Being Four

Being four is a really, really big deal.  At least it is in our house.  Today, my daughter turns four.  One more year to go before she is a “whole hand.” But nevertheless four is awesome.

At the age of four my daughter can do many, many things – speak in full sentences, put on her own clothes, express her opinion (often), understand right from wrong and the list goes on and on.  But most important of all, at the age of four, you start to establish memories that will last a life time.

I want her to remember how much fun I am, the joys of baking with me, the messes I allow and encourage her to make with crafts and play-dog, her first friends in school and day care (Zoey, Elizabeth, Lauren, Brigid and Nora), he special bond and wild times with her cousins (Drew, Joey and Nick), the way her room is decorated, the joys of splashing in the pool, the excitement of riding a Dora the Explorer bike and so on.  But more than anything, I want that joy to last forever.

And this I promise on this ever-so-special day – I will manifest her joy, supplement her humor, encourage her silliness and preserve her childhood as every parent should. She has made me the best mother I can be and I will make her the best and most joyful person you could ever imagine. 

To many more years – my sweet Rie.

Ups and Downs

Anyone who has known me for a long time knows that I have struggled with my weight.  I was consistently average through high school and even most of college.  My senior year of college through the age of 25 I was very much a "plus."  At 25 I decided to change my life and enrolled in Weight Watchers  and after about 3 years I had lost around 90 pounds.  And then, I got married and pregnant and welcomed a large portion of that weight back.  Since January I have recommitted to Weight Watchers and have lost every week since.  It's not a ton of weight, but it's slow and steady progress.


I have never felt bad about myself, plus sized or not - I made the choice each and every time to put food in my mouth. Right or wrong, I made the choice. The choices I made have led to tighter pants and plus sized shirts, but those choices were all mine.  When it comes to weight loss, it's not about the scale it's about accepting your responsibility for the choice you have made in life...and then dealing with it.


You see ups and downs on the scale are just like every up and down in life - you chose them.  Conscious or not, the things that happen to you (positive or negative) are all part of who you are.  The path you take makes you - YOU. 

My love/hate relationship with March 10th

March 10th is an important day in our family. 

• March 10, 1973 - Mom and Dad were married
• March 10, 1947 - my father in law was born
• March 10, 2008 - my friend's son was born
• March 10, 194x - our family friend was born
• March 10, 2005 - my Grandma passed away

Sad but true, the only one of these dates I have been able to focus on for years now, is the passing of my Grandma.  She was the best.  No, really, she was.  My Grandma was AWESOME.  For as long as I will live, no other place will show the best of me, like the glimmer in Gram's eyes when I did something well, or not.  To her, I was perfect, and to me, she was too.

My Grandma had a great life, while filled with the normal ups and downs of raising a large family, she brought joy to many people.  Having spent many years raising a family, my Gram spent her latter years waiting tables at a local restaurant. Nightly she served dinner to some of the south-side's notable characters, always leaving at the end of the night knowing how much she made in tips, who drank which cocktail and what the weather was on that day.  She could tell you who had a Manhattan on March 10, 1987 and whether it rained or snowed on the turn of a dime. 

Quirkiness aside, my Gram had a liking, well really, a love and passion for shopping, most notably purses and jewelry.  Not a day goes by that I do not think of her as  I wear a pair of earrings, or slip on a bracelet or grab money from my handbag.  No other woman in my life influenced my choices of accessories like she did.

As years have passed and times have changed, I know I am not perfect, and I have learned that she was not either.  But that does not really matter, she was the greatest Grandma around, hands down.  She was protective to a fault, fiercely loving and kind - I miss her all of the time. And it is hard knowing that my daughter never had the chance to meet her, but I know one thing for sure, A's love for glitter and glam comes with divine inspiration.  Thanks Gram!

 My Grandma (seated in red) with many of my cousins at her 70th birthday party

Fairy light = danger

I had a little post planned all in my head and as I sat down to write this A comes down the stairs holding a little Tinkerbell light.  The light was previously on her super heavy, very tall, antique dresser.  When I asked how this ended up in her hands she said "duh, I stacked all the pillows up and grabbed it."  Now I should be mad - (1) she is out of bed (2) she did something dangerous and (3) because I am the Mommy and I can do that but really, I am proud.  Why?  (1) she was crafty enough to figure out a way to do it and (2) she did not lie. 

Hence, today's parenting dilemma - be mad because she did something foolish or be proud that she was honest and forthcoming?  I am erring on the side of proud.  Kids, even my little four year old, are living in a world with tremendous pressure.  It starts before day one - be born on time, grow quick, eat well, sleep right, don't wake the neighbors, speak at an early age (and in multiple languages) and the list goes on.  So shoot, who cares.  She broke a rule, it was small - but she was honest.  High fives to my honest, adorable and forthcoming child.