Look at these women, effortlessly shooting the breeze. They even have tea! I’ll bet they don’t even talk about booster seats.
As evidenced by my blog absence, I have been in a writing rut. I have also been in a thinking rut. There are times–and I think all parents would agree–that the household routine becomes so…routine, that getting through your parenting day doesn’t really require your brain. Boys up, new diapers, breakfast. Clothes. Carpool to various camps and daycares and grandparents. At the end of the work day, retrieve boys from wherever, home, dinner, bath, stories, kisses, lights out.
I used to be interesting; I swear, I did. I could keep up a lively and satisfying conversation about almost anything. Now, when faced with a friendly adult who wants to speak to me, I have a hard time reaching out through the fog to find something to talk about. Does this kind person want to hear about Cheerios? How much I like the new episodes of Sesame Street? None of this qualifies as interesting adult conversation.
I still read books, so I guess I could talk about that for a few minutes. But when the dreaded, “What’s new with you?” question pops up, I got nothin’. I want to have sophisticated, meaty talks, but I’m either too tired or too in the routine to be good at it. I should start carrying conversational flash cards in my purse. A grab bag for adult chatter, if you will. Maybe I should market this idea — then I can talk about my new Etsy store.
So. What’s new with you?
Totally amusing aside – when I searched for images of people talking, this came up. Oh 1989, why did you have so many acid-washed sweaters?
2under1 
My mother’s favorite mantra – This too shall pass.