Happy Birthday, Baby

My baby has a birthday today.

I woke up this morning, and began to cry. Over a decade ago (has it been that long?), contractions started at one minute after midnight. It was his due-date but he was huge, and all amount of persuasion from doctors and drugs went ignored by him. The pains felt intense but I handled it as long as they were spread out. I labored in silence, alone. Feeling my baby move within me, spreading out for his journey. Kicking and punching. Hiccup. A brief rest.

My birth coach picked me up around 5 a.m., pre-arranged for another induction-attempt. By the time we got to the hospital, the contractions had closed together. But my baby suffered. The cord had wrapped around his neck.

The doctors rushed me into a C-Section. Needle in my spine. Tears on my face. Hand held tightly. Background surgery noise. Then laughter. As the medical team lifted my baby out of my belly, he had let go a stream of urine that a horse could be proud of. They "vaccuumed" me out and sewed me up.

My swaddled baby in my arms. Strawberry red tufts of hair. Dimple in the chin. Beautiful eyes.

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy.

Mom

Positive Thoughts: Experiment

Attention Families:

I was looking this morning at a Montessori School's blog (http://riverstonemontessori.blogspot.com/) and learned one critical thing that would have helped me years ago with my son:

Say at least 9 POSITIVE comments for every negative.

How about:
- Great job taking out the trash.
- You combed your hair very nicely today.
- Thank you for such a sweet smile.

Have to remember that adding a "but" at the end of the positive actually negates the comment. Don't say "thanks for taking out the trash, but you dragged it." We've been "taught" that it's easier to say negatives things than to say positive, but let's all try it.

Experiment: for one day, or even one hour, say only positive comments. Nothing negative. Can you do it? Will you do it?

My boy is 12 years old this week. I hope it's not too late.

Vee-Mama
http://www.newviewgroupllc.com/

More Reading!

We finally got to the Thrift Store last night. Double-EE brought home about 25 books. Some were fiction like "The Secret Garden" or "The Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court" and some were about animals of the world, the planets, sharks, rivers, and more.

I love that he loves to read!

Now, as the picture shows, he's up in his room, reading. Chances are I won't see or hear from him for a couple of days unless it's time to eat.

Since we're a family of book fanatics, that's ok with us.

Vee-Mama

http://www.newviewgroupllc.com/

Reading: A Favorite Pastime

Double-EE loves to read. He begs to stop at every yardsale we pass. He spend his extra money on books, spending money as fast as he saves it. He can barely contain himself when I say it's time to go to the thrift store.

Our local "ARC" thrift store holds many treasure, not least of these is books. Non-fiction about dogs, the solar system, or science. The children's section with chapter books and fun stuff. He loves it, and when he brings home a big bag of books for less than $20, he drags them up to his room and is quiet for hours.

He has almost a photographic memory, but only when it comes to something that interests him. Math puzzles him completely, but give him a book about the solar system or dinosaurs and he can spout off facts and figures non-stop.


I'm not worried about his schooling or career aspirations right now. I know that as long as he loves to read about a variety of topics, he'll be just fine. (However, we ARE still doing schoolwork!)

Is it because I allow him to read read read? And does he read because I didn't push him to learn, so when he felt like reading at 7 years old, he was reading books in one month? And does he love reading because I'm a book-hound myself?

Vee-Mama
http://www.newviewgroupllc.com/

Labels like "indigo child", "starseed", "crystal child" and more.

To the right: a picture of Double-EE when he was around 6 years old. Don't you just want to hug him?


Indigo child, as defined at http://www.indigochild.com/ is as follows:

= = = = = =

As a summary, here are the ten attributes that best describe this new kind of child, the Indigo Child:

• They come into the world with a feeling of royalty (and often act like it)
• They have a feeling of "deserving to be here," and are surprised when others don't share that.
• Self-worth is not a big issue. They often tell the parents "who they are."
• They have difficulty with absolute authority (authority without explanation or choice).
• They simply will not do certain things; for example, waiting in line is difficult for them.
• They get frustrated with systems that are ritually oriented and don't require creative thought.
• They often see better ways of doing things, both at home and in school, which makes them seem like "system busters" (nonconforming to any system).
• They seem antisocial unless they are with their own kind. If there are no others of like consciousness around them, they often turn inward, feeling like no other human understands them. School is often extremely difficult for them socially.
• They will not respond to "guilt" discipline ("Wait till your father gets home and finds out what you did").
• They are not shy in letting you know what they need.

= = = = = =
When my now 12-yr-old son was just an infant, I was told he was an indigo child. That his aura had a lot of indigo. That he needed more energy input than other kids. That he needed special parenting. That other families would be jealous.

I got sucked into believing that this special label of "indigo child" meant he was a "super child", with gifts and special abilities beyond adult human comprehension. Luckily, I wised up and realized he was "a kid"!

Lots of time has passed. We've been through major problems, ups and downs, and upheavels in every aspect of our lives. He is very loving and beautiful-spirited. As soon as he could walk, he would approach anyone and everyone with a big hug. Amazing that even the scariest meanest biker-dude would melt at the site of this little red-head offering his arms in innocent love.

But I've learned this: EVERY child and EVERY person is special. We could put a label on this child and that child, but in the end, every person is unique and divinely special in this world.

Many of the children today are labeled with "ADD", "ADHD", "Hyperactive", and "Spoiled" to name a few. Many are put on Ritalin, anti-depressants, stimulants and more. Stop it! We could choose to be better parents, and listen to what our kids need. Stop doing what's most convenient and do what best for them. Now don't get angry; some kids legitimately need outside assistance, but maybe we should be more discriminating and listen to our inner selves and our kids, as opposed to listening the media and mainstream Western-Medicine doctors.

And let's stop labeling our children. Each has a gift for this generation, and for this Earth. Let's learn from them all.

Vee-Mama

http://www.newviewgroupllc.com/