S.O.T.M. !

SOTM - Student of the month!

My baby's Student of the Month...just having a proud momma moment and wanted to share. The school organized a surprise luncheon for the children. A student from each grade was chosen as SOTM based on academic performance etc and the parents were invited to share the moment with their child.

Poor kids had no idea what they were walking into because the Principal escorted the group to a special room with no explanation...so imagine the shock of walking into a room with the PRINCIPAL then seeing your PARENTS!

Well soon afterwards they were relieved when they found out the lunch was in their honor.

Of course today I would have a bad hair day and I think when they took pics I might have some lettuce stuck in my teeth, but hey my son didn't care. His mom was there! (Although for the group photo he did whisper to me that I "better smile nicely because the picture's going to be on the school website")

"I'm not going if we're not shopping"...???...

(Not the actual photo from the convo but pretty much the saaaaame expression)

...this is what my son said when I told him I want to take him to the parade in the city for Thanksgiving. WHAT???? There are so many things wrong with this!

As his words reached my ears I felt my body go motionless, all but my head which spun around like I was the chic in the Exorcist! (not pictured here because I am terrified of horror movies)

Was I hearing correctly? WHAT?? Now please don't misunderstand, I am all for him having an opinion (which does not mean he gets his way but I do listen to what he has to say) and sometimes I let him decide if he wants to go certain places or not, but this was NOT one of those moments. So while I felt my head spinning on its axil, I had to remind myself to breathe, be calm but clear. We have never gone to the parade and I think it's something we should experience. Like I said to him, if he never wants to go back he doesn't have to, but at least he experienced it. (Mind you, he NEVER wants to go ANYWHERE and when he gets there this is the kid who doesn't want to leave!)

But what stood out to me more than his protest, was his snooty way of telling me that he was not going unless we were going shopping....excuuuuuuuuuuse me?????????? I wondered, "who's da brat and who would it hurt more if I knocked him into 2010?"

Now I confess, in my quest to ensure he enjoys all that life has to offer, I expose him to a variety of things...when we take vacations, we VACATION...we enjoy fine dining, we've been to plays, we go shopping, all that good stuff but the LAST thing I want to do is raise a brat!?! Firstly, like I always tell him, I ain't married to Diddy! I work my butt off in order for us to enjoy these things (uhh okay so if you've actually seen my butt, you'd beg to differ but I digress...)

I want him to travel and experience different cultures, I encourage him to try different foods, and I take him any and everywhere that I could afford to...but this response is totally unacceptable. This was when I pulled out the scroll with the long boring "that is not what life's about" blahblahblah parent speech. I'm sure he only heard "you're going!" (blanked out when I said we'll be visiting family and the rest of my monologue) and tuned back in when I said "and THEN we're coming home"...HOWEVER he will realize just how serious I am when he is in zero degree weather trooping with thousands others looking at stupid ass Dora and Spongebob balloons overhead! (honestly I hope the weather is nice that day)

Granted this is also a child who has to do well in school academically, be well-behaved and doesn't get what he wants JUST because he asks for it, or when he wants it because sometimes he doesn't.

What's even more stunning is that I go to great lengths to show him the flip side of the coin and to help others in need etc...where does this sense of entitlement come from? Well little does HE know that there will be more to it this Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am on a mission...and I will keep you posted on that!

Disclaimers: (1) No kids were hurt before or during the typing of this blog.
                   (2) Dora and the beloved Spongebob are in no real danger.

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

When I think of Thanksgiving, I IMMEDIATELY think of food! Do you?  (yes, I know I'm talking about food......again :)
I associate the holiday with yummy traditional food and hanging out with family and friends...immediate, extended and inherited.
Some of my fave dishes are my aunt Sherry's stuffing (and she holds on to that recipe for dear life!!), my great-grandmother's collard greens and her sweet potato pie (which I am CONVINCED has crack in it!)
And these are just SOME, ok?
Leave it up to Aunty Sherry and we'd be at her house from breakfast right through the weekend! (hey, no complaints here). We have such a good time there and let me tell you...she can cook her tiny heiny off!! I am not a fan of turkey so I am always elated to go to her house where it's not just the traditional dishes but so many other dishes to choose from...I mean it's really Thanksgiving HEAVEN!
People bar-hop...well I house-hop! I used to at least for T/giving, but now I have my own traditions with my son. Since neither of us care for the turkey, I tried lamb instead one year, and I was so proud when he actually REQUESTED that on the menu. (Can you picture my proud mom grin?) Looked something like this...

