"Secret" Weapon

Here I am worrying about Cora while she is away at school. THIS is so not my style. My little girl is turning more and more into a big girl at rapid intervals. She has the mannerisms of a girl beyond her years, the eye-roll of a teen, correct use of "mother-ese" with her sister, the swinging moods of p.m.s. Whatever am I going to do?

Add to that the sweet sensitivity given to her by her father.

Everyday this week I am met with a few tears, worried looks, and the statement, "I am feeling nervous about school." This is so atypical for my Cora. She is a social butterfly, the outgoing, bubbly/bossy leader. What's the deal?

She is nervous about "the secret." The secret she told a friend in kinder. And then the friend blabbed it. I thought is was a great lesson for her in friendships and gossip. But here it is biting us in the tush 5 months later. This same little girl is in her class again this year. Cora's fear is that her secret will be spread through her class. She is nervous about the impending, looming, all-consuming embarrassment that will ensue.

Morning and night she and I have discussed it this week. She has led me into a closet to talk, forced me to whisper behind closed doors, and silenced me when I used names. This is such a big deal to her. We've talked about all the possible scenarios of the "secret" coming to light. And I finally ended with the reality that it could all come out and it would indeed be embarrassing.

Life is full of embarrassing moments, awkward feelings. She wasn't satisfied.

I've done all I can do. I'll keep talking her off her emotional ledge, but we've covered it all several times.

So I'm left worrying about my little delicate tornado. And all that is left to do is use my secret weapon. I can't be there to coddle her through every life bump. So I pray her.

I pray that she is happy and safe. I pray that she and her friend get along swimmingly today. I pray that the little girl forgets Cora's secret. I pray that she is all smiles when I pick her up. I pray that when embarrassment happens she is stronger for it.

Little does she know that her trial is teaching her to be a stronger girl and me a more faithful mom.

SAY WHAT?!?

Cristian
June 2005
4.5 years

While shopping with mom at Kohl's one afternoon...

"Um, mom those pants make your butt look really big."

Nice.

Hodge Podge

Summer snapshots. a) Cora displaying her Egyptian pyramid b) Cristian doing the mummy walk. He looks SO much like his uncle Chuy in the snapshot c) Mason on the spinning puker at what we call "Spider Man Park" d) imagine this picture only in reverse. These two fought with each other ALL summer long. I'm not sure when this blissful moment even occurred!

Girls out on the Town

Noel asked what she could contribute to the household while she stayed with us for 6 weeks. Only Noel would ask such things. She doesn't realize that we feel privileged to have her stay with us. But, hey you ask and I'll put you to work. No problem!

So she was asked to take each of the kids out on a date while she was with us. The kids LOVED this idea. I thought down-time with kids would be great for Noel and they all requested ice cream with her. Noel's only vice. It was basically a win-win.

This is Cora and Noel on their date. Cora was completely jazzed. She was very meticulous about every detail of her outfit. She wanted a skirt because that is "fancier for a date." She accessorized (of course) with her flower, jewelry, and purse. She was so excited. That, in turn, made Noel so excited. Miss Christmas donned a darling pheasant skirt to be in sync with her 6 year-old fashion mentor.

Cora ate her strawberry cheesecake ice cream cone and then they went shopping for jewelry. I'm tellin' ya, Cora can hang with the best. She has this girl thing D-O-W-N.

SAY WHAT?!?

Today I am digging through the archives - spring cleaning in the summer time & found some verbal goodies.

Cristian
June 2006
5.5 years

"When I grow up I am going to be a swordfighter!"

And this nugget was from Cora's sunbeam lesson at church one Sunday. I am so grateful her teacher shared it with me!

Cora
June 2006
3.5 years

"Things that make me happy are: 1)candy, 2)candy canes, 3)mirrors and 4)dress up clothes."

29 Crodads!

My aunt Noel is the best aunt in the whole wide world!

On the 7th, me (Cristian) and Noel went crodad fishing. We caught 29 crodads by just using about 7 pieces of raw meat. I caught the smallest one. Noel caught the biggest one. The biggest one was the reddest one. I picked up about 7 crodads kind of big, but...Noel only picked up one small one. I think it was the smallest one of all. That's kind of embarassing.

When we caught a small crodad Noel would say, "It's a BABY!" and then I would think in my head,"she might scare the crodads away." We caught five baby ones and 24 big ones. Me and Noel saw a frog hopping by in the water. It hopped on a rock out of the water where I could see it. I slowly crept over to where it was and I stood on a piece of cement and I lowered myself down very slowly. I cupped my hands then I shot my hands at the frog. I had the frog but the rock was loose that it was on and the frog got away.

Noel used a hook. I had a fake crodad, but I didn't use it. I just put the meat on one of the hooks and I let it sit there. A trick is-you have to make your line go a little bit wiggly (not straight). But don't move it. Then when your line goes straight and moves around a little bit and maybe the tip of your pole goes down a little bit, then you have a crodad. That's all folks!

I converted Noel to fishing. P.S. I love my aunt Noel.

(Cristian's first post)