Ava's Reflection

Mirror mirror you cannot tell a lie
You know that my age sometimes makes me cry.
And often times causes me to lie!
But wise mirror, you also know well
I am starting to look like hell.

Old age isn't always kind,
It hits and it's as subtle as Here's your sign!

I think it is only fitting
That as I try to age with grace,
That someone came into my life
To remind me of my youthful pace.
Oh how I use to have energy that knew no bounds,
And I seldom ever frowned.

Wow, was I ever really so full of that much fire?
Did I  have that much spunk?
Did I light up a room, 
Could I jiggle my cute little trunk?  

Nah, I think darling Ava,
Was from a different mold,
She came out unique,
Loving, laughing & bold!

She is front and center in my life,
That is for sure.
And her cute little innocence
Is still so sweet and pure!

I think it is so fitting, oh mirror,
That the fairest maiden in all the land you see,
Is none other than my granddaughter Ava, 
Who comes by it naturally!

It is possible to love her any more

I seriously think not,
From the tip of her toes,
To her little pony tail knots,
I would not change a thing
About my kids' little Ava bug.
Because nothing is as priceless
As a Ava bear hug!

Adult Children Still need Anchors on Earth

There is no rule book when a child grows up and becomes an adult how to have a relationship with an adult child. And yet, the mothers, they always remain in their hearts, their babies. And yet, they are not a child anymore, they are a self-sufficient, self-supporting adults no longer requiring their moms and dads to be in that same role they played for so many years. 

At times, this is an easy transition, for either a mother or a dad. Letting loose, living your life free of the responsibilities of parenting sound fun and carefree. But this change can be emotionally hard. When the road gets rocky, or when parents construe their adult children making mistakes in judgment that are going to cost them down the road, let’s face it, as parents they want to jump and give their two cents But these are different times, their children have different dynamics as a family and their children are unique.  They deserve the freedom and the confidence to be their problem solvers.   Rule one, butt out! It helps keep the peace.  Reality, interference will be reprimanded. Some adult children won’t see the love behind it and will resent their parents for trying to right a wrong.

As children, many of us raised our children in a Christian home that mandated going to church regularly.  Their anchor, you taught, was their faith in God, their family and all else fell behind that.  At a certain age, it is hard to watch but they may very well fall away from the church. This is so normal. But, when families begin to grow and little children come to the forefront, things change.  Many come back to their Christian beginnings where they were fostered in their faith.  They often times, begin the path of leading their children to Jesus.  Be patient.  God has a plan for these children of God, they were only given to their parents for a short time.

Trying to give marital advice can be detrimental big time.  Their marriage is sacred and must come before all others.   Confiding in parents is only presenting one view of the issues.  Giving advice is not input from an expert.   This puts their parents in a vicarious position, accepting the responsibility again of their adult children’s success or failure of something bigger than a Band-Aid fix.  The bias of a parent can’t be removed from input also.  Encourage counseling and communication and if they need help, let them seek out others.  Parents get burnt by getting involved!  They are not children. Ultimately, they want the respect of their parents as are now adults so treat them that way.  Rule 1, butt out.

It is hard not being in the know in their lives.  Many parents struggle with this. When children are young, mothers in particular are the master schedulers, the project managers of their children’s life.  Now the role is on the sidelines.  Most weeks Mon.-Fri. is a mystery unless a parent is told in advance by a grandchild!  In today’s world, adult children are leading hectic busy lives. It is hard to get everything done let alone keep their parents current with the timeline of their lives.  They tell their parents when they are out of time; keep them updated on news items and when they need to be where.  Be grateful for these snippets. It is like the song Cats in the Cradle in a way, leading busy lives is what was taught. Now it is playing out in their lives.  They are what they were taught.

What role is it a parent plays in an adult child’s life, friend or parent or both? How to know which direction to go?  This is tricky.  As they say, untie your apron strings, unless baking cookies. No longer are there curfews to be held over anyone’s head nor holding up car keys as punishment, or cutting back allowance.  The priority in their life is not their parents and it shouldn’t be. It does not mean the love is not there.  Now they put their own immediate family first, as they were taught behind their faith.  Extended family and then friends are next in line as important in their lives.  In the family category is also ‘chosen family’ which indeed includes friends. Some friends are as endearing as or more endearing than family.

Ironic that now the parents have the time and the desire to put a great deal more time into the relationship with their children and their child, now an adult simply does not have the time. It isn’t as if the adult child does not have the desire as they know their parent is aging and time is in shorter supply but time is not always a best friend. But, the parents can look at Facebook, hear updates on phone calls and reflect on families visits and see how rich their lives are.   This is what you raised them for, to have a blessed life.  Knowing this is a comfort and on a lonely day, this is important to remember.  Be grateful they are letting you share in it when they can.  Know the time frame doesn’t represent the love. 

Know that you will never stop being parents in a child’s eyes. In some far recesses of their mind, they feel it.  They may not even like it, they may hate their parent, disown them, and defy them but God chose their parent for a reason and they will always remain bonded.  That fact can’t be changed.  Obviously it is healthier if the relationship is a positive one. When in need for someone to fall upon, it is comforting to know a relationship that has been mutually fostered with your parent though-out all the years, keeps that unconditional love alive.  The adult child can always tap into it when in need. 

The past is over.  Embrace the now. The sooner it is done, the better for all.    Social media is a great source of information also.  Check it out and get with the times.   It is a new world and change is good.  Live in today’s world so that adult children can feel good about the relationship that is continuing to develop with their parents.  It should continue to grow and develop.

