Single Mother

To all the single moms out there, you deserve applause, roses, bubble baths and a hot stone massage.  One week with Jeff gone in Turkey and I am cuckoo.  Jeff gets back from a work trip tomorrow, and not soon enough. I have resorted to talking to Jac about how frustrated I am with his sisters' fighting.  Maybe that is not a bad thing, but I always think about how my parents seemed invincible, they always had the right answer, they always knew what was best and they never had a moment of weakness. 

My weak moments come fast and furious when I am a single mom.  I doubt myself, I lack confidence, my mean mom meter starts quicker.  Being everything to three kids is tough.  And I just did it for a week.  For all the moms out there that are everything to a child all the time, kudos to you.  OH!  And that is the sexist in me.......to ALL the parents, grandparents, foster parents and any one trying to take care of a child by themselves - give yourself a break, you are doing a fabulous job. 

Wednesday can't come fast enough.

2017 TRAVEL REWIND

Check out JeffCarryOn Travel Rewind video.  Awesome!!

And the Journey Continues

Mia has had a lot of first's lately.  First tooth, first day of kindergarten, first bus ride, first broken arm - and if God smiles on us the last broken bone she will ever have.  Today we celebrate the first day of her next year.  She is six. 

This personality packed little girl is growing up.  She no longer oozes baby cuteness, her round tummy, cheeks and hands are growing stronger and longer.  She is all elbows and knees and her face is blossoming into beauty instead of cuteness.  She still lisps, but has slowly stopped some of her baby way of saying things.  "Wipe" is now "white".  "Drame" is  now "drain".  "Hangaber" is now "hamburger". 

And then she will do something that reminds me we have many many years to go, like looking at me with complete frankness talking about Leprachaun traps and that this is a journey together that doesn't end.  It changes and grows.  I once thought when Jac was first born, "how is it possible that I love this little person so much?"  I know now that the love you feel for your child when they are born is just the tip of the iceberg.  As crazy as it seems at the time, that love grows and swells as you truly fall in love with them and get to know their personality. 

Mia I love you.  I love it when you cross your legs.  I love it when you growl for Stella.  I love it when you negotiate the wrong way.  I love it when you "read" me a story that you have written.  I love it when teach yourself how to do things.  I love it when you tell ghost stories. I love it when you try to whistle.  I love it when you remind me that Stella just wants to be a big girl.  I love it when you get mad because you can't do something yourself.  I love it when you cheat at games.  I love it when you snuggle with me.

You told me before Kindergarten started, that you thought "I'm probably the oldest, I'm probably the tallest, I may be the fastest, and I know that I am the smartest."  For confidence you are not lacking.  But in my book you are all of those things and more.  You have so much potential, but I love who you are right here in this moment.  More than you can possibly imagine.

As you sleep

Mia, as you sleep, I am tracing butterflies for your birthday party. I hope your dreams are filled with fairies, princesses and unicorns. Oh, and of course, butterflies.