Thursday, November 14, 2013
Advanced?
I know as moms, we tend to think our kids are amazing and advanced and beyond their years and so talented. We love our babies and it's natural. But do you ever wonder if they really are advanced?
With the ever-prevailing Mommy Wars, it's hard to really wonder if your kid is really advanced or if you're just inflating their accomplishments and shoving them in others' faces. It's wonderful to believe in your kid, but I think we often times compare too much just for the sake of validating our jobs as mothers.
Of course, I'm proud of Auds and her efforts and love her unconditionally. But it's come to pass lately that everyone who helps her - teacher, Sunday School teachers, children's pastor - has been raving about how amazing she is and how she's excelling and how special and different she is.
At first, I thought it was just them being polite. No one really wants to tell a parent that their kid is a bad egg or falling behind.
But I saw something yesterday that made me wonder if they're onto something. Auds goes to a very small private Christian academy and the teachers and administrators and parents keep up with each other on Facebook. I was tagged in a turkey that Auds colored in class. The class entered all of the students in a coloring contest.
Me being proud, I took a screen shot and emailed my husband. The screen shot included all of the pages from the class. He replied back that he agrees her Turkey is beautiful, but he kind of felt bad for he others. At first I thought he was downplaying her abilities, but then he said that the other kids' work looks years behind. No coloring in the lines, etc.
I told him that every kid has different strengths and maybe Auds will be an artist like I am. But then he remembered that she's the only kid in her class that got S+ on all of her criteria (they don't use ABC til later on, it's just not satisfactory, satisfactory, and beyond satisfactory in kindergarten). And she was chosen as the first student of the month for the school.
He said he felt bad because he didn't want the other kids to not feel like they measure up, but didn't want out daughter to think she was better than them.
Right now, we just tell her we're proud of her and love her no matter what. She has no idea of what people say about her and her work. But how do I handle that if she does start noticing? I always tell her that everyone is different and has different strengths, but how do I keep her innocent of being judgmental and the Mommy War competitions that abound?
How sad is it that I'm worried about this in prek? I just want her to learn and grow. Am I perpetuating the MWs by thinking she's advanced?
With the ever-prevailing Mommy Wars, it's hard to really wonder if your kid is really advanced or if you're just inflating their accomplishments and shoving them in others' faces. It's wonderful to believe in your kid, but I think we often times compare too much just for the sake of validating our jobs as mothers.
Of course, I'm proud of Auds and her efforts and love her unconditionally. But it's come to pass lately that everyone who helps her - teacher, Sunday School teachers, children's pastor - has been raving about how amazing she is and how she's excelling and how special and different she is.
At first, I thought it was just them being polite. No one really wants to tell a parent that their kid is a bad egg or falling behind.
But I saw something yesterday that made me wonder if they're onto something. Auds goes to a very small private Christian academy and the teachers and administrators and parents keep up with each other on Facebook. I was tagged in a turkey that Auds colored in class. The class entered all of the students in a coloring contest.
Me being proud, I took a screen shot and emailed my husband. The screen shot included all of the pages from the class. He replied back that he agrees her Turkey is beautiful, but he kind of felt bad for he others. At first I thought he was downplaying her abilities, but then he said that the other kids' work looks years behind. No coloring in the lines, etc.
I told him that every kid has different strengths and maybe Auds will be an artist like I am. But then he remembered that she's the only kid in her class that got S+ on all of her criteria (they don't use ABC til later on, it's just not satisfactory, satisfactory, and beyond satisfactory in kindergarten). And she was chosen as the first student of the month for the school.
He said he felt bad because he didn't want the other kids to not feel like they measure up, but didn't want out daughter to think she was better than them.
Right now, we just tell her we're proud of her and love her no matter what. She has no idea of what people say about her and her work. But how do I handle that if she does start noticing? I always tell her that everyone is different and has different strengths, but how do I keep her innocent of being judgmental and the Mommy War competitions that abound?
How sad is it that I'm worried about this in prek? I just want her to learn and grow. Am I perpetuating the MWs by thinking she's advanced?
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Turned Tables
Last year I had a babysitter/assistant. She would come with me on sessions and help with gear. She'd also watch my kids during studio sessions and help with laundry -a God-send!
Then she got pregnant and had the sweetest little girl. At first the baby daddy didn't want anything to do with them so I was her go-to for answers and advice. Then he decided that he'd try to man -up and they'd make a family. Life was blissful and I was happy for her and prayed or would work out for the better.
After a few months he decided fatherhood wasn't for him and left, leaving mom and baby devastated. My husband became her lawyer for a custody battle and I became a babysitter. We love these girls and want to see the mom succeed. She's a young, single mother trying to work and finish college while nurturing her little angel. And we're here to help her, bless her, and pray for her.
