~William J. Clinton, 1997
I honestly believe that the truest way for us - as individuals and as a country - to remember and honor those who lost their lives on September 11th is to embrace peace, look to the future, and open our arms.
Monday, September 11, 2017
Peace on Earth
~William J. Clinton, 1997
I honestly believe that the truest way for us - as individuals and as a country - to remember and honor those who lost their lives on September 11th is to embrace peace, look to the future, and open our arms.
Friday, September 8, 2017
High Five for Friday: 9.8.17
1. College football season has arrived! The Aggies suffered an embarrassing loss on Sunday night, but on Saturday afternoon our Hawkeyes added one to the win column. I don't follow football - college or professional - as closely as I once did thanks to Saturday soccer games and dance rehearsals, but I love knowing the games are happening and (sometimes) on television should I have the time to watch them.
2. Speaking of dance rehearsals...this little dancer was cast as a battle mouse in Ballet Brazos' 6th annual production of The Nutcracker! Her emotions about the role - as well as a variety of other life events - have ebbed and flowed quite a few times throughout the last week, but I think she has finally landed on both happy about the part and proud of herself, and for that, I am grateful.
3. This little (big?) soccer player joined ball crew at last weekend's Aggie soccer game (they won, 2-0) and earned himself the title of hardest working ball boy around. He may not have taken the field as a player, but watching him hustle and do his absolute best to serve the Aggie players made me proud none-the-less!
4. On Monday I wrote a post about how I send my kids off to school with the words "work hard and be kind" fresh in their minds. Later in the week Hallie's teacher wrote this note in her planner:
My work here is done.
Just kidding. We still have a long way to go, but we're on the right track.
5. Happiness Highlights:
Happy Friday, Chasing Roots!
Linking up with High Five for Friday here:
2. Speaking of dance rehearsals...this little dancer was cast as a battle mouse in Ballet Brazos' 6th annual production of The Nutcracker! Her emotions about the role - as well as a variety of other life events - have ebbed and flowed quite a few times throughout the last week, but I think she has finally landed on both happy about the part and proud of herself, and for that, I am grateful.
3. This little (big?) soccer player joined ball crew at last weekend's Aggie soccer game (they won, 2-0) and earned himself the title of hardest working ball boy around. He may not have taken the field as a player, but watching him hustle and do his absolute best to serve the Aggie players made me proud none-the-less!
4. On Monday I wrote a post about how I send my kids off to school with the words "work hard and be kind" fresh in their minds. Later in the week Hallie's teacher wrote this note in her planner:
My work here is done.
Just kidding. We still have a long way to go, but we're on the right track.
5. Happiness Highlights:
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| Hallie learned how to do the baby freeze in hip hop, so now they practice the baby freeze together before they go to bed. |
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| I bought this little step stool for $.50 (?!) at a garage sale. It's adorable, and I can't wait to figure out where it will live in our house and then sand and stain the legs and recover the top with new fabric. |
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| Will finished his first intermediate school project! (I had to walk away when he started gluing those pictures though...me and my OCD couldn't handle how little he cared about their positioning.) |
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| My oven door broke (with a pan of cookies inside), but I fixed it "all by my big girl self"...using my flowered screwdriver gifted to me by my mom and Hallie's tools. |
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| These two...I can't even. |
Happy Friday, Chasing Roots!
Linking up with High Five for Friday here:
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Monthly Medley: August 2017
Writing
I'm finally back into the swing of things! Well, sort of. I wrapped up a resolutions post for Mama Bear Dares and a restaurant overview post for Texas Living Magazine, and now I'm trying to figure out how I can turn what I know about emergency and disaster preparedness into a helpful online resource for moms. I'll keep you posted!
Reading
This month I finished reading Good as Gone: A Novel of Suspense by Amy Gentry. "After eight long years, an abducted daughter suddenly reappears harboring deep secrets. Her mother wrestles with the ultimate question: do I really know my daughter?" I don't usually select books about kidnapping - no need for my mind to wander to those dark places - but this book came highly recommended by another mother and I could tell just from reading the jacket that this story wouldn't trouble me quite as much as some others. I have heard Good as Gone compared to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, and while I enjoyed losing myself in its mystery, Good as Gone didn't keep me up reading late into the night the way both of the other two novels did. I give it a "B-" grade.