The best part about prosperous adult children is sitting back and seeing the legacy at work.  When parents are together with them, know it was a conscious choice to make time to be with their parents. Feel the love in the air and remember the feeling from all those years ago.  It is different in ways, being with your adult child; the child has grown but is now fostering those feelings into their own children. The love and bonding between parent and child is still felt, though at any age.  Cherish it, even now. See, some things really never do go away.  Parents are still the anchor right behind God.    This Link has some of my fav photos to 1 of my fav songs

  

New Chapter

Summer is ending and a new chapter starts.  It is the beginning of a new school year.  For two of my grandkids, it is a huge step. No longer are they walking in the front door of an elementary school as the littlest kids in the hallway. Nope, they are not kindergartens anymore. 

School is back in session and they are in the big league now, first grade.  There is no looking back. Now school lasts a whole day, no break, all subjects are covered and coloring pages are few and far between.  Sooner rather than later, they will find those dreaded pages to be ones they miss.  Now, days will be compounded with spelling quizzes, reading comprehension, math tables and homework projects.  But they will also learn and grow leaps and bounds as their young minds develop beyond where their parents even envisioned them being in one year.

Also, in another town, far away from where I live, I saw pictures of a cute little girl, through the wonders of Facebook!  She was embarking on a bus ride to kindergarten I presume, looking as pretty as her mom and not showing an ounce of fear.  Maybe having her male buddy, my grandson, at her side helped. They both were all smiles lighting up the picture as their parents took turns posing with them on that first day. She looked more than ready for the lesson plans ahead.  I doubt her experiences in the classroom will do anything but build her confidence level in her ability to do anything in life she wants to do.  I hope that attitude will make my grandson love school as much as her!

My other grandson headed towards big boy preschool. He had no idea that now he was going with non-autistic children. See, labeling is not something our family really believes in.  People are people, period.  God doesn’t label individuals so why should we?  Autism is a diagnosis of sorts, not a definition of a person.  And this handsome dude is performing so well, he is ready to be with other young children socially and academically just like he did in one of his 2 day a week classes last year.  So far, he is excelling and so well behaved.  Cheers to his future! He surprises us every step of the way.

The other grandchildren, they are all thriving too. They have enjoyed their summer and have each mastered new things and grown.  Vocabulary for the little one has expanded, as has his temperament. Would a child be normal if it hadn’t?  And for the 5 year old, he has become even more social and loveable.  This is so refreshing to see in a boy.  Our other one in Michigan we don’t hear as much about. His mom doesn’t keep us as informed as the other moms but through Facebook we do see pictures from time to time and looks happy. To us, that is what matters most, happy and loved!

Someone else who began a new chapter in life recently is a woman in my family who married a high school sweetheart in Michigan a little over a week ago, my cousin Bill’s daughter. Theirs was a relationship filled with the usual turbulence everyone goes through, the ups and downs, on and off again that make up real relationships. Who has the fairy tale beginning and ending story to romance?  Yeah, the Bachelor and Bachelorette Show, ah, Reality check! Donnie and Donna are the real drama of a relationship. 

They certainly had the culmination of a long time coming resolution of a long courtship.  The wedding was beyond beautiful.  It was touching, was ceremonious and yet had love, laughter and was a blast too! All in attendance would agree, the love that was felt at the wedding was simply mesmerizing and carried over to the guests. 

I have always considered myself a great judge of character.  I seem to have good intuition too.  Watching the bride and the groom interact, I was struck by the camaraderie, the ease at which they moved together. They seemed to move as one, such was the comfort level with each other.   And I know God was smiling because their daughter has a new beginning. Just after turning one, her mommy and daddy are married now!

Even more poignant to me was the level of love you witnessed at the reception in the groom and bride’s family. It was like watching a love-fest! 

Honestly, I have never seen families so outwardly affectionate towards each other.  It was quite moving to all in attendance, and made many of us envious that we were not part of such dynamic families.  The brother of the groom and the groom were continually in celebration that evening of the day’s events and yet, through it all, you could tell their commitment to each other.  Two brothers bonded forever.  Thus, the groom was starting a new chapter but was not leaving his brother or his family behind. Nor was the bride.  It was a beautiful blending of two loving families. Two families began a new phase in life, loving and sharing in each other’s lives that night and in the future.   

New chapters in our grandkids lives help us recognize that the world keeps on turning and, as it does, our lives are changing too, in a good way.  When we attend a wedding, we see the ending of one way of life for two single individuals and the start of a new world opening up for the married couple.  Time changes things and, as it happens, so must we.  It is a challenge we must accept. 

In both instances, just like in many things in life, beginning new chapters means picking and choosing what you leave behind.  History can repeat itself if you do the same thing you have always done. Wisdom is not doing so. 

What got those children to the front door of the school or the couple to the altar means far less than what they all do after they got there. The same is true of all of us. What you did yesterday is not nearly as important as what you do today.  For today is your new chapter. Make it a good one.  And remember, wonderful chapters are happening all around us; School is starting, a marriage began today, a baby was born, someone resolved their differences, a new job began, a child was adopted…

My video is simply images of the folks I mentioned in my blog…enjoy! I wish them all the best, every one of them! 

Tweet Tweet

Man, I remember hitting a certain age, I can’t say it, you can’t make me but let’s leave it at its a big 0-ne.  I felt okay about accepting it but wondered how younger people would look at me. Would they hear my age and act like my kids, “Damn you are old!” Or maybe the reaction would be more subtle; perhaps folks would just make a big circle around me when they saw me coming and think to themselves here comes the lady a month away from needing a walker! I do experience, even now, from time to time, someone will find it out and all the sudden, communication is short and sweet, “nice meeting you, have a nice life!”   And that is actually cool with me.  I am not concerned in the least with winning a popularity award.  Heck, I try to be different, not conform!  And Twitter is one of the best vehicles for putting age aside. 

