Life Lesson Month of August: Blog 3- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Dear Angel,

Being a parent is the hardest job you will ever have… educating a child is the biggest responsibility that leaves me wondering if I am doing anything right some days!

Life Lessons Learned #24: Be compassionate and empathetic.

I struggle and wrestle with how to teach you this one Ellie other than by example.  I’ve said to your Mimi a million times that I don’t care how smart or beautiful you are; I just simply want you to be a kind person.

I know you are incredibly shy so I don’t push you to be overly friendly to strangers (even though I find it a bit ridiculous that you bury your head in my shoulder or your Mimi’s during the part of church when we shake the hands of those around us).  But I try to be courteous and polite to those we meet in public.  Despite some embarrassment with my colleagues when you snub them during the first few encounters, I respect that you have anxiety with new people (and really in the world you are growing up in, sadly I think it’s easier that way than to have to worry about you being easily coaxed into the arms of a predator).  I often wonder what exactly you see in the few people that you warm up to fastest- do children see into people’s hearts and judge them better than us adults who can be jaded?

I don’t hide my emotions from you.  It’s not often that I cry but when I do, I don’t shield it from you.  The other day, you were sitting on my bed as I got dressed and out of the blue you said in a very sad voice (with your head hanging low), “I miss my brother Kyle.”  Tears streamed down my face and I let you know that I miss him too (even though I have no idea what prompted you to think about him) and I told you that I was really glad that you talked to me about him. 

We pray every night together on our knees (most nights, you get distracted and I have to remind you to give Jesus a few minutes of our time).  After we say the Hail Mary, you and I both say something that we were thankful for that day and then we include people who need extra blessings (on Monday, you prayed for the flu-ridden sister of a friend at school and a week ago you prayed for a little boy who wasn’t nice to you but more often than not, it’s someone who pops in your head sporadically).

Your Dad and I never yell at one another but we can have heated discussions once in a great while and if it happens, it’s over our dinner conversation.  Because you are our only living child, it’s just natural that you are apart of it- you give your two cents (even agreeing with me recently that your Dad was a bit cranky with the latest development in the long process of us buying our new house).  I want you to know that emotions are ok to display- including frustration with another person (and that there is a respectful way to converse when there is a difference of opinion).  I want you to note that compromise is possible but sometimes it isn’t… and that’s when even adults take a time out.

I try to be proactive and give you positive feedback when you are particularly kind and I tell you that you are a nice girl.  Manners (or what we call at home, “our nice words”) are a must (and you are so mindful of please, thank you and I’m sorry that you often remind me and your Dad to say them!).  We don’t swear, or say hate or stupid in our house (and if we do, you remind us that we don’t say those not nice words).  And in our family unit, we don’t judge based on skin color, gender, or sexual orientation (even though these conversations are beyond your years, I hope you are gaining perspective by living in an environment of tolerance).  I try to follow the same guidelines and expectations that I create for you as often as I can because modeling can be the best form of learning.

But when it comes down to it, I wonder what you will be like as an adult Ellie.  I already know the answers to these questions right now, when you are three, but will they prevail when you are thirty-three?  Will you care deeply about others?  Will you make the world a better place? 

As a toddler, you have such an incredible sense of self and I think that is the basis for compassion- it’s hard to understand the plight of someone else if you don’t understand yourself first.  Don’t ever lose sight of who you are while always considering the feelings of those around you.  These days, you still get angry when people call you little or tiny and I tell you again and again that you have such a big heart because you really do (I can’t tell you how many times you kiss or say I love you simply because you feel like it at random times throughout the day).

You can still have poise and dignity and still have emotion too.  Remember to be tenderhearted but do be cautious of those who take advantage.  Be benevolent but be strong.  Maintain your character and values but respect those who may not see eye to eye with you.

I love you my kind daughter with a heart of gold.

Mom

Life Lesson Month of August: Blog 2- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Hello Little Miss Sunshine!

