nancy, Author at Wandering Wellington County

DREAM BIG

April 25, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

Don’t ever give up your dreams! I know you have heard that before, but sometimes we just have to put one foot in front of each other and keep going. I know you have heard that one too. How about, don’t let anyone burst your bubble! This world can be tough at times and sometimes all we have are our dreams and hopes for something better.

I really think that without dreams and hopes the world would be a lot duller place to live in. Dream Big! What is stopping you from being the best person you can be?

Fear has stopped me from trying many new things or not giving it my 100% at times. It can be easy to become discouraged when things are not going as planned, or when things do not get done the way I would like them to be done. Does any of that sound familiar?

Analysing my life at times I know both fear of success and fear of failure has stopped me in my tracks. Fear has stopped me on more than one occasion from trying that one more time, or from not even getting started on the simplest of things . Fear be gone! Goodbye I do not want you anymore. There it is that easy!

Does the young girl in the photo feel fear like I do? Will it stop her from realizing her dreams and aspirations? What lessons am I instilling on my daughter when I am not brave and bold and step up to being what is being called from my soul and being?

I firmly believe women need to stick together and hold each other up at times. Mentor and guide each other. Perhaps just being a friend and supporting one another. I know for this girl a little support and encouragement can go a long way!

When things don’t go well or things are not going as planned. I just have to hope that everything will happen as according to plan and have a little faith! Today when I am self doubting myself, I say “STOP” to critics in my head. I keep my shoulders back, smile and maybe just use a “fake it – till you make it kind of attitude!” “GIRL POWER!”

Does that make any sense to you? It does for this girl. That is where my dreaming steps in and I try to imagine what it would be like to fit in my skinny jeans again, or to live by the Lakeside in my beautiful house in the summers atop a cliff where the wind is blowing and kids are playing quietly in the sand. Ahhh……… dreaming it keeps us going doesn’t it.

I always surrender to those lottery tickets when I am filling up my vehicle at the gas station. You almost need to dream of winning the lottery these days just to fill the gas tank these days. I admit I often dream of just driving off on a long road trip and not returning. Well maybe returning when I feel like it. Returning after this Mom gets to take a little break from reality. Maybe even have time to read a book or not think about tidying up the house, not worrying about doing the laundry, or getting the kids teeth brushed for bed. The list is endless what will the day bring?

I am going to dream of sunny skies and keep my hopes alive. This girl is not going to let anyone burst her bubble! Let your wings unfold and hang on to those dreams and soon they will really happen. You will be lying on that beach with the sun beating down and “Ramone” bringing you a another cool lemony drink . Wait that is not reality. it is the book I found time to read just before bed, but put down a few minutes later as I couldn’t keep my eyes open from another busy day with the family. It is nice to dream isn’t it?

My “Bestie” gave me this picture which has this quote on it for me this year as a gift.

LIVE THE LIFE YOU’VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF.

BE FEARLESS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

NEVER STOP LEARNING.

BE TRUE TO WHO YOU ARE.

Recognize the beauty that surrounds you.

Be the architect of your own destiny.

THIS LIFE IS YOURS TO

C R E A T E.

Talk soon ~

Nancy

Goodbye “My 3 Year Old Boy! … Hello 4 Year Old Big Boy!”

April 21, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

Hello to my 4-year-old Boy Noah! He has just bumped his head on the kitchen table, Mommy soothes and comforts his little crying – “there – there… little baby boy Mommy is here!” My daughter who is 7 years old and my son were cuddling with me on the couch and pretending they were babies. I was telling them both the day they were born and they wanted to hear the stories over and over again. They were cooing like like babes and must admit I miss those days.

The presents are opened and he is thrilled running around with his new remote control car – battling monsters with his new swords. SHHH…..One last un-opened gift is waiting in the garage sporting a big blue bow. We are saving it for him to open before we go to Grandma’s for a little party. My big boy will be riding his first new big boy bike today with training wheels.

I am thrilled to have my boy in my life, I remember when he arrived 4 years ago today – at 8:30 in the morning. He was a “little breach boy” and refused to turn so Mom got to have a C-Section. This is a whole different experience from my daughters regular kinda birthing. We were scheduled for 8:30 and out he came, the Doctor who was wearing his Hawaiian shirt announced “You have a Boy!” A miracle – the Doctor said we had a “Million Dollar Family”. That is the term they use for people who have both a boy and a girl. He said everyone wants a Spring baby, just like the lambs.