Watching
I generally consider August the least interesting month of the year in terms of both television and movie viewing. Because television networks and movie production companies are focused on their upcoming fall and holiday releases, they show primarily reruns and less-anticipated movies as summer fizzles out. That said, I found great pleasure in watching the Twilight Marathon while Hurricane Harvey kept us indoors, the Harry Potter Marathon over Labor Day weekend, and the delightfully charming The Holiday, all of which I hadn't watched in years.
We continue watch America's Got Talent, and earlier this month I/we voted for our favorites for the first time. When I say "first time", I don't just mean we voted for an AGT performer for the first time...I mean I voted for a performer of any kind on any show for the first time. I have never before enjoyed reality television, so this has been quite a shift for me!
Last but not least, I have fallen in love with The West Wing. It took a few episodes for me to "attach" to the characters, but now I adore them all and eagerly look forward to spending time with them every night after the kids finally fall asleep.
Listening To
I usually listen to podcasts while I 1) get ready in the morning and 2) go for walks. But because in August I 1) rarely get ready for anything other than going to the gym and 2) don't go outside, I have been falling behind, rather than catching up on, my podcasts. I have a new podcast I plan to start this month though: LeVar Burton Reads. Yes, that LeVar Burton will choose pieces of short fiction and read them to me. And to you, if you'd like. I can't wait!
Other than that, in August I have only listened to Will play "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on the piano. I love Christmas as much as - if not more than - the next person, but OH MY GOODNESS I appreciated the quiet when he walked out the door on the first day of school.
Trying/Using
Have you tried this toilet bowl scrubber? I won't go into too much detail, but I will go so far as to call it life changing. Get one. Or three.
I upgraded my phone this month and decided that along with the new phone I should also purchase a new case. After years of using a functional but unattractive and uninteresting Otter Box case, I wanted a pretty case that would also protect my phone from the inevitable occasional drop. I "designed" (as in I chose a few of the specifics of) my case on Casetify, choosing the Classic Grip Case with a flowered back that reminded me a little of bluebonnets.
The case feels much less cumbersome than my Otter Box, and thus far it - thankfully - seems nearly as sturdy...I already dropped my phone once with no problem! (I am not a dropper, EXCEPT when it comes to my phone, which I drop regularly.)
I have no affiliation with Casetify but have thus far enjoyed their product!
Wearing
Our August weather, at least for about a week to 10 days surrounding the hurricane, felt nothing like "August in Texas". Summer returned shortly thereafter, but we had a slight glimpse into the fall ahead during which we actually opened our windows and I wore jeans - JEANS! IN AUGUST! IN TEXAS! - two days in a row.
Eating/Drinking
After months (years?) of trying to experience the atmosphere and food at Rx Pizza, we finally made it there! Two great friends of ours chose it for their birthday dinner, and it delivered on every level. It may not have made it on the list of "45 Places to Eat in College Station Before You Die", but it should have. The brick-oven pizza was as delicious as any I've tried here in the Brazos Valley, and the sides...OH, the sides...are reason enough to dine at Rx Pizza. If you go, try the fresh and fragrant Fried Mozzarella (so much more than typical mozzarella sticks) and the hearty, flavorful Texas Tots.
I haven't tried many new recipes - 50 States of Cookies or otherwise - this month because I try to avoid turning my oven on in August. I made an exception, however, for these cake cups:
Hallie made them once by herself and once with a friend, completely without my help other than putting the pan into and taking the pan out of the oven. They were adorable, and surprisingly tasty!
What's new, good, and/or interesting in your life this month? Please share!
I'm finally back into the swing of things! Well, sort of. I wrapped up a resolutions post for Mama Bear Dares and a restaurant overview post for Texas Living Magazine, and now I'm trying to figure out how I can turn what I know about emergency and disaster preparedness into a helpful online resource for moms. I'll keep you posted!
Reading
This month I finished reading Good as Gone: A Novel of Suspense by Amy Gentry. "After eight long years, an abducted daughter suddenly reappears harboring deep secrets. Her mother wrestles with the ultimate question: do I really know my daughter?" I don't usually select books about kidnapping - no need for my mind to wander to those dark places - but this book came highly recommended by another mother and I could tell just from reading the jacket that this story wouldn't trouble me quite as much as some others. I have heard Good as Gone compared to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, and while I enjoyed losing myself in its mystery, Good as Gone didn't keep me up reading late into the night the way both of the other two novels did. I give it a "B-" grade.
