memories | It's a Vivas Thing!

Sep 25 2016

No Way!

When the Drama Queen first mentioned she wanted to go to the iHeart Radio Musical Festival, I will admit that my first thought was, “No way!” But I have learned thru the many years of being a mom that sometimes we have to shove away our thoughts of no way and listen to what is being asked.

(*Tangent* I am a firm believer of the gut as a mom. I tend to listen to what it says.)

She really wanted to go. Told me all about the artists that would be there. Said she would find a responsible friend or older sibling to go with her. And the more she talked, the more I realized that this was an opportunity being given to me to:

(A) Spend some quality time with my quickly growing daughter. I have two years left with her before she starts adulting.

(B) Show her that I am absolutely willing to have fun with her and her interests.

(D) Give her the best 16th birthday gift ever!

(E) I would get to see Sam Hunt!!!

So, we had a conversation. I told her I would absolutely let her go to the festival on one condition. I would be the one going with her. 😱

She digested for a few moments and then agreed. And over the next several weeks we listened to songs of everyone who would be there. We talked of what to expect, the artists I wouldn’t like, etc.

…and then it was time! We had to park far away and take the free shuttle. This ended up with us finally paying someone to take us so we wouldn’t miss everything. So she got to see mom negotiate and agree if he got us there quickly and didn’t wait around.

There was the many conversations with different people of all ages and who they were there to see.

There was the crazy drunk girls. And learning how to react to a situation that could end badly. And how the surrounding people were willing to work together to move away from them a little at a time: together. And the conversation of why she would never do that. And the Mama Bear in me that wasn’t about to let anyone smash my kiddo.

There was the lady who was near passing out from the crowds and heat. And how we all worked together to help the situation and get her out of there.

There was the mob. Once you are in, you are in. And slowly we made our way closer and closer with the crowd. It was crazy and loud and standing all day.

And there was the many conversations of the artists and their music. What was good, bad, and amazing. We talked about their talent and their attitudes. And yes, there was one artist who was so talented yet so inappropriate. And we talked about his lyrics and his talent and what he does with it. And it was a great conversation!

But most of all, we had a wonderful day together. We laughed and sang and danced and were exhausted and starving by the end of the day. And as we sat eating, she thanked me for going with her.

And that’s why I shoved the “no way” thought away. We would have missed out on an awesome day spent together.

As parents, we are given unique opportunities to spend with our children. Embrace them. Have fun. Live a little. Love a lot.

Oct 17 2010

Poptarts

This weekend was the drama queen's birthday, so we had a sleepover. She got to choose breakfast; so opted for poptarts. We don't have them that often, so I went for it. I thought, "Hey, at least I won't be making pancakes after a sleepless night of noisy girls!"

Early Saturday morning I got up and had the girls happily eating poptarts and finishing up their crafts from the night before. Realizing I had a moment, I grabbed a cup of coffee and some toasted blueberry poptarts and went to relax for a moment.

And remember my childhood. You see, I remember blueberry poptarts.

My grandparents had a house by a lake in Indiana. We lived pretty far away, but we'd visit them during the summer. We'd drive for what seemed like forever, and I knew we were getting close when we started passing Amish horse and buggies. I remember arriving and Grandpa walking us to the pantry and opening the door…to a pantry full of poptarts. As a child, it seemed like the pantry went as high as a mountain…a mountain of blueberry (and other flavors) of poptarts!

I honestly can't remember ever eating poptarts as a child any place else. We may have, but I don't remember it. You see, mom was awesome; she'd cook us a hot breakfast every morning before school. We also had dinner at the table together every night. We didn't eat cereal much until we were older. As a matter of fact, I used to love going camping because I knew my parents would get the little boxes of cereal and we'd get to have a different flavor each morning and eat it right out of the box!

Now that I'm an adult, I'm really not a big fan of poptarts, (I'd rather have a hot breakfast); but I do so enjoy a toasted blueberry poptart. I'll smile as I eat one, remembering our summer visits to the lake house. We'd get up early and fish off of the pontoon. Or stay up late and catch fireflies.

Tomorrow marks ten years since my grandfather passed away; he left us shortly after the Drama Queen made her entrance. My grandmother followed along a year later. I'm glad my daughter chose to have blueberry poptarts to celebrate her 10th birthday. It was nice to take a walk down memory lane.

Apr 20 2010

Special Memories

I was sitting here in the dark tonight with the Drama Queen, listening to my son’s music. I played it several times.

She finally asked,

“Mommy, why do you keep playing it over and over?”

“Because,” I said, “It takes me back to a special memory.”

“What’s a special memory?”

So I told her, “A special memory is a memory of something special that has happened to you, or with you and someone else. It can be anything, but it brings back that special moment.”

“But why is this song special, Mommy?” she asked.

So I told her about the song and the memories it created the day that the Talented One played it for me. And no matter what, I’ll always consider it “our song.” And when I”m tired, or he’s just there playing, sometimes I can ask him to play “my song” and he does. I don’t have to tell him which one or why, because he knows. And he plays it for me. And I think back to that first time, when he played it for me over and over. And so, sometimes, I just like to sit and listen to it over and over.

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So she asked again, what kind of special memories I have. And I told her about one I have of the Smart One. He was younger, and it was just the two of us and we were listening to praise music in the living room. And a song came on. And he just lifted his hands up in praise to the Lord. He lifted his face up and closed his eyes and just sang and swayed back and forth, with his arms outstretched and his face shining as he sang along. I honestly don’t even remember what song it was; but the moment..wow. I’ll never forget that moment.

And so we talked of why I want to keep homeschooling her for now; so that we can created special memories together. ‘And we talked of things we’ve done together. And we talked about just knowing, some day, that there is that one special memory we can share and how she’ll have other special moments with other loved ones; maybe even her own children some day. And we talked about how important it is to just stop sometimes, and grab that special moment; make a memory, because you won’t ever get that chance back. Grab it while you can.

“Mommy, why can’t we go back?”

“Because, those moments only happen once. We can’t do it again.”

And she asked me, “Mommy, can you be there with me when I have my baby, so we can have that special memory?”

I’m not sure what her future husband will say about that one, but I know, when she has that precious baby, I’ll be reminded of this night. The night when we sat and listened to the Talented One’s beautiful music and talked about grabbing the moments in life that we can and making those moments count.

Because tonight, we made our own special memory.