Aunt Flo and Me

Listen, Flo... it's hard for you to hear, I know, but... I'm really done with your visits. You've been showing up at my house on a regular basis, mostly uninvited, for thirty years now. I'm just tired of your company. There's no other way to put it!

Yeah, it was awful at first when you appeared. I was only 10 for goodness sake. I didn't know how to manage your visits, nor was I at all comfortable disucssing you with others. You've always been a bit too... enthusiastic, shall we say? I was harrassed endlessly in middle school thanks to you and your unexpected visits. I still can't look back at that time with a sense of humor, as you do. Those practical jokes? Still not funny, no matter what you say.

Then, there came a time in my life when I looked forward to your visits. You knew that eventually you'd have me stuck like that, didn't you? There was a time that if you didn't arrive early, I got very concerned about whether you were planning to visit at all. We got along ok during those years. I'd welcome your visits but hate your enthusiasm, but we had a deal worked out: you arrive as expected, I'll take care of you while you're here.

Eventually, I was ready for kids. You were most appreciated then. You were useful to me, although I looked forward at that time to not seeing you for a few months. Again, we found a workable balance for a brief time. But, Flo, I'm done with kids. You can go now. Really. I'm sorry to say that, after all these years, I don't think I'll even miss you. We've had our fun. You've done your job. Just go.

(Now, where's that "off" switch?)

About Me

Ok, a bit about me to begin. About the title: I wanted to call it psycho mom, but other smart women before me have claimed that one ; so I have to settle for psych, which is what I am. I'm a psychologist for fun and (not much) profit, but a mom first. I've been thinking about trying a blog years now, but I've finally decided to take the flying leap into it. Why? I'm still not sure. We'll see what happens.