Watching
I generally consider August the least interesting month of the year in terms of both television and movie viewing. Because television networks and movie production companies are focused on their upcoming fall and holiday releases, they show primarily reruns and less-anticipated movies as summer fizzles out. That said, I found great pleasure in watching the Twilight Marathon while Hurricane Harvey kept us indoors, the Harry Potter Marathon over Labor Day weekend, and the delightfully charming The Holiday, all of which I hadn't watched in years.
We continue watch America's Got Talent, and earlier this month I/we voted for our favorites for the first time. When I say "first time", I don't just mean we voted for an AGT performer for the first time...I mean I voted for a performer of any kind on any show for the first time. I have never before enjoyed reality television, so this has been quite a shift for me!
Last but not least, I have fallen in love with The West Wing. It took a few episodes for me to "attach" to the characters, but now I adore them all and eagerly look forward to spending time with them every night after the kids finally fall asleep.
Listening To
I usually listen to podcasts while I 1) get ready in the morning and 2) go for walks. But because in August I 1) rarely get ready for anything other than going to the gym and 2) don't go outside, I have been falling behind, rather than catching up on, my podcasts. I have a new podcast I plan to start this month though: LeVar Burton Reads. Yes, that LeVar Burton will choose pieces of short fiction and read them to me. And to you, if you'd like. I can't wait!
Other than that, in August I have only listened to Will play "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on the piano. I love Christmas as much as - if not more than - the next person, but OH MY GOODNESS I appreciated the quiet when he walked out the door on the first day of school.
Trying/Using
Have you tried this toilet bowl scrubber? I won't go into too much detail, but I will go so far as to call it life changing. Get one. Or three.
I upgraded my phone this month and decided that along with the new phone I should also purchase a new case. After years of using a functional but unattractive and uninteresting Otter Box case, I wanted a pretty case that would also protect my phone from the inevitable occasional drop. I "designed" (as in I chose a few of the specifics of) my case on Casetify, choosing the Classic Grip Case with a flowered back that reminded me a little of bluebonnets.
The case feels much less cumbersome than my Otter Box, and thus far it - thankfully - seems nearly as sturdy...I already dropped my phone once with no problem! (I am not a dropper, EXCEPT when it comes to my phone, which I drop regularly.)
I have no affiliation with Casetify but have thus far enjoyed their product!
Wearing
Our August weather, at least for about a week to 10 days surrounding the hurricane, felt nothing like "August in Texas". Summer returned shortly thereafter, but we had a slight glimpse into the fall ahead during which we actually opened our windows and I wore jeans - JEANS! IN AUGUST! IN TEXAS! - two days in a row.
Eating/Drinking
After months (years?) of trying to experience the atmosphere and food at Rx Pizza, we finally made it there! Two great friends of ours chose it for their birthday dinner, and it delivered on every level. It may not have made it on the list of "45 Places to Eat in College Station Before You Die", but it should have. The brick-oven pizza was as delicious as any I've tried here in the Brazos Valley, and the sides...OH, the sides...are reason enough to dine at Rx Pizza. If you go, try the fresh and fragrant Fried Mozzarella (so much more than typical mozzarella sticks) and the hearty, flavorful Texas Tots.
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| The girls' end of the table. |
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| The boys' end of the table. Our group took up more than half of the restaurant. |
I haven't tried many new recipes - 50 States of Cookies or otherwise - this month because I try to avoid turning my oven on in August. I made an exception, however, for these cake cups:
Hallie made them once by herself and once with a friend, completely without my help other than putting the pan into and taking the pan out of the oven. They were adorable, and surprisingly tasty!
What's new, good, and/or interesting in your life this month? Please share!
Monday, September 4, 2017
The Message Remains the Same
The first week of school has me feeling sentimental about firsts and lasts, and the political climate in our country has me focusing more than ever on the verbal and behavioral messages I send to my children. This post - which, like last Wednesday's post, is an edited and updated version of something I wrote a few years ago - wraps all of that up in a couple hundred words.
Every morning since Will's first day of kindergarten I have sent him, and then Hallie, out the door with a hug, a kiss, a declaration of love, and a simple request.
"Work hard and be kind."
Throughout the last two weeks, children across the country began a new school year complete with new teachers, friends, expectations, responsibilities, and experiences. I wish for every one of them a year overflowing with academic learning, emotional growth, and opportunities for physical activity, creative expression, laughter, and fun.
