I remember seeing kids throw earth-shattering tantrums in the middle of department stores. I remember hearing the words, "No mommy! I want that toy!" I remember seeing the looks on the faces of the child and it's parent during both situations. The child's anger and 'I'm going to win this battle' look and its parents 'I'm worn out, please have mercy on me and stop irritating and embarrassing me' look.
And then I remember thinking that I would NEVER allow any kids of mine to act out like that. They would know who's boss and always stay in line. No meltdowns because they're hungry or tired. No getting loud when it was time to leave a play area. That just wouldn't happen to me.
Then I had my strong-willed son.
Everyone who knows me knows I love James Charles to pieces. He's taught me so many things as a parent. One of the biggest lessons is that I will judge no more. No more judging parents of little kids that have "moments" in public. I've had many lessons on this. The most recent one was earlier this week.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
So you think you can dance
The dance music is loud in my car. The parking lot is full. I notice people parking on the side street. And there are others like me, blasting their stereos, ready to get the party started -- on a Tuesday night.
I manage to grab a spot as someone is leaving the lot. Lucky me, no parking on the street. Nearby I smell tacos, cheesy enchiladas, and rice as I step out my car. But I don't allow it to distract me, that's not where I'm going. I'm ready. To get my dance on. To sweat.
To ZUMBA!
I manage to grab a spot as someone is leaving the lot. Lucky me, no parking on the street. Nearby I smell tacos, cheesy enchiladas, and rice as I step out my car. But I don't allow it to distract me, that's not where I'm going. I'm ready. To get my dance on. To sweat.
To ZUMBA!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
You want to play outside...In the street?!!!
I'm excited spring is here and I'm looking forward to the summer with my kids. But one day last week I started thinking about what's to come. My excitement shifted to a slight feeling of anxiety.
The weather was perfect, so it was time to gather up the kids and head outside. Once out, I noticed the street was full of kids playing, riding bikes, throwing balls. But it was different from previous years. I realized that James Charles wasn't going to be on the sidewalk watching the big kids play. He was going to be amongst them.
Audrey and I were watching him trek along the sidewalk on his tricycle when some neighbor kids came over and said the words we all remember growing up: "Wanna come play?"
I thought I was ready for this, but it turns out I was caught a little off-guard.
The weather was perfect, so it was time to gather up the kids and head outside. Once out, I noticed the street was full of kids playing, riding bikes, throwing balls. But it was different from previous years. I realized that James Charles wasn't going to be on the sidewalk watching the big kids play. He was going to be amongst them.
Audrey and I were watching him trek along the sidewalk on his tricycle when some neighbor kids came over and said the words we all remember growing up: "Wanna come play?"
I thought I was ready for this, but it turns out I was caught a little off-guard.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Seems Like Yesterday...Now She's One
The cake's been ordered. The birthday banner is now hanging on the kitchen wall. The menu is complete.
My baby's turning one today.
Audrey's birthday party package came to the house a few days ago. I opened up the box as she looked on. She pulled out her princess crown and bib and began playing with them. And it struck me hard. She's really been here for 12 whole months.
As everyone says of babyhood--it goes sooo fast. It literally seems like I brought her home yesterday. Even her birth was swift. I remember waking up around 6 am, my water breaking at 6:15 and Jason encouraging me to get out of the bed so we could head to the hospital. The contractions were hitting so hard I didn't want to leave the comfort of my bed. Jason packed everything up, dressed James Charles, and was finally able to convince me to head to the car around 7:45 am. Of course it would be rush hour. And we were heading to Dallas.
Jason didn't know it at the time, but I came very close to having Audrey in the car. I didn't want him to panic as we were driving through the traffic, so I didn't tell him how I was really feeling the urge to push. I also think it helped me focus on my breathing. We arrived at the hospital around 8:20 am. I got out and was wheeled to the triage. The nurses were shocked to see I was already dilated to a 10! I was immediately wheeled in a room and gave birth to Audrey Grey at 8:45 am. No walking around, no drugs. I nursed her for the first time around 9:15. It all happened so fast Jason almost missed it all. Thank God my sister-in-law got to the hospital just in time to watch James Charles.
My baby's turning one today.
Audrey's birthday party package came to the house a few days ago. I opened up the box as she looked on. She pulled out her princess crown and bib and began playing with them. And it struck me hard. She's really been here for 12 whole months.
As everyone says of babyhood--it goes sooo fast. It literally seems like I brought her home yesterday. Even her birth was swift. I remember waking up around 6 am, my water breaking at 6:15 and Jason encouraging me to get out of the bed so we could head to the hospital. The contractions were hitting so hard I didn't want to leave the comfort of my bed. Jason packed everything up, dressed James Charles, and was finally able to convince me to head to the car around 7:45 am. Of course it would be rush hour. And we were heading to Dallas.
Jason didn't know it at the time, but I came very close to having Audrey in the car. I didn't want him to panic as we were driving through the traffic, so I didn't tell him how I was really feeling the urge to push. I also think it helped me focus on my breathing. We arrived at the hospital around 8:20 am. I got out and was wheeled to the triage. The nurses were shocked to see I was already dilated to a 10! I was immediately wheeled in a room and gave birth to Audrey Grey at 8:45 am. No walking around, no drugs. I nursed her for the first time around 9:15. It all happened so fast Jason almost missed it all. Thank God my sister-in-law got to the hospital just in time to watch James Charles.
Monday, February 28, 2011
My Cell Phone, My Security Blanket
Remember when we had cell phones just in case of an emergency and their only use was for talking? Now some are mini computers used to the point of dangerous, sometimes deadly distractions and something else I've noticed lately--they're now the go-to item to get many of us through socially awkward situations.
