Tag Archives: Mommy Moment Monday

Mommy’s Monday Moments: Immortal Thoughts from a Mortal

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“What’s that say?” My little girl points to the park bench that has two separate plaques honoring loved ones who passed away. “He was our Pop Pop Al…A special storyteller…our friend…Al Kaplan.” I paused as I reached the dates corresponding with his life and death. Though I do not know this man, nor his wife Ann, who’s name was present on a separate plaque, many thoughts ran through my mind pertaining to how loved they must have been, my own mortality as well as my husband’s and even my daughter’s. The phrase, “You’re not promised tomorrow” may be trite, but it is very true. Both people lived over 80 years, which is truly a blessing because there are some people who may not even make it to eight years old or even eight days old, so I try not to take my life or the lives of others for granted.

Knowing that my daughter will be turning three tomorrow on May 3rd makes me eternally grateful. I lover her so much and have learned a great deal from her. One of those important lessons is to prioritize. While I do enjoy teaching and strive to put forth my best effort, my family is even more important to me. I’ve been blessed to have a flexible work schedule that allows me to spend more time with my daughter than the average parents do. Some people have no choice but to enroll their children into daycare when they are as young as six weeks, but my husband and I have works schedules that allow Quinn to stay at home. Watching her grow so quickly and knowing that I am a mere mortal and have no idea of how long I will be in her life or she will be in mine does make me a little contemplative, but instead of focusing on the depressing what-ifs, I thank God that we have each other right now and pray that all we’ve taught each other and the memories we have together will become immortal.

All the best,

Tanya

Mommy’s Monday Moments: I Miss Being Missed

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File Apr 11, 6 24 22 PM

My Little Girl Having Fun Without Me at IHOP

Last week, I posted a blog entry about missing my daughter because I’d be out of town for the majority of the week. When I saw her yesterday after missing her sweet smile for days, my heart melted as she excitedly hugged me. Then, my little girl revealed something; maybe she didn’t miss me as much as I thought she would.

“Guess what Mommy! We went to IHOP!” she exclaimed. We often go to IHOP on Fridays as a family, and it doesn’t hurt that kids eat free. What’s funny is that whenever we drive near IHOP, Quinn will say, “I want to go to IHOP, but we can’t go without Daddy! We’ll have to wait until he gets home from work.” Since I was out of town, they went without me. I couldn’t believe it! My husband even mentioned that the servers inquired about my whereabouts. He sent me a picture of Quinn with her giddy smile so excited to eat her pancakes. She told me that they went Target, our favorite shopping spot, and said, “I had the best day ever with Daddy!”

Of course, I’m happy that my husband and Quinn are so close and that they had a great time together to bond even further. Though my husband is home with her on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I must admit that I thought she would miss me more and constantly ask about me. My husband told me that she asked a few times to see me on the video (Skype and FaceTime ), but for the most part, she was fine. Am I wrong for wanting her to miss me a little more?

All the best,

Tanya

 

Mommy’s Monday Moments: Missing My Little Girl

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2016-03-11 14.15.41“Absence makes the heart grow fonder” is one of those cliché phrases people utter to soothe others or themselves when they are away from their loved ones. Even though there’s some validity to this phrase, it unfortunately is not soothing me as I cope with being away from my daughter throughout the course of this week. Shortly, I’ll be traveling a little over two hours away to Harrisburg, PA for a work-related function and will miss our daily bedtime routine of me hugging her, kissing her and telling her I love her and she doing the same to me. Then I’ll be traveling to the Washington, DC area this Thursday through Saturday and will not see her in person until Sunday.  Thank goodness for FaceTime, Skype and Nest.

We had some fun earlier today doing activities, and I’m going to make sure we enjoy each other tomorrow when I get home from work and Wednesday when we have the entire day together. Yes, I’m sure we can both benefit from having time apart to miss each other and recharge, but I truly do treasure our time together, and it’s moments like this when I appreciate the bond we have even more.

