Thoughts From Mom...

For My Son...

It’s scary and I’m new at this but my son smiles as he looks at me and tells me everything will be okay.  My mind takes a road trip to a place affectionately known as yesterday. I flip through my files of milestones and memories and I wonder as I return his smile if I’ve done enough. Did I teach him everything a mom should teach her son? Did I model what is right? I didn’t get down on my knees each night and pray like I did with my parents as a child but I prayed a lot and mostly when he didn’t know a prayer was being said. Was I wrong to hold a grudge (or maybe 10) against those who hurt him along his path from childhood to “almost” manhood? He tells me not to hold grudges because that’s not what God wants us to do. He’s right yet I can’t help it sometimes, most recently with a teacher. I’m an educator so I KNOW I shouldn’t hold a grudge against a teacher, but I do. I also truly treasure some of them for the way they have shown him kindness and because they truly care about HIM, not just his test scores.  I feel selfish as I think about the day that he will play his final baseball game because I don’t want that day to come but every player has a “last game.”  Will I be strong enough the day he hangs up his cleats for the last time? I bought him his first pair of cleats for T-Ball at the age of 3. He didn’t know they were soccer cleats. He was just happy to have “cleats.”

I’m just a mom of a boy who is slowly becoming a man, embarking on his senior year in high school. I know it will go fast just like the last 17 years of his life and then I’ll have to hit the “repeat” button and do this all over again with his little brother (sigh). I want to freeze time and make sure that I’ve done everything that I’m supposed to do for him, that I’ve taught him everything I was supposed to teach him. I want to sit his 6’2” body in my lap again and read to him and laugh with him just the way we used to do. All I’ve ever wanted is for him to be happy and to know that no matter what, I’m always here for him. I think about that for a minute and then I realize that perhaps it works both ways because he is always here for me, too. Ultimately, the greatest gift you can give your children besides unconditional love is a pair of wings to fly.

Son,

Please don’t ever forget where your nest is and about those grudges…let me know if anyone ruffles your feathers. 

Love,

 Mom 

Always Stop at the Lemonade Stand (Part 2)

Always Stop at the Lemonade Stand (Part 2)

There are many things that I hope my boys will remember when they grow up and become parents. One of them is our unofficial house rule “Always stop at the lemonade stand.”  We always stop and buy a cup or more of lemonade whenever we see a lemonade stand. In fact, I keep a “lemonade fund” in my car just for that purpose.  The boys will now tell me if they spot a lemonade stand on the side of the road because they want to stop. They “get” it. You see, I’ve never been disappointed when walking away from a lemonade stand and I certainly enjoyed my own lemonade stands when I was a young child. In order to have a lemonade stand, you must be willing to talk to someone you don’t know and that takes some guts. You also have to be willing to do some work. When customers arrive, you must practice very important life skills, looking them in the eye and having a two way conversation with them. The conversation is always friendly and most often I spot an adult off to the side beaming with pride as their young entrepreneur sells me a cup of lemonade.  You might be thinking that the lemonade doesn’t taste very good and quite frankly, most often that is true. If that is the reason you are stopping, then you are missing so much in life. I don’t stop for the lemonade. I stop for that warm fuzzy feeling I get inside whenever I go to a lemonade stand. I stop for the smiles and the giggles. I stop for the conversation because kids have some great things to say if we listen to them. I stop because like the young entrepreneur, I have hope in our future. I believe in working hard to earn money.  Every time I walk away from a lemonade stand, I feel good and I have a smile on my face because I know that this great tradition continues. I celebrate because I conversed with a child who chose to run a business and interact with strangers face to face over playing video games inside on their own. I also reminisce about the good ole days when I used to have my own lemonade stands with my friends and one day, I’d like to get back together with them on the side of the road with a sign that says

“Free Lemonade for Everyone. Thanks for the Memories!”

