Tuesday Teachings

I remembered! Aren't you all proud???

Today's "lesson" is more of a plea than a lesson... but it is very heartfelt.

Brody,

Please stop beating mommy up. It hurts when you pull my hair, or kick my belly, or chew on my toes. (Sidenote: Yes, he LOVES my toes... won't touch Matt's, but at least 4-5 times a day, he tries to munch on my toes- and please don't tell me it's cute, cause I'll send him to your house to munch on yours!!!) It also hurts when you poke out my eyes and jump on my bladder. Truly child, I know that you are going through a mommy phase, but mommy needs a break. Just a day or two to let the bruises heal. Can we work something out?

Still loving you (even though you beat me up!)
Mama

Tuesday Teachings

I got nothin'. I'm done warn out, and my brain ain't working. So again, you get short and sweet. In honor of the best man winning... (If you haven't been watching- Terry is quite simply, amazing. I can't imagine what it's been like to try to follow this dream, but it is finally coming true. He says he once had a performance, and only one person showed up- but he didn't give up. WOW. He deserves everything coming his way tonight!)

Brody,

Never give up on your dreams.

Love,
MaMa

Tuesday Teachings

Brody is 10 months old today. Can I just take a second to ask how the heck that happened??? I mean seriously! I know I say this often, but it still marvels me how time can fly and yet seem to stand still all at the same time. Dashing our hopes that his first meaningful word would be mama or dada, it seems that the cat is who Brody loves most. So cat is the first official word. Who would have thought? =) But I guess the good news is that he is putting meaning to sounds- so I can't really complain... much. I know one day I'll wonder why I ever wanted him to learn to say mama (you know those days when that's the only word the kid will say?) But for right now, it would make my heart melt.

But since the boy just woke up... I better hurry up, so here's today's lesson.

Brody,

Don't ever wish that time will pass you by. Enjoy each day for what it is, and take the time to realize that every day is special and that the journey is just as important (sometimes more so) than the destination.

I love you!
Mama

Tuesday Teachings

Oh goodness.... I have nothing planned for today. So I guess I'll be pulling from today's top headline...

Brody,

Please don't do drugs. Drugs are bad. Despite some recent evidence to the contrary, drugs will not make you successful or happy. Don't be like him. Winning things doesn't matter if you can't say that you did so fairly... dignity is so much more important.

Love,
MaMa

Tuesday Teachings

This is the post that I had originally planned for last week, before more pressing matters came to light. =) For those of you who read Baby Making 201... I'm sorry for my quick departure. I will probably go back to it sometime soon- definitely sooner than I had originally planned. I just kinda had a breakdown and needed to step away for a little while. When I return, I don't think it will be password protected anymore... but that remains to be seen.

But anyway... today's "lesson" is one that Matt thinks Brody needs to learn soon- and hopefully without feeling its effects full force.

Brody,

You are now nine months old, and you LOVE to explore. Unfortunately, sometimes exploring means climbing, or begging mommy or daddy to pick you up and let you sit with us on chairs or couches. And we think it's sweet- because we think you want to cuddle. Until it becomes completely apparent, that all you really want is to be able to dive off the other side.

So I think it's time you learn about gravity. Really- it's a good thing. Gravity is what keeps us from floating away into space. So you see, it is quite a necessary thing. But gravity also means that if you dive head first off the back of a chair, you're going to make a big boom. A big boom that will scare both you and mommy and daddy. It could even require a trip to the doctor. And that doesn't sound like much fun.

So for now- how about we keep our feet planted on the ground? Because unless you sprout wings (which would be REALLY COOL!) it's going to hurt when you fall.

Love,
Mama

Tuesday Teachings

I wrote a letter to Brody, but I think I'm going to save it for next week... instead, I will address something more on my mind today.

