Tales Of An Educated Debutante
on life, loss and the joy that rules the day.
The future is far away and scary, but today is lovely.
Adrian H. Wood, PhD
Dear Alicia
Saturday, April 01, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (3)
I quite like it when someone reaches out to share a compliment regarding my children and so, I'm extending the same courtesy to you. We mothers, no matter our background, try to instill kindness in our children. Like me, do you wonder if the endless instruction is sticking? Yours is sticking. I was waiting on a delayed flight and trying to keep my four rambunctious children entertained in the confined space. It was impossible to miss the boy playing with an amazing fun mother that ..
Read moreTen Reasons I Must Start Exercising Again
Wednesday, March 08, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (1)
1. I am sick and tired of my daughter asking me if I'm having another baby. Particularly in front of people at church. 2. Warm weather is coming. I can't hide in my maternityesque shirts much longer. 3. Living in a lovely town on the water means that, before too long, we shall be living in a giant terrarium. One may very well collapse if still wearing forgiving spandex jeans. 4. I am unhealthy. Seriously, I quit smoking well over a year ago and the least I ca ..
Read moreAdventure
Friday, February 24, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)
It may not sound like an adventure for most, but for me, it is as much of one as my summer in Swaziland over twenty years ago. This time, I'm just going to Raleigh, a hop, skip and a jump from here, as my mom says. Staying at a fancy hotel with her and a friend and speaking at St. Michael's (https://www.facebook.com/St-Michaels-Episcopal-Church-112778177579/) on Saturday morning. It is a dream come true, though not a dream I even knew I had. I have always tried to not talk too much ..
Read moreMy Dad
Wednesday, February 08, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (2)
One night with my parents and I am never left disappointed. 1. How long is it? The news is about to come on. I asked my dad if he wanted to hear me practice my speech. 2. You need to receprocate. He was right, paying back a kindness though I pointed out it may be better to reciprocate and he said, "Yeah, that too." 3. I just order whatever she orders. This is a new level of retirement and then he follows with, two minutes later, "what did I order?" 4. Is Blair ..
Read moreThe Beauty of Messy Chaos
Sunday, January 08, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)
I nag and bewail my children and then I remember that the beauty of messy chaos hides in the insignificant nonsense of the little forgetful minds. I tidy and lament discarded blankets and hot cocoa cups and then I remember the beauty of messy chaos hides in fleece polka dots and sticky marshmallow remnants. I do too much in the name of fun and then I remember the beauty of messy chaos hides in doing not much of anything or sitting around your kitchen table with friends, slurpin ..
Read moreDear Weather Person
Saturday, January 07, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (1)
Waking up this morning to a sleety mess, I got my coffee and flipped on the tv as I wondered what an apology from a weather person would sound like. Crickets. Not one word, not even an inkling of an admission of guilt. Now, because I wish you no ill-will, I'm going to let you in on a little secret that rules the lives of mothers everywhere. Quite simply, say you are sorry especially when it was actually was an accident, that is why the word sorry was invented. I'll even forgive you for a ..
Read moreWhy I Detest Co-Sleeping
Friday, January 06, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)
Now, I realize this is quite a touchy subject, but at least let me defend myself. I'd like to think that I have good reasons why I don't choose to have an open bed policy and since I don't judge co-sleepers, I only ask for the same judgement free zone for folks like me. I belong to a group of those who absolutely detest sleeping more than two persons to a bed. I mean, even polygamists have their own sleeping space. I actually only have one real reason. I depend on my bed and the nighttim ..
Read moreOde to the Hunting Widow
Friday, January 06, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)
If you detest hunting season, then you may as well excuse yourself from this eulogy that could be shocking or just plain annoying. I adore duck season and no, I have never even held a gun. Yes, it's that time of year again and my forty something year old self cheers with sheer delight. It's hard to believe that twelve years ago I was a hunting widow on the warpath. I was livid that my husband had abandoned me and ridden into the sunset on December 23rd. How dare he leave me, his ..
Read moreSecond Installment of Christmas With My Dad
Thursday, January 05, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)
1. I would leave Santa some vodka. That's nice. 2. They're going with us to church, ALL of them? He says this in front of me, Christmas Eve afternoon, my mother shoots daggers as he appears horrified and incredulous. 3. I'm not ready yet, I can't find the trash bags. Trash bags. Necessary for quick accessibility before gift opening as grandchildren salivate to be released from holding pen on Christmas morning. 4. I got this thing to pick up all your stuff. Ye ..
Read moreTorturous Christmas Traditions
Tuesday, January 03, 2017 Adrian H. Wood Comments (0)
1. The Christmas Card Ahhhh, this is the holiday tradition that I love to loathe. I really do. I adore getting the cards but the giving? Yech. 2. The Christmas Eve Service Nothing like a "family" church service to coincide with the year's biggest night of bedtime torture. Wrestle and threaten children in a tight space and then go home to scrounge up cookies for Santa. 3. Exchanging Presents I don't want to do this. I don't need a present and I don't want to buy any ..
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