I've now got a little lady at school, a preschooler, a crawler, and a roller and I love it.
So, in the course of a year, I went from having a babysitter who did my laundry to being a babysitter drowning in laundry. And I've never been happier. I feel that I am happiest when I can serve others and that this is the greatest opportunity I've had to show God's love. God requires open hearts, not empty laundry baskets.
But, if you know where the laundry fairy is, send her my way!
Then she got pregnant and had the sweetest little girl. At first the baby daddy didn't want anything to do with them so I was her go-to for answers and advice. Then he decided that he'd try to man -up and they'd make a family. Life was blissful and I was happy for her and prayed or would work out for the better.
After a few months he decided fatherhood wasn't for him and left, leaving mom and baby devastated. My husband became her lawyer for a custody battle and I became a babysitter. We love these girls and want to see the mom succeed. She's a young, single mother trying to work and finish college while nurturing her little angel. And we're here to help her, bless her, and pray for her.
I've now got a little lady at school, a preschooler, a crawler, and a roller and I love it.
So, in the course of a year, I went from having a babysitter who did my laundry to being a babysitter drowning in laundry. And I've never been happier. I feel that I am happiest when I can serve others and that this is the greatest opportunity I've had to show God's love. God requires open hearts, not empty laundry baskets.
But, if you know where the laundry fairy is, send her my way!
Friday, November 1, 2013
Happy Halloween !
This year's Halloween has been memorable. Horrible weather caused mass confusion and debate among towns and cities over celebrating early vs. holding out vs. celebrating over the weekend. It's been a week-long production here coz hard-headed Cajuns can't agree on anything.
We were going to have a big event at the church, but it got postponed until this weekend. So what did we do? Had our own indoor celebration, of course!
Auds had picked out everyone's costumes earlier in the month. She was a kitty cat complete with rhinestone ears, Tony was a dragon, and Drum was a precious lion.
The kids all dressed up and we played indoor ToT -which is kinda like hide-and-seek, except you get candy. Beau and I hid behind doors and opened them to give the kids candy. Once they found us they had to go back to their rooms and find us again. They had a blast! They then got to pick two pieces of candy and we had family night all cuddled up inside and watched a movie.
I'm so glad that we were able to make the best of it and still create memories for our babies. I held them extra tight knowing that a mom I know was battling hell because her daughter ran away.
The family are new Christians and have had a long road to Jesus. Both parents have many kids from many different relationships as one together. The mom was strung out on drugs and the dad was doing a long stint in jail and their daughter together was almost 13 and pregnant when they came to Him. Through His grace they have turned their lives around and are offering stability for their daughter and grandson.
The girl, now 15, was feeling pressure because she saw her friends without kids living a seemingly carefree life and her half-siblings weren't living for God. So she ran away with a boy she wasn't even in a serious relationship with. Thankfully, Beau overheard her sharing her plans with a girl in our Sunday School class and on of her friends got the number of the license plate of the car she left school in. I spent all day yesterday helping to lead the effort to find her, putting together pieces of information, praying, answering questions, etc.
But thank God she came to her senses and came home last night! Please cover this family in prayer as they try to mend these wounds and move forward. I can't imagine going through that. I pray I never do.
I thank God my kids don't know the heartache I grew up with and can be reared in a home of love and faith. And a good but of fun, too.
We were going to have a big event at the church, but it got postponed until this weekend. So what did we do? Had our own indoor celebration, of course!
Auds had picked out everyone's costumes earlier in the month. She was a kitty cat complete with rhinestone ears, Tony was a dragon, and Drum was a precious lion.
The kids all dressed up and we played indoor ToT -which is kinda like hide-and-seek, except you get candy. Beau and I hid behind doors and opened them to give the kids candy. Once they found us they had to go back to their rooms and find us again. They had a blast! They then got to pick two pieces of candy and we had family night all cuddled up inside and watched a movie.
I'm so glad that we were able to make the best of it and still create memories for our babies. I held them extra tight knowing that a mom I know was battling hell because her daughter ran away.
The family are new Christians and have had a long road to Jesus. Both parents have many kids from many different relationships as one together. The mom was strung out on drugs and the dad was doing a long stint in jail and their daughter together was almost 13 and pregnant when they came to Him. Through His grace they have turned their lives around and are offering stability for their daughter and grandson.
The girl, now 15, was feeling pressure because she saw her friends without kids living a seemingly carefree life and her half-siblings weren't living for God. So she ran away with a boy she wasn't even in a serious relationship with. Thankfully, Beau overheard her sharing her plans with a girl in our Sunday School class and on of her friends got the number of the license plate of the car she left school in. I spent all day yesterday helping to lead the effort to find her, putting together pieces of information, praying, answering questions, etc.
