The Gift of Giving

I wish you all a Happy New Year as we prepare to ring in a new decade. When I look back on the last ten years, the blessings far outweigh the losses. However, all the ups and downs have helped shape my family in some way. The last ten years have brought about my own two angels, a niece and nephew for my brother and his wife and new homes for everyone in my extended family. As Advent draws to a close I want to reflect on the highlights of my Christmas.

We were surrounded by family and friends over several days and we all enjoyed too much food and sweet stuff. There were quiet moments, moments of laughter and time for introspection. I watched my own angels give gifts they thoughtfully selected and wrapped. I held babies and hugged elderly relatives. It was a magical Christmas.

As we look forward to 2011 my mind and my prayers are concentrating on the miracle of healing for several loved ones. These individuals have all played an integral part in shaping my life and the lives of those I love. Two of these incredible people are friends who are more like family. I ask you to join me in adding your prayers to mine and those of my family. Prayers to bring healing and peace to these special ladies and their families. At this special time of year, when we celebrate God's greatest gift to us, we need to trust in Him.

May He continue bless us all in 2011. Happy New Year.

The Power of Advertizing

You can't doubt the power of advertizing, explicit or subliminal, in society today. My little people are of the age when they are no longer content with Treehouse television being the extent of their viewing options. Earlier this year we opted to add some shows from YTV and TVO. With these new stations came the introduction of my nine and six year old to the power of commercials. Never before had they whined for the latest toy or begged for a certain game. They had remained oblivious to the fads and trends in Canadian toy stores. Now, with Christmas ads a-plenty they are being tempted and taunted by all the bells and whistles used by advertizing agencies.

Gone are the days when we could cruise the aisles of the grocery and department stores without one of my little people reciting the benefits of night cream, the volumizing properties of shampoo and the stain removing power of laundry detergent. Amusing at the best of times, and nauseating at the worst of times my offspring can repeat, verbatim, several ads they have seen on television. You might say they watch too much. They don't, honestly. However, their rapt attention to commercials speaks to the power of those 30 seconds of persuasion. My concern, as a parent and an educator, is how to instill an ability in children, to think critically about what they see and hear? I talk to them about what they watch and caution them against believing whatever they see on television, but how do I know I am getting the message through to them? Time will tell, and until then I'll ignore my youngest's suggestions to start fighting my wrinkles now, while I still can.....it's too late to avoid gray hair, television advertizing has seen to that!

What Do You Do When......

From the time you hear your baby's first lusty cry you are blessed with the incredible job of being this little person's protector. A formidable job, to be sure and one that gets harder as your little people grow. It is a relatively easy task when they are small. They're hungry, or wet, or tired and they cry. You feed, change and settle them to sleep and all is right in their little worlds. As they grow the job description changes slightly.

Gone is the simple solution, their hurts take more skill to heal, but a lot of things can still be made better with a band-aide, a hug or a cookie. But what do you do when a cookie can't fix their problems and a hug doesn't heal their pain? Nothing prepares you for the moment when you can't fix what is bothering your little person. Some of these situations even call for the 'protectors' to step back and wait as their young ones flounder about. Nothing prepares you for the helplessness you experience when you can no longer make it all better. In order to raise responsible, respectful children we sometimes have to watch from the sidelines as they take their lumps, endure natural consequences and begin to learn to 'fix' their own hurts.

I don't know who this frightens more, the child or the parent. I seem to be experiencing this in spades this year. My daughter is unhappy in school for the very first time and I can only help her cope with home support and platitudes that, "we can't always love our teachers" and "next year will be better." My son is the peacemaker who wants everybody to like him and despite his best efforts and noble intentions, one little classmate remains elusive. They're both learning valuable life lessons and I've been downsized from protector to pained observer and silent cheerleader.

The song Life Is A Highway comes to mind right now. Not every journey is a smooth one, but it brings us slightly closer to where we want to be. As they journey, I'll always be right beside them, just as a back seat driver.

The Miracle of the Pause Button

It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to step back into some long distance friendships when the opportunity presents itself. I had the pleasure of reuniting with two roommates from fourteen years ago! Occasional emails aside, we have very minimal contact with one another, yet in a nanosecond of reuniting we were transported back to the 'flat' and a rather heated debate about skim vs homogenized milk. It felt as though no time had passed and any moment one of us would run off to an evening lecture or another would propose a chocolate run to the all night grocery store. Why is it so easy to pick up where we left off with some individuals? There is an often circulated tidbit on the web that talks about the type of people you journey with and 'the why' associated with each type of friend. I wonder if 'press pause' friendships are the friendships you keep for a lifetime? Whatever the reason behind this phenomena I am just thankful. It was so great to show off pictures and family and enjoy the time with one another. Did we make plans to meet again? No, we just pressed pause until the magical moment when we gather together once more. How simple. No expectations, no demands, just acceptance of each others' journeys and a quiet understanding that our paths will cross again.