My Noah likes/loves the following~

Digging in the dirt

Playing in the with water and bubbles

Loves his dinkie cars

Loves his truck and new remote cars

Has a best friend Danyl

Eats hotdogs and cheese

He dislikes like fruits & vegetables

Drinks chocolate milk

Adores his sister and his doggie Irish

Likes to watch things grow

Loves scary movies

Is a good swimmer

Is learning how to read

Is really smart and likes learning

Still needs a nap

Is afraid of the dark

Not scared of the “Rakka Monsters”s

Talk soon ~

Nancy

Waiting for Maple Syrup

April 5, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

They call it Liquid Gold” April is the month to celebrate everything Maple Syrup. April 5th, 2014 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Local Elmira Syrup Festival, and yes it is snowing! In 2000 it set the Guiness World Records for the Largest 1 Day Maple Syrup Festival in the World, with 66, 529 people attending.

I remember going to the Festival with my Grandmother and brother on several occasions when we were young. Oh those pancakes…… slathered with the rich tasty Ontario maple syrup. Memories of walking along the closed off streets and sitting in the sunshine with thousands of people eating lots and lots of pancakes with maple syrup, butter and whipped cream. Often it would be one of the first nice sunny days of the spring.

Or it would be like today, “old man winter” still showing his face with the wind howling and huddling in a tent shivering eating the pancakes you waited an hour for in line. I remember another time going to Elmira with my crazy neighbours, Patrick & Kevin with “My Matt” (pre-kiddlets days) . Lots of giggling while we drove in the snow storm to eat pancakes with those big crowds.

Yesterday I was lunching with my friend Wes and casually mentioned I had been to a Maple Syrup Bush this week, with my daughter’s class. I shared with him I had always wanted to ‘tap my own trees”. Phone in hand, he quickly dialed the nearest Maple Syrup Making Town hardware store in St. Jacob’s. Yes they had some supplies available. It would only take 10 minutes from Waterloo, I was in luck!

I was told by the “sugar shack man” on the class trip the weather had delayed the season and they had just began to make the sryup. He had only made the first batch that day. I was confident there was still hope to tap some trees and hang buckets, perfect weather with cold nights and sunny days.

I always seem to do things last minute. I guess I am not much of a planner. However having purchased them I thought to myself “well I will have them for next year, and I will get a head start next year! I had my eye on those glass leaf shaped bottles. I was already designing my signature label for the bottles. After all I was in the label business and they would make a lovely gift!

Here are my sugar bush tips from my class visit. Sap runs from Sugar, Red, Silver Maple Trees (and maybe some other ones), but not Pine trees. I joked with my friend that we have a lot of Pine’s in the back. He kind of stared at me, and said “you know you cannot tap Pine Trees?” Depending on the diameter of the tree you can hang, 1, 2, 3 or more buckets. It is best to check and collect buckets daily. This Mom knows this fact from her rope game the kids played with the trees this past week.

Speaking of Mom’s I spoke with my Mother today and was all excited to tell her I had a pail for my Dad to put on their Maple. She quickly responded “Not on my Tree!”. Need I say more. Maybe she will warm up to the fact when she sees the bucket. After all shouldn’t everyone put tapping a maple tree on their “Bucket List”.

Sryup is made from boiling off the water and it turns to sugar. My friend suggested I not boil my syrup in the house , he shared his childhood memories of the wall paper peeling off the walls from all the steam. The house lingering with a sugar smell and messy syrup everywhere. Ok, I would boil my syrup outside on the barbeque burner. I already had a vision of the kids playing nicely, the sun shining and getting ready to treat the kids to the maple taffy on the snow (just like at the maple sugar bush this week.) Oh what a Mom I am, creating all these great memories, what are they going to think. Definitely it will be a photo opportunity.

Ok so I purchased the supplies, listened to my friends tips, read some more literature and listened to my husband’s manly advice of his video watching in the morning. I had a good idea what I was doing, since I saw “first hand” their demonstration in the cold, wet muddy bush. Bundled up I took my buckets, drill, spiles, hammer, and lids out the trees, waving goodbye to my proud daughter Meaghan giving me a “thumbs up”, and a big smile saying she would see the syrup when she got home later. Dad was taking them to the movies today and out for the day.

