My eldest made this for me for Valentine’s Day. It is so sweet. I just love what she wrote inside: someone has uncontrollable love for you. Thank you, Darling.
Archive for the 'family' Category
love this
Published February 14, 2011 family Leave a CommentTags: candy, cinnamon, craft, daughter, handmade, heart, love, red, valentine
our wish
Published November 16, 2010 family Leave a CommentTags: baby, birth, breast, canada, children, colic, family, feeding, fenugreek, four, Guiness, kids, leaf, life, loopylocks, newborn, raspberry, tea, toronto
On August 22, 2010 we welcomed the birth of our fourth child, a son, to our family. Life is truly beautiful. Our family is now complete with 2 girls and 2 boys. Their initials spell the word W-I-S-H and we could not have asked for more. He is gorgeous. Little W is not so little. Weighing 9 1/2 pounds, he broke all the records in our family and extended family of grand kids for being the biggest baby ever.
The last two and a half months have been a whirlwind of emotions. We have been blessed with mostly highs. W sleeps when he sleeps and cries when he cries. He is such a blessing that it is hard to complain about sleep deprivation. Our home has also succumb to any and everything baby. Our dining table is now grand central for diaper changes, bath times, bouncy chairs and the odd dinner time when it is clear enough to eat a meal.
Being 8 years since our third was born, we have forgotten a thing or three. I have forgotten how demanding a newborn can be. I have forgotten, or perhaps took for granted that breastfeeding would come naturally. This munchkin has been so insatiable I have been unable to keep up an adequate milk supply. My other kids had no trouble nursing and I had plenty milk. This time has been quite different, however. From Fenugreek to raspberry leaf tea, to beer, to the odd glass of Guinness, I have been putting in my best effort to keep the wee one feeling full and content. Not an easy task. Then there has been the unfortunate reality that W is a bit colicky. He has had 2 to 3 unexplained episodes of crying throughout the day. Since our girls had colic, I think my husband and I are now old hat at it. Crying does not phase me in the least. Happily, he is on the up and out now and as he turns 3 months in a few days, hopefully the worst is behind us.
As for the “ISH” in our family, I could not ask for more loving, helpful children. Whenever I need anything – a glass of water, a breastfeeding pillow, a remote control or a cordless phone, voila! – they step in and lend a hand. They ask all the time how they can help, even if it is just to turn the oven off or stir a pot. Just this morning, as I was getting the kids lunches ready, my 10 year old son called my eldest “a Half Mummy” as she came to hold W. I cannot find a better description for her. At 12, H is the most capable of soothing W and lending a helping hand. All the kids have been wonderful actually. If I had a dollar for every time my third says…”He’s just so cute!” I’d be a wealthy woman right now. Come to think of it, I am the richest Mum I know.
word choice
Published June 13, 2010 family Leave a CommentTags: calling, canada, children, choice, cursing, family, golden, kids, loopylocks, name, parenting, rules, stupid, values, wisdom, word
We have special ground rules about word choice in our family. Each family has their own rules about what words are OK and what words are unacceptable. For us, it is expected that you choose your words wisely, or else there will be consequences! For example, you may only say the word “stupid” if it is not living. That includes not using it to describe any human, mammal, reptile, animal, insect, bug, plant or fruit for that matter… if it can grow, it deserves respect.
Knock yourself out if it is a book, rock, car, idea… etc. that hits you in the head, drops on your toe, nearly runs you over, or is just plain silly.
I think we all grew up with some version of the saying: “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me”. I have learned that words can leave far deeper scars than any bump or bruise.
what really happens when you lie
Published June 10, 2010 family Leave a CommentTags: canada, childhood, children, deceit, family, lessons, lie, life, loopylocks, lying, motherhood, myth, parenting, story, tale, toronto
As children, my siblings and I were told by our mother that if you ever told a lie, your ears would turn black. She could therefore spot the lie immediately.
A stroke of genius really. Unless you are in front of a mirror, you really have no way to test this theory. This quirky, perhaps cruel strategy worked like a charm. Our Mum could spot the lie coming from a mile away. As we got older, we would attempt to cover our ears with our hands when confronting her about whatever the ‘crisis’ was. That did not seem to work either. A tell tale sign we were lying already.
As a parent now myself, I must admit I have used this strategy to my advantage. That is until my own kids figured it out for themselves. Their discovery of the truth involved purposely telling a lie while standing in front of a mirror and waiting for their ears to turn black. Truly a sad day when this happened.
