adventures of the miebs family: he's come so far.

"I speak from experience when I say that having children who are compliant can give you the false sense that you are an extraordinary specimen of a mother. And on the contrary, having strong willed children will have you convinced that you are not capable of parenting at all. I have both varieties in my little family. Until you’ve parented a strong willed child, it would be wise to save all your statements that start with “Well, if that was my child, I’d….”. Give people the benefit of the doubt and spend the time you might judge them–saying a prayer for them instead. This is no task for the faint of heart. And grace and mercy need abound."

maybe this won't affect you like it did me. i read this 2, 3, FOUR times until i had this overwhelming urge to spill some tears. and, not because i was having one of those days. no, not because jb had pushed all my little (and big) buttons, slapped my cheek or screamed at the top of his lungs for the 8th time that day for no apparent reason. no, we are beyond those times. i think. well, i hope. I PRAY. mr. jack has come so far. he's evolved into this funny little human, full of sweetness and question, wonder and love. i come snuggle you, mama. he knows when he's hurtful to his sister and is swift to apologize with a hug and a rubbing of the back. it'd be ok, duey. so, i see that my persistence in positive re-re-reinforcement has worked. is working. ok, so it's more like a constant work in progress. that's motherhood for ya, right? my moment of almost-crying was more about, ok, see? i'm not alone in my battle. and more importantly, it isn't going to always be this hard. that has sort of been my mantra through these past, oh, what - since jb was 15 months old? i remember kissing his naughty head of hair at bedtime, whispering to him (and myself) that tomorrow is a new day. and even now, i have to utter that sentiment. it's true. there's gonna be challenging days. the marvelous thing is that now, the good out-weight the ~~awful~~ not-so-good. by so, so, SO much. this sweet face is no longer just a sweet face.

i've had jack at the forefront of my mind these past few days (like he's never not?!) because i'm choosing to keep him home from school through these winter months. maybe indefinitely. (well, no, i don't mean i'll do homeschool, just no more daycare-school) this whole hand, foot, mouth disease really got to me. i know the "germ bags" (as our kind nurse referred to all kids) are gonna get sick. i'm under no illusion that by keeping jb home, he's receiving a pass on the ickies. really. i just try to think back to the reason he went to school in the first place - i couldn't handle him at home anymore. really. he was defiant, he was... oh, let's just not go there. revisit my blogs from the spring of 2010. i was seconds away from shaving my head and committing myself to a nice, little gated community next to providence. ok, ok, unfair. it wasn't that bad, but he was more than ready for some interaction with someone other than mrs. mama. he's already been out of school for 3 weeks. i know he misses his friends and his dear, sweet miss meadow, and that part makes me feel bad. but, bad enough to have a winter full of illnesses like this past spring, with back-to-back sinus infections and strep throat and let's not forget that fun little bout with pneumonia?! no thank you. (and i just knocked on wood, btw.) i'm feeling a little itchy and oogled-out as i type so let's just move this right along...

by now, you likely recognize his surprise face. sometimes, it's also his cheese face.

jackie has mastered the art of floor puzzles.

so in part of our at home studies (ha!), we ventured out to the zoo. i know i've said this before, but it's funny the transformations that take place in such a short amount of time. our first visit to the zoo, jack was strapped into the go-bug, trapped like all the ~~other~~ wild animals surrounding us. after a handful of visits, mama got brave: jack was free to run. and, run he did. barely stopping for his little sis and me. barely even looking at the animals. by the next spring, (this year) he would stop at each exhibit, and get really excited once he finally spotted the animals. and now, just 6 months later, he's asking questions. as in, whowhatwherewhenwhyhow questions. for. each. and. every. exhibit. i love his growing mind. it just shames me to not have the appropriate answers for his repeated questions of why dat stick just sittin down dere? see dat one, mama? see it? why down there? i just don't know. truly.

i almost titled this blog child abuse but feared it may have alerted certain social services peoples. but, that was my exact thought as i was shuffling into the zoo AND running out. it was a cold one today. like, 22 degrees cold. and blowing snow cold. our zoo is all outdoors, tucked on the hillside, in and out of heavily wooded birch trees but nicely groomed gravel (snowy) trails. often, when it's windy in town, you're rather sheltered at the zoo. but oh-so not the case today. one word for you: brrrrrrrr! i am a big-time weenie when it comes to the cold. i just don't like it. but, jackie has been begging to go, so we all dressed for the weather. layers and layers. normally, we wander up and around, down and over, sometimes back-tracking to look at the harbor seals again, taking all of 2 hours. stops for the potty, refuel on snacks, you get it. today's personal record of in and out: 42 minutes. jack even shivered his way into the go-bug to snuggle with dilly under the fleecey blanket. i'll have to rethink visiting the zoo when the thermometer is below freezing, especially 10 degrees below freezing. a warm truck sure feels like a crackling fireplace when your limbs are red with cold. i'm raising tough babies, that's for sure.