September 17, 2010 – Bubblegum & Band Aids

My kids are little.  They will do nearly anything for a piece of bubblegum.  To an extent which makes me crazy.  The two year old says, “Mommy, me behave piece gubble gum?” and the six year old plots and plans, negotiates and barters for a piece of the chewy fun as well.  It’s nonstop from both of them.  Every.  Single. Day.

And then there’s band aids.  I think my daughter scrapes her legs intentionally so she can wear one.  She asks me if things are ‘bandaidworthy’ (yes, I believe I coined that phrase after too many ‘unworthy’ reasons for a band aid).   We spend so much time with them  hanging outside of the grocery cart, lingering over the decision of which colorful  box to purchase for refills.  My floors are covered with the wrappers of band aids and the paper inserts from each package.  They apply the band aids to their bodies as though it’s an accessory, turned at the right angle, facing upwards, in an area certain to be noticeable by all.

Bubblegum and Band Aids.  Such large parts of my day to day life.  They are the cause of headaches and exhaustion of answering the same questions (no you can’t because you’ll put it on my furniture like you did last time and no that bruise is not bandaidworthy, you will be fine and because they cost money, they are not stickers and it’s minty, you won’t like it, trust me)…  I could go on and on.

……………………………………

And then I look at my friends who have older children.   Children who have long since passed the obsession with bubblegum.  Children who grow, as children do and who don’t care if their  band aids have Dora the Explorer or Hello Kitty on them.   And I remind myself that while I’d love to fool myself into thinking that my babies will always be 6 and 2, I know that before I blink, they will be 16 and 12.   And there will be no one to care about all of these little things and no one to bother me about the worthiness of Dora or the wrappers of gubblegum.

So while it is here, I will cherish it.   Lavishly pass it out.  Look into purchasing gum remover at the store (do you suppose it’s near the band aid aisle?) and reward every little freckle with some Hello Kitty stickiness.

Then I’ll laugh.  Close my eyes and hold the memory.  Take pictures.  And appreciate these moments.  These moments that are here only for today, though I wish would last forever.   Today, I will notice and appreciate them for all they are worth- and it is so very much.

~K

September 16, 2010 - Autumn

"It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life."
- P. D. James

I saw someone had quoted this and found it to be so perfect for this time of year.   Things are cooling off, leaves are slowly starting to fall, school is back in session and football is beginning.

Perfect fall days… here and more to come.   I want to remember this quote and enjoy each day as it comes.

~K

September 15, 2010 – Just when…

What a day to be grateful for unexpected surprises.

Just when you feel like the world makes no sense, something will happen… a sign of some sort… to remind you that for certain, life is a precious miracle and there is so much each day is worth appreciating and celebrating.

~K

September 14, 2010 – Yoga

I spent an hour this evening in a yoga studio… taking one of the best classes I’ve ever had.  I enjoy yoga and have really been trying to get a couple of classes in each week.

It was so wonderful.  I so appreciate my husband, who is truly my best friend.   He happily bathed the kids and put them to bed while I excitedly snuck out for my class. 

He is respectful and kind to me, allowing me to have these moments of peace that he knows are so important to me and I am so grateful to have him in my life.

Ben and Yoga. 

Two reasons to be so perfectly grateful today.

Namaste.

~K

September 13, 2010 – Instead of going crazy…

It was that time of day this afternoon.  I was tired.  The kids were tired and all over the place.  It was still an hour left before my husband was home and I could feed them and move on with our day.  It was that time of day when things usually have the potential to go downhill.

Instead… when all else fails, let ‘em run!

We went outside…  breathed in some early fall air.  I cut the grass, which always improves my mood… the organization, the lines, the evenness of it all.  The kids rode bikes.   We played soccer around the tall pine trees and chased each other in the yard. 

And so, instead of going crazy… we went for some fresh air!   Instead of going crazy, we laughed and played, played and ran, hugged and smiled.

We were all much better and far happier for it.  What a great decision… taking control of the crazy!

~K

September 12, 2010 – Freebies & Shakespeare

Here’s to positive ‘hippie’ thoughts, days full of laughs and sunshine and to my dad… who is finally talking….again.

After all-  you can’t beat a freebie…. especially if you’re behind.

Peace.

~K

September 11, 2010 – 9/11

Nine years ago today I was newly married and we were returning to our home from our honeymoon.

The world changed that morning as ours together began.  It was such an oxymoron of new beginnings for us personally and devastating endings and realizations for the country in which we lived.

Each year as this date passes, I remember the two of us, waking up as newlyweds full of love and hope and going to sleep as two people together with a world - - changed and confused and frightened.

September 11th, 2001- We will never forget.   Take a moment today to be grateful for all that is today positive and healing.  Take a moment to be grateful for days without  devastation and acknowledge and appreciate the strength and peace of so many.

~K