Jan 29, 2015 | Illinois, Indiana, Travel, United States
Last weekend we took off for my eldest to audition at a college ballet program in Indianapolis. We were expecting COLD weather and snow, but somehow luck was on our side and the weather was about the same as it was here when we left – about 37 to 34 or so. (Didn’t even have to break out the new long underwear we’d bought!)
The younger ones and I toured the
Indianapolis Museum of Art while she did her audition. It was
free! We even got free parking because our art museum here has reciprocal membership. Fantastic museum and we only got to see two floors before we had to meet back with dad and Emily at Butler. It was a beautiful campus and the people are so incredibly nice. Now to wait and see if she gets in!
After Indy we drove to Chicago for a fantastic welcome weekend for prospective students at SAIC (the art institute.) She was accepted there with a pretty good scholarship, and being one of the best art schools in America we decided it was worth the time. I’m so in awe of the school! I wish they had dance also, BUT Jeoffry Ballet and Chicago Ballet are within walking distance so I think she’d be able to take some classes if she decides to go there.
Chicago was not bad as far as weather goes either and we got to walk around a bit and hit some of the top kid spots (Science Museum, Millenium Park, Lego store…)
We stayed at another
Historic Hotel, the Palmer House Hilton. We try to stay in Historic Hotels (if they have rooms large enough for the six of us) wherever we can. The prices are usually not any more than a “box” hotel and you get a totally different experience.
No matter where she chooses, it was a fun trip!
Jan 12, 2015 | Motherhood
A question I’m getting a lot these days is “What’s it like?”
Meaning: what is it really like to be a new baby mom when you’re over 40?
I am so grateful to my friends who came forward when I was pregnant with Aimee and told me “I was your age when I had my youngest.” or “I was older than you when I had mine.” They are all people I already admired as being super “cool” moms and didn’t even know that they were older than I am! Gives me hope that maybe one day I’ll be a “cool” mom! 🙂
The truth as I see it:
The Bad:
- I’m probably never going to be a size 2 again
- Being really tired (eat right and/or take vitamins!)
- Not getting
anything everything done
- Knowing I’ll be ____ years old when she’s ____.
- I have to write stuff down or I forget (EVERYTHING)
- Medical professionals will treat you like you are crazy and/or an old lady (AMA on your file) and your kids’ teachers will be old enough to be your kids too
The Good:
- I don’t care if I’m a size 2 anymore.
- I can take a nap and not feel guilty
- Dishes in the sink, laundry not done? It gets easier to accept, there will be time later
- Staying young at heart!
- Saying “no” to the extras is so much easier
- I know how to tell people what I expect and need
And THE Most IMPORTANT:
I cherish every single minute.
Jan 10, 2015 | Motherhood, Sponsored Posts
Disclosure: This is a post in a series of sponsored posts as a Brand Ambassador for the ARKANSAS BETTER BEGINNINGS program. I truly believe in their mission and everything expressed will be my own opinion! #ARBB
Last month my beautiful grandmother passed away.
At the age of 92, she had a long and beautiful life, not exempt from hardships and heartache, but mostly full of beauty and joy. At her funeral her grandchildren all had their children present, (ten from ages 9 months to 17 years.) The funeral was a beautiful way to celebrate her life, and help us mourn her loss. Her illness and passing brought up many of those hard questions that kids ask about death.
Talking to kids about death is never easy, but not as hard as we (as adults) make it out to be. Children are always smarter and stronger than we give them credit for. And let’s face it- part of being alive is knowing that we must all die one day.
When we heard how ill she was, my youngest son asked me “Mommy, do you think she will die?” I had to be honest and tell him ” I really don’t know, baby, she is very sick and fragile.” My twelve year old son, who was not in on the conversation, only knew that she was ill, and so when we heard that she had passed away he took the news much harder than his younger brother.
My own father passed away a week before I turned seven. I remember vividly him explaining his illness to me and telling me he wouldn’t be here much longer. I was sad but also relieved that he had told me the truth. I still remember feeling grateful for that. Also, I remember thinking that the adults that tip-toed around him and the topic were all crazy. I remember thinking, “Why don’t they just talk to him (and me) like they normally do? He’s dying but not dead yet.” The honesty my parents showed me as a child helped me in his passing. I mourned but was not surprised or devastated at the funeral like my cousins who had only been told that he was sick.
So how do you talk to kids about death?
- Be honest. (Use age appropriate measures but don’t make up things to pad the situation. Saying “Grandma is asleep” is not going to help.)
- Answer the questions as they come. (Don’t give out so much info your kids are overwhelmed. Answer their specific questions as they ask them.)
- Show them how you deal with pain and let them express theirs. (Cry, write down your feelings, pray, talk, cry)
- Make teachable moments. (Give honest answers for illnesses or aging etc. Use your personal beliefs on what happens after we die, the soul, God, etc. as they come along.) Read some books about death and dying together to help in understanding.
- Love and cherish them.
I was so glad we took our four children to their great-grandma’s funeral. I believe it helped them to see her life celebrated and to let them mourn her collectively. Knowing that they weren’t alone in their sorrow helps them begin to ease the pain.
Some great books to read together:
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages by Leo Buscaglia
- Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie de Paola
- I Miss You by Pat Thomas
- Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie
- What’s Heaven? by Maria Shriver
For more great information on parenting and child care please visit:
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