Thanks
I want to take a few minutes to thank my parents, Vickie and Tony. As they have always been, they were great. They flew up the day Isaac was born and my mom stayed with us for three weeks. My dad bookended the three weeks, staying a week in the beginning and a four day weekend at the end. They were both exceedingly generous in all sorts of ways, with their time, with their insights, with everything.
I had imagined the moment, beleaguered, where I would stumble out of the delivery room and tell both of them that Isaac had arrived. It was as amazing as I thought it would be. And that was just the beginning of a great month.
My mom stayed on with us, sleeping in the guest bedroom, for three weeks. She helped around the house, doing dishes, laundry, and making dinner. She helped me rebuild the steps in the front of our house. And most importantly she got to bond with her grandson. My mom is truly great with kids. It is her singular talent, that thing, among things she does well, that she does the best. She also let us take our first tentative steps as parents, giving us reassurance without interfering at all. We were able to get our "sea legs" while she was here. It was perhaps the greatest gift someone could give a set of new parents--help, guidance, and company.
But in another way it was a chance for me and my Mom to bond. Mothers and sons have a special relationship. I can see it with Isaac and Bianca. But as the son grows older, his interests more match the Dad. So those three weeks were a way for me to peek in on my Mom's life and figure out what she likes to do, what her preferences are (beets and lots of water, for those wondering), and see how she is when we are not all running around for the holidays or a quick Ohio visit. It was very nice. I only hope the mother/son exchange was as enlightening for her as it was for me.
I really appreciate my Dad as well. Seeing him go bonkers for a little one is an amazing and hilarious experience. My Dad is many things--giving, hardworking, knowledgeable--but until I caught him with a Winnie the Pooh puppet on his hand playing with Isaac, silly would not have ranked high on the list. He was an invaluable help as well and his return I think cushioned the blow of leaving for my Mom.
So for perhaps the millionth time in my life I am compelled to thank my parents. They were both great. As thanks, I will try to be half as giving to Isaac as you both have been to me.
I had imagined the moment, beleaguered, where I would stumble out of the delivery room and tell both of them that Isaac had arrived. It was as amazing as I thought it would be. And that was just the beginning of a great month.
My mom stayed on with us, sleeping in the guest bedroom, for three weeks. She helped around the house, doing dishes, laundry, and making dinner. She helped me rebuild the steps in the front of our house. And most importantly she got to bond with her grandson. My mom is truly great with kids. It is her singular talent, that thing, among things she does well, that she does the best. She also let us take our first tentative steps as parents, giving us reassurance without interfering at all. We were able to get our "sea legs" while she was here. It was perhaps the greatest gift someone could give a set of new parents--help, guidance, and company.
But in another way it was a chance for me and my Mom to bond. Mothers and sons have a special relationship. I can see it with Isaac and Bianca. But as the son grows older, his interests more match the Dad. So those three weeks were a way for me to peek in on my Mom's life and figure out what she likes to do, what her preferences are (beets and lots of water, for those wondering), and see how she is when we are not all running around for the holidays or a quick Ohio visit. It was very nice. I only hope the mother/son exchange was as enlightening for her as it was for me.
I really appreciate my Dad as well. Seeing him go bonkers for a little one is an amazing and hilarious experience. My Dad is many things--giving, hardworking, knowledgeable--but until I caught him with a Winnie the Pooh puppet on his hand playing with Isaac, silly would not have ranked high on the list. He was an invaluable help as well and his return I think cushioned the blow of leaving for my Mom.
So for perhaps the millionth time in my life I am compelled to thank my parents. They were both great. As thanks, I will try to be half as giving to Isaac as you both have been to me.