The Toy Box Years: 2009-05-03

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

I was watching a DVR'd episode of Dr. Phil last night and it was about parenting boot camp. I was astounded to watch some of these parents and what they had to say about their children. Granted, there are some challenging kids out there. And some kids truly need boot camp. Heck, even some parents need a boot camp! But after seeing this episode, it made me realize that, you know what - I'm not that bad of a parent after all.

What struck me the most was one mother, Tammie, who said her 11-year-old daughter is stubborn, uncooperative and annoying. She says she follows her around and that she finds that wierd. She said that her daughter is always wanting hugs and she finds that she has no desire to even hug her back or even feel affection for her.

I'm sorry, could you repeat that? You have no desire to hug your own child? REALLY?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??

I don't know about you - but I can't get ENOUGH hugs from my daughter. My youngest is too young to actually hug, but I love nothing more than picking her up, squeezing the stuffin' out of her and hearing her giggle. I can't get enough of my oldest coming up to me and saying - "Mommy - gimmee B-I-G hugs!" I love that she wants to give hugs - and that she gives them so freely. She'll hug anyone and anything (with mommy & daddy's permission, of course). She loves hugging her baby sister, her daddy, and her best friend "Mitzi" (our German Shepherd). It brings a tear to my eye to see her hug her beloved teddy bear, Nanuck, with all the passion in the world. One day I even caught her hugging the vacuum cleaner.

I suppose we tried to teach by example. She sees me & her daddy hugging all the time. She sees me hugging friends hello and goodbye. She sees me hugging when a friend needs comfort or support. Hugging is just a part of our everyday life. To not hug is like telling me not to breathe.

I know that there may come a day when hugs may be an embarrassment to her. There may be a day when she'll catch me & my husband hugging and she may roll her eyes and say, "Ewwwww....". There may be a day when a hug from her mom in public will be worse than getting a zit on her face the day of a big date. There may be a day when I'll get in bed that night and realize that not once did I hear, "Mommy - gimmee B-I-G hugs!" And there may be a day when Nanuck will sit, neglected, in that Toy Box just waiting for one more hug.

I'm hoping those days never come.........

I feel so sorry for that mom who can't hug her child. She is really missing out........

Now excuse me as I go hug my kids.........

I really should be in the laundry room folding the many laundry baskets full of clean clothes (or are they dirty and I just don't remember if I washed them?) I should be upstairs in the kitchen putting clean dishes away and loading up the dirty ones or mopping my floor. But I just had a moment with my "Nani" and I had to strike while the inspiration was hot!

"Mommy - can I be a princess?"

This was just asked by my 4-yr. old right before naptime. I'm thinking she wants to put on her dress up clothes or that she wants to sleep in her princess tent. So I tell her that yes, she can take her nap in her princess tent. She looks at me with all seriousness, hands on her hips and says, "Well thank you mommy, but that's not what I meant!" Hmmmm.....I'm wondering where this is going.

So I sat on the couch next to her and asked her to explain to me (as much as a 4 year old can) what she DID mean.

She looks at me and smiles and asks me "Mommy - do you know what a princess is?" Uh oh....how do I answer this? Do I use references to the Disney princesses? Do I use this as an opportunity to teach good morals & values? Do I start a historical lesson about British royalty and that we are in no way related to the Queen of England? The clock was ticking and I only had seconds to come up with an answer.

But my sweet "Nani" saved me....."That's ok, Mommy -- I'll tell you what a princess is!" (Whew!)

Here is the simple answer from my 4-yr. old about what a princess is:

A princess loves her mommy & daddy & baby sister "Nudge"

A princess loves her pigtails

A princess loves to dance & swing-swing ("Nani"-talk for playing on the swingset)

Princesses have a Prince Charming and lots of little friends and animals

Mary Poppins is a princess's best friend

Princesses eat all of her dinner and can have dessert

Princesses love to go to school

And finally -- a princess loves Jesus

You know - if those are the qualifications to be a princess, then yes "Nani", you most certainly can be a princess! Mommy hopes that you stay a princess forever!!

Princess "Nani"