Wednesday, February 29, 2012

So many thoughts that run through my head on any given day - so many moments thinking "Must remember to blog about this!" And yet, it's been almost a month since I've updated. Again. Sorry.

In the interest of using the blog to remember important milestones, here's a quick update.

This is the week that Maggie had her first "fight" with her friends. I certainly had my fair share of friend drama when I was in school - but I don't remember it starting until 4th-5th-6th grade. This is pretty crazy in 2nd grade! It actually started last week when Maggie was out Monday afternoon for the doctor ( remind me to blog about the wart story!) Her "best" friend spent the afternoon being "best friends" with another common friend and then the next day Maggie felt left out. No biggie. We talked about it briefly and let it be.
Until this morning when we were talking during breakfast. I had been at work last night, so I was getting the update about yesterday. All the usual topics, no big deal, until Maggie blurted "Lauren and Makenna were so mean to me it really hurt my feelings and now they aren't going to be my friends anymore because they say I'm too mean!"

Sigh. Really?

So we talked a little more, and then moved on. Because what can you say to an 8 year old? What do you say when her friends tell her she's mean because she has snow pants and they don't? I left it at, you can only control your own feelings and your own actions. You can't make another person play with you. You can just work on bring the nicest person you can be, and play with other people who are nice as well. (We use the terms "Bucket-fillers/dippers" based on a book Chris read for school) I reminded her that she's been friends with these girls for a long time and she'll continue to be friends with them, but sometimes, it's OK to take a break.

I don't know the right answers. And I know the questions/conflicts are only going to get 'harder' as she gets older. I really thought I had a year or 2 before she'd get so involved in the girl-drama.


Saturday, February 4, 2012


Today was Maggie's First Reconciliation. She's been quite laid back about it, seeming totally relaxed anytime I mentioned it.

In the car on the way there, Chris and I were quizzing her a bit - but she got almost all the answers right, like it was no big deal.

So it surprised me, and made me want to both laugh and hug her tight when she turned to me, with panic in her eyes, just before the children were called to the front of church, and whispered "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY!"

I said, "There's a card on the chair, just follow the words, and the priest will help you."

And she replied, still with panic, "BUT WHAT ARE MY SINS?"

Luckily, she was sent to Fr Bob, our Pastor, so that put her at ease. (There were 4 other priests there who were unfamiliar to her)

Yes, I was that Mom and I snapped this picture. But you can see I was far enough away that while the picture was taken, it was not an invasion of her privacy. Blurry due to distance and no flash.


Her face was completely relaxed as she walked back to our pew and she beamed with pride that she survived.

I still remember her Baptism like it was yesterday, how can she already be so grown up?