Fat People

Children certainly can over generalize. Christmas eve I was working on a craft with Mackenzie and having found my voice after three weeks with a cough, I was singing snippets of Christmas songs and driving Kenzie nuts. Out of the blue, as only Kenzie can do, she asked me, "Mom, why is it that fat people can sing?" Of course I had to ask what she meant by that, "because you can sing so well." I wasn't sure if I should be insulted or not. If I accepted the compliment as truth, I would also have to accept her unintended insult as the truth I know it to be. It's an odd world where it is far easier to accept insults (or even constructive criticism) as truth rather than to accept the compliments as equal truth and not shrug them off. However, out of the mouth of babes, she was just calling a spade a spade and saying it like it is.

What Christmas is All About

Our church set up a children's Christmas store three years ago. It is a big hit with the children because they can buy gifts for others on their own. It is a real sense of empowerment and an ego booster for them. Everything is marked under one dollar and no adults/parents are allowed inside of the store. Mackenzie took advantage of this the most out of the two girls and bought something every week the store was open. Both girls even wrapped gifts for other shoppers in the wrapping room. Christmas eve we had a Santa representative participate in a drama explaining that Santa reminds us of the magi who gave the baby Jesus gifts (of gold, frankencense and myrr); to encourage us to give rather than to receive. The puppet show hinted at it as well; that Christmas definately isn't about reindeer. Christmas eve while I was tucking Kenzie into bed, she lay back with her hands behind her head and said, "Mommy, I feel badly. Because I'm excited thinking about the gifts I'm going to get." I assured her that it was okay, especailly as a child, that receiving gifts is exciting and that she certainly had the idea of giving to others. She bought soemthing for everyone; regardless of whose pocket the funding came from. It's good to know that the messages we want to pass on are being absorbed even when we think no one is paying attention.

Little Helper

My amazing, not-so-little, seven year old was the leader getting ready for hosting our family Thanksgiving dinner. She got after her sister and I to hurry up and tidy the house. She set the table for ten, complete with harvest napkins wrapped around the cutlery, painted figurines for each place setting, made place cards, and helped to peel potatoes. With her help we were actaully all ready - for once - when family arrived. She gets things done when she sets her mind to it. - She also packed the car for our first camping trip this past summer.

Sometimes

Mackenzie encountered a piddle Leela had left behind in the foyer as we were rushing to get out the door to school. I said, "Daddy told me Leela had peed in the foyer. I guess he didn't clean it up." Out of the blue, Mackenzie adds, "Sometimes I wish you and Daddy would break up. He can be so annoying sometimes." I was taken aback. After some more comments exchanged by the girls, Taylor wisely said, "it would be your choice. Right, Mommy?" I told them that some people stay together for the kids. Why did I not say, but your father and I love each other? Why did I not say some people stay together because they can't afford to live on their own?

Pampered

Returning home this evening, my youngest told me she was going to read to me. She sat me in my chair, tilted me back, covered me with two blankets (one small one for my feet), dimmed the lights, rubbed my slippered feet, took my glasses, brought me juice, brought me a glass and fork bell to summon her, and read me two stories. Then my oldest wanted me to tuck her into bed. sigh. The youngest told her I was tucked in for the night. In the chair, they couldn't climb into bed with me.

Hello Again

I have been gone a long time. Well at least gone from this blogspot. My family has under gone a lot of changes and to make a long story short, my daughters now have two homes; daddy's house and mommy's house. That should be enough said. My intention for this blog is the life of my girls and their stories. Kenzie's words for this would be, "why did you and daddy get married? Because you are so different!"

I Want to Run Away Because Nobody Cares About Me

So we've come to this, have we? After too many late nights, a non-sleepover birthday party, and too hot to sleep nights, Kenzie has morphed. She became very saucy and was talking back, telling me what to do and being nasty. Who was this child and what did she do with my sweet little girl? At bath time she totally lost it, once again said she hated me and what was the point in being part of a family if she wasn't wanted. She said she was going to run away and she didn't need any extra clothes because she wanted to die. Then we'd miss her. Taylor argued with her saying she thought of running away before, but think about what she does have; a warm house, lots of toys... I'll skip some details. In the end Kenzie said she just wanted to be told I loved her and that I'd make certain Taylor didn't ruin her birthday when the time came. I told her I love her, but I hate her behaviour lately and that I couldn't promise to keep Taylor from ruining her birthday because it wasn't a promise I knew I could keep. She disappeared into her room for 5-10 minutes and came back out her old self again. She's only 7 years old. What am I in for when her brain is going through chemical changes and is 17 years old? Breathe in, breathe out. One day at a time.