Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

My favorite way to relax is sitting on a beach, but that’s not always an option. I enjoy being in the mountains, but let’s face it… most of the minutes I have to simply relax happen at night, when work is done for the day and my kid is sleeping. That’s when I binge watch. […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • My Inner Chick - The Handmaid’s Tale is HIGH on my list.
    I loved it sooooooooooooo much & the book is on my top 10.
    Have you watched “Big Little Things?” Ommmggg.
    How about The Killing.
    I click and click and click until everybody in my house gets mad at me.
    Love some of your picks, dear.
    Stanger Things. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. xxxMarch 10, 2019 – 8:28 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - The book is on my top 10 as well. Or at least top 20. It’s SSOOO hard to choose the best books, out of so many brilliant ones. Which I can’t think about because then I’ll never finish my book. Big Little Things is awesome! I’d read that book as well. And YES to The Killing! I’d forgotten about that one. xoxoxoMarch 14, 2019 – 6:04 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Great list! You listed all my faves…I would also add “Succession” (one season so far), and “I’m Sorry” (1 season on Netflix, but I am currently watching Season 2 on the Tru Tv site). I love bingeing but I never read anymore — it’s terrible!March 11, 2019 – 8:21 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Bingeing has tapped into my reading time too, although I’ve listened to some good audio books recently. Ok I don’t know Succession! YAY – one for my list! And I did watch “I’m Sorry” – too funny. I didn’t know there’s a season two. I wonder if I can get it on one of the too-many-paid-for-places we have in this house to binge from.March 14, 2019 – 6:06 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - I have watched a few of these, but now I have so many on my binge list! Here’s a few good ones for you in case you haven’t watched: Catastrophe, I’m Sorry, Russian Doll, and my current surprise favorite that is on demand…Younger.March 11, 2019 – 4:10 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Younger??? OOOH. Thank you for that. I hadn’t even heard of it! I did watch Russian Doll, and enjoyed it (definitely binge-worthy) but something about it didn’t sit well although I don’t know what. And I adore (!) Catastrophe! I have to check out Younger ASAP. Thanks!March 14, 2019 – 6:07 pmReplyCancel

      • Kenya G. Johnson - I read everyone’s comments so I adding I’m Sorry to my list and now I feel bad for not liking the Handmaid’s Tale book. LOL!March 21, 2019 – 6:25 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - If you thought Handmaid’s Tale was dark and depressing I’ll probably never watch it. I don’t have Hulu anyway but I read that book and it was soooooo hard to finish. I’m not a quitter with books but I could have given up on that one and not missed it. Anyway I thought Ozark was Dark and Depressing. So I think after the first one or two episodes of season 2 I stopped looking at it too. And I fired This is Us for giving me the snots. I didn’t watch it last season because it made me sad. I finally fond a blog post that recapped the whole season and I was like yep I’m good. Don’t need to watch it. Last year I really really picked up on reading again so I watch way less tv and maybe that’s why I fire shows that are too dark or sad. Am am loving the Americans so thanks for recommending that one. I going back and forth between that one and the show on Prime The Widow. It’s pretty good. I’m actually about to relax now and watch the first episode of The Umbrella Academy again. I hardly ever do that but I want to see that episode again.March 21, 2019 – 6:21 pmReplyCancel

It’s the 4th anniversary of 1000 Speaks, where writers and bloggers from around the world gather their voices to raise awareness, compassion, and to remind each of us that our experiences matter, and that we never know another person’s story. Yvonne Spence began the 1,000 Speaks movement, and continues to spread mindfulness, compassion, and awareness. […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Yvonne Spence - What a great idea that teacher had and Connor has also had great ideas! I like his dream a lot.
    And of course, you had a great idea in sharing his essay!February 26, 2019 – 5:35 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I love the teacher’s idea, too, and this amazing 15yo’s response to how he sees tomorrow. Here’s to more of that! <3February 26, 2019 – 9:37 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - WOW. What beautiful and insightful words — that kid can write!February 26, 2019 – 7:54 amReplyCancel

  • Kenya - Excellent! I love his word choices. This is so mature and written to reach his peers, yet it extend to all ages. I certainly took it in to let this be the day we dry off. Wow. I can’t believe that it’s been 4 years since #1000Speak Thanks for sharing Connor’s speech.February 26, 2019 – 11:32 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I so hope his words reach his peers – all the kid’s peers in todays horrid school reports on shooting drills, bullying, all of it. Weep..February 26, 2019 – 9:38 pmReplyCancel

  • carol schepper - Awesome- and incredible maturity for 15. The best hope for the future is these gen-z kids. they are so much more caring, inclusive & aware.March 4, 2019 – 8:45 pmReplyCancel

One random day, I didn’t want to go to school. I can’t remember how old I was but think I was eight or nine. Close to my son’s age, although back then having a friend who was six months older was a big deal somehow, so me making a sweeping generalization about the ages of […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • JT Walters - Right call on staying home. The potty is too far away when your are in a portable.

