After four years of struggling to get our youngest to eat even enough to sustain his growth and energy for daily activities; after visits to specialists in gastroenterology, nutrition, speech, occupational therapy, and psychology; and after trying numerous methods of forcing, coercing, and distracting him into eating, some of which resulted in tears and frustration…
Last year for Christmas, the boys received a singing, dancing Irish Santa. They loved it at once, but Patrick and I were unsure about the beer in Santa’s hand. Did an imbibing Santa send an inappropriate message to the boys? For a year we worried and discussed… should Santa find a new home? Could I…
Today Connor was bouncing and climbing up and down the stairs, over the back of the couch, on the kitchen chairs,… he was in constant motion! I chided him saying, “Connor, you are such a monkey!,” to which he replied straight-faced, “I mot (not) a monkey, I a sheep!” Connor’s class has been learning about…
I spent the day pulling up sub-flooring in a New Orleans shot-gun house flooded in Hurricane Katrina. It was a long day. As I’m cleaning up for dinner, my cell phone rings. It’s Ryan. Patrick and the boys are at a conference in Baltimore. “Mommy,” he says. “Yes, Ryan?” “I have a new favorite restaurant.”…
The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love was on the radio. Connor listened carefully, and then stated emphatically, “Incorrect! That song’s not true! You need water and food and shelter and maybe friends, too… not just love.” And he was right… sometimes, love is not enough: In Memory: James Coburn II July 30, 1975 –…
“Mommy, I love when Ryan has Kids Nation! It’s so much fun for me!” Those words, uttered by my joyous six-year-old as we walked across the street alongside our church Friday evening, took me by complete surprise. Ryan was at the first meeting of the third/fourth grade church youth group, and since Patrick was out…