Robin | Farewell Stranger

Four going on 16

August 2, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

Earlier this week while we were getting Connor ready to go to day camp I grabbed his hat and plopped it on his head. He immediately whipped it off and turned it around so that it was on his head backwards. He actually looked pretty cute, especially with the bit of hair sticking out the front, so I told him I wanted to take a picture of him.

This is what I got:

He just turned four. At least I think he did. Either that or we’ve had some sort of time warp and this is my teenager.

It does sort of feel like a glimpse of the future. (Oh, this kid is definitely going to define his own style as he gets older.) I mean, what’s with the face? He’s gone from doing that cheesy grin – scrunched eyes and big, all-teeth smile – to this. Backwards hat, menacing look, tongue out. And a Lego police car retrofitted with extra-wide wheels and a spear. All attitude, baby.

Is it because we buy him Lego with bad guys? Is he influenced by subtle messages in kids’ TV shows?

Nah. I think it’s just because he’s four going on 16.

My only consolation is that the day after this when I tried to drop him off at day camp he wouldn’t go. He rubbed my wrist as we went in the door and then wanted me to pick him up. While we waited to go in he buried his face in my skirt and then sat on my lap and hid his face in my neck. I got him as far as the sign-in door but that was it. He would NOT go in. He cried and cried and asked to go home, and this went on until I finally decided not to force it and we left. That was the first time we’ve ever had a problem getting him to go somewhere without us. Oh sure, he’s been nervous and a bit shy at times, but he’s never outright refused to go. (And then the next day he trotted right in there like the meltdown of the century had never happened.)

Forget 16. He’s four going on…four. And I kind of like him that way.

Filed Under: Conversations with Connor, Motherhood · Tagged With: meltdown, photos, toddlers are weird

Finding Inspiration in Athletes

July 31, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

I know, I’ve been a little slack with the posting lately. I blame it on the weather – it makes Hector hot and that makes me tired so I’ve been flopping on my bed in front of a fan in the evenings. Cooler weather is coming soon, right?

The only time I wish we had a TV in our bedroom is when the Olympics are on. But it’s probably good that we don’t because I would stay up way too late watching. I love watching swimming, am awed by what the gymnasts can do, and could watch the synchro divers on endless repeat. Incredible.

I now have the teeny tiniest idea of what these athletes go through to train for something like this. Except not really, because how could you know what it’s like unless you’ve done it? The closest I came was in university when I got all worked up after the 1994 Commonwealth Games, which my hometown hosted, and ended up trying out for the university crew. Rowing? Why couldn’t I have picked something slightly easier? But it was an incredible year and it showed me what I could do if I pushed myself hard enough.

I’m sharing that story on Just.Be.Enough today. Come visit and tell me how you’ve pushed yourself past what you thought were your limits.

Comments here closed. Talk to me there!

Filed Under: Hello, Inspiration · Tagged With: living life

And So It Begins

July 29, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

I had my appendix out when I was in 6th grade and now sport a very small and barely noticeable scar. I often forget it’s there. Until today.

This morning I happened to catch a view of my belly I don’t normally get, and it appeared as though my scar was spreading. But not horizontally – vertically.

“That’s odd,” I thought.

I felt it. It definitely felt like scar tissue.

I wandered downstairs to see what Rich thought.

“See there?” I pointed. “It seems like my appendix scar is spreading. Does that seem odd to you?”

He paused, but only for the merest hint of a second.

“I think that’s a stretch mark.” I quickly glanced at it again. “Sorry, honey.”

Dammit, I thought. He’s right.

And also: How dumb am I?

I didn’t get stretch marks when I was pregnant with Connor. I figured it was either good luck, good genes, or the massive amounts of water I drink. In any case, I may not be so lucky this time. (11 weeks to go – what are the chances it stops with that one?)

My oh-so-helpful husband offered to look to see if I had any others. I glared at him.

No thank you, honey. I think we’ll just pretend this conversation never happened.

Filed Under: Pregnancy · Tagged With: admissions, rants

Grace in Small Things: #6

July 24, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

Iron pills that beat back exhaustion and conquer nausea.
The gigantic hearts of small boys.
Family members who support each other.
Fans in the summer.
Feeling better and more optimistic than I have in ages.

Waging a battle against embitterment and taking part in Grace in Small Things.

Filed Under: Happy things · Tagged With: Grace in Small Things, gratitude, lists, perspective, photos

Goodbye Wedding Ring

July 22, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

This is a public service announcement for all pregnant women: Remove your wedding ring lest it be removed for you.

Yes, I learned this the hard way.

If you were on my Facebook page over the weekend you would have seen this drama unfolding, and here, just for kicks, is photographic evidence.

The ring as it is now:

Unfortunately the cut is right in the middle of the engraving on the inside. We had Qui Sono Felice (Here I am happy) engraved in our rings and poor Felice is now on her own, relegated to happiness without her neighbouring words. It was a clean cut, though, and should be able to be fixed when the time is right.

My finger was pretty angry afterwards:

Which is probably because holy mother of God does it ever hurt to have a ring stuck on a swollen finger. And it hurts worse to have it cut off. But I had tried everything else — my kitchen was a veritable arsenal of ring-removal tools, including olive oil, lotion, soap, Windex, aloe, saran wrap, dental floss, ice, a bowl of cold water – the list goes on and on — and nothing had worked. I think it just got more sore in the process.

I didn’t really see this coming, because I didn’t have to take off my rings last time and my fingers aren’t actually noticeably swollen. I only noticed because my finger was feeling irritated, and I suspect it had been too tight and stuck for a while.

I’m less sentimental about getting it cut off than I would have thought. Probably because the damn thing just needed to come off. Unfortunate, but there you go.

My husband, bless him, just wants to know if we’re still married.

Filed Under: Pregnancy · Tagged With: photos