I have been battling a cold for most of the week... I haven't been sleeping very good due to being so congested and getting sinus headaches. The other night as we were putting the boys to bed, I was beyond exhausted. All I wanted was to get them tucked away in their beds so that I could crash into mine. Because of this, I tried to cheat Jaden out of our normal Mommy/Jaden bonding time. Instead of me - Cody helped Jaden brush his teeth and read him a book. After I had put Brandon in his room, I walked into Jaden's and tried to get away with a kiss and a hug instead of the whole routine of talking and praying.
As I turned away from his bed, walked to the doorway and turned off the light, Jaden immediately burst into tears. And I mean... burst into tears. I rushed back to his bed and tried to ask him what was wrong, but he was so upset that he wouldn't talk. I crawled into his, layed down next to him and started rubbing his back. This calmed him down... and slowly the crying stopped. I then asked him again, "What's wrong?" No answer. "What's wrong buddy? Use your words to tell me what's wrong. Are you upset that I didn't lay down with you right away?" All he responded with was a very quiet... "Yes." So I said -- "Do you want Mommy to lay with you for a coulple of minutes?" He responded with... "Yes." So I did - I laid with him quietly for a couple of minutes. And that was all he needed. The next time I went to leave his room, he rolled over into his usual sleeping position and that was that. (Let me just say here -- his sleeping position is the funnist thing. He rolls over with his back to the door, his precious blanket in hand, and tucks himself into the very edge of his bed right up against the wall. Doesn't look very comfy to me -- but it's how he falls asleep every single night. So funny).
I realized that night... as much as those precious moments with my kids mean so much to me... they really do mean so much to them, too. Thanks for reminding me to take the time for the little moments, Jaden!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Playing Picture Catch-Up
Friday, April 8, 2011
Funny Things My Kid Says -- Volume 2
Me: "Are you a boy or a girl?"
Jaden: "I'm a boy!"
Me: "Is Mommy a boy or a girl?"
Jaden: "You're a girl."
Me: "What's Daddy?"
Jaden: "Daddy's a stinker-butt!"
---------------
Me: "Jaden, can I have a hug bye-bye?"
Jaden: "I don't want to - I'm tired!"
...This is only funny because this is now his excuse for everything. Whenever he doesn't want to do something it's because he's "tired."
---------------
Our daycare packed up all of Jaden's diapers they never needed to use and sent them home with us to use for Brandon someday.
Jenn: "You don't need these diapers anymore, Jaden."
Jaden: "Yes we do!"
Jenn: "What do you need them for??"
Jaden: "Daddy can wear them now!"
-----------------
Cody: "Jaden, do you want to talk to Mommy on the phone?"
Jaden: "No. I just talked to Mama yesterday!"
------------------
I recently put nail polish on my toes and caught Jaden studying them later that day. About an hour after I saw him staring at them, he randomly - out of nowhere - says...
"I don't like your toes."
He was so serious. I guess I need to change the color.
-------------------
Jaden: "Come on, Brandon... we have to go to church buddy! We have to go see the girls!"
Jaden: "I'm a boy!"
Me: "Is Mommy a boy or a girl?"
Jaden: "You're a girl."
Me: "What's Daddy?"
Jaden: "Daddy's a stinker-butt!"
---------------
Me: "Jaden, can I have a hug bye-bye?"
Jaden: "I don't want to - I'm tired!"
...This is only funny because this is now his excuse for everything. Whenever he doesn't want to do something it's because he's "tired."
---------------
Our daycare packed up all of Jaden's diapers they never needed to use and sent them home with us to use for Brandon someday.
Jenn: "You don't need these diapers anymore, Jaden."
Jaden: "Yes we do!"
Jenn: "What do you need them for??"
Jaden: "Daddy can wear them now!"
-----------------
Cody: "Jaden, do you want to talk to Mommy on the phone?"
Jaden: "No. I just talked to Mama yesterday!"
------------------
I recently put nail polish on my toes and caught Jaden studying them later that day. About an hour after I saw him staring at them, he randomly - out of nowhere - says...
"I don't like your toes."
He was so serious. I guess I need to change the color.
-------------------
Jaden: "Come on, Brandon... we have to go to church buddy! We have to go see the girls!"
