Career Strong

Stella, Last night you got the stomach virus your brother brought home a few days ago. You were happily playing with the Kindle and you started throwing up. We raced to the bathroom just in time for the big heave. At first I thought you were scared but then I realized you were mad! When the inevitable dry heaves started you started screaming Noooooo!  I told you to give in to them as they would pass. You refused to do that and continued to fight and scream Noooo! We laid on the floor, you naked as your pajamas got a heavy heave on them. I cradled you in my arms feeling completely helpless. I want to protect you from everything and make the hurt go away. I was thinking, why can't I do this for you??  Then it hit me, you already are stronger than me. You wouldn't even give in to the dry heaves. Your defiance will serve you well my dear. Never stop fighting little one. People will tell you to give up or that you can't. After watching you fight with your own body last night I c...

Stella and Mitch, I've been reading a lot lately, doing some souls searching. I think everyone does this from time to time.   I recently listened to this book called "The gifts of imperfect parenting" and one story stuck with me. This woman was a swim instructor and frequently held flip turn camps. You are both really strong swimmers even as I write this so I have a feeling you'll know what that is. I was a strong swimmer too and never mastered the flip turn because it's tricky. This particular teacher would make her students do flip turns over and over again. With each try she would give them a thumbs up or thumbs down. In order to stop you had to get 5 thumbs ups. Some of the parents got together and told the teacher she needed to stop giving thumbs down signs to the children. A thumbs down is way too harsh! I'm writing this to you to tell you that life is harsh, thumbs downs are necessary. They hurt, but when you get a  lot of thumbs down it makes a thumbs ...