I also wish - and hope and pray - that as Will and Hallie (and all of our nation's children) navigate the educational and social paths ahead of them, they remember my simple request. I hope they remember that while grades are important, report card percentages matter less than the hard work that went into them and the learning that occurred along the way. I hope they remember that a victory in the classroom or on the playing field means nothing if others were pushed down in order for them to rise up. And I hope they remember that acceptance, kindness, and love go further than indifference, intolerance, and cruelty.
When they feel discouraged, frustrated, sad, or even angry - which they will undoubtedly feel at some point throughout the school year - I hope they hear my voice in their heads, reminding them that hard work and kindness matter most of all.
Every morning since Will's first day of kindergarten I have sent him, and then Hallie, out the door with a hug, a kiss, a declaration of love, and a simple request.
"Work hard and be kind."
Throughout the last two weeks, children across the country began a new school year complete with new teachers, friends, expectations, responsibilities, and experiences. I wish for every one of them a year overflowing with academic learning, emotional growth, and opportunities for physical activity, creative expression, laughter, and fun.
I also wish - and hope and pray - that as Will and Hallie (and all of our nation's children) navigate the educational and social paths ahead of them, they remember my simple request. I hope they remember that while grades are important, report card percentages matter less than the hard work that went into them and the learning that occurred along the way. I hope they remember that a victory in the classroom or on the playing field means nothing if others were pushed down in order for them to rise up. And I hope they remember that acceptance, kindness, and love go further than indifference, intolerance, and cruelty.
When they feel discouraged, frustrated, sad, or even angry - which they will undoubtedly feel at some point throughout the school year - I hope they hear my voice in their heads, reminding them that hard work and kindness matter most of all.
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| Kind of sums up "work hard" and "be kind", doesn't it? |
Besides "I love you", what words of wisdom or support do you share with your spouse, children, family members, and/or roommates as they head out the door and into the world?
Friday, September 1, 2017
High Five for Friday: 9.1.17
Since I threw in a Flashback Friday post in place of a High Five for Friday post last week, today's HF4F posts covers a couple of weeks of high fives.
1. First and foremost, a Hurricane Harvey update. Though we (our family) experienced backyard and patio flooding and we (our community) experienced a few set-backs in the form of localized flooding, school cancellations, delayed trash pick-up, and indefinitely suspended mail service, we are safe and dry. Those in and around Houston were - are - not so lucky, and for millions of people, the long road to recovery has only just begun.
The devastation is heartbreaking, but the stories of bravery and good will and generosity borne of this tragedy give us all something hopeful and inspiring to which we can cling. One of Mr. Rogers' most famous quotes grew out of his mother's words of wisdom. When he would see scary things on the news, she would say to him, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Never have I seen more helpers: first responders, second responders, and community partners, but also "average Joes" who simply decide to take a day off work, tow their boats to Houston, launch themselves into the dangerous flood waters, and save some lives.
On a lighter note, I've also seen the "I have a six-pack of beer and I'm going to share it with the meteorologist who's been broadcasting live from inside a hurricane for two days straight" kind of helpers. That's Texas hospitality, folks.
As I mentioned on Monday, I encourage those who would like to help to make a financial or blood donation to the American Red Cross by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. If the Red Cross is not your preferred disaster relief organization, here are a few options recommended by the NY Times.
2. Second, a massive THANK YOU for your overwhelming support and tremendously kind words in response to my "Dear Abby, From a Changed Mom" post. I feel exponentially better about the entire encounter now, in part because writing about the experience and then sharing it widely allowed me to lessen the heavy weight resting on my shoulders, and in part because you made me feel like my parenting decisions had not been completely crazy and/or damaging to my children. I appreciate you and am both grateful for and humbled by your readership, kinship, and friendship.
3. Third, a quick overview of the fun we had during the last week of summer vacation. Lots of playdates, a birthday swim party, eclipse watching, three meet-the-teacher nights at elementary school, and "walk the halls" at intermediate school. I also had good meetings with Will's new school's nurse about his allergies and with Hallie's new teachers about her Tourette's. Then we spent our weekend, thanks to Hurricane Harvey, doing considerably less than we had originally planned. Will's soccer game, the soccer club's fundraiser, Hallie's Nutcracker audition, and a birthday dinner were all cancelled or postponed; though we wish it would never have arrived here in Texas at all, Hurricane Harvey offered me an opportunity to catch up at home before we headed back to school.
