

I've thought about it for years.

I have tentatively solicited help, thinking it was impossible to do myself

{but never ever followed through}

I have looked at countless examples and explored my options.

I toyed with the idea so long, in fact, I thought for sure it'd create itself.

But that kind of thing does not happen 

{except in my mind}

So one weekend in February, 

I took the Megabus to Chicago for 32 hours;

I immersed myself in my composition notebook while the bus charged through sleet and snow 

{and}

I developed my website.

By the following weekend, 

it was done.

I mean, to a degree, it remains a work-in-progress. 

But it is launched and I feel good about the simplicity

and the font.

It feels great to have taken the plunge -  

to see where things go from here.

So, feel free to take a look-see

pass it along, link to it, 

or just ignore it.

{or}

let it be an inspiration to any of you with a similar project that is 

a long-time-in-coming

Just do it.

life is like a skate park

one evening i encountered a sea side skate park.

it was a fascinating way to spend the moments before sundown.

i watched as skaters of all ages took to the curves of the park -

some were just starting out with the craft and others were clearly veterans.

as i stood there observing, i couldn't help but think:

life is like a skate park.

somewhat contained with

sexy curves and cavernous dips

the terrain requires courage, creativity, and an ounce of "cool."

one can have a smooth ride with a flourish finish

and sometimes, one breaks his arm 

{i saw it happen}

what i learned:  one has to be fearless. 

avid skaters push the limits - their own and of the space. 

amidst countless other skaters. 

they stand at the edge of the park and watch for the opportunity to get in on the action. 

with spectators standing just beyond the edge - watching 

{always}

and even if one breaks her bone - it is not failure.

you ride your board home to regroup...intent to return later.

and today i got to thinking: that is how i want to be in life.

fearless.

i would like to stand at the edge and actively look for opportunities 

and take them. 

i would like to remain open to sexy curves and cavernous dips

weighing them as equals.

i would like to learn my limits and willingly test them -

no matter how many other opportunists show up {and}

no matter how many spectators are watching.

and if i break my arm, it doesn't mean i have failed.

it is an opportunity to regroup, reassess, and come back for more.

because the next run will be sweet

{maybe}