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By Maureen, on July 20th, 2009
My mom passed away two months ago. I have not been the same since. Not just because I lost her, but because of what I learned about my two college age sons.
The first thing they each said when I told them of her aggressive cancer diagnosis was, “How soon can I go see her”, halfway across the country. Neither had the time or money and neither gave it a second thought. They spent an entire weekend devoted to creating last memories with her, building a snowman in her front yard as she watched from inside with her oxygen and cane until she couldn’t contain herself anymore and ran out in socks to have a picture taken with them and the now famous snowman. They baked Christmas cookies and threw pieces of dough at each other until she joined in laughing. When they had to say their final good-byes, both were incredibly strong. « Continue reading »
By Jeff, on June 1st, 2009
If you’re listening, if you’re awake to the poignant beauty of the world, your heart breaks regularly. In fact, your heart is made to break; it’s purpose is to burst open again and again so that it can hold ever more wonders. -Andrew Harvey
By JoyH, on June 1st, 2009
My grand plans dissolved this morning as my 2 year old Elijah looked up and asked “Put the radio on?” I chose a college station and was pleasantly surprised by some Christian hip-hop as Eli donned his sister’s purple headband (all the better for dancing, I suppose) and proceeded to bust a move for a while with his Mama. He grinned and tackled quite a few snazzy routines, elbows flying as he smiled up at me. “I love my Mama,” he announced. It just doesn’t get any better than that. « Continue reading »
By JoyH, on May 27th, 2009
Dirty faced babies running outside in the sunshine, and all but one is mine. Oh, he’s mine on some level, same grin and orneriness, same hair… the grandbaby runs, transfixed on his Uncle Eli, all of 3 years old, copying every move, and Eli plays, alternately miffed at the intrusion of attention lost, and loving the adoration and company. It’s so much different than the life that we plan out, isn’t it? I sit poised on the edge of 40, no time to worry about wrinkles with the multitude of children, and ponder what’s gone on. But one huge difference still affects each of my days-my son. I was given a son at the age of 16. I knew nothing. I had babysat, but that is NOT the same. (Can I get an amen?) « Continue reading »
By NevillesLostToad, on April 26th, 2009
I am the mother of an Autistic child. He is four years old and after a VERY rough start, including almost losing him at birth, and 3 weeks in the NICU, we are finally starting to understand him. « Continue reading »
By Jeff, on April 21st, 2009
I felt like we had become spiders living in a web of wires and tubes. They clung to her feet and chest. They protruded from her nose, back, arms, and other uncomfortable places. It was difficult to move her or to even change her diaper. It was nearly impossible to pick her up. She was in a constant state of discomfort and pain where sleep comes in small spurts and only when weariness finally overcomes pain. « Continue reading »
By Jeff, on March 29th, 2009
Parenting Lessons from a Suffering Child: Part 1.
The news isn’t good… not good at all. My precious, innocent, two-year-old daughter’s kidneys are failing. My baby lies in the hospital bed next to me; she is terrified and in so much pain that I have to lay in the hopistal bed with her or her heart rate sets off the alarms. « Continue reading »
By Jeff, on March 29th, 2009
Parenting Lessons From a Suffering Child: Introduction.
This blog series includes parenting lessons my wife and I received from our 2-year-old daughter who suffered serious medical issues resulting in more than a years worth of surgeries and other traumas. The road we trod together was painful and life shattering but in the end, we were all changed for good! « Continue reading »
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