Drill….drill…..drill… yep ok I remembered to put the drill on an upward motion – done. MMM… the video said syrup would flow. Nothing, no “liquid gold” flowing. I tapped some more trees, same thing no liquid. I decided to attach the spiles and the buckets (easy peazy) and play the wait and see game. “Maple trees why are you not flowing with your liquid gold?” Did I miss a step? Where they Maple trees. We live in a farm community and I am a “wanna be kinda of farmer”. Every year I try to grow pumpkins and well, that is another story. I am just waiting for my neighbours to drive by and shake their heads at us again.

Since I am cold and kind of cranky with not seeing instant results I going to take advantage of this quiet time in the house, make a couple pancakes and you guessed it, put on some of the maple syrup I purchased this week. Perhaps a coffee would be the perfect compliment to my brunch.

Enjoy the Day! If you are not sure about doing something new, “Just DO IT!”, (like the Nike Ad). I am looking at my buckets and they look rather festive and who knows it might take a few minutes (or hours, days) to get things flowing! I will keep you updated.

(My New Update) – Just found 1/4 full of sap in my bucket! (WOOT – WOOT) ….. Thanks Wes for having faith in me, and telling me to “check the buckets today – you will have some”. He said it was too cold for it to flow yesterday and I will have some today at 1 or 2 in afternoon! Now What is a girl to do with the sap? That is another story.

REMEMBER JUST GO WITH THE FLOW!

Talk soon ~

Nancy

Welcome to LABEL ME MOMMY!

April 3, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

Welcome to the New Home of “Label Me Mommy” BLOG. I came up with the name for my new idea, on yet another late night. This time I was hanging out with my 3 year old son Noah – who apparently had too much coffee! I thanked him the next day for keeping me up so late, as my creative juices were flowing. Most people would be sleeping at 3:00 am, not us we watched a little tree house. Toopie & Binoo, and Bob the Builder were having a marathon kind of night it seemed.

I had been struggling with naming my new Blog. My marketing friend suggested something edgy. I came up with a few names, not edgy but something else. I will call them “over-the-edge”. That is how I was feeling the night I came up with “label me mommy”. My son who is about 3 feet tall likes to roam into our room late at night once or twice a night just to see if I am sleeping. He says “Mumma”! I wonder why he never seems to go to Dad side of the bed. How is that Dad never seems to hear him come in. He always seems astonished when I tell him “Yes I was up with Noah again last night”. Oh my little man, I don’t think he let me sleep a wink that first year we were together, so this is really easy peazy. Except for the occasional nights were he seems to think we should be “night-owls”.

What does a good Mumma do, gets up with the kiddo offer a drink and a pee and back to bed. A little lie down, Mumma, and then he usually just nods off. Not this night he was up probably 4 or 5 times, so I decided “OK Mister, that’s it – we are staying up until you are really ready to go to bed!” I was using that “tough love” stuff on him. Flipping thru the late night TV. , Tree-house looked better than the late night shopping channel or the 1-800-call-me ladies ready to chat with you now.

A few more hundred, (or so it seemed), jingles went thru my head again. Ok I do labels…. so I thought maybe I should have a label in the title? I am a Mom, Mommy, Mumma, …. it goes on & on. “Label Me Mommy” was born. I emailed my “marketing (neighbour) – aka “our code name for each other”, and she liked it, ok she loved it! This just goes to show me that you just might find what you are looking for when you least expect it, or at least this is my experience. Sometimes I find when I try too hard and hold the reigns really tight it doesn’t always flow. Maybe I should try that more often?

I hope you will drop in from time to time and like to join us on our adventures along the highway of “Mommyhood”.

Ok nuff said, I am going to bed now, and hoping the little man will not wake up his “Mumma tonight!” Sweet Dreams!

Talk Soon~

Nancy

MOM I WANT A PUPPY!

March 31, 2014 by nancy 2 Comments

I was putting my daughter Meaghan, to bed last night. She said to me, “Mommy – I think I am the only 7 year old girl without these 3 things!” – I thought oh no what is it she doesn’t have? I start to question my mothering skills or lack of them. It seems on certain days a “TO DO LIST” of parenting stuff and a ” TO DO LIST” of life stuff seems to get in the way. Do I not giver her enough love; her brother is a bit of hand full and demands a lot of attention. At times I am sure I am not giving enough of me to her. My list goes on. Her agenda from school came home the other day and I haven’t picked out a 16 line poem for her to memorize yet, I didn’t sign her permission form for that school trip yet, would I be a trip helper, Yes I will check off “I will be a school helper”. One more day would not hurt in delaying the mounting accounting pile of receipts to go through for the tax season.

