Thinking out Loud |
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Nightly Ritual
Oh man, I do love the bedtime ritual. You guys are really good at it too. First the protest “No, it’s not time yet, we just started (fill in the blank)”. Stong-arming through brushing of the teeth and putting the PJ’s on, which according to guys, seems to be optional, hmmm. After all the work of it, we get rewarded with the fun. You boys each choose a book or two and I read. First Donovans choice, The Little Engine That Could, The Polar Express, Walter the Farting Dog, and anything to do with dinosaurs and venomous snakes. Daxtons choices are also typical for his age, all the Harry Potter books, the 39 Clues series, now the Pendragon series.
You might think that reading the books is the purpose of this, and part of that is true, the love of a good tale is rewarding, and the places a book can take you are beyond limits. But for me it’s the questions I get to ask about your day intermingled between books and actual sleep. It’s a triple question really, what did you do today that made you proud, anything make you sad, what went right for you? The answers are so varied and true-to-you that I hold my breath sometimes, wanting an embellishment. The whole process is the frosting on my day.
Posted by Lisa on 12/31 at 09:01 AM
To My Children •
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Goth Christmas
So last week Donovan (6) noticed that I was giving away his traditional Christmas Lederhosen (those oh-so-cute German leather shorts). He brightened immediately and said, “Mom, I’m so glad that those are gone, I’m ready for a Goth Christmas”. I asked him what that might look like and he said, “well, it’s all in black, cool, with a leather or silk jacket”. So off we went in search of childrens Goth Christmas clothes. No easy task! We started at the mall and were directed to Hot Topic. On the way there we ran past Spencers Gifts, actually we should have run past, but I stopped. Obviously it’s been several years since I’ve stepped into a Spencers, and never with a 6 year old in tow. After walking past various outrageous outfits, I saw the look of shock on his face as I hastily dragged him past a display of actual rubber boobs and garters on the way out. Yikes! Off to Hot Topic, where the look of shock was replaced with perplexity as he stared at the young people working there, in full gear, dark make-up, facial piercings and wildly colored hair. He pulled me aside with a determinded look and said, “I want the clothes, NOT the face stuff”. Well, that’s a relief. Luckily we ran out of time as we were running out of ideas for Goth shops, so home we went, to shop another day. And little does he know that tucked into the back of his closet are the next-size-up lederhosen.
Posted by Lisa on 12/20 at 07:29 PM
Capturing Memories •
To My Children •
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Have a Mentor, Be a Mentor
“My friends give me a sense, not only of who I am but of what I truly can become”. DAN GARLAND
I met a woman a few years back, and I instantly hated her. She had everything, I mean EVERYTHING a woman could want. Luckily for me, she saw something in me, for she became my friend. We will always be friends, but somewhere along the way she shifted into the mentor role. She’s a natural teacher. I’m an avid student. Like Yoda, she has a way of nudging me in the right direction while making me do the work of it. It would be great if a mentor just handed you, say a million dollars, but what they really give you is more important, the gift to make a million, or two or three on your own. My life has a different shape and flavor because she cared enough to reach out and help me. I’d like to repay her someday, and the only thing I see that could do that is to succeed, and then to pass on the knowledge and mentor someone else.
If you need a mentor, ask for one. Find someone who has the qualities you admire, stretch yourself and write to them or call them. If they are in a place to help you- they will.
Posted by Lisa on 04/16 at 08:14 AM
Thinking Out Loud- Lisa's Journal •
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Rainy Days in Heaven
Eavesdropping while driving home during a rainstorm I heard this snippet of conversation between Donovan and Cameron, both in preschool. Donovan, “Wow, it sure is raining hard”, Cameron “God’s taking a Shower” Donovan started looking around and upith obvious curiosity, “Where is God?”
Cameron answered, “he’s in Heaven” Donovan, with shock and outrage, “God Died?!”
Posted by Lisa on 04/15 at 08:04 AM
Capturing Memories •
To My Children •
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Donovan and the Wishing Well
Today when we walked by the wishing well you begged me for a coin. Oddly, for a 5 year old, you kept your wish to yourself. I forgot entirely about the wish until you burst into tears at bedtime. Inconsolable, you cried that your wish hadn’t come true. You had wished to be a Super Hero. My heart constricted with your innocent wish and the suffering you were taking on. I told you that you ARE a super hero, that nobody can make me laugh like you can, that you are the best friend to your buddies, that you have great powers to be brave and strong. You refused to believe that these are super powers, but I know differently. And some day, so will you.
Posted by Lisa on 04/14 at 07:47 AM
To My Children •
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