Posts tagged ‘parenting’
Recently I was asked to be a god-mother, a role I am honored to take. It means I get to be like my god-mother was to me, someone who always gave me a special card and took a general interest in my well-being. And to put my own personal spin on god-parenting I painted a picture for my new special girl.
I titled it Room to Grow because over the last couple weeks I had been reading a lot about the things a person needs to live up to their potential. It made me realize that a person (of any age) needs the freedom and space to explore, try, fail, win, love, and grieve….. I have watched my own daughter grow and change a lot in the two years she’s been with us. I have grown up a lot myself and I know I have more to do.
This painting is for anyone who wants to make a little room in their life.
Memorial Day just brought in what is sure to be one of the most appreciated summer vacations of my life. I wish everyone could have time off like this and still make a living wage. As much as teaching kicks my butt I thank my hard earned and lucky stars I can operate under the traditional summer break of the education world.
The other day I found out my daughter had never had a root beer float before. I thought it an appropriate summer kick off to take her out for her very first one. That is one of the perks of being and adoptive parent to an “older” child; things like this pop up and you get to have milestone celebrations you never imagined.
Vacations, root beer floats, swimming, sleeping in like you’re 14 years old….this is the good life I haven’t appreciated in years. What would make your summer the best it could be?
PS: I’m offering a great summer deal in my Etsy store. Use this coupon for the entire month of June on anything you want!
Hi again!
It’s me, Lauren. Sorry I’ve been a little blogless lately. I’ve just been painting my little heart out and you know, working a full time job and trying to be a good parent. Other than that…I’ve been watching a whole lot of Mary Tyler Moore on dvd. I know, it’s a little random.
But it’s hilarious and beautiful and inspiring also, Mary Tyler Moore that is. She’s got spunk you know. (Go ahead….say you hate spunk!)
Well, I hope you’re doing okay. Thanks for reading and let me know which of those paintings you like the most up there. I’ve been going in all different directions and love to hear your feedback.
Till next time 
Lauren
Today I read this post by a parent who I have come to know via internet blog world. It really choked me up a little. And it got me thinking about my experience becoming a mom. I didn’t birth a baby physically. I never had cravings or fat face, no achy back or screaming on a hospital bed in front of strangers and loved ones. I met my daughter online. Truly. When not getting pregnant was getting to be more than I could stand emotionally I knew what I wanted. I knew I wanted to be a parent no matter what it was going to take. If I was going to parent another woman’s child I would. So we adopted.
There are hundreds of children in the foster care system who need families. You can see for yourself here. My daughter was in the care of the state but really in the care of a wonderful and loving foster family. It makes me feel good about the world to know there are people out there who are willing to foster children who have no other home to go to.
The post I read was about that moment when your child is born and they make you hold it for the first time. I am sure that is a beautiful unforgettable experience. I will never have that. But millions of other people in the world will never have the experience that I had when I met my daughter, a whole person already at 7 years old, and she grabbed me by the hand and said “Hi Mom!”
Once upon a time there was a little 8 year old girl who believed in mermaids.
She wraps her legs in blankets and ties her feet with belts. She mentions daily that she still wants a mermaid tail for her birthday (5 months away). She holds nightly dinner discussions about the science of living on both land and at sea.
I decided it was time to pull out the crafty mom card! Presenting the handmade mermaid princess….. Read more
Macaroni and Cheese Soap by LoveleeSoaps on Etsy
It’s been a year now since my daughter came into my life and changed it forever. I can remember this time last year in early spring when things were just beginning to change – but I was not noticing the smell of blooming bushes or the sun being up just a hair longer each day. I was freaking out. I had a bedroom to paint, kid clothes to buy, and nothing but questions rolling around in my head like “Are my dishes too big? What if she can’t fall asleep? What if she doesn’t get along with my dog? What shirt should I wear when we meet again? What if she drinks soda after 3pm? What if…what if…what if….”
I’m Lauren and I am 29. I married my husband, D, in 2006. We got a dog, Buffy, that same year. Life was good. But a little empty…. so in March 2010 we bought our first home. Then a week later we found out we would be adopting our daughter, T, who at the time was 7. That summer my stepdaughter, S, moved in from out of town to go to college. Then a few weeks later she got a dog I got a dog. So in less than one year my family has doubled. It’s a crazy-estrogen infused living situation but it definitely doesn’t feel “empty” anymore.
