Survival skills
My husband caught me on IM a few nights ago, which would generally be super awesome except the man can't type for shit.
God knows how he made it through four years of college typing with two fingers. Granted, he's pretty damn accurate, but when you're typing about as fast as my 5-year-old daughter, you damn sure should not be making any mistakes.
They put them through gun training, and every other survival skill, but how about teaching them how to type quickly so they can communicate (and hell, even get it on [audio link]) with their spouses in more than grunts and emoticons.
What about relationship survival skills?
I started chattering on about my day, and then waited anxiously for his reply only to get "huh?"
It took him that long to write four freaking characters?
We're doomed.
I've come to learn that if he had a few hours to type out a few sentences, he probably would respond to my page long emails, but unfortunately for me, he's a faster reader than he is a typer.
In fact, he's so bad that he spelled Margot's name wrong in his last email.
Thankfully, the almost daily 15-minute phone calls make up for what he lacks in keyboard skills. We all clamor to the phone, the kids fighting over who gets to talk to him first. I try to give him a rundown of what's going on without tearing up. And the kids have adapted to conversations over a satellite phone; they speak loudly and clearly, holding the phone as close to their ear - so much so that they often inadvertently hang up on him, leaving me to deal with the devastated child who ended our lifeline to him before the time was actually up.
At my prompting, Quinlan is keeping a daily journal for him, with one sentence and a corresponding drawing that communicates the highlight of each day. It's fascinating to see what a five year old deems as important to tell her dad.
Apparently it's not that far from what a 33-year-old thinks is important.
I smell a blogger in the making.
[Unrelated PSA: If you happen to be a blogger in Phoenix or Las Vegas (or know one), please email me motherhooduncensored[at]yahoo[dot]com]
That? More of a framer than anything I have ever seen. Your girl's a genius.
Posted by: girlsgonechild | October 25, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Pooping in the tub IS a milestone.
Posted by: patois | October 21, 2009 at 12:18 PM
OMG--what a cute drawing!
Posted by: Asianmommy | October 21, 2009 at 08:46 AM
That journal is amazing. I am sure you all will treasure it always! Awesome post!
Posted by: Jessica | October 20, 2009 at 09:59 PM
Perhaps it is my preggo hormones, but this just made me bawl. The phone calls, the misspelling of Margot, and Q's journal.
Must have tissue now.
Posted by: marty | October 20, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Glad I can type fast, though we rarely were at the computer at the same time to do the Air Force IM thingy they have.
BHJ and Fear and Parenting in LV are both in Vegas. Can't think of anyone in Phoenix.
Posted by: muskrat | October 20, 2009 at 08:23 PM
I'm glad you at least have phone calls now!
My husband is the same way with typing and the keyboard. He's hellbent on not break finger positioning and format from one of those learning-to-type teaching programs.
At any rate, what a masterpiece Quinlin drew up! And she's right. I would highlight pooping in the tub too.
Posted by: Amira @ DefineMature.com | October 20, 2009 at 06:18 PM
I'm not the most experienced blogger. I have a blog. And I live in Las Vegas. I'd love love love to have more time to devote to blogging. Right now, I'm just left with a pseudo-journal that doesn't get updated nearly as often as it should.
I don't know why you're asking, but if it's for a crash course in creating a successful blog - sign me up!! :)
Posted by: Lisa Kay | October 20, 2009 at 05:29 PM
You're amazing and I love that journal. So perfect.
Posted by: EmmieJ | October 20, 2009 at 02:54 PM
My wife types like your husband when it comes to texting. She will just email a reply because it's faster for her.
Posted by: whatnowdad | October 20, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Best class I ever took was 8th grade typing. Only guy in the class was an extra benefit. Now if I could only spell.
Posted by: Jim | October 20, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I enjoy your blog tremendously. And this one is one of my favorites! If you think about it, IT is indeed a big deal. :-) My heart ached when you were describing about the satellite phone being the lifeline to him and the devastated child...
Posted by: submom | October 20, 2009 at 12:13 PM
These are the things we save and show to her first date or future husband...or maybe I'm just an evil mother.
Thanks for the laugh today ;)
Hang in there Momma.
Posted by: Kerrie | October 20, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Bwahaha! The journal idea is inspired. I'm tempted to make my kids do the same just to see what they think is important too. I'd guess pooping is important to my kids too.
Posted by: Heather | October 20, 2009 at 10:50 AM
I honestly don't know how you do it, Kristen.
Happy for you that you get the phone calls, though. That kind of connection is pretty special for the kids (and you).
Posted by: Angella | October 20, 2009 at 10:28 AM
It is nice that you two want to talk and communicte a lot, you are probably very happy about that I'm thinking!
Secretia
Posted by: Secretia Teller | October 20, 2009 at 09:02 AM
Awesome picture. Glad you get to talk each day.
Posted by: Secret Mom Thoughts | October 20, 2009 at 08:07 AM
Hehe, I love the picture!! That is important information and I'm sure the pilot wants to know what he's missing.
That's so awesome that you get to talk to him daily. Can you imagine having to write a letter? On paper? With a quill and ink? Horrors!
Posted by: Karen Chatters | October 20, 2009 at 07:40 AM
That's awesome you get so many phone calls. Things have really come a long way since my husband was deployed last. Those calls really do a lot for morale on both sides of the phone.
Posted by: Amanda | October 20, 2009 at 06:10 AM