Strange Little Minds...

Have you ever wished you could see into your kids strange little minds? I often do. Then upon truly thinking about what I might see, am quite glad that I can't! The strange life of living with children, or at least MY strange life of living with my children!

Currently, my kids are obsessed with tornados & poop. Grace is constantly concerned that a tornado is coming, although we live in a rare pocket under the mountain that seldom sees any. She has imparted this, of course, to her little brother as well. They like to use the "I think a tornado is coming" as a way to stay up just a little later at bed time. (they can turn ANYTHING into a reason to stay up late) And as with all kids this age, poop is about the funniest thing ever. They like to sing songs but replace all the words with "poop". Classy. They especially like to do this where others can hear them, like the market, target, and my personal fav, The Broadmoor. (the young business women at a conference there were all doubling up on birth control after seeing my kids in action-I have to admit I enjoyed their snooty looks of disgust, I used to be one of them after all!) SO when I asked Grace what Daddy should be for Halloween, I shouldn't have been surprised to here the words 'Poop Tornado' come out of her perfect little bow mouth. Love it!

Since Grace's invention of the 'poopnado', Tommy has really enjoyed talking about it as well. Only problem is he is rather hard to understand sometimes. So when he started asking "shut up poop teenagers" in the grocery (the worst things always happen when I am shopping for groceries-but that is another blog) he was actually asking me if I had been sucked up by a poop tornado. Good question. I have to say I wan't looking my best that day so it WAS a legitimate question. I realize now what great experience it was for me to be stared at so much in high school because I dressed so strangely-doesn't phase me too much now when people are staring because of the odd things my kiddos do and say!

The other day Tommy asked if a poop tornado could get us in the house, to which I replied, " We were just being silly, they are not real". He looked at me very seriously, almost as if he felt sorry for my stupidity, then tilted his head to the side and is the sweetest angelic high voice he said "sometimes they real", gave me a pat, then walked off. So if Tommy is at your house in the near future, this topic could come up!

So you might be thinking, geez, what kind of a Mom is she, letting her kids get away with this stuff in public. Worn out for one! We have had the talk about things that are funny at home are not always funny out in public, but so far they just are not getting it. I know several of my friends are going through the same thing. We are lucky to have kids with such personality and humor! (I have to remind myself of that sometimes!) So for now, I am more concerned with keeping Grace from walking into moving cars and Tommy from running off and scaling a building.

Halloween should certainly be interesting this year for sure. Am I making this costume? Probably not, but it sure would be funny. Well, at least as long as he didn't wear it to the grocery store...

Lessons I have learned from the last few weeks...

Isn't it strange how often times we don't really get to know a person until they die? I am not sure if that is because after a death I spend time reading their memoirs, going through photos, hearing many stories about them, and asking questions, or if that is just the natural feeling because their story has a definite beginning and a definite end. No matter what the case, I take a lot from the death of my loved ones.

Last week, my grandmother died. I was blessed to be able to be there by her side through her last few days on earth. I learned many things from this strange experience.

Although I have lost many loved ones, I have never set by someones side as they were actually dying. It took Gramz many many days and the doctors were amazed. Every day the medical staff would say today is it, only hours left. And every day she would continue to breath a strange ragged pattern, sometimes opening her eyes, sometimes yelling out. What was going on in there? After reading something hospice gave us, I really think she was working through hard times in her life and resolving unfinished issues so she could go peacefully on to heaven.

Gramz had words of great wisdom on her death bed. She said, " Never smoke" as she struggled to breath and she said, "Never, never be mean to people" as she struggled to make peace with her life. Good advice.

After reading some of her memoirs that she had written for us, I am amazed at the kind of

Grandmother she was. Her life had been so much harder than I ever realized. She wrote that her mother never kissed her or showed affection. She never saw affection between her parents either. She was pushed into marriage by WWII and when her husband came home, he was terribly changed by the horrors of war. Sadly he took this out on her. There is far more to this story, but what I took away from learning all these things is what an incredible woman she was. Despite what life had showed her, she was always so affectionate and fun! What a strong person to have such weight and still laugh and be so funny. (Gramz was a riot! We never knew what she might say-you can imagine as she got older how this played out!)

What a lesson in strength, and moving beyond hard times. A lesson in loving people and making that affection known to them. A lesson on NOT being a victim. And also, a hard lesson on making peace with your own personal issues and not stuffing them away for later, because you will have to deal with them. This was haunting to see. It has truly made me think about some of my feelings and start working through them. I come from a long line of emotional "stuffers" and was really concerned as I saw how that played out it death. I am hoping others involved took some of these same lessons away as well.

Other things I observed over the last weeks while staying a my folks and traveling are:

1 computer for 5 people is not enough. (crazy I know)

The kindness of people can soften hardened hearts and give hope.

When others need us to be strong, we can be a rock.

When traveling in the airport, be extra kind to everyone around you. Amazing stories could follow. Not everyone there is traveling for fun or business, it may be great sorrow.

Spend time with your kids and let them know you love them and your spouse.

Again, I can't begin to say how strange this all was. Sort of like a blurry dream. So much happened and was learned that I just can't express it. The incredible lack of sleep also doesn't help with that! All I can say is that I loved my Gramz, am thankful for our time and for all the things she taught me in life and in death.