I was invited to a restaurant taste test last week. I arrived a few minutes early and was asked to sit down and wait until the moderator was ready to escort the group for the tasting. A few people were already seated and others were streaming in. You could hear a pin drop. Wait. I think I could hear dust floating it was so quiet. No one, including myself, spoke to each other. Instead, we were all in position. You know what I mean. Phone in hand, head down, eyes on the screen ... concentrating. I'm sure some were reading, some were texting, some were updating their social networks, some may have been scrolling down their contact lists, for all I know.
I'm sure some had legitimate reasons to be using their phones. But I have a strong feeling most were using their phones to avoid speaking to the strangers in the room. I mean, who really wants to have small talk with folks you'll probably never see again? We now have something to save us from the "Wow, it looks like it's going to storm." Or the, "Texas weather is so crazy in February, isn't it?" Or, "I'm kind of excited to be here. We get to taste food AND get paid to do it!" So now we cling to the impersonal device.
I confess, I was momentarily guilty. I texted Jason (he was outside with the kids) to let him know that it looked like we were getting started late. Then I looked up to see everyone looking down.
I was invited to a restaurant taste test last week. I arrived a few minutes early and was asked to sit down and wait until the moderator was ready to escort the group for the tasting. A few people were already seated and others were streaming in. You could hear a pin drop. Wait. I think I could hear dust floating it was so quiet. No one, including myself, spoke to each other. Instead, we were all in position. You know what I mean. Phone in hand, head down, eyes on the screen ... concentrating. I'm sure some were reading, some were texting, some were updating their social networks, some may have been scrolling down their contact lists, for all I know.
I'm sure some had legitimate reasons to be using their phones. But I have a strong feeling most were using their phones to avoid speaking to the strangers in the room. I mean, who really wants to have small talk with folks you'll probably never see again? We now have something to save us from the "Wow, it looks like it's going to storm." Or the, "Texas weather is so crazy in February, isn't it?" Or, "I'm kind of excited to be here. We get to taste food AND get paid to do it!" So now we cling to the impersonal device.
I confess, I was momentarily guilty. I texted Jason (he was outside with the kids) to let him know that it looked like we were getting started late. Then I looked up to see everyone looking down.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentines Day! How did you celebrate this year?
My husband and I had our Valentine's date over the weekend. It was so nice to steal a few hours away from our kids. We haven't gone out as much as we would like to since Audrey was born because she struggles with severe separation anxiety. It's really hard on us knowing that she will cry most of the time, though she (and James Charles) have only been left with my parents or sister-in-law. But Jason and I decided that we were long overdue for date night and Audrey would (sniff sniff) have to endure a few hours without us.
We took our time getting dressed up and met up with some couples from our church for dinner at a jazz restaurant. On the drive over, Jason and I made a concerted effort to steer away from talking about the kids. Of course we love them to pieces, but Mommy and Daddy need a break from mommy-and-daddy mode. It paid off. We had a blast actually talking to each other without having to shout over crying or music requests from our boy.
My husband and I had our Valentine's date over the weekend. It was so nice to steal a few hours away from our kids. We haven't gone out as much as we would like to since Audrey was born because she struggles with severe separation anxiety. It's really hard on us knowing that she will cry most of the time, though she (and James Charles) have only been left with my parents or sister-in-law. But Jason and I decided that we were long overdue for date night and Audrey would (sniff sniff) have to endure a few hours without us.
We took our time getting dressed up and met up with some couples from our church for dinner at a jazz restaurant. On the drive over, Jason and I made a concerted effort to steer away from talking about the kids. Of course we love them to pieces, but Mommy and Daddy need a break from mommy-and-daddy mode. It paid off. We had a blast actually talking to each other without having to shout over crying or music requests from our boy.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Eggs and Bacon ...
My son James Charles is now fascinated with eggs and bacon. Not really the food, but an entire world he has created for them. They're James Charles' new imaginary friends.
It all started about a month ago. We were encouraging him to eat his breakfast when he suddenly started singing "Eggs and Bacon" to the tune of "Frere Jacques" (also known as "Where is Thumbkin?"). Hubby and I joined him, thinking nothing about it. He's a picky eater. For us, it's whatever works to get him eating some protein.
Now he sings it all day long. He has even called both sets of grandparents to sing it. At first we thought it was so cute. This lasted a few days until Jason decided the song needed to be revamped. Simply singing "Eggs and Bacon" was just not enough. Later I learned Jason had come up with a new song. It goes something like this:
"Eggs and bacon
Eggs and bacon
Good for me
Good for me
We eat them every morning
Down in my tummy
Mmm mmm good
Mmm mmm good."
A few days ago (no the story's not over yet) "Eggs and Bacon" began to show up in his room.
It all started about a month ago. We were encouraging him to eat his breakfast when he suddenly started singing "Eggs and Bacon" to the tune of "Frere Jacques" (also known as "Where is Thumbkin?"). Hubby and I joined him, thinking nothing about it. He's a picky eater. For us, it's whatever works to get him eating some protein.
Now he sings it all day long. He has even called both sets of grandparents to sing it. At first we thought it was so cute. This lasted a few days until Jason decided the song needed to be revamped. Simply singing "Eggs and Bacon" was just not enough. Later I learned Jason had come up with a new song. It goes something like this:
"Eggs and bacon
Eggs and bacon
Good for me
Good for me
We eat them every morning
Down in my tummy
Mmm mmm good
Mmm mmm good."
Yes, being a parent will take you there. But James Charles isn't done with his new obsession. "Eggs and Bacon" will often become "Eggs and Audrey" or "Eggs and Mommy," sometimes without warning, just when the mood hits.
A few days ago (no the story's not over yet) "Eggs and Bacon" began to show up in his room.
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