I think that I am going to start this particular post by explaining 2017 in a nutshell instead of explaining that I know I should have been writing, yadda yadda yadda.

So, the 1st 3 months of 2017 went like this- I celebrated the 1st day of the year with my 2 loves, well 3 to be exact: my baby girl, my love and my cat.:) Midway through the month, I found out my contract job would end. No problem, I hated everything about it. The 3 plus hour commute everyday, my boss, and endless hours of sitting in front of a computer with nothing to do. Oh yeah, it was my guy’s bday, so that rocked. We went out of our way to make his day special because he makes everyday amazing for us. Then, I got a chance to diss the evil people at the contract job and leave a week early to start a 2-3 month project at this science nonprofit downtown D.C. I wasn’t thrilled about another job that wasn’t going to last but the money was great and thought I felt underqualified in a big way for the gig, I decided to give it a whirl.

So it is February and I am working at the D.C. job, it is extremely tough because I have no training to do this very senior job, but I figure that I can work it out because I am smart. The first week there and I get a notice on the door that I am to go to court a few weeks later, both my daughter and I for a custody hearing. I was immediately devastated because I have cared for my child solo for 8 years at that point and as I have mentioned before, I hate the ex’s lifestyle. So, I meet with attorney and have to inform the job that I had been at for only one week that I have to take off a full day for court the next week because I get another notice on the door saying I have a mandatory temporary custody hearing the very next week. But I go on an amazing early Vday evening with my best guy D and I had lost some weight so I was feeling all giddy and confident for once, despite the fact that I was stressed about everything else. Then I have to hire an attorney and I did not have money to do so, so I borrowed it. Then new job lets me go after a few weeks. I go to court and it goes in my favor. Good right? But I go for a weekend away which was much-needed, but guess what? I was allergic to the moldy room we were in and ended up getting really sick! The trip was a blast was amd was nicely planned, but it was a run down ripoff in the Poconos, that is why it was moldy.

March rolls around and I still need to find a new job and guess what? Car breaks permanently.My best guy D, swoops in and gives me half the money for the car and I come up with the rest. We buy a car together after only knowing each other for 7 months! That is kindness and loyalty! So this is March, still stressed and worried because I haven’t started my job and money is running out and another court date is ahead. At the very end of March I get the car and the day I pick it up for good is April 1st and my job starts that day. The money wasn’t what I made before, but I am going back to what I know best, nannying. The best part is, I am home with my daughter again because I only worked before school and after school hours and I let my kid sleep in during morning time and took her with me in the evening. I could maintain the home schooling myself without sending her to my friends. So, April was new job, and spending every waking hour during the week helping her catch up for year’s end because it was going to be her last semester as a home schooler. And I started a cool virtual job, a nice check at the end of the month and I could work whenever as long as tasks were done in a timely manner. Groovy!

May rolled around and we finally had court and guess what? He did not show up! So, they threw it out! But, it was postponed for another court date at the end of the summer because my attorney suggested that we file for custody so that he can’t do it again and so that it is over once and for all.

So, May is all about perfecting all of her school assignments so that we could bid adieu to her 6 year-long stint as an online student. She was ready to do it, I was apprehensive. So, job is going fine and we go to beach for a day for mom’s day and also for a day Memorial Day weekend with my best guy/bestie. So guess what? I am finally cured of the asthmatic allergy stuff because of salt air. I had been sick for more than 3 mos!

June was sweet but sour because my kid left on a 10 day trip with a friend 2 a few states further north, but I had a weekend in NYC with D and met like 40 of his family members at an annual celebration for his grandmother, both fun and terrifying because it was a lot all at once.

July and August were sadly a whirlwind and I had no time with my kid all summer. She was in acting camp for 8 straight weeks and loved every single moment but was so tired when she got home that she went to sleep around 830 or 9 every night. I would pick her up from camp and then get off work and feed her dinner and then the weeks were just gone. We did fun things on the weekend and had a great time at our pool together, but that was few and far between.

