Before we do anything else, I want to start by welcoming back a Webb Weekly fan favorite from years past. Those of you who have been reading for a while will remember “Notes from Planet Mom.” Mindy Wentzel shared her unique insights into parenting and life. Her stories were filled with love and often the absurdities of kids and parenting. At the time, her oldest daughter was a teenager, I believe, and her twin girls were just itty-bitty things. Now her oldest is all grown up with kids of her own, and the twins are young adults getting started in life! It’s amazing how time flies! We are happy to welcome “Planet Mom” back to the pages of Webb — now known as “Welcome to My World.”
Welcome back, Mindy!
Speaking of welcomes, can we also welcome back March? I can see the light at the end of the long, dark, dreary tunnel of January and February. For the shortest month of the year, February certainly seemed to last eleventy-billion days this year.
The end-of-month thaw-out is good — unless you are my backyard and, subsequently, my kitchen floor. Scout has been having a grand ol’ time ripping and tearing through the mud puddles in the backyard as the snow has melted. I’m happy that he’s having so much fun, but if I have to mop my floors one more time this week, I may fully crash out. And before anyone asks, yes, it has occurred to me to wipe his paws before he comes in the house, but have you ever tried to wrangle a 60-pound velociraptor long enough to wipe their paws? I would end up doing more laundry than mopping, because in addition to the towels, I’m sure I would be covered in mud too!
On the upside, I did notice something interesting about Booker the other day. Unlike his brother, he actually walks around the biggest of the mud puddles in the backyard. I appreciate the politeness that my Booker-Boy displays. He’s getting extra treats fo sho.
Needless to say, I am ready for things to start warming up and drying out. By the time you read this, we will only be about 11 days from Daylight Saving Time! I can’t wait for the longer days to start.
I think that the break in the weather and the soon-to-come longer days will do a lot for people and their mental health, also. There is so much going on in the world, and I think short days and cold, bad weather make it too easy to get trapped in the doom-scroll, and the rabbit holes, and fall into the pits of depravity that are running rampant across the web these days.
It’s easy to joke about needing to ‘touch grass,’ but in reality, it would do us all some good to get outside, touch grass, get some fresh air and sunshine, and escape the doom and gloom of the online world and enjoy life a little bit.
There will always be something to worry about, something to talk about, something to debate about, and something to distract us from the things we should actually be worrying, talking, and debating about. It can wait sometimes. It needs to wait sometimes.
So get outside, even if it’s still a little chilly, and get some fresh air and step away from the gross parts of the world. It can wait.