OK I say to Meaghan – “What is it honey?” – “Well MOM, I would like Bunk-Beds, a Puppy and a Computer, all of my friends have these and I am the only one who doesn’t have these things.” OK I said well maybe we can think about it. A puppy well I said we have Irish, he is our family dog. He is a good “ole boy”, Old is really the term, he is about 15 years old, but the best doggie anyone could ever ask for. “No I want my own puppy”. Then she said “Mom I want Bunk-Beds too!” I know that feeling of wanting those bunk beds. Growing up my brother had bunk beds and we would hang out on the top or like usual I would get the bottom bunk. I do remember climbing up the ladder sometimes I would be at the top with all my Barbies, having a “Bunk Bed Barbie Fest” and then having to go PEE and looking for the ladder. MMM… my brother moved it again. “David – where is the ladder?” “I have to get down; I have to pee…..” “I don’t know little sister, find it yourself” ….. Oh those were the days. A visual of little Meaghan sleeping on the top bunk and then falling down and breaking her arm or something, “no bunk-beds right now Meg’s” I tell her. I remind her just got her a new bed.

She says, “But Mom.. .what about a new computer?” All my friends have computers. “MMM… well I am not sure about this, the internet and my 7 year old daughter cruising the net, looking for games, and stuff. A visual comes up. “UMMM” – No Meg’s maybe when you are about 20 years old we will think about it.” “But Mom ….. I want … OK Meg’s Nighty – Nights, close your eyes and “Dream about the Boat”.

I am making coffee this morning and the first thing my daughter says upon waking is, “So Mom when are we getting the new puppy? Will we go one night this week or on the weekend?” MMM… I say “well Meg’s we have a dog, blah, blah, blah…..

“Well Mom if we got a puppy then we could have a family dog and I would have my own Puppy!” She said I want a black and white one, with spots on it! I looked at “My Meg’s” and it was like staring at myself in the morning. Her hair was all wild looking and sticking up all over. I chuckle to myself and think my Mother has probably had that same conversation with me about a Puppy. I remember I would always buy my Mom Goldfish for her Birthdays.

Ok Meaghan we have to eat your breakfast and get ready for the bus! I am sure she will come home tonight with another item on her list that every 7 year old girl has but her, I wonder what is next?

Talk soon ~

Nancy

Inspiring Change ~ Women’s DAY

March 7, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

“I am women – Hear my ROAR!” I love that my Birthday happens to fall on INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY! This is cause for celebration in my books. This March 8th – 2014, the theme from the United Nations, is “INSPIRING CHANGE – FOR THE GREATER AWARENESS FOR WOMEN!”

The 100th year Women’s Day Anniversary was celebrated in 2011. This special day on our calendar stands for inspiring women worldwide. We as mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts and daughters must stand tall and unite. There is strength in numbers. Speaking of numbers, there are millions and millions of women of every age, ethnicity and colour in the world. On this day we stand united and we are one!

Sadly many of the women, girls, and children are not considered equal and face many sad atrocities today. I wish the world was not like this, it makes my heart bleed. My role as a mother is to build a foundation in my daughter and son which is strong and will not shatter upon adversity. My hope is they will go into the world and be the “best they can be, be strong, be loving and kind”. I am sure this is the hope of all mothers and fathers for their children.

The first ever celebration of women internationally began in 1911 and every year marks many events and celebrations worldwide! So what are you doing today to inspire change. I am eating chocolate cake and squeezing my babies and letting to let them know I LOVE THEM!

“We have a world to conquer…..one person at a time….starting with ourselves.” ~ Nikki Giovanni

Talk soon ~

Nancy

KEEP IT SIMPLE

March 5, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

Can you imagine what the “OLDEST PERSON IN THE WORLD, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, has seen in her lifetime. Misao Okawa from Japan turns 116 years old today. Imagine if you had 2 children aged 94, and 95? What is her secret you and countless others are asking?

“SLEEP and EAT and you will life a long life”. She always says “You have to learn to relax!”

I really cannot add much to this as I haven’t mastered these simple good living tips. My Birthday is this week and I have been feeling a little reflective and emotional, turning 29 again. MMM… I think I will try, I say try to work on her simple, but sometimes hard to incorporate practices. I did make time this morning to have a lovely little power walk and tried to eat well (except for those 5 little chocolate pieces). Well they were little so they couldn’t have had that many calories.

