Mid Week Revelation: Cleaning up is hard to do

I've realized my children must be under the misconception that if they put a toy away after they are done playing with it, their hands will fall off... Motherhood, it's not for the weak.

Reminiscing those days

When the house is quiet and the day finally concludes, I find myself sitting alone in front of my computer scrolling through old photos of my daughter growing up. I was never this sentimental when it comes to my children. However, as my son is maturing and soaring through milestones, it makes me reminisce the days when my daughter was a baby. The days when things were easier, there were more cuddles, and the days were more productive.

As time passes and my children grow older, I find one of the harder parts is allowing them to be their own person, something I strive so hard to create. I never realized how easy it was then they were younger -They do what their told and follow your every step. However, when they reach preschool age, they develop an opinion. I believe this is where people label defiance, where I see their own personality.

I struggle with my daughter saying no to me. I struggle with her walking off to view something she wants. I struggle with not being able to carry her to the car when I'm so desperately in a hurry.

Life was much easier when you were the center of their universe and cartoons couldn’t raise a candle to you.

Life was also much easier when my daughter didn’t talk so much. Never in my life have I needed a “time out” to collect my thoughts from being asked thousands of questions a day. Everything is “why do they do that?” Why do you think they did that?” Why would they do that?” You get the picture.

I laugh to myself now because once upon a time I used to have the TV or children’s songs playing in the background to create noise because the house was too quiet. Now the silence is filled with my daughter yelling to get her brother out of her room, with my son whining because he wants to play with his sister, or both of them seeing who could yell the loudest (I still haven’t figured out why this is so much fun).

I find that my days seem much more scattered. My productivity rate is down 70%. I used to read to my daughter a thousand times a day, with my son, I am lucky if I read three times a week. My daughter had over a 20 word vocabulary at a year old and was singing nursery rhymes at 16 months. My son is 16 months and doesn’t say more than “hot” (of course other than momma and dada). With my daughter, I used to sit and go over word flash cards with her, whereas with my son, I can’t seem to find the time to sit on the floor.

I could remember watching a cartoon and cradling my daughter with her sheet and Curly Shirley (her favorite doll) until the whole show was over, now it lasts about the first 5 minutes until she gets up and moves onto something else.

I never thought I would be one of those parents longing for the days before, but now that they’re gone, I can’t seem to shake the feeling I’m missing something. That uneasy feeling I get when “ba ba black sheep” comes on the CD player, because it was the first song my daughter ever sung to me.

It just seems like it all went by too quickly… Like, it doesn’t even make sense that I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old.

Of course, there will always be new memories and milestones created, but there will never be those monumental firsts again. She will never say her first words, or walk for the first time. But she will continue to develop and grow into this beautiful person that will have many more firsts of her very own.

But until then, I will huddle up in my bed and watch old videos and browse through pictures in the dark comforts of my room, reminiscing those days.

Mid Week Revelation: Why will boys be boys?

I've realized if I turn my back for a second, my son is scaling something so quickly like he's just escaped from prison and the attack dogs are chasing him... Motherhood, it's not for the weak.

Easter morning: The magical voyage

As the night came to an end and Easter bedtime stories were read. While both kiddos were sound to sleep, I tip toed through my downstairs hiding plastic coin filled Easter eggs. Making sure my old wooden floors didn’t creak. Their baskets already stuffed with delicious homemade chocolate and a toy a piece anxiously awaited them.

Morning came too abrupt. My daughter made the quickest leap between opening her eyes and standing up -Completely ignorant of anyone around her sleeping. She didn’t care to eat breakfast, just eager to embark on the egg hunting journey.

My son played quietly in his crib, unaware of the holiday.

Once downstairs, my daughter clean swept the area of eggs –her mother’s competitive genetics shine through on occasions like these. She did pause a few times to aid assistance to her laggard brother.

He followed her every move, walking in her footprints, only steps away. He didn’t care if he found one egg (I’m not even sure he completely knew what was going on), he only cared that he was sharing this excitement with his sister.

She found his basket first, her eyes lit up when she saw the self-propelled Thomas the Train set the Bunny left for him and commented with, “brother, you’re going to love this!” My son squealed with excitement.

My daughter didn’t stay in one place too long. She doesn’t tend to let grass grow under her feet. She continued to race around to find hers, discovering more eggs along the way. Finally finding her basket and unveiled her toys, Kwazi’s Octosuit (from Octonauts) that she begged for. Then, tucked away alongside the record player, she found the Wonder Pet’s Schoolhouse, something she has been asking for since Christmas.

