Tag Archives: kids

Help a sister out…

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Summer is upon us and so there is a season (10 weeks to be precise)…in which we don’t have to routinely wake children up at the crack of dawn, I have so much time in the morning I am frequently “almost late” to work and the pace overall is just more relaxed.  I love it.

This summer has begun with our 11 year-old beginning her orthodontic treatment…beginning with the Herbst appliance.

imgresLet’s just say, yesterday was a little miserable for her.  I made more smoothies and shakes in a day than I normally do all month.  She’s a trooper though, and we are quite stocked up on Tylenol!

Next week, our almost-10 year old will have her tonsils out.  (If you have any pointers here, comment away, I’m alllllll ears).  She’s had strep a ridic amount of times and we are ALL looking forward to getting these out.  Not so much on the 2 week recovery period!  WHAT?!?!??!?

Which brings me to this:  next week, post-op, I’ll be home with the girl and have some free time on my hands.  Hoping my camera will be back so I can play with some tutorials, or maybe re-design my blog or maybe read a book….wide open.  What are YOUR suggestions…do tell….and NOW…..I must get my rear in gear or I’ll be later for work!!!!

She let go

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NO!!! Stop looking at prom dresses and bridesmaid gowns!!

NO!!! Stop looking at prom dresses and bridesmaid gowns!!

It’s the end-of-the-year craziness and the other night we had to drop our baby (4th grader) off at her teacher’s house for a class party—-she is THE coolest teacher!!  Walking up to the group gathered on the front lawn and to say a “howdy” prior to making a break for the band concert with our 7th grader, I subconsciously put my hand out for our little girl to hold on to…which she did….and then——she let go.  She.  Let.  Go.  WHAT?!?!?!?  THE?!?!??!!  WHAT?!?!!?!?  I’m still reeling from this.  This girl-child.  Our baby.  Is my shadow, my velcro-baby, the youngest, the diva, the high-maintenance, quality time, physical touch, child.  And sometimes I just don’t want to be touched.  Sometimes I need my space.  Now.  I’m thinking I may have gotten my wish as she crosses over to the too-cool-to-hold-hands-with-my-mom age.  I’m dying inside.  Dying, I tell you.

Mother’s Day Wrap-up

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Happy Mother’s Day to my mom, and all moms out there.  We’re having a nice day here so far….I woke up with a headache/migraine-starter, 50% chance of rain expected for the afternoon BUUUUUUUUT……I have Excedrin on board, with coffee, Hubby is making breakfast, our youngest couldn’t wait to give me her present (which promptly made me cry) and she promised to smile this year for our picture.  Here’s hoping for the best!

Today though, I realize that it hasn’t always been such a super day for me and it isn’t such a super day for everyone else.  In fact, today can be a painful reminder for many women.  Today I’ll remember my cousins who buried their mom a few weeks ago and other friends whose moms have passed away over the years.  I’ll remember friends who are estranged from their mothers and struggle and doubt their own motherhood and parenting (which, BTW is phenomenal!!) .  I’ll remember friends who’ve never had a chance to be a mother due to infertility.   I’ll remember friends who have lost children.  I’ll remember friends who  care for special needs children.  I’ll remember friends who are single mothers.  I’ll remember friends who are struggling with prodigal children.  I’ll remember friends  who might be let down by the commercialism and in-your-face-ness of the perfect Mother’s Day.

This morning and this day I cried a few times, tears of joy and love, from a heart filled with gratitude toward my husband who is setting a beautiful example for our children through our marriage and his parenting, for children who test me, teach me, love me, forgive me, make me laugh and make each day better just by being part of our family.

 

Blast from the past!

Blast from the past!

Me, my Mom and my sister

Me, my Mom and my sister

Last year. Just keepin' it real. Truly a favorite picture!!

Last year. Just keepin’ it real. Truly a favorite picture!!

Mom's photo after Mass, my awesome necklace, cake and card.

Mom’s photo after Mass, my awesome necklace, cake and card.

And so the kid photo is a little blurry…Hubby is no fan of the iPhone camera and gave me full permission (demanded) I get my real camera fixed….beautiful necklace of which you can design your own HERE, the Publix cake and sweet girl’s card/letter to me.  And just think, my birthday is only 4 days away and we can do this AGAIN!!!!

Flashback Friday..QuickTakes Style!

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Phew.  Friday.  Thank you, God!!!

For a wrap up of the week I’m hanging with Jen and the peeps all sharing about our week..go visit, bring coffee…and a donut…or if you are eating clean, maybe some hardboiled eggs.

