I am one lucky mother!
When I think back to earlier days of Mothering, I recall a lot of angst, a little sleep, a heap of confusion, and a general desire to find a dark closet for some peace. But with each passing day, those days almost seem to be a manufacture of my mind rather than an actual experience. It still mystifies me how a wonderful, funny, loving child such as mine began her life with such aversion to us, such indomitable will, such an inconsolable spirit. It's like she began as one person and became another -- and, let me say -- we are THANKFUL for that, or we'd be considerably older by now... or further down into the ground than one dares to go without a coffin...
Mother's Day 2012 was a milestone. It was like turning the corner on motherhood and walking straight into Heaven! K had been talking it up for WEEKS, literally! "I can't wait 'til it's Mother's Day, Mom!," she kept saying. "When is it going to be?," she'd ask - and I didn't really know. "Well, you're going to REALLY enjoy it!!" I was sure I would. When this 7-year-old makes a promise, she makes good on it, that's for sure!
B had told me on Mother's Eve that, by K's edict, I needed to remain in bed after I awoke on Sunday morning so that she could come and take my order. So, as directed, I awoke, performed a mini-toilette, and returned to bed, from whence I called down to my people to tell them to let the games begin. A few moments later, in came my girl with a piece of paper and a 2-color pen selection. She'd already written out the menu options with spaces for me to fill in my order. I was specific: French bread with an egg, cheddar cheese, and tomato, a side of cantaloupe slices, and a coffee. Down she went to deliver my request to the kitchen staff (B). When she returned, she brought the most delicious sandwich on my best and favorite places. She was followed by B, who produced the most incredible coffee, which he'd lovingly hand-poured through the Chemex! Dark, rich, fantastic and not a shred of bitterness. Now I understand the magic of the Chemex!!
The plan was that I should relax and enjoy myself as I ate my breakfast in bed, but, because I was bored, I requested some entertainment. A few minutes later, B and K returned with "scripts" so that they could perform me a princess play. Essentially, Rapunzel was being asked by the other princesses to let down her long hair. However, she didn't seem interested. One of the princesses even plied her with "I've got PAINT!" Maybe I missed that part in Tangled - I'm sure that's supposed to be a familiar coaxing, but it was so out-of-left-field to me, I just cracked up!
The next play involved Toot and Puddle climbing up a big white mountain of down comforter! Thank goodness Toot is a born adventurer!!
Next, I was presented with the iPad, upon which I was permitted to watch the last 25 minutes of Knocked Up. Not much of a sentimentally-inspiring movie, you'd think... but when that baby was born... I cried. Actually, I cried and cried. I used to cringe when I saw newborns and feel a sense of overwhelming stress and incomprehension when I'd see people with more than one child. These days, though, I can't look at a baby without thinking how fortunate each parent is to get to see their child grow and learn and develop. It is such a gift. I wonder how many people with easy babies can fully appreciate how wondrous the gift of a child actually is. I wonder if it's because of what we endured with K that I can feel so deeply how lucky we are now and how fantastic she is and will continue to become.
My celebration continued with us trekking out to what used to be the Forest Fair Mall. For a time, it was the Cincinnati Mall. Now, it's just a gigantic, nearly-empty shell that was once an upscale and beautiful indoor mall. We went to the Danberry Dollar Saver Cinemas to see Mirror, Mirror, which was less than stellar but decently entertaining. It was weird to see a new movie on such an old, gray screen with such a poor sound system. It was kind of like being back in the 70s. I guess that's why it's only $3/person! We took a walk around the mall, wistfully, imaginatively contemplating the hundreds of other uses that could be found for such a behemoth, and a lovely behemoth, at that. Our thought practically echoed in there without more than 20 people in the whole place to bounce off of!
Next up, Jungle Jim's! There's never a bad time for a trip to Jungle Jim's. I replenished my stock of Ginger Chews, treated myself and K to some Marzipan, and got some guava juice for us to share, as well as Green Tea to brew to use as an antiseptic in Strader's sore ears. I hope it will help. Not far off in the distance was a Chipotle, so we stopped there for dinner before heading home.
All in all, it was an entirely perfect day! It was a day all my own, without having to subordinate to any more elder mothers, and it made me feel fully-fledged! I hope I'll remember it always. But, hey, if not, that's what blogs are for :)!
