Lessons Learned

Dear Little Tiger.

You taught me two lessons today.

The first.  That lying to you about future immunization shots just might be better than telling you the truth (sometimes even I wonder what I was thinking…).

The second.  That hugs (lots and lots of them) really do make anything all better.

I love you little one.

This is your day

Dear Little Bird.  Dear Little Tiger.

I’m having a rough time.  The sun hasn’t come out in a week and that means I’m less friendly, a tad grouchy and a heck of a lot less patient.  And these precious moments we have together are colored gray and gloomy like the sun-less sky.

This morning I sat down in front of my “happy” light and searched for encouragement in my books.  I’m not willing to let this darkness stick around.  And not long into my search it was Hope I discovered.

A very long time ago, a man named Paul (you’ll learn more about him as you get older) wrote to a group of people who also needed some encouragement.  He wrote to them about a conversation he had with Jesus (someone you’ve been singing about in preschool).  In a moment of great weakness for Paul, Jesus assured him that,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

I’m not going to let discouragement darken my day any more than it already has.    I admit my weakness today and trust in the power of a grace promised.  I tuck the assurance of strength close to my heart.  And slowly our moments begin to sparkle with a little more color.

And I get up from the table and start breakfast for you with a feeling of hope.  I am excited to have another day with two of my favorite, happy little girls.  Embrace my weakness.  Forget the gloomy sky.  Let’s go out and color some rainbows.  Hope is here.  Grace is enough.  Strength has been promised.

Ladies, it’s our day.

It’s good to have a sister

Dear Little Bird.  Dear Little Tiger.

One thing I want you to know is this.  Your sister is the only sister you are ever going to have.

Love her.  Be generous with her.  Let her play with your favorite toy sometimes.  Tickler her.  Tell her secrets.  Make sure she is okay when you accidentally jab her in the face with your elbow.  She’s the only friend that will stick by you no matter what.  Even if she doesn’t always like you she will always love you.

It’s precious what you have – each other.

One of my favorite things about you

The best things in life are silly – Scott Adams

Lucky Ducks

Dear Little Bird.  Dear Little Tiger.

Just wanted to let you know.  I love your dad.  A lot.  Like tons.  And I am so glad that you get to know him.  Before we had kids, I remember thinking, “I sure hope we have kids.  Someone has got to have Mike as a dad.  He’s amazing.”  And look at the two of you.  You got to have Mike as a dad.  You are two lucky ducks.

The man is patient and creative and adventurous and generous and always has a ton of compliments to give – just what ever girl needs.  Let me tell you, the man knows women.  Even better than a woman knows women.  I often wonder how he does that.

I’ve certainly got more to tell you about how wonderful your dad is but we’ll save it for when you are older.  When we start talking about the men you should date and avoid and all that stuff.  Let’s hope that is a long way off, right?

Auntie Throws a Mean Snowball

Dear Little Bird.

A bit of advice about Auntie.  She plays for reals.  Just because you are only four-years-old doesn’t mean she’ll throw the snowball any gentler.  Nope, she’ll throw it at you just as hard.  So next time we have enough snow to make a snowball, make sure you have one in your hand first.  And don’t let the fact that she’ll probably get upset with you stop you from throwing it.  Make sure you get a little snow down the back of her jacket too.

PS. I’m sorry I let you cry for so long while I was fumbling around trying to get my camera to snap your picture. The photographer in me just couldn’t help it.   Sorry about that.

2/27 Let me clarify – Auntie did not intentionally try to hurt Little Bird.  Some readers have expressed concern.  Auntie is a very gentle woman who loves her nieces dearly.

How To Ride a Skateboard or Really, Do Anything

Dear Little Bird.

You sure love your skateboard, the same board I used to cruise around Portland on.

You were fun to watch yesterday.  I should have had my camera with me.  Laying on the board as you rolled around, sitting on the board trying not to crash into your sister, crouching and then standing on the board, perched on the end holding your balance and coasting… backwards.

And then falling.  Scraping your wrists.  Bleeding and crying and hugging.  And then our ritual of taking care of scrapes.  Soap and water, cream and your favorite Hello Kitty band-aids.

I hope you get back on the skateboard.  Don’t let the scrapes and the tears and the painful bits stop you.  I’ve seen too many loved ones, including myself, stop learning and living out of fear.

Fear of pain.  Of looking silly.  Of failing.  Of learning the truth.  Fear of having to change.

Don’t be like that.  This is how to ride a skateboard or really, do anything:  Try it.  If you fall, get back on.  If it scares you, ask for help.  If it hurts, let it heal.  But don’t stop.  Keep trying.  Before you know it, you’ll have learned how to ride your skateboard.

And truly, you’ll have learned how to live life well.

The same goes for toothpaste

Dear Little Bird.  Dear Little Tiger.

Remember that thing with the three bags of cereal + one bag of chips?  Remember the advice  I gave you about putting something where it does not belong?

The same goes for toothpaste.  I know, I know, you’d think the two are completely unrelated.  However, I am here to assure you that just like cereal that should only be poured in a bowl, toothpaste should only be put on a toothbrush.

Not on the toilet.

Really.  Squeezing as much toothpaste out of the tube as quickly as you can before I turn back around – not really that cool.  I consider it unsanitary.  Not to mention a bit messy. And rather wasteful.

I will admit that squiggles of toothpaste do look kinda cool on a toilet seat.  It’s got a type of artsy-feel to it.  I get that.  But let’s not make this a habit.

Toothpaste only goes on the toothbrush.

Be Kind to Your Garbage Disposal

Your dad has unclogged the garbage disposal about four times in the last six months.  It’s not his favorite thing to do but he graciously takes the disposal apart, cleans it out, puts it back together and then reports back to me what NOT to put down it.

For the sake of your future dish washing happiness, please take note.  Do not throw the following things into the garbage disposal (even if you think no one will ever find out):

• beans
• tuna fish
• rice
• pasta
• onions
• carrot peels

I give you this advice because I love you and care about your future well being (and that of your housemate, partner or spouse’s).  Truly.

How To Open a Hard-to-Open Jar

Dear Little Bird.  Dear Little Tiger.

A word of advice.

When you can’t open a jar with a lid on it, just take the handle of a knife and whack the lid a few times.  That should do the trick.

If that fails, call out to a stronger person for help.