iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Was doing a craft with my 5YO and asked where her scissors were and next thing I know our house is covered in sticky notes saying, "Where are my green scissors?" And "Find them!"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I was so distracted this morning that I didn't realize I was still in my pink and purple cloud cat pajama pants until I dropped my kiddo off at school. 🙈

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Pretty proud of the Rubble I drew on my kid's lunch bag this morning tbh

Drawing of Rubble from PAW Patrol on a brown lunch bag saying, "Let's bow-wow build!"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Told 5YO we'd only watch 2 eps of TV, but fell asleep. Woke up and see intro playing. I think, "Oh no, it must be too many, I need to stop it," only to suddenly have my child's face in mine saying, "Shhh, shh, go back to sleep Mommy. It's fine." She even rubbed my shoulder. I let it slide. 🤣

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Introduced my 5YO to DnD mechanics. When needing to cross the ocean, she tells me she wants to "sneak past it". No elaboration. I say, "Sure, but it'll be a hard roll. You have to get higher than an 18." SHE GOT A NAT 20. So now I was the fool who had to explain how she snuck past the ocean.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

5YO is putting barrettes on her stuffed animals, but then says, "Oh, that one can't wear one because he is a boy. Only girls can." So of course I push back and ask why boys can't. She gives the most dramatic sigh in the world and says, "Mommy, some things are beyond our knowing."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Good to be home!! But low key mad I missed the warm spell in Minnesota. 😒

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

I just got to this hotel and it's literally trying to roast me. I know I hate the cold, but this is too much, even for me. 🥵

Thermostat set to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Eternally conflicted between A) loving to visit different places and seeing people I haven't seen IRL in a while And B) detesting the act of traveling, in particular via plane

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

My 4YO this morning: "Wow, Mommy, look! Santa got me the doll you wouldn't get me at the store!!!" 🤣

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 25/12/2024

Me at a restaurant trying to remind my child to say "thank you" to the waitress: "What do we say?" My 4YO: "Good job!" 🫡👍

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Sometimes you forget how innocent a child views the world until your almost 5YO asks you, "Are robbers real?" in a tone that indicates they very much do not think so.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 24/06/2024

Comic 2,542! She's a very wholesome gamer. ;o;

My 4-year-old sits on the couch with me while I'm playing a game and asks, "Mommy, can I try?" I reply, "Yeah, of course!" I watch her play and miss a lot of jumps. She starts to apologize a lot: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I say, "You don't have to apologize. It's normal to make mistakes." She responds, "Nooo! I'm saying sorry to YOSHI!" On the TV, Yoshi is on fire and burning to a crisp in a pit of lava as she adds, "Sorry Yoshi!!!"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 23/06/2024

Our 4YO has gotten into Pokemon and we got her a Pokemon "search and find" book. She points to Vaporeon, exclaims, "That's me! I love water!" and then proceeded to pick up her water bottle and chug it like her life depended on it.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 11/06/2024

Comic 2,541! Me, before: "I don't mind if the animals eat one as a treat." Me, now: "BETRAYAL!!! YOU'VE ABUSED MY TRUST!!!"

Drawing of a close-up of a strawberry plant with a single bite taken out of it. The next drawing shows me looking a little miffed as I say, "My strawberries were only worth a single bite, huh? Might as well have finished it...." In the next panel, all the strawberries are gone! In the next, a flower is dug out of the ground and upside down! I scream and ruffle through my hair in distress. I yell while I look at the garden carnage, "I didn't mean you could eat ALL of them!!! You even dug up my flowers?!"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 07/06/2024

Comic 2,540! I committed and couldn't back out now!

My 4YO comes up to me and says, "Mommy, can we play one more level before bed?" I shrug and answer, "Yeah, sure. How long could it take?" The next drawing shows my husband looking at us on the couch. He sys, "Why is she still up? Bedtime was an hour ago!" I grimace while our daughter cheerfully says, "It's the final boss, Daddy!" I nervously try to explain with, "I didn't realize it was the final level!!", "Or that it would take so long!", "If I stop now, we'll have to do it all over!" and finally, "I DON'T WANT TO DO IT AGAIN."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 06/06/2024

Comic 2,539! Like mother, like daughter.

