Six things you must read before the end of 2010

Monkey blogging As Twenty-Ten nears to a close, I’m taking a bit of a time-out and thinking back on some of the websites, blog posts and tweets that encouraged me, made me cry, made me laugh hysterically, upset me and helped me get through my days of being a working mom. Here are some of my favorites, in completely random order:

Garza Girl: Gas Station Stalking and Other Random Acts of Kindness

We sat quietly in the corner of the parking lot – inconspicuous as we could be, staking out the Rotten Robbie gas station. We watched people come and go, and waited patiently to pounce. Who was the next target of the day going to be? We wanted unsuspecting citizens — unaware of our stealth plan.

MckMama: I left my husband.

I left my husband.

It’s true. And I’m not proud of it. But let me back up a bit. I don’t particularly want to back up, but really, what is the point of blogging and having other people read if I am only going to blow sunshine? If you’ve been around long, you know that’s not what I’m about.

#FreeAnissa: leaping over and over

Sometimes you forget how long you were gone.

Writing to Sanity on Shine @ Yahoo!: Two reasons why my Grandma will always be better than your Grandma

Mary Ellen Snider Finch was (and, truly, always will be) my grandmother. My mother remembers her as a strong, fair and patient woman. I remember her being all of that but then I also remember her smile, Thanksgivings and Christmases with both of my grandparents and that Grandma Mary would eat a bologna sandwich and drink a Coke at breakfast. She was an avid crocheter and she was a devoted grandma, too. At the time she passed away (the day before her 62nd birthday), she had 13 grandkids. I can’t recall a time that my family wasn’t at her house at least once or twice a week.

NOTE: The comments are the best part of this article, which was written by yours truly.

Sh*t My Kids Ruined

SMKR’s mission is comic relief, commiseration and birth control; this is not about blame. If you’re a parent I hope you identify and laugh, and feel just a little bit better that others go through it, too. And if you’re child-free, I hope you enjoy laughing at the miserable, unfortunate things some of our kids have done, and cherish being free from this particular brand of crap. Anyone here to laugh is welcome.

zen habits: Kill Busywork: The One Skill to Focus On What Matters

I’m not talking about the quality of the work you deliver – I’ve no doubt that’s fine. I’m talking about the meaning the work has for you and the impact it makes.