Family Planning

Another fun conversation with a student. This eight-year-old girl knows what she wants from life.

Me: So what did you do on vacation after you came back from Idaho?
Student: I played with my kitchen. My sister and I played with it. We got it when I was a baby.
Me: Oh, and you still like it?
Student: Yeah. I never want to give it away. I want to keep it and then my children will have it.
Me: That's a great idea. How many children do you think you'll have?
Student: Three. My boyfriend and I decided three.
Me (surprised): Oh... uh, really?
Student: Yes. A girl and two boys. We planned it.
Me: Really.
Student: Yes. We decided. A girl and two boys, because they can share rooms. But we're going to live in Utah.
Me: Why Utah?
Student: It's better than California. And the houses are two levels.
Me: You're going to have a two-story house?
Student: No, FIVE story.

Remember... this kid is only eight! I wonder if her mom knows about this plan...

It was a fun way to come back from a one-week break. Except for still doing my private practice work, I went to a voice conference given by the entertaining and knowledgeable Dr. Kittie Verdolini. She's an amazing woman! What else... well, I exercised, and I hung out with my babykins. And, of course, I did some retail therapy. It's great to see all of the accessories being pushed by Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and Gap... and then go to Target and get them for 1/3 of the price. ("But," you say, "They aren't the same quality!" Of course not. But accessories come and go... you just need them to last as long as they're in style. A really great black cashmere sweater they're not!)

And I watched the Oscars last night. I don't know when the last time was that I did that... even last year, it was a sporadic watch. I TiVo'd it and watched it over a bowl of lowfat ice cream (slow-churned, of course!). No surprises, but it was a pleasant time.

Well... back to the grind... time to write some reports!