Drawing of me cutting vegetables at the counter and asking my daughter, who is four, "Can you put the plates on the table for me, please?" She says, "Uh-huh!! I can help!" I begin to look confused, saying, "Huh? Uh... Where are you taking them?" She looks up also confused from the living room, holding the plates, and says, "Huh?" I reply, "The plates. You walked right past the table." She laughs and says, "Oh yeah! I don't know!" While I think to myself, "Oh no. She's already just like me!"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 04/06/2024

Comic 2,538! An offer I couldn't refuse. 🙈

Drawing of me in bed with a grumpy face as a certain voice yells, "Mommy! Momma! Momma! Mommy!" Once out of bed, I wearily ask my child, "Okay... WHY are we awake so early?" She asks cheerfully, "Can we play Kirby before school?!" I make a serious face and after grumbling some mental calculations....we do. We sit on the couch together in front of the TV. Next to me, she yells, "A bad guy! Get' em, Mommy, get 'em!!!" I reply, "I'm working on it!!! I need that treasure first, though."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 31/05/2024

Comic 2,537! Praising someone else for behavior we want to see is also incredibly effective. 🤣

Drawing of our four year old wandering away from the table with her spoon during dinner. I sigh, and then say to my husband, "I LOVE how you're sitting so well at the table to eat, Daddy..." He replies, "Ohh, why, thank you." Our daughter stops what she's doing and RUNS back to her chair, yelling, "Wait! Waaaaait!" Once in her seat, she exclaims, "What about ME, Mommy?!?!" I say, "WOW, thank you so much for eating at the table AND sitting in your seat!" She yells happily, "YOU'RE WELCOME!!"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 30/05/2024

Comic 2,536! Our daughter is entering her Animal Fact Era™️ and I love that for her.

Drawing of my 4-year-old looking starry eyed as she says, "Oppossum moms carry their babies on their back like a BUS! I LOVE them!! They are my favorite!" Then while excitedly looking at a flower, she says, "A flower! Hummingbirds love red ones most. Did you know that?" Sneaking over the back of furniture, she then says, "Hey...do you wanna know about WEASELS? They're REAL animals, you know..." Finally, outside, she spots a bee. She points and yells, "This is a bee!! It's a pollinator! And makes honey!" I reply, "That's right! You sure know a lot."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 28/05/2024

Comic 2,535! This is by no means the Full Story of things that have been going on, but a piece of it. (And I obviously cannot speak to my daughter's perspective; only my own as a parent.)

Drawings accompanied by text. Text reads: "Our daughter once choked. The food got stuck in her esophagus. We never predicted in those days what it would lead to. Fear is not always rational. It cannot be bribed or washed away with logic. It can make the sweetest treats feel like poison. We have to disregard all those diet and food rules we were raised on. A good day is to eat at all, no matter what it is. We have to be clm, optimistic, and brave when she cannot. But often it can feel so isolating and draining. Like no one understands it except for us and a few doctors. We're watching others live their lives... while we feel stuck in a loop we can't escape."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 27/05/2024

Comic 2,534! Kids be like, "How long does it take grown-ups to feel better? Like a minute?"

Drawing starts with me telling my daughter, who is 4, "Mommy and Daddy feel a little sick, so we're just going to watch you play while we rest, okay?" She says cheerfully, "Uh-huh! You got it! I can play all by myself!"

We start to drift off to the sound of her playing...only to suddenly be awoken by her yelling, "WATCH THIS!!! I'm a tiger! RAWR!!!!" as she leaps off the armrest of the couch on top of us.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 26/05/2024

Comic 2,533! Noticing my child doing things right and thanking them for it has been the most rewarding thing in parenting for me. ♥️

Comic. In the first drawing, I see my 4-year-old throwing away her own trash. I say, "WOW, you threw away your own garbage! Thank you! That's a really big help to keep the house clean." She says, "You're welcome!"

In the next drawing, I'm snuggling my daughter as I tuck her into bed. I say with a smile, "Thank you for playing with me today! I had so much fun." She smiles shyly and replies, "Heheh. You're welcome! I loved playing with you too."

Then we're eating at the table when my daughter says, "Mommy, I LOVE the way you eat with your mouth closed." That's something I've praised her for! I laugh out a "thank you."