El, Today I chose this term of endearment for you because of the clothing articles you picked to wear this morning.  When your Mommy brought you over to visit, you came in an outfit that definitely screamed ‘Ellie’ as you had on your Mickey Mouse 100 rainbow faces T-shirt, your red/white/blue patriotic ruffled skirt and your orange and green mosaic tiled rain boots (and it wasn’t raining outside, but that is a moot point).  

I am not sure if the fashion industry would have complimented you on your unique sense of style or if they would have simply walked away because they couldn’t uncross their eyes from the busyness that was happening on your whole being!  Honestly though El, I thought you looked gorgeous... and your Great-Grandmom Bubbles would have stated that you were definitely related to me as when I was little I too wore a lot of colors all at one time.  And the brighter the better… come to think of it, I was the color-wheel!  Anyway back to that morning… within minutes you found a bag of new outfits that I had recently bought for you in your Mom’s old closet and asked if you could try them on.  Of course I said yes… and after observing one of your quirky moments along with a few events that happened during the past few weeks, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about for my blog.  And here it is Ellie-bean.

Life Lessons Learned #23:  Color choices tell a lot about people.

OK… first I need to get back to your outfit choice and do my best at retelling the scene you set before me.  Ellie, in the clothing bag you delightfully rummaged through, you found a beautiful vibrant yellow culotte ruffled skirt.  Your response was “Oh Wow!” and off came your hot pink shorts so you could quickly don this new article of clothing, which you fell in love with instantly.  Seeing yourself in the mirror, you no longer cared for the multi-colored sequin tank top that you were sporting and started rooting through the bag to find something more matchable.   In your eyes El it had to match exactly (yellow with yellow… even if the yellows did not blend well) so instead of picking one of the complimentary tops, you chose a willowy lemon yellow sleeveless shirt to wear with the skirt.  Did it match? Nope.  Did you care?  Nope.  Were you happy with it?  Yep.  And what you did next El is what you do best.  You let your imagination take over.  In my eyes you looked like a not quite ripe Chiquita banana, but in your eyes, you saw a yellow flower, which quickly set your mind in motion!  You informed me that you were going to curl up into a little ball and be a tiny baby flower (I think you meant to say that you were going to start off by being a ‘seed’, but from past experience, I knew not to correct you!).  Anyway, I was instructed to commentate your growth.  So for the next few minutes, I elaborated on the beauty of this tiny little flower trying to reach through the soil and grasp the rays of sunshine to help in the growing process.  I then said, “Grow little one, let your stemmy body reach for the sky, let your leafy fingers stretch towards the sun, and spring upward into a beautiful yellow tulip!”  And while I talked, you slowly stretched yourself to a standing position with your arms held high over your head.  You then turned to face the full-length mirror and smiled with satisfaction!  You were now a piece of horticulture!  Oh my.  Yellow is said to create warmth and cheerfulness as well as increase ones mental activity and muscle energy.  It is also said that it stimulates the nervous system.  Well… its definition couldn’t be more perfect as you nailed it to a tee Miss Sunshine! 

Now I will rewind to a few days prior this moment.  Ellie, I was helping your Mom and Dad paint some of the bedrooms in your new home.  Your Mommy is a girl after my own heart, as she picked out some really beautiful and bold color choices (the kind that just “pop” off the color chart!).  Upon her request, the first bedroom I tackled was your new baby brother’s room.  Here your mom asked me to paint it a striking electric blue.  

