"YOU DON'T KNOW": BECOMES, "YOU DID KNOW, AFTER ALL, MOM"

Today, I received an unexpected gift.  It was a simple, yet complex gift.  My daughter finally understood why I used to tell her that I couldn't go to sleep when she was out at night.  I worried about her safety and even though she poo-poohed me at the time, I would explain that until she was once again safely home, I couldn't sleep, so the curfew was to be honored. 

When she told me that she finally "got it", I asked her why and she explained that a drunk driver was in jail after killing someone.  This is not the first time (and I know it won't be the last) that a drunk driver escaped unharmed after killing someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  It's just that now my daughter works in the place where that drunk is kept until trial.  So after all those years of sticking to my guns and praying for my daughter's safety has led us to this day.  The day that my daughter has matured into a place of understanding and appreciation.  I am grateful for her clear thinking and hope she remembers my way of parenting when in a few years she is watching over a precious boy who will want to go and explore the world. 

Stay strong, be firm and love him with the knowledge that the brain doesn't reach full maturity until the twenties.  Good luck, Sweetie.  If you thought, colic was tough, wait until he's thirteen and, "You don't know" is thrown at you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HEART

This is a picture of my external hearts....my daughter and her precious little son.  If she looks scared, that would be pretty true, since she had only been a mom for a little over three months.  Her mothering skills have become stronger and more sure with each passing day.  I admire the fact that she has taken all that she has learned and tweaked it into her own way of parenting.  It's difficult to remember that it's been twenty-nine years that I first looked at her tiny face and fell in love.  So many things have happened in our lives and yet the one constant is that my love for my daughter has grown each moment.  She does know where all my buttons are and she has engaged them more than once.  Even during our tense times, our learning times, I have never doubted that I have been blessed those so many years ago when I first saw that tiny, rosebud mouth and held her.  Colic, teenage woes, hospitalizations, surgeries, illnesses temper trials, college adventures, relationship difficulties, life plans dashed across the rocks of disappointment and all the times I was told, "You don't know" have only added to my appreciation of the strength of our bond.  I love her more than life itself and that was even before she blessed us when our little Grandlove.  He's the icing on the cake. 

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl.  You have brought so much joy, love and support to our family.  May your blessings always outweigh life's struggles.

Valentine's Day: Cupid's Memoirs

A few days ago there was an article in the local paper for stories concerning Valentine's Day. I won't write for that paper for free and probably even if they paid me. So here's a little Valentine's story to share.

It was this time of year three years ago that I was frantically making plans, changing plans, drawing plans and pretty much trying to stay sane with all the planning that was going on in my head. You see on that special day, it was a Wednesday that year, would be the next chapter in our daughter's life. She was getting married and beginning to start a whole new life, leaving behind the memories of some very cruel, heartless people. Each decoration I designed and made put more distance between NOW and THEN. All in our family had traveled a very rough couple of years and these creations helped to turn the corner from hurt to hope.

On Tuesday, we decorated the hall as much as time allowed, knowing that we had time to tie up the loose ends the next morning. Plastic bin, after bin were hauled into the hall and the fun began. Talented, helpful hands turned the spools of tulle and ribbon into beautiful, lush bows. Valentine-themed decorations were placed throughout the hall and soon the wedding venue went from County chic into a Valentine Wonderland. All doubts that my daughter had about the place looking special and not "cheesy" went away as the afternoon sunlight shone on the place settings and the effect was just how we had dreamed it would be.

Wednesday morning blew in a cold front and as we hurried about in the hall, a call came that the pastor had come down with the flu. My friend said not to worry and somehow she and the church's secretary found a replacement pastor who wound up doing a very nice job on such a short notice.

When my daughter had picked out her wedding dress, it was the middle of the summer and the dress was long sleeved. I thought that she was taking a chance with such a warm gown, but guess who was perfectly comfortable in the freezing, airy hall that night. Yep, the blushing bride looked beautiful. Her gown and her husband's Western style tux were so perfect for the occasion and the couple. We sure do love the photos of the couple and the guests in the Cupid's Paradise we created with a small budget, large amount of planning and talented relatives who helped.

I have to say that three years ago tops my list of my favorite Valentine Days.


Fun Ferret Fact: Just because ferrets are considered "cute" don't call someone "Ferret Face" as that will cause hurt feelings. "Weasel Face" isn't much better, by the way.