Archive for the ‘family’ Tag
March 08 2010 ·
6 CommentsPosted in:
Daily · Tags:
birthday,
family Today is my dad’s birthday.
He’s 77 years old.
Most likely, my dad is older than your dad. My dad could even be older than your grandfather. I’ve dealt with this my entire life. During my school years, I would even flaunt his age like show and tell. I was very shy as a child and this was something safe to set me apart from the rest. Though he never appeared to me to be as old as he was. Even still, I can tell he’s getting older, just not that old.
My dad and I were never the closest growing up. Given his age, he has always been set in his ways and hard to talk to. He has a rough exterior, and I was afraid of making him mad at me. Thus, if I ever wanted to go out or do something, I would always ask my mom. If it was something that required my dad’s approval, she would ask him for me.
Growing up and moving out and having kids of my own, now, I can take a step back and see him for what he is. Yes, he is set in his ways. Yes, he is rough around the edges. But I also know that he loves me very much. And I love him.
I didn’t know what to get him for his birthday this year. What do you get a man that has 77 years worth of everything? So we made him dinner, with chocolate cake topped with two 7 candles. Because 77 individual candles might have burnt down the house.
He knows nothing about this space, but I still want to say happy birthday, dad. I hope there are many, many more.
February 19 2010 ·
7 CommentsPosted in:
The Kids · Tags:
family,
motherhood,
photos During my pregnancy with Ethan, and then Maddie, too, I had dreams about all the photo opportunities ahead. The reality is, I’ve been more concerned with surviving. When Jayden was an only child, I remember photographing his every inconsequential move. Back when everything, even the simple act of eating a cookie, was amazing and cute. While it’s still mostly amazing and cute, it’s also now a lot of work and shouldn’t I get him down off the table first?
Thus, a lot of memories haven’t been recorded.
This is especially displeasing to my mother, who is constantly urging me to “get a picture of that!”. “You should keep that camera around your neck”, she tells me. Usually when the kids are in the midst of less than stellar behavior while I’m on the phone with her, which seems to happen often.
For example, my mom has said I should have gotten pictures of:
Maddie hitting the cat
Maddie trying to ride the cat like a horse
Maddie sitting on her brother’s face
Maddie kicking her brother in the face
The boys dragging each other around by their shirts
She says she wants a representation of them “just being kids”. Apparently, that means beating the crap out of one another, and sometimes the cat for good measure. However, I don’t believe the degree of desperation in their howls would shine through enough on film. I’m thinking I should just make a video instead.
January 19 2010 ·
2 CommentsPosted in:
Me Myself · Tags:
family,
motherhood My mother isn’t known for having the best memory. If I told her something yesterday, I’ll no doubt have to repeat myself today. This goes with dates as well. Even growing up, she would get our birthdays confused. My brother’s is on the 22nd, mine on the 27th of different months, but I’ve had to correct her more often than I can count over the years. In truth, I was always a little put-off by this. If my mom can remember wheres she was when Elvis died, shouldn’t she know the moment her children entered the world? Maybe I’m biased, but shouldn’t there have been rainbows shining and hearts bursting and birds singing to mark the occasion?
I was making an appointment for the kids’ well-child checkups. The receptionist was looking up Maddie’s file first, by birthdate. July 26, 2008 is what I told her.
After looking for a few seconds, she relayed, “I don’t see her here.”
We’ve been going to this pediatrician since Maddie was a newborn. I know she’s there. I let her look for a few more seconds before I realized. Did I? I didn’t, did I? The 26th is Ethan’s birthday, in April. Maddie’s is the 24th. Isn’t it? I even found myself wishing I had their birth certificates in front of me.
“Um, I think I gave you the wrong day. Try July 24th, 2008.”
“Yep, there she is.”
I’m sorry, Mom. I get it know. I see many long years ahead of getting these two days utterly confused. Maddie and Ethan, I apologize in advance. I do love you both very much, there may have even been birds singing when you were born, but motherhood has made my brain shrivel.
December 29 2009 ·
3 CommentsPosted in:
Daily · Tags:
Christmas,
family,
motherhood The kids have had many toys over the years. Every now and then, I pack away a few they no longer play with or that are especially irritating or that we have simply run out of room for. 3 kids’ worth of toys can quickly take over a house.
One such example were the mega blocks Jayden acquired when he was little(er). He didn’t creatively build much with them, preferring the momentary cheap thrill of dumping out all hundred pieces day after day then leave them be. And there they would lay, lifeless, with nothing more than a passing poke in the foot. I never liked these blocks. I didn’t want to deal with picking them up any longer. Thus began a gradual easing out process. And when the blocks were finally all stored away, no one gave a second glance. Good riddance.
I’m a horrible mother, I know. I don’t let my kids play with childhood essentials. First, crayons. Now, blocks. It’s a wonder I let them believe in Santa.
I haven’t had a block in my house for 2 years. Many, many other irritating toys, but free of blocks.
Until now.
When my mother bought Ethan a brand new set of mega blocks for Christmas.
There is a pile of them simply littering the floor, waiting to be stepped on. They’re just as much fun to pick up now as they were then.
Thanks, Mom.
December 15 2009 ·
5 CommentsPosted in:
Daily · Tags:
conversation,
family Today is my mom’s 64th birthday. In celebration, I thought I would share a phone conversation we recently had. Because you never know quite what you’re going to get when talking with my mom. Also, this is the reason why I don’t tell my family about my website.
In a hushed tone, my mother begins, “I think your brother’s shaved.”
Now, I know she’s not talking about his face, because he shaves that every day. So at this point, I’m wondering whether I really want to further this discussion. I take a cautious step forward. “What?”
Still almost whispering, she continues, “Your brother. I think he had his back and chest shaved.”
Since it could be worse, and I’m slightly amused at her reaction, “Did he have a lot of hair on his back?”
“He had hair everywhere. Then he took off his shirt the other day and it’s all gone! I must be getting old, because it shocked me! Doesn’t that shock you?”
“Not really. Back hair probably should be shaved.”
She concedes, “I guess so. I’ve just never known anyone to shave like that before.”
Yes, Mom, you are getting old. And I now know more about my brother’s body hair than I ever wanted to.
She then told me that I couldn’t tell ANYONE. She made me swear. As if my brother’s newly shorn back is a matter of national security. That’s fine, Mom, I won’t tell ANYONE. I’ll just tell the ENTIRE INTERNET. Happy Birthday!
