Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The plan is to have no plan

Just when we think we have things figured out, something changes. We find a way for Jack to sleep at night, and the next night it doesn't work. We find a way to carry him in the carrier that makes him happy, and then next day he doesn't like it. The only rule in this parenting thing seems to be that there are no rules. The only plan that works is not having one.

Accordingly, we just started getting our laundering situation under control, were finally caught up and even had figured out a system for cleaning the not-poopy diapers so we would make it through the week (we ran out of diapers for our diaper service last week), and last night the washer-dryer broke. It doesn't seem to drain anymore. Danny spent the whole evening taking it apart, trying to find a clog, and putting it back together, to no avail. He called LG and it sounds like our drain pump motor may be the problem. And we don't know how expensive a fix that is. But life without a washer-dryer is kind of not an option right now. Not with Jack going through three outfits a day.

Moreover, I had decided that since this was Danny's first day back
to work, it would be my first day as well. But all I got done was picking up my paychecks for the past two months. That's a good start, though, right? I mean, you can't complain about getting paid for not doing anything.

I can go with the flow, though. I don't need to plan. I can be flexible. This was my first day all on my own with Jack, and it wasn't nearly as scary as I was expe
cting it to be. It was a beautiful day. It's supposed to start raining again tomorrow, but Jack and I have been soaking up this amazing weather while we had it. We went for a walk in North Berkeley with another woman in my mommy group and her son, and had crystal clear views of the bay, and I kept telling Jack how lucky he is to live here. I hope he realizes it someday and isn't like those other spoiled brats that grow up in California. (Just kidding, Danny.) Yes, it was a perfect California day and we have a new president. It just doesn't get better than that. I watched the inauguration this morning and Jack was especially smiley during it. Do you like that Obama guy, I asked him. Well, you are in good company, my friend. I was stunned at the crowds that turned out for his speech. It seemed like hope personified. Living, breathing, walking hope.

2 comments:

Alison said...

Awesome shirt! You're right. There are no rules. I seem to be discovering that myself every day - I just never thought to put it into words as well as you just did. And why do things break when you need them the most? I hate that.

Blessed By 8 said...

Hi Becky~
We have an LG washer/dryer also, and had a very similar problem I traced to the pump motor. When the technician came out to fix it, he found merely a tight string of hair wrapped around it which cost nearly nothing! We also have encountered drain problems from getting a little baby sock stuck and a nursing pad another time. I was able to hook those items out through that small black drain hole near the bottom front of the machine using a wire hanger. Hope your solution will be simple! We had to go almost 3 weeks when we couldn't fix the pump on our own...we nearly suffocated in laundry!!