When I read this article yesterday, I quickly phoned my 95-year-old Grandmother, she will have another birthday in a few months time. She was sleeping when I called and I had woke her up. My father (her 70-year-old son), always reminds her “you have earned the right to sleep” when she says “she sleeps too much.” She was happy I had woke her up as it was time for her to eat lunch, (she likes her food!)

I guess she is doing something right too! She sleeps most of the day, eats well (she doesn’t like to eat chocolate now because it bothers her stomach). She is and was always very health conscious.

She laughed and laughed when I told her the secrets to this women’s long life and she told me “she needed to hear that!”. I mentioned another secret the oldest women in the world said. My Grandmother was very quiet and giddy almost to hear this tip. “She eats sushi once a month” I said. I told my Grandmother I would bring her some sushi out next week when I go visit her. She quickly said “well I don’t like that one with the…. you know”. I said I know Grandma the “raw fish”. She said the Japanese women probably eats the raw fish one and that keeps her young. I said I am sure the vegetable one has the same benefits. “OK” said my Grandma, she would try it!”

Remember those simple golden rules for a long life!

“EAT … SLEEP & RELAX!”

Talk soon ~

Nancy

All in the Family

February 16, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

Families … I am sure you have heard the saying, “You don’t always get to pick your family!” I wonder if the man in the tree is petrified of his family below and simply doesn’t want to have any part of it or the family photo? I think we have all been there before, well at least I have?

I remember my Dad would drive my brother and I to high-school on occasion. Have you ever seen the movie “Uncle Buck”. Well I was trying to be that “cool girl”. Remember that scene when Uncle Buck drops her off and beeps the horn while the car is spouting with the black smoke coming out of the old big Oldsmobile. Well yep that was my Dad and my brother. I would request for them to drop me off across the street in the parking lot. Yep I kept walking knowing that they where giggling as they waved and tooted the horn for all its worth, probably some smoke was flowing from the hood too. I didn’t dare look back at them, it would have blown my cover!

We have an official “Family Day” tomorrow. What will you do with your day? I hope you will have some time to spend with your loved ones. It is nice timing to have a statutory holiday to look forward to mid February. I think we are ready for any type of holiday at this time of year! Holidays are a great time to spend with family and friends.

I am so blessed to have many good friends in my life today, who are just like family. I was so lucky to have the best brother anyone could ever wish for too! But secretly I had always hoped for a sister too. My girlfriends are just like my sisters. We see each other thru the ups and downs of life and I know I can always count on them. I cherish and love my girl time, which is few and far between now that am I am raising my 2 little people. But this mommy still needs her girls to feel .. well girly .. I guess. You know who you are – moi love you!

I don’t think I really appreciated my family as much as I do since I started my own family. Being a single girl, I was always into myself and thought “oh crap another family get together”. It always seemed to kinda get in the way. Now I look forward to those “silly” gatherings. This past Holiday season we celebrated another meal with my 95 year old Grandmother sitting at the head of the table. I hope she will be with us for many more years to come.

There are those times, like many of us that my family haven’t always seen “eye to eye”, and believe me we have had our quarrels. But I know no matter what my family will always be there for me. I am leaving you with the dictionary definition of the word family to reflect on. I met an interesting women yesterday and thought to myself. MMM .. “How would my life be if I had her for a mother?” We talked about different types of families and it got me thinking differently about the world and the family unit. Don’t worry Mom I will never trade you in – you’re the best but since you are enjoying the rays in the sunny south, I have adopted my Grandmother as my “Back-up MOM”. I guess I am just a Mommies girl!

FAMILY (n)

fami-i-ly (fammalee)

1. group of relatives: a group of people who are closely related by birth, marriage, or adoption.

2. people living together and functions as a single household, usually consisting of parents and their children.

3. lineage: all the people who are descended from common ancestor

Talk soon ~

Nancy

Who is Coming With ME?

February 5, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

“Pack your Bags who is coming with me?” My Aunt Judy who is in Florida now told me before she left. “Come on down honey – we would love to have you!”. She just didn’t give me the address yet. When I call there is no answer, all I get is their answering machine. “Sorry we can’t get to the phone, we are at the Beach, leave a message!” Well I have left a few messages and now I am starting to wonder if maybe she didn’t really mean she wanted to see me and my two young children on her holiday.