Finally, while walking with her, I tell her, "You did a really job listening and following directions back there. I really appreciate it." She says, "You're welcome! Mommy, I feel good when you say that." I answer, "Yeah. I feel good when I help and am thanked too."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 24/05/2024

Comic 2,532! The saga continues in an inevitable way. 🥲 (But it looks like I did nothing since the clutter is still there rip)

Shows me cleaning wildly: vacuuming, mopping, dishes, and more! James pops up looking thoughtful and says, "Yesterday was too overwhelming, but today you're a monster...what gives?" We stare at each other in silence for a minute. Then I finally admit, "I... I'm avoiding other tasks." (He replies, "Ah, that explains it.")

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 22/05/2024

Comic 2,531! Logic: "A little goes a long way." My brain: "DO EVERYTHING OR IT'S A FAILURE!"

Comic. In the first panel, I'm exclaiming with a determined face, "I'm gunna do it!! I'll clean this WHOLE room!!!" Next panel shows me standing nervously in the room, surrounded by clutter and chaos. Then James pops his head out and says, "Huh? What happened? I thought you were going to clean." I collapse on the ground in despair and lament, "I was immediately overwhelmed when I realized the scope and gave up." James says, "Ah... that's fair. You know you should only do a bit at a time." I reply, "I both know and keep forgetting."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 22/05/2024

Comic 2,530! Me, crying in the doctor's office: "I have friends! I DO!!!" Doctor, writing furiously in their notes, "Uh-huh. Of course."

Message on my phone reads, "Please fill out this form before your appointment." I say, "okie dokie!" and begin to fill it out. One question gives me pause: "How often do you see your friends?" The only options are "multiple times per week" or "never". I say nervously, "Uh. Well. Not EVERY week, but...Is NEVER really my ONLY other option?! I swera I have friends! We're all just busy!!"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 21/05/2024

Comic 2,529! An additional "what I've been up to" post. I almost forgot how much joy can be in the creative process. 😭

I recently dyed my hair purple to help me feel more like "me" and less just "mom" and "work". And I LOVE it! I've also been writing gain. Just a little. But it builds. And know what? I'm even having a lot of fun again. I've been doing much better about letting out words without being critical at the same time. It's made it a lot easier to actually write. And it's also made it something else: joyful. And that joy has given me the strength to draw again and be me.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 19/05/2024

Comic 2,528! It's been quite a few years in general, but the last six months in particular were especially difficult. Some days are still tough, but we're also having more good ones.

Comic text: "We lost Oliver unexpectedly last year. It was really hard for all of us. This year started off challenging with our girl in the hospital for two weeks, and then another week a month later. It's been a long road to recovery. But we're all getting there. On the bright side, it has helped me refocus on my priorities and taking care of myself too. We are coming to the other side stronger as a family and with more love than ever."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 08/01/2024

4YO has been pretending to read since she could hold a book. As she's gotten older, her frustration about not being able to read increases. Once she figures it out, it's game over for bedtime and my wallet for sure.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 02/01/2024

One time my kiddo told me she was going to eat me, and I said, "Okay, as long as it's pretend." She took one big pretend bite and then started to cry because she "didn't want to see my bones." Fair. Me neither.

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Reposted by Laura Kajpust

Nilah "Nine Jobs" Magruder @nilahmagruder.com · 04/11/2023

"How's the book plotting coming?" Oh not bad

Screen capture of a window in Scrivener displaying a hierarchy of folders and text documents. Within a folder named Book One Outline is a sequence of documents named: outline 1.7, oh no not another outline, return of the outline. Below is another folder, this one named Past Outlines, and texts named outline 1.0 to 1.6. Below that is a folder named Book One Graveyard.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 02/11/2023

I love when my sister does voice to text while driving home from work because sometimes I get gems like this in the middle of the conversation.

A text message that says "oh shit somebody is what the fuck are you what the fuck"

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 28/10/2023

What I provide my child: a nice hearty soup for a cold day 🍲☺️ What my child eats: a science experiment 🧪

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 25/10/2023

I apologize for the kind of driver I am when my 3YO is behind me demanding I put a song on Spotify that she cannot name, sing, or describe in any way while insisting every guess is disgustingly and offensively incorrect.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 21/10/2023

How it started: My 3YO asking, "How does the baby get out [of their mom's belly]?" How it's going: My 3YO looking between her legs and exclaiming, "BABIES COME OUT YOUR BUTT?!?!"