Messing around on Facebook for several years and just being an outgoing personality type, I have observed some things.  Different age groups talk differently. Every few years, the buzz words change, and they change for different demographics, and for different generations.  It is all very confusing, I find, when you enjoy having relationships with a diverse crowd.  This is something I have always prided myself on, from when I was a child. I had a friend that was a disabled child with mental facilities impaired that went to our church. Other kids laughed at her as if she wasn’t there and couldn’t notice. I played with her and found it an honor to work with her. She was so sweet and appreciative of everything, unlike most people in my world.

There was a senior citizen lady who lived next to my grandparents also.  She was someone I could relate to, funny as it sounds and become a good friend to me, like a surrogate grandma too. I went to see her every time we visited them. She always seemed to be waiting for someone to visit her who never showed up. But I always came, unannounced, to her delight. And I was so excited to see her and would sit on her bed and listen for hours to her endless stories of her childhood.   She always said she thought she was boring me but my eyes told a different story and she knew it.  Louise, I loved that lady and she was the gift not I.

Talking to different people requires adjusting your language skills abit to match theirs for ease in understanding.  On Facebook, everyone stays well within in their comfort zone. Connecting with friends and family, neighbors and co-workers keeps life perfectly even keel, on track and no need to adjust our way of thinking too much.  If we don’t like something someone says, we can just defriend them, good-bye, so long!  Just pick up someone else in their place if you don’t think your friend list is long enough.  Heck, you can even find a new friend that has perspectives that match yours so you have the commonality.

Twitter is different however.   There is no real choosing what is coming through the stream.  I can see the injustices, but also the everyday heros, the hypocrites, and the news stories that are touching off hot buttons in others.  I read the words of the self-righteous, the philosophers, the researchers, the comedians and everyone in between.  So many of the people on Twitter are not folks we live by, have coffee or a drink with or have our lives entwined with other than the world of Twitter.  We may be thousands of miles apart, on a different time zone, an age gap apart, and completely separate on our views on many things but for the split second in time we communicate on Twitter, we are bonded, in that moment.  And that is sweet!  Technology at its best.  You can walk away or not respond if you don’t like it. 

Even with my age, even with the demographics being different, as it is, Twitter allows us to stand as we are, individuals, with no pretense, for many with no hidden agenda either, and captivate others with our honesty. Sure there are those that are all about promoting themselves, their business, and their ideology. We all know who they are, just read their read tweets a few days in row. They aren’t fooling anyone.  But Twitter is useful for that as well and does serve a purpose for reaching out to that crowd as well. Again, free choice, free will. Read what you want, follow who you will.

I find so much of the  sharing on Twitter is not as much about the mundane inconsequential in life as “ I just got back from the store and the traffic was hellious” or”Just cut my grass, it needed it so badly!”  It is more about things that are food for thought, things that inspire, things that alter our opinions or belief system, new information in different fields of interest and perhaps in areas we might otherwise know nothing about. It is also a chance to comment and communicate with individuals we do not have access to, be it politicians, celebrities, sports heroes, legends, idols, favorite authors, etc…

It is amazing the amount of information you can learn from Twitter! One day I wrote down each piece of new information I gained and shared it with a few friends.  They were astounded. I had not forewarned them where I had done my research. Not one of them is on Twitter, nor are they now. Some folks don’t care about that type of learning and that’s okay too. I have a continual thirst for knowledge, for others views, I enjoy the challenge of my thinking being debated by opening myself up to others opinions. I need to hear more about the world than my small piece of it. The news doesn’t tell it all, it is too jaded.

The sources for the best growth opportunities are not always where you think.  It can be something profound coming from a young adult.  Yes, they say the most inspiring statement, from the mouth of babes I suppose is so cliché yet so true. I make a point of staying connected to people younger than me always!  There are some individuals that simply delight in sharing new medical breakthroughs in areas like cancer research, that those of us, as cancer survivors, have no idea how to weed out fact from fiction. These folks are priceless on my following list.  The celebrities list is just plain fun, especially the ones that take the time to occasionally respond to their fans.  It makes everyone feel they are real and humble and grateful to their fans.  Too many simple have their site manned by a PR machine that just pumps out show dates and ticket information.  Anyone can get that from a website or venue location. Again, those in the spotlight that show that they put on their pants like the rest of us and share the normality of their lives by commenting on the news, tweets sent to them occasionally or things going on in their life, kudos.   

Too much hot debate is occurring on social media these days.  What a waste of energy.  We don’t need what goes on in the world scene to play out in the few areas in life where we get some of our mojo.  Let’s leave the fighting and debate where it belongs and draw a line somewhere so that we can just have a safe zone.  Twitter seems to fulfill that mission.  If all someone wants to do is bitch on Twitter, in general, not too many folks are going to listen.  Or respond.   Oh, don’t get me wrong, I have been attacked for my viewpoint on Twitter. Early on I made a comment that led to a string of what I considered hate tweets.  But it was something said with good intentions and with Twitter, you just have to apologize someone was offended and let it go. And it is history. And no, I was not ‘defriended.’ Infact, I still follow the person. Why wouldn’t I, I still value her opinions.

