On a recent day, I remembered to turn the camera on myself and my kids
I took a moment this afternoon to peek in on the Nielsons and their extended families - that is, I looked at Courtney and Alice’s blogs.
Though they live now in Utah, I still think of Stephanie and Christian Nielson, the young couple whose lives were turned upside-down in August following a plane crash, and wonder how they’re doing.
Returning to reporting in July, I’ve had the chance to write a number of stories about a number of people who will forever be embedded on my thoughts.
Many of them were moms: a mom caring for her sister’s kids, a mom struggling to survive, a mom hoping to stay in her home with her family for Christmas.
I’ve met moms of teens helping them get through their first glimpse of mortality. I met a mom caring for her son with special needs and several moms running for school board, looking to have an impact on their child’s education.
And I’m thankful. I’m thankful that I share this common bond with them. I’m thankful as I talk to parents or teachers or other school leaders that my own life experiences - thanks to the not-so-always cherub faces of my 6-year-old son and nearly 4-year-old daughter - allow me to understand a bit more what everyone is talking about.
And I certainly hope the New Year will help me take a bit of what I’ve learned from all these moms and bring it into my own parenting. I admire how these moms make a part of each day memorable, embrace each hug, salute each little milestone and welcome each frustration as a normal, comes-with-the-day part of parenting.