4. Fourth, overall the kids had a good first week of school. Starting a day later than anticipated threw us for a loop initially, but turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Monday afternoons revolve around three dance classes and a soccer practice, but we have absolutely nothing scheduled for Tuesday afternoons; Monday's cancellation meant all those other activities were canceled too, and we could ease into the week with an activity-free Tuesday afternoon. Both kids came home at the end of their first days with huge smiles on their faces and only positive things to say about their schools, classes, teachers, and friends...and then we had time to pop into Spoons for a quick treat.
5. And finally, Happiness Highlights:
Happy Friday, Chasing Roots!
Linking up with High Five for Friday here:
1. First and foremost, a Hurricane Harvey update. Though we (our family) experienced backyard and patio flooding and we (our community) experienced a few set-backs in the form of localized flooding, school cancellations, delayed trash pick-up, and indefinitely suspended mail service, we are safe and dry. Those in and around Houston were - are - not so lucky, and for millions of people, the long road to recovery has only just begun.
The devastation is heartbreaking, but the stories of bravery and good will and generosity borne of this tragedy give us all something hopeful and inspiring to which we can cling. One of Mr. Rogers' most famous quotes grew out of his mother's words of wisdom. When he would see scary things on the news, she would say to him, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Never have I seen more helpers: first responders, second responders, and community partners, but also "average Joes" who simply decide to take a day off work, tow their boats to Houston, launch themselves into the dangerous flood waters, and save some lives.
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| Speaking of helpers, these two helped us mop up water, wring out towels, put out new towels, etc. in their elementary school multiple times over the weekend. Rockin' 'Ranglers! |
As I mentioned on Monday, I encourage those who would like to help to make a financial or blood donation to the American Red Cross by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. If the Red Cross is not your preferred disaster relief organization, here are a few options recommended by the NY Times.
- The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund (coordinated by Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, and administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation).
- The Houston Food Bank and the Food Bank of Corpus Christi.
- The Houston Humane Society or the San Antonio Humane Society. (The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has set up an animal emergency response hotline at 713-861-3010 and is accepting donations on its website.)
- The United Way of Greater Houston flood relief fund. Visit their website to donate or text UWFLOOD to 41444.
2. Second, a massive THANK YOU for your overwhelming support and tremendously kind words in response to my "Dear Abby, From a Changed Mom" post. I feel exponentially better about the entire encounter now, in part because writing about the experience and then sharing it widely allowed me to lessen the heavy weight resting on my shoulders, and in part because you made me feel like my parenting decisions had not been completely crazy and/or damaging to my children. I appreciate you and am both grateful for and humbled by your readership, kinship, and friendship.
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| This is how Hallie greeted Will at the end of the first day of school. They may fight - A LOT - but they really do love each other. I wish I could show that awful woman this picture. |
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| We couldn't see much of the eclipse because of cloud cover (and the fact that we live no where near the zone of totality), but the kids enjoyed making and using their cereal box viewing devices! |
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| These 'Ranglers are ready for another year at The Rock! |
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| Little Bit working on her Growth Mindset. |
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| Ready to rock third grade! |
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| The "bigs"...off to a new school! |
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| We took care of sweet Calvin for an entire day while the rest of his family went to Schlitterbahn. He is literally the most easy-going toddler on the planet - he didn't cry a single time in 13 hours (for comparison's sake, Hallie cried five times that day) - but OH MY GOODNESS toddlers are challenging when you're not used to their energy levels. Luckily we love Calvin to pieces and loved having him as "our little brother" for the day. |
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| Will has a short attention span as a babysitter... |
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| ...while Hallie, on the other hand, took amazing care of Calvin. Watching her love on, care for, and supervise Calvin made me tremendously proud. |
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| He's SOOOO tolerant of Will and Hallie but he seemed legitimately relieved when they finally headed off to school. |
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| My niece, Lily. 😍 |
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| And my nephew, Carter. Again with the heart eyes... |
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| My grocery store just started offering free fresh fruit for kiddos - I love this! |
Happy Friday, Chasing Roots!
Linking up with High Five for Friday here:
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
They Were Right
Today's post should have gone live on Monday, the scheduled first day of school, but because of Hurricane Harvey the kids didn't start school until Tuesday. Today's post is also an edited and updated version of a post I shared four years ago, on Will's first day of first grade.
During Will and Hallie's baby and toddler years, I found the commonly uttered phrase "enjoy every moment...they grow up so fast" both frustrating and disheartening.
You've been there, right?