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Reposted by Laura Kajpust

Neil Gaiman @neilhimself.neilgaiman.com · 02/07/2023

By my friend and former neighbour John Cuneo. Every artist's nightmare. I encourage you to read the text.

Magazine cover. A drawing of a man drawing, while a woman tells him that AI is going to take his job. It's much more fun than that though. And funny. I didn't describe it very well.

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Reposted by Laura Kajpust

Nilah "Nine Jobs" Magruder @nilahmagruder.com · 14/10/2023

I'm here to really hammer home that creators in the publishing industry are not employees. When you see rates and advance numbers, artists only get SOME of that money. A huge percentage goes to taxes, representation, insurance, etc. Take that number and cut it in half. That's what creators live on.

polygon.com

The comics industry has left creators to drown, so some are building lifeboats

Cooperatives, basic income, and solidarity in the wake of #ComicsBrokeMe

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 10/10/2023

ME: "Seems like I'm doing all the work here. What are you doing??" 🧐 3YO: "Being very funny and coloring." 😇

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 17/09/2023

My 3YO opened kitchen drawers and refused to let anyone close them because she was mad at me and knows what my pet peeves are. 😂😭💀

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 13/09/2023

My 3YO running away from me with a skip in her step: "I don't know aaaanythiiiing!!!!" 😌🎶 🤷‍♀️ Ok? Same.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 13/09/2023

My 3YO from her car seat: "Mommy...when Ariel has legs, does she use a potty?" Me: "Yup." 3YO: "Ok." (pause) "But when she has fins -- where does she poop?" Me: "Uh. In the water. Like a fish?" Parenting books do not prepare you for these conversations, I tell ya-- 😭💀💩

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 11/09/2023

The type of audacity I strive to have is that of my 3-year-old saying, "This is not a negotiation!!" after declaring what she wants. 🤣💀

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 09/09/2023

I'd always been the type of person who would get depressed over angry, so anger was not an emotion I felt very familiar dealing with. And it also wasn't something I expected to feel so much after being a parent. But some days the exhaustion, overwhelm, and frustration really get me.

Intense closeup of my face look tense and thinking to myself, "Don't lose your shit. Don't lose your shit. Don't--" I finally say aloud, "Mommy feels very tense and hot. I'm angry. I'm going to take a minute to calm down." I go into the hallway, take a big inhale of breath, and then breath out fire while thinking curse words. Feeling better, I march back into the room and boldly say, "OKAY. Now I can help YOU calm down too." to my child. "We can do this."

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Reposted by Laura Kajpust

Nilah "Nine Jobs" Magruder @nilahmagruder.com · 08/09/2023

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree is for everyone who's already living in the year 3000 when their OCs have retired from saving the world and finally opened up that quaint downtown cafe they've been dreaming about.

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 07/09/2023

This same child was also devastated about not being invited to our wedding from on account of having not been born yet.

I'm sitting on a rug, my 3-year-old daughter on my lap as I read to her. "It was love at first sight," I read. Then I add, "Just like when Mommy met Daddy!" My child turns to me with huge tearful eyes and cries, "B-but not ME?" I panic and hurry to reassure her with, "Of COURSE I loved you right when I saw you!! BEFORE you were born even!! When you were the size of a bean!" Having made a full recovery, she cheerfully replies, "Oh, okay. Good."

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 07/09/2023

Our town took a vote for where to build a community garden. Since I voted, I got to see the public record of what everyone else said too. Some people were against it...because of..."crime"??? I genuinely want to know what potential Big Crime is expected to go down in the gardens. Tomato theft??

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Laura Kajpust @delusioninabox.bsky.social · 03/09/2023

I 100% thought we were going to be trapped forever in a play tower for a while there to be honest. 😳 The relief upon us finally getting out via slide truly made me appreciate being alive lmao

My 3-year-old starts climbing up a tower made up of climbing ropes and says, "Mommy, climb up with me!" I reply, "There's no way I'll fir in those gaps." Soon she's high on top screaming, "AAHHH! Mommy, I can't get down!!" I'm struggling to reach her and reply, "And I can't get up...! Slide down, I'll catch you!" She grabs the ropes and starts to lower herself down. (We're both like "ahhh!") Then we finally make it out the tall slide, screaming, "Ahhhhh" until we finally reach the bottom and can exclaim, "We're free!"

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