Monthly Archives: February 2025

“Bracing” Myself for Another Milestone

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Yesterday, my daughter was overjoyed as we entered the dental office because she was getting something she’s wanted for the past two years: braces! For the most part, her teeth are straight with a minor cross bite and under bite on one side, but it was enough to warrant braces. I still recall when I got braces at 13, which was two years older than Quinn.

My teeth were in dire need of braces, but I was still a bit resistant to wearing them because of the taunting and name calling I endured from my sister and a few classmates 😩. Quinn, on the other hand, welcomed getting braces and had a big smile before and after. She spent the last week leading up to getting braces doing thorough research regarding what she’s permitted to eat and how to take care of them, which definitely impressed her orthodontist and me.

I have a feeling that braces will do more than just straighten Quinn’s teeth, but they will give her an opportunity to exercise self-control and discipline as she must resist food and treats she enjoys and responsibility when it comes to maintaining and brushing her teeth.

Here’s to a new milestone as I keep taking baby steps into motherhood.

Best,

Tanya

Integrity: A Priceless Gift

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Yesterday, I witnessed a wonderful display of integrity in action. My eleven year old and I pulled up to the local supermarket to do a little shopping, and she spotted a wallet near our parking spot. Without me saying a word, she immediately said, “Mommy, I found a wallet. We should take it in the store and give it to customer service.”

Upon handing me the wallet, I looked through it for an ID to track down the owner, but there was none: just a good amount of cash and some insurance cards. Quinn, who’s such a great critical thinker, suggested that we see if a name or address is on one of the insurance cards. Lo and behold, there was!

We saw that the address was nearby, so we decided to take the wallet to the person. Unfortunately, no one was home, and we were concerned about leaving the wallet in plain sight since there was no screen door or mail slot, so we hid it under a decorative rock with children’s handprints.

Once we got home, I was just concerned that the person never locate the hidden wallet. Then Quinn suggested that I call the insurance company to see if they could call the owner since I took a picture of the information. When I called, the representative said that she actually knows the person personally and would let them know.

The person called me back and expressed their gratitude and how wonderful it is that there are people who still go out of their way to be kind. I quickly let them know that it was my daughter who not only found the wallet but came up with ways to get it back to them.

Though most would hope to get a reward, Quinn never asked about one and was just happy to hear how grateful the person was. I simply was glad to witness how much integrity and kindness my daughter has. It’s a priceless quality.

All the best,

Tanya

Fun Seeing How the Body Works

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Imagine getting an opportunity to see what’s at work beneath the surface as it pertains to humans. Not just skeletons, but organs ranging from hearts, lungs, livers and everything else found in a human body. This was my family’s experience at The Franklin Institute’s Body World’s exhibition today. (In accordance with the guidelines, I won’t post any pictures of the actual body exhibit, just posters)

Years ago, I attended a similar event, but observing the wonder and intrigue of my daughter and her best friend who accompany us allowed me to fully embrace the exhibition from a new perspective.

While I’m by no means perfect, I do try my best to take care of my body in knowing this is the only place I will always live while I’m living. As Quinn asked questions and made observations about preserved organs that may have been impacted by disease, ailments and just the process of aging, I thought about what else I could be doing to help my body, including all of its organs to live a long and healthy life.

There were many informational posters, some containing quotes, and what most of them had in common is the idea that while exercise and proper nutrition are essential, so is happiness. As an adult, I understand this concept and truly hope that Quinn embraces it now and for years to come.

All the best,

Tanya

Bowled Over with Super Memories! Fly Eagles, Fly! 🤗💚🦅

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Today, my daughter and I created a wonderful memory with countless of Philadelphia Eagles fans! After celebrating their Super Bowl win this past Sunday, we cheered, chanted and sung the Eagles fight song as we attended the Eagles parade!

Initially, I was a bit concerned about the overwhelming crowds, but that anxious feeling disappeared as the positive energy of fans far and wide filled the atmosphere. No one cared about your political views or the color of your skin, as long as you were an Eagles fan 💚. I’m so glad we decided to go rather than watch on television. It’s a memory that will stay with us always.

E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles! Go Birds! Hoping we can celebrate like this again very soon.

All the best,

Tanya