I think he will like it Ellie, as it is considered a dynamic and exhilarating color.  As he grows, he will certainly feel charged each morning and ready to tackle whatever situation awaits him!  Next I painted the guest room.  Your Mom asked me to paint this one a gorgeous neon lime green/white in memory of your older brother Kyle.  And what a perfect choice it was for its color means: spring, growth and rebirth.  Being present in this color helps to replenish and renew ones energy.  I believe Kyle would have liked that.  But since you, my sweet grandchild, seem to have an abundance of this element already, I don’t foresee you spending much time in the green room!  However, the room I do see you spending a lot of time in is your own bedroom.  Ellie, you told your Mommy that your favorite color is pink, so she picked out an eye-popping hot pink paint (its official color name is Fussy Pink) for me to slap on those walls.  Once I was finished all I could say was “Wow!”  I loved it!  The color pink is meant for all little girls because it represents sugar and spice and everything nice.  And the color hot pink represents playfulness. Well, that is a definite and I can see why El.  Do you know that every time I enter your new bedroom now I have this uncontrollable urge to break out the board game Candyland and pretend to be the character Lolly from the Lollypop Woods?!  And that statement couldn’t have been written with truer words for you too.  I noticed that every time you enter this bright and bold room your demeanor becomes lively!  Why the other day as I moved on to painting doors you came out of your new bedroom and informed me that I was to be a teenager and you would be my teenage mommy.  Let me just say that it was a very interesting as well as eye opener work/playtime!   I do believe that you and I are going to have a grand time playing Let’s Pretend in that awesome room of yours!

But besides the bold colors that we three (your Mommy, you and myself) are drawn too, there are also many subdued colors.  And I encourage you to use them Ellie when you are feeling different emotions.  Did you know that the color purple represents spirituality and also the imagination?  If you are feeling calm and quiet you should immerse yourself in the color ivory.  When I asked you the other day what color you do not like, you answered brown.  Ellie, brown represents simplicity and dependability so even though you may not care for it on yourself, keep an open mind when you view it elsewhere. 

And one last thing…  I want to show you how two completely different people, both beautiful, both intelligent, both loving and caring individuals eye the colors black and white.  Your Aunt Ally wears them because she views black and white as conservative colors.  She is a traditional woman and believes these colors represent the basics.  And these basics have survived time.  One of Aunt Ally’s points defending her own argument is that if something survives time, how can you go wrong?   She also feels that you don’t need exotic and crazy colors to accentuate beauty… simplicity will do.  She is a very classy woman Ellie… and when she wears her strand of ivory pearls, Ally reminds me of Jackie O.

Now when your Aunt Sammy wears the colors black and white she also sees this match as a very classic look, one that never goes out of style.  When I asked her how she felt when wearing these colors your Aunt Sammy said, “I feel very put together as it gives off a sophisticated look.”  And she couldn’t be more right El.  Aunt Samantha knows how to ‘dress it up’ for a stunning look when an evening out on the town is in order and she knows how to ‘dress it down’ for work and casual day wear.  She too is a classy woman El… and when she wears her gold bangles and beads, Sammy reminds me of Marilyn Monroe.

So I guess the lesson learned here Ellie is that all colors represent different emotions and what shades we wear tell others a little bit about ourselves.  It is ok to stay within our comfort zone if we so choose, and it is also ok to deviate from our set pallet as we grow.  Just remember to always be your own person Ellie.  Those who truly love you will accept you in whatever shades you don.

Love you Miss Pinkalicious!

Mimi

Life Lesson Month of August: Blog 1- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Dear Angel,

In a world that focuses so much on how we look, I want you to realize that inner beauty is what shines through.  Don’t be fooled by outward appearances.  When people tell you that you are smart or sweet, that should be a far better compliment than when someone tells you that you are attractive.

Life Lessons Learned #22: Love who you are.

A few weeks ago, I made a comment that the wall color in our new house is tacky.  Of course, you asked, “What does tacky mean?”  Without thinking, I replied bluntly, “Ugly.”  And you again inquired, “What’s ugly?”  You made me pause for a second Ellie.  First, I was in awe that you have been graced for three years to not know what that means (and then I felt a painful guilt that I tainted you by using the word).  Second, I was stumped at how to explain it to you because everything that God has created is beautifully made and anything is else is our unfair prejudices and judgments.  So I tried the route of, “Well, when someone is really mean on the inside, that’s what ugly looks like.”  It didn’t satisfy you so I settled on something a bit more concrete, I said, “Well, ugly is the opposite of pretty.”  You then asked, “Like a spider?”  And because I really dislike spiders, I answered, ‘”Yes,” and you went about playing.  Two days later, you brought the subject up again and stated randomly, “Ugly is when someone is mean and it’s what an ant looks like, right?.”  You do think deeply about things and I do think that you processed what I was trying to convey.  I want you to understand that ugly is something that people manifest.  I hope it’s several more years before you have to think about that word again Ellie because I really can’t think of a time where it isn’t used negatively.  It’s hard for me to picture a world where ugly doesn’t exist and for you, that’s been your life since you were born.  I can only imagine the beauty you see in everything so I will try to see the world from your vantage point!

