Day 8: Outed By Zayn

Sunday was rough. Perhaps the special treat of Jurassic Park whet the appetite, but everyone - and I mean everyone - was not in a good place. Little Miss had a friend stay over on Saturday and proudly reported on Sunday morning that she had stayed up all night long. WHHHHHYYYYY? Regardless of the many factors at play, the house was full of female grump-a-dumps. The arguing did not end until we were on the drive home from church (I know, the irony...) and Little Miss declares, "That's it! I'm calling a family meeting!" The car got quiet and I stifled my laughter. "Oh, really? What is our topic, Little Miss?" I catch her eye in the rearview mirror as she boldly proclaims, "This no media business is making everything worse! This family is being mean to each other and arguing too much! Your plan is not working!" The lecturette that followed was outstanding. It was enough to break the mood of snapping at one another for offenses like... breathing too loud. We pulled in the garage and I suggested that everyone take 20 minutes in their room to read, think, pray, draw. (I mean, in addition to the family meeting idea, this was a win.)

We all talked, went to dinner, talked some more, drove around to look at Christmas lights, and talked some more. What? Talking? This is outstanding! Then, it happened. Picture it - a family of 4 driving around La Mesa is their little Subaru station wagon. Hilary Duff Holiday playing on Pandora. Christmas lights and blow up characters being admired. The Teen asks, "Do you know what Dubsmash is?" Well, yes, since I showed it to you. (For those not "in the know" it is an app where you can have famous quotations play and you can film yourself so it looks like you are delivering the quotation in the voice from the movie or song.) "Zayn (formerly of the band One Direction) recorded the funniest Dubsmash. It was blah, blah, blah..." She finishes, Little Miss is into it, merriment continues. Mean Mom asks, "Where did you see that?" And, just like that... Outed  by Zayn. It took her about 3 more streets of lights to confess that she had "glanced at Instagram the other day." Yea - my draw to Zayn isn't that high. Sigh.

Day 9 will be the biggie. Home all day with Dad working from home, school not in session, and no media. As dear Effie says, "And, may the odds be ever in your favor!"