Motherhood

Redirecting My Energy

2011-10-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

Motherhood on eBook

2011-07-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

You can now get Motherhood for your iPad, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader - or whatever eBook reader you might have, for just $2.99! It even includes the illustrations! Go here to check it out!

I need to sell lots of eBooks...so I can visit our grandbaby in Alaska next summer!

The Amazing Mother of Jaycee Dugard

2011-07-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Last night I, along with millions of other Americans watched the Diane Sawyer interview with kidnap victim Jaycee Dugard.

Jaycee Dugard impressed us all with her amazing strength of spirit and her positive outlook, a true survivor.

Yet, I have to commend someone else, Jaycee’s mother, Terry Probyn. Not for those years of anguish when she never stopped looking for her daughter, that goes without saying….but the fact she must have been one hell of a mother for those first 11 years she was with her daughter.

Jaycee’s mother regrets not kissing her daughter on the morning Jaycee was kidnapped, but to Terry I say…you left her with something else, a solid foundation that gave Jaycee strength when she needed it most.

As parents, we do our best and then hope the lessons and examples we’ve given our children help them make the right decisions, in spite of the influences of friends and the world. Of course, we expect to have more than 11 years to do our job.

When watching Jaycee in that interview, it was obvious her rock was her mother. Terry provided her daughter with a solid and loving foundation that obviously sustained the young girl, enabling her to survive hell.

There are many mothers out there who resent their children, and some in Jaycee’s situation might not have been as loving and accepting of their own children. Yet, love is a cycle. I believe our ability to love as a mother isn’t always instinctive; sometimes it is inherent, passed from one generation to another.

Terry, I know you are proud of your daughter, you should be, but be proud of yourself too. As parents our primary job is not to protect our children. Sadly, that is something none of us can do, no matter how hard we try. Our primary job is to prepare our children for whatever life throws at them. To give them the tools and self-confidence to persevere, and the knowledge that no matter what, we will love them. You obviously did that, and your daughter, she is pretty amazing. Like her mom.

A New Generation

2011-06-05T23:03:00.000-07:00

When I look at this photograph of my granddaughter, I see both her father and mother. It reminds me of a poem I once wrote about my own children. It is from my book, Motherhood.

Are those my husband’s eyes,

looking up at me?

Could it be my nose,

that I now see?

A touch of him,

a hint of me,

blended by God…

…expertly.

Missouri Tornado

2011-05-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Our son and daughter-in-law are in Kansas City Missouri right now. They’ve been in Missouri for the past week, attending a wedding and visiting family. They were just a short distance from Joplin Missouri, traveling from one part of Missouri to another, before the devastating storm hit.

I am grateful they are safe, but my heart breaks for those caught by the storm.

Reincarnation, the answer for the terrible twos?

2011-05-15T18:13:00.000-07:00

When my son was a small child, I sometimes got the impression it really annoyed him when I tried to tell him what to do. I always said he had an old soul, and resented my interference.

Maybe I was onto something.

On today’s Sunday Morning Show, they had a segment on psychiatrist Jim Tucker of Virginia University, and his book Life Before Life: A Scientific Investigation of Children's Memories of Previous Lives, which explores a 40 year study of reincarnation.

The focus of the study is young children - old enough to communicate, and young enough to still recall past life experiences. Around three years they can recall a past life experience, yet by six those memories (or fantasies) fade away.

Now imagine you wake up in the body of a toddler, unable to communicate (about 2 years old) and these people, some of which may be your own children or grandchildren, are telling you what to do.

Hmmmm…..

I need to get that book.

Mother’s Confidence

2011-05-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

My daughter called me today, to tell me our granddaughter has a temperature. Elizabeth thinks Addison is teething. Several hours ago, we had a long chatty phone conversation. This recent conversation was much shorter. When saying goodbye, Elizabeth made a comment about needing to tell someone about Addison’s temp.

That is the things about mothers; they are always interested in what their children are doing. At least I am, and so is my mom.

Mom is 83 and lives with us, and sometimes we really annoy each other. Sorta like today, when she and I were working together to get our living room ready for new carpet. It is not always easy, two grown women sharing a home.

Yet, I know someday, when Mom is gone, I will really miss her. Because, who will I call to share those moments I need to share, or those thoughts…thoughts and moments that most people don’t give a hoot about….except…except for your mother.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I will be spending Mother’s Day with our moms. My father-in-law passed away a little over a year ago, and my mother-in-law lives a short distance from us. My father passed away almost 20 years ago, and my mother lives with us. Both mothers are 83 years old.

Our two kids live in other states – yet I was able to spend last week with our daughter’s family. Elizabeth is celebrating her second Mother’s Day. I imagine our son will be pretty busy, as he has an Outback in Oregon, and from my own years in the restaurant business, I know how Mother’s Day is a big day for eating out.

This morning I made my mom homemade chili rellenos for breakfast. Tonight we are having filet and scallops….yummy.