That’s why Ellie I try really hard not to say negative things about my own body in front of you.  I want you to grow up to have a good body image so I am purposeful not to point out the many flaws I think I have.  At three, you tell me that I am pretty and I let myself believe it because you see the world so simply and wonderfully (you see the color of flowers when we are walking to the park and the shape of the clouds when we drive).  As my belly is growing with your brother inside, we talk about how amazing this experience is as you feel him kick.  You are familiar with my scar from my c-sections but you don’t see it as a disfigurement, you see it as I do- it’s more than a boo boo, it’s a line of love.  And really, isn’t that what most blemishes and wrinkles on our skin are?  They tell stories of where we’ve been.   

Don’t let the media define beauty for you.  At three, you have already redefined it.  As long as you stick with the season and your clothes are clean, you have free reign to pick out your own outfits everyday.  For a while, you would choose to wear your Little Mermaid pajamas (it looks like a house coat) out in public with your very worn sneakers (that you wear without socks).  You take pride in your choices and you definitely own them- don’t ever lose that quality!  You don’t like bows or pigtails in your hair so we cut it styled into a simple bob with bangs to keep your hair from hanging in your eyes.  We take baths regularly, and you brush your teeth twice a day so cleanliness is a must but beyond that, you go with comfort.  And really, isn’t that what’s most important?  You love to run, climb, and tumble (at the park, you get sand in your hair and dirt on your face).  For the one-hour of television you get to watch when I make dinner, you are usually watching it upside down on the couch in a headstand position.  

Don’t let clothes or someone else’s standard of beauty confine you.  Stay active and be healthy and never spend extra minutes analyzing how you look… there are far better things to do with your time!

Yes Ellie, I think you are gorgeous but what I love most about your face is how you show your emotions- I love your smile when it’s genuine and I love your furrowed brows when you problem solve and process information and I love your angry face when you pucker your mouth and narrow your eyes.  I think you’re incredibly bright and observant too.  You are creative, independent, and spunky.  You care about others.  You are strong and stubborn.  Do you see how appearance dwindles in comparison to everything else?  You are loved Ellie not because of how you look but because of who you are on the inside (and that my dear is true beauty).  And Ellie, let me tell you that you are one of a kind.  And I’m so glad that you are mine. 

I love you, Mom 

    

Life Lesson Month of July: Blog 4- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Dear Ellie,

Usually I start my writing in the early mornings, but these past two weeks have been such a whirlwind that I thought I had more time than I actually do.  At this very moment it is 8:00 pm on Thursday (the night before my blog entry is due) and I realized that I have not yet started.  Somewhat frantic and fearful of my pending deadline, I took a few moments to reflect on what I have learned during the days leading up to your brother Kyle’s 5K/Walk, the actual day of Kyle’s Walk, and the time after Kyle’s Walk.  And my lesson learned Ellie was not a difficult one at all, but rather joyful.  Here it is:

Life Lessons Learned #21: You are never too old to give or receive an ‘I Love You.’

Ellie, it was so amazing to have family and friends from near and far visit and re-connect.  There were so many ‘hugs’ given out, so many ‘hi’s and ‘kisses’ exchanged, and so many ‘smiles’ present.  It was a wonderful time-frame to witness.  Our loss of a beautiful baby boy had miraculously turned into a positive.  And even though the pain is still very much present, Kyle has shown us how to rise above.  But losing someone so tiny and so quickly was a crucial reminder to never forget what is truly important in life.  And that is to say three simple words “I Love You” each and every day and as often as possible.  I think Kyle heard those words no less than a million times in his eleven days of life, and now he is bringing those words right back to us on a daily basis through his purpose.  

