Angels with Paper Wings

"Hold them when they cry,"

I was advised.

A mother's kiss can heal any boo-boo,

I've discovered.

(And if that doesn't help, a colorful Band-Aid will)
Protect them until their wings are strong enough to fly,
Is all I've been instructed to do.
But what advice do you have for me,
When I have angels with paper wings?

Look both ways before you cross the street,
I demand.
Treat others the way they want to be treated,
I teach.
Don't talk to strangers,
I plead.
Go in the direction of your dreams,
I preach.

But how do I protect them from a broken heart?
How do I explain that life isn't fair sometimes?
How do I keep them safe when others want to do them harm?

In my dreams,
I can protect my angels from anything life brings their way.
But in reality,
I have angels with paper wings.

Camp!

She’s gone…for a week! No communication, no texting, no phone calls, nothing! For a whole week! I’m not sure who’s more excited about it; her father, her or me!?!

It still doesn’t hide my worry hat…

No communication! Oh, sure, I can send her letters and emails but I can’t get anything in return. Not even a nod from the camp counselor saying “She’s fine, Mom!” “Don’t worry, Mom!” “It was just a scratch and we took care of it just like you would, Mom!” Nothing, Nada, Zilch!

Wait! Look there, under my arm, what’s that? It’s my party hat!!!

On Monday, July 4, 2011, I will have NO children! We are dropping the boys off for the weekend and my husband and I are going out. We may see a movie…or three! We may go to a fancy (or, not so much) restaurant and order everything on the menu and have drinks to go along with it!! (Uh! I gasp at the foreign thought!)

Let’s be sensible, shall we?! It’s only a week and she probably won’t miss us at all! This week will blow by and, before you know it, we will all be back to our normal selves and all this camp business and worry business will just be a distant memory.

But, while it’s still fresh in my mind – Yes, waiter, I will have another martini!

My Worry Hat!

Oooooooh! My worry hat!! I'm not a huge fan of my worry hat! It's a hat that I try to pray myself out of wearing but more often than not, especially when my children are involved, I end up wearing it anyway. It's not at all invisible; everyone knows I'm wearing it! As hard as I try to lose this hat, it randomly appears and it never appears in a small way...NOPE! I have on my worry hat and EVERYONE knows!!!

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I'm also a believer that if you plan for the worst the best will happen. But, if the worst does happen then you've planned for it!

My youngest son is going on a field trip to the Washington National Zoo today. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE his teacher and I completely trust the chaperone for my son's group but...I'm also a believer that no one can care for my children the way that I can, so bring on the worry!

I've chatted with him about safety and being responsible. "Stay with your group and DON'T wander off!" But the thought of the group wandering off as my son's mind is wandering in the jungles of Africa, swinging from the trees with the other monkeys and not realizing that his group has left without him - that's what is running through my head!

So, I'm praying, and preparing...