I woke up yesterday with my poopy pants face. Yes, it's an actual face. It's the one next to the shit-eating-grin face, though they're nothing alike. If you mix them up, you'll confuse the hell out of everyone. Anyway, things around the Candyland household have been a little less than canary-yellow (because I hate "peachy"). Personal crap and blah and fill in the blanks have made life...challenging, to say the least.
But you know what? I have you.
And Bert.
And my pool boy.
And the FABULOUS Elana Johnson Contest
And my offspring
And the hubs
And comments on my posts, which are like presents and gold and glitter
And my health (sort of)
And my real life friends who never actually read this (stop sucking and read/comment!)
And my family (even though some live overseas...
And my 3 immortal cats
And my bitch ass manuscript that gets glowing/contradicting reviews that JUST.WON'T.DIE. It's determined to see life on a bookshelf, I tell you. Everything in my life is simmering, climbing to a slow, steady climax. I feel in my gut something big, or a lot of something bigs, are about to knock me over. The kind of things that require my shit-eating-grin face. I know I'm a hard worker. I know somewhere inside, I can write (kind of). I know I'm dedicated to proving certain people wrong. I'm committed to NOT QUITTING.
Mainly because, you know, well, uh, I'm effing stubborn.
I see now, where the offspring gets it. Her tenacity for life, sometimes to my own demise, is a mirrored image of myself. I guess it's what they call a taste of meee own medicine. Ugh. The feistyness, the vigor, the imma-do-it-my-damn-self can do attitude are necessary for being 3, and I suppose, for being Mommy the Writer.
Me: You're getting a time out.
Offspring: Nooooooooooooooooo! *screams like she's being slaughtered*
Me: Yes. Time out. Three minutes. *Firm, but kind*
Offspring: *Reaches for my flip flops and hums a song, almost pleased to be right where I put her, or right where she wanted me to put her. Crying ceases. Smiles form*
Me: Okay, anything you want to say to Mommy? *Squats for a hug*
Offspring: Yeah, Mommy. We're cool.
Me: *Utterly confused/impressed at her maturity/surety of how things will turn out.
She knows time-outs don't last, but a positive attitude does. She knows even with a setback, life goes on and she'll have another chance to do whatever she was doing when she scored the time-out. She knows, most of all, to sit back, take the punishment (critique), let it digest for 3 minutes (or however long it takes you to accept someone's feedback), and move on. That's it. No secret formula. Just get rid of the poopy pants face and attitude, and keep on, keepin' on.
What about you? Stubborn? Have a point to prove? Confident? Why do you keep going, even through the pain?
Candyland. Out.
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22 comments:
shit-eating-grin. I have no idea what this grin is supposed to look like but it definitely brings up some conflicting imagery. Does your dd actuallyl say 'we're cool'. Cause that's frickin awesome. You're my idol.
Cuz I'm not a quiter!
Oh, and about that stellar/contradicting feedback on your book. I wouldn't let it weigh to heavy on your mind. After all, writing is subjective. Some people will love it. Some people will hate it. Just make sure that more people people love it. ;-)
~JD
Stubborn? Moi? Why, of course not! I am *cough* strong-willed. ;)
And your offspring is wise beyond her years. I think I know where she gets it from. :)
Ah, poo. Poo is almost as versatile as fuck. Poo! (exclamation), Poopy (adjective), Poo-face (compound noun), Did you poo, Lilliana? (verb). Love this shit! (pun intended) :) I hear ya, Candygirl. I feel as shit infested as you, my dear. But I'm pushing through the poop. One day we'll the light of day ... xx
Contradictory feedback would be frustrating - but trust in your story and only use what you think betters the work.
Me, I'm stubborn to the core. I'll take it as a good thing because this road is not easy but when you refuse to quit/fail, you're half way there :)
pool boy...oh, yeah.
big E is superb.
poopy pants face...too much to drink, I see. been there.
u have immortal cats? Sweet!
I love your tenacious fire and go. Me too; just haven't gotten down and
n-A-ked on my blog yet. Must be done soon, though. Your awesome.
You can do eet! Especially since you have pool boy on your side. And me...but with pool boy at your side, you probably on't need me :-P
Champagne and caviar are fine, but candy is a girl's best friend. : j
Sometimes it suspect that gritting your teeth and pushing is the only way to get things going.
I'm stubborn as well... very stubborn. As stubborn as that little 3 year old you showed her gorgeous baby doll face and said "We're cool" because you know what... we are cool... all of us.
Love it when kids end up teaching US the lesson... makes life a little sweeter doesn't it... lol
You're daughter sounds adorable! "We're cool." lmao!
I am so stubborn, that's why I keep on writing no matter what. I think all writers need a stubborn streak.
Of course, I too have a three year old with an even bigger stubborn streak. We lovingly refer to her as "The Diva."
So I can totally relate! Good luck with you MS...may big things come your way.
Candy,
I love love love that you are able to take life lessons from the munchkin. It's this ability, to keep your eyes open and see past the minutia, that will ensure your success.
*hugs*
Yeah, I'm stubborn, even through the pain. I just keep on going because I don't want to reject not trying. =)
She really said that? That is freaking awesome. Great attitude too, sometimes we can learn a lot from kids.
hi miss candace! youre soooo cool! being stubborn is neat cause it helps get stuff done. ...hugs from lenny
i am TOTALLY cheering you on right now.
FIST PUMP!!
i love you for your tenacity!
woo hooooo!!
Keep writing...they will come.
We all have our poopy pants face days - they suck. BUT...you have the right attitude about getting past it. Look at that awesome list of positives. I keep going because it would be far too sad NOT to. :-)
Love your first paragraph! Anyone who an write about poopy pants and still make me grin deserves to get published!
Love the scene with the kidling. I wish mine would say "we're cool" at the end. Instead, I get the stink eye the rest of the day.
I can be just as stubborn when it's something I've committed to. There's a lot of crap I just let go of...but there are some things I am stupidly stubborn about. Hope it works in my favor in the end.
I'm sure I have a poopy pants face about work these days. Not the kids and the actual teaching -- just the leadership in our school district and a general feeling of not being valued.
Problem is -- sometimes having a bad attitude is satisfying in itself. It feeds some need. I know why I'm mad at them, and I don't wanna get over it.
Of course, you're right though. Having a rotten attitude doesn't get you squat or move you forward.
Keep being effing stubborn. Your spunky little tushy will take u places. Your blog is the shiz and I love hearing what u have to say--even on a rant because we all feel like that sometimes. (= Can't wait to read your book WHEN it is published.
btw got Devilish in the mail! grin!!! xo
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