Sleepy this morning.  I was up most of the night, talking to the kids.  This happens.  It’s something that I’ve found with mothering teens and young adults.  Sometimes those quiet hours, when no one else is around is the only time to truly talk and be heard, so I always try to make the time for it.  Even though I know that it will take me a while to recover from the sleepless night.  It always seems worth the exchange to have that time alone with them.

Last night we were not alone.  It was all four of my older children, plus a few friends.  I think it must be hard for new people to come into our house.  There is this scene in the National Geographic show Genius, in the first season which was about Einstein and was excellent, where Einstein goes to stay with a family in Switzerland while he attends school.  The family is like nothing he’s ever come across.  Everyone is debating philosophy.  Everyone is outspoken.  We are like that.  Philosophy, politics, everything under the sun really.  Sometimes multiple debates and conversations going on at once.

Like this:

Then when I think that others are getting overwhelmed, I tell everyone to shush and stop and at least two of them go pick up instruments and everyone starts harmonizing on songs that no one else has ever heard of.  I think it must be rather over-whelming for outsiders.