Saturday, July 21, 2012
Lauren swims!
After depending on floaties for the past three years to swim, Lauren learned to swim WITHOUT floaties last week!! It was incredible seeing her do her thing in the water during Visiting Day at camp. Lauren has been ALL about swimming these days. She asks me almost every day (sometimes several times per day) if she can go swimming. Today (Sat, 7/21/12) she asked me about 20 times and after Elizabeth woke up from her nap, we finally went swimming for nearly two hours! I am so proud of my girl!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Growing up
Starting from the Toddler program at Growing Tree, all throughout Nursery and thru Pre-K, my drop off routine with Lauren was a hug, a kiss, and two high fives. This morning, out of no where, Lauren told me, "But mom, my friends don't do that." When I responded in shock, "Lauren!" she said, "Okay fine. But no high fives." So I settled for a hug and a kiss.
When I got back in the car to head to work, I was in such disbelief and overcome with sadness. Children, even mine, do grow up. I wouldn't have been so upset, I don't think, if it was E since she has always been more independent but this is my Lauren!
When I got back in the car to head to work, I was in such disbelief and overcome with sadness. Children, even mine, do grow up. I wouldn't have been so upset, I don't think, if it was E since she has always been more independent but this is my Lauren!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Growing up without a "poor" mentality
I heard Oprah say several times throughout her talk show career that she still packs her lunch everyday. Not directly to save money, but because the she still had the "poor" mentality and she thinks about certain things whereas someone having grown up in a life of privilege would never consider.
I feel like I had one of the best childhoods ever. My family took tons of trips, celebrated birthdays and holidays, and I remember many visits to the toy store. Even after my father passed away suddenly on Sept 20, 1984, my lifestyle didn't change - at least in my eyes. (Ask my mother, she'll tell you that her life changed inside out, upside down, sideways, etc.!) My mom still continued with private schools (thru 8th grade), my brother and I continued with piano and tennis lessons, and even went to Europe and Asia to visit our extended family over summer break. But slowly, as I grew up, I realized how difficult my mom's life had been in order to minimize disruption to her childrens' lives after our father died. My mom would tell me well after I had my first job that she would only put in $10 worth of gas so she could save enough to give me a monthly allowance while I was away at school.
I am now at a point in my life where I am 110% fulfilled and happy! I feel so complete in every aspect of my life. My family. My friends. My career. Tae and I are lucky to have the same outlook on money where we see it as a means to an end and not THE end. But because now that I understand the magnitude of my mother's sacrifices and all that she gave up for her children, I would say with absolute certainty that a part of my mentality is poor. I think long and hard before spending an extra $1,500 on an oceanfront rental vs. Garden View (even if I will easily give my mother $1,500 as a thank you - she usually doesn't take it by the way...) I rarely pay full price for clothes. I will spend the extra time to price compare if I know multiple retailers sell a particular product.
Last week, I came home to several new books on the coffee table. My mother had taken Lauren to the toy store where instead of picking toys, she picked about five new books for herself and Elizabeth. My mom was so proud of Lauren that day (she has been amazing during her piano lessons) and as a reward, my mom asked Lauren where she wanted to go after her lesson. Lauren answered, "The toy store." That same evening, Lauren asked me for cookies. So I baked some for her (frozen dough, not scratch!). She then asked for milk. Seconds later, bam, it was right in front of her. I realized at that very moment that this girl will ask for something and it will be given to her. It HAS been given to her. I took this realization as an opportunity to explain the concept of appreciation...that not everybody has easy access to basic-to-her things like books, cookies, and milk. Of course she innocently asked, "Why?" - not that I expected her to get it immediately. It was just a reminder to me that my girls have to grow up with some sort of poor mentality. I want them to grow up with drive, ambition, hunger, and the will to be their best. I want them to experience the thrill of achieving something they worked incredibly hard for. I know that in order to experience all these things, there has to be disappointment, defeat, and failure. It will be my job as their mother to always be supportive, dust their pants, help them pick themselves right back up, and keep going. This is what my mother has always done for me.
I feel like I had one of the best childhoods ever. My family took tons of trips, celebrated birthdays and holidays, and I remember many visits to the toy store. Even after my father passed away suddenly on Sept 20, 1984, my lifestyle didn't change - at least in my eyes. (Ask my mother, she'll tell you that her life changed inside out, upside down, sideways, etc.!) My mom still continued with private schools (thru 8th grade), my brother and I continued with piano and tennis lessons, and even went to Europe and Asia to visit our extended family over summer break. But slowly, as I grew up, I realized how difficult my mom's life had been in order to minimize disruption to her childrens' lives after our father died. My mom would tell me well after I had my first job that she would only put in $10 worth of gas so she could save enough to give me a monthly allowance while I was away at school.