    “Mom I’m bored.” is Tux talk for, “Let’s have fun!”

    In a few years puberty will hit and Tux will tell you and “R” he hates you and your both idiots. Adolescents is right around the corner. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet given his size. Alex couldn’t talk and he still managed to convey he thought I am an idiot. Enjoy the time you have with him.

    Maybe one day surprise him with a skip day. Just wake him up and surprise him with a trip. Alex use to love those days.

    The clock is ticking away his childhood. I’m certain he knows it too.

    You work well under stress.

    Have a Goodnight!

    JTFebruary 21, 2019 – 9:59 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I agree. He stayed home today, too. No fever but stomach pain, and overall not feeling well. I would rather he’s home than at school feeling terrible. Weep to Tucker hating us in a few years, although I know that’s possible. He’s so pure and sweet now… and I love the idea of a surprise trip day off!!February 22, 2019 – 8:21 pmReplyCancel

  • Lizzi - Sounds like a good call you both made the best of. I guess that’s the point. We have to make the best of life. Thanks for the reminders. I’ll try 😃February 22, 2019 – 12:49 amReplyCancel

  • Kerri - I think it is kind of cool, that you gave Tucker a day to be a kid. A typical kid who could have gone to school but was given a day to just hang with his mom. Some days we just need to hang and regroup before going back to the “real” world.February 22, 2019 – 5:31 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Agree. He got today off too, by the way. Not sure if I was getting played but I think he really didn’t feel well. He’s a terrible liar, so I have that going for me. 🙂February 22, 2019 – 8:22 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - The whole time I’m reading about the trampoline park, I kept thinking how that could have turned into a worse sick day because with a statement of, “stomach feels weird” and then an activity of, “let’s jump up and down on a trampoline and see how that feels!” 🙂 That’s actually pretty brave to take that risk of jumping with a queasy stomach — but glad it all worked out — good job mama!February 25, 2019 – 3:26 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - LOL I thought about that too but it was better than cleaning up dog poop in the yard in order to play baseball 🙂
      But OMG it would have sucked if he’d been sick at the trampoline park! Gah.March 7, 2019 – 8:15 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Christopher has never like to miss school unless everyone else was missing it (weather). But when I’ve had to keep him home, the boredom was dreadful especially if he wasn’t sick sick but I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t sick sick. Then when he IS sick sick he wants me to be in his room with him. I’m glad y’alls day ended on a happy note. Yummy to Chipotle. If he was fine after that then he was fine 😉February 26, 2019 – 11:17 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - LOL yeah, he was definitely fine. But here, too, to the times when he’s sick sick that I have to be right there. His pillow, his back tickler, his snuggle buddy. It’s sweet but also exhausting. I’m glad he wasn’t too sick sick that day… and that I let him stay home, although the next week he asked some interesting questions about what would be “bad enough” to stay home. Mmm hmmm. That’s good Christopher wants to go!March 7, 2019 – 8:17 pmReplyCancel

  • Kerry - I have been busy with a house guest throughout February, but I have to say Kristi, these posts you’ve been writing lately are some of the best you’ve done.

    I was thought to be faking sick at first, but mine was a serious illness as a child. I am glad if he is just needing a day at home to regroup. Childhood is a stressful thing for most children.

    That with your above post on homework, I can really relate from my own childhood.

    Just wanted to say these words are lovely and sweet.March 2, 2019 – 8:23 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Wow, thanks, Kerry. That’s so sweet! Honestly, this one was written so quickly that I felt a bit guilty about publishing it but then figured it’s life, and blogging is about life… but thank you.
      Childhood IS stressful, and I’m sorry that people thought you might be faking when you were honestly so sick. I figure that if the anxiety of school is enough to make Tucker physically sick, that he deserves a break. Thank you again, sweet friend!March 7, 2019 – 8:24 pmReplyCancel

When it comes to life hacks as far as food preservation, decorating, or Lego storage, I’m not the best go-to person. But there are things I’ve realized are life-hacks when it comes to being a better human. 10 Ways To Be A Better Human 1. You are enough. So are most people. We each do […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • JT Walters - It is one of your better blogs, so great!!

