Let's Love our Neighbors

High Five for Friday—week of 08.15.11

*It is my goal that even when I kvetch, I still have an attitude of gratitude, so each Friday, I want to share at least 5 fantastical things that have happened to me!

1.  The episode of LA INK I was on aired last week and it was really good!  So grateful for the chance to share my story!

2.  Jacuzzi time to de-stress!

3.  Nap time with the kid!!!!!

4.  K telling me he loves “us”.

5.  21 days until Hawaii!

Nat Geo in the AM

Me: “whatcha doin’ back there?”

K: “Just reading my Nat Geo (for kids) wif my tongs!”

Please care about this... Please!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44021514/ns/world_news-africa/t/us-somali-children-under-dead-famine/#.TkNMJmHr80Z

The worst part of my day…

I will just come out and say it—I hate mornings.  Ok, there, I said it.  Sadly, I feel like I spend the whole morning (all 82 minutes that I am awake prior to getting in the car to head to work/school) yelling at my kid.  And I don’t like it—not one bit.

When he wakes up at the crack of dawn (AKA—before my alarm), I feel like all I do is yell at him to “Shhhhh!  Be quiet!  Mommy is going to sleep for 2 more minutes!”  If he doesn’t wake up and I have already showered, gotten dressed, done my hair and makeup and am ready to get him up and running—I feel like I am rushing him!

I want him to wake up on my timeline, hear my words the FIRST time I tell him to stop running around naked, and really, son, for the 12^th time, it’s time to brush your teeth (I know you don’t want to, but you have to!!!  No, seriously!  RIGHT NOW!  Stop playing with your train and come in here!  Are you listening to me???  HELLO!?!?!?!). 

But he doesn’t.  He likes to wake up at his leisure, sing his Good Morning song, hug me four or five or 12 times…play on the patio with his _____________ (fill in the blank with ANY toy you deem appropriate), sit at my feet while I do my hair, OR any number of OTHER things that I DON’T need him doing.

Even once the upstairs battle is over, it’s now time to get in the car/car seat!  Oy vey!  How many times can a person say, “Please climb in!  NOW Son!!!”?  How many times can a human being say the phrase, “No, you cannot bring your _______________ (again, insert toy here) to school because I don’t want someone to take it!”  And, seriously, how many times can a person say, “I am not going to ask you again!”?  But the reality is, I will ask him again, if not today, I will say the same thing tomorrow and the next day and the next day!  And by now, he knows it!

I don’t wanna be angry morning Mama!  I don’t like it, but geesh, dude, just get in the frackin’ car!!!  NOOOOOOWWWWWW!!! 

Tuesday Truth-day! August 9, 2011

My episode of LA INK is supposed to be on this Thursday… Yeah.  Never been on TV.  NEVER thought it would air.  Totally nervous.

What if it sucks?  What if they took out all the awesome stuff I said about the orphan crisis?  What if they edited out all the really cool things I said about my experience/journey to being a mom?  What if they take out the passionate things I said about my son, his country, the people there, his birth parents, my other adoptive family friends?  Oh, geesh!  There are too many what ifs.

I just have to know that the camera is gonna add 85 or 90 pounds and try to recall that MY day at the shop and getting the tattoo was so AH-MAZING that no matter what is on the air, really means nothing!  Whatever they air is on them.

He loves him some Disneyland and I love me some him!

Underfoot!

As you know, K and I have been a home, as a family, for 17 months.  By all accounts we have attached REALLY well.  My social worker has been “beyond pleased” with how we have attached to one another, he shows most of the signs for healthy attachment and my close circle of friends are amazed at how “well” he’s been doing.

But for the past 2 weeks, he has been almost physically attached to me when we are together.  He does fine when I drop him off at school.  He does fine when I leave him with my parents.  He does fine when I leave him with his Auntie.  However, when we are home, by ourselves, he is absolutely connected to me.  He won’t watch a TV show without me sitting with him.  And even then, he has to be sitting on me.  If I get up to go to the bathroom or to the kitchen, all it takes is around 10 seconds and he is right there asking, “Where did you go!  I was looking for you!”  

The other day, I was in the garage doing laundry and I couldn’t hear him calling me until he was in a complete meltdown screaming for me.  I run in to see if he is hurt and he is a blubbering mess asking me where I went!  He kept saying, “I was looking for you and I couldn’t find you!!!”  I know that this is still part of some abandonment issues that he’s working out (heck, let’s face it, most of us have abandonment issues and we weren’t, at one time, orphans!).  I also know that this is when I should have the most patience with him… but, sometimes, it drives me crazy and annoys the HECK outta me!!!  *Did I mention that it irritates me?

I would LOVE to be able to go to the bathroom without him coming in and sitting at my feet waiting for me.  I would love to be able to return a phone call in the evening without him coming in crying, saying, “I thought you left!”  I would love to cook dinner for us without him following me around the kitchen with his black stool (that I always trip over at least 5 times).  It’s usually at that point that I get (beyond) frustrated with him… but it isn’t his fault and I know it!  I know that this is the time when I need to exercise my patience even more with him.  And 92% of the time, I do… *Still doesn’t mean that I don’t get angry that other 8% of the time!!!

Yet, I love him and this is who he is.  I love every aspect of this amazing person whom I call my son!  I adore that he is loving.  I appreciate his love for life.  I, not only love him, I really like who he is.  So…I will continue to repeat that “Mommy ALWAYS comes back for K” and reassure him that I am not going anywhere.  And continue to repeat, “Mommy loves you FOREVER!”

Just Don't Do It!

Don’t take a good woman for granted. Someday someone will come along and appreciate what you didn’t. - Alora De La Vara

Problems!!!

“If you don’t make mistakes, you’re not working on hard enough problems. And that’s a big mistake.” Frank Wilczek

Monday... Oh Goodie!

Happy August.  Happy Monday!

530 AM—kicked in the crotch by my 3.5 year old as he rolled over.

538 AM—kicked in the nose by my 3.5 year old as he rolled over.

732 AM—verbally accosted by homeless man because I bought him the wrong kind of “naked” juice from Starbucks.

1115 AM—trip to Walmart.  This speaks for itself.  Oi!

1207 PM—trapped on Tustin Avenue as a high speed chase zoomed by.  Initially, I was just going to go off about jerks street racing and then I saw the plethora of cop cars…

112 PM—3^rd computer re-boot for the day! 

All friggin’ day—high humidity! 

Oh goodie—what else can happen today!

Yay for August!  Yay for Monday!

Waitin... Cracked me up!!!

A friend shared this with me… I cracked up!!!  Even if you aren’t a “Christian”… C’mon, you know it’s kinda funny!
“For all you single ladies, a quick Bible Lesson. Ruth patiently waited for her mate, Boaz. While waiting on your Boaz, don’t settle for ANY of his relatives: Brokeaz, Poaz, Lyinaz, Cheatinaz, Dumbaz, Fakeaz, Cheapaz, Goodfornothinaz, Lazyaz, or Marriedaz! And especially his third cousin Beatinyoaz. Please…wait on your Boaz”