I wrote a poem a while back and I think it fits perfectly with my thoughts of these past two weeks.  I would like to share it with you Ellie.  Here it is.

I Love You’s

Children need hugs and kisses

And lots of I Love You’s.

When at their best or at their worst

Show patience.  It’s a virtue.

Children need our attention

And lots of I Love You’s.

To hold, to talk, to play a game

These actions name just a few.

Children need some time with us

And lots of I Love You’s.

So take a break and be with them

It’s what we need to do.

Children need for us to listen

And lots of I Love You’s.

Just like us they want to be heard

So listen and answer on queue.

Children need hugs and kisses

And lots of I Love You’s.

It doesn’t matter if they’re young or old

They need to feel loved through and through.

By: Mickey Russell

So I guess the lesson learned this week Ellie-bean is that even though God has given each of us a “lifetime” to live, and whether that may mean minutes, days, or many, many years, always say those three meaningful words “I Love You” as often as you can.  You will never regret it El.  They give each of us meaning; a sense of worth.   They give each of us feeling; a sense of being wanted and needed.  And they give each of us hope; a sense of purpose and a closer connection to Him.

I Love You my precious Ellie-bean.

Mimi 

Life Lesson Month of July: Blog 3- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Dear Angel,

Saturday is our 4th annual Kyle Russell Callahan Scholarship 5k that we organized to remember and honor your brother’s life and legacy.  I am always nervous and anxious in the days leading up to it, as I want everything to go so perfectly.  But then I remember that not everything goes according to plan (as was our story with Kyle) and that’s ok.

Life Lessons Learned #20: There are bluer skies and rainbows after a storm.

I wish someone would have told me when I learned that Kyle was so sick and probably wouldn’t live that, “You are about to embark on a wonderful journey!” Despite so much heartache, Kyle brought much joy and happiness in our lives these past four years.  The lesson that I’ve learned in the meantime is that there are beautiful skies after a storm.  Ellie, in the past few weeks we have had lots of rain here.  During the first of a string of many thunderstorms, you told me that you were scared of the booming sound so I told you that it’s just Kyle and the angels bowling up in heaven.  That seemed to calm your fear and then you noticed after the storm what beautiful shades of pinks, purples, and blue the sky became (with a rainbow too).  After that, you look forward to when the storm pushes through to see what it has left behind.  Keep that quality Ellie, whether it be a simple rainstorm or a challenged life-storm, always look ahead.  A beautiful rainbow or a bright blue sky will gradually present itself.    

Like so many others, Saturday is a day that wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Kyle.  Family and friends will gather for the 4^th time and another student will be able to continue their education- sounds like a pretty amazing feat for a baby who only lived 11 days!

I feel so blessed Ellie that you get to celebrate Kyle’s life with us.  Fingers crossed that the weather cooperates for all those coming out to run and walk!

Love you Bean!

Mom

Life Lesson Month of July: Blog 2- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Hi Ellie!

Boy do I have a blog story to share with you today!  Because of your creative imagination you’ve made this week’s writing very easy for me!  And besides, I love sharing you!  Here it is:

Life Lessons Learned #19: Not everyone is cut out to be a waitress… A 3 year old or me!