It's 10am. You've been awake for five hours, and in that time you've fed your children three times, been thrown up on three times, cleaned smashed banana out of the cat's fur, changed four diapers, wiped pee up off the playroom floor, rescued a Power Ranger action figure from the toilet, unclogged the toilet, and mopped up the flooded bathroom. You haven't eaten, showered, gotten dressed, or even brushed your teeth.
How many of those moments did you enjoy?
Telling parents - especially new parents, whose days feel like weeks and whose nights require superhuman strength to endure - to "enjoy every moment" often comes across, no matter how well-intentioned, as cruel. These new moms and dads love their babies tremendously, but they simply aren't enjoying every moment.
And telling new parents that time goes by so quickly? Well, that line sounds like a great big lie, because for them, time isn't going by so quickly. If they're anything like me when I had an infant at home, they're wondering how it's possible that their (according to the calendar) five-month-old won't head off to kindergarten this fall because it feels like they've been caring for that baby for five years.
Last Monday I took care of my friend's nearly two-year-old son for an entire day. I see sweet Calvin and he spends time with Will and Hallie frequently, but it wasn't until I watched him play side-by-side with Will and Hallie for the better part of 12 hours that I realized just how big - how independent - my kids have become.
Holy smokes...they DO grow up so fast. It DOES go by so quickly.
Yesterday Will started fifth grade. FIFTH GRADE. (And he's taking sixth grade math. Someone hold me.) He's almost eleven years old and has left elementary school behind. Yesterday Hallie started third grade. THIRD GRADE. My BABY, an "upperclassman" third grader?! This is all quite difficult to wrap my head around, considering that just yesterday I was angry at the woman at the farmers market who played with six-month-old Will's curls and exclaimed, "what a big boy! They grow up so fast". And the day before that, I cried in the car on the way home after a woman at the mall told me, as I walked past her pushing two-week-old Will in the stroller, to enjoy every moment.
Where am I going with this? To be honest, I don't really know.
So here's what I do know. I know that telling parents - of children of any age - to enjoy every moment often makes them feel worse rather than better. I know that telling new parents that time goes by so quickly comes off as a cliche or even a lie. And I know that while the minutes feel like hours, the hours like days, and the days like weeks when those babies are teeny tiny, at some point the clock speeds up and you can never slow it back down.
I still don't enjoy every moment, but yesterday morning, as I sent Will off to fifth grade and Hallie off to third grade, I was forced to acknowledge that they DO grow up so fast. That it DOES go by quickly.
To all of the kiddos starting or heading back to school, good luck. To all of the teachers guiding our children's academic, social, and emotional learning, thank you for giving so much of yourselves to your job. And to all of the parents whose hearts are bursting with love and fear and pride all at the same time, I feel you.
During Will and Hallie's baby and toddler years, I found the commonly uttered phrase "enjoy every moment...they grow up so fast" both frustrating and disheartening.
You've been there, right?
It's 10am. You've been awake for five hours, and in that time you've fed your children three times, been thrown up on three times, cleaned smashed banana out of the cat's fur, changed four diapers, wiped pee up off the playroom floor, rescued a Power Ranger action figure from the toilet, unclogged the toilet, and mopped up the flooded bathroom. You haven't eaten, showered, gotten dressed, or even brushed your teeth.
How many of those moments did you enjoy?
Telling parents - especially new parents, whose days feel like weeks and whose nights require superhuman strength to endure - to "enjoy every moment" often comes across, no matter how well-intentioned, as cruel. These new moms and dads love their babies tremendously, but they simply aren't enjoying every moment.
And telling new parents that time goes by so quickly? Well, that line sounds like a great big lie, because for them, time isn't going by so quickly. If they're anything like me when I had an infant at home, they're wondering how it's possible that their (according to the calendar) five-month-old won't head off to kindergarten this fall because it feels like they've been caring for that baby for five years.
Last Monday I took care of my friend's nearly two-year-old son for an entire day. I see sweet Calvin and he spends time with Will and Hallie frequently, but it wasn't until I watched him play side-by-side with Will and Hallie for the better part of 12 hours that I realized just how big - how independent - my kids have become.
Holy smokes...they DO grow up so fast. It DOES go by so quickly.
