rose: i've been reading a book that rachel recommended called "annabel". it's about an intersex person in labrador in the 1970s. it's really nicely written. it's got me thinking a lot about gender. and how they say that gender is a social construct. i definitely feel that gender roles are a social construct. but if gender itself was a social construct, then wouldn't everyone raised as a boy, feel like a boy? or vice versa? i think that sex and gender are more complicated than that. which is why trans-gendered people are becoming much more common and part of our social fabric. anyway, it's great having a good book to read. i'm thankful.

thorn: well, we've been turned down for childcare subsidy from the city. which is annoying and frustrating, because it was based on my income for the entire year, which includes 8 months of EI – that i'm no longer receiving. we should manage fine without it, it just would've been nice to have that extra help. i'll just need to adjust my thinking when it comes to money. i'm used to having money for trips and renovations. i still prioritize taking trips, so we'll probably need to live without renos for a few years. i guess these are the types of sacrifices and penny-pinching that will be worth it to have more time with my kids.