But thank God she came to her senses and came home last night! Please cover this family in prayer as they try to mend these wounds and move forward. I can't imagine going through that. I pray I never do.
I thank God my kids don't know the heartache I grew up with and can be reared in a home of love and faith. And a good but of fun, too.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Accident Prone
Seriously. My kids are the most accident prone kids there are. They get it from both of us, unfortunately.
Pop quiz: guess who had their toenails ripped out going down a water slide. And guess who had two sets of stitches in their chin from not one, but two, separate freak ice skating accidents.
Our poor kids don't stand a chance. First Auds with the massive fall out the bed. Now Tony has a nice mark on his face. What happened? Nothing as innocent as rolling out the bed. Not with my boy.
He was tormenting his sister and chasing her around. She made a sharp turn to the right between the dining area and the living room to go down the hall to her room. Tony missed. He missed big time and ran full force straight into the door frame.
Thank goodness I took their Christmas card pictures before this happened, coz that mark ain't going away anytime soon. You can't see it well in the picture, but it's swollen and he's got a bit of a black eye, too.
Poor kids. Here are some cute pictures of them, at least: http://www.stephanieleblancphotography.com/2013/10/how-cute-are-they/
Pop quiz: guess who had their toenails ripped out going down a water slide. And guess who had two sets of stitches in their chin from not one, but two, separate freak ice skating accidents.
Our poor kids don't stand a chance. First Auds with the massive fall out the bed. Now Tony has a nice mark on his face. What happened? Nothing as innocent as rolling out the bed. Not with my boy.
He was tormenting his sister and chasing her around. She made a sharp turn to the right between the dining area and the living room to go down the hall to her room. Tony missed. He missed big time and ran full force straight into the door frame.
Thank goodness I took their Christmas card pictures before this happened, coz that mark ain't going away anytime soon. You can't see it well in the picture, but it's swollen and he's got a bit of a black eye, too.
Poor kids. Here are some cute pictures of them, at least: http://www.stephanieleblancphotography.com/2013/10/how-cute-are-they/
Friday, October 11, 2013
In Stitches
Well, Auds beat me out by two years and B out by 10 years and got her first stitches this week. Absolutely terrifying, I tell you.
It all started around 3am Wednesday morning. She woke up complaining that her ear hurt and asked if she could cuddle. Of course we said she could. Cue me wracking my brain as to how I'd fit in a doctors visit - half hour trip there, half hour wait, half hour drive back adds up quick when you've got three little ones and a busy schedule.
At 330, Drum woke up wanting to nurse, so I nursed him and wondered what I'd do. At 4 o'clock an awful thud was made and my daughter let out a blood curdling scream. Since I was nursing I had to smack my hard-sleeping husband to pick her up. He put her back in bed and she kept crying. I looked and told him there was blood, she hit her head hard. He said he's take her to the bathroom and clean it up.
Then I heard "Oh, God!!" My heart sank. I unlatched the baby and ran to the restroom. Both my baby girl and B were covered in blood. My angel's skull was clearly visible. "Ambulance!" My husband screamed as he tried to remember the number to 911. Soon they were at our house and asking questions so they could try and identify the potential damages.
We got bandage applied to put pressure and changed her clothes. My husband passed out and had to be carried to bed. I rode with my baby girl in the ambulance to the hospital and tried to keep upbeat and smiling for her.
We got there and talked to the doctor. He was amazed that she didn't have a concussion and that her mental clarity showed no signs of brain damage. Her vision was fine, too. Praise, God! I had to hold her still while he stitched her up and keep her positive through all of the waiting.
The doctor said she'd likely swell, have a huge black eye, and look really bad. Praise The Lord that there's none of that. She looks her beautiful self, just with a lot of stitches and a large bandaid.
It was terrifying to go through that as a mom. I'm usually okay with blood and am not doctor-happy at all. But when you can see your kid's skull, it's a different story.
She's in good spirits about the whole thing. She upset about how she looks with stitches and doesn't like me changing her bandage, but she's been amazing. I can't believe how strong my angel is.
We've been having strawberry ice cream sundaes as afternoon snacks since. That's the only thing she said would make it better when we were in the ambulance.
Here's my sweet baby while we were in the ER waiting for the doctor to prep his instruments. Mr. Mike, our nurse, wrapped up the teddy bear they gave her just like she was so she'd feel better. He also made balloons out of gloves and gave her extra blankets and told her jokes to keep her happy. I'm definitely writing a letter to the hospital thanking him for his service and attitude.
