Anyway, the blog has backed up, so to speak, and I've been looking forward to the moment I can write without feeling guilty that I should be working, sleeping, or playing with Andrew instead. Andrew's asleep, sleep will be soon for me, and work is finished for now.
At the same time, I've been thinking about how to tell my family how much I love and appreciate them, especially during weeks like this, when they've all been pulling double and triple shifts on the Andrew front.
So, killing two birds with one stone (how very Working Mom of me), here's my thank you to my family.
Dear Mom, Dad, and Ali,
"He's your kid," people tell me all the time. You say it too.
Sometimes it means he has my eyes and nose and mouth and curls. Sometimes it means I get to be in charge and everyone will abide by my decisions.
It never means he's my problem. It never means I made my bed and have to lie in it.
The five of us live in three dwellings but one home. Our home is one where aunts give baths so moms can lie down for 15 minutes. Where grandmas stay home from work with sick kids so moms can go to work. Where grandpas transform scary rooms into safe, special places. Where everybody understands the love we give the baby now is the love he will give his own family later. And where nobody knows to do any different.
I hope Andrew never knows any different, either.
Love,
Jennifer
P.S. from Andrew: Ditto.
4 comments:
I read a joke recently that said, "They say it takes a village to raise a child, but no one ever says where it is or how to get there."
You and I are both fortunate enough to have just such a village, and good ones at that! I don't know how working mothers do it otherwise.
Andrew,
Even though I'm writing this now, it is really meant for that time in the future when you read these entries.
You are a part of a very special family. We all love and care about each other ALWAYS. Your Mom has expressed it so perfectly in this posting.
Hopefully, you will continue this with your family. As the saying goes, "pay it forward"
By the way, not only is your Mom a great Mom and a wonderful sister and daughter, she's also a very special writer. This posting brought tears to my eyes.
Love now and always,
Grandpa joe
Totally about to cry.
Andrew,
Your great-aunt Barbara, who is Grandpa Joe's sister, and also great-aunt Linda's sister and also great-aunt Fran's sister, tried to add a comment to this blog, but Google did not want to play nicely with her. So, she sent her comment to Grandpa Joe, and I'm posting it for her. All the stuff under the dashes (- - - -) is from her
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Recently, I told Grandpa Joe and Grandma Sivi how impressed I was by Jennifer’s writing. I’m glad that others are remarking on it.
I remember how, when both Ali and Jennifer were young - and each had a room of her own - their greatest delight was in being allowed the special treat of sleeping in the same bedroom. So I believe that the lesson of family was taught well by Joe and Sivi. It’s wonderful that Andrew will be the third generation to carry this on.
I had always considered Jennifer an extremely bright person, and now, after reading this entry, I also see how very wise she is.
Proud Auntie Barbara
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