Universal Children’s Day 2014: Celebrating the Courage of a Baby During Surgery

The United Nations Universal Children’s Day 2014 falls on 20 November “We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue to be the most universally cherished aspiration of humankind,” the UN said in statement issued ahead of the day. Craniosynostosis……

Everything is a Miracle

I have become even more aware of the miracle of birth and new life as I help one of my daughters with her 17 day old baby. The innate intelligence, personality and awareness of each, tiny newborn never fails to astound me. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though…

First! Transformed Instantly into a Mother

Daily Prompt: First! Tell us about your first day at something — your first day of school, first day of work, first day living on your own, first day blogging, first day as a parent, whatever. TRANSFORMED When I gave birth to a baby, I was reborn as well. Pain was instantly forgotten Fear of inadequacy……

Who Needs a Teddy Bear When You’ve Got a Teddy Baby?

A newborn can see clearly for about 8″, just far enough to focus intently on his mother’s face. It is almost as if the initiative to bond comes from the baby first, especially when I consider the fierce hand grip that they are born with. To ensure an infant is fed, he is born with an……

Little People

I accepted a writing challenge: Set a timer for ten minutes. Open a new post. Start the timer, and start writing. When the timer goes off, publish. Time to loosen up and have some fun, fun with words SO…How about a 1970’S type of STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS with a pinch of  the poetic style of e.e. cummings? Now I am dating……

When Life is Stripped down to the Basics

One afternoon before Easter, I was ironing cotton dresses and shirts for church the next day. Six year old Sarah watched for a while and then pointed to the iron and asked, “What is that mummy?” I laughed because I realized that this little girl had never seen me iron; I usually used the clothes……

Let Your Infant’s Love Energize You

Living with little people keeps you young  if you allow their love to energize you.   I did not discover this truth right away. No  mothering seemed to me to be a daunting challenge . As  an expectant mother, I braced myself for the marathon that was to come by reading everything I could get my hands. I was tense,……

My Baby LOVES Dog Food

Life was especially chaotic after the birth of our eighth and ninth children because everyone was still fourteen and under.  It was difficult to keep a sharp eye out for my new bundle of energy, Anthony. As our second youngest, Anthony’s basic character has always been pleasant and easy going. His eyes are usually twinkling and a slight……