So Here’s Me

Just what the world needs – another blog. I’m not sure anyone wants to read my innermost thoughts and feelings, much less hear my opinions on parenting, God and whatever happened to Steve from Blue’s Clues. But I need to write it anyway. I have all these words rattling around in my head, just waiting to be heard.

We have 3 daughters – each one is completely different from the other. There’s the dancer – practiced, disciplined, always training, and each time she performs it is an epiphany. Who IS this kid? Our often klutzy preteen working in unison with her dance company with such poise and grace.

Then there is our crazy inventor – she shines not through careful choreography, but in wild flights of fancy. Where does she come up with this stuff? She keeps us laughing, and constantly entertained.

Finally, our baby, who is definitely one of a kind. She can charm the socks off of you, if she sets her mind to it. She brings more joy and affection to our life than we ever could have imagined.

She does have one less than charming habit, however. Several times a day she begins the mantra “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom…”. When I answer and ask what she needs, she looks me straight in the eye and begins again. “Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom…” I wish I could say that I am filled with patience and moved by her obvious attachment to me, but mostly I feel my teeth clench and an inaudible growl of irritation in my throat (okay, mostly inaudible… most days).

If this blogging thing can do anyone any good, it is to reaffirm to myself what I know is true. She is not trying to bug me, she simply needs, not wants – NEEDS, my attention. In her case, a significant speech delay and a highly social personality exacerbate it, but don’t we all need the same thing? We are all hoping to be noticed. God has hard-wired us for self expression. This is why the world is full of art, music, architecture, gourmet food and yes, even reality t.v. We all need to be heard.

So here’s me – making room in my life for creativity, both in myself and those around me.