Yesterday was the ultimate perfect day. The first warm day where the sun shines bringing to life all the energy that has been sediment for the winter. The first day the air smells hopeful. The first day the kids can play outside all day long. After breakfast, through lunch, until dinner and then after dinner.
It’s a bit of a tease though. The warm weather won’t hold. There is more cold on the way. But in a way, that makes a day like yesterday even more precious.
Categories: Maggie · Nicholas · parenting - my way
Tagged: hello sunshine, spring tease
Snow day number eight of the year. Yes, we’re getting a little nutso around here. But, I pulled the easel out of the basement and look! It’s new again! Shiny! Let’s all use the easel for three hours. (Whatever works, right?)
They took turns. They shared. They worked together. It was a beautiful thing. Hours, my friends. Hours.
Then Nick decided that he wanted to work on the side that Maggie was working on. She wasn’t ready to give it up yet, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
So, get this, he spotted Maggie’s favorite new doll, Chloe, and carried her over to the stairs. He threw Chloe onto the staircase so she would fall down four stairs to the floor.
“Maggie, you need to help Chloe. She fell down the stairs,” he said in his most innocent voice.
Well played, little man. Well played.
Too bad his big sister “wrote the book” on this type of subterfuge.
“She’ll be fine. I’m busy,” she casually said. And with that calm statement, he was forced to patiently wait his turn.
And then about fifteen minutes later the easel was not new or shiny or fun anymore and all hell broke out.
Categories: Maggie · Nicholas · parenting - my way
Tagged: easel, snow day, subterfuge
Writing Prompt from the Blissdom Writer’s Craft Wisdom Workshop:
What I Left at Home
For the third time in his life, I left my son overnight.
I am his constant. His guide. And today, I am gone.
I left him for one night a year ago to come to this same place. A place for me. Six months ago, I left him for two nights to visit friends whom I hadn’t seen in 20 years.
This trip is three nights. Nights I have chosen to be away. Nights where he will call for me and cry for me.
Or not. Maybe he will surprise me and be completely comfortable in his own house, with his dad and his sister. Without me.
The last glimpse I saw of his face, he was sobbing and calling for me, afraid to go to his new classroom. Wanting me to go with him. To be his constant. To be his guide.
It hurts to think of him missing me. Needing me. While I’ve chosen to be somewhere else.
But I will come back stronger and better. A happier person. A better mom. He will learn to depend on others. Maybe even depend on himself a little bit.
And in three days, I will come home to him and hold him in my arms. And he will be my constant, once again.
Categories: Nicholas · parenting - my way
Tagged: blissdom, missing my son
The ring bearer and the flower girl.
Enamored.
Categories: Maggie · Nicholas
Tagged: beach, memories, wedding
Happy birthday to my favorite little guy.
(Your sister sends her love, too.)
Categories: Brigid · Nicholas · parenting - my way
Tagged: and his sister dresses him funny, birthday, my baby isn't a baby anymore
Things I will cherish forever:
The look on Maggie’s face when she is beyond excited.
The look on Maggie’s face when she has accidentally hurt someone and is about to break into tears.
Holding my son’s hand as he falls asleep.
The sound of my son’s cry when he feels he has been wronged.
Taking time out to play hide and seek.
Finding they would rather cook breakfast with me than play with new toys.
Categories: Brigid · Maggie · Nicholas · parenting - my way
Tagged: children, mothering, the deepest love
Long gone are the days of excuse me. Now we have moved on to “What?”
Like Nick’s many facial expressions and ways of pointing as a youngster, one word now can be said in 35 different ways with as many different meanings.
What?
It can mean anything from “What is that?” to “I didn’t hear you,” to “Why are we doing this?” to “I’m ignoring what you are saying and will continue to repeat this word until you give up and leave me alone.”
Nick and I have had five-minute conversations in which the only word either of us utters is what, over and over. He’s asking some coded question and I’m trying to get him to give me more information.
His intonation and facial expressions make all the difference. And he’s got those in spades.
Scrunched eyebrows and an old man’s voice – What?
Sweet smile and a lilt in his voice – What?
Resistance-is-futile monotone – What?
The best part is that it still makes me laugh. We can say what to each other all day long and it’s like a joke that only we understand.
I fear the day he learns the power of the word “Why?”
Categories: Nicholas · parenting - my way
Tagged: my sweet boy, why is going to be a whole different story
We took our family photo this morning, complete with raindrops, a wonky tripod leg and many laughs. I’m saving that photo for our Christmas cards.
Here is one that makes me smile.
Categories: Brigid · Maggie · Nicholas
Tagged: these children make my heart sing
Just stealing a quick moment while at my in-laws. Nick did a cough/vomit thing (OK, it was only a tiny bit of vomit, but to me, vomit is vomit) a little earlier that, of course, sent me to my knees for a few hours. But it appears to be a fluke and he seems to be fine. I actually ate a little and everyone seems well. Whew.
The kids are soaking up all the cousin time they can get. I am enjoying a bit of sitting around time, and that is always a good thing. And I’m awake. And not yawning. And that is a good thing too. It’s like I’m a different person than I was just a few days ago. I like the new me a whole lot more. (As does anyone who has spent any time with me lately.)
Categories: Brigid · Nicholas · parenting - my way
Tagged: Vomit false alarm
Brigid Day