gratitude, happiness, life in pictures

Going to Miami

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The boys knew we were going somewhere cool but didn’t completely understand what me and Mad Dog were referring to when they heard the word Miami. Most people I talked to thought we were slightly crazy to do a 12 hour (round trip) car ride over two days to see Thomas the Train. Well, if you’ve read this blog at all, you can understand why our ability to make sane decisions has been compromised simply by parenting Full Speed and T.Puzzle. So, we marched on down all the way to…. MIAMI!

“Where’s your- AMI, Dad?” Full Speed asks.

“No, it’s not MY Miami, it’s just Miami,” Mad Dog replies.

It’s pointless. The rest of our little trip Miami was referred to as your-AMI by the boys.  I kind of liked it though.

So, we arrive at your-AMI and then the real fun begins once we reach our hotel room. I’m learning that a leopard can’t change his spots and well, Full Speed can’t contain his energy. I sat back and let him go to town. He kept launching himself from our bed to the pull-out bed. It was a joy to watch (and only slightly heart-pounding). Sometimes, as a Mom, you have to let go and let the leaping commence.

The morning we are actually set to meet Thomas, little T.Puzzle (who may be Thomas’s biggest fan), is full of joy. While he is not quite as energetic as his big brother, he has the spunk to meet Full Speed sass for sass. And since little T.Puzzle continues to hold on to the terrible twos (even though he is clearly three and has yet to receive the memo), it was awesome to have the threat of ‘if you don’t listen to Mommy, you won’t meet Thomas!’ He was an absolute angel.

I tend to get overwhelmed in crowds and a Day out with Thomas was no exception. It doesn’t help that I often have two boys that run in opposite directions on a constant basis. When I get overwhelmed I can get kind of snippy. I was getting frustrated by the masses of people and with every suggestion I made, Mad Dog had a different idea. Finally, totally exasperated, I say to Mad Dog, “Apparently we can’t agree on anything!” As smooth as silk he responds, “We can agree that you are beautiful.” Nice save. And, yet more proof that Mad Dog is the smartest man I know.

So, the joy and the energy of our day with Thomas had reached a fever pitch. I corral the boys to a bouncy house to hopefully release some energy before we get back on the road to home. All I can say to the Moms out there is, if you see my boys in a bouncy house and think they are out of control, kindly choose another place to take your child. It’s a bouncy house for goodness sakes, not a sit-down-and-drink-tea-quietly house. And, lady, you know who you are. You are just lucky I didn’t take you in the bouncy house myself and show you what a true smack-down really means. Yeah, in case you couldn’t tell, some lady really pushed my buttons when she told me my boys were too rough.

Tell me something I don’t know.

Adios, Miami!

gratitude, happiness, mommyhood

A Good Sight

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This week I took Full Speed in for his eye check-up. It was almost entirely positive news. He has equal vision in both eyes and he tested a 20/60 which is his best testing to date. It is apparent to anyone who knows him that his vision has improved dramatically since his past two surgeries. It could always be better but where he is at right now is remarkable. He went from falling well within the parameters of being legally blind to now testing in the range that will allow him to drive. It is simply miraculous. I can’t even quite wrap my brain around the enormity of it.

We still have a few hills to climb but at least I know we are on the right path. I have done everything within my power to ensure Full Speed will have his best possible vision. I had to patch his stronger eye (his left) to improve his right eye’s vision starting at age two. Yeah, … imagine the blog posts that alone could have produced. There were days I practically had to sit on him to get the patch on and then hold him tight so he couldn’t rip it from his face. I’ve been by his side for endless doctor’s appointments, surgeries, attempts at wearing contacts, eye drops and endless rounds of broken glasses.

I wouldn’t change one bit of this journey. I appreciate his vision to the depths of my soul. I couldn’t do that if we hadn’t worked so hard for it.

He deserves every bit.

gratitude, happiness, mommyhood

Slice of Life

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I’m having lunch with little T.Puzzle. The conversation is getting political. Well,… not really unless favorite pizza toppings are unique to democrats or republicans. Anyway, he’s chowing away on his slice (he is staunchly pro-pepperoni) and he keeps saying something I can’t quite understand. Soon enough I realize he is saying ‘This is delicious!’ over and over. While saying it he is sucking the sauce from the crust and is in absolute heaven.

Life really is best lived when you enjoy its simplicities to the fullest. Here’s to pizza, pepperoni and to my always lively luncheon companion!

children, mommyhood

That’s the Spirit

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I am seated at Tae Kwon Do last night and class has started. A frazzled Mom comes in carrying her son, I’m guessing he is around three years old, and I recognize the look of total frustration on her face. She manages to get her son on the mat and grabs a seat next to me. I start a conversation with her because I can sense she is ready to lose it. We soon realize we unfortunately have loads in common. She goes on to explain that she doesn’t understand why her youngest child is so defiant. Her oldest son was never like that and the behaviors, opinions and tenacity exhibited by her youngest are all new to her.

I try to break it to her gently that it is not anything she is doing right or wrong, but it is simply the personality of her youngest child. As I go on to describe some of the harrowing tales of my own motherhood experience, you can see her body language change as she is visibly relieved. She is clearly thankful that an apparently nice lady (that would be me in case there is any question) who seems to have nice manners, has children that are difficult to manage.

I told her that I hadn’t expected to be fought at every turn like I have with my boys. I said that she has to hang in there.  Full Speed, while still extremely opinionated, is actually compliant most of the time. Now, I am working my way towards that with little T.Puzzle. I didn’t lie to her. I said it was hard and draining, and frankly, there are some days when I’d rather throw in the towel and let them win. But I don’t. Thankfully, I’m just as stubborn as they are.

The Mom and I looked at each other in an exhausted way that only the mothers of ‘spirited’ (she liked that terminology tremendously) children can. We realized there’s validation to be found in motherhood. On those days when you feel alone and like no one else in the world has a child as challenging as yours, just look at the Mom sitting to your right. That’s me and I have TWO of them. Don’t you feel better already?