I Wish!

Once again I lack knowing what to write this week because our life is so mundane. When I asked the kids what this post should be about, they suggested: If we have nothing to write about, we might as well write about what we wish we could write about! It was cute of them to say “we”, as if they contribute all the time (okay, last post was unique and their [unwilling] participation will likely never happen again). However, I did appreciate the idea and I wish I had thought of it myself.

I wish I could write that Jake has secured a summer internship, but despite submitting over 50 applications, having one interview, and sitting for a screening, nothing has been offered to him. Throughout these last three years, he has discovered that the focus of biomedical engineering really appeals to him and many of the internships pertain to that field. He most recently completed a project at school where he 3-D printed a model of Caleb’s pre-surgery brain (fyi: it’s upside down in the picture) based off Caleb’s MRI scans. I wish I could write that I am as smart as my son, but I cannot.

The topic of internships brings me to the next thing I wish I could write about and that is the guarantee that Isaac will graduate in two years. Well, actually one year from next month. It turns out, having an internship is a graduation requirement for him. Normally a student would have the standard four years to ensure this happens, but since Isaac began as a Junior, he only has this summer to intern. It seems, then, that, should he not get one this summer, he absolutely has to get one by next summer. If this is the case, graduation will be pushed off until the fall of 2026. Seems like a silly problem to have, but here we are. I wish I could write that he knew about this when he began in the fall and was looking for work before all the positions were filled, but alas, I cannot.

Do you know what happens when your teenage daughter turns 16 and earns her driver’s license? You never see her again. She’d rather be out with her friends than stay home with me, doing fun things like laundry and dusting. While she does gladly run errands, she’s usually leaving to shop, play pickleball and basketball, or hang out at her friend’s house . I wish I could report that she asks me to tag along, but sadly, I cannot.

I wish I could say something – anything – about Anna, but it would be perilous, so I cannot. 

Conversely, there are things I wish I couldn’t say about the next kid! For example, I wish this was not a conversation we had: 

“I just did something really stupid,” James stated after sticking his head out the window.

“Why? Is there saliva on the outside of the window?” I asked, knowing what he was up to in the back seat.

“No reason.”

“You did just spit out the window, yes?”

“Yeah.”

“James, why would you do that?!” After a short explanation on the laws of motion and a moving vehicle, I finished with, “Well, now you know how that works.”

“Yeah,” he answered. “I didn’t stick my head out far enough.” 🤦

On a more serious note, I wish I could write that the decompression surgery worked and Caleb is all better, but frustratingly that is not the case. We are quickly approaching the end of the recovery period, in which we were told we’d see improvements to his condition, yet most of his issues persist. I have no idea what will transpire at his six month post-op appointment, but I pray I’ll be able to write that we have clear direction on what happens next or that there’s a sudden decrease in symptoms. I also wish I could write that he’s still a little baby, but he went ahead and turned nine against my wishes. 

As for me and Danny, I wish I could write that I’m the better half but that simply isn’t true. He works tirelessly at his job, takes care of the bigger house projects and chores, figures out what I’m thinking, and makes it all seem effortless. The kids tell me our marriage is like a Rom-Com (romance-comedy movie) and I wish I could say that my contribution is the romance, but I know, without a doubt, I’m fulfilling the comedy half to the fullest. You’re welcome for all the laughs, Danny. 🙂