Chuck D & Mr. T

Selfies and friend photos with Teddy and Zoe. I can’t get enough.

I’m trying to practice accepting compliments rather than deflecting them, being embarrassed or fearing being too self-congratulatory by accepting them. This will make me feel good and the complimenter (this is all taught to me by Bob Duggan and Jade Duggan). Today Jade told me she was impressed by how I could, with ease and cheer, do so many things and let the children come in and climb over me and pay them attention while still speaking or doing what I needed to do that didn’t center on them. What a huge compliment. She brought to my attention that I’ve succeeded at what I want which is to seamlessly welcome my children into all parts of my life and be happy with them all around. Blissful.

Today was such a lovely day…played with the children, had friends over for a lesson with Jade and all sat around by the fire, went to my friend Esters for lunch with Fernanda, finished holiday cards, practices guitar with Charlie, Alvaro, Casilda, snuggled with the littles, had dinner with Teddy, S, N and Zoe who is sleeping over, designed the attic with MJ, and read. Soo lovely.

I’m writing my book or pamphlet-not sure what it will be yet but know it will be called Peace Out: Living Calmly, Lovingly and Joyfully With Kids and Helping Them Do the Same With You. I want to help others with how I’ve learned is such a lovely way to live.

Peanut and Huck wait for Nick every day.

Teddy and his teacher Darrell invited Scottie and Nelly to come visit the classroom this morning and stay with the class. Teddy was an excellent host and the girls were so thrilled and didn’t want to leave. They did lots of work. I love Darrell and Maggie and the whole vibe of that class. So peaceful and loving and fun and relaxed.

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Teddy was so good about reminding me to get the socks for the homeless that his class is collecting. He gets me the correct info (the date they are due for instance) and is generally never wrong. We walked to Rite Aid before school and bought 20 pairs of socks and admired the candy canes.

Teddy “I know Santa doesn’t bring us the presents and it’s the parents because reindeer are not real. This is how it happens: the parents go outside and dress the dogs up like reindeer and sprinkle magic powers on them and one of the parents dress like Santa and they fly to the top of the house and pretend to be Santa and reindeer.”

ALB “Is that what you think?”

Teddy “Yes”

ALB “With things like Santa, what you believe is what is real.”

Teddy “Magic powers on the dogs.”

Today I went to the barn to ride Stanley, went to school and dressed up as the Pizza Fairy to hand out pizza, took the kids back to the barn to ride, had dinner, put the kids to bed, worked on holiday cards, and sat by the fire with MJ. So lovely. I love a charmed life and am so lucky and so deeply grateful. I’ve had my fair share of traumas and sadness but I still have the most amazing life.

Scottie “When I grow up I’m going to have a baby in my tummach!!” She said with such joy. It made me think of when I was a little girl and would dream of getting to have my own baby and how amazing it would be. I can feel it so clearly. And the I got 4. I’m so happy for Scottie that she has that joy about being a woman and the possibility of motherhood.