Growing Pains - Mother and Child

Last night I witnessed some children being mean to Jase. I sat back and watched how Jase would handle the situation. He didn't. He did not know they were being mean. Or did he? He laughed as they were telling him to go away and were moving away from him. The looks on the faces of these kids were the complete opposite of Jase, which was happy and laughing. Clearly, the kids did not want Jase around them. Clearly, Jase did not pick up on this or was just enjoying aggravating his friend. And clearly, I was getting mad.

Before I knew it, the friend came up to tattle on Jase. He tells me he and his other friends don't want Jase to sit by them and then tells me "Jase is freaking us out." Jase walks up and hears his friend say this and burst into tears. He just wanted to sit by his friend. The friend, satisfied with himself for what he's just done, walks away to join his other friends.

I had to make a choice at this moment. It had to be a mature choice, not the childish one I really wanted to do. The mean girl in me wanted to surface and say mean things to the child for being mean to my child. Clearly, this was the childish choice I fought off. The choice I made was to comfort my child and be honest with him. In my head I'd like to think this was the mature thing to do. From now on, I pray that Jase will remember what it feels like to have a friend be mean to him so that in the future he knows NOT to treat his friends like that. My honesty with Jase was that not everyone is going to be your friend but that doesn't give you the right to mean to that person. Then with that said, I thought to myself how do I teach my child kindness but yet not to take any crap??? Sigh.

My heart hurt last night, and still does as I type this. I wanted to burst into tears as I comforted my child. This was the first experience like this for us - Jase dealing with friends and me dealing with the hurt feelings of my child. I pray there aren't many more.

Cole's World: Rough and Tumble

We were in Oklahoma a week or so ago...Cole came back to Texas looking like this...

This child 'o mine is a rough as they come. He runs, kicks, flips and wears his cowboy boots from the minute he wakes in the morning til the very last second sleep takes him over. And on most nights, he fights his sleep. 

This was his first black eye. No, he did not get punched by his big brother or by his cousin O. Nope, Cole took care of this one all by himself. He was running, got tripped up and fell face first into the bed. He's nose made a perfection connection with the bed frame. Thankfully, his nose was not broken. Sadly, this is what I had to walk around with...people giving me looks and all. 

Eventually the black eye cleared up but Cole's little tough guy attitude is still intact. The run-in with the bed frame did not slow him down. I hope and pray this is the only black eye my baby ever gets. :) 

Never Grow Up

I think it's about time I quit lying to myself. For the past 6 years, while truly trying to enjoying every minute, there were times I wished for the boys to be older. Not just so my load would be a little lighter but so that they were in school participating in activities and such. Well  now here we are - Jase is in school, playing sports and just turned 6. Cole, my baby, will be playing t-ball this spring, turns 4 this summer and starts pre-kindergarten this fall. Sigh. Where is that box of tissues? 


Yesterday was Jase's birthday. I went to wake him up - I just stopped and stared a minute. When did my first born go from binks, diapers and squishy cheeks to boxer briefs, big stinky feet and long legs? I actually did not cry here. Really. I just laughed at the thought and then Cole and I serenaded him awake with "Happy Birthday".

Sitting in the hair salon later in the afternoon is when I had a moment. A little boy around 2 comes into the salon with his mom and aunt. Hearing this little guy talk in his sweet tiny voice hit me in the gut. I was immediately reminded of Jase being that little. I seriously had big tears in my eyes and an even bigger lump in my throat. Thank goodness my stylist (yes, I have a hair stylist now and I do plan on visiting her more than once a year..hehe) was running behind and I was the only other person in the waiting area...I would not have been able to speak. Then last night, after boys are in bed, I came across a song that just did me in. Hit play. Listen.

My little men are no longer as the little men in the pictures below. They are growing up and they are doing it much too fast. Yes, I'm crying now. Dang Taylor Swift for this song that makes me cry.

So like I said in the beginning, I am going to quit lying to myself...I don't want them to grow up so fast. I want them to stay little and simple. Perhaps admitting this to myself, I will enjoy all the simpleness a little more.

Six

Jase turns 6 today!

We celebrated this weekend with a party at home. Jase invited his neighborhood buddies (6 of them) and they played for two hours straight. He had a wonderful day.

Today he will celebrate with his classmates with cupcakes. Tonight is dinner out - his choice.

He's 6.

Happy Birthday, Bug. We love you.

Hello 2012!

We have so much to look forward to in the new year. Wait, I feel like I just said that. I think I did. Read here what I said about 2011 if you'd like.

So anyway, our little family has a lot to look forward to in 2012. First and foremost, it's not a transfer year! Second, Jason & I both have siblings who are becoming parents for the first time! Yippee! We will welcome two nephews into the family in March. I am so excited that I can't really stand it! And C, well, there isn't really a C. I think reason number two is enough excitement to get us through the year!

Many blessing to you and your in 2012!