I love spending time with my daughter, and we both love watching certain shows on Netflix, so checking out the Netflix House in King of Prussia Mall during her Thanksgiving break was the perfect outing to celebrate her perfect streak of earning straight A’s since first grade.
We had such a fun time playing nine holes of miniature golf featuring Is It Cake, Squid Games and Stranger Things, just to name a few. We’re definitely considering going back for their virtual reality series.
Every day I’m amazed by the person my daughter is becoming. Though she’s only twelve, she’s developed an interest in fitness and joins me at the gym every Sunday. I love our bonding time and am amazed at how quickly she has grown and caught on.
I would like to think that she’s gotten her strength partly from me, but she’s gotten her drive to challenge herself from deep within. I’m so proud of the person she’s becoming.
One of the reasons I post about my fitness journey is to hopefully inspire others, but today, it was my mini me who left me feeling inspired. Quinn, a 12 year old, boldly ran in the Rocky Run 5K a race with over 30,000 people, predominantly adults 😅. Think I might’ve felt a bit intimidated at her age, but she smiled, was in the zone and had a great time the entire way.
Not only was she determined to cross the finish line, but she maintained the pace she set for herself and demonstrated what hard work, commitment and dedication is all about!
This is not the first time that Quinn has left me in awe and certainly will not be the last, but today she was definitely my inspiration! She went the distance!
Upon arriving in Wildwood, NJ to have some fun with our cousins and aunt for a couple days, I took a selfie with my 12 year old to let my husband know we made it there safely. When I looked at the picture and observed how Quinn looked at me, I was filled with joy and hope. Hope that she will always look at me with love, happiness and towards me for guidance as needed.
I knew becoming a mom would change my life, but I didn’t realize how much it would change me into a more confident and assertive person. Perhaps this is what I am becoming because I know this is what she needs and what my hope is for her as she blossoms into an adult, which may seem light years away, but it’s really not. 😅😳🫣
As a kid growing up in the inner city, Mister Softee, Helado de Coco and the shaved ice guy were staples of the community. The neighborhood kids, including me, would scrape up their money or beg a parent or friend to spot them a dollar or two get get an ice cream cone or popsicle.
Living in a suburb right outside of Philadelphia, my daughter has had limited opportunities to beg for money to get a treat from the ice cream truck and certainly not Mr. Softee.
So when I heard that magical tune in the distance as we relaxed on a bench after our bike ride, I was probably more excited than she was to get her first treat at 12 years old. We were the first to arrive at Mr. Softee’s window as other children and adults began to make their way over. Though Quinn’s ice cream treat was a whopping eight dollars, creating this memory for us both to share was worth it!
While in the first row and first chair, my daughter was focused and played intently, This will be the last time she performs with the school orchestra as a sixth grader.
I’m so proud of her. In knowing that she has decided to continue playing violin at her next school for seventh and eighth grade, I hope she continues to thrive and has a wonderful experience ahead of her.
As I celebrate my thirteenth “mommyversary,” I’m feeling luckier than ever to have a daughter like Quinn. While I will miss her as my little girl, I welcome her last year as a tween and how much of a positive influence she’s had on my life even as a child.
I’ve become more assertive as I advocate not just on her behalf but my own. I’ve become even more conscientious about my health to lead by example and to be around and active with Quinn.
Somehow, holding her in my arms as a baby simultaneously seems like it was yesterday and light years away, but the feeling of being a mother and loving my daughter unconditionally continues to grow and evolve into something beyond measure.
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.
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.
12 days of Christmas: Day 4. Quinn has shown me that being a tween can be a fun in-between phase.
She’s just eleven but had great suggestions for holiday party games and helped with baking cookies and food preparation. Some may call it a Christmas miracle to have a daughter who’s eager to help, but I call it a blessing. 🥰🎄
Mommy's Baby Steps 