Full of cares

Writing this post today I’m full of worry. Figured doing some writing would be therapeutic.

First and foremost care today is that my son has the flu. As in influenza. Which makes me a very sad mama. I hate seeing my little boy looking listless. I hate listening to his coughing. My husband and I were up multiple times last night with the Peanut, taking his temperature (about 101˚F), keeping him propped up so he could breathe better, and rocking rocking rocking in the dark. As my mom told me after the Peanut was born, “you’ll never be free from worry again,” and boy, was she right. A trip to the doctor today yielded what I already knew. We’re to give the Peanut lots of fluids, feed him if he’s hungry but don’t force food, keep a humidifier going in his bedroom, let him scoot around in just a diaper to keep cool, alternate infant Advil and Tylenol, and make sure he gets lots of sleep. I nipped out to the store after his appointment and stocked up on ingredients for a couple different soups. Planning to make lots of soup tonight in case the husband and I get sick, too, so we don’t have to cook. I know the Peanut will be better in a few days, but I can’t help being troubled when my baby is sick.

Second care is what’s happening in the legislature in my state. Montana has extremely antiquated liquor laws. And it would seem this legislature has declared open season against the breweries. The Montana Tavern Association (representing the bars) is hell bent on ruining the brewing industry in this state because god forbid a different alcohol industry is successful. And since the MTA is so powerful, they have many legislators in their pocket. Truly terrifying. Basically the MTA wants to limit the amount of beer breweries can sell in their taprooms far less than what they must distribute (in other words… sell to the bars at vastly reduced prices). The brewery my husband and I are opening is a business model based on 100 percent taproom sales. Everything we’ve done so far is in accordance with state laws. I don’t know what we’ll do if the legislature makes the boneheaded move to limit this booming industry. I don’t why on god’s green earth the legislature would want to limit an industry that employs more than 400 people, with profits of more than $50 million and more than $1.5 million in state taxes. Stupid, shortsighted. And so worrying. We’re terrified our business is going to be ruined before we even get open. If you read this blog and you live in Montana, I’d appreciate a call to your legislators to tell them to limit the brewing industry is madness. I’m in the process of drafting a letter to my legislators, and I really hope it has some effect. What seriously dampened my spirits last week was learning that the speaker of the house is a tavern owner. Makes things feel a bit hopeless. We’ve been trying to rally our social media following, though. The more people who call their legislators, the better.

There are other cares, too, that I won’t share here. But any thoughts/prayers/good vibes are appreciated.

Time to get back to working while I can while the Peanut naps.