My followers and following list on Twitter, to date, consists of people of all ages. I am inspired by each of them for a wide range of reasons.  Some of them are just plain interesting. Many on my list, their perspectives, their ideas, and their posts amuse me, delight me, humor me, or force me to look at the world through their eyes.  I can only hope to do the same to them.  I am certain they, like I, are incapable of reading all tweets.   There is never enough time in the day and too many messages coming through.  Plus, if someone starts following me or comments on my tweet that is new to me, I want to review their profile to see if it is of interest and if we should possibly be connected.

Twitter is that simple, KISS principle is in full focus here since your character count is limited.  You have to love that. Long-winded folks can’t go into a soap opera. Say what you want to say, and then move on.  It forces everyone to be direct.  If you want to read more, put a link on to the article, blog or whatever.  Otherwise, be done with it!

On Facebook, I see most circles are people close in age. On Twitter, I see completely the opposite.  On FB I see demographics are the same. Again, on Twitter I see the opposite. I love that about Twitter also as it is replicative of my love of diversity and my ability to adapt to others. For me, I have always been known to have friends that cross all lines of race, gender, sex stereo-types, religious beliefs, backgrounds, etc. I have always believed being open-minded and have friends that are different makes me more worldly, not just a college education. You need an education on life!  How can you get it if you stick with just replicas of yourself?  I suppose too I think I am different, truth be known!  And I don’t believe anyone is quite as they seem. We all have a story behind our eyes.  I enjoy trying to find it.

I am grateful for all the followers I have on Twitter, from the youngest to the oldest. I respect and love the fact the folks I follow seem to be real, consistently representing their views and attitudes. But again, this is the internet so we can hide behind a façade so one never knows but that is true in face to face relationships too.

I would hope, at times, we are influencing each other’s opinions, and from time to time, changing other’s perspectives, moods, and attitudes.  But what is the most important is that we are just plain listening.  Too many people are caught up not actively listening. Tweeting a response of any size says, I heard you.  In a sense, you’re conveying to the sender that their message had value, it did not fall on deaf ears. 

It is great to retort to others tweets but also notable that it seems to be done with respect.  Wow, could so many in the public eye learn from this protocol or what?  I also love the fact that so often folks share divine messages that seem to come straight from a higher power, in my life that is defined as God. And so many comment on how touched and relevant these messages are. What a catalyst for change so many folks are on this media every day. There is really no way to calculate how many lives are affected by your one little Tweet. Something as little as “You are loved” could impact an entire workplace, a community, a city, etc…. showing your Tweet makes a difference.  So I guess in closing I say, keep up with the Tweet Tweet!

Four Years Can Make a Difference

 It is not easy being number three. When you have two cute siblings that get so much

attention, how in the world is there going to be time for any of your mom and dad’s friends and family to pour any attention on you?  Well, I suppose the only way is to be just as cute as can be and try to be entertaining.  So, when I was born, I liked the fact my parents gave me a straight up, easy to say name Jake so no one would stumble trying to remember or say my name.  I am me, I keep it real, what you see is what you get.  Yes siree, I am as forthright as little boys can be.

Early on, I learned to ham it up to get folks to laugh. I cannot stand to see anyone down, especially my mommy or my daddy. At the least sign of sadness, I simply must come up with something hilarious to do.  Bet you didn’t know this but some children come by this naturally. I am one such child.  It is innate in me, I can just open my eyes, shut them and then open them back up in a way that makes everyone crack up laughing.  I can dance, giggle, talk funny, and act goofy on the spot, and make someone go from feeling glum to feeling happy. I delight in this and realize this must be one of my main gifts.

I am not known for having volume control but that is also for a purpose. In a house with two other children, within 2 1/2 years of my age, how do you expect me to be heard with a whisper? I have learned being loud gets you the attention. Thus, I can shout loud, repeatedly and with command that says “Hey, I am talking, listen; I am in control of the situation!”   For a short small little guy, it is amazing how bossy I can be when I want to.  Perhaps that is why mommy has come up with that chair she sometimes has me sit in that is placed strategically in the corner.  But honestly, let’s not get into that. I so seldom have to sit there. Why dwell on the negative.  And when I do, my darling little smile gets me out quickly!

I am a good eater.   Well, most of the time.   As a baby, I would eat about anything put before me. When I learned my siblings were picky, I decided, hey if they can get away with it, why not me?   However, I prefer to not go hungry so sometimes I dog that idea completely.  Plus I prefer to get head nods from my folks.  If the other two want to get reprimanded for not eating their meals, go for it! It just makes me look that much better! 

I don’t need anyone to help me fight my fights, though I think my sister would help me if I needed her. Well, maybe she would, when she wasn’t fighting with me herself.  I can stand up on my own though, quite well, daddy says. I came out of the womb with a good

strong left hook and I am not shy about using it.  I think my punch is as good as my bite.  And if I want something, I go for it.  I see it as being aggressive. In today’s world, I think my parents will see, in time, it is a good thing. Maybe they are right though, I do need to learn to rein it in a bit. But honestly, sitting in that chair sometimes to learn the lesson of waiting my turn and sharing gets old, especially when there is no TV in sight!

My vocabulary gets bigger as I grow. Heck, it is grower quicker than I am! I am not sure why but everyone seems to think it is funny when I say expressions all the time like Holy Molly or Oh my goodness. I have no idea where I picked those up but they seem to fit so many things I need to say so I use them quite a bit.  They sure seem to amuse adults when I say them too!

