For one thing – we visited our American family over the long weekend.
We started our trip in Allentown where Lola got to spend some quality time with her Nanny and PopPop. She also got to visit with her great aunts and neighbourhood friends and loved all of the attention. She was a great sport, chatting and playing for most of the time.
The best part? Lola joining us for our Easter meal. It has been a LONG time since I’ve managed to eat a meal while Lola is awake but it worked out beautifully! And look how adorable/hilarious she looked:
On Sunday morning, Nanny and PopPop drove Lola and I to New Jersey where we visited with Jacqueline and Josh and enjoyed a kosher breakfast bake and some hot coffee (Lola preferred a bottle). Jac’s little dog Maddy was quite vocal and Lola, having never heard a dog bark before, was NOT happy about experiencing this. As soon as Maddy was let into the room, she’d excitedly bark and bark and Lola would cry and cry. What was really cool though was how we got Lola to calm down. As Maddy would bark I’d comfort Lola and tell her softly in her ear that everything was going to be just fine. Eventually, after some time, Lola was less and less upset by the barking. I mean, she’d still let out a significant cry, but by the end this cry seemed to be more of a complaint or protest, an assertion of her distaste for such a noise rather than a fearful response. I felt so proud of her that she could work though her fears. And I felt so happy that I could help her with it. The way she clung to me and buried her face in my neck when she was afraid made me feel so protective of her and so much like her mom. It was attachment theory in action – Lola could get through this scary and overwhelming experience by intuitively trusting and knowing that I would care for her and be there for her. Its in those little moments where I fall so in love, where I feel most confident and happy as a mother.
Its also in those moments that I appreciate so deeply how lucky I am to be Lola’s mom and how lucky she is to have Sean and I as parents. Growing up, you assume that everyone is loved and cared for by their parents, that its an inherent part about being parented. But, unfortunately, now I know that is just not the truth. Years and years ago on my first day of my school psychology placement my supervisor said to me, “What you have to understand is not all parents love their children.” I was so taken aback by that and thought gosh that’s a pessimistic outlook, but he was completely right. And yes, working with the particular population of children and families that I do, I probably have a skewed perspective. But either way, this week especially after dealing with some tough cases, I have come home to hug Lola a little closer, do nothing but play for a good half hour, and reveled in her little sounds and noises (even the bird-like shriekey ones!) because we are both so blessed to have each other.
I'm certain Lola knows how loved she is not just by Sean and I but by all her family, near and far. I mean, its not hard for her to perceive that given all the attention she gets. Examples:
A quick note: Lately I just don't have the patience and frustration tolerance to edit pics or blog more frequently on this extraordinarily slow computer. Sigh. I think its finally time I get a new one... And when I do, I hope to blog a lot more than I have been. In any case, if you're reading this, thanks for stickin with us and I hope to update more consistently (and with increased esthetic quality) one day soon :)
We started our trip in Allentown where Lola got to spend some quality time with her Nanny and PopPop. She also got to visit with her great aunts and neighbourhood friends and loved all of the attention. She was a great sport, chatting and playing for most of the time.
The best part? Lola joining us for our Easter meal. It has been a LONG time since I’ve managed to eat a meal while Lola is awake but it worked out beautifully! And look how adorable/hilarious she looked:
On Sunday morning, Nanny and PopPop drove Lola and I to New Jersey where we visited with Jacqueline and Josh and enjoyed a kosher breakfast bake and some hot coffee (Lola preferred a bottle). Jac’s little dog Maddy was quite vocal and Lola, having never heard a dog bark before, was NOT happy about experiencing this. As soon as Maddy was let into the room, she’d excitedly bark and bark and Lola would cry and cry. What was really cool though was how we got Lola to calm down. As Maddy would bark I’d comfort Lola and tell her softly in her ear that everything was going to be just fine. Eventually, after some time, Lola was less and less upset by the barking. I mean, she’d still let out a significant cry, but by the end this cry seemed to be more of a complaint or protest, an assertion of her distaste for such a noise rather than a fearful response. I felt so proud of her that she could work though her fears. And I felt so happy that I could help her with it. The way she clung to me and buried her face in my neck when she was afraid made me feel so protective of her and so much like her mom. It was attachment theory in action – Lola could get through this scary and overwhelming experience by intuitively trusting and knowing that I would care for her and be there for her. Its in those little moments where I fall so in love, where I feel most confident and happy as a mother.
Its also in those moments that I appreciate so deeply how lucky I am to be Lola’s mom and how lucky she is to have Sean and I as parents. Growing up, you assume that everyone is loved and cared for by their parents, that its an inherent part about being parented. But, unfortunately, now I know that is just not the truth. Years and years ago on my first day of my school psychology placement my supervisor said to me, “What you have to understand is not all parents love their children.” I was so taken aback by that and thought gosh that’s a pessimistic outlook, but he was completely right. And yes, working with the particular population of children and families that I do, I probably have a skewed perspective. But either way, this week especially after dealing with some tough cases, I have come home to hug Lola a little closer, do nothing but play for a good half hour, and reveled in her little sounds and noises (even the bird-like shriekey ones!) because we are both so blessed to have each other.
I'm certain Lola knows how loved she is not just by Sean and I but by all her family, near and far. I mean, its not hard for her to perceive that given all the attention she gets. Examples:
This is Lola in brand new clothes in a mountain of brand new toys from nanny and poppop
A quick note: Lately I just don't have the patience and frustration tolerance to edit pics or blog more frequently on this extraordinarily slow computer. Sigh. I think its finally time I get a new one... And when I do, I hope to blog a lot more than I have been. In any case, if you're reading this, thanks for stickin with us and I hope to update more consistently (and with increased esthetic quality) one day soon :)
