Let them go.

I remember my nieces and nephew having some cute ways of saying words.  They thought it was right and we thought it was adorable, so that's what mattered.  My oldest niece would say, 'hold you!' with her arms outstretched instead of 'hold me'.  My nephew would ask, 'What you doonin'?'  Then there was the youngest niece who had a way of saying 'coffee' that sounded obscene.  So maybe in that case a child should be corrected in the proper way to say a word, but for the most part, it's so much fun to listen to little ones speak.  They hear a word and maybe they simply didn't hear it clearly or maybe they just have a hard time putting certain sounds together, who knows.  


Bree has come up with some funny words over her four years.  The most memorable was when Bob was sitting at the table looking at the Sunday paper around Christmas two years ago.  He's a Star Wars geek and saw Toys R Us had the Millenium Falcon in their ad.  He commented on it and Bree repeated...or at least her version of the ship's name, sounding like she was saying 'M---er F----er'.  We laughed, like parents do.  Told my brother, stupidly, who then would constantly try to get her to say Millenium Falcon.  But I digress.


I'm looking forward to Layne's butchered words.  As of now, most things sound similar to ball, but he knows what he's saying and we're starting to understand him, too.  Can't wait to hear the sounds and words this boy will come up with.  I have a feeling we're in for an entertaining ride with this kid!

Thoughts on becoming a mother.

I came across this wonderful poem about struggling to become a mother. 

Thoughts on Becoming a Mother
There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better.
I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books,
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.
I have longed and waited. I have cried and prayed.
I have endured and planned over and over again.
Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.
I will notice everything about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.
I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream. My dream will be crying for me.
I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see.
Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.
I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain.
I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body, I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.
I have prevailed.
I have succeeded.
I have won.
So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.
I listen.
And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immerse power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.
I have learned to appreciate life.
Yes I will be a wonderful mother.