Oh and I did pick up a few, what Grandma calls, no-no words.   Boy, you should have seen her face when I said one around her.  Now that was funny, she turned a weird color on her face!  What she said next though wasn't too funny.  I don’t know where I heard those words though. Nobody in my family says those and I sure didn't learn them from church.  All I know is saying them is getting a great deal of attention but all the wrong kind!  I prefer laughter responses!

There is one thing Grandpa Jim loves about me. I am obsessed with equipment, building machines.  Oh you know, the boys toys that run the gamut. That would be things like bulldozers, firetrucks, and trains.  I bug him every chance I get to take me on a ride on his lawn mower, I fondly call it a tractor. I must use up a ton of fuel but he doesn't say a thing. I think that is because it gives us male bonding time.  I am sorta like his male friend, even though I am only 4, don’t let that fool you. I am still a pretty good companion and darn likable.  I am super easy to get along with.  Mom says the girls are going to love me. Heck, one of her friend’s little girls already likes to kiss me and that started when I turned 4. Can you imagine what it will be like when I turn 10?

I think Grandpa bought a Christmas train to put around his tree just for me. He will never admit it but he lets me play with it even though half the time I pull it off the track. That train plays the most irritating song over and over again but I don’t care, just as long as it chugs along that track over and over again and I get to run the controls. I am the conductor and that is pretty cool for a little guy. I put my head down along the train and yell, “Here is comes,” over and over again.  Wow, the only thing cooler than that is riding a tractor or playing with my iPad.  I think some people think I am obsessed with these things.  Don’t tell them this but there are worse things I could do.  At least I have an interest in something.  Some boys are boring.  I am interesting, and I am good at almost everything I do.  Did I mention I am really good at almost everything I do?

Many people don’t know that little boys can have special talents. One of mine is ventriloquism. Yes, I can talk out of the side of my mouth! Just ask anyone who knows me well. I can say anything, and make any sound out of the side of my mouth at any time.  It is something to see. I have no idea why my family laughs at me. When I make a lot of money paying for my education doing this as a side job, we will see who gets the last laugh. Frankly, I think they are just jealous.  Plus it comes in handy when I want to talk back.  They can’t make out what I am really saying or I can make it sound like it came from someone else in the house!

I think you can tell a lot about a person by who they hang with and what they say.  I hang out with mostly fun people. I don’t like negative kids because I am just not made that way.  I love being with my mommy because she is pretty and also Lindsey. She is a gorgeous little blonde that likes to kiss me. Oh, I may be small but I know a good thing when I see it!  My first words were things like Mommy, Daddy, love you and kiss.  I learned to laugh right at the same time I learned to cry. See, happy babies are satisfied babies and I am that, content.  I love life, I love my family and I love growing, learning and exploring. 

   

My personality is much bigger than my size.  And I do not need anyone to fight my battles.  I am not going to be bossed around by anybody, not even my big sister. I think this ticks her off to no end.  Sometimes mommy needs to set me straight on this because I forget my place in the pecking order and want to be the top dog.  She reminds me I am not the man of the house.  Oh, if I was, boy would I run things differently. We would all have candy every night in place of dinner.

When I look back on my life, thus far, I see images of a happy faced little boy. It seems I have always been smiling, always full of joy and always been loved. So, yeah, I may be the youngest of three, and I may not have gotten all the attention I want, but I have always gotten what I need.  I enjoy giving back what I receive and it shows.  It shows in the faces of those who know me and love me. This is something I have learned from my family and my family learns from me.

Grandma Ronni says my daddy use to say, when he was little, if he had to be an animal, he wanted to be a monkey. When she would ask him why, he would reply, because he wanted the ability to make everyone laugh so they would not be sad.   I love that answer because there is so much sadness in the world, but not in our house.   I feel just like my daddy does. I do want the world, my world, to be happy. And so, one day at a time, from the day I was born, till now, age finally four, I can say, without a doubt, I am living the dream, of accomplishing that! Every morning I wake up with a great disposition. I am happier than the day before. I came out yelling when I was born and everyone in the delivery room took it as me screaming from unhappiness but heck, I was just clearing my lungs and letting out my Wow, I am here “Hello World!”

Click here for 4 Yrs of Memories Grandma Made

Grandparents of Autistic Children Learning About Parenting All Over Again!

Last weekend, my husband and I had our grandson Ty for an entire weekend. It was the first time we have had him at our home that long.  He recently turned 5. That may seem strange to some folks but Ty has autism and taking him out of his normal environment for a stretch of several days was somewhat frightening. I am not sure who more to, him or us. 

Over the years, we have watched closely how to interact with Ty.  We have read a great deal about autism, asked many questions of our children to better understand Ty’s particular abilities as well as his brother Jake’s and bonded. Yes, we have found Ty to be something of a miracle in our lives.  He is a boy that has taught us more than we have taught him.  Who would have thought that would be the experience of a grandparent? 

What we have uncovered is the life of a grandparent of an autistic child, little by little. We are too often greeted by, “Is something wrong with your grandchild?”  Why not ask if you can help? Another line we hear is sorry.  We prefer hearing comments that state how blessed we are.  We are not sorry and find ourselves more emotional about these statements than the boys’ parents because these children are our legacy. They are what they get labeled. Do not label our grandchildren anything but miracles. 

I have often heard of the daily struggles of dealing with meltdowns on particularly trying days. I have witnessed them, deal with them during babysitting times and been advised on how to handle them as well. 

I consider myself not a novice anymore. However, having Ty for the entire weekend, I was not prepared for how many times these can occur, and over small incidents, inconsequential things.   And, within minutes, sometimes, they pass and he seems to have next to no recollection of them occurring.  And yet, here we are, Grandma and Grandpa, scratching our heads non-verbally saying “What was that about?” 

