Tag: parenthood

A great day!

IMG_4244Happy Mothers Day to all!  

What a nice day I had today!  It got off to a slow start with a morning filled with light recovery from a festive end of season soccer party yesterday.  We had the entire team and their families for a late night filled with  laughs, drinks, good times and a few fireworks.

The morning started with the girls giving me cards and crafts made at school, all very nice and thoughtful. They included cute things on “I love you because…” and little “helping hands” of items that I can cash in for help over the year.  I think one of my favorites was the card from Madison which was a recordable card.  I did not expect to hear he little voice telling me that she loved me as I opened it.   I also got flowers and a gift card to the hair salon which will come in very handy this Wednesday when I once again will wash the gray away.

Frank got us take out from the diner for breakfast which was very tasty.  After the girls and I laid on the sofa and watched a Harry Potter movie.  IMG_4266

An extra special event of the day was Madison’s first attempt to ride her bike without training wheels.  She prepared by putting on both knee and elbow pads explaining to me that she was nervous that she may fall. She headed outside with Frank as I went to grab some shoes.  I put on some flip-flops and headed out the front door just in time to see my baby pedal by.  I could not be more proud! IMG_4273The day wrapped up with Frank cooking dinner and the girls helping with the dishes.  Not a bad day at all!  I have come to realize that it is the little things that make life exciting.  Seeing my daughter overcome her fear and conquer a training wheel free bike, a hand written card filled with love or those moments just holding my girls while watching a movie.  These are the things that are important in life and I cherish every one!

Determination and Pride

Tomorrow Megan’s soccer team is playing in a soccer tournament.  Our township is hosting this one which is nice, short ride to the field and the ability to stop home between games if we want.  The tournament itself started tonight but her team has all 3 games tomorrow.

After an awful fall with no wins a tie and the rest losses, the coach made some changes.  First he brought on an assistant to help him to work more closely with the girls in practice.  The practices are definitely more high impact and the girls are more focused.  He also pointed out something that we all saw very clearly, our little girls were in terrible shape.  They would come onto the field full of steam to play but within a few minutes were out of gas.  By the second half our girls were flat-footed to put it nicely.

Do not misunderstand me, none of us parents cared about the losses but seeing 7-8 year olds unable to play for the full-time was concerning.  Twice a week in practice they now start and finish with a half mile run for a total of 1 mile.  The first time Megan had to complete the run we had tears, lots of them!  Before she even started she told me she would never be able to finish. It was tough for me to watch, I even went out and jogged part of the last lap with her to try to get her through.

It has been 4 weeks now and the results are showing.  The team’s record is 2-1-1 and they play much stronger.  With the tournament this weekend all of the fields have been closed in preparation.  Coach wanted to make sure the girls were focused so he had them show up at the park Thursday night for a run.  When we arrived we were informed that the distance would be 2 miles.  No timers, no winners just finish and NO walking.  Wow…I will admit I was worried.  I whispered in Megan’s ear a reminder, breath, pace yourself and do not worry about what anyone else is doing or where you are in the group just stay focused and finish.

I stood with the father of another girl from the team and we watched the girls pass us, (each lap is a half mile).  After the first mile I gave her a small drink and told her how great she was doing.  After the next lap she was struggling but on ward she went.  At the end of the fourth lap the coach patted each girl on the back as they came across told them to grab a water and walk one more for cool down.  I walked with her with pride.  My baby who literally almost collapsed the first run had just completed twice the distance with no tear and told me that although her legs felt like jelly she felt great!

I will admit that at first I thought the coach was a bit rough.  He was asking too much from little kids.  Sometimes it takes events like this to remind me, although I want to protect them from every ouch, every pain, I can not wrap them in bubble wrap.  The best way to protect them is to ensure that they are strong, healthy and confident.  I don’t know what the results of the games will be but I am sure that the girls will play hard and with confidence, and in the end that is all we could ever hope.

An old friend

Early in our marriage, Frank and I  adopted a crazy little shih tzu puppy that we named Marshall.  It was probably a bad decision at the time.  We were very busy both working long hours.  Marshall spent a lot of time alone.  He had behavioral issues that we never corrected but we did love the little guy.

Marshall and Megan May 2005
Marshall and Megan May 2005

Although the dog was house broken, it was a regular occurrence to have puddles around.  Yes gross, but again, we loved the little fellow and tolerated it.  When Megan was born the dog wanted little to do with the baby which was fine with me.

Then came the day that changed everything.  I was standing in the kitchen next to a half wall that separated the family room.  Megan was in there with Marshall, she was maybe 18 months old, and I heard the scream.  I looked over to see Marshall with Meg’s arm in his mouth.  I grabbed the first thing I saw which happened to be a shoe.  He did not bite down instead only scratched her.  I am very sure that if I had not been there he would have bitten her arm.

That was his last day in our home.  We could not have an animal that we could not trust around our baby.  We also loved the dog so after a little research found a refuge that would take him.  We were very honest with the man who ran the refuge because we did not want Marshall to hurt anyone.  He committed to us that even if he could not find someone to adopt the dog, he would not put him down. To our surprise we received notification that he was adopted by an older couple whose children were grown and out of the house.

Over the years we stayed in contact with the wonderful woman who took in our little monster.  He bit her once pretty severely yet like us, there was just something about him that she loved.  She took him everywhere and loved him deeply.

The last year or so he has had several health issues.  Today we received an e-mail that Marshall passed away.  I am sad mostly for the fine woman who took him in, cared for his crazy self over the years and loved him so.  This is the last paragraph from the e-mail she sent to us today,

Marshall will be very missed by all of us.   He had a very happy life with us, full of love and fun outings and good food (some good human food too!)    My little sweetheart, my little handsome guy, go in peace to heaven, my Marshall, you are in our hearts forever.
What can you say to that?  She is a fine woman.  I am sorry for her loss and thankful that she was there to take in Marshall. He was very lucky to have her in his life!