I have two boys, my oldest is three and my youngest is one and a half. It seems the older they are, the more “limited” I feel.
When I first began this post, I tried thinking of all the things I gave up when I became a mom, like sleep, relaxing dinners, or uninterrupted bathroom breaks. However, the more I thought about this, the more I longed for the "easier" newborn days (as if that exists!) when I could still window shop, take road trips, or talk on the phone.
Aside from naps and an early bedtime, I didn't feel limited in early motherhood. I could tailor each day to the schedule I liked best.
Until my youngest turned one, I was...
I had a long, ugly cry.
It isn’t about the glasses. There is NOTHING wrong with having glasses. I repeat … THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING GLASSES. I have perspective and I know that glasses aren’t a big deal. We are thankful that he JUST needs glasses. And by the way …
he looks really, really cute in his glasses.
I cried because I don’t want my children to face adversity. I’m almost embarrassed to say that. I constantly tell my students’ parents, “Don’t solve their problems for them.” “It’s OK for your child to struggle.” “Adversity builds character.” Can I talk the talk AND walk the walk? Not really, but I’m trying.
You may not even see glasses as adversity, but...
I have what most parents would call a "strong-willed" daughter. Honestly, though, she's just a typical three-year-old. It takes a lot of work to understand that she's just trying to test her boundaries and determine what she can and can't get away with. This actually is no different from what many of us continue to do beyond the toddler stage. How much can I talk to my friends in this teacher's classroom? How late can I be to work before someone says something? Except, like any kid her age, she's testing boundaries for any and every decision in her life because she's legitimately seeking answers.
And it is EXHAUSTING. It's so tempting to just throw in the towel when she...
I was hopeful, excited, and nervous as I walked up the steps to my son's first parent teacher conference several years ago. My son was in 3 year old Pre-K, and I was so proud of how well he knew all his letters, numbers, and shapes. This was the first preschool he had attended, and I couldn't wait to hear his teacher's impressions of him.
As I came in, the teacher smiled, but she seemed nervous. Why was she nervous? My son was delightful, and people told me how funny and smart he was all the time. She went through his kindergarten checklist with me, then she stopped. She said, "I know you're probably not expecting this, but I think...
“You raise your kids for the world.”
My Paw-Paw first uttered these words of wisdom to my mom, and now she has passed them down to me as I navigate motherhood. As my children get older and face new experiences and obstacles, this seven-word phrase has taken on new meaning.
I get it now. All I want to do is shield my children from any negative emotion or situation and prevent broken hearts, scraped knees, bad grades, or rejection. I can’t though, and I’m finally coming to terms with something else … maybe I shouldn’t.
It seems my mom’s go-to statement of “one day, you’ll understand” is finally hitting home.
“You raise your kids for the world.”
I turn to this quote...
Around Baton Rouge
Following The Pink and Gold Sparkly Road : How Joining a...
The Pink and Gold Sparkly Road : How Joining a Local Dance Krewe Enhanced my Life
Three years ago, I was recovering from a devastating...
