Tag: Family

Have Mercy

    Tomorrow morning at 8am my son will become a high school freshman.  
 My baby.   
 The Youngest.  
 The last baby I’ll ever have.  
(Yes, that thought occurred to me long ago, but still.  Hush.)
Honestly, this boy was independent from the get-go.  In his first day of life he stared out from his hospital bassinet, eyes wide open with wonder, not a peep of protest or cry for reassurance.  The nurses marveled at his gaze, at his ability to follow them around the room with his eyes.  “They don’t usually do that so young!”. said one.   He never did bother to crawl… he sort of just GOT UP when he was 9 months old and that was that. 
Tomorrow starts a new chapter. He will attend a private catholic high school and this in itself will be strange territory.  I believe firmly in a good public education and it’s how we were all brought up. My mother was a public school teacher for 39 years.  For several reasons we (and he) decided instead of our town’s public High School,  this was the route he would benefit from the most.
For him the workload will be two-fold.   It was his decision to attend, and it will be up to him to keep up and apply himself.  ( “Required Summer READING LIST?  But… this is my SUMMER!!)    Getting him to sit in the dentist chair for an un-novicained root canal would be easier.  
  For me the ironing will be TORTUROUS  truly a labor of love.  And so will the letting go… something I’m not very good at. For now there is still the boy in the young man… and I’m cherishing every minute.  For now, there are still bike rides and sleepovers and xbox and turtle tanks and smores by the fire.
  Last night  over Buffalo Chicken Pizza and orange and lime sodas  we discussed what they might want to do when they grow up.  Two of the three shrugged their shoulders, and my son replied in all seriousness…
 “ I’m going to be a Trophy Truck Driver”
Ok then.

The best use for that Keeping Room

…is keeping family together. 

Now that my kids are growing up, (my BABY is FOURTEEN!?!) the moments I cherish are when we’re all together and they’re actually enjoying time spent in our presence.

Scene from a typical day:

You’re such a jerk!
MOM, do you SEE what he’s DOING to me??
You ALWAYS take her side.
heavy sigh, big eye roll, stomp and slamming of door…
OMG I can’t WAIT till you move out of the house
Where’s my phone, YOU took it!!.. WHERE DID YOU PUT IT?? 
You’re such a jerk!
   
Last night with grandmothers over for dinner, good food and gameboards, there was harmony in the house and laughter filled the air. 

For about five minutes, but I’ll take it.

He’s All That

  We don’t always see eye to eye, and sometimes our taste in things couldn’t be farther apart on the spectrum. One of us is a natural navigator, one of us can’t find his way out of a wet paper bag.  He’s super organized and I’m… well… not.   

  When it comes to being parents we’re both on the same wave length. I couldn’t have chosen a better father to our children and it’s one of the things I am most thankful for in life. 
~ Happy Father’s Day ~
 

Mom

   It takes just three letters to  form one of the most significant words in life. I’ve owned that name proudly for 21 years.  It’s a badge of honor, a demanding job title, a responsibility beyond any other,  a source of great joy with a potential for great sorrow.  I had no idea what it would mean before that  very first moment when the nurses handed my tiny little baby girl over and we walked out the door of Yale New Haven Hospital  into “real life”.  I remember thinking…   you mean, I’m responsible for the safety and well-being of this tiny little person,…. all by myself? …..with no one to check to see if I’m doing it right??.   And don’t look at Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Handsome over there because he will pass out if he comes within three yards of a dirty diaper.  Have you ever seen those fainting goats? I’m not kidding.  

  There’s nothing I’de rather be doing, mothering these two.  I consider myself lucky every day.  I’de say they’re turning out pretty good …so I must be doing something right after all. 

  As for my  mother, there were surely times during my teen years that she questioned her sanity and mine, but I can say now that she is a best friend and one of my most ardent supporters. What would I do without her?  I don’t want to know any time soon.   Thanks, Mom  🙂

Happy Mothers Day