I Saw A Change In My Daughter

The day wasn't going so well.

A misunderstanding meant Eldest missed out on seeing friends perform.

It wasn't anyone's fault, but still very disappointing.

It was a Saturday afternoon 

and our nice spring weather had turned once again to winter.

When a few tears of frustration fell I told her for some reason it was meant to be.

What she was most upset about however, 

was going to all the trouble of looking nice, with now, 

no where to go except the dining room table to meet up with her homework.

I decided then, that despite the blizzardy weather, it was time to pull out my camera.

She looked so darn cute I told her we could at least do a photo shoot.

Something we hadn't done in a long while.

While the snow was too bright for her to look up for any length of time.

I loved the shots we got.

Eldest always makes taking beautiful photos easy.

Pictures always make the passing of time much clearer for me.

And when I looked at these I saw a change in my daughter.

She is saying goodbye to her younger self.

I see the adult she is becoming and I am so proud to be her mother.

And yet at the same time I can still see my little girl within.

It's the best of both worlds.

And I realize this is how it was meant to be.

I had always feared that growing up was about saying goodbye to my children,

but instead I've realized... it is about saying a continuing hello.

Can't wait for the years to come Eldest.

Love you.

xoxo,

Dana

What Maya Angelou Has Taught Me

If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.  Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' at total strangers.

~Maya Angelou

I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers.  It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage.  Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at. 

~Maya Angelou

We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives. 

~Maya Angelou

Remember people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions.  You may have a heart of gold --- but so does a hard-boiled egg.

~ Maya Angelou

Sometimes the people whom we've known for only a short amount of time have a bigger impact on us than those we've known forever. ~Maya Angelou I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. ~Maya Angelou Any book that helps a child to form the habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him. ~Maya Angelou

xoxo,
Dana

A Life Sentence

She hates her glasses.
They are new.

She feels like a librarian.
With assignments up the wazoo.

Too much pressure.
So much work to do.

It doesn't matter what I say.
My words are few.

When the tests are written and essays done,
will the memory of grade 12 be only a blur?

Did we make a mistake?
This program for kids like her?

Her prison is real in every way.

It feels like a life sentence
plus one more day.

xoxo,
Dana

PS
The mountain of assignments and Essays that were all due within the same week have all been handed in, so yes there is in fact a light at the end of the tunnel!

...and it has also occurred to me that her Sylvia Plath essay may have affected me more than I realized :)

She Does Not "Listen" To Music!

To truly understand our "experience" please play the following song as you continue reading:

Our Bungalow is always filled with music.
We have BOSE speakers attached to our computer and every song imaginable can be played.

Eldest has been taking a Spanish class in school for the past three years,
and because she speaks fluent french she has found it to be an easy transition.

Lately we have been finding some new music on our playlist
thanks in part to her Spanish teacher's recommendations.
The song above in particular is on repeat mode.
The song above in particular is on repeat mode.
The song above in particular in on repeat mode.

You're starting to understand our dilemna?

Of all my girls she, much like her grandpa, loves listening to music.
In fact she would correct me if she were here, as she has often proclaimed that:
she does not "listen" to music,
she "experiences" it.

The problem?

Over these past two weeks...

She has been allowing us....

to "experience" her music right along with her.

whether we want to or not.

xoxo,


PS   Does anyone know what Siempre tu means?
        I am inadvertently blurting this out to complete strangers...

Do Your Kids Ever Worry You?

Do your kids ever worry you?

Lately I have to admit I'm finding my girl's newest past time to be a little disconcerting.

Walking past them in the Dining room I can't help but notice something is a little off.

They always seem to be in pain.

But I can't quite figure it out.

After grimacing grotesquely, they then let out peals of laughter.

When I walk in the room though, they look up innocently from their computer.

I always figured they were just watching a funny YouTube video 

they saw on facebook.

But lately I've been thinking there is a little more to it than that.

Unfortunately I was right.

And I was finally able to capture the phenomenon on my DSLR.

Convulsions?

Ticks?

Full grand mal seizures?

Apparently not?

It's like a baby discovering themselves in the mirror for the first time.

But not quite as cute.

I guess all in all,  I should just be thankful.

Thankful that they have found a harmless way to completely amuse themselves.

But honestly what ever happened to reading the funny papers?

Or watching America's Funniest Home Videos?

Or telling a good knock knock joke?

I just have to start rolling with the times I guess.

I'm just glad they're OK.

At least I think they're OK?

My kids are OK right?

xoxo,

Dana