Val's Place

Revelations in gratitude!

2011-07-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today was a travel day at work, and a solo trip at that. Leaving dry, hot, scorched Fresno at 7am is better than leaving at 1pm, when the place is an inferno. My destination was Monterey County via Pacheco Pass.

As I neared the center of the pass, I noticed the sky was dark, smudgy, angry looking. The hills were shadowed, even the trees seemed to droop. The temp outside had dropped by at least 20 degrees--my AC was warmer than it was outside. My mood started sinking right along with the skies. What am I going to do about this deadline, this task, this client? What about the kids? Why am I not a better parent? Why am I not more of a go-getter? What am I waiting for? What am I hurrying toward? How can I possibly be considered an adult when I'm really just a kid acting the part? Do the kids hate me? Do they have any inkling of how much I love them and would lay down my life for them? What can I do to make Dad take better care of himself? Did I call Grandma?

I was headed to a business meeting, with a group of city leaders, law enforcement, community based organizations and faith based organizations that are trying to do something truly amazing to help a region in need. Not destined for white sand beaches and sea lions fighting over scraps, not for the beautiful scenery or sweet little boutique hotels, but for a small town to hear a lot of mixed news.

"Well, we talked to the kid that was shot, and he was hangin out with gangsters."

"We saw an increase in the number of kids self-reporting that they feel safe in school."

"It's tough, seeing the elementary school principals in tears, hearing first hand from students that they were punched, kicked, hit, or called mean names, when staff really thought it couldn't be happening at their school."

"Well, that one didn't count as a homicide really, it was a domestic violence issue that went all the way."

"We laid off another officer. Five more are scouting new positions because we've taken everything we can from them and demanded more."

I stopped on the way out of town for lunch. No-frills burger joint next to the freeway, it was a family run spot. Three young women were running the entire operation, doing their best to keep up with the lunch rush. I sat by a window, watching the slow-flow of small town summer life. Kids walking to the school to play ball. Young mothers pushing strollers almost as big as they were. Older folks out enjoying the cool breeze.

So on the way home, I had plenty of time to think about how incredibly blessed I am...what I'm thankful for, what makes my heart skip a beat.

Leona Lewis' song Better in time...which literally makes me teary every time I hear it. Mariah sang that for the school talent show last year--it stopped my heart. My sweet baby girl has the voice of an angel and wisdom far beyond her 11 years. My daughter has an old soul that truly shines when she sings. I adore her.

The amazing view and color contrast, driving through Pacheco Pass in the summer--rounding the curve where the San Luis Reservoir comes into view is excuse enough to make the trip. The water (especially when the levels are higher) is the most beautiful, calm shade of brilliantly dark blue. Set against the sun-scorched yellow and brown fields of waving grass, the reservoir calls you so strongly...that you miss the exit to go down for a closer look :)

My son. He's only 14, and such a man already. He makes mistakes, and takes out his frustration on me, he hurts, he loves, he grows. But I still see his sweet, wide-smiling face, and hear his little toddler voice. He likes to bring me back to reality by showing me how much taller he is than me :)

The pair of birds flying in circles, ever closer to the ground. For just a moment, they're suspended over the small valley I'm passing through. Wings spread, casting shadows on the waving grass below. Putting on a beautiful show that I often forget to enjoy.

My imagination takes control over my mind occasionally, and lets me fly over the valley with the birds, soak up the sun next to the beautiful water, see again those small things that I didn't absorb in the moment. It reminds me to hold close to what I love, and to enjoy it today. Not to constantly rush, or let myself be rushed.

Just One Day

2010-10-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

If you know me at all, you know I have the most crazy, vivid, realistic dreams of anyone I've ever met. Sometimes it's horrifying, sometimes beautiful, usually fairly comical...my brain needs the day time to recover from it's nighttime activities!

Last night was one to commit to memory, though it was exceedingly painful...

I dreamed I died. Not so crazy, people dream of dying all the time, I know. But I dreamed that I died but was unaware of it until some gentle soul broke the news to me. I felt alive, but not present. I remember being so incredibly upset, telling her that I wasn't ready, that I hadn't had time to make sure my children knew how I felt about them. Ridiculous, I tell them every day, and hopefully show them in my actions. But I was absolutely heartbroken because I was sure I hadn't convinced them of just how much I love them. I was at peace with dying, but not with my feelings potentially unknown to my babies. I envisioned them growing old and always doubting whether I truly loved them or not. I wasn't ready...

Luckily for me, I was given one day to accomplish my impossible task. Although I wasn't alive, the kids could see me. I was afraid to touch them, afraid of how they'd react, afraid I'd feel cold, or simply not feel. They didn't accept my passing at first, argued that they could see me, that maybe this was all a sick joke. I did my best, I told them, I showed them, I gave them my best advice for the future. All in one day, all the things I've spent the last 14 years doing, I frantically crammed into one day, just to make sure it stayed with them for a little while longer. Just one day.

I woke up trying to convince myself they'd be ok, that I'd done all I could, that they knew just how much I loved them. And today, I've had more patience with them...we've talked, I've told them point-blank that they mean the world to me. I sent them off to school with an extra squeeze, trying to minimize the everyday fear in my heart.

Because today might just be that one day that we're given. And I don't want it to be wasted.

You smell

2010-10-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for work one morning last week, 10 year old Ms. M wanders into my bathroom for some conversation and procrastination...

Me: Good morning baby, did you finish getting your backpack ready?

Ms. M: Yep, all done.

Me: Do you want me to straighten your hair for you today since we have time?

Ms. M: No thanks. Mom, you smell good...

Me: Thank you sweetie, that's very nice of you!

Ms. M: You smell like a store...like Walmart or something...

Me: Uh...thanks? (Vigorously reapply deodorant and body spray)

*sigh*
I smell like Walmart????

The sins of the mother...

2010-04-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

Shall come back to haunt her when her children become adolescents with minds of their own, and attitudes on top of it.

I cannot believe Brandon is 13...I remember being 13, and let me tell you, I was not the most pleasant person to have around...just ask my dad and grandma. Surly, disrespectful, non-commital, not careful...

A few days ago, while putting dinner on the table, I called the kids to wash up. Brandon brought his taller-than-me self in, and slouched into a chair. Because I believe everyone has to contribute, I told him "What do I look like, the maid? Get up and get your own plate." He did, slamming everything he could in the meantime. "Relax," I said, "and lose that attitude. Do you guys have such attitude problems at Dad's house, or is it just when you're at home?" Imagine my shock, and hurt, when they both responded "Just here Mom." Seriously?? I'm a sucker for punishment, especially when it comes to emotional issues, so of course I pressed for an explanation. Mistake. Answers included "I don't know," "Because," and the like. One that came from Brandon related to how strict I am, which I fully admit to being. For a reason. I was a 13 year old in San Francisco, and I know the extent of trouble a kid can get into.

Anyway, the discussion went on, mutating into an argument, and I made mistake #2--I told Brandon he was going to spend some serious time at his dad's, so he could realize how great he has it at home. Never pass down rulings when you're pissed. More flip remarks from him, then my telling him to go pack a bag for the week. More slamming from him. Then my little breakdown at the table, quiet though, and Mariah comforting me and getting upset herself. Terrible mother.

So what do I do now, let him separate, or pull him closer, neither of which I see being helpful, and both with the likelihood of causing more pain and anger? Do I let him have more autonomy, knowing he needs to develop, but also knowing there are some serious freaks out there that would willingly hurt my baby? Or rule by force, and lock him down more? Both options stink, and I don't know who thought up this whole parenting thing. I do know that I wouldn't give it up for the world, but it may well kill me in the long run. Where's the manual??? I didn't exactly sign up for this gig, and the costs are much higher than I thought they would be. The rewards are amazing, it just feels like it will be a long time before I see another one of those...

Wow...it's only been....

2009-09-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

Four months! Since I posted that is...Got slammed with over time at work, and then the axe fell...they actually laid 35 of us off! Saw it coming, didn't think she'd follow through, then got my notice. The stink of it is, my first day of unemployment was my freakin birthday lol! Thirty two years old, and unemployed for the first time since I started picking in the fields at age nine...So now I sit around and happily wait for my unemployment check to come in, not sure of which direction to take. On the one hand, having a break after so many years of work is kinda nice. I've been able to take on small catering jobs, walk the boy through his first weeks of junior high, and get more involved with friends, family, and the kids' school stuff. On the other hand, I get the feeling of uselessness that is so common among those not working by someone else's choice. I sleep...ALOT, so I know there's something in that. We lost our health insurance, that's a major pain. Gotta figure out where to cut now, and that's never a fun process. But, I'm pretty positive. When one door closes, a window opens, and I think that being laid off was my little clue that it's time to try something new. I would LOVE to get into this sonography program I found, I could handle being an ultrasound tech, and there's no 5-year wait list for the lottery to get in like City and FSU. So here I stand, in the middle of an intersection, not knowing which way to take, but enjoying the fact that at least I have options. Who knows, maybe I'll find my life's calling, and all thanks to a greedy politician that took no notice that her pawns are actually people with families and responsibilities...

The Power of Women

2009-05-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

I am continually amazed with what we put up with as women...and how we overcome basically everything with grace, dignity, and fire. Especially after I've had the opportunity to just chat with friends, it becomes so evident that our struggles seem to be universal, and yet we're so shocked that we all really have the same problems! We internalize everything. We don't ask for help, we just get it done, unless it really can't be done without help. Women possess such a quiet strength, but it's such a force! I wonder why we haven't broken into politics and leadership more than we have, but maybe that just makes us smarter. Let the men fight with their words and have the pissing contest, we end up being the power in the end anyway. I wish women received more recognition for our everyday battles, but perhaps it's better that we don't. Knowing what and who we are and accepting that is recognition in itself. Maybe we should work on quiet recognition of each other and our victories.

Ms. M's debut

2009-05-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, sorry, proud Mama moment...gosh I love that little girl! I don't know who was more nervous, her or me!! Check it out, comment if you like, just remember, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all...remember, she's 9...and thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYUsbampbD8

Boys...

2009-05-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

So last night I had a small gathering of moms with babies, and I mean babies! Had to clean up afterward, and play on the puter, so it was late when I went to bed. Not to mention the buzz coming from Mr. B's room--had to let him have a friend stay over to compensate for the excess estrogen in the house last night...around 10 this morning, B asks me what temp to use while cooking pancakes. Sweet! They're feeding themselves! Success! Course, when I woke up I found they'd used dry cast iron to make said pancakes...and managed to touch multiple surfaces with maple syrup coated hands...but hey--they did it! Proud Mama moment!

105F in the shade...

2009-05-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

And what am I doing? Hibernating lol! There's no WAY I'm headed out in this ridiculous heat for anything that's not critical...like...

A water balloon fight...ambushing Mr. B and his little buddy...

The ice cream truck...I swear, it's like radar automatically kicks on during the summer...

The guy with the little cart with a bell on it that sells those awesome frozen fruit and cream bars...

A quick run through the sprinklers...no matter that the tree shades the yard so much the grass only grows on one side! Mud is cool...

Random Question

2009-04-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Your aunt gave you a maple syrup dispenser shaped as a rooster for your birthday. Now you've got to write her a thank you note! Try it :-)

Dear Aunt,
Wow, thanks for the rooster bottle for my syrup! Nevermind that I don't like syrup, but I'm sure I can find something useful for it...nothin better than thickish liquid comin out of a rooster's butt, right? Thanks again, love and kisses!

Good Decision

2009-04-09T23:31:00.000-07:00

I confess, I was one of those “awful” parents who pierced my infant daughter’s ears at a mall kiosk when she was two months old. I sat in the chair in the window, cradling her close and clamping her hands down so she wouldn’t grab the piercing gun at an inopportune time. I made sorrowful expressions when her screams reached those on the other side of the window, and felt the proper shame when they scowled at me. But it was worth it—my beautiful little girl was even more beautiful with a little adornment!

