Parenthood – Life by the Sea

Holidays, Life With Boys, Memories, Parenthood, Reflections

Celebrating Six – A Birthday Letter to Luke

April 24, 2015 No Comments

Dear Luke: This morning I quietly snuck into your bedroom. In the darkness, I crawled into your bed beside you and softly sang “Happy Birthday”. You stirred and your eye lids slowly opened – welcoming a new day. A new year. Six. You now have to use two hands to illustrate how old you are. 2,191 days since I became a mom. You’ve become so independent, confident and even more curious about the world around you this last year. After some initial anxiety about moving on to “big school” you found your footing and became more comfortable with your new surroundings, new routine and new friends. At times school has challenged you – you’re still much more fond of playing than doing “so much WORK”. You’ve expanded your mind in creative new ways and are grasping concepts that you find interesting and are eager to share at the end of […]

Holidays, Life With Boys, Memories, Parenthood, Reflections

December Dilemma – When New Traditions Overshadow the Old

December 5, 2014 No Comments

Christmas is a time for inclusion and giving to those in need Christmas is a time of year when we all seem to be acutely aware of those we share this world with. We try to give to others in a myriad of ways whether it be through moral support, monetary or material donations. We seem to have an underlying sense of duty to ensure everyone greets December 25th with a sense of joy. We aim to, even if for just one day, lighten the load of others so they can wear a smile. We strive to bring back the magic and wonder of their childhood for them or assist them in providing that to their own children. We have an innate sense of commitment to leave no man behind. December for me is an ever-changing mix of “then” and “now” I tend to spend the time leading up to […]

Holidays, Life With Boys, Memories, Parenthood

Four Already? – A Birthday Letter to Kyle

November 6, 2014 No Comments

Dear Kyle: I’m still trying to process the fact that my house no longer has any trace of a baby. You and your brother are two active, loud, rough and tumble boys. You’re no longer small, cuddly, totally dependent babies. As if your little soul knows when it is the anniversary of your birth, you started your forth birthday the exact same way as your third birthday. You quietly opened our bedroom door, slipped inside and crawled up into bed with me. We bundled up under the duvet, I pulled you close to me and we spent the next half hour or so in an embrace – you were content to be in my arms while I ran my fingers through your brown hair and rubbed your cheek with my finger tips and kissed your sweet little mouth. I wished you a happy birthday. I told you I love you. […]

Holidays, Memories, Parenthood, Reflections

Five Years – A Birthday Letter to Luke

April 24, 2014 5 Comments

Dear Luke: It seems surreal that five years have passed since you entered this world. Since the moment I became a mother. You have grown before our eyes and looking back at your baby pictures it almost seems impossible that the little baby in them is you. I recognize you but at the same time I don’t. What I do see is the same bright, inquisitive eyes staring out at the world. The road to motherhood was not a direct one for me. In fact, I did everything in my power to avoid going down that road for over 20 years. I decided at an early age that being a mother was not for me. It wasn’t because I didn’t like children because I did. It wasn’t because I didn’t think I’d be a good mother, because I knew I could be. It was because I feared that becoming a […]

Holidays, Life With Boys, Parenthood, Reflections

Three Years – A Birthday Letter to Kyle

November 5, 2013 7 Comments

Dear Kyle: This morning before the sun rose or my alarm went off, I was awake. While I lay there in bed, the darkness was broken when the bedroom door opened and the light poured in from the hallway. Little barefoot steps across the hardwood floor to the edge of my bed followed and then a whispered “mama“. Grabbing on to the side of the mattress you hoisted your little body up beside mine. As you wrapped your arms around my neck and snuggled in closer, I covered you with blankets and kissed your forehead. “Happy Birthday“, I whispered in a hushed voice so as not to wake your father who was still sleeping beside us. We lay there in an embrace for about 20 minutes. I stroked your hair and rubbed your back. I pulled you closer, kissed your little mouth, your cheek and your forehead and then let […]