To all the moms out there, have a wonderful Mother’s day.

Almost Mother's Day!

2011-05-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

While it is too late to order a copy of Motherhood as a Mother's Day gift, the book makes a nice extra gift for that special mom.

Hubby and I will be spending Mother's Day with my mom and mother-in-law. What will you be doing this Mother's Day??

Grandma and Addison

2011-05-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

My husband and I were fortunate to be with our granddaughter on her first birthday. This is a picture of Addison with me, a very proud grandma. Hard to believe Elizabeth (the artist of Motherhood)will be celebrating her second Mother's Day.

They move to Alaska for three years, leaving in June. I don't think I will be able to join Addison on her next birthday. Of course, if lots of you buy a copy of Motherhood, perhaps I can afford that trip to Alaska! :)

Postpartum Depression

2011-04-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

Our daughter made the sweetest post on Facebook this morning. She commented on the fact her daughter turns one-year-old in a few days, and then went on to proclaim this has been the best year of her life.

It got me to thinking how this isn’t true for all new mothers. Some new mothers suffer from extreme bouts of postpartum depression. It isn’t that those other mothers didn’t want their babies as much as my daughter wanted hers, but after childbirth, the hormonal changes make it difficult for some mothers to cope.

My heart goes out to suffering young mothers, who are unable to feel the same joy as our daughter is experiencing. It is not their fault, and they need the support and understanding of family and friends.

Spanking Infants

2011-04-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

On May 1st, our granddaughter turns one. Over on Facebook, our daughter was asking her friends for suggestions to discourage biting. Apparently, our sweet granddaughter has reached the age where she is biting.

It reminded me that our granddaughter has left the innocent age of infancy, where there is only love and affection, and discipline is not yet a factor. Yet now, it is time to introduce her to the notion of right and wrong. Time for some discipline.

Of course one parent’s notion of acceptable discipline is often different from another person’s, as is the appropriate time to begin disciplining.

For example, some churches advocate spanking infants.

I have only one word for anyone who thinks spanking an infant is ever right …..insane.

Almost Mother's Day??

2011-03-28T23:15:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe that Mother's Day is around the corner. Last year on Mother's Day I was a brand new grandma, and our daughter a new mommy. Addison is turning one on May 1. Yes, it is a cliche, but where does time go?

So before more time gets away from us, order a copy (or two) of Motherhood, a book of poems, for that special mother in your life.

Remember, I am on a campaign to sell more books, so I can put the money away to visit my grandbaby, when she moves to Alaska this summer, due to her Coast Guard daddy being reassigned.

Buy a book...and help send me to Alaska! :)

Peanut Allergies

2011-03-24T08:33:00.000-07:00

Shame on those parents in Edgewater Florida for protesting the measures the school is taking to keep a little six-year old girl, with a severe peanut allergy, safe. Parents are upset because their children, who are the classmates of the six year old with the allergy, must wash their hands twice a day, wipe their mouths after lunch and have snack restrictions while at school.

Instead of taking this as an opportunity to teach their children compassion and a sense of community, these parents are teaching their children to be selfish. Selfish beyond measure, IMO.

One parent is quoting as saying she is does not want her child’s right to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich taken away. Really? You want to send a little girl into more isolation than she already is, by forcing her to be confined to home school so your child has the right to eat a peanut butter sandwich at school. Really?

Wow. That woman’s child has a lot more to worry about than being denied a peanut butter sandwich, considering the values being taught him/her at home.

Send a grandma to Alaska...buy a book! :)

2011-03-22T23:07:00.001-07:00

It has been a month since my last post, and Elizabeth is still going to Alaska. I’ve been doing some reading about the area and talking to people I know who have been to Alaska, and I must admit, I am rather excited for her. I need to start saving my money so Don and I can visit her, Joe and our granddaughter.

Hmmm…maybe I should start a major “Send Bobbi to Alaska Campaign, buy a copy of Motherhood!” LOL

Being a Mom isn't for Lightweights

2011-02-21T21:21:00.001-08:00

I did a bit of crying over the weekend. Our daughter, Elizabeth, just found out her husband has been reassigned to Alaska, which means in June our daughter, son-in-law and baby granddaughter will be moving to Alaska for three years. That's over 4,000 miles away from us.

I always knew there was a chance they'd be sent to Alaska, or another far away place, as our son-in-law is in the Coast Guard. Yet, I was hoping it wouldn't be this year.

I know it will be an exciting adventure for them, and Alaska is a beautiful place. It can be painful...but it is a mother's duty to support her children and encourage them in their adventures. It may not be easy, but it is their life, and they need to live it to the fullest.

Thank goodness for Skype.

Joys of Grandma-hood

2011-02-18T20:01:00.001-08:00

My only sibling is a sister - four years older than me. In spite of her being the older sister, I became a mother first. Her two children are younger than my two.

I also beat her when it came to becoming a grandma, yet only by about nine months. Her youngest became a daddy in January.