I am now at a point in my life where I am 110% fulfilled and happy! I feel so complete in every aspect of my life. My family. My friends. My career. Tae and I are lucky to have the same outlook on money where we see it as a means to an end and not THE end. But because now that I understand the magnitude of my mother's sacrifices and all that she gave up for her children, I would say with absolute certainty that a part of my mentality is poor. I think long and hard before spending an extra $1,500 on an oceanfront rental vs. Garden View (even if I will easily give my mother $1,500 as a thank you - she usually doesn't take it by the way...) I rarely pay full price for clothes. I will spend the extra time to price compare if I know multiple retailers sell a particular product.
Last week, I came home to several new books on the coffee table. My mother had taken Lauren to the toy store where instead of picking toys, she picked about five new books for herself and Elizabeth. My mom was so proud of Lauren that day (she has been amazing during her piano lessons) and as a reward, my mom asked Lauren where she wanted to go after her lesson. Lauren answered, "The toy store." That same evening, Lauren asked me for cookies. So I baked some for her (frozen dough, not scratch!). She then asked for milk. Seconds later, bam, it was right in front of her. I realized at that very moment that this girl will ask for something and it will be given to her. It HAS been given to her. I took this realization as an opportunity to explain the concept of appreciation...that not everybody has easy access to basic-to-her things like books, cookies, and milk. Of course she innocently asked, "Why?" - not that I expected her to get it immediately. It was just a reminder to me that my girls have to grow up with some sort of poor mentality. I want them to grow up with drive, ambition, hunger, and the will to be their best. I want them to experience the thrill of achieving something they worked incredibly hard for. I know that in order to experience all these things, there has to be disappointment, defeat, and failure. It will be my job as their mother to always be supportive, dust their pants, help them pick themselves right back up, and keep going. This is what my mother has always done for me.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Video: Best Job | P&G London 2012 Olympic Games Film
I have been in the digital ad sales business since 1997 and I have never felt this way about an ad or some other piece of digital content. This P&G ad literally moved me to tears. I was able to maintain my composure up until the last 30 seconds. Then I lost it when the gymnast gave her mother a powerful, heartfelt hug.
This story is spot on. It's about all the every day actions, decisions, love, care, sacrifice, and faith that only moms can do to dream big dreams for their children and ensure they live their best lives. I thought about every conference call I took in a parking lot just so I could take the girls to school or pick them up. I clearly recalled the time I took a day trip to Seattle (yes, it's possible) so I could present at a meeting with the CMO of Neiman Marcus AND make Parent's Day at Lauren's camp. All the times I quickly put the girls to sleep so I could run to BJ's Wholesale to pick up 12 half gallons of milk and 36 eggs. Or to Target at 10:00 PM (they close at 11!) to pick up a birthday gift for a party I completely forgot about.
But this is child's play compared to what my own dear mother went through for me and my brother as a single mom. When she lost her husband in a matter of hours at just 36 years old with two children... Working seven days for 10 years. Filling only $10 worth of gas in her car so she could have more to spend on us. Giving up her life to ensure my brother and I could reach our potential as her children.
My relationship with my mother (two halmuhnee as the girls call her) is...I can't find the right words to describe it. I owe everything I have achieved to her. She is such an integral part of my girls' lives. And it's deliberate because my mom continues with the same drive she exemplified while I was growing up. She wants me to continue having a career, being independent, strong, and successful - all on my own. I define myself. And I am able to do that only because of my mother - in all the ways only a mother can - exactly like the ways illustrated in this video.
This story is spot on. It's about all the every day actions, decisions, love, care, sacrifice, and faith that only moms can do to dream big dreams for their children and ensure they live their best lives. I thought about every conference call I took in a parking lot just so I could take the girls to school or pick them up. I clearly recalled the time I took a day trip to Seattle (yes, it's possible) so I could present at a meeting with the CMO of Neiman Marcus AND make Parent's Day at Lauren's camp. All the times I quickly put the girls to sleep so I could run to BJ's Wholesale to pick up 12 half gallons of milk and 36 eggs. Or to Target at 10:00 PM (they close at 11!) to pick up a birthday gift for a party I completely forgot about.
But this is child's play compared to what my own dear mother went through for me and my brother as a single mom. When she lost her husband in a matter of hours at just 36 years old with two children... Working seven days for 10 years. Filling only $10 worth of gas in her car so she could have more to spend on us. Giving up her life to ensure my brother and I could reach our potential as her children.
My relationship with my mother (two halmuhnee as the girls call her) is...I can't find the right words to describe it. I owe everything I have achieved to her. She is such an integral part of my girls' lives. And it's deliberate because my mom continues with the same drive she exemplified while I was growing up. She wants me to continue having a career, being independent, strong, and successful - all on my own. I define myself. And I am able to do that only because of my mother - in all the ways only a mother can - exactly like the ways illustrated in this video.
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| Enjoying the Montauk sunset, 2011 |
Full Circle
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| Lauren wearing my old ice skating dress from my first competition. |
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Family traditions - one moment at a time
This trip made me further appreciate - rather, cherish - this magical time in our lives. They will never be almost 5 and almost 3 ever again. But moment by moment, day by day, experience by experience, trip by trip, I look forward to building meaningful family traditions and extraordinary lasting memories.
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