Word to My Mother

The best thing my Mother did was read to me.

Rain or shine, tired or not tired, my Mother read to us every single night. This is especially amazing considering she grew up in a home with a single Mother who NEVER read to her because she always worked the night shift. My Mom made a promise to herself that life would be different for her kids and she kept that promise.

We were mostly middle class, bordering on poor growing up, but that did not stop us from frequenting the Monrovia Public Library. And poor or not, on Book Fair Day at school, we got to pick out a new book marker and a couple of books. I loved that! Our home bookshelves were always brimming with treasures. And, at Christmas time, you could be assured a few classics in your stocking.

I love reading to my kids. It is probably the most consistently nice thing I do. It is my favorite moment of the day. I love to create voices that transcend the grumpy end-of-the-day Mom into a happy one. I love children's books.... you can't get any better than Frog and Toad,  Magic Treehouse, or Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus... they are fabulous.

I also love my children. I am thankful to pass on my love for books to them. Emma and Shailey are superb readers and Jonas is not far behind. Jonas' teacher at school told me that for as wiggly as he is, he can sure sit still during story time... she said he gets so engrossed in the story that he does not move... amazing.

I am thankful to be a mother. I am thankful for a Mother who loved reading to me and 36 years later, still does! Thank you Mom and Happy Mother's Day.

PS, thank you to my sweet husband who, all on his own, captured this candid reading moment on film. That is the best Mother's Day present you could have given me. I love you.

Mothers Need Validation

Okay so being a mother is hard and being the mother of a pre-teen is even harder. Sometimes your daughter loves you and thinks you are the best thing since sliced bread and other times she is in your face yelling at you all the reasons why you are horrible. And then you go to bed at night and review your interactions with said daughter to the point you start feeling guilty and you know you can do better and be more patient and cool and awesome and just plain old amazing, and after all of this pep talk you realize you only have a few more years with this child and your heart aches.

Does this make sense? It does if you have a pre-teen/teenager.

This morning I was still feeling the blues of "I am not a good mother" when I came across these pictures. A few weeks ago, I signed up to be a helper at Shailey's school field trip to the Parasite Museum (yes, this is a real place). That day, I started to clean my messy kitchen and then thought to myself, "you know, today it is St. Patrick's day, wouldn't it be fun to take green cupcakes to Shailey and her friends on the field trip?" So I stopped cleaning and started baking. The cleaning did not get done until the next day, but you know what.... it was worth it. I made Shailey's day and she was so thankful. She told me I am the coolest Mom in the world. For that moment, I felt like a mother who put her priorities right.

Today I needed this "self" validation. A mother's job is tricky business.

My mother once told me that it tears your guts out to think of your child ever leaving you... and then they become a teenager. She thinks this all part of God's plan to make it easier to let go. Hmmmm something to think about :).

Charlie's Angels

When I was a young girl in the 1970's, my sister Trisha and I were HUGE Charlie's Angels fans.... tough, smart, gorgeous detective girls, what's not to love? Afterall, we were the children of a new generation of women. I loved Kelly, she loved Chris, and whenever we played, those were our stage names. I cannot tell you how many times I begged my Mom to pllllllleeeeeeaaaaaaassssssseeeeee let me get my hair cut like Jacklyn Smith (Kelly). Nope. No amount of pleading got her to cut my long, stringy down-to-my-waist hair... that was my one true beauty.

However, 30 years later, I had a hair appointment with Nobu of Zooto. I went in as Tracey, but came out as.....

A CHARLIE'S ANGEL!

Don't worry Bosley, I've got your back!

(ps, this was not my intention to have Charlie's Angels hair....)

Melt My Butter

We had Jonas' girlfriend Charley stay with us for a few days while her Mommy was in the hospital. Charley commented on how "untidy" Jonas' room was. She told me she makes her bed everyday. I told her, "Charley, do you know my kids NEVER make their beds... in fact, I don't even think they know how to make a bed!!" She was completely shocked (Hiromi, you are a better mother than I).

After picking up the kids from school, I was cooking dinner and Jonas came in and said, "Mom, Mom, you have to come here RIGHT NOW!" I asked him if I could come later because I was busy getting dinner ready. He insisted I come right that minute so I did ("cat's in the cradle with the silver spoon".... gets me teary every time).

He lead me into his room with a big TA-DAH! and shouted "See, I DO KNOW HOW TO MAKE MY BED and I even made both beds!" Ooooh, I covered his sweet little face with furry purry kisses. He knows exactly how to melt his Mom's butter. :)

Emma Makes a Splash with Nikon

It was a gorgeous day for a modeling shoot.... a gorgeous studio with a gorgeous pool.

Emma read her Magic Treehouse book while the hairdresser got her ready. The crew put on their matching Crocs to keep the studio "dirt free"The weather was chilly, but the "instant warmers" they put into Emma's pockets and hands, kept her cozy.
Her day got even better when the model dogs arrived on set, Mama Tee and Lala.Emma thought she would bust when the dog trainer taught her how to make the dogs do tricks and give them treats.
She enjoyed the costume changes and more pampering from the studio stylist.

The teenage model, Sasha was super nice and friendly.

Yes, life was just about perfect...until.....

THE SPLASH!!!!!!!

Emma could not resist the tempting pool in the middle of the set, so when she got a little too close in her slippery shoes.... in she went, shoes and all!!!

She refused to let me take her picture in her wet clothes. Instead, she wanted to quickly slip back into her own clothes, but there was one small problem... no dry underwear.
So she had to get dressed SANS underwear.

One of the set helpers diligently held Emma's underwear on hangers in front of a space heater until they dried.

Yes, Emma made a splash with Nikon that day. But she also made a splash with me... look at these great shots I got of her that day :). I love my little Bemma.