As I mentioned last month, I have, for the first time in eight years, only one child at home during the day, because his five brothers are now in school. So he and I have been going for runs together (he gets to ride in a stroller up all the hills here in San Antonio, while I huff and puff to his, “Run faster, Mama!”), practicing colors and shapes at the grocery store, and playing together on the playground. He’s not used to being the only kid around, since he was born into a household of seven—but he’s having a pretty good time being the center of our attention.
I’m still working on my mental health/suicide research for a traditionally published young adult book (or two…maybe even three). I recently had the privilege of sitting down with a young woman who has tried to commit suicide more than 10 times; she gifted me with her journals, which were both heartbreaking and illuminating.
I’ll be finishing up the draft that will be sent to my agent soon, and hopefully we’ll be on the way to getting published a book that portrays depression and suicide in a more accurate and hopeful way than has been thus far done. It’s so very hard to pull myself out of the research, because I want to make sure I do this right. It’s too important a subject to attempt writing even a fiction story without an accurate understanding of all that’s involved in a suicidal attempt.
Otherwise, I’m trying to keep my boys from doing stupid things (which is a full-time job when they’re not occupied with school)
celebrating 14 years of marriage with this guy
and doing the best I can with healthy dinners that don’t need cooking (or only have to be placed in a rotisserie grill).
Husband and I had a surprise vacation (surprise for the kids, not us) a couple of weeks ago, so next month you’ll be hearing all about what it’s like to keep a secret vacation from six children.
I hope you have a wonderful November!
