@Koah: My mom can be very hit-or-miss. She can be supportive, but she definitely has her own perception of things (with no room for interpretation or even discussion /eyeroll/), and right now, she's trying to 'diagnose' my son with some learning/nervous system dysfunction when really, he just needs to sleep and stop being so protective and guarded with us about what he's doing (He's trying to assert his adulthood and trying to avoid perceived criticism of his decisions (i.e. suggestions/help/experience, which he wants/doesn't want)). I'm amazed I am as sane and well-adjusted as I am, tbh (but that's mostly due to my own growth, away from my family)! It sounds like our moms are cut of similar cloth... although I didn't get the "autism preparation speech", over the years my mom was periodically convinced my kids suffered from something diagnosable and kept trying to get me to get them evaluated for something or another, when whatever they were going through was a phase, or a growth spurt, or something completely reasonable and which worked itself out over time. I try not to talk to her about intense things any more because like you, I refuse to play that game with her, but since my son crashed at her place a couple times last week, it was pretty much inevitable...

Cooking is easy but it takes some time and trial and error (like everything else). I never bothered spending much time in the kitchen until I had my kids. It's just a matter of choices and priorities. I have been doing more 'winging it' lately too...

@Wildfire: Hopefully your son is just in that beginning phase of adulthood. 'rebel against what you know' kind of thing.
I did something similar at 18. Got hitched quickly, dropped out of school, moved in with my new husband. [all these things were super frowned upon on both sides of my family]. Luckily my mom housed me when my husband had to deploy overseas. That's when my passive-self broke and I realized my mom really nurtured me to be passive and unbothered by anything. Once I broke my mold, she and I fought like cats and dogs.
Anyhow,
I don't imagine he'll be that crazy.
I'm mentally preparing for whatever my two kiddos will do to me in 12 years. =3="

Also, It's good that he crashed at your mom's. At least that's a safe place to be instead of someone's garage.. or couch or something.

@Ava: sometimes you might try out for one role and get another, or so i've heard about castings. so maybe you might be chosen to audition for a role you're more comfortable with! or you might be able to audition with them later for another role you like better. but yeah it's a good thing you worked hard on this audition and it will definitely pay off in some way! good luck, i hope you land the kind of role you want!

also your avatar is so cute.

@Miss Sandman: Yup - kids definitely need to get dirty and play hard and learn their own lessons. And if you know yourself well enough to realize when you get triggered by your own past, and can at least explain that to her, it should teach her self-awareness and the idea of 'doing the best you can', regardless. I'm sure you'll be fine. Lots of lessons are ahead, as well as lots of Joys. <3

@Koah: Yes, that's some of it. He's finding himself; something I too "get" and actually encourage. But it doesn't need to be this sudden, or extreme. It was like a lightswitch - very little transition or preparation :(

@Ava: Kuddos to you for trying out for a role that you're not comfortable with!! That takes guts <3
Dinner was steak and spinach and cauliflower, and apparently I should have made rice or something too because everyone was snacking after the fact! XD

@Whimsy: Good morning.

@Shadami: Well, it's good to see you posting around again! <3

@purpsy: I kinda did the same thing last night... I fell asleep around 10:30, then was awake from about 4am until 7am, and slept again from 7-10:30am. I hate it when that happens - it messes everything up!! :(
Hopefully we'll both get some good solid sleep tonight :3

@Miss Sandman: That's awesome. She sounds like a comfortable little thing :3 <3
So how are you? What have you been up to lately?