Prayers...

In April, 2010, when Andrew was 2 1/2, a tumor was discovered behind his eye. The tumor was removed, but it was found to be an aggressive cancer. He endured seven months of chemo and six weeks radiation. In December of 2010, the day after his last treatment, he was rushed to the ER with an almost fatal bacterial infection. He survived.

He is now seven-years-old!! I don't visit here much, because during the ordeal, this is where I dumped everything--my rage, my fear, my sadness, my ugly, my hope, my everything. But I want all of you who supported and prayed for us to hear his updates. You helped me survive, and I am deeply thankful. Every once in awhile, I will check in to let you know how he's doing. Please continue to pray that cancer will never return to his body. Thank you.



Friday, April 16, 2010

Daily Affirmations

It struck me like lightning.  I was standing there, telling my mother-in-law how sweet Aaron had been with his little brother at school yesterday.  I had called my husband an hour before to tell him.   I had just posted on my blog about how proud I was.  But had I told Aaron?  No. 

Mid-sentence with my mother-in-law, as she was agreeing with how sweet he was (grandmothers are great for that), I apologized, left the conversation, and ran upstairs to his bedroom.  Thankfully, he was still awake.  I told him how proud I was of him, and how very kind and thoughtful he had been with his brother.  His smile was huge, and I gave him a big hug and kiss.

So then I went to the next bedroom, to do the same thing with Sammy.  I needed to tell him I was proud of him, I wanted to complement him on something for the day.  But he was sound asleep.  Bummer.  Thankfully I remembered this morning.

It struck me how often I let a day go by without a verbal, "I'm proud of you" or "I really liked the way you did (blank)."   In the blur of things and the craziness of the days... I forget.  I say "I love you" a lot.  But maybe I am not specific enough.

I am excellent at pointing out all of the things my kids shouldn't be doing; all of those things that frustrate me; all of those things that make me feel like pulling my hair out. 
So I made up my mind that it needs to be a new bedtime ritual, or perhaps just something I keep in the forefront of my mind.  No matter how frustrating the day is, or how manic-crazy they are at bedtime, or how much I want to run downstairs and escape to my own little world, I need to take the time to say, "I'm proud of you for (blank)."   "I loved it today when you did (blank)." 

Otherwise, how will they know?  They can't read my mind.  They don't read my blog.

10 comments:

  1. I think you are so right! I go out of my way to make sure I always tell my girls when they are doing something that makes my heart happy. My mom was a great mom but this was the one part of her parenting she left out. I always knew what I did wrong or when I wasn't meeting her expectations and I don't want my girls to feel that way my 10 year old self felt when I didn't make her happy or maybe I did and she just didn't know how to say it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree. I have no issues pointing out what's wrong but I need to work on telling them what's RIGHT more often.

    Thanks for the reminder : )

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful realization... thank you for sharing, as I think many of us need the reminder to focus on the positive :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. So funny Julie -- "They don't read my blog". What a lovely reminder to remind the ones we love why we love them.

    I also try to let my kids hear me talking great about them to others -- Hearing it first hand is great. Overhearing it is wonderful too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I fell in love with your blog during the UBP! I have an award for you! Here is the link: http://www.jdaniel4smom.com/2010/04/happy-to-share-happy-101-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. what an awesome reminder for all of us, Julie. You are a great Mama for noticing things to be celebrating in your children and an AMAZING mama for remembering to pass that information on to your sons :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Morning Julie...this is such a great post to read to start my day. I too winder how much I am telling my kids how proud I am of something they did. Thank you for this reminder.

    I've looked around a bit and I love your blog. And the pictures of the desert are killing me. I love the desert and miss it. But I left Phoenix for LA for college and I've never returned to AZ. Except to visit of course.....

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and I just followed you so I'll see you around. Your boys are just adorable!!!

    Happy Monday!

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amen to this entry! Thanks for the reminder!
    Thinking and praying for you and the fam.

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts...