To My Son, On His Birthday

Colin, 

I want you to know how amazing you are. You have taught me equally as much as I have tried to teach you, probably more. You are growing up to be a responsible, bright, young man. 

Never stop being sensitive. Its better to care too much than not at all. Don't lose your voice and your rhythm. Sing when the moment arises, and dance it up when the song permits. Always be the silly, outgoing (sometimes crazy) boy you are today. Never let the fear of what someone might think get in the way of you being happy in that moment. Keep making people laugh but never sacrifice who you are to do so. Just remember life is more about your own laughter, so never lose the ability to laugh at yourself.  It will come in handy always. I envy this quality about you. Never pretend to be something you aren't. People love you for you!

Never be afraid to try new things. You WILL fail at many, but you will succeed at many more.  The ones you fail at will teach you lessons along the way. They may even become some of your favorite things. 

You are an amazing big brother, always caring and helpful. Sometimes you amaze me with your huge heart and teach me to be a better person. You care about all things, big and small. You can argue your way out of most things, and the ones you cant, you give a 110% trying! Always fight for what you believe is right, never stand by and watch something you know is wrong. One person CAN make a difference! 

Never be afraid or embarrassed to love or show love. You will no doubt, love many times in your lifetime. All of them will guide you and teach you valuable lessons. Starting with myself, daddy and sissy. Relationships are important and needed, no matter how big or small. People will let you down, and they will hurt you. Dust yourself off, forgive and move on. Never hold onto hatred. It will eat you alive and destroy you.

My wish for you is that you continue to grow up into a respectful, polite, caring young man.  That you always know your self worth. I pray you make smart choices as you grow into a teenager, and never allow anyone to make you feel you need to do something that is wrong. 

Never allow someone to bring you down enough that you think you are less than you are. Never give someone that power, because without it they can't tear you down. Continue to make people laugh and be the silly, crazy, fun loving boy that we all love. People will love or hate you, but let them do it for who you really are. 

Continue to hold onto your faith and do what is right. Keep growing your relationship with the lord. Later, he will be the person you answer to. Always live through him and let him guide you on the right path. He will never lead you the wrong way.

I love you so much, and I am proud to say I am your Mom! 

Eat What I Serve Or Starve!!

As a parent we try to do what's best for our children. Every sense of our being is to ensure their happiness. We cater to their every need, when they say jump we ask how high! If we fail to give them everything, we feel we fail as parents. Not true, Momma, not true. There are so many things we will actually fail at no matter how hard we try, let's not add to that list! 

From the time my son was old enough to eat solids he would not eat cooked veggies. He would eat veggies like carrots, broccoli, and celery all day long if it was raw. Anytime I placed them on his dinner plate, even if only slighty steamed, shit was about to hit the fan! He was so mind over matter. I always made sure he tasted them, no matter what. If we ate the same thing twice a week, guess what? He tasted that same veggie again and again! I had to be admitted to the hospital for three weeks and my sister helped my husband out(thank you!). She kept my kids and it was really the first time(age two), he was ever away from me that long. 

I still to this day remember her telling me this story. They sat down for dinner and it was something simple like chicken, mashed potatoes and corn. My son refused to eat the taters and corn(who's kid are you??). Her husband made him sit there and he physically made himself gag, to the point he was almost puking. It was mind over matter. If he said it was gross, he sat there and thought about how bad a bite would be. He would hurl in his mouth and swallow. It was awful! He still to this day is hard to deal with when he automatically says it will be gross. His mind controls it and he will sit there gagging. I always make them take at least two bites.

Today my son is 9, turns 10 in January. He eats corn, peas, carrots, asparagus, squash, zucchini, green beans, broccoli, calliflower, cabbage and more. He will not touch beans. Kidney beans in chili, refried beans on taco night....no way, no how. He asked for avocado in his lunch today...wtf!!! He has come so far. I wish back when he was so picky and I had no hope, someone would of said "hey, it's just a phase, they move on!". 

As a parent we stress about so many things. Let's not let food become one. Make them try it over, and over, and over again. I never, ever thought this would be my son. Asking for asparagus and avocado. Shit happens, kids change. We are doing something right Mom!! Continue to make them try things, even if they have already said eww five times! 

Listen Mom. There is still a rule in my house. My daughter hates cabbage and asparagus. I still make her try two bites every time we have it. She yells, screams and puts up a fuss...but from what I have learned to date, its worth it!!!