I'll never say that to MY kids-- Happy Birthday Mom

Emma and Chloe with Nonna

What playing with Nonna does to you

My mother's birthday is Feb. 12th and as most of you know, we were able to spend my mom's birthday with her this year. We had a couple of detours. One of the girls was sick the whole time and my mom "sprang her ankle" playing with Emma. She still thinks she's a kid. She finally went to the dr. on Wed. and found out that the "sprang ankle" that she's been walking around and working on for two and a half weeks is actually a broken ankle. If we had any question about whether she's tough or not (which I didn't) we know now. But, despite our obstacles that we had to overcome, it turned out to be a good thing that my mom sat down a little more than normal. And I was glad to get the chance to pamper her a little. We had a wonderful time and as always, we got to the end of our visit and wondered where the time had gone.

So this is what I've been thinking.. About a month ago, I said something to Emma that made me realize that I have fully transitioned into my mother. I think it was probably something like, "Because I'm the mother and you're the child and I said so". I remember thinking when I was a teenager that I was never going to say this to MY child. Well, someone told me recently that preschoolers ask an average of 300 questions a day. Turns out that I had a kid that meets her quota by noon. So needless to say, this phrase has become a regular part of my vocabulary.

So in honor of my mom's birthday, here is a list of things that I will never say to MY kids.

-You're treading on thin ice young lady.

_ I don't care what (insert friends name here) mother does, do I look like (friends) mother.

- I'm going to give you something to cry about.

- I don't know who told you life was fair.

- I'm about to beat you into next week. (I must add here that she never actually did beat me into next week all though there are a couple of times that she should have)

- I wish I had a tape recorder. (She would have recorded me saying that I'll never say these things to my kids)

And, I'm sure that once my mom reads this, she will add a few more. I have to tell you that I'm quite okay with becoming my mother. If I am half the mom that she is, I'll feel that I've been successful!

A note to Emma and Chloe:
If you are reading this my dear child, there is a chance that you are 16 years old and you've just told me that you will never say that to YOUR child for the hundredth time. That in turn made me reflect on the time that I realized that my mother knew everything and I knew nothing. I'm sure you're probably rolling your eyes at me in true teenage fashion. Don't worry dear, you'll be reading it again in 14 more years and shaking your head in agreement. So for now, why are you reading this? BECAUSE I'M THE MOTHER AND YOU'RE THE CHILD AND I SAID SO !

Blessings,
Dana