I have been letting people down lately. And when the fit hits the shan at home, all I can do is buckle down and concentrate on work and family, and that leaves my beloved friends, online and offline, in a lurch. I hate having to disappoint people, so I decided to post this disclaimer, so you know up front what you are getting into with me.
- I will not return your phone calls. Sorry, but I hate the phone, and I don’t even call my mother back. Email me if you want to reach me. Which brings me to my next point…
- I won’t reply to your emails. Well, I will, but it will either be days later, or a two word reply. Again, ask my mother how good I am at this.
- I will forget what is going on in your life if we haven’t spoken in a few days. Going into survival mode with autism ruling our house right now means that my brain is spilling over with all the details. I still care, I just can’t remember.
- I will go days without speaking to you. It’s not because I don’t want to, it’s because there’s only so much this stressed out full time working mom can handle. It’s not you, it’s me.
- I will have other friends too, and I may want to do things with them. I will still want to do things with you, but I like doing things. With people.
- I am a career minded gal, and will be busy with work. Just because I work at home doesn’t mean I’m less busy than those that commute to the city. I am more accessible, but not more available. I am also usually wearing sweats.
- I will stand by you when you’re life goes through changes, trials and tribulations. I won’t abandon you, ever. Sorry, but that’s a promise.
- I am genetically unable to be fake, so I will always keep it real with you. Sincerity is my flagship personality trait, so look out.
- I will make you laugh, even if it means me agreeing to do the Carlton Dance while you record it with your video camera. It’s just how I roll.
- I will let you make as many jokes about my boobs as you want. Again, it’s how I roll.
- I will never be mean to you, I will become your passionate cheerleader and support system, and will defend you to the end. Even if I will never call you back.
So if you read this disclaimer and still want to be my friend, awesome! If not, I understand. Well, I don’t understand, but at least we didn’t get all lovey mclovey before I ruined it in some way. Saved my time, and yours.
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{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m grateful that I have you as a friend til the end, binks!
And now that I can make jokes about your boobs? Oh wait, I don’t know any because boobs? Yeah, don’t have any of those either.
Jessica Smith’s last blog post..Santa’s Promised Me a Blog Makeover!
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I can’t help to think you wrote this post for someone specifically Arianne. True friends stick together, through thick and thin. I’m proud to call you my friend and anyone that knows you, knows that you have a true, kind heart!!!
Great write up! I SO need one of these on my blog;)
A Cowboy’s Wife’s last blog post..A Blogging Break for Re-Self Discovery
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I keep telling my mother to get a computer, but so far no luck. I hate the landline phone. Love my crackberry – but only for twitter, texting and email.
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LOL! And this works? You still have friends? Maybe I’ll send out an email Friend Disclaimer instead of Christmas cards -Yeah!
Diane Gilabert’s last blog post..Dec 9, Fruit Salad Recipe for a Sweet and Healthy Dessert
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You are one of the most genuinely nice and real people I have ever met, Arianne, and I LOVE this disclaimer. We are so much alike. Maybe that’s why we get a long so well… I GET you! ((HUGS))
Christine’s last blog post..Norton PC Tune-Up (A Giveaway!)
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You know I love this, right?
Somebody who doesn’t call me and who has boobs as great as yours? Is a friend for life. Consider me the lucky one.
Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry’s last blog post..Pieces
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I, for one, think you are rather rad.
Kerri Anne’s last blog post..Have Yourself A Felt Mustache Christmas
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You roll like me. I don’t like the phone and e-mail’s the best way to get in touch. We may not talk every day, but that doesn’t mean I’m not thinking of you.
In other words, I’ll take you, if you’ll take me. And we’ll get together whenever. I’m hoping it’s within the next month.
Melanie Nelson’s last blog post..Advice for Blog Design and Blog Goals
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Oh I so need to borrow this. Maybe have it cross-stitched onto a pillow or something.
AprilTara’s last blog post..WAHM Wish
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So true! We all have to let our loved ones know–up front–we got things to do! lol This is very cute and thanks for sharing!
POSHpreneur Clarissa’s last blog post..I’m the Featured Reader at La Dolce Vita
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This is great. I love it.
It makes me feel your love in a way like never before.
Thanks.
And you are entitled to every thing you feel, and I hope everyone gets a chance to be your friend, they would be so lucky.
Love you,
Jen
Jen @ Mommy Instincts’s last blog post..Review/Giveaway ~ Glow Mama
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Well stated. Methinks this is the real Mom Bloggers disclosure policy.
valmg’s last blog post..Mom Central Holiday Gift Guide and giveaway
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you got me twice today! all of which is why I love ya! you know if you ever need anything all ya got to do is holla!
Deb@Bird On A Wire’s last blog post..The BIG Give Day 9
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Great post, A’. LOVE IT. I also completely understand. I go into survival mode sometimes too and it’s all I can do to reply to emails.
Love you girl. And your boobs.
So, when can we hook up for that Carlton Dance? Srsly.
Christy M.’s last blog post..Blog Design Idol
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Well done! I am sad to say that many of those apply to me, too, and I feel so guilty about it. But we do what we have to do, right?
Tara @ Feels like home’s last blog post..Turtle Pumpkin Pie
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That is very honest! It makes me want to be your friend
Dawn Bertuca’s last blog post..Can Men Be Girlfriends? Let us Hear From You!
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This is great – it’s how I roll, too. I’d add “I may have to cancel on you at late notice due to an especially trying time with my spectrum kid, or just because I can’t muster the social energy to leave the house. If you give me a day or two to regroup, I will call you and we can see each other then.”
Velma’s last blog post..I’ve Been Busy, Just Like Everyone Else.
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This is one of the gazillion reasons I am so blessed to have you call me friend. Brava!
