Little Bird

Alex got in the mini van after school and pulled out his folder.  He showed me a picture of a bird he made and I said, "Wow, buddy, you did a great job!"  He said, "I don't like it."  I said, "Why?" He shrugged his shoulders and said, "One of the boys told me that my bird was small and everyone else did their birds bigger." I said, "Well, there are plenty of small birds in the world."  He said, "Yeah, but no one else did a little bird like me."  I said,  "Alex, do you want to be like every one else?" He sat there for a minute and said, "No, I'm Alex.  I want to be Alex."  I said, "Okay.  It's cool to do things your own way and not like every one else.  Your bird is different.  That's a good thing.  In a room full of large bird pictures don't you think some pictures of small birds are needed?"  Alex smiled and said, "Yes, it would be weird if there were only big birds."  I said, "See? You shouldn't let one person make you dislike something you've put hard work into."  He looked at his picture again and said, "So you really like my bird?"  I said, "Like it?  No, I love it!"  A huge smiled spread across Alex's face and he said, "Thanks, mom."

It occurred to me that we could all use a lesson in this from time to time; a reminder, if you will.  Let's all remember the little bird picture--and how it is JUST as important as the bigger bird pictures.

Blessed With Gremlins!

Alex having his eyes checked this afternoon.  He picked out some cool, new specs too!

My calendar has appointments bleeding all over it.  I kid you not.  Most days there is something on the calendar, eye doctor for one child, well child appointment for another, appointments for referrals, evaluations, specialists, surgery, follow-ups.  Our children's appointments keep me busy.

Today, as we waited for Alex to have his eyes examined, he sat in the play area with his little sister and played with her.  He was very helpful. He was very respectful to everyone he encountered, listened to instructions, and answered questions honestly without any goofing off or silliness. He tried on quite a few pairs of frames before finding a cool rusty brown looking pair that he loved.  He looked in the mirror, smiled, and said, "Cool! Mom, can I get these?  Please?"  So, that is what we got.  We walked out to the van, Alex staying close to me as I fought with this little sister who was kicking and screaming because I pulled her away from the giant Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls in the waiting room.  We got in the van and Alex said, "Thanks, mom."  I said, "For what?"  He said, "For taking us to all these different places to get us what we need like glasses and medicine and stuff like that."  I said, "That's my job."  He said, "I know, but I just want to say, 'thank you."  I turned and smiled at him and said, "You are VERY welcome, honey."  He smiled back, unbuckled (we were still parked in the parking space) and lunged at me, wrapping his arms around my neck and laying his head on my shoulder. "I love you, mom."

Have I mentioned that I love my gremlins?  Even the little ornery one who throws tantrums in public and whacks me with her cast.  LOL  Today I am feeling very blessed to have such amazing kids and very thankful that they DO notice all I do for them (at least some of the time). ;)