5.12.2012

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day
my Mom and me, circa 1977
 Becoming a mother has taught me just how blessed I am to have a wide circle of mothers in my life beginning with my very own mom. Although I know she worries about the kind of job she did raising my brother and me, it was she who taught us, by example, the most important lessons I carry with me: kindness, compassion, generosity, faith, understanding, good manners and gratitude. She has always taken note of the beauty in the simplest things around her from the shape of a cloud, to the color  of the sky. I see my own two kiddos noticing the very same things. I know I don't say it enough, but thank you, Mom. I love you.

Motherhood reminds me just how much
I am grateful for 
the memories and legacies of my grandmothers 
and my Aunt Terry who loved me in a way that only grandmothers can
and who all left far too soon.
I am blessed to have my three Conaty aunts,
who are not mothers themselves but have the hearts of one.
They have loved me like their own my whole life.
I am grateful for women like Mrs. G. who had four children of her own
but somehow always found room to take on a fifth. Me. 
I am lucky to have a mother-in-law who not only raised a remarkable son for me to marry,
but loves me, treats me, and encourages me like a daughter.
I am so fortunate to have friends and family to share this experience with:
ones who understand the ins and outs of my days, my worries, my bedlam.
They are my sanity and laughter. 
They've sat with me in the E.R., run to the supermarket for me when I've been sick
and listened to me only the way a girlfriend can.

It seems it takes a village not only to raise a child, but to raise a mom, too.

Happy Mother's Day to all of these women and to you!
Erin

5.04.2012

Nesting

Six years ago today, I was nesting in a big way. Neve was scheduled to arrive via c-section early the next morning and I was insistent upon scrubbing and polishing my hardwood floors. I do believe that may have been the last time those floors have seen such attention. In my very pregnant mind, it made total sense and one event could not happen without the other.

Needless to say, the moment she arrived into this world heinie first, our lives and hearts grew and changed immeasurably. In six short years she has taught us so much.

Happy almost Birthday to our sweet, sensitive, generous, silly, smart, determined and 
beautiful Neve girl. You have blessed our lives more than you will ever know.


 









We love you more than anything.


Have a great weekend everyone!
Erin


5.01.2012

Done and done...


     








While the laundry piles up around me and the dishwasher and dust bunnies call my name, I have to take a minute to share a little giddiness. I've checked two big ticket items off my to-do list today.
1. I've booked our week-long summer vacation house.
Virginia's Eastern Shore
I know, not earth-shattering, but it's a little thing that I look so forward to all year: no schedules, sunshine (I hope), a new destination and as much relaxation as a 4 and 6 year old will allow. I can almost feel the sand in my toes and the mosquitoes biting.  Time to start gathering my reading list. 

2. I just sent in my deposit for design school.


                                                                            
My stomach flipped when I typed this. Yup. I'm going back to school and I am ecstatic. I found the Metropolitan Institute of Design here on Long Island 11 years ago while plotting my way out of a desperately unfulfilling corporate job.  Back then, I was young and just a little bit chicken. Design school was where my gut wanted to take me, but my head led me to graduate school and a teaching career.  I knew I could be a good teacher. It was safe and practical and I have no regrets whatsoever. Teaching has given me incredible skills and experiences, a lifelong friend in my "Junior Deb partner in crime" Lauren, and 7 years worth of  students who regularly taught me something and brightened my day. In a backwards way, my teaching career gave me the opportunity to follow my heart. 

When I extended my unpaid childcare leave after having Eamon, (a wonderful opportunity teaching  
provided me) I realized that being home full-time with my kiddos was feasible. Four years later, my little ones are slightly bigger and full-time school for two is just around the corner. This forced me to think about my future. Somehow I just couldn't envision myself back in the classroom.  I think time and distance from the job and support from my husband gave me the perspective and the push I needed to pursue this goal. The blog was my first step. School is the the next. I am going out on a limb in a big way and it's pretty exciting.

So, I will enjoy this summer's vacation thoroughly and rest up because come September, life will be a little busier around here and I can't wait.

Have a great day.


Erin