Then before I knew it, it was past mid-August and camp was ending, we had one week for a chance to do something fun together and then my kid would be in real school for the rest of her childhood! So the 3 of us ventured to the great state of Florida to visit a high school friend of mine that I had known forever! We had so much fun the 3 or 4 days we were there, primarily during the time that the 3 of us had alone. We bonded even more on this trip and I realized then we were a mini family. August was tough for me financially but I planned well by paying most of my bills at the beginning of the month because I only worked 2 weeks that month. Oh, also had a FAB weekend in NYC with D in August, can’t forget Williamsburg and Smorgasburg and everything about that weekend. I digress…

September and October, another whirlwind. 2 new nanny jobs and a semi-permanent dog walking gig and my virtual job ended because she had hardships in her family which led to the pause on all business matters. I hated to see that job go. Not a huge chunk of change, but decent money from home that I could do at any time and I loved the variety and the challenges it brought. A lot! Tons happened these 2 months, my kid got student of the month the 1st month. She advanced another level in her singing, and she made the school play. So I was crippled once again financially but I was blessed to be working and my kid was thriving! What a thrill!

She was beginning by the end of October to make school friends. Solid, nerdy, loyal friends. Exactly what my brainiac needed! And, she was tight as ever with her summer drama friends and did her first ever group costume! She was so happy and actually had a group to trick or treat with. Kind of cool!

My bday was during these 2 months and it royally sucked because my kid blew it off and I cried all day. Just a part of being a parent I guess, getting hurt feelings and being disappointed.:(

November. GLORIOUS NOVEMBER. We celebrated my kid’s bday early because her bday is during the holidays, so she invited her closest friends for nails, dinner out, a fun event in Georgetown and a mini photo-sesh. So, that rocked. But guess what happened for 9 life-changing, soul-bonding days with D? A trip of a lifetime to Italy. To Roma and Venezia. It was perfect. We loved the food, the people, the style, the dogs, the way they live, everything about it. And it was my first real travel experience and it was with the best person ever.

We went on a fab international journey and it sealed the deal even more for me that D is awesome and literally my best friend. We did not argue and we took everything in stride. There wasn’t as much down time as we liked because we were so tired from the 75 miles we walked and the planes, trains and automobiles but it was perfect!!! I will do a blog on that alone, soon!

On the last day, I took an Uber, 2 planes, a train and an Uber back and got back at almost midnight to see my baby girl in the last show of her play. I didn’t mention this, but she was less than thrilled that we went without her and she was frankly mad at me the whole time I was gone. But I had never left her. She had done the leaving and parents aren’t supposed to do that, right? But she did great in her play and I brought her cool trinkets and gave my mom some cool things for watching her and then it was Thanksgiving week. Three days of work and then Turkey Day! I got a major stomach virus that Wednesday and was too ill to do anything until that Sunday.

We didn’t even get to go see D in NYC. 😦 But other than that, November was the crown jewel of the year and my daughter got asked to try out for state chorus. So yeah, there will always be Italy and November!!! Bellisima!

Dear December. I love its lights. The joy. The cheesy but addictive Hallmark movies. The hope in the air. The love. The hint of kindness. Giving gifts to the people whom I love the most. My mom, my kid and my guy! Last weekend was great. Running my kid all over to like 4 events and time with D and brunch with friends. French brunch. Omg can I say the mushroom and chicken omelette were to die for. Well not that serious but great! Bestie boo bought me a 20’s looking wine colored dress for the end of the year and a gorgeous duster and oh I forgot to mention, the most beautiful purse in the world the month before, so Happy Christmas to me.

Though I love those gifts, the most important part of December for me is giving and loving and snuggling up with the people I love and appreciating every freaking moment. D isn’t here this weekend and last night and today and tomorrow my kid has plans. So, I decided to take my Ds advice and just write. I need to express myself. I need an outlet, and I love writing.

I can’t believe what a whirlwind that 2017 has been and I have been so financially challenged. But I am so thankful for so many things! God is first and foremost! HE stuck with me and provided and kept me lifted up during all of the hard parts. Wow, praise HIM!! And my mom has helped me beyond measure. Then there is my little girl, whom is not so little anymore. I love her dearly though we fight like cats and dogs. She is brilliant and an overachiever and ridiculously funny. So funny. My 2nd heartbeat and my first real love. Lastly, my best guy. Sweet, attitudy, strong, brilliant, protective and stylish fella. I love him from the bottom of my heart, he is the best friend I have known besides my kid. He is handsome, kind and a badass rolled up in one. And has our backs. All the time. My. Cup. Runneth. Over.

Thanks for reading this ridiculously long post. Hope it was worth your time and if not, at least you know all about my year! God Bless you all! Each and everyone of you!

Simply~

Dee