The Player

The Player

Patiently he sits awaiting the call

All he wants is a chance to play ball

He warms up the players before each game

Then enters the dugout to search for his name

He’s not starting or playing today

He slowly looks down then walks away

I watch his face as he turns around

Many good seats are sure to be found

He sits there quietly on the bench

He doesn’t complain or even flinch

He cheers on his teammates as they come off the field

Fist bumps, high fives, as he wears his brave shield

He sits back down and watches the game

Waiting and hoping to hear his name

He’s just a boy awaiting the call

He’s just a boy ready to play ball

What's Up With the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame

What’s Up With the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame

(Sung to You Give Love a Bad Name)

because everyone KNOWS that Bon Jovi SHOULD BE in The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame!

Shot through the heart and you’re to blame.

What’s up with The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame?

Our lyrics file has a story to tell

Prayer, Bad Medicine, they should ring a bell.

All our fans wonder what you don’t see.

They feel our passion, yet we can’t break free.

Oh, oh, you’re loads of fun!

Oh, oh, why yes that’s a pun!

No one can stop us.

Our work is not done.

Shot through the heart and you’re to blame.

What’s up with the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame?

We play our concerts

And you play your game.

What’s up with the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame?

What’s up with the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame?

Amazing smiles as we look in the pits.

The crowd sings along, as we play our hits.

A Rock band’s dream, you again deny.

You can’t bring us down cause our limit’s the sky!

Oh, oh, we still have fun!

Oh, oh, we’re still number one!

No one can stop us.

Our work is not done!

What’s up with the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame?
(Whoa) Rock N Roll (Hall of Fame)
(Whoa) Rock N Roll (Hall of Fame)…

The Old School Teacher

The "Old School" Teacher

What good is teaching if it’s just for you?

Don’t you know I sit and have no clue?

You’re boring, scary, and I know you don’t care.

Oh, and did I mention, you don’t grade fair?

You’re proud of the years under your belt.

Too bad you’ve no clue how I’ve felt.

“Old school” is out but it seems you forget.

You talk 90 minutes and make us all fret.

How can you look in the mirror each day

knowing your damaging kids for pay?

I want to bust out of my skin and scream

SHUT UP!!… but that would be a little extreme.

You get away with less than world class.

Nobody likes when you’re sarcastic and crass.

Too bad you don’t care if or how I learn.

I can’t believe you are so stoic and stern.

If just for once you could see through my eyes.

You might understand and be quite surprised!

Then maybe just maybe you’d plan and prepare

engaging lessons that show us you care.

Piece by Peace

Piece by Peace

Moving the pieces, insisting they fit

That’s what happens until you admit

These pieces don’t work like the others do

My child has autism. He’s among the few.

Piece by piece, the puzzle takes shape

Though unlike others, there is no escape

Why can’t they see how it makes us feel?

Why can’t they see that this is real?

I weep for the ones who don’t understand

And those who are scared to lend a hand

For the meek who look the other way

or the ones who just smile and bid you good day

Social situations are like tropical storms

Their differences are noted and not the norms

             If only everyone had the heart of my child

We would find peace as we reconciled.

A friend is all he hopes to find

One who is loyal and one who is kind

Someone who’ll help the loneliness cease

A friend who builds friendships piece by peace.

What I've learned from my students...

What I’ve learned from my students…

1.       Laughter should be part of your daily routine.

2.       Words Matter  - Choose them carefully.

3.       If you make a mistake, correct it. Everyone makes mistakes!

4.       Always keep your imagination alive. ALWAYS!

5.       Believing in yourself is what makes a dream become a reality.

6.       A smile really is priceless. :)

7.       Celebrate successes, even the little ones

8.       Help others when they need it and accept help when you need it.

9.       If you have a strong bond, it will never be broken. Ever!

10.    Precious moments become treasured memories much too soon.

11.   Every child HAS a gift and every child IS a gift.

12.   Never, ever, judge a book by its cover. Always READ the book from beginning to end…

13.   Work hard and play hard but never stop doing either one.

14.   Children will only fail if you let them.

15.   I still have a lot to learn…