    Self anger should also be added to this list. Pray for forgiveness for any transgression and then let go of the guilt and being hard on yourself. We are not here to judge ourselves either.

    As we forgive others so are we forgiven, many times without even asking.

    Love this FTSF post. Love to notes.

    Just love all of it.February 8, 2019 – 6:50 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Why thank you! I wrote it too quickly but agree that once in a while, we touch one another. Here’s to not judging ourselves and forgiveness to all of us, for everything. Love to you.February 8, 2019 – 11:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Yvonne Spence - Great suggestions – especially I liked Number 1. (Ach and all the rest too, all good.) And I loved the way you managed to let go of your frustration and find a fun way to help your son get his homework done.

    I also did not write about how to decorate, preserve food or store lego!

    Thanks for the link-up and for inspiring me to blog again!February 8, 2019 – 3:42 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks, Yvonne, that means a LOT coming from you who is so good at this stuff when it comes to compassion and forgiveness of self. I’m so very glad you linked up with this. And I love that neither of us has shite to say about Lego storage 😉February 8, 2019 – 11:20 pmReplyCancel

  • Lizzi - So awesome that he was so keen to do the writing back and forth. Way cool method of keeping engagement with the task.February 9, 2019 – 1:17 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - The back and forth writing notes has been pretty epic, and I can’t say I don’t love it. THANKS <3February 10, 2019 – 8:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - I love how you paused and asked, “how can I make this better for you?” I’m going to remember that…thank you!February 9, 2019 – 3:17 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - “How can I make it better for you” is huge in this house. Most of the time, he doesn’t know, but I usually (!) get an idea from something he cries about not knowing, if that makes sense.February 10, 2019 – 8:19 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. JOhnson - I read the actual notes with no problem before I saw you’d written it out. That was funny. I remember having to take fun breaks when I felt like screaming about homework. I love the note game. I just glanced up and saw Emily’s comment. I am going to remember that too. I’m sure that very phrase melts away all the stress or a lot of it, whomever you say the words too. I like that a lot.

    I read your list twice. I’m going to take heed to your advice on all. Some I already do, some not enough and some not at all. I want to be a better human because I know being better is contagious and we need all of us to be better.February 12, 2019 – 12:09 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi Campbell - Aw, I love that you were able to read the notes without a problem. They seemed light so I thought I should type them out too. And yeah, “How can I make this better for you” is something I need to remember all the time too. It’s easy to get stressed out and annoyed, especially with people who are wrong about something we totally and fully believe. Thanks too for reading the list twice! Some of these are reminders to myself, too. If I go outside at night, just for a minute, I feel so much more connected. I don’t always do it but I want to remember to. Here’s to all of us being better humans. <3February 12, 2019 – 7:50 pmReplyCancel

  • Christine Carter - Oh my gosh, how I love this ENTIRE post!! You nailed it, Kristi- all of those important things we need to remember every day. THANK YOU for reminding ME.

    And those notes are absolutely precious. The way you handled Tucker’s resistance to homework was beautiful, patient, wise, and so incredibly loving. Oh, you are such a good mama. And that boy is just so adorable.February 26, 2019 – 9:11 amReplyCancel

I can’t remember whether it was a kinder, less-humid July day in Virginia than most, but I don’t remember being miserable that morning. It’s funny, but I don’t remember being nervous either. Merely annoyed that my doctor had told me to call at 6:00 a.m. and then told me to call back around 8:00 a.m. […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Lydia - Awwwww….love this….and youJanuary 31, 2019 – 10:20 pmReplyCancel

  • Lizzi - That ‘you’re just going to let us take him?!’ feeling… that’s how I felt about the dog… goodness knows how I’d feel about a baby! Good grief, it’s quite a brave thing to do, really!!!February 1, 2019 – 11:00 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I felt that way about Nugget, too. Like “um, you’re just going to let us take her?” But to be fair, less-so than I felt like that with Tux… still, it’s overwhelming right?February 1, 2019 – 9:08 pmReplyCancel

  • Christine Carter - I smiled through this entire post, Kristi! There’s just something about reading about a mom’s birth story, ya know? And you reminded me that I too would sit in the back of the car with Cass ANY time we went ANYWHERE for months, while Derek drove… I was such a nervous mom! And I felt the exact same way about bringing my babe home. I was terrified because she kept turning blue in the hospital and they kept her a few days to do tests- then finally released us with no answer to what caused this.