I think my kids must wonder how I ever raised children on my own based on my number of texts to them when I watch Ty.  But see, watching an autistic child is a brand new experience. The variables and perimeters are completely different. What works before, doesn't anymore.   Throw out some of what you think works and go to a new place.  These children do get disciplined but it is handled slightly different.   At times, they are not as aware of what they are doing and have a harder time getting control over their emotions.   And yelling or any form of aggression is a definite no-no! 

Our respect for my son and daughter-n-law (and their nanny) went up tenfold.  This is not a twenty-four hour job folks. This is a seventy –two hour job in a twenty-four hour time frame.  Think about trying to communicate with a child with limited communication all day long.  Or consider trying to routinely pull a child back into the realm of the real world when they want to pull into a small isolated space by focusing on something totally self-absorbed. After even just an afternoon of this, it can be exhausting.  

Ty has a limited vocabulary. Thanks to his parents aggressive approach in getting him the very best in therapy, he has some speech. Though limited, those of us close to him have found it so joyful to celebrate the few words we do hear, mommy, daddy, help, drink, etc..  And he counts, and Ty proudly says the entire alphabet. His brother Jake has mastered quite a lot more words!   Again, great therapy helps, but I have learned from my kids key is also awesome therapists. What I see, equally important is  parents that are very hands on when they with their children.Ty and Jake have this, I am proud to say!  Our contribution seems so small in comparison. 

We are humbled after this weekend.  All the sudden, we realize our children’s jobs are challenging. Well worth all the efforts yes indeed, but we totally think society needs and should embrace more all the families of autistic individuals.  Offer helping hands in any ways they can, as a community and in legislation.   Small things make a huge difference too, such as offering to aide in  transportation to and from therapy.  For our grandchildren, It is simply mind-blowing the schedule plans on a routine basis!  Even with it written down at home, we find it confusing.  It is impossible to believe the children don’t ever land up at the wrong place at the wrong time. If we were running the show, it is with certainty that would happen.

And yet, at the very basic level, this is your typical American family.  They love, they share, they eat as a family and they vacation. They spend time together, they work as a group on family issues and they attend Church.  They support one another, the children feel each other’s pain and do not tolerate outsiders hurting each other.  The older sister Ava is quite protective of her younger brothers.  

Let us not forget, family is where the heart is. Whether your home has a child with autism or not, love must abound for children to flourish.  It does in these homes with these children but the needs are plentiful here.   

Please take the time to understand who these families are in your community, your church, your schools.  Don't judge and assume every child in society acting out is not being disciplined when you see them in public. They could be having a melt-down issue.  Offer to lend a hand if you come in contact with one of these families. You will not regret it. It will enrich your life immeasurably!

Their true colors will come shining through!  Hopefully through the video you can catch a  glimpse.  Click here to go to YouTube Video

Time Slips Away

The world is getting younger or I am getting older.  I think I like the former option better!  Of course that would mean that I haven’t lived long and I know that is not true. I have seen so many things come and go in my lifetime. 

I can still remember when TV’s had rabbit ears, antennas were on roof tops and families were limited to three channels and most of them had limited selections of shows. But all in all, that was good. It forced us as children to play outside verses watch television. 

Those were the days when playing outside did not mean watching for strangers lurking in the street. Nor were we, when I was growing up, forbidden to go to the park to play, infact we went there all the time.  Curfew meant being home in time for dinner or being within shouting distance of home when mom yelled your name and said “Come home now!” We did not have to necessarily be in visible site, just in the front yard at dusk.  And curfew was home by bedtime for school age kids, as homework was done right away so we could get outside to play!

Now I see children are forced to come home from school, if their parents work, and make their homes look uninhabited. Windows have curtains closed, doors locked and the TV on low volume. The home phone is not to be answered.  Each child has a cell phone in their possession and that is the only phone that can be answered.  If fact, parents must be called immediately to ensure their children get home and aren't snatched by a stranger.  Wow, what stress!

Heck when we were kids, there was one phone in the house, for everybody.  It usually was on the desk or the counter, in the most central location, where the traffic was the heaviest. It always was the loudest too when anyone called you in the room where the phone was positioned.  And noone cared whether you were on it, the volume in the room just got all the louder! We were elated when phones could hang on the wall and instead of turning a dial, they had push buttons. Next they came out with the extra-long cord so we could stretch it and walk around the kitchen while talking! 

Sometimes I see the young parents and I wonder what it would be like to raise a child in today’s world. I certainly miss, after attending child events, like kids graduation, birthday parties, dance recitals, sporting events, and such, some of the camaraderie of the parents and kids.  That was always fun, sharing in the joy of our children’s accomplishments.  The sheer light in my kids’s faces when they had so much pride was wonderful.  It made me know they were going to grow up being someone special.  Their pride carried over to us, the parents, and fed our undying support of them and increased their support system too.  Now I am on the outer edge as a grandparent, as an Aunt or as a friend. Still a supporter, still joyful but it is different. I feel a step removed. I am. 

But then, reality check, when I see the stress, I stop and think hard. I hear about the time involved with carting kids back and forth to practice, extra time spent working on things and the balancing act with time, money and patience, I am suddenly feeling drained. It all comes flooding back to me.  In my younger years, it was two children, just me doing the running, the homework, the private high school, doctor appointments, physical therapy, soccer year round, etc…   

Not much reflection is needed and I realize I am, at this age, a far better grandmother than a mother! Oh, if I had to be a mother to my grandchildren I could do it and would.  But my new approach would be quite different than my old approach.  I certainly would be smarter and work less harder. I would worry less and love and accept more. 