It all started around 3am Wednesday morning. She woke up complaining that her ear hurt and asked if she could cuddle. Of course we said she could. Cue me wracking my brain as to how I'd fit in a doctors visit - half hour trip there, half hour wait, half hour drive back adds up quick when you've got three little ones and a busy schedule.
At 330, Drum woke up wanting to nurse, so I nursed him and wondered what I'd do. At 4 o'clock an awful thud was made and my daughter let out a blood curdling scream. Since I was nursing I had to smack my hard-sleeping husband to pick her up. He put her back in bed and she kept crying. I looked and told him there was blood, she hit her head hard. He said he's take her to the bathroom and clean it up.
Then I heard "Oh, God!!" My heart sank. I unlatched the baby and ran to the restroom. Both my baby girl and B were covered in blood. My angel's skull was clearly visible. "Ambulance!" My husband screamed as he tried to remember the number to 911. Soon they were at our house and asking questions so they could try and identify the potential damages.
We got bandage applied to put pressure and changed her clothes. My husband passed out and had to be carried to bed. I rode with my baby girl in the ambulance to the hospital and tried to keep upbeat and smiling for her.
We got there and talked to the doctor. He was amazed that she didn't have a concussion and that her mental clarity showed no signs of brain damage. Her vision was fine, too. Praise, God! I had to hold her still while he stitched her up and keep her positive through all of the waiting.
The doctor said she'd likely swell, have a huge black eye, and look really bad. Praise The Lord that there's none of that. She looks her beautiful self, just with a lot of stitches and a large bandaid.
It was terrifying to go through that as a mom. I'm usually okay with blood and am not doctor-happy at all. But when you can see your kid's skull, it's a different story.
She's in good spirits about the whole thing. She upset about how she looks with stitches and doesn't like me changing her bandage, but she's been amazing. I can't believe how strong my angel is.
We've been having strawberry ice cream sundaes as afternoon snacks since. That's the only thing she said would make it better when we were in the ambulance.
Here's my sweet baby while we were in the ER waiting for the doctor to prep his instruments. Mr. Mike, our nurse, wrapped up the teddy bear they gave her just like she was so she'd feel better. He also made balloons out of gloves and gave her extra blankets and told her jokes to keep her happy. I'm definitely writing a letter to the hospital thanking him for his service and attitude.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Busy
I've found that everyone's lives are busy in different ways. As each day passes, I wonder where the time has gone. When did my babies get so big? Our days are ordinarily busy, but we have been in a super busy season lately.
I'm a photographer, and lately I've been juggling school photography (which is a big undertaking) with my standing clients for portraiture.
B is an attorney, and lately he's been juggling his caseload and the caseload of a retiring senior partner who is passing from aggressive cancer. My heart breaks for her. :(
We're also the youth music directors, and lately we've been traveling around with our youth to revivals and rallies at different churches around the state.
We're a preacher and a preacher's wide, and lately we've been juggling our regular Bible study we teach weekly with calls to preach and teach Sunday School.
Add in Auds' school and classical dance lessons, my Junior League community service obligations ( our biggest fundraiser is next week and we're all in crazy mode), the city wide garage sale coming up, Drum's dedication and having people in town for it that just passed, the holidays coming, and a house that needs clean, I'm thankful for the grace of God that sustains me and multiplies my efforts.
Now, where's the Perrier and chocolate? I need a rest.
In other news, here's some pictures of the kids who are growing way too fast. Auds is at her first dance class, Drum celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day, Tony got his first blazer like Daddy, and the boys just love story time.
I'm a photographer, and lately I've been juggling school photography (which is a big undertaking) with my standing clients for portraiture.
B is an attorney, and lately he's been juggling his caseload and the caseload of a retiring senior partner who is passing from aggressive cancer. My heart breaks for her. :(
We're also the youth music directors, and lately we've been traveling around with our youth to revivals and rallies at different churches around the state.
We're a preacher and a preacher's wide, and lately we've been juggling our regular Bible study we teach weekly with calls to preach and teach Sunday School.
Add in Auds' school and classical dance lessons, my Junior League community service obligations ( our biggest fundraiser is next week and we're all in crazy mode), the city wide garage sale coming up, Drum's dedication and having people in town for it that just passed, the holidays coming, and a house that needs clean, I'm thankful for the grace of God that sustains me and multiplies my efforts.
Now, where's the Perrier and chocolate? I need a rest.
In other news, here's some pictures of the kids who are growing way too fast. Auds is at her first dance class, Drum celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day, Tony got his first blazer like Daddy, and the boys just love story time.
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