My favorite political morning show ends every broadcast with a brief segment called “What We Learned Today”. I love it. I thought it would be fun to have a similar thing here on the blog every Friday. Perhaps nothing of importance to anyone else, but things that have given me pause throughout the week.
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I learned this week….
…that my sweet-natured ten-year old is quickly blossoming into a mouthy, teenaged nightmare. They told me it would happen – I knew they were right, but to be smacked full on in the face by it was a little startling.
…that telling folks that I will be a grandmother around the New Year didn’t cause me to spontaneously combust, though as the words left my lips, I did feel slightly itchy.
…that watching a certain monumental legal event play out only reaffirmed that our justice system is far from perfect. Flawed, even. However, I’d rather live in a country where the burden of proof is on the prosecution – even if that means a murderer might walk free because their defense was able to plant the seeds of reasonable doubt. Our system of justice, even with its flaws, is much better than the alternative. I think folks need to take a step back and reflect on that.
…that black-crested macaques have a sense of humor and a keen eye for photography.
…that no matter how much I want to, I still can’t watch the Space Shuttle blast off. Every time I see it perched on the launch pad, I am taken back to that horrible day on January 28, 1986.
…that hiking in Yellowstone is still on my list of no-can-dos.
What did you learn this week?
Of Bears and Boating 
I love my mouthy, smartass sons. And the polite one, too. Of course, they are no longer teenagers, no longer under my roof. So, yes, it does get better.
Of course, even though I adored them at whatever age they were at, the older they got, the more I enjoyed them.
My oldest was a big smartass – still is as an almost 21 year old. But, I agree, he is more enjoyable now that he is on his own. I’m hoping (probably in vain) that these episodes with my youngest are not indicative of what’s to come.
It doesn’t get any better.
I’ve got a mouthy 4 year old.
I wanna run away.