Filed under: Holidays, The Buffington Southern Experience | Tags: Holidays, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Lexington, Memorial Day
Just popsicles and slip ‘n slides. Oh, and one neighborhood potluck picnic with some of our favorite neighbors since moving to Lexington. That was the extent of our holiday weekend, and we were just fine with that. With Rydan’s school officially out for the summer, this was the perfect kickoff to our first summer in Lexington.
It was three straight days of the slip ‘n slide, and then we were off to our picnic Sunday evening. As we shopped for our watermelon that afternoon (among other things) to take to the picnic, I received a very heartfelt voicemail that left me frozen and in tears next to the automotive aisle. It was from a very good friend in Pennsylvania. She was offering to take flowers to my pap’s grave at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery because she knew this was something I did every Memorial Day. My pap was a Veteran, who had fought in the Army during the Korean War. After his passing in 2000, I’ve made a habit of taking him a red rose every Memorial Day. I love visiting at this time of year because of the patriotic spirit you feel as you drive through the grounds. There are thousands of flags decorating the lawns, and it just takes your breath away.
As I listened to that voicemail, I didn’t know what made me cry more… the fact that I have a friend who knows me this well and would do something like that for me without me asking, or that it was the day before Memorial Day and I hadn’t yet thought about the fact that this is the first year in eleven that I wouldn’t be able to take my red rose to my pap’s grave. This would have been the first year that Lily would be with me. Last year she was sleeping in the car. The year before that was the first time that Rydan was with me, and the year before that was the first for Ryan. I never stay long. Just long enough for him to know that I’m there and to silently reflect on all of the changes in my life since my last visit. This year’s change is that big that I can’t be there to tell him about it.
I felt so horrible about not thinking about my Memorial Day visit until I received that voicemail yesterday, but it was Ryan who reminded me that I still had one more day. After beating myself up about it, I realized he was probably right. I would have remembered. Being in Lexington, it’s hard not to think about the things we used to do on certain holidays simply because this is the first time that we aren’t doing them. But… that’s okay, because we’re doing new things. Doing new things doesn’t make you forget the old traditions. In fact, it makes you appreciate them and cherish them even more.
As you are picnicking with your family and friends today, I ask that you remember those who have fought for our country. My pap never talked about his time in Korea, but he didn’t have to. Sometimes the unspoken is easier to communicate and in turn, easier to understand.
Filed under: Childrens' Books, Reading | Tags: Children, Childrens' Books, Education, Reading, Summer Vacation
It’s hard to believe that Rydan has just three days left of school. With school starting here in mid-August, kids get an earlier start to their summer than what Rydan was used to in Pennsylvania. Today is Field Day, Tuesday is a day off, and then he’ll officially begin summer vacation on Thursday when he steps off the bus at 2:45pm. I know he is very excited to sleep in, watch Monday Night Raw, visit the community pool, and spend time with his neighborhood friends.
In the mix of that, I hope to keep his reading skills sharp. That’s why today I’m sharing a few lists of recommended children’s books, so that you can keep your own bookworms reading over the summer too.
Here’s a great list to start reviewing. It’s the Top 100 Children’s Books of All Time. How many are in your child’s library? We have 17 of them, but I’m pretty sure we’ve read almost half of the books on the list. Rydan brought many of them home from his school library. This is a really helpful list if you’re looking for some old favorites that you might have forgotten about. Our personal favorites on this list are Goodnight Moon, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, The Going To Bed Book, Stellaluna, The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, The Runaway Bunny, Rainbow Fish, and Miss Nelson Is Missing.
Next, it’s 75 Books That Build Character. This list is sure to have some new titles to check out, and they’re also great conversation starters about important life lessons.
And though I’m not a very big advocate for entertaining kids with technology instead of playing outside, visiting local attractions, or reading together, I realize that certain forms of technology can be very beneficial to kids. That’s why I’m sharing this last list, The 40 Best iPad Apps For Young Learners. As noted in the introduction to this list, “For every Angry Birds there’s an educational game out there to improve your child’s mind.” These appps do just that.
To all of my Mommy readers, I hope you all had a very special Mother’s Day!
On Friday, Rydan came home from school with a “bouquet” of flowers made out of his hands and three chocolate-covered strawberries for me. He had strict instructions, though… I was not allowed to eat the strawberries until Mother’s Day.
Then yesterday, Ryan and the kids surprised me with cards, the newest book from my favorite author, a letter “B” bookmark, and a gift card to a day spa here in Lexington. This Mommy is so looking forward to a much needed visit to the spa. What a perfect gift. We also enjoyed dinner at Applebee’s followed by some Orange Leaf frozen yogurt, where all mommies received half off.
Rydan also wrote a letter to me at school, which he kept in his backpack until Mother’s Day.
It reads “Dear Mom, Mom I love you and you love me. Have a Happy Mother’s Day. So if you love me hug me. Sincerely, Rydan.”
In honor of Mother’s Day, I want to call attention to a book that Lily recently discovered. It’s called Thank you, God For Mommy, by Amy Parker. I believe it was gifted to Lily at my baby shower, but there is no inscription, so if the person who bought the book is reading this, please let me know. I want to thank you! Lily and I have been reading this book daily for the past two weeks.
If you don’t have this one in your collection, go buy it! In the book, a little panda thanks God for all of the special things his mommy does – from the hugs to the lullabies to the boo-boo kisses, the message of this book is simple but oh so powerful, as it focuses on a mommy’s unconditional love for her children.
Motherhood is without a doubt the best thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s taught me so many things, but my top three would be 1.) patience 2.) a new depth of love, and 3.) to appreciate time. I don’t know that any woman ever completely masters being a mother, but there’s something inside of us that makes us able to adapt to our children’s needs and be the best we can be each day. In doing so, we learn as we go and we become better. There certainly are days where I feel like a failure, or where I go to bed not remembering what I did all day long, but simply knowing that my kids are healthy and happy reminds me that I’m doing at least something right. It only takes a “Love you” from Rydan or feeling Lily’s tiny arms wrapped so tightly around my neck to remind me how happy and fulfilled these two little people have made me. So my message to the mommies reading right now is this… give yourself the credit you deserve, take a breath, hug your little ones, and remember that your children adore you just the way you are.
Thank you, Rydan and Lily, for making my life so meaningful every single day. I love you!
