"Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change."

~Brene Brown

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability

I've Got (Mothering) Skills-Writing Prompt #8

"Mommy, what will happen if I eat all the olives off my pizza?"  My four year-old asks with innocent, trusting, hazel eyes.

"The world will spontaneously combust."

"What?!"

I derive sick enjoyment from her reaction, and teaching my girls complicated phrases.  I take their education very seriously.  The other day I taught my two-year old, 'delayed gratification'. 

"Lay-ed  at-tuh-kay-shun,"  She lisped with her brown-sugar voice.  It was adorable.  If only teaching the principle were so easy.  Then maybe she wouldn't have nicknames like, "Girl-Who-Runs-Screaming".  Although, now that I think about it, that might be more attributed to her being excited, rather than angry.  Scratch that.

My eyes and mind turn back to Adelei and her question.

"Or maybe you'll grow a third eye?" I ask.  Adelei grins, and  scrunches up her nose.  "No!"

She's onto me.

"Maybe your belly button will turn purple." I give her a sideways glance.

"Naaw!"  She's shaking her head emphatically.  

"How do you know?  You still have olives on your pizza," I point out.

Adelei quickly plucks off the remainder and pops them in her mouth.  Then she  tests my theory, pulling up her shirt a few inches to reveal her cute little belly.  All the while, looking at me with a confident expression on her face.  My eyes widen.  "Your belly's purple!" I yelp.  Adelei gasps and her eyes snap down to her stomach, terrified for a split second that it has changed colors.  I laugh out loud at her genuine shock.  Four year-olds are da bomb.
"Eatyourpizza,"  I command, voice dead pan.  It sounds like I'm channeling Little Caesar.  Little Caesar, if he were a mom who was trying to get his super-skinny, purple belly-buttoned kid to eat.  Although, if I want help with that, perhaps I'm channeling the wrong Caesar here.  Veni vidi vici.
 It occurs to me that my mothering skills could use some help.  They seem to be setting up camp in the wilderness of my survival skills. 

Heart Studies (Writing Prompt #8)

Write about something you have learned in the last few days.

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I view love on a linear scale, which allows me to freely love many people and not limit my love to certain relations or labels.

It also apparently means that, while teasing my friend as he was leaving my home last week then yelling “Love you! Bye!” to him as he left—which he called back in return— I cannot adequately express my affection to the other man I actually adore and hope to love in an even greater way. And while the former situation was not a big deal, it became a big deal in my mind as I considered the latter.

Maybe my heart— the heart I have studied so carefully and have trusted in vain so many times— is wrong.

We whispered about our hearts that night and I told you the vulnerability that mine felt, how I need you to know it is open and so willing, but there are also walls being built. I am scared, and that is justified. But as we laid beside each other, your fingertips lingering and playing along my arm, my heart beat against those walls so passionately.

She’s yours if you want her.

Writing Prompt #8

Write about something you have learned in the last few days.

This prompt was taken from oneminutewriter.blogspot.com

Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh

"In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing."

~Vincent Van Gogh