Fridge Notes: MarieBelle Dark Croquette au Chocolat in Multi-Bar Boxes and Peanut Butter thinkThin Protein Bars

Can't buy them [plural]. Can't bring their happy party in. For future reference, a single would be okay.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

World falling apart, teenager depressed and can't say why. She feels awful, low. I feel awful, low. Overlap: Both feel helpless. To feel helpless as a teen must be scary and lonely; you haven't lived life yet, gone through ups and downs as much as adults have. Things can shock you, shake you, startle you. I do remember that part. You're really just learning to navigate rough seas on your own. To test waters. To question right and wrong.

To feel helpless as a mom is also scary and lonely. Add a big dose of powerlessness, some anger and impatience. Why can't you tell us what's going on? And even if you're deeply upset, there are right and wrong ways to act it out. Listen to us, we ought to know.

H. on his way back from Toronto. There's more to the story, way more, that's just too painful and private to share now. I hope the night plays out okay. Please say a prayer for us.

All in This Together
Just interviewed mom of two teen boys in Atlanta for magazine article. Last thing I felt like doing was an interview but have deadline. Liked her perspective on parenting teens.

"I was just telling my sister," she said, "that if they have a great day, the world is great," she said. "But if they have a bad day, the world feels awful. Then when they turn something around or figure out how to solve a problem, the world is good again."

Message on fridge: Can't buy treats like these in multiples. Too bad, b/c nice to have protein bars around for snack or breakfast. But can't. When world falls apart, they are too easy to turn to. To devour. To make disappear. Since can't do that with our problems.

I feel so low. So very, very low. No hope in sight.