It feels really good to create these memories with him. To know that "Mom's cooking" and making his favorites?...I luv it!!! (Just in case you're wondering why I'm so happy about this, I DID NOT LIKE COOKING AT ALL! I learned how to especially for moments like these...and although I don't think I'd be the next Rachel Ray anytime soon, at least I know I could handle my own in the kitchen now.............insert applause here).

I absolutely LOVE the holidays! From Thanksgiving all the way into the New Year, I am ridiculously happy! (I already started playing Christmas music and my son has relegated that to the confines of our home...he told me that I am NOT allowed to play it in the car until AFTER Thanksgiving! Where is his mother? I have a thing or two to tell her) anyhoo...

I love everything about the holidays. The crisp winter air while you're shopping (translation: I'm peering through the window from the pavement) or the Christmas carols (sidenote: what's up with people wearing holiday sweaters????? That's another blog in itself) and visiting family or family visiting...whatever - I luv it all!

And while we're getting our grub on, let's remember to give thanks and give back. Although I am a firm believer in being thankful every day of our lives, no matter what we are going through, this holiday in particular reminds us even more so....to be thankful and to give to those less fortunate. Now during the year it's easy to get consumed in our own lives so I urge you this holiday to remember someone else. There are so many people who are homeless, jobless, who don't have families or loved ones to celebrate with, who are ill or depressed or whatever the case may be, and YOU can contribute in some way to make their life a little better.

Yes, we are facing a recession, times are tough and unpredictable but STILL there are SEVERAL ways in which we can help. Every year I organize a food drive. I ask each person to donate just one can/non-perishable item and I receive tremendous support. We've donated to churches and other organizations as a result. You can do the same in your community. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, help an elderly neighbour, or donate to your local places of worship or clubs etc. There is ALWAYS some way that we can help.

By the way, what's your favorite Thanksgiving memory/tradition? Leave a comment - I'm interested to hear it!

Have a Happy Blessed Thanksgiving !

MY mommy!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. She passed away when I was 3 years old...she lost her fight against breast cancer. I was so young that I didn't really get a chance to know her, but I still get a warm loving feeling every single year on her birthday.
I'm not sure how you could love someone you never really knew but I loved my mom. Maybe it was from all the stories I'd heard about her; how fiercely she loved me, how she took me practically everywhere she went, how beautiful she was, her pretty smile, or how she didn't need makeup because she was such a natural beauty, or even how much of a prankster she was (she once brought a dead bat into the house to scare her siblings!)...I dunno, I just loved her.

My beautiful mom

I used to miss her a lot more when I was younger...Mothers' Day...any day...every day that a little girl needs her mother...to pick her up from school...to talk to her about boys...even to be annoyingly overprotective as mothers can be....I longed for that so badly. Now that is not to take away, in any way, from the rest of my family who've been there for me. I must say that I was blessed with aunts and grandparents and close relatives that all loved me and contributed in some way, and I am forever grateful. It's just that sometimes nothing beats having your mom there, you know? (Ok MINUS the mommy dearests lol).

I sometimes wonder what life would have been like if SHE raised me. I could never understand how some daughters and mothers don't get along, while others are practically best friends. I wonder what kind of relationship my mom and I would have had.

I mean here she is trying to get through to me and clearly I'm not listening...I'm focused on my photo op! (see pic below)

Mommy and me

I know that everything happens for a reason, and for that reason alone I find comfort.

I now have the opportunity to share a life with my son. I have become the annoyingly overprotective mom, I give him waaaaaay too many kisses (and he has CLEARLY protested - believe me!! lol), I tell him I love him every single day and I try to be the best mom I could be. It's not always easy or fun, and sometimes I KNOW he wishes he could ship ME to Madagascar or somewhere but hey HE HAS TO DEAL WITH IT......at least until he moves out! lol

Me and my M

And by the way I was VERY proud of my baby pictures until one day I showed my brother-in-law who said I look like a baby hippo!

(The more I look at this pic I think I DO resemble the hippo from Madagascar ! That little s**t! lol)