My parents didn’t even invite us down, they know me better. They know we would have jumped on that plane and came for a wee visit. I still have nightmares of the plane ride with my son last year, we took him to Florida and it was just not fun. You hear about those parents whose toddlers are banned from planes, well that was us. Or it could have been. I vowed never again, but as I stare out the window and all I see is white, blinding snow my thoughts drift to palm trees, sand and surf. It has snowed 5 cm in just the last hour. I think to myself “It wasn’t that bad, he is older now.” Funny how we can rationalize anything.

Waking up this morning and checking the weather network and hearing yet another snowstorm on the way today. I thought surely they will cancel the buses once again and maybe even close the schools. No, all systems ago, the buses and schools are open. My bet is we will get a call this afternoon that the buses will be sending the kiddies home early.

I am a betting women, speaking of betting. A friend who attends the same daycare won an all-inclusive trip for 2 at a 5 star resort in the Dominican Republic this week at a local radio station. Can you imagine! I touched her – just for luck. I couldn’t believe her luck, she dropped her kids off just like any other day. She sat in her Van to hear the radio contest. She told us she didn’t have a radio in the house and she knew their was only 10 minutes to call in if her name was announced. Amanda her daycare provider asked her daughter “Where is Mommy?” She said “Oh she is in the car, winning a trip” Amanda chuckled and thought “Oh sure she is?”

Well several minutes later Lisa (trip winner) came in babbling with cell phone in hand. “Yes my name is Lisa, oops I just peed my pants” She was jumping up and down, yelling and screaming with Amanda “I WON….. I WON…. I WON!” All this time she was on the radio live. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person. Can you imagine? It really can happen!

Since it is a snowy, blowy kind of day and I have a few minutes, I think this girl just might enter a few contests. Maybe I will win my dream trip to Cuba. Wait…. I hear my phone ringing it is my Aunt Judy calling “she said her and her sister (my mom), just got in from the pool and were a little sun-burned. I could hear the surf of the ocean in the background, I am sure the Palm trees were swaying in the gentle breeze. “Let me grab a pen. I come back there is no answer. I got cut off, it must be the weather!

Talk soon ~

Nancy

SOCHI MOM’s

February 3, 2014 by nancy Leave a Comment

My little 3 year old son Noah and I go skating every Monday. I am trying to teach him how to skate. Like usual we are late again, but it is a drop in skate so no one really knows you’re late. Except for the man who works at the rink who quickly came in to the dressing room announcing their would be “senior skating” at noon and we had only a few minutes left. “But you could stay longer if no one showed up”, he let us know. I told him we usually only last 5 or 10 minutes.

When we first started skating he wore his sisters Pink Barbie helmet and Barbie knee pads. There were a few stares and comments from other Mom’s cruising the rink. One Mom giggled, “Oh he must have a big sister?” We wore the helmet for the first month and then a friend from Yoga offered her helmet as her son didn’t need it anymore. She said she would bring it next week. So cool, he was going to look like a boy skater, or should I say “hockey player”. His Grandma got him a yellow hockey stick last year for his Birthday and I bought him some manly knee/shin pads. We are borrowing someones puck, but I keep putting a note to myself “buy puck”. Ok I guess this suggests I am a “newbie sport Mom”.

My heart swelled this morning when I walked in and had a bag with skates, hockey stick and helmet in hand. My thoughts drifted to the Mom’s of the Winter Olympians. How must their hearts feel this month with the start of the games. I just cannot imagine the blood, sweat and tears that go into the molding of an Olympian athlete.

We laced up after about 5 minutes of hide and seek. As you know it is tough to get a little person dressed for the ice. So finally we made it, we were gliding on the ice, he was scoring goals. Ok well not really. He was on his skates but I was holding him up with one of those “skate kid holder uppers”. We skated around pushing his puck, no one else was on the rink and we had an awesome time. He kept saying “faster Mommy, faster Mommy!”

I thought of that Sochi “Thank You Mom” Ad commercial, Proctor and Gamble is currently running. It shows the athletes beginnings of walking, skating, skiing, playing hockey, snowboarding as young toddlers. We watch them grow, with many scenes of falling on the ice or snow even breaking bones, but they are determined. We watch as they grow older and are perfecting their craft. The music is playing the tears are falling. My heartstrings are being pulled, (advertising at its best). Next week we will show up earlier, and as they say “practice makes perfect”.

“THANK YOU MOM – FOR TEACHING US FALLING ONLY MAKES US STRONGER!”

Talk soon ~

Nancy