Still good people out there...

Every once in a while, I am bombarded with a number of obstacles that make me wonder why people can't be a little nicer. I know the obvious reasons, but have always believed in the very essence of the Golden Rule.

Do to others as you wish to be done to you.

But often people reverse that catchy and appropriate phrase making it "Do to others as they have done to you".

This can grow exhausting while trying to constantly combat the same attitude. When cut off while driving, receiving a rude customer service representative on the other line, and becoming the backlash of someone's bad day, it can be very difficult to hold the tongue (or the horn).

Thankfully, I have someone to call on who can always help me. And he always comes through, even if it is making me choke on my own tongue until I remember.

But then there are days when people surprise me in the opposite respect. Today was one of those days. The most outstanding example was an older woman. I had gone to the salon to get my haircut. Baby J was being curiously well-behaved, but still a little antsy. In the mirror, I saw an older woman. She asked me if it was okay if she sat beside him and read him one of his stories. I was silently surprised, but said okay. For ten minutes she sat with him and kept him company all in my view. I could tell that his sweet personality made her day. Little did she know that she was improving mine. As we left, she asked if it was okay to give him a hug. I told her "of course". He gave her a wonderful bear hug! And her eyes watered a bit. Then she told me how much she appreciated seeing such a well-behaved boy, that it breaks her heart a little when she sees children rampaging through stores and parents granting their every whim.

Since become a mommie, I have learned how valuable these pearls of genuine wisdom are. This reminds me that more often I should offer my assistance and kind words to those in vulnerable states. Mommies definitely fit in that category. Thank you to all who continually do this! You now only improve the days of others but genuinely impact the course of their lives!

Dear Target Stores,...

> Dear Target Stores,
>
> Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude for your store. I
> often visit you when I need a reprieve. You must hear this a lot,
> because I see many other mommies and dads wandering your aisles
> conversing in baby talk to their little ones. Their carts are
> usually fairly empty and adult conversations are easily initiated
> and can become quite long. A simple, "Excuse me" to pass by quickly
> becomes "ohhhh, how old?" From there, any conversational direction
> can be taken.
>
> And a Starbucks near the front provides adequate nourishment for my
> dehydrated brain.
>
> My only complaint is, well, those enormous red concrete balls at the
> edge of the sidewalk just outside the store. It is because of those
> balls that baby J's hand is held so tightly that I fear it will lose
> circulation. You see, kids (especially boys) love balls. I cannot
> emphasize this enough. And when we approach the store, he often
> wiggled so violently that he nearly falls from my ring sling. So, I
> let him walk to prevent further head trauma. Then he tugs so hard
> and sprints directly for those balls! I'm not even sure what they
> are there for, but they pose a serious danger to both his safety and
> my sanity. They are so near the road.
>
> Please understand that I'm not threatening my routine visits. I just
> thought you should know that he will soon catch on to the prolonged
> peek-a-boo session we play upon entering. I've seen other parents
> experiencing the same dilemma. Do you have any suggestions?
>
> Sincerely,
> Who-Doesn't-Love-A-Giant-Red-Ball,-But-Seriosly?!?
> ~ Corry
>
> www.sleepymommie.blogspot.com

Cabin Fever...

I wish that I had captured this on film, especially because it has become such a part of our daily routine. But you will have to imagine the scenario.

Imagine, baby J standing at the door or window, shoes in hand, saying "out... out". He has only grown more emphatic since inheriting a Fisher Price playhouse which at present resides in the far corner of our property. From the dining room window, he can clearly see its presence. So, he often adds to his reportoire "out... house... out". But since monsoon season so quickly approached, he doesn't understand that "out... house... out" isn't an option. And the toys inside have gotten soooo boring.

Today we will venture out in search of an indoor version of what he loves so much. If you call or come by and we aren't available, sorry. We are "out... out".

Mommiehood: Feeling His Pain

Since becoming a mommie, I've often had the opportunity presented to me to recount my own childhood.

I've shared many of those experiences. Many of them are lessons I learn as I see baby J learn them.

Today, we shared another of those. As a child, I remember vividly the excitement of having plans. Knowing that a friend was coming over or an outing to the zoo was enough to brighten the gloomiest days. I would eagerly anticipate and remind myself repeatedly and sometimes even have countdowns. And then the phone would ring and my mom would break the bad news... cancelled.

My mom would always comfort me and remind me that everything would be okay. She would even make alternate plans, but it just wasn't the same. And I honestly believed that she had no idea how much it hurt...

... until today.

This afternoon baby J had a playdate. When I told him about it this morning, he was so excited. He kept telling his papa and even using his little buddy's name. "Park.... park." Then, the dreaded text arrived. My heart immediately sank. I think that it affected me more that it did him. How can I explain this to a 19-month old? He isn't going to understand. He was so excited!

That is when the epiphany arrived. How often I had told my mom that you don't know what it feels like. And she would look at me and tell me that it was okay. Then we would spend that time together.

It still broke my heart to see those sad little eyes when he awoke from his nap only to be on his way back home. But we spent our afternoon together. And we can never have too much time together, right?

A Mommie's Love Is...

... kneeling on a single stall bathroom floor to change an overwhelmingly poopy cloth diaper of an overly active and very sleepy toddler with a serious shortage of baby wipes but ample supply of paper hand towels only to realize that the toilet is clogged by the contents of the aformentioned without a plunger on hand and no response from papa after sending an urgent "HELP" text to learn that his phone has died and he is knocking at the door wondering if everything is okay because the two of you have been in there for so long.

And then looking deep into those big blue eyes and instantly forgetting the drama.

What a day...

One of the most difficult parts of being a mommie is the need to remain clear headed. And yesterday most certainly proved that to me. The day began like most others. How often I've begun an entry like this...


Baby J was in a jolly mood. We.enjoyed a pleasant morning with meemaw. We excitedly looked forward to picking papa up at the train station later. In the meantime, we played outside with baby J's cousins.


Then it began...


Baby J frantically ran to greet his peepaw while holding a small trowel and tripped giving him a large gash in his left cheek.


Next, he slipped through the railing on the second floor porch and fell nearly 10' onto an upside-down plastic pool. After a brief moment of hysteria, he quickly returned to playing.


Then, while running, he fell head first onto the sidewalk.


So with a gash on his cheek and a large knot on his forehead, we.visited the emergency room.


He was treated for a mild concussion and promptly released. Sufficed to say, nothing could've prepared papa for the battle scars his son wore while picking him up from the train.


And I remained relatively calm for the whole experience- at least that's my version. ;@)