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing’s last blog post..Talking With McDreamy
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This is the BESTEST list every, Mind if I borrow it??!!
Kat – Sassy Irish Lassie’s last blog post..tuesday tunage – another giveaway!
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I so wanna be your friend! You have several traits that I do, I’m never on the phone, 99.9% of the time my iPhone is in my hand is for internet, I to prefer email and people can joke about my boobs because they do and that’s fine.
Rock on sista!
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I love this! And yes we can totally be friends
PS- I’m stealing this idea from you
Janelle’s last blog post..And The Winner Is…
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This is exactly why I love you so much, because you know that I will love you too until the end of the days even though I never call you, or forget that you just had that important thing going on and didn’t even ask you how it went.
Katja Presnal’s last blog post..Top Books for Holidays 2008
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A,
We are all in it for the boobs.
Just sayin.
That and you listed all the reasons we all love you.
CE
crookedeyebrow’s last blog post..So glad …
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I LOVE this post Arianne! Love your honesty! ;o)
Melissa’s last blog post..Randoms
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Call me. or email me. Oh, nevermind. I still love you.
Olive U.
Olive U.’s last blog post..My Ten Tips For a Healthy Holiday
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Yup. You’re a keeper. I’ll take one thankyouverymuch!
{{HUGS}}
{{And a little boob grope just to see if they’re as great as everyone says}}
Anissa@Hope4Peyton’s last blog post..Chunky is NOT the new black
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Oh, that first one “I will not return your phone call.” That is SO me. I really need to write up something like this for myself. I think I’ll do just that … and I promise to link back so people know where I got the idea.
Marie Beausoleil’s last blog post..Award! I haz award!
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Luv you, A! I’ll be your friend even if you don’t do the Carlton dance for me, but I sure could use it right now.
Tara @ Deal Seeking Mom’s last blog post..Freebies Roundup: Holiday Recipes, Child ID Kit, Dog Food & More
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Love this! Thinking about emailing it to everyone in my address book…except the boob part!
bee’s last blog post..A Simple Christmas
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{{{HUGS}}}
I hope things settle down at home. I can only imagine how exhausted you must be. {{{HUGS}}}
Janice (5 Minutes for Mom)’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday — Billy the Kid gets a Hug
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I’m not a blogger, but working all day and many times into the wee hours of the morning, I can completely relate to this post. I think this is a great disclaimer for so many working moms!
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I am SO hugging you right now because whether you want to believe it or not, you are a wonderful person and owe not one single person anything. YOU are YOU and that’s what makes people adore you. From the minute I met you not so long ago, I knew you would be “one of those friends” who I could pick up with right where I left off…one of those friends where I could lose touch with for 6 months and then never miss a beat.
Don’t worry – these comments aren’t a big pity party for you ; ) – they are a testimonial to what friendship is. A true friend would know that, right off the bat.
AND (you know me, there’s always an “and”), for being as stressed out as you say you are (and believe me, I’m sure you are), you come across as one of the most calm and collected people that I know. And THAT, my friend, is inspiring and that is what draws me to you…to your friendship.
That was a lot of “ands”. xoxo Do your thang sistah.
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I wish more people would be understanding that the things on your list don’t make a bad friend, they make a human. I’ve lost friends over my inability to return phone calls, and it’s not that I don’t want to talk to people… it’s just that sometimes I can’t find the time to pick up the phone because I work all day, then just want to come home and spend time with my family. It’s not that I don’t or won’t make time for friends, too, it’s just that I don’t want that time to be phone time.
And I love that an hour after meeting you, you hilariously explained to me the various jokes about your boobs and how they came to be. Loved it.
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Yep, that pretty much sums you up. And we love you for exactly who you are.
In fact, A lot of what you say is me. Maybe we’re related
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Preach it sista!
You've just summed up everything about me.
Well almost.
I'll let you pick which one doesn't reflect me.
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Oh gosh, you are so my Sister. How do we have this same disease of hating the phone- and not calling people back? You at least keep your phone by you- I "mysteriously" lose it every day- because I wish people would just stop calling. LOL Can I repost this, and um give the same disclaimer? The only friends I have are friends that get this- sucks but its me (us!)
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I hope you're ok. Is someone making you think you're a bad person? Well you're not, no. Never ever. Never. I <3 you *hugs*
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arianne! what a great post.
you're an awesome person, a great friend, and just an all around swell gal. xoxo
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I am the same exact way! Remember when we say each other every day and talked all the time? It was great! Then we all moved! I still love you and I know you are still my friend. We talk when we talk and when we do it's picking up right where we left off!
I totally get it!
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I LOVE THIS…it's as if you tapped my being to write it! I say all the time…I am who I am, but I'm loyal
Thanks for this!
@ZaraGreen on Twitter
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The first two are so me right now also. What a great post!
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I want to be your friend-it would be like being friends with myself! Love that post.
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This was a great post! I could have said most of those things myself… it's so hard sometimes to juggle it all. It sounds like you are surrounded by some wonderful women who really understand you. I think you're an awesome friend and an amazing mother!
Brittany
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You're so awesome Arianne!!! : ) I don't think many people are as open and genuine about who they are.
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Even worse for me? I read blogs intermittently at best!
Glad to know someone shares my phone phobia around here!!! I'll take ya just as you are… If you'll remind me that I said this sometime in a few weeks! ((hug))
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Just a big F*** YOU to your "friends" Return calls within 24 hours, dash off an email. This is just lame.
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And when we schedule a meeting and I don't show up you can be sure I'm doing something extremely important and necessary. So, don't be angry me, just be happy you know me. Simply by existing I shine benefits on those who are in my world.
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I love your first one: "I will not return your phone calls." HA! That statement made me smile because I also have an odd aversion to the phone. I much prefer e-mail or text-messaging or in-person meetings.
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