Is it possible to write stream of consciousness style when there’s someone screaming in your ear, stealing away your focus? I’m about to find out.
“Never expect anything and you’ll never be disappointed.” it’s a phrase I live by. I had hoped – half expected – to get this weekend away, but my ex came down with some kind of a bug so here I am with a disgruntled kid who doesn’t want me to pay any attention to anything but him. I had a back-up plan – his older brother – but he’s sick too.
It’s funny. I spend so much energy attempting not to promise the kids anything until I’m positive it’s going to happen but I don’t always put it into practice myself. But it’s really the same thing, isn’t it? I allow them to hope by saying maybe, or wait and see, but I don’t allow them to expect anything, and so if it doesn’t happen, they’re not too disappointed. It’s good advice, no matter whether you’re doing it yourself or doing it for someone else. Yet I don’t know if I’m actually teaching them anything…
It’s particularly important for someone like my son who is Autistic not to have unexpected events happen. Or for plans to go awry. Although I find as he gets older (he’ll be 20 next month) he’s getting better with change – more able to accept it. Still, there are certain things that can not, in his mind, be tolerated. God forbid anything ever happens to his computer.
I like surprises. Good ones at least, and most of the bad ones I’m able to roll with. Then again, I try not to expect too much.
This full-circle ramble is brought to you by Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Click the link and join in today! https://lindaghill.com/2015/10/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-315/
October 6, 2015 at 1:39 pm
I love your motto. Hope your weekend was lovely anyway!
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October 6, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Thanks, Kelli. 🙂 I survived it at least… 😛
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October 5, 2015 at 5:56 pm
I live by that motto too linda it has never let me down!!
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October 4, 2015 at 10:39 am
I try to live by the same motto. Expectations can be killers. I hope you are able to find some peace in your weekend. I’m impressed you were able to stream of conscious under difficult circumstances. Well done!
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October 4, 2015 at 10:31 am
Sorry for the over-zealous key on my Mac.
Isn’t the unwritten beatitude: ‘Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed’? Along the same lines as ‘pessimists only get nice surprises’, I imagine.
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October 4, 2015 at 10:28 am
Isn’t it one of the unwritten beatitudes: Blessed is he tha
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October 4, 2015 at 7:27 am
I posted on Stream of Consciousness Saturday. But I forgot to include the link https://lindaghill.com/2015/10/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-315/. I suppose I can go back and add it before it starts to be Sunday for everyone.
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October 4, 2015 at 6:58 am
I’m sorry that your weekend plans fell apart. I hope that your Sunday will be smoother than yesterday.
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October 3, 2015 at 11:35 pm
Sometimes, it isn’t even about expectations as much as the idea that everyone is all about making plans, having plans, following plans. But we all now about the best laid plans. In the end, we don’t have the degree of control we think (or wish) we could have. Good luck with the unexpected developments.
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October 3, 2015 at 11:17 pm
I try not to get too excited about anything, and have come, generally, to the point of not trusting or expecting anything of people. Then I try not to be cynical. It’s hard.
The worst, I think was saying we’d go to the park and then it rained.
“Do you want to go to the park in the rain?” I asked Sissy when she was four.
“No!”
“Well then we’ll need to go another time.”
“NO! You said we’d go to the park today!”
“But it’s raining and I can’t make it stop.”
Ugh. Life is a lot like that. Best to learn early 😉
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October 3, 2015 at 7:21 pm
You know, even though I had two kids (from their Mom’s first marriage but with me from 3 to 20) the first thing I thought about when I read your post was dealing with customers in transportation – always under promise and over deliver. And one thing that a business owner who was my mentor taught me- always dig down and find out what they Need – not what they Want. It is actually amazing when customers come to you with their wants,you identify their needs and then over deliver.It makes for some very happy and dedicated customers.
As far as personal goals are concerned I once read a great piece of philosophy : Expect the best and prepare for the worst.
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October 3, 2015 at 7:06 pm
I was just watching a documentary on autistic people in the workplace.
It is good to have things to look forward to, but that means it can be hard not to expect too much. You are right. It’s a balance, for sure.
Hope you can enjoy your weekend and all family members feel better soon. Think I am just coming down with somethin gnow. I knew that was coming.
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October 3, 2015 at 6:56 pm
I know kids with special needs have to have structure and not sudden changes but I think we all can get ourselves excited about an anticipated event and because we have our expectations so high we get a let down feeling when the thing finally happens. I read the quote about not expecting too much but I think it is nice to think that we can be pleasantly surprised sometimes. 🙂
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October 3, 2015 at 5:18 pm
I can relate to all of this, particularly about autism. I have an autistic grandson. I wrote about us trying to get him to go for a walk in the bush this week here https://wordpress.com/post/25602381/9026/
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October 3, 2015 at 4:48 pm
Its worse when you expect a surprise that never comes. Very interesting post Linda, you are a shining light in living with a challenging family and remaining relatively sane at the same time. Then again I never see you tearing your hair out in those moments when frustration must raise its ugly head. But our lives are what they are…..
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October 3, 2015 at 4:18 pm
The challenges of having an autistic child must be overwhelming at times.
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October 3, 2015 at 4:05 pm
I am careful not to tell my daughter too much either about upcoming events as she will go on and on about them and then be in a state if they don’t happen (she has Asperger’s). Then again, sometimes she is not happy with surprises either! 🙂 I am rather like you in that if I don’t expect too much then I am not disappointed. 🙂
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October 3, 2015 at 3:37 pm
I hope that you will enjoy the weekend, just a little different Linda 🙂
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October 3, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Thank you, Irene. 🙂 I hope you’re having a nice weekend too.
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October 3, 2015 at 3:40 pm
Thank you Linda, I relax now, it is around 09:30 pm here in Spain now.
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October 3, 2015 at 3:46 pm
You’re 6 hours ahead of me then. Have a good night! 🙂
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October 3, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Thank you 😉
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October 3, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Expectation is a bear. Nice one Linda
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October 3, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Thanks, John. 🙂
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