Yesterday I went to two BBQS. One was a going away party for a young guy heading off to university and one was a wedding reception for a newly married, young couple. The day was outstanding weather-wise: sunny, hot, beautiful sky, slight breeze and you just felt great to be outside with friends and family.
However, both of the BBQs highlighted a running theme in my life lately. The better you are at parenting, the sooner and more successfully your children leave you and start their life on their own. It's the only job where, if you do it well, your kids will go.
I imagine I think about this a lot because I only have one child. And I always did want a girl. And I like her. Of course I love her, but I really like the person she is and is becoming.
I know, I know. I want her to leave home after school. Marry a great guy, have a wonderful career, experience motherhood and be a productive and kind adult. And I know that I will be a factor in all that, but honestly, sometimes the success you are as an adult is in spite of your upbringing. You know what I mean? She could just as easily turn out awesome in spite of me, not because of me.
I really hope and pray that we will have a fulfilling relationship when she is an adult. I am her "Mom" and I want to stay the "Mom". I hope we will find a way to be in a compatible, adult-women relationship but I still get to be her Mom.
I have six years before university and I intend to make the very most of it. I love having her with me and that we are so important to each other. Sometimes I feel silly that I feel this way, but I already told the computer-wiz that I plan to follow her wherever she moves :) What's the point of staying here if she's over there :)
Sandy
Sunday, July 30, 2006
End of Tour
Ah - the basement. This is M's half. Stuff galore. And this is my half. Stuff galore. I am the catch-all. There is a table and chairs waiting to be given to a refugee family our church is sponsoring. Some giant box that is "too special" to tear up because she's still playing in it. That table in the back is supposed to be clear at all times so I can scrapbook at a moment's notice. Dream on!!! Thanks for coming for a visit. Virginia will walk you to your car. Drop by anytime :)
Looking out the kitchen to the entry way. I hang M's artwork everywhere. I wanted to show you the bathroom floor, pretty good for an amateur. I have lugged that shower curtain to every bathroom I have had. I love it. And you can paint the walls any colour and they will always match.
The spare room is pretty plain but the bed is awesome - a guaranteed good night sleep.
And M's room - typical I guess. Yes, that's a Hilary Duff poster on the bed - we just went to her concert with my sister and niece. A great experience - 10,000 screaming pre-teens with glo-sticks!
House Tour cond't
The dining area - the best thing here is that my almost workaholic husband comes home every night for supper so we always have the evening meal together, even if he has to go back. Lots of good times and bad table manners - if only the table could talk.Hang a right into the kitchen. The two highlights: a pull-out ironing board (that was in my other house so I stole the idea :) and my under-the counter, flip-out TV screen so I can watch Oprah and Dr. Phil while
I make supper (this past year's Mother's Day gift - I love it!)
The rest of the kitchen is standard. Pumkin Orange and off-white cupboards. Looks so tidy but I haven't been home to use it in two weeks and I think hubby ate out a lot.
Our Home - a few posts, be patient :)
Welcome, Welcome...we are the most casual people so come right in and don't worry about your shoes. The house is the colour of the flesh-coloured crayon in your 64 pack crayon box. So I painted the front door gray to match the roof. Pretty difficult colour to do anything with. Things out front are a bit jazzier when there's a season to decorate - I'd like something fun to hang on the front door - I love my sparkly red Christmas wreath but my family won't let me keep it up all year - funny about that...
When you come up the stairs, you are right in the living room/dining room. We downsized from a large three-level home and this house is less that half the size. We are only three people after all. We sacrificed many bathrooms and closets for ease of cleaning which I love and a more safe and kid-oriented neighbourhood. When we first moved in, I would stand in the living room on one foot and be in the dining room in the other. It is great.
We all do all of our living here: tv, read, nap, eat, play, you can't see the piano, stare out the window. When we bought the house 4 years ago we reno'd the main floor and put hardwood floors everywhere except the kitchen and bathroom, which hubby tiled himself (the first and last time he informed me when finished).
I still can't bear to cover them up with an area rug cause I still like to look at all that money well spent :)As you can see, things flow easily into the dining area. Laptop on desk for easy access.
Christmas in July
I feel like it's Christmas in July. In fact, it's 2:00 am and I can't sleep just like Christmas Eve. I have made contact - a connection with someone. Sarah made a comment on my posting and I'm so thrilled. When I did this earlier today I didn't realize how much I wanted to "hear" from someone. But I checked all day - how stupid is that because how can anyone know that I'm out there! But someone read my post and told me so. YAH!
I am going to try and join the Tour of Homes as soon as I can figure it out. I know I'm past the date but I hope that's OK.
Is there any rule of thumb re: posting pictures of family, kids, etc? I'm such a newbie but I want to be safe.
Now maybe I'll be able to sleep!
Sandy zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I am going to try and join the Tour of Homes as soon as I can figure it out. I know I'm past the date but I hope that's OK.
Is there any rule of thumb re: posting pictures of family, kids, etc? I'm such a newbie but I want to be safe.
Now maybe I'll be able to sleep!
Sandy zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Saturday, July 29, 2006
The Summer Seven
Where to begin...
You don't know me. I had a minor meltdown when I realized that I didn't know how I was going to get everything on this blog before I exposed it to the world. Then I realized that it is a process and that over time you will get to know me and I you. So, I need not panic..I will just jump in and BLOG!
