Exciting Day for the Blog

As I've been pondering what I'm thankful for, with Thanksgiving approaching, I happened to check the blog's stats page and realized we have surpassed 100,000 page views (and counting)! I know that's nowhere near close to viral, but for a little blog written by a random person who's not well known, I think that's pretty darn good.

I am grateful to have readers in various countries around the world who, for whatever reason, think what we have to say is interesting. I never imagined that possibility when I started MLWP back in June of 2011. I always wanted to be a writer, and even though that's not my profession, I love having this opportunity to be a blogger, even just for fun. I'm proud of this blog and I hope it continues to be something you enjoy reading.

Thank you to all of you for checking us out!

Friday Fun/Photo of the Week: "Luuuuuuccccy!"

Heidi and I rarely get out.  So our recent opportunity to go to a Halloween costume party for the first time in years was exciting!

For this week's Friday entertainment, I'll share a photo of our costume efforts:

Is that Vitameatavegimin in that cup?!

This Is Really the Last of the 5 Best Decisions, I Swear

Two days ago, I started what has turned out to be this little series, exploring the family and career choices I have made over the years that have given me the life I have today.  One of the reasons I decided to write about this topic is that it can be uplifting to focus on the positive in a world that often focuses on the negative. Sometimes we just need a reminder. I have really enjoyed the chance to take a few moments to reflect on all that I have to be grateful for.

Today I conclude my series with the immortal words of Diana Ross:

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

Got to let it show....

--"I'm Coming Out"

5.  Coming out

I have written before about my struggles of self-acceptance as a gay person, and some of the challenges of my journey. Today, I have a life I never dreamed was possible when I was a frightened 14 year old starting to deal with this issue. Today, we are fortunate to live in a society where acceptance of gay people is more prevalent than ever before, and where we are finally being afforded the legal rights and protections everyone else has.

Although we still have a long way to go, it's remarkable.

Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images

More of the 5 Best Decisions I've Ever Made

Yesterday I began to share with you what I feel are the 5 best decisions I ever made and why, which I'll continue today. Try to think of your own best decisions sometime - it will really make you feel good. And hopefully less inclined to focus on the not-so-great decisions.

3.  Going to Law School

Like beginning a relationship with Heidi brought me two daughters to love, going to law school brought Heidi into my life.  Which, if I'm being honest, is probably the main reason I'm glad I went.

This is truly an "everything happens for a reason" story.  I had been a paralegal, which I loved, but I had reached the limit of promotability and professional development.  There was nowhere else to go but lawyer if I was going to stay in this field.

Photo from www.associatesmind.com

The 5 Best Decisions I've Ever Made

When I was driving home from work the other day, I thought, as I often do, about how I couldn't wait to see Anna.  And how I hoped she would behave! LOL.  Then I thought about how lucky I am to have her to come home to....and how I never imagined I'd have a kid at home waiting for me.

Now, I've made plenty of stupid, poor, or just plain bad decisions in my life.  And it seems to me that I dwell on them and punish myself for them way more than I dwell on the positive things that have happened for me as a result of decisions I made.  And I'm not sure why.

And that's just sad.

Guess you never know what will happen.....

My Kid, the Lawyer

Often, parents say they would like to see their children follow in their footsteps in terms of career choices. Whether it's continuing a lineage of public service, running the store that's been in the family for generations or joining the military, some people fervently wish for their kids to take the same path they did.

Well, not me.

See, my kid is already on the same path I chose.  I'm a lawyer.  When I was a child, my parents said I should be a lawyer....but I don't believe they meant it as a compliment.  They meant I was argumentative and wouldn't give up.  I suppose they thought those attributes made for a good lawyer, but one heck of an obnoxious kid.

I wanted to give orders, not take them!

It's Okay to Screw Up

The title is self-explanatory.  But the emotion behind it is more complicated.

See, lately I've been struggling with Parenting Perfectionism.  It's capitalized because it is, in fact, a thing. And it's not a good thing. 

Don't get me wrong, it's great to want to do the best job possible for your child.  In fact, if you didn't want that for him or her, there might be something really wrong with you.

Great job! (Playing our ABC game)

But I am learning that there's a difference between wanting to do the best you can as a parent, and pursuing goals that are unrealistic, which sets you up for failure.  And feeling like you're a lousy parent isn't good for you OR your child.