All the best,

Tanya

Mommy’s Moments Monday: On the Run With My Little One

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Excited After a Stroller Jog
Relaxing after a Stroller Jog

Since my daughter was just under a month old, she’s been accompanying me a strolls, fast-paced walks and jogs throughout our neighborhood. We get fresh air, she takes in the many sights, observing her environment, and I do the same while getting my heart pumping with some good exercise. We haven’t been on as many stroller outings within the past few months because of the cold weather, but since March, we’ve been going out quite frequently.

It’s been great, and we often stop off to the park, but there’s a major change I noticed in Quinn during our stroller walks and jogs. Last year, Quinn was content with just looking at her surroundings and occasionally offering commentary on what she saw. Though I would have my headphones on with my music at a low decibel, I’d engage her in discussion, asking her, “Do you hear the birds chirping?” “Is that a squirrel I see over there?” “The light is red. That means we need to stop.”

Now, the tables have turned drastically. There’s no need to engage Quinn at all because  she has countless questions and observations for me. “Mommy, the light is green. That means we can go!” “Look, Mommy. That man is walking his doggie. Where are they good no?” “Let’s go faster, Mommy!” No more can I jog with music when I’m with my little girl because I’m too busy listening to the sweet sounds of her voice and amazed with how articulate and observant she’s become within such a short duration of time. It’s moments like this that make me look forward to the occasional run with my little one.

All the best,

Tanya

Mommy’s “Monday” Moment: She’s Daddy’s Little Girl

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Quinn and Her Daddy

Quinn and Her Daddy

From the first day my little girl was born most people, including my mother, have said, “She looks just like her daddy!” Every once in a while, someone will say that Quinn looks like a combination of the both of us. Either way, there’s no denying that she’s a “daddy’s girl.” I’m so happy that my soon-to-be three year old has such a close bond with her daddy. He even works from home two days a week to care for her on the days when I’m not working from home, which is wonderful. But the way in which she greets us is a clear indication that she is a “daddy’s girl.”

When I arrive home from work, she says, “Hi, Mommy,” gives me a quick hug and will then continue whatever she was doing. Every once in a while, she’ll display a heightened level of excitement to see me. For my husband, on the other hand, she will stop whatever she is doing and excitedly begin chanting, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! How was your day, Daddy!” Knowing that there are many children who do not have their fathers in their lives  and wish that they did makes me feel blessed knowing that Quinn has her dad in her life. I am also grateful that he plays such an integral role in her upbringing and has been a good role model. But if I am to be honest, I do occasionally have moments when I wish I had the same bond they have. Though we both can be “fun,” I tend to be the “enforcer” when Quinn is misbehaving or not listening. Is this just the way it is in most relationships where there is a mother and father or parents who automatically assume default roles such as the fun parent and disciplinarian? Some of my friends who have older children or even adult children say this does sometimes shift as children get older. These are just some thoughts I have from time to time. At the end of the day, I’m okay with Quinn being a daddy’s girl, and I am grateful for the bond we have as well, even if it is different than the one she has with her father.

All the best,

Tanya

Mommy’s “Moment” Monday

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Quinn Letting Me Know That She Knows How to Hold a Pocketbook

With each passing day, my little girl reminds me that she’s not so little anymore. Though she’s only two and a half, she often utters the phrase, “I can do it myself, Mommy! I don’t need help!” Of course, I’m so proud of her as she puts on her shoes, pushes up her sleeves to wash her hands or carries her dish to the sink, but it’s times like this when I need a “mommy moment.” I’m conflicted because I want my little girl to need me, but I also want her to be independent and willing to try tasks on her own. What’s interesting is the only instances when she will ask for help is if she thinks she cannot do something perfectly.

Just today, she was hesitant to draw her own happy face because she could not draw, according to her, a “good” circle. Then I found myself convincing Quinn that her circle and face did not have to be perfect and that she did a great job. I must admit, however, that I too am the perfectionist and have been since I can remember. I know what it’s like to put too much pressure on myself to be perfect or to stress over not making mistakes, and I certainly don’t want this type of pressure for Quinn. But as I am composing this post, I know that I am struggling with wanting to be the “perfect” parent who is there when my daughter needs me but able  back off and let her be independent and learn on her own.

This is my mommy moment this Monday, but I have a feeling this moment will be ongoing for years to come. Am I alone in this? I hope not.

All the best,

Tanya