tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81592922024-03-13T11:05:47.214-04:00Shannon SinanianFreelance writer, resourceful motherShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-10633614975601776922014-08-08T14:33:00.003-04:002014-08-08T14:45:23.887-04:00New blog!Hiya.
It's been a while. You look fabulous, haven't changed a bit. Me? I'm hanging out at a new place.
I moved!
www.shortattentionshan.com
You should stop by!Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-17247318645098900782012-12-14T14:34:00.001-05:002012-12-14T14:34:39.524-05:00Shooting at a Connecticut elementary school What the hell is this world coming to? A gunman entered an elementary school in Connecticut this morning, killing 27 people, eighteen of whom were children. Children. Children, ages five to ten were gunned down at their school. This event is so horrific, so sickening I had a visceral reaction when I heard the news. I can still feel the dull pain in my chest. Who does this? How can a Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-26031048654666453862012-12-11T11:12:00.001-05:002012-12-11T11:12:07.931-05:00Emma Emma was diagnosed with congestive heart failure about a year and a half ago. She is on Lasix, a diuretic for her heart. When she was diagnosed, it was mild but it is a progressive disease and causes enlargement of the heart and fluid retention. She is still an active girl, and I can't keep her out of the pool when the kids are swimming. This weekend, she was Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-13430288250493060032012-10-31T12:04:00.001-04:002012-10-31T12:23:55.162-04:00Fuck CancerAutumn is my favorite time of the year. I love when the weather starts to change and fallen acorns crunch under my shoes. I love my fall decorations bursting colors of orange, red and yellow. The crispness in the air helps me shake loose the mental stagnation that the humid summer brings. I love the smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon. I love that the whole world turns pink for Breast Cancer Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-809300553531118622012-10-22T18:20:00.001-04:002012-10-22T18:20:02.614-04:00Golden opportunitySam had to write a story today about a golden coin. Together we sat and brainstormed using the mind-mapping technique. He finished his story, complete with a compelling arc and compassionate ending, and I returned to my writing roots, teaching my son the creative process the way I learned it. Thank you, Life for giving me the opportunity to do what I love most with whom I love most. Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-48492163995984577352012-10-17T15:54:00.001-04:002012-10-17T15:54:44.599-04:00This is not funny. At all. Each night my kids come home from school with their planners that I have to review and initial. And each night, I sign “SS” in my scrolling handwriting, and it looks all loopy and pretty and shit. Last night I decided to spice things up a bit, because oooh burn! That’s how I roll and I’m loco-crazy! I wrote: I, Shannon Sinanian, hereby declare I reviewed Max’s folder Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-54050856809432782672012-10-07T13:57:00.001-04:002012-10-07T13:57:03.951-04:00www.divorcesucks.comI am feeling pretty down today, mostly because I have not been able to spend my son’s birthday weekend with him. I went out in the yard and sweat out some of my frustrations yet I came inside feeling unsatisfied. I sat down to my computer and stared at my reflection in the glare of the monitor. Out of the blue, I typed into the URL line, www.divorcesucks.com. If this domain Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-5096921752007522352012-10-05T09:19:00.001-04:002012-10-05T09:25:15.590-04:00Hello, Seven!I’m running out of cake. And lunch meat and fruit squeezies and waffles. Well, it’s no wonder – I have a seven in my house. Boy eldest is seven today. Seven. That is crazy stuff, yo. Seven years ago I unknowingly stepped into the Parenting Time Warp. Sam came out of the sunroof, he had a couple bottles and dirtied a few diapers and before I knew it he was unloading my refrigerator each day afterShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-5464577886573031432012-09-24T16:00:00.000-04:002012-09-24T16:00:04.261-04:00Thank you for being a friend Hi, I’m here. All humbled and shit from the OVERWHELMING outpour of love and offers of wine I received from the Internet. You people rock and make me feel so much better after my curse-filled rant. Getting that off my chest was hugely cathartic. I truly have reached the point of not caring, and that being said I harbor no ill-will toward any of my old pals. I walked around town this Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-36788856819873092842012-09-19T17:07:00.001-04:002012-09-19T17:07:16.312-04:00All apologiesI am pissed off and I want to talk about it. When I got divorced, hell even separated, I was a mess trying to figure out to do with myself. I couldn’t decide what do with my ever-changing emotions. I went through the seven stages of grief every hour and I didn’t make for very good company. In fact, I was so concerned about the feelings of others that I ostracized myself to preserve my Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-1216310402369164662012-09-11T12:53:00.001-04:002012-09-11T12:53:56.244-04:009/11–Eleven years laterMy son asked me today what Patriot Day is. I hesitated, unsure of how to answer his question and maintain his innocence. Do I want my six-year old to know of the horrors that exist in this world? Do I want him to fear airplanes flying in the sky or people who have different beliefs than us? The answer is no, but I answered him honestly nonetheless. I explained that there are people in this Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-32483523348869057632012-09-05T11:24:00.001-04:002012-09-05T11:24:45.596-04:00Unadulterated JoyWe rented a huge water slide for our Labor Day weekend party. There were eleven kids and just as many adults at my house and the slide was worth every penny. It had two slide lanes and the kids had a blast racing each other to the bottom. They spent hours climbing the slippery ladder, gripping the rope as they climbed toward the sky. The summit of the slide stood 22 feet above the ground. It Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-28635133049934950522012-08-30T11:51:00.001-04:002012-08-30T11:51:17.600-04:00Principal says School Secretary Not Authorized to Withhold My Son Monday was an exercise in patience and control for me. I went to my son’s school to pick him up early and was told the school would not release him to me. It was an