Remember my Sister in Law and Brother were 10 weeks pregnanter than me? Well my beautiful niece made her appearance on 4/4/2013 happy and healthy. I can’t wait for Mikey to meet her so she can teach him the ways of the world. You know. Because she’s older.
Dearest Mollie Claire –
I couldn’t help but want to write how I am excited that you will be making your big debut in a few months. You are already a kicker, so I am led to believe you have your mama’s stubborn streak, and perhaps your daddy’s spider legs.
I am so thrilled you will be able to grow up around your cousin. I have big hopes that you teach him all the important things in life like sharing, fishing, running through irrigation systems at night and barn parties. All things your Dad and I got to experience living in Caroline County. And when you come to visit us, which I hope will be often, Mikie can teach you about sharing (oh, so important), DC history and you can bet, when you are old enough, you and I will be spending a day at the American Girl store. I will be thrilled with ANY American Girl you pick, but I secretly hope you chose Molly, who not only has your name, but was the one I coveted as a kid.
I can’t wait to tell you all the stories about when your mama and daddy were younger. Like how your dad had an obsessive streak when it came to things he was interested in – things like dinosaurs, the Titanic and trucking. He always knew he would he would be a truck driver for as long as I can remember, perhaps he is just as stubborn as your mama! One time, when he was maybe 4 or 5, he dug a HUGE hole in the backyard looking for fossils. Literally all you could see were his eyeballs over the edge. I don’t recommend you do this at home – but if you do, remind him he did it once too.
Your mama knows how to have fun too. I didn’t meet her until she was maybe 16, but I can always count on her to go shopping or watch movies. She is very set in her ways, but lucky for you, she also knows how to listen and consider other opinions. You are lucky to have a mama like that.
There are many more stories about both of them together, but I will save those for when you are older. Much older. Just know, you are being born into a loving, faithful home and you will need for nothing. Plus you have the coolest Aunt ever, so how can life be difficult for you?
Hugs and Snuggles,
Aunt Jackie
I’ve been muddling this for awhile, but I feel like I need to address it on my blog. I am a huge fan of Mayim Balik’s blog Kveller: A Jewish Twist on Parenting. They have great insights into the Jewish faith and the basics on raising good kids. Sure, Mayim has some interesting takes on child rearing – baby wearing, nursing until they ask otherwise, etc – but I take what I can and leave the rest.
Am I Jewish? Nope. Is S? Well, kinda. He was raised Jewish and I was raised Catholic. What do you get when a Jew and Catholic get hitched? A Unitarian. I won’t bore you with the principals of our new faith, you can check it out at UUA. But I assure you, we are not a cult full of unshaved pot smoking hippies worshiping blades of grass (or Satan). Okay, moving on.
So there was an interesting blog on Kveller a few days ago about a family who celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas. At first I thought it was a nice story, and much like what our home does, but then I got to the comments and OH THE HUMANITY! Especially this gem:
<i>Both my husband and I are Jewish and somehow our children are quite respectful, understanding and appreciative of other people’s cultures. We are also quite multicultural in our approach to the world. Fancy that. What we have done is given our children a firm foundation in their own heritage and provided them with an underpinning that will last their entire lives. A child needs direction in this world no matter how much she is taught to respect both of her parents heritages.. The question for the author is what is she doing about that? A person cannot be both a Christian and a Jew, even if that Jew decides Christmas is OK because Jesus was a rabbi.</i>
Look, we joined the UU church because community and a sense of belonging was important to us. And we want our child to know that Bubbe and Pop-Pop are not wrong in what they believe and neither is Grandma and Grandpa. Hell, we might even throw in Diwali and Ramadan into the mix. I feel like if we are giving our children SOMETHING to grasp in this world they will be okay. How would it be fair for me to ask Sam to compromise his beliefs so our child can have SOMETHING to believe in. That will breed resentment and that’s not good for a kid either, right?
We are all doing the best we can. Just wait until you meet my UU kid – he will be respectful, appreciative of other’s cultures and have a firm grasp on right and wrong. Oh. And a hectic December with all the tree trimming and menorah lightings.
I’ve struggled with how to write this post for a variety of reasons. I’ve tried to be honest in my blog because all these emotions are honest. Also, it involves my sister in law, R., who is also my best friend, but the main reason I’ve struggled is because I am not sure how to articulate my feelings.
R. is pregnant! I am so excited to be an aunt, and S. is thrilled to be an uncle (funny aside, he is an only child and it never occurred to him that he could be an uncle). R. and my brother were pregnant once before and, sadly, had a miscarriage. They’ve been trying for awhile, so I consider this a hard fought victory. I have to say, I am a little relieved they didn’t ‘get pregnant by accident’. I am especially excited this little one is going to be born near my birthday. I know what you are thinking … there has to be more emotions around this. You are correct my friend.
I am mad. I am NOT mad at R., not even close. I am just plain mad.
I am mad I am in a situation where I have to work out all these emotions.
I am mad R. was worried about telling me – she shouldn’t have to feel that way during a happy time.
I am mad I had to say I needed a few days to process and couldn’t participate in her excitement in the moment.
I am mad my family has to walk on eggshells around me. I am mad I think that’s okay.
I am mad my body isn’t cooperating.
Today I am just mad. And that’s going to have to be okay. Another joy of my telework/flex hours job – I think I might take to the bed for part of the day tomorrow.
