The rest of the story!

Life has been very busy here in the Little Bear household.
There have been business trips taken by both Appa and me, preparation for a trip to visit family in San Fransciso over the Memorial Day weekend, the actual long trip and the return trip followed by the Little Bear coming down with a stubborn viral infection.

The toys are untouched, the books unread and the stuffed animals ignored while the entire house focuses on Little Bear. He has a fever and a sore throat. His appetite seems to be coming back but the sore throat hinders the swallowing which makes him really whiny, clingy and fussy. Where did my easy-going baby go? We are still trying to figure out what exactly to feed him - milkshakes or puddings or bread. The only thing that he actually wants (Thank God for that!) is apples. Is there a cookbook with comfort food recipes to feed kids when they get sick?

When the fever goes down, Little Bear is a joy to be around. he runs around, jumps down from the couch, drags his friend the 'Swiffer' around the kitchen and living room and tells me that he wants to go the school that firemen go to...Yes! he has declared that he has no interest in going to the Montesori where we enrolled him for this fall. He only wants to go to the fireman school because that's what he wants to become - A fireman. Plus 'Barney' says that you should exercise and lift weights to be healthy and become a fireman ..'So, can I get your weights from the garage to lift...?' he pleads. I look at him and with a straight face say that you can lift weights tomorrow when your fever is gone..How about you eat some 'dal' now? 'Barney also says that you should eat vegetables and healthy food to become a fireman' I remind him..(Ok! I made that up but are not white lies every parent's secret weapon?)

We hope Little Bear feels better soon. Well meaning friends tell us that it is a good thing when kids get sick because thats how their immune system get strong...This makes logical sense but its really hard to see him unwell. There is also a soft nagging voice telling me to be strong because the worst is yet to come - as he grows up, there will be plenty of fevers and sniffles, doctor's visits, medicines and tears. At times like this I turn to the Serenity prayer ..

'God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.'

Lucky to be a Mom!

Last Sunday was Mother's Day - a day that is celebrated to honor one's mom and also give her a little break from the everyday mundane motherly duties...I normally don't care for the other Hallmark days such as Valentine's Day and Sweetest Day but I think Mother's Day is a much deserved day for all mothers..
This year Mother's Day turned into a Mother's fun weekend with little or no time spent with DH and Little Bear. I spent Saturday with some close dear friends who are also moms indulging in some much needed, super-effective retail therapy followed by a sumptuos meal and gossip. Meanwhile DH fed and bathed the Little Bear, put him down for a nap and then took him to a birthday party...Seriously, the man definitely is a keeper. I returned home to find roses sitting in a vase on the kitchen island, with a box of expensive choclate and a card signed by Little Bear ...I could almost picture DH coaxing the boy to hold the pen, so he could help him sign his name, amidst protests that he wanted to do it 'himself' (which by-the-way is the matra in our house at the moment)..There were also some finger prints of his little hands on the side ..

On Sunday, we went out to breakfast and then proceeded to tackle all the weekend chores...Every hour or so, I was cheerily greeted by Little Bear with a Happy Mother's Day ..

DH has always been very creative in his gifts for Mother's Day. 2 years ago on my first Mother's Day he gave me a picture frame with Little Bear's picture and the poem 'What is a Boy'..The picture hangs in our bedroom reminding me of that first year as a mother when I was full of doubts and did not know what to expect ...is this a Thankless job I found myself often asking? that first year I was so tired all the time from lack of sleep and trying to juggle the rest of what had been my life with taking care of Little Bear that I had not thought much of Mother's Day ..

This year, however I have the energy and perspective to really understand what Mother's Day really is.. There would be no DAY if I was not chosen to be a mother..so Little Bear, Thank You for being my son and DH, thank you for being there to help me on this motherhood journey

A friend sent this to me a long time ago ..

A newborn's conversation with God. .

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy." Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to Me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you to understand."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am To leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, "You will simply call her, "Mom."