Brody,

Sometimes things won't immediately go your way. Sometimes it will take time for solutions to come to you, and sometimes you'll have to listen to someone else's ideas. But until all options have been exhausted, please don't give up. Please don't assume something is impossible because answers don't immediately come to you. Yes, sometimes things won't happen as you want them to. Sometimes things will be difficult to come by. But don't give up unless you have exhausted all possibilities, and PLEASE be willing to see that sometimes you can get what you want, but you may have to compromise on how you get there. But that's ok. And it's not worth getting upset about.

Basically- please try to be an optimist. Pessimism wastes so much energy... it's just not worth it!

Love,
Mama

Tuesday Teachings (Wednesday Edition)

Because I suck, I'm a day late.... and now, because I'm in a rush, I can't think of anything good.... so I guess we'll keep it short & sweet...

Brody,

Don't procrastinate like your mama does!

Love,
Mama

Tuesday Teachings

Tuesday Teachings sounds so preachy.. I'm thinking about Tuesday's With Mom, but it loses the alliteration then... any suggestions?

But I digress...

Brody,

I thought about doing a really long, drawn out post about this, and how you should take responsibility for your own actions instead of letting a friend take the fall... but MeMa feels sorry for you and thinks that I'm making you sound like a very bad baby... which in fact you are not... you are just having a few issues right now... like growing, and teething, and a mommy who isn't too fond of you beating her up. Which are all combining to make you a very grumpy little boy some days. (Like yesterday, and today) And she says I just need to take you on more walks... except that on days like yesterday (and today) when I attempt to put you in the stroller, you throw quite the mighty fit and aren't so thrilled with the walking... unless of course there are cars driving by which is quite magical to you. And unless of course it is over 100 degrees outside, because you turn into a child I don't recognize when you get too hot.

So here's today's lesson... while you are certainly a wonderful little boy, and while I definitely need to focus on that when you are screaming for hours on end.... no matter how good intentioned we are, mommy's are not always right. But we always love you, and we always try to do what's best for you... and for awhile now, I will definitely know more than you, so we'll follow what mommy decides, k? (Like when she says that cat food is for cats, not babies, and that it is much better in the bowl than all over the floor...) But I promise that eventually, you will grow up into a wonderful man, and mommy will let you make your own decisions- and she will be happy as long as you are happy...

But she won't be happy if you let your friends take the fall for your boneheaded decisions that turned out badly. K? K.

Love,
MaMa (and if you could get around to learning how to say that, I'd be VERY happy!)

Tuesday Teachings (Wednesday Edition)

As my mother puts it... I'm slacking- so sorry Brody. But I think this one was worth the extra day, so here ya go...

Brody,

People who spout hate in the name of God, are not Christian. Beware of these people. Ann Coulter is their leader. The woman makes fun of a kid dying? Says that she wishes someone was killed by terrorists? THIS is not Christian. This isn't even human.

If there is one thing that I wish you to learn in your life, it is to live your life without judgement of others. All people are worthy of love- regardless of religion, sexuality, race, nationality, or political party. Even Ann Coulter... just please don't be like her, mmmkay?

Love,
Mommy

Tuesday Teachings

(posted from beautiful Santa Barbara... check back soon for updates on the fun Brody and I are having while daddy is stuck at work... ok, so daddy has had some good times too!)

Ok, so I'm kinda on my own personal journey lately- and have been thinking a lot about the lessons and things that I want to teach my son. Some of these will be short and simple (and most likely happen on weeks when I'm busy or lazy), some will probably be exposes of my interpretation of things happening in the world... A discussion if you will. I am going to attempt to keep things of the positive nature, but I have to admit, there may be a few... "Don't do this" kind of posts. Some will be serious, some will be funny... So here is today's... in honor of father's day being this week, this one was at Matt's request.

Brody,

Dinosaurs roamed the earth a long time ago. They became extinct, but we still find their bones buried underground. The earliest dinosaurs lived about 230 million years ago and became extinct about 65 million years ago. There are many myths about dinosaurs, including whether or not they ever existed- please don't believe them. Science is a wonderful thing that can teach us a lot, and can prove many things with absolute certainty- this is one of them.

Love,

Mommy (& Daddy)