I Survived
I survived two nights and two mornings away from my beautiful little boys. Tuesday morning I boarded a plane for Dallas for a team building event with my company. Tuesday and Wednesday were productive days for me work-wise... but also very long -- starting at 7:30 in the morning and not getting back to my hotel room until after 10:00 both nights. Thursday I got on a plane to come home... and home felt very very good.
I am a home-body. Nothing makes me appreciate the Cedar Valley and Iowa more than going to a place like Dallas, Texas. We have such an easy-going slow-paced lifestyle here. When in Dallas, it took us over an hour just to get to where we wanted to eat for supper. And they are use to it down there. No thanks. That driving time is valuable time I'd much rather spend with my kiddos playing outside! Though it may be fun to see new places -- especially places you hear about all the time -- it's not as fun when the people you love aren't there to take it in with you. I liked to travel growing up - I enjoyed our trips to Florida, Lake Michigan... and even Europe. But they were all done with my family and friends. And that's the only way I'd want it to be if I had my choice.
My kids (and Cody) did well without me. Not that I thought they wouldn't. I don't worry about them when I'm gone... I worry about me. ;) Jaden told Cody quite a bit that he missed me. That made me feel really good... how could it not? I called them once each night and both mornings right before I had to leave my hotel room. It was nice just to hear their voices... even though Brandon doesn't talk yet, I always knew when he was holding the phone listening to me as I could hear the constant "beep" of the buttons he was pushing. He is 13 months old, but this is the first time I've really been away from him. Overnights at the grandparents' don't really count.
And nothing could beat the look on Brandon's face when he saw it was me that was picking him up from daycare Thursday afternoon. He cuddled his cute chipmunk cheeks next to mine for about 10 minutes. Preciousness. Jaden didn't give me much of a reaction when he first saw me... until I went to pick him up and put him in the car...when he wrapped his arms around me and laid his head down on my shoulder. He never does that. Preciousness. And I guess Cody missed me, too. When I was driving back into town from the Cedar Rapids airport, he asked me to come see him at his job site instead of waiting until he got off work and was home.
Now we are looking forward to a weekend of swimming lessons, wearing shorts, playing outside, sheltering ourselves from the possible severe weather they are predicting... and even taking in a UNI basketball banquet on Sunday. And I promise to take pictures of the cuties in my life. It's been a while!
I am a home-body. Nothing makes me appreciate the Cedar Valley and Iowa more than going to a place like Dallas, Texas. We have such an easy-going slow-paced lifestyle here. When in Dallas, it took us over an hour just to get to where we wanted to eat for supper. And they are use to it down there. No thanks. That driving time is valuable time I'd much rather spend with my kiddos playing outside! Though it may be fun to see new places -- especially places you hear about all the time -- it's not as fun when the people you love aren't there to take it in with you. I liked to travel growing up - I enjoyed our trips to Florida, Lake Michigan... and even Europe. But they were all done with my family and friends. And that's the only way I'd want it to be if I had my choice.
My kids (and Cody) did well without me. Not that I thought they wouldn't. I don't worry about them when I'm gone... I worry about me. ;) Jaden told Cody quite a bit that he missed me. That made me feel really good... how could it not? I called them once each night and both mornings right before I had to leave my hotel room. It was nice just to hear their voices... even though Brandon doesn't talk yet, I always knew when he was holding the phone listening to me as I could hear the constant "beep" of the buttons he was pushing. He is 13 months old, but this is the first time I've really been away from him. Overnights at the grandparents' don't really count.
And nothing could beat the look on Brandon's face when he saw it was me that was picking him up from daycare Thursday afternoon. He cuddled his cute chipmunk cheeks next to mine for about 10 minutes. Preciousness. Jaden didn't give me much of a reaction when he first saw me... until I went to pick him up and put him in the car...when he wrapped his arms around me and laid his head down on my shoulder. He never does that. Preciousness. And I guess Cody missed me, too. When I was driving back into town from the Cedar Rapids airport, he asked me to come see him at his job site instead of waiting until he got off work and was home.
Now we are looking forward to a weekend of swimming lessons, wearing shorts, playing outside, sheltering ourselves from the possible severe weather they are predicting... and even taking in a UNI basketball banquet on Sunday. And I promise to take pictures of the cuties in my life. It's been a while!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Underwear
Well, it's finally happened. This morning, Mommy and Daddy let Jaden leave the house for a full day wearing...
underwear.
