$6

His name was "Mike"
Standing outside the mall entrance.
Kids and I tried to hurry inside
before he asked if I had some spare change
Said he was hungry
I told him I didn't carry cash
and hurried the children through the mall entrance
I stopped
Looked back
"What's wrong mommy?"
"The man is hungry"
I told the children to wait as I walked back outside
I walked up to him
I told him I didn't carry cash
but I had no problem buying him lunch.
He thanked me, and we both walked inside
We exchanged names, handshakes and smiles.
I told him to get whatever he wanted.
Pizza
and a drink
We all sat together and talked.
He lost his job
And desperately looking for a new one
Has a kid back in Arizona
He's just a kid himself he seems
He's fairly new to the area.
Not sure where to go
Gave him suggestions and my number
He finished his meal
much faster than we did.
He must have been starving.
He thanks me again for the meal
and the company
and the help
He's so polite
and well-mannered.
The kids and I wish him luck.
It was only $6
...but the feeling
of helping another
in a way I had never
done before ~
was priceless

Metaphorical Mixup

Among all the wonderful reasons I love children (especially my own), a constant source of laughter is one of the tops. 

Just the way they interpret things in their own little innocent minds is a fool-proof way to bring a smile to one's face, in this case, it brought a bowlful of laughter to boot. 

Recently, my youngest daughter has had a hard time dealing with a certain schoolmate's unkindness. Oh, the times I wish I had a magic wand and make it all better for her are too numerous to mention. Kids will be kids and unfortunately, we have to deal with the "bullies" in life. I often wish I could just become small like her and be her best friend on the playground and protect my little angel, I have to jerk myself back to reality and provide the best guidance I can for her. 

One particular day, after I picked up two youngest kiddos from school, we were headed out of the parking lot when all of the sudden my daughter, Marissa, almost started crying telling me about her latest ordeal. Her brother and I listened patiently  to her story. I calmly tell her that even though people can be mean and cruel at times, it's best to still try to be kind when you have to deal with them. She must avoid the other child as much as she can and to be the better person and treat others positively but to also not let people run all over her. Then I tell her, "you just have to kill her with kindness" Her brother pipes in with "Yeah, Rissa, kill her with kindness!!" along with his own list of suggestions. 

Marissa sat back looking thoughtful when I quickly glanced back at her in my rear-view mirror as I drove on home. After what seemed like a very deep thoughtful process, she finally responds by asking, "You mean I hafta put niceness on a fork and stab her???"

Her brother and I just burst into laughter .... I forget how sometimes I've got to explain things without so much metaphorical lingo to such tender and innocent youth.

the bully situation was dealt with and Marissa has since learned to handle herself quite well. She was 6 at the time

..now 8.

Pootin'-nanny

Originally posted in an old blog which was blasted from the web universe by

the Evil Corporate Empire in a galaxy far far away

{Monday, November 13, 2006}

Kids,

Brutally honest little devils they can be sometimes.

After having 3 kids I thought there was nothing more that they could

possibly say or do to embarrass me in public. I am continually proven wrong.

My daughter and I set out to our local drug store to buy a few of this-and-thats.

We were standing in one aisle as I was reading over the label of a snack item

to see just what I was going to be eating when I noticed we had a

potential member of an audience join us in the aisle.

Without fail, my 4 year old daughter says (quite loudly), "Mom! You pooted!!"

without missing a beat I nonchalantly answer, "Not this time darling"

"oh yes you DID!", she argues.

"I most certainly did not, that was you lil miss stink butts"

at this point she seems a bit distressed that she could not pin the offense on me.

I still see our "audience" is with us from the corner of my eye when

I am overtaken by an odor most foul.

"Gag a maggot, 'Riss! You're gonna kill someone with that one!"

Poor dear was near tears when I suddenly realize my daughter's innocence.

As I glance up to see that we are still not alone,

I see a little older lady high-tailing it around the corner.

I quickly give my daughter a hug and tell her I was sorry and that I did not think it either of us. I felt so bad for the little old lady and the embarrassment she had just endured

as well as blaming the crime on my daughter which she was completely innocent (this time).

We quickly finish our little shopping adventure and proceed to the checkout.

Just when I thought the worst was over:

My daughter is tugging on my arm as the cashier scans the last item.

"MOM!", she says in her not so whispery voice "there's the stinky lady!!"

I look up in horror and see that the culprit is right behind us in line.

I quickly swipe my card, wish the cashier a good day, grab my daughter

and our bags and quickly leave the store.

Candy bar for peace offering: .99

2 drinks: $2.49

Dove candy bar to help with my guilt: $1.89 (( i bought 2!! ))

the look on the stinky ladies face: PRICELESS!

When I Am Gone

I do not know how the subject came up but it certainly got me thinking about death, dying, funerals and actually how I would like my funeral to be.

My daughter, who is 7 now, has come to the realization of mortality. She began telling me that she never wants me to die and that she is scared. I told her that God willing, I will be around for a very long time and if I can have it my way I will wait for her to go and we will go up to our Creator together in a blur of white feathers and before we leave this earth we will fly around a few times and play a game of chase and while we are at it we will take a world tour together. I held her hand and we acted it out ~ pretending that I am very old and ready to die and while I am waiting for her I start asking her "Are you ready to go yet?" to which she replies, "no" and then we pretend a little more and I ask her again if she is ready...YET? and then she answers "okay, I am ready" and I blurt back to her "FINALLY!" We then hold hands and pretend to fly away from our lives here on earth.

Now, I know this is not realistic and no, I do not but fantastic ideas into her head that this is the way death is. This is only a small enactment of one way of settling her mind while also telling her the facts that although there is an end to life, I do not want her to fear it right now. We talk about her feelings and I validate them and after the serious talk is over, we then play it out and it works as far as the keeping this delicate yet inevitable subject all children face from preoccupying her.

Our discussion then led us to talking about how sad funerals are and how much we miss the people who touched our lives and have since passed on. My daughter and my youngest son both made comments about people crying and it made them feel sad for them as well. At that time I felt the need to let it be known that when I do die, even though their hearts will be heavy with grief, I wanted them to please promise me when they are at my funeral, instead of crying I want them to find some laughter. I want them to think of all the things I have done or said that made them laugh. I want them to celebrate my life though I know that they will be grieving my loss. I also told them that I will be there with them in spirit and I will be watching to make sure that they are having a party after my death and if they felt the wind against their cheeks, it will be me blowing them kisses. I want them to share special memories of our adventures. We began to share ideas of how we would accomplish the celebration of my life and memories. That is why now as long as I am living I try my best to create the memories that my children will cherish forever because they will not happen on their own. They both acknowledged that there would be lots of tears but they both promised that they would do their best to make it as happy as possible.

So, that's what I want for my funeral. Yes, this is not an easy subject at all when we have to face the 'what ifs' life has to throw in our paths that may cut it short but hopefully we will be able to live our lives to the fullest. I feel better in just knowing that my children are very much aware of how much I love each one of them and I do hope that they can find the strength when the time comes to go ahead and dance, laugh and whatever else they can do at my funeral to keep it light and bright even though that just might be one of their darkest days.

formspring.me

What TV show makes you laugh the loudest?

IF I ever get a chance to watch TV I would have to say that The Office throws me into a fit of giggles. Just the mere mention of Steve Carrell creates a vision of his character "Evan" bursting out "caca poo poo" during his news cast in the movie Bruce Almighty. Yeah, Im into humor like that.

Ask me anything