Words from the Heart

As the mother of four daughters, grandmother of seven wee ones and auntie, grandaunt and great-grandaunt to more wee ones, I have been surrounded by mothering this year.  Is it any wonder that on this special day, I find myself reflecting...   From a young age, I loved mothering.  I rocked my dolls, spend endless hours changing clothes, washing them, styling their hair and reading them stories.  As I grew older, I adored babysitting. In fact, I would rather baby sit than go on a date!  Then, I had four amazing little girls who have grown into equally amazing young women, three of whom have blessed me with grandbabies.   Being Silly and Creating memories The Girls and grandchildren This year, I became a grand aunt and a great grand aunt!  What a joy it is to watch these "babies" I once held on my lap, having babes of their own. Me, daughter, Courtney and clan at Castle Island  Just last week, I had a very bittersweet trip t...

  Women's Int ernational League USA - 19 22 National Photo Company [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons   Greetings, Women of the World! Today is our day!   Well, at least that is what it says on the calendar. So, in celebration of women everywhere, I thought I would share some poems, mine and others, on women. This first poem was written several years ago in praise of a dear friend, who loves in such a way that everyone feels as if they are her best friend. HANNAH’S VALENTINE Everyday is Valentine’s For those within her world. Like her colonial red door with it’s heart shape window - Shining, Her heart is open - Always. Inside her kitchen’s Filled with warmth And recipes to nourish - Body and soul - A pinch of love, A dash of joy, Heaping cups of hugs! Everyday is Valentine’s - Hannah makes it so!   ©1991 LMRN This poem, my mother read to me as a little girl. The poet captures the life of many women in such a few lines. ...

Image by jondoig via Flickr   Cheyenne Grandmother Margaret Behan Gives a Blessing Mother Earth is in big trouble and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand the implications. We are killing the very Life that sustains us.   The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers has been coming together each year, since 2002, to collectively and creatively bring awareness to the problems that we all face and to offer ideas that bring healing and change. This group of elder women from around the world, will meet this year in Anchorage to call on the Creator for "Healing the Spirit from the Light within."  These amazing women are no strangers to the creative powers. Creativity helps solve problems.  Our over consumption of electricity is killing our planet.  The link here ( Virtual Lantern ) offers an idea the Grandmothers have suggested to creatively get people aware of the electricity we waste.  On this site, people a...

Searching the shelf for a book of poems to take to my granddaughter's 5th birthday event, I had not planned on finding a poem that would spur me on to write, today.  The poem, written in my mother's hand was probably originally found in the pages of the Boston Globe or Good Housekeeping magazine, both of which she read religiously.  The Blessings of Grandchildren - My Cherubs 2010 As I read it, tears welled in my eyes.  Knowing my Mom and how much she loved her grandchildren, I know she must have copied it down with the intent of sending it off to one or several of them.    She could see the struggles they had in life, but was not always in the best shape to concentrate on helping them.  In the last years of her life, Mom was not the easiest person to be around.  Dementia and pain made it was difficult.  Visits were few, short and often emotional. That said, I know without a doubt, that Mom loved her grandchildren. My Girls with thei...

It's 20 till 11 in the evening and I am just finding time to sit down and post a new blog entry. My days of late have been full of the joys of "grand mothering."  That is mothering to both my daughters and granddaughters. My newest joy arrived a week early and threw us all into a tizzy.  She was a planned c-section, so coming early wasn't even considered.  It is amazing how much one can accomplish in 24 hours when one must! Kaia is a delight and a joy to sister Chloe.  As a new big sister, Chloe is helping to care for her sister.  She sings to her, worries about the fact that she has a "yucky belly button," and get diapers as needed. Of course time with Chloe and Kaia also means time with my other two granddaughters who live close by.  We had a lovely day at the beach while Kaia and Mommy were still in the hospital. The cousins really enjoy playing together.  The bottom picture shows the three of them looking for fairies.  All in...

Are you home Fairies? Last week, I celebrated another natal anniversary. The highlight of the week was gathering with all my daughters and granddaughters for the Annual Fairy House Tours in Portsmouth, NH. What fun it was to watch as my oldest granddaughter peeked into a fairy house and called, "Fairies, are you in there?" Her unconditional belief in the possibility of fairies, elves, and other ephemeral beings is a delight. She has yet to be jaded by the barrage of reality programing. She has yet to be told "the truth" about fantasy and make-believe. It was good for all present at our gathering to witness and support her visit to the Fairy Houses. Wait till I get this working! When the girls were little, I would tell them, "If you don't believe in the magic, it doesn't happen." It is something they all remember, and to this day, follow. Momma Fairy and her two Pixies What a joy to be able to turn 55 and still "make-believe" with m...