Congratulations Jaden Timothy. You have graduated into official "big boy" territory. You are all grown up now. (Okay maybe not quite all grown up). But you did it. One small step for a little three year old boy... one giant leap for that three year old's parents.
My bank account thanks you, sweet boy. And my mommy heart beats with pride.
Pre-school... here we come!!
underwear.
Congratulations Jaden Timothy. You have graduated into official "big boy" territory. You are all grown up now. (Okay maybe not quite all grown up). But you did it. One small step for a little three year old boy... one giant leap for that three year old's parents.
My bank account thanks you, sweet boy. And my mommy heart beats with pride.
Pre-school... here we come!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Chicken-Veggie Stir-Fry
We are on a quest to try a new recipe every weekend. This one was last night's choice. It was yummy. Cody's words were: "This one's a keeper." Even our kids seemed to give it their stamp of approval. (Jaden ate more of the chicken than the veggies, but at least he kept asking for more chicken - "This is good!")
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion, cut into wedges (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
4 oz fresh sugar snap peas (I HATE peas... so Cody replaced the peas with some potatoes... not as healthy, but oh well)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves
(It doesn't call for potatoes, but we added some).
--------
1. In medium bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken; toss until evenly coated
2. In 10-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook chicken in oil about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until brown on outside and no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
3. In same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil until hot. Cook onion, bell pepper and peas (and potatoes) in oil about six minutes, stirring occasionally until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Return chicken to skillet. Stir in broth, vinegar and lemon pepper seasoning. Cook about 1 minute or until hot. Springle with oregano.
Y.U.M.M.Y.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion, cut into wedges (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
4 oz fresh sugar snap peas (I HATE peas... so Cody replaced the peas with some potatoes... not as healthy, but oh well)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves
(It doesn't call for potatoes, but we added some).
--------
1. In medium bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper. Add chicken; toss until evenly coated
2. In 10-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook chicken in oil about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until brown on outside and no longer pink in the center. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
3. In same skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil until hot. Cook onion, bell pepper and peas (and potatoes) in oil about six minutes, stirring occasionally until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Return chicken to skillet. Stir in broth, vinegar and lemon pepper seasoning. Cook about 1 minute or until hot. Springle with oregano.
Y.U.M.M.Y.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Updates on the Family...
Jaden is doing awesome with potty training. He wears pull-ups now because that's much easier than taking a diaper on and off when it's time to go potty. The only reason we're not wearing underwear yet... is because of that stinky old #2. He never wets his pants... but every once in a while... the stinky stuff doesn't quite make it to the potty. He doesn't have any problems with it at daycare... but at home on the weekends... for some reason he wants to give Mommy and Daddy a hard time. That's okay though... we are so close to getting rid of pull ups and diapers for good... and I'm so excited about that.
He is in swimming lessons right now on Saturday mornings. The very first class, we didn't even make it through the whole lesson. The teacher asked the kids to put their face in the water at the very beginning of class, and that freaked Jaden out so he refused to cooperate at all the rest of the time. Cody had to pull him from the pool because he was being disruptive. I took him myself the following week, and he did much better. We talked a lot before going to the class, and I promised him that he didn't have to put his face in the water if he didn't want to - but that he had to listen to Mommy and the teacher and not cry when in the pool. So that second class, he actually surprised us by putting his face in the water -- not when he was told to... but on his own towards the end of the class. He just has to be able to do certain things in his own time -- hmmm.... kind of like his daddy. ;) The only other thing he struggles with is when it's time for them to do back floats. Every time I try and get him to flip onto his back, he tells me, "I'm scared!" So... we're working on it. The front floats he does just fine with. The class goes until the last weekend of April. I'm excited that next spring, Brandon will be in the class right before Jaden's. We will have two little fishies in the pool!
