Saturday, January 23, 2010

Buddha & enlightenment of a pre-schooler

Our neighbor, Shari, recently put the most elegant looking small statue of a Buddha in her flower garden under a tree. He sits calmly, peacefully, and in perfect contentment on a flat stone that almost makes him appear as if he is floating. When Eric and I were out front he spotted the Buddha immediately. His first comment was "He is in Time Out". I thought about this for a second and said that actually he is time out, not the kind of time out Eric has experienced but a time out from everything except this moment. Buddha is enlightened to his connection to it all. Eric was profoundly correct and didn't even know it. Buddha was detached and connected at the same time.

Kids are always enlightening, forcing us into the present every day, so aware of there surroundings, and so open to the possibilities. Since the first day Eric open his eyes and looked at me (27 weeks)I had this profound feeling that we were about to learn a great deal from each other. Boy was I right. He has looked at me many times with that same look, as if he knows more than I do. In many ways he does. Children have so much to teach us.

Time out was his first reaction to Buddha. Day 2's reaction was "he's crying". Apparently Buddha sent out this emotion that Eric saw as tears. Again, Eric wise beyond his years didn't realize what he just said. Tears are often a release, letting emotions free. I have experienced this release. In yoga when you physically release a tight area in your body that was holding your tension, your anxiety you may find yourself blubbering freely on your mat. My pre-schooler never holds on to his tension. He lets it out regularly, sometimes in public, acting out in ways you sometimes wish were acceptable as an adult (ie throwing your toy across the room because it isn't working - hello!!! computers)

I just got some really good advice from another mom. When you feel the chaos of all the thinking and all the doing (and all the whining) give yourself a time out. Even announce it - and watch you child's perplexed look - and step away until you are able to bring back the perspective and could care less that while you were "away" your child dumped out every toy he owns into the middle of the living room floor. You are now ready to just sit down and play having detached from mess. Good Buddha moment for sure.

Monday, January 04, 2010

Holiday Fun (101 photos), by Tara DelloIacono


I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Counting days

The anticipation brought on by the advent calendar drove Eric into a frenzy until about the 15th of December when he finally realized we would not be opening more than one window each day. It took a great deal of self (and sometimes physical) restraint on his part to comply with the rules of the advent.

Each morning we would start the day with "what-iz open today?" spoken in Eric's most melodically charming and convincing tone. Even after we opened the window he would hit you with this question several more times just in case you would slip up, forget what day it was, and let him open and retrieve another chocolate from the window.

This December Eric wasn't the only one counting dates. December 10th (3 years ago) is the anniversary of Eric's homecoming from his 96 day stay in the NICU. To add to this attention to dates, Eric's original due date was December 12th (the same as my mother's with me). Aaron refers to Eric being born twice, first on his birthday and then again the day we brought him home. The emotion we experienced is still very tangible but, seems so distant when we are playing with our mild-mannered, tantrum throwing, charming three year old.


December 7th also marked the day I was 26 weeks along with this second pregnancy, quite a milestone since as you know Eric was born at 26 weeks and 2 days. It is pretty cool to be over that hump and well into the third trimester. So far Eric's money is on a baby sister. Although one day he decided maybe it was a brother. Either way he has suggested two names for "his" baby: Doggie or Baby Eric.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!