As for me, I’ve got a few flashback moments of kiddos…I guess all these graduations are making me a little nostalgic!

— 1 —

The dangers of going commando.  Our youngest son, in 3rd grade, learned a difficult lesson in the importance of wearing underpants.  A classmate decided that “pantsing people” (you know, randomly yanking down pants of unsuspecting or suspecting people and running away) on the playground would be fun.  Our son and some friends thought it funny and the 6 of them just chased each other around (our son had a belt on and felt invincible) until the mastermind of the game had the tables turned, our son pantsed him and much to everyone’s surprise….the kid was commando.  Game over.  All 6 boys were suspended for the day, our son got a 2 day suspension (since he was the ill-fated puller-downer-of-the no undies boy–don’t even get me started).  He doesn’t “pants” anymore and I sure hope the kid who was “exposed” learned to put on some underpants.  Funny now.  Not so funny then.

— 2 —

Our oldest girl has begun the braces.  3rd child.    If only thumb-sucking wasn’t so cute in little kids…..she has her spacers in and impressions taken and next week we go for the next step.  It brought back memories of our oldest when he had his braces and expander and HEADGEAR at night.  Oh the crazy of the hair in the a.m.  Good times.  Goooood times.

— 3 —

Our youngest sweet pea was a real stinker when she was little.  She still gives us a run for our sanity, but when she was about 2 she would stand at the top of the stairs in the middle of the night at the gate and bang on the wall for me yelling at the top of her lungs…”Mama….I talking to you”.  A bullhorn would have been less intrusive to sleep….

— 4 —

Another time, I put her on the balcony for a time out and she banged on the side of the house so loud the back neighbors came running because they thought it was a gun shot.  True words.  Last time I picked that spot for a time out…..epic parenting fail.

— 5 —

When I had my first knee surgery, our oldest daughter was being sweet and figured she’d share a Warhead candy with me.  I was in bed, propped up, immobile.  And apparently a sucker…..Have you ever had one?  No?  Well, go to your local convenience store, grab your video, open the wrapper and let the YouTube viral hits begin.  My mouth still salivates and tingles just hearing the word “Warhead” and my daughter tries to repeat the episode from time to time….uh uh…ain’t gonna happen.  But you go ahead….

— 6 —

The time our youngest son—-hoo wee…this kid’s got a bunch of ’em—-decided at about 6 years old to make a slingshot in the backyard/woods out of 2 young saplings (still attached to the tree).  He was successful for about a few turns, until that ONE rock backfired and busted him in the mouth…cracking 2 teeth and bloodying his EVERYWHERE….oh….the….blood…In the end, he didn’t lose any teeth, there was a fracture but the root was spared and there was a slight gap and two front teeth chipped.  He’s 13 now and since he’s finished with braces we finally got the teeth bonded.  He didn’t want to do it since it was such a part of his history…but it made Mama feel better.  And we all know that when Mama’s happy….it’s allllllllll good.

— 7 —

Mother’s day is upon us….Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mamas out there….babies, fur babies and spiritual babies, May God Bless your mothering spirit!!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Parents, keep fighting the fight!

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I have several friends with teenagers who are struggling, and struggling mightily with a wide variety of teen angst and issues and I’ve been praying for and with them pretty regularly now.  It’s heart wrenching.  It’s terrifying.  It’s real.  It’s life.  It’s a time of exercising Trust and Faith in the One who these children ultimately belong to.  Hoping and praying we’ve built that solid foundation.  Praying we’ve planted that mustard seed on fertile soil.  With 4 kiddos of our own and two who are currently teens, I have full expectations that we too, will face our own struggles in these hormone-laden years.  We watch and we wait and we live each day in trial and error, learning as we go and gleaning wisdom and example from those around us.

Teenagers.  Hormones.  Frontal lobe nerve myelination.    These are the days where we must. pray. without. ceasing. (really, every day is)   I came across this quote during my readings this morning:

The faults of children are not always imputed to the parents, especially when they have instructed them and given good example. Our Lord, in His wonderous Providence, allows children to break the hearts of devout fathers and mothers. Thus the decisions your children have made don’t make you a failure as a parent in God’s eyes. You are entitled to feel sorrow, but not necessarily guilt. Do not cease praying for your children; God’s grace can touch a hardened heart. Commend your children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. When parents pray the Rosary,at the end of each decade they should hold the Rosary aloft and say to her,”With these beads bind my children to your Immaculate Heart”, she will attend to their souls.

— St. Louise de Marillac

There is hope, parents.  There is grace abundant.  Keep fighting the fight.

Happy Papal Inauguration Day!