Is it Too Late to Drive to Austin?

Chris and I have always agreed on one very important thing: that attitude matters very much. Even when we were dating we knew that this was a key component to our relationship. We both prefer to live somewhere in the zone between realistic and overenthusiastic optimism. We're "bloom where you are planted" kind of people, except not that cliched. So perhaps we are "I like life. Life likes me" kind of people.

All this is to say, when life hands us limes we make margaritas.

I don't know how high-stress major type A kind of people cope with parenthood. The ups and downs of the unknown and unplanned - how do they cope without cracking?

Every year Chris takes off the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. And, I believe, every single year our plans are thwarted. This year we talked about going to Austin and then decided to go camping. Cold weather turned camping plans into hiking plans. Our hiking day was shortened by both the cold weather and the misery of what turned out to be a sick child. A child's singular runnynosed misery led to children's plural misery and the late night purchase of a second "heffalump" humidifier.

Not very clear skies were trumped by relatively clear noses and cabin fever so we ventured out to George Ranch for some general merriment back in time. When we got there we didn't even get kids unbuckled. The frigidly cold air (to these Texans anyway) and the realization that we'd left Carolena's coat at home prompted a quick parental regrouping. Playing on the mall playground started to look like a pretty good outing.

Chris' vacation continued with a wife who fell asleep on the living room floor at 8pm on New Year's Eve and has continued with his lying in bed feeling sick on New Year's Day. He gets the added bonus of trying to sleep while listening to the soothing sounds of Carolena crying over a ripped coloring book page. She's under the kitchen table in a move that quite resembles Randy's "Daddy's gonna kill Ralphie" weeping.

Yep, it's a good thing we have relatively laid back attitudes around here. Although... perhaps next year Chris should save these vacation days for the spring?