Before I leave to pick up Amelia and Ezra a couple of mornings a week while their mom goes to the gym, I have learned to close my bedroom doors and latch the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs. Little Ezra is quick and he is quiet. Once he’s inside, he usually goes …
Sleep’s Daily Miracle
“Bye bye,” repeated Ezra, waving to everyone in the room. He wasn’t leaving. He was ready for his nap. At only sixteen months, he’s adept at communicating. When he is hungry, he repeats, “Nak nak,” or he goes to the pantry and begins bringing out whatever he can reach. When he’s ready to play outside, …
Forever Changed
Ezra is one of those rare and wonderful children, at least in my experience, who can still nap after age one without ruining bedtime. He enjoys his nap time and will tell you when he’s ready for bed. He points to his room and says bye bye to everyone. Even at my house, we have …
Temporary Shelters
A blanket fort still stands in my bonus room turned playroom. I am amazed it has lasted this long with four very active under fives coming and going but the weather has been quite nice lately so we have spent much of our time together outdoors. It only took a few throw pillows, a quilt, …
Say I Love You
“You didn’t say I love you,” Amelia said, genuine concern in her voice and in her eyes. This was the second time she had chided me in front of her mom for failing to say I love you before ending a phone call. We were on the front porch for Amelia and Ezra to play …
Coming To An End
“Do we get to have another sleepover?” Amelia asked as I tugged her pajama shirt over her head. “For sure, we will have lots more sleepovers!” I replied, misunderstanding her question. The kids and I had packed up what probably looked like half of what we own to bring the cousins to Great Wolf Lodge …
Mutually Encouraged
My daughter and I know better. When she visits and her boys are in bed, we should not be far behind them. She needs more sleep than she tends to get and so do I. I am able to buy her a little time in the mornings, but her boys will be up with first …
Hand and Feet Washing
My kids are quick studies. They know when bringing their kids to the grandparents, never dress them in good clothes. Play clothes, mismatched odds and ends or soon to be outgrown and already stained, are preferable. Of course I try to be conscientious. I’ll run a load of laundry once the grandkids are in bed …
I Look Like Jesus
Golf ran into dinner time which collided with bedtime. If you have toddlers in your life, you know those acid hours can turn ugly in a skinny minute. No amount of consoling or cajoling can interrupt the meltdown once it starts and forget sleep coming easily afterwards. My son messaged his wife saying he had …
What’s Really In My Heart?
I’ve noticed Amelia repeating herself lately and it occurred to me that she mostly does this when she has something she wants to say but she doesn’t feel she has my attention. She begins a sentence and you might think she is struggling with processing as she repeats the first phrase multiple times before continuing …
A Fitting Reply 