I reached a point earlier this week where my brain just ceased to work.
I am, as a general rule, what they call a high capacity person. High potential or highly competitive in corporate speak.
Perhaps it’s a sign of dementia and senility, but more than likely it’s middle aged overload and a desperate need to unplug for a bit. I had recovered physically from an intense week of travel, although admittedly fall allergies are kicking my behind.
If you’re a parent or aunt/uncle or hang around kids much at all, let me give you a tip. I have the best conversations with kids sometimes. Case in point, the joke telling that started with me sharing this one …
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To get to the other side.
Q: Why did the turtle cross the road?
A: It was stapled to the chicken.
… turned into a series of poop jokes made up by a five-year-old.
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: It fell in a candy bag.
Q: Why did the rhinoceros cross the road?
A: It fell in a candy bag, got pooped on by a bird, then fell in the pool.
It ended up lengthening to six or eight steps per joke, always with an animal being pooped on by a bird or even five hundred million birds and occasionally catching on fire.
#hazardouswaste
#noonecalloshaortheepa
#purecomedygenius
Sometimes an eight-year-old tells you their original stories about Pokemon characters for the entire two hour drive home from Granny’s house.
In both those cases I didn’t cut things off. But if you ever reach your limit … where even a great capacity for love and patience is starting to run out … or you’re becoming too distracted from driving or the task at hand … or – gasp – if it’s bedtime, here is what you say.
Aunt Jenn’s ears are full. #parenting #parentingtips Share on XMommy’s ears are full.
Daddy’s ears are full.
You may have to actually add that this means we need to stop talking for a bit, especially the first time you use it.
You may be asked approximately two minutes later if your ears are still full.
But it’s a powerful, powerful phrase. Hat tip to my sister for sharing it with me years ago.
As of this week, Jenn’s brain is full.
I’ve been attempting to plow through a book I promised to review. I love it – I read an earlier draft months ago – and it’s actually a quick read. I finished it last night, but as of about Tuesday this week, I just couldn’t do it. There are five hundred productive things I could and probably should be doing – reading, writing, editing, spreadsheeting, phone calling, organizing, cleaning, fall decorating. But meh, Jenn’s brain is full, reboot required.
For now, let’s just keep looking up.