emotional day, to be sure, chronicled in my previous post. I met with the principal regarding the treatment I received and she assured me that no instruction was given to the office staff to withhold students. In fact, because of Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-50484870742985629162012-08-27T13:43:00.001-04:002012-08-27T13:43:31.548-04:00Public School holds children hostage My son cried as he got of the car today. He said his tummy hurt and asked his dad for our phone numbers in case he needed to call. Sam suffers from abdominal migraines, so at 10:30am I decided to drive up to the school to pick him up. I arrived in the front office, said hello to the receptionist and told her I’d like to pick my son up from school. She called the teacher and asked, “How Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-28084720843900711192012-08-26T09:38:00.000-04:002012-08-26T09:38:00.072-04:00Top 7 ways to survive car line Does this look familiar? Do you spend each weekday afternoon stuck in the dreaded car line? Don’t fret, I’ve come up with seven sure-fire ways to spice up your afternoon car time 1. Sort socks. This is the most time consuming part of laundry, especially if your husband wears work socks with tiny designs. Are those green diamonds or dots? Why the hell can’t ANYONE Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-34514771851129488102012-08-25T11:14:00.001-04:002012-08-25T11:14:30.580-04:00How shared custody kills parenting momentumIt sure is hard to keep my parenting momentum going when our week is cut short by the divorce custody schedule. I start each week with gusto, and fall into a steady rhythm of homework, after-school activities and family dinners. Yet each week, I am cut short like a fingernail snipped past the quick. It leaves me feeling tender and exposed. I have yet to find my end-of-the-week groove. When the Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-28128805690991438942012-06-15T22:19:00.001-04:002012-09-08T16:19:08.285-04:00Marco IslandI had an amazing time in Marco Island with my kids. Can a heart actually smile? If so, mine certainly is. I can feel it. There is a happy buzzing in my chest and a feeling of contentment that is hard to hide. It is even giving my boobs a little lift.
I rubbed sunscreen on two tiny faces at least 45 times this week. I wrestled with wet swim suits during Max’s frequent trips to the bathroom. IShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-33010702260267355112012-06-06T14:59:00.001-04:002012-06-06T15:15:12.783-04:00Four Dear Maxwell, Happy birthday, Schmoops! You have successfully completed four years of life and today we celebrate all the wonderful things that make you you. Three was a big year for you. You started preschool, you gave your Nay-Nays (pacifiers) to the Nay-Nay Fairy. You finished potty training and learned how to write your name. You did this despite the biggest change of all – your Daddy andShannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-28140200166071141532012-05-03T16:51:00.001-04:002012-05-03T16:51:00.152-04:00Start spreading the newsTomorrow I’ll fly the friendly skies and head to the Big Apple. I’m spending the weekend in the City of Light, Gotham, The City That Never Sleeps, Money Town. I’m going to ring the opening bell at the Stock Exchange and check out this place called Tiffany’s for breakfast. I heard it is amazing. Relationship saving, in fact. After breakfast I’m going to take in a bit of Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-64887056528811218492012-04-30T16:23:00.001-04:002012-04-30T16:23:27.411-04:00Moving sucksMoving sucks. Moving has to be in the top five things I hate to do, right up there with laundry and pulling my toenails off with long-nosed pliers. I moved the remaining things from my old home this past weekend. While my kids were gallivanting on the Mickey Mouse cruise ship with their dad, I was sobbing over newspaper and bubble wrap. When Rob and I built our Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-45160595582660952522012-04-20T15:53:00.001-04:002012-04-20T15:53:42.812-04:00Writing awards and wardrobe malfunctionsWon day I went fishing on the dok. I felt a hrd tug. It was a shrck! I wus sprist! I had a big tack. I poot him in it. He swam arown and aet and playd. He wus hapey. By Sam Raw emotions. Suspense. Edge of your seat drama. And spelling to rival that of most adults when denied spell-check. This is the award winning story from my Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-88314573894582203902012-04-16T17:05:00.001-04:002012-04-16T17:05:52.376-04:00Take a chance on me*When my life took a sharp left turn I thought all I would net was some nasty whiplash. For months I sat alone, licking my wounds before I decided to take a chance and tell my story. I am astounded at the outpouring of love and support I’ve received the past few weeks. My inbox has been inundated with messages from people I haven’t heard from in almost twenty years, from complete strangers Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-7342319594893381732012-04-02T13:45:00.001-04:002012-04-02T13:45:16.610-04:00Where the Streets Have No NameIt has been one week since my divorce and I still feel like I’ve been sucker-punched in the gut. I spent most of my weekend in a dark, emotional corner vacillating between tears, anger and the overwhelming urge to punch something. I didn’t sleep last night. I dropped the boys off at school today and planned to nap, but the neighbor’s lawn service was edging the three-feet of grass outside my Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-88549472176966062132012-03-27T21:49:00.001-04:002012-03-27T21:49:50.695-04:00OverThings are final. My marriage is legally over. Many say marriage is only a piece of paper, but this legal finality runs a deep river of sadness through me. The air was heavy with residual anger and grief from the Treyvon Martin protest that took place near the courthouse yesterday. News vans lined the streets and portable gazebos were still set up in parking lots. Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8159292.post-18109960407963667942012-03-26T22:36:00.001-04:002012-03-26T22:36:41.939-04:00Last nightTonight is my last night as Mrs. Sinanian. In less than twelve hours a judge will sign and stamp paperwork and declare my marriage irretrievably broken. Broken. That about sums up how I feel. This weekend Rob and I took the kids to the zoo for a zip lining adventure. I was thrilled that he and I were in an emotional place where we can do what we do best – enjoy our kids.&Shannonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14455557823289424363noreply@blogger.com2