My husband followed them around with the video camera, while I snapped the memories with my camera. We do not buy our children things throughout the year, only holidays and special occasions. So I enjoy providing well for them on these occurrences.

I love watching their faces (or my daughter’s, since she’s the one who really understands what is happening) when they see a toy they love, or their eyes glowing from excitement, and their giggles from the joy.

It’s moments like these that make the overwhelming daily grind worthwhile.

It’s moments like these that allow me to step back and appreciate my little family -The happiness I’m able to bring to them on this very Easter. 

I’m able to envelop in the magic of Easter and share the mystery with both of them. As a parent of young children, I realize these are only going to be a few short adventures in time and right now, I’m grateful I’m able to charter the voyage with them.

Mid Week Revelation: I'm not ready for them to grow up

I've realized that one of the hardest things about parenting is your children grow up faster than you are ready to accept... Motherhood, it's not for the weak.

Who talks more?

There’s something about the volume in my home, maybe it’s the fact that we’re Italians, but everyone is loud. Well not everyone, my husband isn’t, but the rest of us are –even my German Shepherd is very vocal. There is always something going on. A loud based conversation, songs playing in the back ground, or both of the kiddos participating in imaginative play –very loudly.

To me, silence is deafening. Noise is soothing.

As the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, my daughter is a mini me -Constantly talking to hear the sound of her voice, whether she is singing, adding commentary, or just asking questions. On a normal day, my daughter and I get into a competition of who can say the most words. The sad part is, I’m losing –and that is saying a lot.

My daughter has reached the age where one simple explanation to one of her MANY questions throughout the day just isn’t good enough anymore. The “whys” have reached a level of insanity and that is the only time my brain needs a time out to stop and think.

It’s a rare moment if my daughter isn’t screeching through the house riding her big wheel at top speed, giggling, or singing at the highest level.  So it was only a matter of time until my son picked up the habit. At first, I thought he was taking after my husband and only speaking under dire need. However, I guess environmental influence is stronger than genetics after all.

Some of the tidbits he has picked up are, he walks into a room and yells, yes yells, “momma!” at the top of his lungs even if he’s looking right at me, then smiles and points. Or, he picks up his toy phone and strolls through the rooms having a loud babbling conversation with his gesturing hands animated every step of the way.

My daughter and son dance so heavy it sounds like a herd of elephants stomping through my home. They also stare at each other and scream at the highest pitch to see who can do it louder -while both of them giggle to the extreme. From the outside, this seems silly, but when you break down the unfolding image, you see two siblings sharing a common bond –a loud one. You see a younger sibling copying his older sister because he wants to emulate her. Watching this is very special to me. It is showing a positive progression in their relationship. Plus, that means my daughter is tolerating him long enough for them to even have moments like these.

In the end, I love that my home is loud and everyone is always talking because that means conversations are constantly ensuing. I love that my daughter is a free spirit and runs wildly and I absolutely love that my son is following suit.

Everyone’s family is different and to me what makes each of them special is that they’re tailored to fit the individuals.

Mid Week Revelation: Stages of a boy

I've realized that it must be physically impossible for my son to drink from his sippy cup and not spit it all back out onto his feet while standing (and giggling)... Motherhood, it's not for the weak.

Two amazing beings

Yesterday I was stressed. We were racing out the door while running late for a family birthday party…

My son was waiting at the door, sitting with his shoes in his hand.

My daughter was running through the house, making a game out of putting on her shoes.

While finally in the car, decompressing from the last 10 minutes of utter chaos, I hear giggles coming from the backseat.

An unbelievably precious sound…

One that makes a parent’s heart skip a beat.

Peering through the rearview mirror I could see my daughter’s and son’s hand intertwined in one another.

Their eyes locked on each other.

Like they were speaking their own language -Having a complete conversation that only siblings can understand.

She was telling him all about the crazy world outside their window and he was just eating it all up –giggling to extremes when she made a silly face at him.

As time passes, my two are becoming one. They seek each other out and share emotions. Their love for one another is growing –a feeling that wasn’t so grand at first.

I spent the rest of the drive periodically gazing into the rearview mirror and at the same time, smiling at my husband. I was feeling complete while reflecting on this metamorphosis that was unfolding behind me. Realizing, what was a few extra 10 minutes of chaos when you have these amazing beings sharing a life with you. 

Mid Week Revelation: Who is the hip one now?

I've realized my dancing and singing to every Sheriff Callie song isn't aesthetically pleasing on the eyes or ears. However, both of my kiddos rave about it and demand encore presentations. At the same time, I've also realized that I'm not quite sure who the "hip" one is anymore... Motherhood, it's not for the weak.