Six months later, her little fingers got caught in her earring somehow, and she ripped one out. I removed the other to allow time for healing. The holes grew shut.

When she was two years old, I took my daughter, again to the mall, to get her ears pierced again. All went well, until she was about 4 years old. Somehow one piercing became infected, so again, I removed both earrings to allow time for healing. They grew shut. Again.

I began suggesting another go round to my daughter when she was six. She put me off, placating me with “We’ll sees”, “Maybe’s” and other such niceties she learned from yours truly. Finally at age seven I think she just got tired of my bothering her. After yet another “suggestion” from me, my daughter replied, “Mom, can’t we just wait a few years until I can make a good decision?”

Uh.

Bad mom! But who does she think she is, talking to me like an adult?!

But....They have WINGS!!!!!

2009-04-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful afternoon, and the kids were restless. I had been promising them for days that we would head to the park so they could ride their bikes and scooters. Living in an apartment has its disadvantages, including lack of safe free space for such activities. Brandon needed to run an obstacle course for Cub Scouts, and the school playground provided the perfect backdrop—parallel bars, monkey bars, slides, and tunnels.

We went to the school playground, parking close to the basketball court and play structures. I timed Brandon for his “obstacle course” and then allowed the kids free time to do whatever they wanted, making as much noise as they wanted. Course, it wasn’t long before they decided to chase each other around, including up the twisting slide. I warned them a few times not to climb up when the other was going down—like they would listen!

As I watched in amusement, Mariah climbed up the twisty slide, knowing full well that her brother was waiting for her at the top, for just the right moment in which to launch himself down the slide. The moment came; Brandon started down the slide, and crashed right into his sister. She turned sideways, cracking the side of her head on the curved edge of the slide before rolling down to the bottom. The two paused briefly at the bottom of the slide, before Mariah let out a piercing scream. She ran to me, shrieking the whole ten yards. Hugging her close, I tried to calm her. Not seeing any obvious injuries, I was confident she’d just been scared. Then I noticed the blood dripping around my hand, which was cupping the side of her head in a hug. Pulling her hair back, I noticed a large split in the skin where her ear met her head. It was bleeding dramatically, but after a minute, I realized it was superficial.

I sent Brandon to the car, for my ever-present first aid kit (it pays to have kids in sports, I tell ya!) He came running back, unable to find the kit. I sent him back to the car for anything remotely tissue like, to stop the blood until we could drive the two blocks home for a proper cleaning. He came back, with a strangely familiar yellow package in hand. “Mom, this is tissue, right?” Yes sweetie, yes my spare maxi pad is tissue, at least for now! Not having anything else handy that was absorbent enough to do the job, I unwrapped the pad—which had wings!—and stuck that puppy right to my daughter’s head. We drove home, with me thankful that no other parents were on the playground that day to laugh at my poor little winged-pad covered girl.

Surpassing your parents

2009-04-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

We all want our kids to do better than we do, right? Achieve, succeed, excel? How do you think they will feel later when they really understand that they've surpassed us?

I have far exceeded what my parents did or had...I should be proud, right? I am, to an extent...but it also saddens me...that they just couldn't or wouldn't get over the hurdles they faced...I haven't even spoken to my mother in nearly a decade...but in recent emails, it has become clear that I am more...I don't even know what more! More educated? So what, she was the smartest mom ever, as long as we were together! More beautiful? She's self-deprecating and says that others comment on my "hotness" and she seems embarrassed about her appearance...I'm attractive, in my eyes, but I spent years telling her she was the prettiest Mommy ever, and that is all I see or remember...smarter? She worked three jobs and went to school while my dad worked nights so they could raise us in the most expensive and exclusive city on the West Coast...

I want my kids to be more, bigger, better, than what they knew in their childhoods, but I wouldn't wish this guilt or regret on them for the world...