They're Back!

The day has come and my little people have returned to school. I have shifted gears, with my paying job taking front seat to my other full time position. It was very difficult to go about my duties when my thoughts and my heart were with my littlest as he began his first day of Grade One. I kept a constant watch on the clock and tried to imagine what he was doing at that exact moment. It is enough to drive a mother crazy (it would be a short drive though, as I'm halfway there already.) He asked me if I was sure he had to stay all day and he couldn't understand why he was getting a snack and a lunch. It looked like so much food in his little Spiderman lunch bag. Funny thing was, when I picked him up he was ready to eat anything that wasn't nailed down. The only thing he could do more of than chew was yawn. He was one tired, hungry, happy guy and the first day of Grade One was deemed, 'awesome!'

My eldest, not to be outdone by her brother, kept up a steady monologue about her day. Whether I tried to talk to her about planners, lunches, making good choices or gym clothes the standard response was, "Yes Mom, I KNOW!" She walked in a circle around our main floor and talked the entire time. I know everyone who is in the class, where they sit, what they wore, who they like/dislike, what they ate for breakfast......you get the idea. After a solid two hour debriefing she deemed the first day, "alright." I think that is Fourth Grader-ese for awesome. At least that's what I'm hoping.

So we're back into the fall routine for better or for worse. What do I plan to do differently from last year. Less, is my answer. As I look at these little people of mine, I'm realizing that they are the bright capable people I want them to be. So in order to maintain some semblance of sanity I am passing the torch down to them. They can pack the lunches (with help), make their beds (I won't interfere), load the dishwasher (I'll buy plastic plates) and maybe I can slow the gray hairs just a little bit. At least until the teenage years hit, then I'm going to shave my head! That's if I have any hair left.

We Woke Up Dry...

That's right, we woke up dry. No, I don't mean bed-wetting, I'm referring to our latest camping trip. The spell is broken. We successfully completed a five day, four night foray into the wilderness and it did not end with rain! I am so excited.

What a wonderful trip, well at least it was from my perspective. Let's tally it up:

50 points scored for no rain

25 points scored for no serious cuts, bruises or breaks (that's huge with a youngest nicknamed Crash)

25 points scored for no black bear issues (there is always that chance when camping in the northern regions in Ontario)

25 points scored for two smiling children at the end of it all.

Of course there were the moments we want to forget. My youngest is not the most patient of individuals and is rather persistent in his requests/demands/pleas to go swimming, climb trees, go walking and fishing. However, the bright spot is the fact that he wants to do these things with his loved ones. All too soon will come the time when we are the last ones he'll want to spend his time with. We will be replaced by his friends and we'll be the ones pleading for his time and attention.

My eldest is not exactly a morning person and there is not too much room in a tent to 'give her her space.' Thankfully everyone is familiar with her rather skeptical view of morning. She does not see it as a fresh start but instead, as a re-run she's all too happy to skip.

I was just thankful for the time with those I love. Time to sit, time to appreciate the gifts we often take for granted. It is amazing how a dose of down time fuels us for the days ahead. I cherish the memories I have from our latest camping trip. They'll help sustain me until I can return to that quiet place once again.

The End Is Near

Have you ever participated in a race? You know that moment when you are physically drained, emotionally finished and your blurred vision is fixed on the finish line? I'm there. I'll admit that although I am not actually counting the minutes, I am looking forward to the return of routine and structure. Come on, confess, you know exactly what I am talking about.

As the summer draws to a close I am attempting one last hurrah. We are going camping, again. Those of you who have read my other posts know how our camping trips always end... with r#@n. Yes, rain has become a four letter word when combined with a camping trip. Cross your fingers and join me in my rather fanatical fascination of the weather network. My parents, myself and the kiddos are heading north, far north, potentially 6 hours in a car, north (oh dear.... what was I thinking?) I am looking forward to the majestic vistas of leaves and lakes. I cannot wait to hike, swim and visit with loved ones in a relaxed setting. I can wait for the feasting mosquitos, the sticky mess of marshmallows and the persistent whine of, "how much longer?"

I need this trip. It is one last attempt to make summer memories to last a lifetime. When we return, we will gear up for a return to school, work and the normalcy that I crave. But, until then, we're going camping again and you know what that means? I'll have lots and lots of laundry.