Reflection

I have heard it said before, from other, much wiser, much more experienced mothers, that when your children are around the age of 2, most of the so-called discipline, will seem to have hardly any effect. The important thing, for us parents of young 2 year old children to keep in mind, is to be persevering, persistent, and consistent. Eventually, the words, behaviors, and actions we try to teach and model for our kids will begin to take root in them. The reason I reflect on this is because my son Dominic is just over two now (26 months). There are definitely days that I wonder if I am making any progress in the discipline department! I want the best for my children because I love them, and I believe that in loving them , I am called to teach them how to lead moral, God-centered lives. This is all a part of discipline, which is all a part of parenting, I believe. It is a scary thing to think, though, as I am still working out my own major quirks! Thankfully, God is the ultimate teacher and protector, and it seems that He takes up, where I fall short. I believe that one of the greatest things that I can do for my children, is to teach them about God, and by my example, show them how He wants us to live, and love. Simple in thought, but not so much in action! It is so humbling to think that God made me the mother of two of His most precious possessions. It is such an enormous and important responsibility, and the most precious gift I could ever imagine.

Cute stories

I wanted to share a couple of cute stories about my son Dominic. He is two years old and, I have to say, this is such a fun age! He is learning to talk and do so many things that I never even saw coming. It is amazing to think about all the thoughts that must be going through his head! During the winter season, Dominic took a liking to the game of hockey. Peter played every Tuesday evening, and we would go to watch the games once in a while. Dominic loved it! He loved it so much that he had to play hockey all the time. There were seriously days that we would play hockey for the ENTIRE time! He would use the yellow hockey stick (a plastic golf club in actuality), and insist on my using the red one. Then he would tell me to get his winter hat (specifically the blue one with the little chin strap), because that was his hockey helmet, just like papa's! The best part though, is when he would top the uniform off with two plastic bowls that he would put his feet in, and skate around the house with, since naturally, they were his "gates" (which is the way the word "skates" sounds when Dominic says it). This was our routine every morning after breakfast, for almost the entire hockey season!
Dominic had already learned to make a very clear sign of the cross on himself when we said prayers, by the time he was 15 months. One day I heard him splashing around in the bathroom, and knew exactly what he had gotten into. Sure enough, there he was, playing in the toilet water. The second he noticed my presence he looked up at me, startled, and immediately dipped his hand in the water and made the sign of the cross, just like we do at church!
When Dominic was around one and a half, Dominic, Stella, Peter, and I were all in the car doing some errands. It had been a long day, and so we thought the kids may like a break from the car. We stopped in the parking lot of Christ the King (the parish we belong to), to get out and stretch our legs and give the kids a snack. As Peter was getting Dominic out of his car seat, Dominic kept saying "Chees, Chees". Peter, of course thought he was saying that he wanted cheese, so he gave him some cheese. But clearly, that was not it. "Chees, Chees", Dominic repeated more emphatically now. Peter tried giving him juice, but that didn't work either. Finally he realized that Dominic was saying Jesus! "Do you want to go in to see Jesus?" Peter asked. With a huge, and satisfied smile on his face, Dominic pointed at the church and said, "Yes, Chees"!
Just yesterday, the kids and I were in the car, backing out of our drive way, to meet Peter at Mass. A month ago we bought a van, because our little Taurus was pretty much maxed out with the two car seats. Dominic loves the van and still calls it "new car". I was doing a terrible job backing out of the garage, trying not to hit the Taurus, which was still in our driveway. I had to stomp on the bakes quickly to avoid it, but the stroller in the trunk slammed against the door and made it sound like I had hit the car. I got out to assess any damage (there was none!), and when I got back in, Dominic, who's words have a tendency to be unclear at times, said , "Bonk new car! Bonk new car (he laughs)! Mama bonk new car (throws his head back in laughter)!" Then of course, his words were as clear as day!

Parenting

It just hit me, that my 13 month old daughter Stella has not nursed in a few days! This realization honestly makes me really sad. I decided to wean her at about one year, because both of us would always seem agitated during the nursing sessions. Nursing was never really such a huge comfort for her, as it was for my son Dominic. She would go through stages, but most of the time, towards the end of her first year, she would kick and bite and squirm for pretty much the entire time we were nursing! Every nursing session was becoming really overwhelming for me, and it didn't seem to be comforting her all that much. Weaning was a decision that I would always desperately come to at the end of each exhausting nursing session, but then I would give in the next time she asked for it, because I never wanted to force the weaning. My son Dominic nursed until he was about 22 months, and when he weaned, it was a very easy adjustment for him, and me, although, it still made me sad to have that part of our relationship come to a close. With Stella, however, I had to finally decide to just wean her. Luckily, she was never as dependent on it as Dominic, so it ended up being the best choice for both her and me. It has also given Peter the chance to be able to put her to bed in a much more relaxed fashion. I think because of this too, they are growing closer to each other.
Sometimes I find myself getting a bit overwhelmed about parenting because I feel like I am letting my kids down in some way. For example, will Stella be forever hurt because I decided to force the weaning, instead of letting it happen more naturally? The answer is of course, NO! Occasionally, I will allow myself to fall into the mindset that there is some universal equation to parenting, and if I don't do A, B, and C, in this particular order, and in that particular way, my kids are going to suffer because of my bad parenting! That is why I don't read too many parenting books, because I have a tendency to label things as absolutes, instead of looking at them as merely the suggestions and guidelines that they are. I made the choice to nurse my children based on what I knew to be true about it, and I continued to nurse as long as I did because my children were thriving with it! It was something that I found to be extremely good for them on many different levels. I love nursing my children, but I realize that there is really no right or wrong to the whole thing. There is a better or worse, but the decisions regarding one's parenting style should be up to the parents based on their children's needs and perhaps on other important surrounding circumstances. The most relevant conclusion I have come to about raising children, is that the only thing that truly matters is love. The particulars about parenting (i.e. breastfeeding, bottle feeding, bedtimes, co-sleeping, etc.), will naturally fall into a proper place, because as long as your decisions are made out of love, you really couldn't let them down.

My first blog

I have been inspired, by the many people I know who have blogs, to start one of my own. It is such a nice way of keeping people up to date on that ever changing whirlwind of motherhood and family life, and a great way to organize your thoughts and reflections. I have been enjoying reading the blogs of other friends, and have finally been convinced to start one for my family and me.
Its amazing how much can happen in such a small amount of time. My husband Peter and I were married in May 2004, had our son Dominic in February 2005, and our daughter Stella in March 2006! Life is wonderful... and busy... and surprising! Just when I think that I have things under control, God sends me one more thing to knock me off my feet and onto my knees in humility, thanksgiving, and a plea for His grace and help! Its a whirlwind alright, but I wouldn't change a thing about it. Except for my trust in God to increase. That is most certainly one of the lessons God has been teaching me at this time in my life. It is very much a work-in-progress, but God is gentle, compassionate, and patient with me, and obviously very generous, as I have the most wonderful husband, and the two most beautiful, amazing children in the world, who make me laugh and cry for joy! I will have to continue writing at another time, as my two greatest gifts from God, have just awoken!