Brandon is a teething machine. The poor kid cannot get a break. Right now he is working on his top two eye teeth (the bottom ones just came in) -- and one of his bottom teeth on the side of his mouth. I did a mental count last night, and that puts him at 16 teeth. Which means... he only has his two year molars left! I'm really really hoping those hold off until he is two. Give us a long break before we have to endure that. :) He always has two super cranky days right before the tooth completely pops through. And I think that's one of the reasons that he's still not sleeping through the night. Right now he's working on three teeth at the same time. I don't remember the last time he hasn't been getting at least two teeth at the same time... it's been a very long time. Do I try and make him cry it out at night?? Yes. Sometimes for almost an hour. He does not give up, and we get less sleep than if we just get up with him for five minutes. Usually he only gets up once... so it's not horrible. If a tooth is just about to pop through, he might get up twice.
Aside from the teething, he is doing very well. He is a great walker now, and is getting faster at it, too. He's getting really good at being able to bend over and pick things up without losing his balance or having to hold onto anything. He's not saying words besides Mama and Da-da... but he is showing signs of wanting to start using words. He will point at an object and make a little - "eh?" sound -- as if to say, "What's that?" When we tell him what it is, he repeats it by using a sound that matches the same number of syllables as the words we gave him. This morning we thought he said "ball." He was pointing at some pictures of basketballs and baseballs in Jaden's room, and when I said, "basketball," -- Brandon said, "Ba!" He also sounds like he's tried to say "cracker" a couple of times when he's eating a cracker. He tries to bark at dogs. It doesn't sound anything like a bark -- but a very cute really high pitched "conversation." He only makes those noises when dogs are around... so we think it's his special doggy language. ;) He loves Patty-cake. If I even say the words patty-cake, he starts clapping his hands. This morning he was studying the body parts of his singing puppy toy. He kept pointing at the hands, feet, nose... while I told him what each part was. He's still our tiny little man. He's finally outgrowing his 6-12 month pants... but the next size up is quite long on him. We have to roll all of the pants he wears or they would be way too long. He's into 18 month shirts... but if they are 18-24 month. they are quite baggy on him. Jaden was definitey into 24 month clothes by this point. He's very much in love with his mommy and daddy right now. If one of us leaves the room, he walks around looking for where we went. He's kind of like a herding dog... he wants us all together in the same room all the time. ;) If Cody and Jaden go up to the bathroom, Brandon has to follow. If I run to our bedroom, he tries to find me. It's pretty cute. His favorite foods are bananas, yogurt, spaghetti, and we are letting him eat small bites of pizza now since he has so many big teeth in. He also loves cooked carrots that have been in the crock pot. He still is nowhere near the eater that Jaden was... however, we are seeing improvement. Probably because he's getting so active -- he needs more food for all of the energy he has!
Both of the boys LOVE being outside. Jaden likes watching the ducks that have made a home in our creek, and Brandon loves trying to use our big broom to sweep our driveway. ;) We went for a little walk last night, and Brandon had a permanent little grin on his face the whole time. We are ready to not have to wear our winter coats anymore!! Unfortunately, Jaden came down with another cold a few days ago, and Brandon was showing signs of getting it this morning. It doesn't matter how much we wash our hands, santize the whole house, and try and keep the two of them apart when one is sick... if one gets it... the other one is sure to follow. As Jaden was leaving the house with Cody this morning, he turned and looked at me from the doorway and said, "Mama, please pray today that I feel better." -- That broke my heart. He's feeling pretty miserable right now. Although I do think he seemed slightly better this morning than he did yesterday... so hopefully this won't be a long drawn out cold this time.
As for me and Cody (if anyone cares what we're actually up to) ;) ... Cody is getting very busy at work. He's even had to bring work home with him a few times in the last week. He is now responsible for doing all of the sales, bids and design for all of the landscaping projects... and they have had a request for some very very large jobs... so those bids are a big project for him right now. We are grateful for this though -- he's really doing a good job, and the owner is giving him some pretty huge responsibilities that are going to pay off down the road. I am getting ready for a very quick trip to Dallas next week. My company is having a "team building" event for the business development managers from all of our different office locations. I fly out on Tuesday afternoon and return Thursday morning. Our meetings take place on Wednesday. So... a very quick trip. I will only be away from home for two evenings -- but that is more than long enough for me. :)
He is in swimming lessons right now on Saturday mornings. The very first class, we didn't even make it through the whole lesson. The teacher asked the kids to put their face in the water at the very beginning of class, and that freaked Jaden out so he refused to cooperate at all the rest of the time. Cody had to pull him from the pool because he was being disruptive. I took him myself the following week, and he did much better. We talked a lot before going to the class, and I promised him that he didn't have to put his face in the water if he didn't want to - but that he had to listen to Mommy and the teacher and not cry when in the pool. So that second class, he actually surprised us by putting his face in the water -- not when he was told to... but on his own towards the end of the class. He just has to be able to do certain things in his own time -- hmmm.... kind of like his daddy. ;) The only other thing he struggles with is when it's time for them to do back floats. Every time I try and get him to flip onto his back, he tells me, "I'm scared!" So... we're working on it. The front floats he does just fine with. The class goes until the last weekend of April. I'm excited that next spring, Brandon will be in the class right before Jaden's. We will have two little fishies in the pool!