    Turned out she was refluxing and choking… I soon became a pro at fearful parenting and sleepless nights!February 4, 2019 – 10:59 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw thank you! You know how sometimes you just post but don’t really have anything real to say? This was one of those, because I have posted so much about this birth and this boy and me being a mom, but still, he’s going to turn 10 (OMG) this year and his birth sooooo changed who I am. xoxoox
      Thanks for the confirmation/affirmation that I’m not alone in traveling in the back seat for omg forever. xoFebruary 4, 2019 – 9:08 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya - One thing I missed about not having a second baby is the know it all feeling I’m assuming second time parents get of just leaving the hospital all willy nilly, knowing the baby is properly installed and driving home using the speed limit and knowing what to do when they got there. LOL!

    I didn’t get to have an epidural but I think I rather it my way than yours!February 6, 2019 – 5:43 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - OMG the whole thing about the relaxed part of having another baby – I missed that too. But maybe I’d have been just as crazy, I don’t know. Yikes to no epidural but yes, mine sucked. They did it several times and it finally kinda worked but I remember asking “am I supposed to feel THIS?” and the answer was them looking embarrassed. So I’m thinking no. 😉February 7, 2019 – 10:48 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - I laughed when you mentioned being cranky because you couldn’t eat. I was induced with my son because he would have been too big if he went to term, and the doc told us we could walk around and get something to eat. So while Matt ate a huge breakfast in the cafeteria, I ate a Snickers. It was delish.February 7, 2019 – 3:34 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - YOU WERE ALLOWED TO EAT??? OMG that feels so unfair. I bet it was the best Snickers ever.February 7, 2019 – 10:49 pmReplyCancel

  • Missouri City dentist - Everything said made a bunch of sense. However, think about this, suppose you
    added a little content? I mean, I don’t wish to tell you how to run your website, but suppose you added something to possibly
    get folk’s attention? I mean Stupid Things We Think of on the Last Day of Life as we
    Know It – Finding Ninee is kinda vanilla. You should
    peek at Yahoo’s home page and note how they write post headlines to grab people to
    click. You might add a video or a related picture or two to get people
    excited about what you’ve written. In my opinion, it might make your blog a little livelier.February 13, 2019 – 12:45 pmReplyCancel

There are times when I see my son playing alone and I think “I should’ve had another baby.” It hits me hard and deep – a guilty ache flooding my entire being. There was a time, when he was two or three years old – we tried for a while to give him a sibling. […]

View full post »

by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
email a friend

  • Linda Atwell - We are all exactly where we are supposed to be.

    Personally, I think older mothers i.e. women who have babies later in life appreciate their kids so much more. I was so busy trying to make a living, pay bills, keep our house in order, I don’t think I enjoyed my kids as much as I should have. If I could go back in time, I think I’d enjoy them more (while they were growing up). You are awesome.

    p.s. I’m so glad you went skiing and no one had to go to the hospital!January 24, 2019 – 9:23 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think there is something to enjoying our kids when we’re older moms – and also it’s less stressful when it comes to making a living and I don’t worry much about keeping the house in order… Skiing was really fun and I was super glad nobody ended up hurt!! xoJanuary 25, 2019 – 6:10 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - You know, I think it’s so so common for moms to wonder what it would be like to have “one more” child and even though I have three, we sort of tried and then not tried and then I had a dream that I thought I was pregnant and had that panicky feeling that you described. Now, I sometimes think back to the
    ‘what if’ I had been pregnant and we had a 4th and then Little dude got sick, and we would have had a 6 or 7-year-old at home to also care for…yikes, that would have been HARD — doable, but hard. But anyway, I totally get the wondering. I also think for me, it was really, really hard to let go of the baby-making stage. Anyway, I really loved all your honest thoughts about this topic, because it can and does have so many facets to it.January 25, 2019 – 1:32 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Interesting that you wonder what it’d be like with one more as well. And yeah, it would’ve been tough with Little Dude sick and taking care of another… you’d have done fine like you said but still, hard. I know it’d have been really hard but sometimes I wish I’d done it anyway. Thanks, Emily!January 25, 2019 – 6:16 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya - You always pull magic out of a hat (prompt). And I know you wrote this in Kristi time and it’s excellent! I was panicky in a different way – not even seeing the future with two children because it was more that my heart could bear to get the one. I just didn’t want to go through “not” carrying to full-term while having a little one. I couldn’t see beyond that and I was always fearful to get pregnant again.January 25, 2019 – 2:55 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - LOL “Kristi time” – I’ll give you that I did write it at the last minute and was even a few minutes late publishing. It’s like I have no idea what to write until I’m totally under pressure. Sometimes it comes out terrible. But other times, it’s ok – thank you!
      I totally get the panic of not carrying until full-term while having a little one at home. That’d be sooooo hard. Gah. Having an only child has its advantages too, for sure. We’ll be really glad when college comes around! xoJanuary 25, 2019 – 6:18 pmReplyCancel

