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My Baby

My baby is sick tonight. She has a fever and she is miserable. She’s crying a lot and I had to pat her on the back until she could fall asleep. Actually, she’s not a baby anymore. She’s 4. There are days that I am so glad she’s not so tiny any more (like when she sleeps for 9 hours at night) but some days I just wish she was my baby again. When she’s sick, she is very clingy and wants to be held. She asked me to lay next to her in bed while she took a nap in case she needed me. Its nice to be needed. There are days that I’m not really needed. She goes to school 3 days a week now. She likes to color alone and she no longer appreciates my recommendations for play dough color combinations. If her daddy is home, she prefers to be with him instead of me, even if all he is doing is watching football on TV. But when she’s sick, it’s like she’s 3 months old again and only mommy can make it better. Only I knew how to hold her to calm her down. Only I could sing “Love Me Tender” to make her fall...
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My Gut

Some people believe it is mother’s intuition, others believe it is a gut feeling. Some people don’t believe it at all. Its that feeling you get in the deepest part of your heart when you know something that others don’t know about your child. I don’t know for certain where it comes from but I do believe. Brooke is my oldest child, my first baby. I didn’t believe I had “it” when she was a baby. I listened to the doctor’s advice and did what she told me to do. I asked my husband, my mother, my friends, everyone but myself how to care for that baby. It was great to get their feedback, and they were usually right. But occasionally, my “gut” would tell me different. I didn’t trust it at first. What did I know? I was a new mom. But now I know different. A doctor can say she’s well but I know when she’s sick. A teacher can tell me she’s doing fine, but I know when she’s struggling. Even Brooke can tell me, “I’m ok,” but I know when she is not. I’ve been wrong before, it’s not an exact science...
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Cool mom yet?

So I took my girls and their friends to see the Hannah Montana Concert Movie in 3D. I’m hoping that makes me a “cool” mom because nothing else I’ve tried has worked. I was hoping for more of Billy Ray singing to me but I had to settle for young Miley Cirus wearing clothes that I really think she stole from my middle school closet. It was really fun. The girls sang and laughed and I enjoyed popcorn with my friend who is also in the running for coolest mom ever (I’m pretty sure we’re tied.) The entire time, I just kept thinking, “please stay a good girl Miley.” My girls look at her like she is the most amazing thing in the world. I remember that feeling. I loved Tiffany. Then Tiffany grew up and did some not-so-nice things. It seems like, all the icons my daughters adore are failing them. I can’t believe I used to sing Britney Spears songs to Brooke when she was a baby. Now I just pray she doesn’t catch a picture of her while we are at the grocery store check out line. I try to think of ...
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We have a surprise for you!

“We have a surprise for you!” That was how my parents told me and my sister that we were going to have a little brother. A “surprise.” My sister said, “No really, what’s my real surprise?” A surprise indeed. Looking back, I don’t really know what my mom was thinking. She finally had both of her children in elementary school and she decided to start all over again with a baby. We loved him though. We played dress up with him. Poor kid, we treated him like a toy. He didn’t seem to mind too much as a baby but once he was a toddler, he wasn’t so much fun anymore. He destroyed our “stuff,” got in our way, tagged along to everything. He was a typical pesky little brother. We grew up in the same house but we eventually grew apart. He was a wild little boy, I was a quiet young girl. He was always getting in trouble, I tried my hardest to be good. All of the things I stayed away from in high school, he was chasing in middle school. We had nothing in common. As most girls do, I paid more attenti...
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Bullies and braids and bras . . . oh my!

I start my day with Brooke asking for the 100th time if she can have a bra. She’s 8. Why does an 8 year old need a bra? She doesn’t. She is bombarded, however, by the message that she does. When we go to stores that sell clothing for girls her age, they have bras. Her favorite TV stars are photographed with their bra straps showing. So she thinks she needs one. I put her off again. “We’ll see.” So we head out to a fun day camp for the girls! They love this camp because they get to jump and play. I love it because they come home exhausted and go to bed easily. But today, when I go to pick them up, they are not loving it. Brooke is crying and Emma is consoling her. A little bully has ruined their summer day. I’m so mad I can’t see straight. This little girl was mean to my daughters, taught them words that I don’t even use, and even showed them attitude I was hoping they would not see until they were at least 13. After a long day we settle in for a little bit of family time. Emma deci...
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Grow Up!

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While I don't want to rush my girls to grow up too fast, I am really looking forward to an end to girl drama.  I want them to find (AND BE) friends that just love you and enjoy your company.  Stop competing and start encouraging.  Stop being jealous and start celebrating.  Stop snubbing each other and start speaking to each other.  Stop being fake friends and start being real.  If someone hurts your feelings, tell them.  If you hurt someone, apologize.  People are flawed and friendship is not always easy but its worth it.  One day something awful will happen in your life and you will need a friend.  You will need someone to answer the phone when you call and drop everything they are doing to be by your side.  Be that friend and seek out that kind of person to be your friend.  Don't be hateful to those that create drama, but don't engage with her.  You have no idea why she needs that attention and its not your place to judg...
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Is competitive cheer a sport?

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Is competitive cheer a sport?  I don’t know and I don’t care.  It’s teaching my child life lessons and that is more important to me than a label.   1.  Work hard  She practices . . . a lot.  She practices with her team for 2-2.5 hours twice a week with extra practices added when needed.  She takes an additional tumbling or jumps class for one hour each week.  She meets with her stunt group at least once a week for extra practice without a coach.   So in a given week, she puts in 6-8 hours of practice at the gym in addition to the hours she spends at home stretching and conditioning.  She’s learning that if she really cares about something, she needs to work hard to make that happen.  College is hard work, a career is hard work, parenting is hard work. She has a lot of work coming her way.   1.  Be responsible Her coach told her from the beginning that this entire experience would be her responsibility....
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