Category: motherhood

children, family, motherhood, parenting

Elevated

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Mad Dog surprised us with a little family getaway to Amelia Island.  We packed a lot into our small trip and had an absolute blast.

As the Mom of two, gregarious boys, I realize that serene moments in travel will be few and far between.  The best line of defense is a good offense.  Therefore, it is all about movement.  Keep them active and all will be well.  If they are confined for too long they invariably turn on each other.  That’s when you know it’s time to move again.

That said, we thankfully managed some calm here and there.  However, there was a lot of sprinting on the hotel grounds.  As we left our room yesterday the boys, in typical fashion, sprinted ahead of us.  As we turned the corner to the elevators, they were nowhere to be found.

Guess who decided it would be awesome to ride the elevator to the lobby by themselves?  Thankfully, a kindly couple waited and watched over the boys until Mad Dog and I caught up to them.  The boys were so full of pride. At least someone was because I certainly wasn’t.  Embarrassed much?

After a stern talking to and a serious warning, we hope that parent-free elevator rides won’t become the norm.  Of course at some point I’m going to have to let them go by themselves.  It might be awkward if I follow them around their college dorm elevators.

Freedom is exhausting...
children, family, humor, kids, motherhood, parenting

Did I Say Loud? I Meant Awesome

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Have you ever had a perfect day?  The weather is amazing, your kids are well-behaved and things in general run smoothly.  Our day started off with a lovely brunch near the open air.  There was an abundance of good food and sunshine.  The next stop was a park where the boys ran obstacle courses with their invited friend.  The trio was all heart as Mad Dog timed each of them.  It was fun to watch them try to out perform each other and their best times.  The added bonus is they were completely tired by the time we headed home.  No wait, actually only Mad Dog and I were completely tired.

Once home the boys helped me walk their neighbor friend across the street.  Her appreciative Mom said that she would love to have the boys over in the future.  Full Speed happily offered that he could come over right that instant.

“You can have us over anytime.  Our Mom needs a vacation from us because we are really, really loud,” he shared.

Not exactly a winning endorsement.  Any takers?

What they lack in peaceful tranquility, they make up for with an extremely high adorable quotient.
children, family, gratitude, humor, motherhood, parenting

Leapin’ Lizards

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English: Lizard English: Eidechse
Image via WikipediaI

I was unwrapping a box on our dining room table.  After I had cut through some plastic and rubber bands to get to its contents, I started to clear the area.  I absent-mindedly grabbed a rubber band and then the world stopped.  On closer inspection I realized this unfortunate rubber band was actually a tiny, dead, three-inch lizard.  I had it pinched firmly between my thumb and forefinger.  I dropped it as if it were on fire and screamed my pretty little head off.

The boys raced into the dining room to see what was seemingly threatening the safety of their mother.  I was logical enough to quickly convey that physically I was fine.  Emotionally, well, the jury’s still out on that one.

I asked Full Speed to get a paper towel, pick up the deceased lizard and toss it outside.  I wasn’t sure how he was going to react.  I didn’t know if he would mirror my hysteria or step up to the challenge.  Thankfully, he was a as cool as a cucumber.

I told him he was my hero.  “I bet it was weird hearing me scream like a little girl, wasn’t it?”

“That’s okay, Mom.  You are a girl so you can scream like one,” he replied without judgement.

Wow.  A hero who simultaneously rescues and bolsters your self-esteem.  Leapin’ lizards he’s a good kid!

Take that, lizard!
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children, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

Faux Pas Hawks

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My beloved did his best to prove to me that he is perfectly capable of combing/styling the boys’ hair.  Mad Dog had already cleaned up the kitchen and fed the boys breakfast so I dared not dream he would calm their unruly hair into submission. 

But he did.

And, it was highly entertaining.

At one point he ended up rather forcefully saying to T.Puzzle, “Man up and quit being so dramatic!”  Of course this was done has T.Puzzle’s head was yanked back and forth while a comb raked over his apparently highly sensitive scalp.

Best Faux-Hawks Ever!
grief, loss of parent, motherhood, parenting, self-discovery

3 Years

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This is the third anniversary of when my Mom passed away.  I would like to think that somehow losing a loved one gets easier.  It does not.  It only changes inside you.  The loss becomes a permanent part of your soul.  It never leaves you.

I miss having her in my world.  I miss having that reassurance that she would always be there and that more importantly, she would listen to me and truly care about what I had to say.

Isn’t that what anyone wants?  To be heard, to be seen and to be truly, truly loved.  Imagine if everyone in the world had access to that kind of love.  The bad days would be bearable, the sweet days would be more so and we’d all be a little bit kinder to ourselves and to each other.

Each day is a new opportunity to learn about ourselves.  I learned so very much from my own mother.  Some of the lessons were easy and beautiful.  Some of the lessons were not.

In the end the most important lesson I learned from my Mom is that it all comes down to forgiveness.

No one is ever going to be perfect and that’s okay.  Perfect doesn’t teach us a thing.  Real life, real love and real relationships do.

My Mom and I saw each other as we really are and still loved each other anyway.  That’s the real deal.

I miss you, Mom!