The title of this blog entry comes from a refrigerator magnet I gave to a family member once because I thought it was really funny.  Now I think it’s a profound truth that perfectly describes my feelings toward parenthood this week. 

We started rehearsals for our play THE BALLAD OF RUSTY AND ROY last Monday.  For Troy this means two full-time jobs and not much sleep, but he doesn’t mind because he’s doing what he loves best: acting!  For me this means the occasional rehearsal (heavenly), working on rewrites (pretty fun), and lots and lots and lots and lots of odd little tasks as the producer of this thing while entertaining a six year old who’s on summer vacation (painful).  Random tasks include making sure our set pieces are fireproofed, issuing a formal apology to the New York International Fringe Festival’s Artistic Director for someone’s innocent mistake, and hiring a Stage Combat Consultant at one-thirds his normal rate.  For Huck this means a tired yet happy dad who’s gone a lot while his mom constantly multi-tasks and shouts things like, “This is driving me crazy!  I am literally losing my mind!  Someone kill me now!”

All of this added together equals a kid starving for attention. In fact, he’s so hungry that he’s decided not to let his little mother have a single conversation with any adult ever again.  He’s clingy and sassy.

Which reminds me that during our Kansas trip last month he was beginning his sassy ways and I finally asked him why he was being so rude.  He answered, “Because I’m a New Yorker.”

Peck, peck.