Wednesday, January 9, 2008

What Goes Around


This morning I clicked over to read Susan Etlinger's latest post on The Family Room blog. Among her other treasures of the day were a couple of new blog recommendations for her readers. Both are excellent. One of these, in fact, was a blog I just discovered myself this week, that of my friend Emily in Texas. Aptly titled A Life Less Ordinary, Emily writes about life with her three fantastic little boys, who are perfectly extraordinary.

Finding Emily's blog was a gift this week. We were friends back in San Francisco, brought together by Baxter and her oldest son, TH, who were absolutely the best of friends in preschool. Our families began to meet up for playdates, and Emily and I always seemed to manage dinners out on each other's wedding anniversaries (without our spouses). I'm still not sure how it worked out that way, but it did. That is, until they moved to Texas and we left for Chicago in the summer of '06. With work and distance and all these boys, Emily and I have only stayed in touch sporadically, so you can imagine my joy when I was able to sit down, read her posts and look at her photos - and TH's incredible artwork!! - on her blog all at once.

Thus, I was thrilled to see that Susan had linked to Emily today. Coincidentally enough, Emily had just posted to her own readers that they should come on over and check out The Wonderwheel, writing awfully sweet and humbling things about this blog and my work. (Aww, shucks.)

I can't let this circle of blog love stop here. All day I was thinking, "I need to bring this full circle and link back to Susan now!" But here's the thing. All I could think of was how many of you are out there, blogging about your very special kids. Yes, I know, all kids are special (yadda, yadda, yadda), and I enjoy reading some blogs that are written by parents of typically-developing kids too, but those of you who are writing so beautifully about the winding path you walk with your extraordinary kids, you all deserve a really huge thank you from me.

So here we go:

You and you and also you and you..and you and of course you, you, and you - and also you, you, and you...and all the rest of you out there whom I haven't yet read or haven't visited recently enough because eventually a girl's gotta sleep...

Thank you for letting me in and not making me feel like an impostor for reading and commenting on your blogs. Thank you for reading and being a part of my life through my own blog. Thank you for helping me to bridge - just a little bit - the wide gap between parents with typically-developing kids and those who are on their own unique path through life. Thank you for your insights into parenting, which not only allow me to be a better parent myself but have dramatically changed the way I work with families.

Thank you, Susan, and thank you, Emily.

Thank you.

All of you.

9 comments:

kristen spina said...

Well, okay, you made me cry. No fair.

And think of all you give to us. The whole wonderful amazing wonderwheel of stuff you send our way. So, yeah, thanks, Jordan. For all of it.

EJ Willingham said...

:) Whoo. I can barely stand how very very nice that was. I'm just not used to such pleasant feelings. ;)

I'm laughing MAO about the anniversary thing--I had COMPLETELY forgotten that we did that! That's hilarious, and says so much about...so much. ;)

Spy magazine (I think it was Spy) used to have this feature called "Logrolling in Our Time." It featured authors who namechecked one another on the dust jackets of their books, doing that "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" thing. Well, this is NOT that. This blog-o-mamas is something much much more. But I do miss Spy.

Mary said...

And right back at'cha. Or should I say, "right back at you."

Leightongirl said...

I'm with Emily. I miss Spy too. Thank you, and I also second Kristen, thanking you for all YOU do.

Unknown said...

Oh Jordan, thank you so much. You made my day! And Spy--haven't thought about it in a long time but I miss it too. On the bright side, I have a LOT more blogs to read...

Lori at Spinning Yellow said...

Circle of blog love coming back around! This was so nice and your welcome, but really, thank you for all your insight and for letting us in on your experiences, perspective and wonderful family. I was thinking of doing some linking love myself as I am amazed every day by the blogosphere and the crossing over of typical and not-so-typical stories. We all are enriched by each other!

tulipmom said...

I'm so glad to have found your blog. I always enjoy reading your take on things as both parent and professional.

So Thank YOU!

Mom without a manual said...

I agree. It is refreshing for all of us to walk a few minutes in each other's shoes! We all come out of it in a much better place!

Thanks for your kind words.

Drama Mama said...

You have no idea how much blogging and making bloggy friends has saved my sanity.

Truly. Friends and perspective at my fingertips. Literally.

And now you - a new friend. Who is so kind and insightful.

Thank YOU.