Well, let me start off by saying that when you sleep over Ellie, life, as we know it takes on a different style!  This last time that we had you for the evening you decided that we were going to play restaurant lady and customer.  Since we have your little kitchen already set up in our living room, all we had to add was a tiny table and find you a notepad and pencil.  Once that was complete, it was time to play!  When I asked who was playing which role, of course you said that you would be the restaurant lady and I had to be the customer.  So down the stairs I went to begin our playtime selection.  I came in the front door, walked up the steps and waited for you to seat me… oh, and my two pretend friends Devin and Gretel too.  El, you smiled sweetly at my choice and proceeded to take us over to the couch and had me sit down.  Then you walked away to grab your pencil and notepad only to come back and say, “What do you want?”  My response was, “Do you have a menu for us to look at because we don’t know what your establishment has to offer.”  Your first question was, “What is an establishment?”  Of which I had to explain.  And your second statement was, “I don’t have one” (meaning a menu.)  You then scanned every inch of the living room and came up with your own delicious entrees.  Without blinking an eye, you said, “Mimi, you can have an egg sandwich or a chicken sandwich, or a shoe sandwich or a chair sandwich.”  Since I am not too fond of woody food where a splinter could wedge itself between my teeth, nor a food that holds strong pungent odors, I opted for the egg sandwich.  My pretend friend Gretel copied me and my pretend friend Devin was a bit more daring and chose the chicken sandwich.   Your response Ellie was, “Fine.”  And off you went to rummage in your refrigerator for two round white eggs.  Once you found them, you placed each one on a slice of plastic bread and set them inside a green serving tray.  Watching you in action was hilarious.  Seeing that you also had a plastic croissant on the counter I asked if I could have it, which apparently annoyed you.  I did not expect your answer, which was a very forceful, “NO, you can’t have that!”  And then you informed me, with a very smug look, that it wasn’t called a croissant either but rather a roll.  (Geez El, you made me feel like I was in a Seinfeld Soup Nazi episode only in this case, it was the Croissant Gestapo!)  So I apologized and asked if I could at least change my bread to a roll, which you nodded affirmatively.  You then jumped/hopped across the floor and back to your little refrigerator pulling out a whole plastic chicken (I kind of held my breath here because I wasn’t sure if our role playing had changed.  Were you a waitress, a kangaroo or a rabbit?).  As you pivoted, smiled, and skipped back over to me I was relieved to see that you were still the waitress!  Maybe a bit of an unorthodox one as you were waving that chicken body to and fro like a glow stick that guides a jumbo jet in for a landing, but no matter, still a waitress!   And then an idea must have struck you because you ran back, threw the chicken on the tray, got your notepad and pencil, returned, and asked if we would like some french-fries.  When I said, “No thank you” you said that we had to eat them anyway and ran back to your kitchen set.  Placing three fries on the green tray, you finally brought it over to our table.  Upon observing your delicious items, I had to remind you that our waitress did not give us any plate, utensils or napkins.  Your response Ellie was, “Oh.”  And then you picked up and took the serving tray with you; set it on the rocking chair, found the items I requested and returned to place them on the table.  Looking at the empty plates, I gingerly asked you where my sandwich was.  You responded with a… “Ughhhhh”, and you skipped away to retrieve our lunches only to return and dump them on our plates.  Then you grabbed my plastic roll, looked at me, pretended to bite the roll, giggled and tossed it back on my plate (Now that was sanitary! … NOT!)!  Knowing that my waitress was getting a little testy, I kindly asked you if we could have something to drink.  In a very pleasant voice you said, “Oh sure” and went to retrieve your notepad and pencil again.  Now Ellie, from my vantage point I could see all the beverage boxes you had lined up on your kitchen counter.  So I asked you if the three of us could have a grape juice drink.  You quickly scribbled something on your pad and then looked up and said, “Ahhhhhhhh NO.”  I said, “Ok.  Could we have milk instead?”  Again you went to pencil something down and responded, “Ahhhhhhhh NO you can’t have that either.”  Lastly I asked if we could have Apple Juice.  And for the third time you repeated, “Ahhhhhhhh Nope!  You can’t have it just because you can’t have it!”  Now that was such a strong statement that I dared not argue it!  So I asked you what you did have to offer, as we were very thirsty.  You looked over at your kitchen set and thought for a moment before answering with, “You can have Ketchup water.”  Hmmmmm… now that didn’t sound at all enticing to my friends or me but since your ‘look’ was very stern, we coward down and said that that would be fine.  Apparently my decision appeased you because you then skipped off to get your little pitcher and three Disney Princess cups.  After setting them and a two-inch plastic ketchup bottle on the green serving tray, you picked it up and started carrying it over to our table.  By no fault of anyone’s, it dropped forcing everything to spill, roll and fall off the sides of the table.  Like a child with ants in her pants you jumped around and scooped up what you could and basically threw it back on the table forgetting the protocol of a proper place setting!  For some silly reason I then decided to take a chance and ask you what your restaurant had to offer for dessert and you said, “We don’t have anything.”  And I said, “But I see some bananas in your basket up by the counter that look yummy and we would each like to have one.”  And you said, “Welllllllllll… you can’t have those.”  And I asked, “Why?”  And you said, “Because you can’t!”  So I said, “Then can I have the check please so that I can pay the bill?”  And all of a sudden you got really, really happy and said, “Oh sure!”  And off you jumped (tripping only once) in search of your notepad.  When you found it, you tore off the top piece of paper, which had many scribbly doodles on it, and handed it to me along with some paper money that you found in a drawer.  When I asked you what the money was for you looked at me like I was a one year old and said, “This is what you have to pay me Mimi.  $5.00.”  I responded with a “Wow!  I am glad you are paying me to pay you!  I like this restaurant and will definitely come again.”  You then you told me to leave.