Back then, there seemed less unpleasantries in the world to talk about to children.  Violence in the school, for example, is too commonplace. Bullying is becoming a norm. So many outside influences that are affecting education in the schools, issues that teachers cannot possibly completely control.  These variables also make it harder on parents of today in many ways.  And more importantly, they are unfair to the majority of our children.

Having my grand-daughter this past week reminded me what I do best, the ‘grand-mother thing’. I can love unconditionally, I can discipline when it threatens to be hurtful or damage her reputation, and I can be concerned about her safety and well-being. I can listen, be supportive of everything her parents are trying to instill and teach her.  Oh, and best of all, I can be a fun vacation away from everything!  But I also get a break.  I do not have to do the hard work part of parenting.  But I get the rewards....of seeing her grow, thrive, dream, succeed and mature into a beautiful young girl.

Reality check time, I am getting older.  I won’t be here forever, any day now I could be hit with that dreaded 'C' word again or something else could knock me out. She will age, my granddaughter,  and I will be gone. My daughter-in-law tells me often, I can be a happy memory of fun times at Grandma’s house.  I think that is the legacy I would like to leave behind. Yeah, perhaps that will be one of my favorite stamps on this world.  Smiles for Ava!

   Introduction to Small Video

Sitting with Ava this past week, we were reviewing songs on my cell phone while stuck on the expressway for 2 1/12 hours when a horrible accident caused a complete shut-down. It was interesting to learn some of the songs I loved she had heard and loved too, my adorable little 6 year old granddaughter.  During this time of emptiness on the road, she sat on my lap, off and on, as the car was off, and we grew tired of walking around outside, talking to other drivers nearby, playing games, etc.  She was giving me massive bear hugs telling me how much she loved me. When I would repeat I loved her too, her response was always “I know Grandma.”   I wanted to share some images of the past week spent with her to a song she and I shared that night on the roadside.  She told me I was young when I said I was old. This song seems quite fitting, given that….  Click here for Video Link

Every Day Stars

Some days I wonder if it is worth getting out of bed. There just seems to be more going wrong in the world than right.  I turned on the morning news, before I rolled out of bed and heard about a bad accident on the interstate.  Two people were airlifted to the hospital.  And on the hour, they said the news was going to cover a murder that happened over night where someone was arraigned first thing in morning in the County Court.  We got to see a mug shot of the charged person.

Next on, the weather man who tell us viewers it is going to rain hard and possibly hail late afternoon. Hail, maybe he meant to say hell, because that is what the newscast has been so far.  But, then, I look over at my night stand and see my water bottle just before I give in to throwing the blanket over my head.   The bottle is half full.   And I am thirsty.  As I reach out my arm to grab the bottle, I realize, well a sign of life, that water bottle.  I drink and I realize something good is about to happen.  Already the day improved.  It is all about how you 

look at it.  

I use to be a hater of social media.  I thought Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, My Page, etc…was idle chat.  On the outside looking in, it seemed like a gossip network.  Some of the posts were derogatory, politically motivated, racist, or promoting items and services people were selling.  To me, having a career in marketing and sales, it was an instant turn-off. It felt like an extension of my work day.  But, once I took another hard look at it, on my off time, as more and more of my friends became well versed at it and pushed me in the direction of using it, I begun to see why.  The true value of this form of communication is what it brings to live, to our world, connections, relationships and news in a positive format. Amen to that!

When we pick up the phone, in our busy lives, and talk to the few close friends in our circle, it is more likely to be about the news worthy events in our lives.  We make plans for dinner, we talk of upcoming items on our agenda, and information we have learned about our kids or our community and building up our relationship. This stuff matters a great deal no matter how busy we are. 

But, there are other people in life that matter too, people we don’t see very often at all. It is impossible to stay connected with everyone these days.  We can touch those lives and those folks can affect ours just by a profound or simple quote, a shared image or a thought for the day.   These are the folks we are connected to via social media. This is the stuff that truly makes life, some days, simply sparkle. When all else seems doomed, one can log onto a site like Facebook and be instantly reminded how great the world is and the people that are in it! 

You can read, for example, about someone like Renee, who is battling cancer again and is just as sharp witted as ever!  Positive attitude exudes from her central being. A little autistic boy like Ty who is more infatuated with a cell phone than any toy named to children.  He is constantly surprising those around him with his accomplishments and awakening others zest for life with his profound advancements.  Someone like Eileen has found a playful side to her personality again through her grandchildren. Those of us that follow her know, when the grandkids are coming over, we will be treated to funny posts and seeing our friend our age acting like a child again. It reminds us we are never too old to have fun!   

There is Lizzi who loves putting videos up of her daughter cooing so the rest of us can watch and giggle over her cuteness. Ramon is a prime example of someone who takes his love of writing and talent, constantly writes things on his Facebook page as posts where he is the butt of the jokes.  He creates on-going dialogue on his page and then gives himself therapy, for all the world to read, without charging himself! In doing so, it serves as a lesson to us all to not take ourselves quite so seriously.  Hence the title of his book, When Will My Life Not Suck?

The list just goes on and on.  You can easily write your own.  On a bad day, log on to a social media site and just count how many positive posts you read in 15 minutes. You will be amazed! It is a great example of how we can and do lift each other up.  Amazing, huh, that the news has not found a way to mimic this and feels the only way we will watch the news on television is if bad stuff is reported.  No wonder so many newspapers have gone under and the news programs are finding it hard to get viewer ship numbers up. 

