Navigating To My Place

really love this ali. thank you for sharing where your mind traveled as you wrote and looked at your world. i love how the past can whisper to us in this way...

Ali, thanks for this post. Made me think about so many things. The thing it most made me think about is how I'm being, at the moment, with my son, having just had a baby girl. I feel I'm not as patient with him as I was before and that's been hurting me *a lot*. Your post has given me the outside boost I need to take a breath and to smile/nod encouragement/give him some kind words (etc) rather than approaching him with a stressed face. I want him to remember me, his Mum, as you describe remembering yours. I should stop sweating the little things and remember the bigger picture and your post has really brought that home to me. Thanks Ali. Thanks so much.

Thanks for sharing such a sweet post! I am now a dance mom to my girls, just as my mom was to us. I recently posted a thank you to her on Facebook as I sat waiting for dance lessons to finish. Embrace these times!

wow - this is amazing.
your rose-colored memory is the same one I have.
Mom is a beautiful person - and we're so lucky to have her!

What a great post today. I too often think of my mom. Especially during those trying moments. I think, my mom must have felt like this, if she could deal with it, i can deal with it. My mom was and still is the Queen of school lunches. My brothers and I and my dad always had lovingly prepared and healthy lunches. When other kids had white bread and bologna, I had 12 grain, organic butter with freshly roasted turkey. Homemade baking, and always real fruit juice. I remember in high school pulling out my lunch, while other kids made fun of the 1" layer of sprouts on my sandwich I always felt proud of my lunch and happy that she made it for me. I try to take the same pride in the lunches I make for my kids now. MOM's Rule!

Sweet story. :)

That was amazing to read. Thank you.

Ali, I'd love to hear your mom's response if you don't mind sharing. This post spoke volumes to me--I lost my mom last year. She was my best friend, my role model, my confidant. I often find myself wondering how she handled working, 2 kids going in different directions due to our age difference, juggling being a wife, a woman, a mother, a daughter, a sister. Oh how I wish I could ask her. Since I can't, I intend to do something with my questions be it journaling or scrapbooking and thank you for sharing your feelings as they confirm I'm not alone with these thoughts.

Thanks Ali! This is a wonderful post. Sadly, my mom died before my kids were born. I miss sharing all this with her. I do love making lunches for the kids. I know already that I will really miss these days...

I really enjoyed this post. Makes me realize how I need to slow down and enjoy those little things more. I find myself more frustrated & forgetful these days. I need to do more planning, organizing and enjoying!! My mom was not like your mom and I can feel a difference in me & what I see in you, my up-bringing probably has a lot to do with that. I do not want my boys to remember me being so stressed & rushing all the time, I want them to have the memories you have. I will start NOW, not tomorrow, and work on making my days better so thier memories will be the best they can be. Thank you for your heart-felt & honest peeks into your heart & your life. It's so silly, but I think of you as a friend!! Another friend of mine follows your blog as well and you enter our conversations daily.
Thanks Friend!! You are loved!!
~Michelle

Beautiful, Ali. Thanks.

This was so beautiful written. Thank you for reminding me of my mom and of being a mom. I'm also one of those that like routine and structure in my life. When the kids are home for summer break, it takes me a few weeks to get adjusted to them here. I also am early/ontime to everything it makes the day run so much smoother, hoping my kids will continue it into their adulthood. I love the thoughts on snacks, as we are into soccer/track season for us. For this family it's remembering to fill up the waterjugs for their activities and packing chairs, warm clothes, umbrella's. I love doing this for my kids, never complaining, enjoying the process of getting ready. I've never missed their games, concerts, plays, etc. I love being at all of them and it fills my heart with joy watching them do their thing. It never gets old, boring, or just another thing to do. I will miss these things when they leave. I'm wondering about my mom now to and what she thought of all this, she worked hard to support us and didn't get to come to games, etc because of her late shifts. All the more reason I'm so happy to be a sahm now to my kids. Thanks Ali for this great post. Love the picture of your mom and anna together they are beautiful.

Wonderful tribute to your mom and all that she has done and continues to do for you and your family.

This is a wonderful post and I hope your mother reads it. It's exactly what I hope my children will think about me one day. And you can be sure Simon and Anna will think the same about you as they can even read and see the wonderful documentation of your happy family life you do.

L*O*V*E this post ali...my mom is my rock, i am so lucky to have her as a mom and for her to be so close to my children. she is a special lady. i will tell her that again today because of you. also today i am attending a close friend of mine mom's funeral today. the loss is great for the family. it has made me think a lot too...i guess that is why we have to be grateful now & to enjoy the moments...

Very beatiful moment...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who begins to tell one story and in the middle of it has it turn into a different one. That happens to me a lot.
As always, you put your thoughts and feelings into words so eloquently. One of the many reasons I adore you, Ali! :) It's so nice to see someone be so appreciative of their mom and just come right out and say so! I don't have good memories like you've described here and it's nice to see you don't take that sort of thing for granted. I think of my mom often also when I'm doing things for my daughter but it's because I want to do all the things she DIDN'T do so that my daughter will have wonderful memories of her childhood.
Corinna

Great post Ali. Anna is the spitting image of you when you were a child.

Beautiful post--thanks for inspiring me to be grateful--and show/tell it-- to the two people who have made my life possible and still continue to travel the journey with me.

One of my favorite life "gifts" about motherhood is that now I KNOW how my Mom feels about me because I know how I feel about my own kids.
I mean, I knew she loved me before I had kids, but now that I am a mother myself, I really see that love in all those little details ...
Great post today!