At that point we switched roles Ellie, me being the restaurant lady and you being the customer.  Long story short, every time I went to write something down on the notepad, you had to fix it.  And every time I went to the little kitchen to get something you ordered, you came over to help me, so much so that when it came time to serve your table with the green serving tray, you did it yourself!  I then reminded you that you and your two friends had to eat the lunch I made and you said, “No thanks!”   You then proceeded to tell me to sit down and eat it, because you didn’t want to any more.  Obviously it was time to close down the restaurant and find something new to play!

So I guess my lesson learned Ellie is that at this moment in time neither one of us would make a good waitress or a restaurant owner for that matter.  But playing this make-believe game with you was so much fun and a wonderful forever memory for me to keep in my heart.  You know El; there is an old saying that holds some truth.  It is Practice Makes Perfect.   And something tells me that you and I are going to have a great time practicing (We already have the giggles down to perfection!)!

(After playing restaurant, we played school... this is you working on our science lab (looking into my plastic lawn bunny's ear!)

Love you Ellie-bean!

Mimi 

Life Lesson Month of July: Blog 1- Letters from Mom & Mimi

Dear Ellie,

You are a rough and tough girl (and a little clumsy) so it’s only natural that you get your share of cuts and bruises.  Just the other day, you were singing and dancing on your ladybug chair at your Mimi’s and Poppy’s and got so caught up in your routine that you fell out… and ended up with a long abrasion on your leg.   

Life Lessons Learned #18: Kisses can make everything better.

Whenever you take a spill, I love that you know that a hug and a kiss may not heal your wound right away but it will make you feel cherished, nurtured, and somewhat better.  Usually, it’s enough to stop your tears and even make you smile.

And I love that you know to return the favor… the other day, the cat ran off my lap leaving a sore scrape.  You came right over and without asking or blinking an eye, you kissed my leg gently then went right back to your make believe game.  It was such a kind, innocent, and sweet gesture.  It made me so proud of you and I forgot all about the scratch.

You always know that you can run to me when you get hurt (or your Mimi).  I explained to you that Moms sense what their children feel because our hearts are connected.  I told you that when your heart is hurting, so is mine (seeing real tears spill our of your eyes is enough to make me want to cry with you).  Looking at where your heart is and my heart is and noticing they are clearly not touching, you observantly responded, “How?”  So I held up my hand and crossed my middle finger around my pointer finger to show you that our hearts are intertwined.  You, my smart girl, recognized the connection, and said, “Oh!  Kind of like criss-cross apple sauce!” referencing the way you sit at school with your legs crossed.    

Remember Ellie that most times, the emotions of love and happiness can surpass the physical pain.   

I love you Angel!

Mom