When I think back to earlier days of Mothering, I recall a lot of angst, a little sleep, a heap of confusion, and a general desire to find a dark closet for some peace. But with each passing day, those days almost seem to be a manufacture of my mind rather than an actual experience. It still mystifies me how a wonderful, funny, loving child such as mine began her life with such aversion to us, such indomitable will, such an inconsolable spirit. It's like she began as one person and became another -- and, let me say -- we are THANKFUL for that, or we'd be considerably older by now... or further down into the ground than one dares to go without a coffin...
Mother's Day 2012 was a milestone. It was like turning the corner on motherhood and walking straight into Heaven! K had been talking it up for WEEKS, literally! "I can't wait 'til it's Mother's Day, Mom!," she kept saying. "When is it going to be?," she'd ask - and I didn't really know. "Well, you're going to REALLY enjoy it!!" I was sure I would. When this 7-year-old makes a promise, she makes good on it, that's for sure!B had told me on Mother's Eve that, by K's edict, I needed to remain in bed after I awoke on Sunday morning so that she could come and take my order. So, as directed, I awoke, performed a mini-toilette, and returned to bed, from whence I called down to my people to tell them to let the games begin. A few moments later, in came my girl with a piece of paper and a 2-color pen selection. She'd already written out the menu options with spaces for me to fill in my order. I was specific: French bread with an egg, cheddar cheese, and tomato, a side of cantaloupe slices, and a coffee. Down she went to deliver my request to the kitchen staff (B). When she returned, she brought the most delicious sandwich on my best and favorite places. She was followed by B, who produced the most incredible coffee, which he'd lovingly hand-poured through the Chemex! Dark, rich, fantastic and not a shred of bitterness. Now I understand the magic of the Chemex!!
The plan was that I should relax and enjoy myself as I ate my breakfast in bed, but, because I was bored, I requested some entertainment. A few minutes later, B and K returned with "scripts" so that they could perform me a princess play. Essentially, Rapunzel was being asked by the other princesses to let down her long hair. However, she didn't seem interested. One of the princesses even plied her with "I've got PAINT!" Maybe I missed that part in Tangled - I'm sure that's supposed to be a familiar coaxing, but it was so out-of-left-field to me, I just cracked up!The next play involved Toot and Puddle climbing up a big white mountain of down comforter! Thank goodness Toot is a born adventurer!!
Next, I was presented with the iPad, upon which I was permitted to watch the last 25 minutes of Knocked Up. Not much of a sentimentally-inspiring movie, you'd think... but when that baby was born... I cried. Actually, I cried and cried. I used to cringe when I saw newborns and feel a sense of overwhelming stress and incomprehension when I'd see people with more than one child. These days, though, I can't look at a baby without thinking how fortunate each parent is to get to see their child grow and learn and develop. It is such a gift. I wonder how many people with easy babies can fully appreciate how wondrous the gift of a child actually is. I wonder if it's because of what we endured with K that I can feel so deeply how lucky we are now and how fantastic she is and will continue to become.
My celebration continued with us trekking out to what used to be the Forest Fair Mall. For a time, it was the Cincinnati Mall. Now, it's just a gigantic, nearly-empty shell that was once an upscale and beautiful indoor mall. We went to the Danberry Dollar Saver Cinemas to see Mirror, Mirror, which was less than stellar but decently entertaining. It was weird to see a new movie on such an old, gray screen with such a poor sound system. It was kind of like being back in the 70s. I guess that's why it's only $3/person! We took a walk around the mall, wistfully, imaginatively contemplating the hundreds of other uses that could be found for such a behemoth, and a lovely behemoth, at that. Our thought practically echoed in there without more than 20 people in the whole place to bounce off of!
Next up, Jungle Jim's! There's never a bad time for a trip to Jungle Jim's. I replenished my stock of Ginger Chews, treated myself and K to some Marzipan, and got some guava juice for us to share, as well as Green Tea to brew to use as an antiseptic in Strader's sore ears. I hope it will help. Not far off in the distance was a Chipotle, so we stopped there for dinner before heading home.
All in all, it was an entirely perfect day! It was a day all my own, without having to subordinate to any more elder mothers, and it made me feel fully-fledged! I hope I'll remember it always. But, hey, if not, that's what blogs are for :)!
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