Cutting Some Slack

I just finished reading "The Year My Son and I Were Born" by "my editor", Kathryn Lynard Soper. Gorgeous book (as I expected it to be!). Raw, honest, emotional. It was tough to read, especially the first half, because my eyes kept filling with tears, and I wanted to hug Kathryn at every page turn.

The book brings me to today's TOPIC. Cutting Some Slack. It's a gorgeous day out, and we have nothing major planned. We will probably go to Kite Day (run by the local Autism Alliance), but there's no hurry. Micah might have a playdate. Sam might get new wheels for my old roller-blades - he's just discovered that he really likes to blade (courtesy of my neighbor letting him try on her blades).

My professors, two very important people in the world of Jewish Special Education, are running a conference today and tomorrow (Teaching Hebrew to People with with Special Needs). And they have not had time to look at or comment on any of our Research Projects. They Cut themselves some Slack.

Sam still doesn't know his math-facts to an appropriate level (goal is times tables 1 through 12 at 2 seconds per problem). We quiz him and quiz him. And then we Cut Him Some Slack.

When I was reading Kathryn's book, I kept wanting to tell her "Cut Yourself Some Slack!". And I was glad to read that she finally did.

When I was working at my most horrible jobs (a biotech comany, and that start-up theater company), my bosses did not believe in Cutting Slack. Any mistake, no matter how trivial, was noted and commented on and remembered for years. The pain of NO SLACK made both of those positions unbearable.

Being a mom means I must be able to Cut Slack on a daily basis.

My house looks like a whirlwind hit. Cut me some Slack.

Laundry piles up continually - it's amazing how many items of clothing the boys go through in a day. Cut me some slack.

Micah feels that he NEEDS his fake glasses. I Cut him some Slack (and let him wear them).

Sofia thinks that I am her personal servant. I push her and push her to do things independently. And frequently she does. But sometimes I Cut her some Slack, and let her have some coddling. (Ok, that's also cutting myself some Slack, and we both get the cuddle!).

David works non-stop at his many jobs. Sometimes he freaks out. I Cut him some Slack, and let him relax when possible.

Cutting Slack is a good way to feel more human. To appreciate all the little pieces, the pieces that might get missed in the quest for Perfection. To relax.

Today is a really good day to Cut Some Slack. Let's go fly a kite...