My sister and her kids are home for most of the summer. They live far away from us and we don't see them very often, only two or three times a year. So the summer is great since we always try to have extended visits - either them here or us there. Her entire family came for two weeks and then her husband had to return to work (poor thing) and she and my niece and nephew stayed on. We have been having wonderful times at the cottage, beach, hanging out at my parent's house, staying up late, chatting, venting, lamenting, eating, you know...the things that are hard to do long distance.
My nephew (T-11 yrs) is only 11 months younger than my daughter (M-12 yrs) and they are inseparable! Their giggling is heaven-sent and drives us buggy all at the same time. My niece (G-8 yrs) is four years younger than M so that makes it interesting and touchy. M is an only child and T and G are more like her siblings than cousins, which I am solidly grateful for, but it does make it hard for her, since T and G have all year to learn "how to live with a sibling" and M kind of gets thrown into it now and then. However, she and I have been using Ephesians 4:29 as our motto:
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
I even wrote it out in a couple of translations and put them on the fridge, so we could get the full picture. It seems to help. When I hear things heating up, I just yell out (from wherever I am) "4:29" and M gets the picture. You use what you've got, right?
Anyway, my sister and I now have the "Summer Seven"...the seven extra pounds we seem to put on every visit. My sister is a great cook and loves food and selection, especially when it comes to candy and chocolate. And I, her ever-willing accomplice, have been having a fabulous time with my partner in crime...much to our mother's chagrin. Hey, we are grown-ups, we accept the extra poundage - we just look at it as creating happy memories and something to do in the Fall when we are apart (taking off the poundage).
We are having a weekend break while M is spending the weekend with her Dad (I'm divorced and remarried) and my sister and her kids are having a final weekend with our parents. Then, they will come in and spend a few days with us before they head back home.
My sister and I are both so lucky that we are stay-at-home moms, thanks to our generous husbands, and that they have no problem with us visiting and talking and vacationing here and there while they go to the office (at least it is air-conditioned for them).
The kids are having an amazing time. That is so important to me since they can't see each other everyday and M misses all of them terribly when we are apart. My sister and I are having an amazing time as well, which always amazes me since we had a very difficult "siblinghood" and have worked very hard over the last 10 years to set things right.
Cheerios,
Sandy
PS I think I'm going to like this blogging. I'll try not to ramble on and sorry in advance for any spelling/grammar mistakes, etc. Hope to hear from you!
You don't know me. I had a minor meltdown when I realized that I didn't know how I was going to get everything on this blog before I exposed it to the world. Then I realized that it is a process and that over time you will get to know me and I you. So, I need not panic..I will just jump in and BLOG!
My sister and her kids are home for most of the summer. They live far away from us and we don't see them very often, only two or three times a year. So the summer is great since we always try to have extended visits - either them here or us there. Her entire family came for two weeks and then her husband had to return to work (poor thing) and she and my niece and nephew stayed on. We have been having wonderful times at the cottage, beach, hanging out at my parent's house, staying up late, chatting, venting, lamenting, eating, you know...the things that are hard to do long distance.
My nephew (T-11 yrs) is only 11 months younger than my daughter (M-12 yrs) and they are inseparable! Their giggling is heaven-sent and drives us buggy all at the same time. My niece (G-8 yrs) is four years younger than M so that makes it interesting and touchy. M is an only child and T and G are more like her siblings than cousins, which I am solidly grateful for, but it does make it hard for her, since T and G have all year to learn "how to live with a sibling" and M kind of gets thrown into it now and then. However, she and I have been using Ephesians 4:29 as our motto:
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
I even wrote it out in a couple of translations and put them on the fridge, so we could get the full picture. It seems to help. When I hear things heating up, I just yell out (from wherever I am) "4:29" and M gets the picture. You use what you've got, right?
Anyway, my sister and I now have the "Summer Seven"...the seven extra pounds we seem to put on every visit. My sister is a great cook and loves food and selection, especially when it comes to candy and chocolate. And I, her ever-willing accomplice, have been having a fabulous time with my partner in crime...much to our mother's chagrin. Hey, we are grown-ups, we accept the extra poundage - we just look at it as creating happy memories and something to do in the Fall when we are apart (taking off the poundage).
We are having a weekend break while M is spending the weekend with her Dad (I'm divorced and remarried) and my sister and her kids are having a final weekend with our parents. Then, they will come in and spend a few days with us before they head back home.
My sister and I are both so lucky that we are stay-at-home moms, thanks to our generous husbands, and that they have no problem with us visiting and talking and vacationing here and there while they go to the office (at least it is air-conditioned for them).
The kids are having an amazing time. That is so important to me since they can't see each other everyday and M misses all of them terribly when we are apart. My sister and I are having an amazing time as well, which always amazes me since we had a very difficult "siblinghood" and have worked very hard over the last 10 years to set things right.
Cheerios,
Sandy
PS I think I'm going to like this blogging. I'll try not to ramble on and sorry in advance for any spelling/grammar mistakes, etc. Hope to hear from you!
New Beginnings
I'm so excited yet I can't believe I'm doing this...my own blog! What do I have to say? Will anyone listen? My own voice to the masses...I must definitely think before I speak :) My husband is so happy - he is a complete computer wiz-kid but now he's my personal tech support...I know he will end up regretting my adventures in the blogosphere!
Boomama's "Tour of Homes" and "In The Midst Of It" have inspired me to join all of you.
Hang on while I get "a handle of it" (to quote my only girl)...I hope to be up and running soon.
Sandy
Boomama's "Tour of Homes" and "In The Midst Of It" have inspired me to join all of you.
Hang on while I get "a handle of it" (to quote my only girl)...I hope to be up and running soon.
Sandy
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