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Archive for February, 2011

AMEILIA SIERRA, 20 MONTHS, WRITES HOME

28 Feb

Dear Mom and Dad:

Thank you for letting me stay with Grandma Lolly and Grandpa Dan up in Mammoth Lakes. I didn’t even cry when you left. I was being a big girl and plus I knew that I would have fun and that I would see you in a few days anyway. I’m also sorry about being crabby on the way up. I’m teething and it hurts.

Let me tell you some of the stuff I did at Lolly and Grandpa Dan’s.

I know I’ve only been walking for about five months and I’m still not too steady but I was able to run and run in their big living room and then fall into the pillow pile they made for me.

I also kicked a pink little soccer ball around. Grandpa Dan was funny. He put the pink ball in between his feet and then jumped up so the ball flew up in the air. I laughed so much I got the hiccups.

I also liked that I could pull Lolly to come with me into the sunny room where all the family pictures are. Lolly or Grandpa picked me up and told me who everyone is.

The only time I walked funny was when Lolly put new pink snow shoes on my feet. They were a little big and they felt funny until Lolly put cotton in the toes. She said I’ll eventually grow into them but they kept my feet warm when we walked around The Village.

I put fresh blueberries in a glass of water. Grandpa Dan said that maybe I shouldn’t do that but Lolly said it was no big deal since it didn’t really ruin the blueberries. I found out later that Grandpa Dan ate those blueberries.

I also took a full deck of cards that Lolly gave me out of their little box and splayed them all over the living room floor then slid over them belly first.

I also put those cards in a Tupperware container and then dumped the container full of playing cards in the toilet! That’s when Lolly started to always keep the bathroom door closed.

Lolly gave me pretty jewelry that I put on and danced around the room. When I started to throw the jewelry across the room, Lolly put the jewelry away and I had a nap shortly thereafter.

I was able to grab the finger of either Lolly or Grandpa Dan and drag them down onto the floor to be my own personal backrest when reading a book. I especially like the book Lolly made be because it has lots of pictures of you…and Grandma Harriette.

I wasn’t very happy when Grandma Lolly flicked the back of my hand though. It almost made me cry but Grandpa Dan picked me up instead and took me into the living room to read a book. I don’t really blame Lolly for flicking the back of my hand now that I’ve had a few minutes to think about it. After all, I was playing with the controls on the oven. And it didn’t really hurt. It was just the first time she ever told me not to do something so I was stunned.

I also got too close to the dog Cody. He doesn’t like it when I get down to his level and look him in the eye.

I got to read lots and lots of books that Lolly got at the library. Some of them I read over and over again while sitting on the Happy-Hippie Pillow that Lolly gives me when I come to visit.

I think it kind of made them crazy that I didn’t poop for two days. Lolly and grandpa kept giving me fruit and juice. But I finally pooped. Right in the middle of the Academy Awards which Lolly said were boring anyway.

They gave me other stuff to eat too.

When it was bedtime, Lolly carried me around and we said goodnight to the Sunny Room, the pictures on the wall, the lamp, the turtle, the television, the gate that keeps me from tumbling down the stairs, the candles, the dishwasher, the mirror and especially goodnight to the bathroom…and to Grandpa Dan.

I know I’ll sleep good tonight.

See you soon.

Love you Mom and Dad

Ameilia Sierra, Age 20 Months

February 27, 2011

 
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THIS TOO SHALL PASS

22 Feb

It was the day to celebrate the President’s, and it was early and I was wide awake. As quietly as I could I got dressed, packed my laptop, and kissed the husband on top of the head as he lay sleeping this holiday morning. I walked quietly down the stairs, started the car and drove to one of the local coffee haunts for a cup of my warm coffee ice cream.

I was really looking forward to a quiet morning of writing and catching up on emails and I should have known better than to try and get some quiet time in a popular local hangout. Within ten minutes I had already had three, two-minute conversations with some acquaintances.

I had a chat with one friend in particular about his teen. However, this “chat” lasted more than two minutes.

As he was telling me the recent mischief of his 16-year old, I kept flashing back to when my boys were sixteen. It was a very, VERY difficult time and looking back, I’m really surprised that I just didn’t check out completely during those teen years.

Not for the lack of trying but that little voice inside my head kept telling me to put one foot in front of the other.

So I did.

And then there was the voice of my Lithuanian Grandmother Toby who often said to me, in Yiddish, “I’m afraid that everything is going to be alright.”

And she was right.

Never fear parents of teens! Your EXHAUSTED PARENT NETWORK” is here. You don’t have to do it alone! And they will, I assure you, come around…eventually…hopefully.

“As the words of one wise son of mine said to me a few months ago: “Mom, if it weren’t for us you wouldn’t have the Exhausted Parent Network and you wouldn’t be exhausted.”

Well said, Erik.

In looking back, hindsight being 50/50 and all, I can only suggest, to turn it around and make it work for you!

…Because this too shall pass.

 
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