Top Ten Things I Wish I Would Have Said in 2011

...but that I only THOUGHT ten minutes or ten hours later...probably losing HOURS of sleep...

1. I took my daughter and several of her friends out to an event across the state. At the last moment, I was asked by a person I know to include one of their children in our visit. I gladly agreed to take this child with us. Let me preface this with a bit of information, this child has frequently been heard to call my children "weird". As in "they're sooo weird." But I took this child anyway. We made this long trip in order to meet more homeschoolers and to, hopefully, forge some new friendships.  But what do I hear??????? This child is at this cool event telling all of the kids there that...you guessed it, my kids are "WEIRD".  I DID say, "Wow, you accept my courtesy and kindness, you are friendly with us the entire way out there, and they you sabotage our ability to make friendships with that group of kids by calling us names...  I honestly think you owe us an apology." What I wish I would have said:  WHY YOU LITTLE SHIT!
2. We did some home decorating this year, as you might know if you are friends with my husband. My husband did some gorgeous woodwork and decorating in our bathroom. So, it's time to order the tile. In my odd KAREN way of "figurin'", I said that we needed X amount of the main color of wall tile. The two math geniuses (my husband and the designer) look at me with this withering LOOK as thought to say "Poor you, you just don't get it..." So we used their figures and ordered Y amount of tile. You guessed it...I WAS RIGHT. The tile we received was not the correct design we were hoping for and it was too late to correct it. I totally regret not standing up for myself with the math whizzes, and insisting on ordering X amount of tile. What I wish I would have said:  ORDER MORE YELLOW TILE!
3. When I was asked to do some extra work for a group that we participate it, I said "sure". What I wish I would have said:  NO, Sorry.
4. When someone invited them self over to our home, we said "Sure!" What I wish I would have said:  LEAVE YOUR DOG AT HOME.
5.  When a friend made sport of me on Facebook, I wish I would have said, 'Ha ha ha, funny." Instead what I said was something like:  Why are you so mean, you need to think of my feelings for once because you have hurt them.  Please refrain from commenting on my posts if you can't be nice.  Seriously, kindness is so important in friendship and you have not exhibited kindness today.  Blah, Blah, Blah...You have hurt me and made my friends think you are an ass.  Next time, please keep your comments to your self.  I'm not kidding. Have I ever talked to you like that?  No, because I wouldn't hurt you in that way Not everyone is fond of your sense of humor and I am among that group.  Please refrain from commenting on my posts if you can't be nice.  Seriously, kindness is so important in friendship and you have not exhibited kindness today.  Why are you so mean, you need to think of my feelings for once because you have hurt them.  Blah, blah, blah.  And, what's more,  you are not being nice.  No you're not!  Please refrain from commenting on my posts if you can't be nice. You have hurt me and made my friends think you are an ass.  Next time, please keep your comments to your self.  Blah, blah, blah.  Please refrain from commenting on my posts if you can't be nice.  Seriously, kindness is so important in friendship and you have not exhibited kindness today.  You have hurt me and made my friends think you are an ass.  Next time, please keep your comments to your self.  I'm not kidding. Have I ever talked to you like that?  No, because I wouldn't hurt you in that way I'm not kidding. Why are you so mean, you need to think of my feelings for once because you have hurt them.  Please refrain from commenting on my posts if you can't be nice. Blah, blah, blah.  Have I ever talked to you like that?  No, because I wouldn't hurt you in that way.  Never.  I feel upset and don't know how to handle it.   I'm angry and hurt and blah blah blah.Please refrain from commenting on my posts if you can't be nice.  Seriously, kindness is so important in friendship and you have not exhibited kindness today.  You have hurt me and made my friends think you are an ass.  Next time, please keep your comments to your self.  I'm not kidding. Have I ever talked to you like that?  No, because I wouldn't hurt you in that way I'm not kidding. Why are you so mean, you need to think of my feelings for once because you have hurt them.  Please refrain from commenting on my posts if you can't be nice. Have I ever talked to you like that?  No, because I wouldn't hurt you in that way.  Never.  I feel upset and don't know how to handle it.   I'm angry and hurt and blah blah blah.
6.  When Jerry asked me to go camping with him, to a week-long star party (an astronomy event), I said, "SURE, Honey." What I wish I would have said:  HELL NO!  IT'S COLD!!!!! Go and enjoy yourself!
7.  I can't think of anymore!!!!!!  LOL  If I come up with more I will update!

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2011 was NICE for our family. The kids are busy and happy. Jer and I are busy and happy. And all are healthy. We've had some events that have caused us to reconsider our lifestyle and we have found that we are quite happy with our current lifestyle and we wouldn't change it...unless we could go to Australia!

Jerry had an opportunity at work, an opportunity that , sadly, did not fully materialize, to work in Brisbane Queensland in Australia for a year. We were thrilled with the idea and had made some very nice connections with some very nice people in the general Brisbane/Ipswich area. Sadly, the entire plan didn't work out and so we are staying in St. Louis. But a part of each of us is disappointed to miss out on such an awesome opportunity.

Sign.  Maybe someday...

Wishing you and yours a wonderful NEW YEAR.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Welcome 2012! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~