A Mother's hand

My intention was not to write this for Mother's Day, although it does seem like impeccable timing. Most of my blog postings are sparked from something I see, hear or experience. This is one is no different, although rather than my normal rant, this posting takes a more senstive turn :)

As a mommy, our hands are so incredibly important, they are there to pick up our little ones when they have fallen, prepare food to nourish their growing appetites, play ball or blocks, and they carees their sleepy little faces as they dift off to dreamland.

It's funny how sometimes you go through life and don't realize how you impact others. I'm not sure if this is something I have promoted with my kids or if it's just inate and unique to them but they both love my hands. Let me explain...

I started noticing it with Declan right before I had Katie. One evening during our bedtime routine I was hit with immense guilt that I was bringing this other person into our family and Declan would undoubtably have to share my time. I knew 100% that I would love this new little person as much as I loved my little man but I couldn't shake these feelings of guilt. In hindsight, I should have been thinking more about how lucky Declan was to have a sibling to share his life with rather than feeling guilty that he wouldn't get 100% of my time. Lets add this to the list of "things we have to learn by experience rather than having someone tell us what to do or feel".

Anyway, I digress. So during our bedtime routine, Declan grabbed my hand, pulled it to has face so that my hand cradled his little face. Then I would sing our "I Love You" song and he would sleepily drift off into nocturnal bliss. He still does this most nights, 10 months later minus the driting off bit.

Katie is a little different but equally as sweet. She is a true cuddle bug and as I gently put her down into her crib, she will wrap her little arms tightly around my wrist as my hand rests along her face. I know this is her last ditch effort to keep me close to her as she is trying to go to sleep. I often stay there in that ( slightly uncomforatble but worth all the pain) position until she turns to her side or tummy to go to sleep. Sometimes I have to snake my hand out of her grasp because she just doesn't want to let go. She usually just giggles and turns over to sleep.
These moments are so incredibly special anf I know I will remember them always. I also find comfort that my kids will rember these loving touches as I do from my own Mom. Even as an adult I can remember the soft tickles down the inside of my forearm, the gentle strokes of my hair as I lay with my head in her lap or the fun letters she would mark out on my back when me and my sister were having our bath so we had to guess what letter she was drawing.

It is such a gift and a privialge to be a mommy and I hope everyone can take a moment to remember that on this Mother's day.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!!!

When was the last time you tasted your food?

I know this sounds like a silly question but most Mom's and Dad's will chuckle (and secretly weep) when asked this question.

The last time I recall "tasting" my food was when my husband and I went out for a lunch date OVER 4 weeks ago!! Before that I would say it was probably a good year and a half since I "tasted" my food.

Now, this is not to say that I don't eat. The scale can certainly attest to that. As a mother of two, my main objective during breakfast, lunch and dinner is to get my kids fed. I always have a plate of food in front of me but I have no recollection of actually eating it. Between spooning food into my daughters 9 month old mouth or delivering bites of "gas" to my toddler as he runs/drives circles around the dinner table, my once full plate is now only filled with crumbs and my grumbling tummy has been replaced with a dull ache of heartburn.

I'm sure I will get to appreciate what food tastes like again but in the mean time at least I can see my kids are enjoying it!