So I guess I'm at this brief interlude in Brent's life where he actually enjoys spending time with me and isn't afraid to admit it. Each day I come home and ask the boys what their favorite part of the day was. Alex will tell me about his games, or something he did. Brent will 100% every time say "when you came home, mommy". Even if I press for something else, he remains adamant. Each night during our bedtime book and song, he'll go over how many days are left in the work week, until I can stay home all day for two days. I remind him that I do come home every night - that I'm not gone ALL day during the week. And last night he sadly says "But you missed the snow. Right mommy...you didn't see the snow with me because you were at work". Actually I missed it completely, since it only snowed for 15 minutes at the house, and not at my work. But it both makes me happy and sad that he longs to share those kinds of moments. I'm so flattered, and yet I don't want him missing out on one smile in life because of who he is or isn't sharing a moment with.
I remember during my early teenage years, when I refused to hold my dad's hand while walking around the mall, certain that some cute boy in my class would see me. But I also remember the things I don't necessarily share with my parents. Like how I can hear my dad singing "Puff the Magic Dragon" each time I sing it with Brent, and how I remember dancing with him when I was small. Only now I am the one reaching down instead of up. I can still give my mom a hug and it takes me back to all the days I was safe and loved and didn't have a care in the world.
I wonder sometimes if I'm one of the few that stress about these things...about what our children will remember. Will it be the times he smiled the most, or the least? Will it be our evenings dancing or laughing, or the moments I've lost my patience over things that weren't all that important? As parents, are we graded as pass/fail, a sliding curve, or somewhere in between? Either way, some days I feel like I aced it with flying colors, and other days I wonder why there was no prep course.
Next week Brent will be visiting his Dad. So I'll be my normal zombie self, I'm sure...wandering around like I've walked into a room and don't remember why or what I needed. It feels like when you've left for vacation and you know you've forgotten something important, but can't remember what it is. My alarm clock will be a normal one, and not the sound of "Mommy!! I have to go PEE PEE" (because no amount of pleading will convince a 4 year old that drinking two glasses of water before bed every night isn't the best idea, because he's SO THIRSTY!)
But as every year for Thanksgiving, at the top of the list is all of our health and love, and that will reach over infinite miles.
11.20.2008
11.19.2008
Finally
Finally, a change of tunes!
In a couple of weeks when he knows the lyrics better (or less, at the rate he's going) I'm going to attempt to get a video of us singing the new bedtime song.
11.18.2008
Goofy
So we're trying out knock knock jokes, which seem to need a bit more understanding yet.
Us: Knock Knock!
Brent: Who's there?!
Us: Orange!
Brent: Oh! Why don't you come in then!!
Hmmmm....
Things have been pretty uneventful lately. Last weekend we watched as the majority of the leaves fell lifelessly to the ground, and the boys had so much fun running around the yard plowing through them, jumping in them, and throwing them over the other one's head. Sometimes it makes me sad that I've grown up (well, mostly...).
"No, just throw leaves, don't throw sticks at each other!"
"Don't jump into the pile if there is still someone in there trying to get out!"
"If you're going to pee on a tree, at least go further away from where you're playing!!!"
...and so on. But the cool part about growing up, is getting to watch the looks on their faces as they explore the world, oblivious of things like 'financial crisis' and 'failing economy'. Who cares! There will always be piles of leaves to jump in (I hope). There will always be sticks to swordfight with. And there will always be family there when you need them.
Last Friday, a younger co-worker was planning a party for Friday night, calling friends, arranging details. I called him "lame" for something he was talking about, secretly a little jealous of the aura of freedom that filled the room around him. He joked back that I was lame for having kids and not being able to go out.
I walked through the door that night and got my usual tackles from the boys. It is a race to throw down my things before they reach me most days. We ate dinner and talked about what they did today. Things erupted at some point into a tickle party, and then we flipped around the music channels and danced in a circle, holding hands at times, slapping our knees at the bluegrass, swinging to the old jazz tunes, flinging our heads around for the heavy metal. I collapsed on the couch and we all snuggled up and watched Kung Fu Panda.
If I knew being lame was so perfect, I'd have done it a lot sooner :)
Us: Knock Knock!
Brent: Who's there?!
Us: Orange!
Brent: Oh! Why don't you come in then!!
Hmmmm....
Things have been pretty uneventful lately. Last weekend we watched as the majority of the leaves fell lifelessly to the ground, and the boys had so much fun running around the yard plowing through them, jumping in them, and throwing them over the other one's head. Sometimes it makes me sad that I've grown up (well, mostly...).
"No, just throw leaves, don't throw sticks at each other!"
"Don't jump into the pile if there is still someone in there trying to get out!"
"If you're going to pee on a tree, at least go further away from where you're playing!!!"
...and so on. But the cool part about growing up, is getting to watch the looks on their faces as they explore the world, oblivious of things like 'financial crisis' and 'failing economy'. Who cares! There will always be piles of leaves to jump in (I hope). There will always be sticks to swordfight with. And there will always be family there when you need them.
Last Friday, a younger co-worker was planning a party for Friday night, calling friends, arranging details. I called him "lame" for something he was talking about, secretly a little jealous of the aura of freedom that filled the room around him. He joked back that I was lame for having kids and not being able to go out.
I walked through the door that night and got my usual tackles from the boys. It is a race to throw down my things before they reach me most days. We ate dinner and talked about what they did today. Things erupted at some point into a tickle party, and then we flipped around the music channels and danced in a circle, holding hands at times, slapping our knees at the bluegrass, swinging to the old jazz tunes, flinging our heads around for the heavy metal. I collapsed on the couch and we all snuggled up and watched Kung Fu Panda.
If I knew being lame was so perfect, I'd have done it a lot sooner :)
11.05.2008
A new dawn
For my child, for all children, and for all people.... I hope that a new direction can change things for your future. And I'm excited to be a part of it.
11.01.2008
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