Brandon is a teething machine. The poor kid cannot get a break. Right now he is working on his top two eye teeth (the bottom ones just came in) -- and one of his bottom teeth on the side of his mouth. I did a mental count last night, and that puts him at 16 teeth. Which means... he only has his two year molars left! I'm really really hoping those hold off until he is two. Give us a long break before we have to endure that. :) He always has two super cranky days right before the tooth completely pops through. And I think that's one of the reasons that he's still not sleeping through the night. Right now he's working on three teeth at the same time. I don't remember the last time he hasn't been getting at least two teeth at the same time... it's been a very long time. Do I try and make him cry it out at night?? Yes. Sometimes for almost an hour. He does not give up, and we get less sleep than if we just get up with him for five minutes. Usually he only gets up once... so it's not horrible. If a tooth is just about to pop through, he might get up twice.
Aside from the teething, he is doing very well. He is a great walker now, and is getting faster at it, too. He's getting really good at being able to bend over and pick things up without losing his balance or having to hold onto anything. He's not saying words besides Mama and Da-da... but he is showing signs of wanting to start using words. He will point at an object and make a little - "eh?" sound -- as if to say, "What's that?" When we tell him what it is, he repeats it by using a sound that matches the same number of syllables as the words we gave him. This morning we thought he said "ball." He was pointing at some pictures of basketballs and baseballs in Jaden's room, and when I said, "basketball," -- Brandon said, "Ba!" He also sounds like he's tried to say "cracker" a couple of times when he's eating a cracker. He tries to bark at dogs. It doesn't sound anything like a bark -- but a very cute really high pitched "conversation." He only makes those noises when dogs are around... so we think it's his special doggy language. ;) He loves Patty-cake. If I even say the words patty-cake, he starts clapping his hands. This morning he was studying the body parts of his singing puppy toy. He kept pointing at the hands, feet, nose... while I told him what each part was. He's still our tiny little man. He's finally outgrowing his 6-12 month pants... but the next size up is quite long on him. We have to roll all of the pants he wears or they would be way too long. He's into 18 month shirts... but if they are 18-24 month. they are quite baggy on him. Jaden was definitey into 24 month clothes by this point. He's very much in love with his mommy and daddy right now. If one of us leaves the room, he walks around looking for where we went. He's kind of like a herding dog... he wants us all together in the same room all the time. ;) If Cody and Jaden go up to the bathroom, Brandon has to follow. If I run to our bedroom, he tries to find me. It's pretty cute. His favorite foods are bananas, yogurt, spaghetti, and we are letting him eat small bites of pizza now since he has so many big teeth in. He also loves cooked carrots that have been in the crock pot. He still is nowhere near the eater that Jaden was... however, we are seeing improvement. Probably because he's getting so active -- he needs more food for all of the energy he has!
Both of the boys LOVE being outside. Jaden likes watching the ducks that have made a home in our creek, and Brandon loves trying to use our big broom to sweep our driveway. ;) We went for a little walk last night, and Brandon had a permanent little grin on his face the whole time. We are ready to not have to wear our winter coats anymore!! Unfortunately, Jaden came down with another cold a few days ago, and Brandon was showing signs of getting it this morning. It doesn't matter how much we wash our hands, santize the whole house, and try and keep the two of them apart when one is sick... if one gets it... the other one is sure to follow. As Jaden was leaving the house with Cody this morning, he turned and looked at me from the doorway and said, "Mama, please pray today that I feel better." -- That broke my heart. He's feeling pretty miserable right now. Although I do think he seemed slightly better this morning than he did yesterday... so hopefully this won't be a long drawn out cold this time.