Just like me, my sis is loving this grandma gig. She spent the last week with the new parents and her new grandson. She was supposed to go home a few days ago, but got snowed in.

I must say...she didn't seem too upset about being snowed in!

Swiped a Photo

2011-02-04T23:30:00.001-08:00

I couldn't help myself. I swiped this photo off my daughter's (the artist of Motherhood) Facebook.

She loves being a mom, and so she is so darn good at it.

This picture reminds me of when she was a little girl. She was always so good with little kids. She adored her cousin, my nephew, who is about 8 years younger than her. I remember how she would carry him everywhere.

Today that nephew has his own baby boy.

I wish all little babies had mommies as devoted, loving and nurturing as my Elizabeth. She makes me proud.

This is for the young moms out there!

2011-01-27T09:15:00.000-08:00

Before Christmas, I discovered a cool site called Blog2Print, which allows you to create a professionally bound book using your blog entries. All you do is go to their site, enter the URL for your blog, and presto – the info is sent to the printer and in a week or so your book is delivered.

Of course, there are a couple other steps, but basically, that is all there is to it.

For Christmas, I used the site to publish my family history blog for my mother, and she loved the gift. I ordered the black and white version, so the print copy was less than twenty bucks. Color is also available.

My daughter, the one who was the graphic artist for Motherhood, had a baby girl in May. I suggested she start her own blog, to post updates on her daughter and current photos, for family to enjoy. Not everyone belongs to Facebook.

Plus, she can eventually have her blog posts (and photos) published into a book for her daughter. A very sentimental gift and keepsake.

Today was her first blog post at “Mother. Wife. Artist.”

Mothers, Daughters and Granddaughters

2011-01-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

Our granddaughter has changed my relationship with my daughter. Elizabeth and I have always been close, yet, we seem to be even closer. I love when she calls to share with me, like about her experiments with homemade baby food or how she is doing with a client.

Close mother and daughters run in our family, beginning with my grandmother and her mother, and down to the current generation. It's a family cycle worth repeating.

A New Generation

2011-01-05T19:52:00.000-08:00

One fun thing about being a grandma is checking out the new toys. While some of the hi-tech toys aren't my thing, there are some non-hi-tech toys, like the one pictured here. It is kinda a hoot. A giant dragon filled with balls.

Who thinks of these things?

First Christmas as Grandma

2011-01-03T21:25:00.001-08:00

Wow, it is 2011. My husband and I are still marveling over the fact the first decade of this new century is past.

We spent our first Christmas, over a week ago, as grandparents. Our granddaughter turned 8 months January 1.

Over Christmas, as we spent time with our daughter, her daughter and family, I thought of those poems I wrote (in Motherhood) when our children were small. Now, my daughter is experiencing many of those same feelings, expressed in the words of Motherhood.

Holiday Blessings

2010-11-26T22:34:00.000-08:00

While our book of poetry is called Motherhood, let’s not forget fathers.

Our daughter is continually posting new photos of our granddaughter on Facebook, which I eagerly anticipate each day.

Many of those are of our son-in-law and granddaughter – and they often bring tears to my eyes.

This is because I see the same love in his eyes as I saw in my husband’s, when he looked at our children – and the same look I see in old photographs, of my father looking at my sister and me. Or how delighted they looked when simply interacting with their children.

While this recent photo is a bit blurry, it does not conceal our son-in-law’s delight as his daughter gets her first close up look at a Christmas tree.

Our son-in-law is one of the many things I am grateful for this holiday season.

Counting my blessings this Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T08:43:00.001-08:00

Even though these are troubled economic times, I personally have lots to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving day.

I am thankful for my husband, Don, who has been by my side for over 34 years.

I'm thankful for my children, and the fact they are doing well, married to spouses they love and pursuing their dreams.

I'm thankful I love and like my son-in-law and daughter-in-law.

I'm thankful for our beautiful granddaughter, Addison.

I'm thankful for my supportive mother, and the fact I had loving parents.

I'm thankful I was blessed with good in-laws and never suffered "mother-in-law issues".

I'm thankful for my sister, Lynn, and all the support she and her husband have given me, and how good they've been to my kids.

I'm thankful for my Lady and Spooky...those furry members of our family, and all the wonderful pets that came before them.

I'm thankful for my family , friends and the fact I have a warm and snug home and food in the pantry.

I'm thankful for all the blessings God has given me, and the fact I know he is always there.....

Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving.

Thankful Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T21:21:00.000-08:00

It is going to be a quiet Thanksgiving tomorrow. Hubby and I will be making Thanksgiving dinner for our mothers. Just the four of us. Oh, and Lady and Spooky.....our Aussie and Halloween cat.

Our kids will all be together, in California. While I wish we could be with them, I am thankful they will be together.

But this year I am also thankful that our mothers, both 82, are still with us and in relatively good health. Because the fact is, no one really loves you like your mother. :)