I, for one, do not enjoy following anyone who is constantly down, negative or full of hate.  Life is about counting pennies thrown in by a wishing well, admiring flowers in bloom and listening to others funny stories about their life and laughing with them, not at them.  Looking at others photos of life awakens memories within me of similar tales and sometimes it’s just simply something to laugh at or be in awe of like the Fourth of July fireworks. 

Life is funny that way, don’t you think.   My grand-daughter and I pulled in my driveway the other night. I was pointing out the moon and she said, “Grandma but where are the stars?”  I told her they would be here soon. She was worried because she didn’t see them yet. So, when we got home, we went and stood in the backyard waiting for the stars to come out.  We got tired of waiting so went out front and drew with chalk on the driveway until suddenly she remembered what we were out there for. All the sudden, she screamed bloody murder, “Grandma!!!! The stars are here, see the star, Grandma?”  I looked at her with a big smile on my face and said, without looking up at the sky, “Yes, honey I see the beautiful star!” 

Click here to see the video on Social Media Stars

What I Learned from Camp Bluebird

I attended this past weekend a camp for cancer survivors sponsored by St. Thomas called Camp Bluebird in Nashville, Tennessee.  It was so invigorating to be there and life changing.  This is quite ironic given I had been hesitant to attend.  What I walked away with on Sunday was a willingness to proudly call myself a bluebird.   I gained a deep understanding of what this term actually means and how it will forever impact my life.

The camp has bluebirds as its chosen mascot.  In songs, quite often this type of bird has implies happiness.  How appropriate given cancer survivors believe that we should live every day as if it could be the last, thus embrace it with joy.  The Camp is dominated with an overwhelming sense of happiness from beginning to end.  Hugs are given freely and plentiful.

This breed, bluebirds, is also well known for singing.  Lifting voices in song is something that is done quite often at Camp. It matters not whether any one present has a great singing voice. All that matters is the spirit that is behind the song.  Singing comes from the soul and that is really what matters at Camp, letting the soul shine, just letting the walls come down and everyone see who you really are.  Amazing too that people embrace you for who you are and where you are at with your life. Total acceptance is something unheard of in most places these days.

 

Last but certainly not least, bluebirds flap their wings.  This so closely resembles stemming behavior of an autistic child like my grandsons.  It is a way for my grandsons to keep themselves in a safe zone.  At our camp, it is our Vegas, what is expressed there remains there. It is our safety net. We are joined at the hip there and are in our own little world.  For the long weekend we attend Camp Bluebird it is as if time is suspended.  There are no phones, no television, just togetherness and sharing and caring.   

Cancer survivors need to have time with other survivors so that they know the fear they live with, the appreciation for life and the self-discovery path is the norm.  It actually is re-energizing. The volunteers that attend the camp want to be a part of the healing process too.  The can also not only learn but gain insight into cancer recovery, cancer treatment, and how precious life can be.  The volunteers are as vital to the camp experience as the cancer survivors are, each individual brings something that makes the camp experience unique and special.  The mutual learning, sharing and giving of each other makes the bonding between not only the survivors but the volunteers also quite strong and lasting.

What made Camp Bluebird unlike anything I have ever experience before was the total acceptance and love felt from everyone.  Being with a large diverse group of people I had hardly met before and everyone being open to me and each other.   There was no envy, no gossip, put downs, lack of respect not arguments.  Everyone present was real from the minute they got there to the minute they left. There was no pretense about trying to impress anyone, talk of where they worked, who they knew, etc…  It was simply about living in the moment, what they felt, sharing the present and loving it.  It was also about extending their love and care to others. Human compassion for others was something to behold; it could be felt in the air.  The listening skills at Camp are to be envied by all. 

This Camp is full of laughter, full of pranks, full of mischief and one-liners!  Laughter is heard through-out the camp.   It is an extended family where hugs are given freely, often and by all.  It is a place where newcomers are embraced and told they are welcome and have a new support system they can call on.   A young volunteer woman said it best, “People meet each other right where they are at.”  Total unconditional acceptance is not something most of us experience and certainly not in a large group setting.  But at Camp Bluebird, it is reality.  

Cancer kills but this Camp shows it does not kill one’s spirit.   This camp is full of fighters. Those that have fought and won celebrate but still remain grateful and have compassion for those present fighting a battle that is against all odds.  Honor is given the last day to those that have attended camp in the past and gone to heaven.  They are celebrated and balloons are released in remembrance.  This demonstrates that the spiritual bonds remain and these folks will not be forgotten.  They are still a part of Camp Bluebird.   

A great deal of work goes on by very few to put this Camp on every 6 months year after year.  You could safely say it is a labor of love continually done over and over again.  I am amazed at the amount of work that goes into the planning process and the sheer volume of coordination even once the camp opens.   But yet, the organizers do it, and the volunteers freely give up their time.  Surely they know that their graciousness is a kindness that goes beyond a simple thank you. 

What I think Camp Bluebird means to me is what my friends told me it means when they tried to get me to go.  It is a chance to be loved and give love to strangers that, at the end of the weekend are not strangers but an extended family of bluebirds!  And bluebirds, this class of bluebirds, are truly a special breed that I am blessed to have in my life and I indeed to treasure for always!

Here is a video I threw together of some of the many pictures others took of the weekend. There were far too many to begin to show all and everyone in attendance so this is just a sampling. But I think it is more than enough to show the love and rewards of this special place!   Click Here to view it on YouTube.