The Things We Do

{random page peeks from The Things We Do}

The Things We Do is done! Starting from a bunch of disorganized lists last summer, it is now 34 doodled pages from beginning to end. I am hunched over, weary, hurting, bleary eyed, happy to be done, and very happy with how it turned out. I'm also satisfied that I'll be able to look back at this book once my kids have grown, and know that what I did was important and that it mattered. Yes, this was a selfish endeavor.

There were times that I thought I'd never finish because every time I went to the grocery store, or spent a typical few hours with my own kids, I'd have at least three new pages of material. Putting it all through the analysis machine, it absolutely boggled my mind how much parents take on, and how quickly a day can pass doing these things we do. Shuttling them back and forth! Meals! Tantrums! Wheedling! Teachable moments! Doing things we just did! Coaxing! Sock crises! Nightly rituals! Redirecting! Lunch box dilemmas! Refilling bottles and sippy cups and washing and disinfecting and bribing and cherishing! Well...I tried to fit as much in here as possible. Each task was a potential rabbit hole from which I might have never emerged. So I included what I could, and issued a blanket apology for everything that I missed.

For those who are interested, I've just refreshed the copies in the shop (I put a small batch in early this morning and they sold out; thank you!) in red, blue and green. I made every bit of every copy with my own hands, from writing to binding. It is a humble production, but one made with heart. Above are a few peeps of the final pages -- I'll share more over time. If I posted them all now, my blog might blow up ;)

Thank you to everyone who gave me the encouragement to make it to the finish line -- and thank you to parents everywhere for doing the toughest job on earth!