Another one joins the flock (III)

[Mike85]

BND:

Thanks.

It is easy to get into the "mental death spiral," isn't it? Reading too much -usually negative- into some offhand statement or gesture made by MLC spouse. Sometimes I'm able to pull out of the emotional nosedive by trying to more logically look at the situation and realize what is *truly* there as opposed to what I *read into* it.

Yesterday the kids and I put up the new tent we bought (oldest son has a Webelos campout in about 2 weeks) in the backyard. Couldn't get youngest kid into the idea of testing it out by sleeping in it. We did try out the portable firepit we also bought. It took half an hour for us to get a steady fire going, but it was worth it - nice warm, mellow fire, suitable for roasting marshmallows. Didn't think of W at all until kids mentioned how it would be fun to do again as a family, with W joining us. Smiled and agreed with them. We wound up going to bed all smelling like hot dogs.

W and OM come back from their camping trip tomorrow evening. Will see W that night when she picks up kids for the weekend. No expectations, no worries, no projections. That's my goal.