Yesterday Will started fifth grade. FIFTH GRADE. (And he's taking sixth grade math. Someone hold me.) He's almost eleven years old and has left elementary school behind. Yesterday Hallie started third grade. THIRD GRADE. My BABY, an "upperclassman" third grader?! This is all quite difficult to wrap my head around, considering that just yesterday I was angry at the woman at the farmers market who played with six-month-old Will's curls and exclaimed, "what a big boy! They grow up so fast". And the day before that, I cried in the car on the way home after a woman at the mall told me, as I walked past her pushing two-week-old Will in the stroller, to enjoy every moment.
Where am I going with this? To be honest, I don't really know.
So here's what I do know. I know that telling parents - of children of any age - to enjoy every moment often makes them feel worse rather than better. I know that telling new parents that time goes by so quickly comes off as a cliche or even a lie. And I know that while the minutes feel like hours, the hours like days, and the days like weeks when those babies are teeny tiny, at some point the clock speeds up and you can never slow it back down.
I still don't enjoy every moment, but yesterday morning, as I sent Will off to fifth grade and Hallie off to third grade, I was forced to acknowledge that they DO grow up so fast. That it DOES go by quickly.
To all of the kiddos starting or heading back to school, good luck. To all of the teachers guiding our children's academic, social, and emotional learning, thank you for giving so much of yourselves to your job. And to all of the parents whose hearts are bursting with love and fear and pride all at the same time, I feel you.
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| Will's first day of school. |
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| Hallie's first day of school. |
Monday, August 28, 2017
Hurricane Harvey
As you likely know, at the end of last week - Friday night, more specifically - Hurricane Harvey hit the coast of Texas just south of Houston, near Rockport and Port Aransas. According to a number of news and weather sources, Hurricane Harvey is:
- The first major hurricane to make landfall in the United States since Wilma in 2005.
- The first hurricane to hit Texas since Ike in 2008, and the strongest to hit the state since Carla in 1961.
- The strongest hurricane to enter the Gulf of Mexico since Rita in 2005 and the strongest to make landfall in the United States since Charley in 2004.
- One of only two United States hurricanes to prompt issuance of an extreme wind warning, which indicates "tornado-like winds" within the storm.
Houston and many of the surrounding suburbs are devastated. The governor declared states of emergency for at least 50 counties, and though mandatory evacuations were issued for many of these counties, multiple people have already lost their lives as a result of this storm.
The four Ferri live in College Station, about 100 miles from Houston. While we - our family and our community - are feeling the effects of heavy rain for three straight days, we are safe. The National Weather Service has issued for our area multiple flash flood watches and warnings as well as an ongoing tornado watch and one tornado warning, but thus far nothing life-threatening has reared its head near us. Our backyard has flooded, but we rigged up two hoses to siphon water down our driveway and toward the street which has helped keep the levels from rising above what the grass and patio can handle. Our elementary school has multiple roof and door leaks, but we - my friend/neighbor/fellow PTO mom and I at the request of our principal, since we live so close - ventured up to school three times yesterday to position trash cans under roof leaks and put out dry towels in front of leaking doorways. The public schools and TAMU (along with our dance studio and soccer club) have all cancelled classes/practices and many businesses have closed, so we plan to stay close to home to keep an eye on the house, the yard, and Tux. (He does not like that his outdoor bathroom has closed for business and is taking it out on us.)
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| Tom plays disc golf at this park. See that little black thing in the water? That's the top of a five-foot-tall disc golf basket. |
Sadly, the worst has not yet come to pass; meteorologists expect the rain to continue for days, which will only exacerbate the moderate flooding here in College Station (and in other cities across this region of Texas) and the devastatingly severe flooding in Houston. Additionally, multiple tornadoes have already touched down and more are expected to form.
Please, if you're the praying kind, say one for the residents of Houston and its surrounding areas who are struggling to save their homes or find peace with massive loss. Say one for the heroic first and second responders who have saved thousands of lives and whose job is no where near done. Say one for the mayors of our cities and governor of our state as they lead us through this crisis. And maybe throw one out there to Mother Nature, asking her to lighten up a bit.
And if you'd like to help in another way, might I suggest supporting the American Red Cross with either a financial contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund or a blood donation? Visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to schedule an appointment to donate blood. Donations of both kinds will enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from this disaster.
I have a decades-long affiliation with the American Red Cross. If you would like to read about why I have supported - and will continue to support - this organization until my dying day, you can read my Red Cross story here.
I have a decades-long affiliation with the American Red Cross. If you would like to read about why I have supported - and will continue to support - this organization until my dying day, you can read my Red Cross story here.
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