Excuse me while I talk to myself

You are the big person.  He is the little person. He takes cues from you because you are the big person. Although biology would say he is 5 1/2, he is more like 3 1/2.  If you remember that every minute, you will all be happier. It’s your job to remember because you are the big […]

A Lesson in Humility

Nine years ago we gave birth to the perfect child. He came out examining the world and hasn’t stopped since. He didn’t cry much but he didn’t sleep much either. He talked early.  He walked early. He is the best best big brother ever. He loves people–the more the merrier. I’ll admit.  We take great […]

Quotables

Our neighborhood (like many others) has a Santa who comes via fire truck a couple days before Christmas to deliver candy canes. MIA (whispering):  Mom, I’m whispering because I don’t want PJ to hear.  I know Santa isn’t real but how does he do it? MELISSA:  Do what? MIA: Get to all the houses in […]

Decoding Ty

Five years ago, even though we didn’t know it, our bouncy, pouncy, Ty-ger of a child entered the world albeit 15 weeks early.  He joined our family at 2 1/2 years old and our lives haven’t been the same. Unlike our other two, he didn’t respond to cause-effect discipline or intuitively learn anything.  We still […]

Takeaways from a week with 3 extra kiddos

Sometimes even a 15 passenger van (ours actually just has 11 seatbelts right now) isn’t big enough.  We actually had to take two vehicles to go Christmas tree hunting. Everyone needs a chance to hunt for and cut down a live Christmas tree. Needing to fell the tree must be an inherent male trait. Having 6 kids […]

{#46} I wish kids didn't have ages

Because November is National Adoption Month, I’d be remiss in not blogging about it or at least giving an update on Ty (and our current adoption process). On paper, Ty’s almost 5.  There’s one camp that see him as 5 and expect him to act that way.  They lay out how he should be acting based […]

Mom Titles

So as someone who does not  have an office outside her home and who is her children’s primary educator, the best society seems to be able to offer in terms of titles are “stay-at-home” and “homeschooling” mom.  While these terms may accuratelydescribe some moms, they just don’t do it for me.  Remember this post? I’d […]

How Ty Hears the World

Nearly every night Mia ends her prayer with “and I pray for everything I am missing. Amen.”  She’s a little paranoid and likes to cover her bases.  One night Ty prayed for a toy Mia had lost weeks ago.  It seemed out of place but Ty is usually pretty random so we let it slip.  […]