The Goods

 

My Mother’s Day harvest.  I’m not a fan of Mother’s Day.  I do think that mother’s are amazing, and I think it’s great that we make a special effort to recognize them, so generally speaking, I’m a fan.  Individually—not as much.  I often feel very inadequate as a mother.  Despite my best efforts,  my renewed commitment to not losing my patience, or always talking in a gentle tone often are thwarted by my pride, immaturity, and sometimes laziness.  Mother’s day glorifies all the best things in mothers, and because that isn’t always  me, I don’t enjoy it much.  However, it does serve as a great day to be reminded of how lucky I am that despite my obvious shortcomings, I have been blessed with pretty neat kids.  I’m thankful to be their mom, and I’m grateful that mother’s day helps bring that to the forefront with increased brightness. 

Because they are such great kids, and because it’s a school project to do so I get some pretty cool things. 

From Will:  a very cute and useful clay cupcake that’s hollowed out to hold my most precious of items, and of course, a card.  Inside it lists the adjectives that Will identifies with his mom.

-athletic   -tired  -sharing  -helping  -sleeping  -teacher  -playful  ---I’d said he has a pretty good grasp on what I’m all about

From Isaac:  He planted a marigold seed for me, and was sure that it would have bloomed by now.  It has begun to sprout, but nowhere near a flower.  I could tell this was causing him distress on Saturday, because he’d quickly sneak away with my gift and come back dejected.  On Sunday when I opened the bag it was in, and pulled it out, he told me that “It’s supposed to be a flower!  I don’t get it!  I watered it 5 times yesterday and still no flower!”  I assured him it would be fun to watch it bloom together, and he probably ought to get it out in the sun because flowers don’t really like swimming.

His card:  The likeness portrayed in his drawing is striking.  I do consider myself quite leggy, and often where a short skirt or long t-shirt (unsure which) that reads “I Love Mom”. 

Inside he wrote: “Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day.  You are the best mom I know.  I love you the best.  The best just the way you are.  Love Isaac”

I can assure you that hearing that from my Isaac is music to my ears.  The other 364 days of the year will not likely include such sentiments, so I’ll take it!  even if it only is on mother’s day.

How we do it

FHE, in the conference room at Josh’s lab

I get stopped by people a lot (mostly at church), who know how busy Josh is and they’ll say, “I don’t know how you do it!”  It’s a silly thing to say really.  How does anyone do it?!  You just do.  What’s that saying?  necessity breeds ability?  So, that’s it.  That’s how we do it.  That’s what life requires, so that’s what we do.  I recognize they are trying to be nice, but it does start to get under your skin when you are stopped by very concerned people wondering how you do it, but none of them saying, “let me help!”  Not that I’d want their help, but you know what I mean.  By them asking all the time, it’s like them rubbing it in that their lives are less crazy than mine, and then going about their business.  Whew! Now don’t I feel better for having that encounter! (sarcastic much?)

We are so blessed.  Maybe that’s why I don’t like the concern.  We are lucky to be in the position we are in, and I don’t take it for granted.  Hard to feel picked on when that’s what my life really is.  We just make adjustments.  Traditionally, a family would have dinner at home at their table.  We sometimes do it in the cafeteria at the medical school.  FHE is held in the living room…or, for us, in the conference room in the Brain Research Institute building.  I have a feeling that even though our daddy doesn’t always get to see his kids every day, my kids will look back on this time with fond memories of the swivel chairs at the lab, the electronic key pass they get to use to move around the building, and of course, dessert on the curb in front of the college

Play Slave…er…Best Buddies

 

Will and Josie paused their game of football for me so that I could get a sweet picture of their new found love to spend a lot of time together.  Now, I admit this relationship is a bit one-sided.  It is typically insisted upon by one party, and not the other, but thankfully, the other obliges 75% of the time and is coerced the other 25%.  Josie kind of has a lot of power in our household, and fortunately (and unfortunately) for Will, she has made him the target of her affection.  She wants to play with him all the time.  She grabs him by the hand and says “C’mon, Wiw, c’mon!” and then drags him along.  If he doesn’t come right away she lets out a loud squeal to get him going.  There are nights where he can’t even sit for more than 30 seconds to eat his dinner without her tugging on him to “build a tower”.  He is her play slave.  He’s good to do it.  I’m thankful.

I Don’t Get It

I’ve had the privilege of serving in the Young Women’s for the last couple of years.  Part of that calling is to help Jessie, the first counselor in the presidency, plan class activities.  Which I hardly ever do.  She is amazing, and does it all.  I did go to a class presidency meeting once though and do you know what those girls wanted to do?  Go to the beach and take pictures of themselves!  What?!  I know.  Weird.  We didn’t.  Jessie is far too sensible for that, but it doesn’t stop them from still wanting to do it.  I can tell you that I don’t get it.  Taking a bunch of pictures of yourself has got to be one of the most awkward things ever.  Do you set the self timer and pose?

  That seems cheesy. 

Do you hold your arms out in front and hope for more total head, less up the nose shot?

Or do you stand in front of a mirror and look like a goofy because everyone can see your camera?  Whatever is proper procedure, I’m uncomfortable with it.  It was necessary that I give it a shot though, because that same ultra capable Jessie just gave me a super fun hair cut, and since I don’t help with the young women’s the least I could do is give her credit.

Thanks, Jess, for my sassy new do!  I love it!