gratitude – Page 5 – Writes for all Mommies

children, family, gratitude, health, kids, motherhood

Love is Patient, Love is Kind

10/09/201320/09/2013 WFAM

I’m actually kind of speechless. Since I am a writer what does that make me? Wordless?

I cannot wrap my brain around the fact that we were given the greenlight to have my dog come home. About two years before I started this blog, we had to relocate her because T.Puzzle wa allergic to her. It was heartbreaking to lose her but it was the right thing to do. He basically had a runny nose for the entire first year and half of his life. I knew as soon as the words ‘dog allergy’ left the doctor’s mouth, my dog had to go.

As the years have gone by, T.Puzzle’s health began to improve. His eczema vanished, he outgrew his egg allergy and he had less and less sick days at school. Recently, I had started to suspect that his dog allergy had diminished as well. For my own peace of mind I scheduled an allergy test. It showed a vast improvement in his dog allergy which means my little, white fluffy ball of love can come home!

She is not a perfect dog and certainly no longer a puppy. She is sometimes a dog only a ‘mother’ could love. It is also very possible T.Puzzle may not respond well to having her around. There are a lot of variables I have no control over.

What I can control is how much I love her. I plan to care for her for as long as I have her. I want to give back to her at least some of the unconditional love that she has given me. She sat with me every day while I had the worst morning sickness of my life during my pregnancy with Full Speed. She would snuggle up for the long haul when I had yet another pregnancy related migraine or vein infection in my legs (yes, it is miraculous I endeavored pregnancy twice). It was during that time that she taught me about loyalty, patience and love.

Her official return date is early next week. I still can’t believe she is coming home. The good news is, she never once has left my heart.

Newborn Full Speed is carefully watched over

T.Puzzle gets a little love — Baby T.Puzzle gets some of that unconditional love

children, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Summer Vacation Highlights

07/08/2013 WFAM

1. On our trip up north, Full Speed showed us some genuine gratitude. We were all set to get him a soccer t-shirt while we attended the USMNT‘s Gold Cup Championship game at Soldier Field. He was so thankful to be attending the game, that he politely declined. He said being at the game was more than enough. Needless to say, he got a t-shirt anyway. I would have gotten him a car, too. I basically would have gotten him anything he wanted.

2. Even though T.Puzzle continues to insist on asserting his independence from me, when he won 1000 tickets at an arcade, he rushed to tell me all about it. I guess maybe he hasn’t outgrown his Mom after all. That’s a relief. Seriously.

3. We did lots of spectacular things this summer especially in Chicago. Watching the men’s team win the Gold Cup, eating on the 95th floor of the Hancock, riding the ferris wheel and a surrey bike at Navy Pier and carriage ride at night downtown just to name a few. Out of all these things, some of my favorite moments were the ones where conversations with my nieces and my boys would unexpectedly flow. Sure, we were experiencing unique and awesome events, but the true wonder was simply being together.

Too bad summer can’t last forever.

children, family, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Changes

31/05/2013 WFAM

Change is all in how you look at it. I tend to be more sentimental than most in this regard. Today is the last Friday of the school year. After today, T.Puzzle will never be a kindergartener on a Friday ever again. It kind of stabs at my heart when I think about it.

On the flip side, T.Puzzle is thrilled beyond compare. He is so happy that kindergarten is nearing the end. I suppose the fact that summer vacation is upon us helps his great mood.

I have a choice. I can continue to be sad that my ‘baby’ is growing up or I can choose to celebrate this fact. I believe every moment of a child’s development is a mixture of triumph and letting go of how things used to be. Yes, there is an ache that he’s getting older. There is also excitement and that unknowing, fluttery, pit-of-my-stomach anticipation that the future holds great adventures for both my boys.

It isn’t that change is bad. Change is awesome. Even if you have to go through a box of Kleenex or two to realize this.

children, family, gratitude, humor, kids, motherhood

Night and Day

20/05/2013 WFAM

While most people think my boys are extremely similar in looks and personality, they are like night and day to me. Full Speed was built for sprinting. T.Puzzle is a long distance runner. Full Speed is a phenomenal eater and is willing to try anything once with a great attitude. T.Puzzle is more picky but I don’t really care, he still has to eat what I give him. Full Speed bores quickly in a pool. T.Puzzle is like a little Nemo who could swim joyfully for hours and hours, and often does.

I love that they are different. I love learning what makes each one tick and how they view the world. One way they differ significantly is the amount of words they each use on a daily basis. Full Speed is extremely vocal. It is pretty darn easy to figure out how he feels and what he is thinking. This is because he will give you a running commentary of every thought, feeling and emotion that comes over him the exact moment it comes over him. T.Puzzle, while loving and keenly observant, holds his cards close to the vest. I can relate because I’d much rather listen to someone tell their story than share my own. Still, a part of me wishes I knew a little bit more about what went on in that marvelous brain of his.

This morning Full Speed was in his usual action mode sharing his thoughts about the upcoming day. How he felt, what he was looking forward to and all the ways his day was going to be great. Then, T.Puzzle shocked me. He looked at me and said, “I think I am feeling….” I held my breath waiting to hear what his little heart needed to share. T.Puzzle continued “….like I really could eat a second waffle.”

Profound, wasn’t it?

children, family, gratitude, happiness, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

Always Do Your Best

01/04/2013 WFAM

We are finally home from a ten-day trip. We had an awesome time in Pigeon Forge, TN. Here are a few things I learned:

1. Directions in unfamiliar territory seem to be a hot-button issue in my marriage. I don’t know what it is about not knowing where you are at that brings out the worst in me and my beloved. Regardless of a few tense moments, we always managed to reach our destination. For the most part, we also managed to still love each other even if we didn’t always like each other in the process.

2. Spending time with my nieces and nephew was fantastic. If I had it my way, I would have all my nieces and nephews live on my street and have them over as much as possible.

3. No matter where you put my boys, they are in a constant competition with life and each other. They had an hour-long debate over who came in first in a go-cart race. If I thought Mad Dog and I were heated over directions, it was nothing compared to the constant chatter of winner vs. loser between our boys. And, unfortunately, they never ever agreed to disagree. Made for some long rides back to our cabin.

4. So, their competitive streak has its downside, but surprisingly, it also has an immense upside. We were at Dixie Stampede which is Dolly Parton’s dinner attraction. The boys were selected by our server to be in a chicken chasing competition. They strategized from the moment they were selected. Full Speed instructed T.Puzzle where and how to run. T.Puzzle was overwhelmed at first by the enormity of the arena and the crowd. He stood quaking at the side of the gate right before they were sent in. Once inside the big, gaping, dust-covered space, he looked at Full Speed and they both got that look of determination on their faces. When the chickens were released, theirs didn’t stand a chance. Full Speed ran so intensely after it he fell down nearly crushing the chicken. They worked as a team and ran with such fire, the other two boys on the opposing side looked as if they were moving in slow-motion. Even after they successfully crossed the finish line, T.Puzzle kept chasing his chicken. He almost ran it all the way back to where the rest of show animals were being housed.

The boys show off their victory medals with pride. Thank goodness they were on the same team!

I may get frustrated by the intensity of my boys, but I have to say, seeing them give their all in everything they do, even chasing a chicken, keeps me inspired to always do my best.

It’s good to be home!