      • Kenya - By the way you inspired me to write my current post. After I read yours I went straight there 😉

        And I don’t know how you do the last minute. It makes my thoughts paralyzed.January 25, 2019 – 8:36 pmReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - I wondered about that but then figured we just had same brain syndrome because that happens too! I think I’m too lazy or something to not write at the last minute. I wish I felt about it all like I used to – when I just wrote every day and loved it whether it was good or not.January 27, 2019 – 8:01 pmReplyCancel

  • Twindaddy - In the words of Morpheus: “What happened, happened and couldn’t have happened any other way.”

    I used to believe that there was a reason for everything, because whenever a seemingly insurmountable obstacle presented itself a solution followed.

    Life has curb-stomped me too many times in the last decade to continue believing that, but I still don’t wish for things to have happened a different way.

    The path I’ve traveled, no matter how hopeless and difficult it sometimes felt, has led me right where I am, and I’m happy with that. For the most part.

    So, too, has your path led you where you are and that, for better or worse, is right where you’re supposed to be. You have an incredible son who is loved beyond measure and he’s lucky to have you.January 26, 2019 – 4:37 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I get it. I’m not sure there’s a reason for everything, although I’ve believed that too. But, with that said, like you, I also can’t wish to go back in time and change anything – even the very worst of it, because what would that change, you know? And some stuff would be so much better changed but then I look at my son, and I can’t risk him being different than him – if I even had the power to change any of it anyway, which, sadly I don’t. Anyway, here’s to us being where we’re supposed to be and having learned from all the crap and reframing when needed for a better next days and months and years. xoJanuary 27, 2019 – 8:03 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - PS so lovely to see you here. I miss you and your writing. xoJanuary 27, 2019 – 8:05 pmReplyCancel

      • Twindaddy - Thanks, hon. I sometimes feel like I should be writing, but my plate is overflowing already and it keeps getting pushed to the back burner.January 30, 2019 – 4:08 pmReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - Yeah, I get that. I lost my mojo big-time when I didn’t feel like I could be the mom I used to be when it comes to special needs, which is so stupid, but also real, in my head. I love that I have friends like you who get that head space problem. xoJanuary 30, 2019 – 9:36 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - Oh, Kristi…sigh. As usual, you put words on the page that could have come straight from my own heart. I have felt – do feel – all of this. That part about having everything the same and us being ten years younger? I often think that. But then I realize that it would still be very much not the same. It’s hard not to wonder these things. My mom always says, “God knows what He’s doing.” I want to believe that. I do believe that. But even so, I so often find myself caught up in the “what ifs.”
    I considered doing this prompt and then…didn’t. Again. This really makes me want to get back in here again.
    Great post. Love you guys!January 31, 2019 – 11:11 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw thanks Lisa! I wish I could stop thinking about being 10 years younger but I’m so much older than so many moms with kids Tucker’s age… but I know that it’s dumb to worry about because it is what it is and I wouldn’t change anything about Tucker or our relationship and I know part of that is because I’m older. Gah to the “what ifs.”
      This week’s prompt is really similar (so no clue what to write because duh, just did it), so you can still join if you feel you want to! Love YOU guys!January 31, 2019 – 6:43 pmReplyCancel

« Older posts Newer posts »

N e v e r   m i s s   a   n e w   p o s t !