As for me and Cody (if anyone cares what we're actually up to) ;) ... Cody is getting very busy at work. He's even had to bring work home with him a few times in the last week. He is now responsible for doing all of the sales, bids and design for all of the landscaping projects... and they have had a request for some very very large jobs... so those bids are a big project for him right now. We are grateful for this though -- he's really doing a good job, and the owner is giving him some pretty huge responsibilities that are going to pay off down the road. I am getting ready for a very quick trip to Dallas next week. My company is having a "team building" event for the business development managers from all of our different office locations. I fly out on Tuesday afternoon and return Thursday morning. Our meetings take place on Wednesday. So... a very quick trip. I will only be away from home for two evenings -- but that is more than long enough for me. :)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Is There Anything Better...
...Than coming home from a full day in the office... and a full evening at a work meeting...
and being greeted with the immediate sound of a three year old yelling up the basement steps -
"Hey Mama! How was dinner??!"
...and his little 12 month old brother eagerly running to the doorway (as fast as his little legs can run) -- reaching up both of his arms, and pointing at you... just dying for you to pick him up and hug him and squeeze him...
Is there anything better than coming home to two adorably wonderful happy boys that truly missed you??
Nope. Nothing better.
Yesterday... on a Monday... I spent a little extra time rocking Brandon in his room before actually putting him down in his crib for bed. I spent a little extra time letting him point at things in his room and explaining to him what they were -- even though it was a little past bed time. I spent a little extra time praying with Jaden... and when he said... "Mama, you lay here with me for a few more minutes..." -- I did.
I love being a Mama.
and being greeted with the immediate sound of a three year old yelling up the basement steps -
"Hey Mama! How was dinner??!"
...and his little 12 month old brother eagerly running to the doorway (as fast as his little legs can run) -- reaching up both of his arms, and pointing at you... just dying for you to pick him up and hug him and squeeze him...
Is there anything better than coming home to two adorably wonderful happy boys that truly missed you??
Nope. Nothing better.
Yesterday... on a Monday... I spent a little extra time rocking Brandon in his room before actually putting him down in his crib for bed. I spent a little extra time letting him point at things in his room and explaining to him what they were -- even though it was a little past bed time. I spent a little extra time praying with Jaden... and when he said... "Mama, you lay here with me for a few more minutes..." -- I did.
I love being a Mama.
Monday, March 28, 2011
For the Moms Out There...
Cody's mom forwarded this email on to me this morning. (Thanks Deanne!) It was too good not to share...
"Invisible Mom"
*It all began to make sense. The blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone - or cooking - or sweeping the floor - or even standing on my head in the corner. Because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands - nothing more. "Can you fix this?" "Can you tie this?" "Can you open this??"
Some days I'm not a pair of hands - I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."
Some days I'm a crystal ball - "Where's my other sock?" "Where's my phone?" "What's for dinner?"
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books - and the eyes that studied history, music and literature. But now - they had disappeared. Into the peanut butter - never to be seen again.
She's going, she's going... she's gone?!
One night a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there looking around at all the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic - when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no - douvour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me four life-changing truths after which I could pattern my work.
1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
4. The passion of their building was fueld by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built - and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day - even when no one around you does."
"No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished - to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far aw to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime - because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving - "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." --That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, "You're gonna love it there..."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel - not only at what we've built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.*
"Invisible Mom"
*It all began to make sense. The blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone - or cooking - or sweeping the floor - or even standing on my head in the corner. Because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands - nothing more. "Can you fix this?" "Can you tie this?" "Can you open this??"
Some days I'm not a pair of hands - I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."
Some days I'm a crystal ball - "Where's my other sock?" "Where's my phone?" "What's for dinner?"
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books - and the eyes that studied history, music and literature. But now - they had disappeared. Into the peanut butter - never to be seen again.
She's going, she's going... she's gone?!
One night a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there looking around at all the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic - when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.
I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no - douvour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me four life-changing truths after which I could pattern my work.
1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
4. The passion of their building was fueld by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built - and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day - even when no one around you does."
"No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished - to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far aw to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime - because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving - "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." --That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, "You're gonna love it there..."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel - not only at what we've built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.*
Friday, March 25, 2011
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