I hope all of my superfab momma friends had a truly wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! We certainly did! We rounded up my nephews and took them up to the Spirit of Mission Days, which is a typical small-town carnival and fair. Brian and Arden took off and rode all the rickety rides while my 6 y/o nephew hung out with Jack and me. I let him play a bunch of games, even though he was “too big to win prizes” and gave everything he won to Jack. Well, except for the 3 ft. long stuffed snake. THAT was cool enough to try and win (and keep). *snicker*

They had a big slide he was going to go down, but he got about halfway up, freaked out, and came running back down. I was trying not to laugh, because—well, because it’s kinda mean—but I really wanted to because SERIOUSLY?! When I was his age, I was jumping out of two-story barns, and convincing my younger sister (his mother) to follow suit. And he can’t even go down a SLIDE?! Granted, it’s a big slide, but still… it wasn’t very steep—just long. Even my two year old had more courage. Jack was trying to figure out a way to sneak through the gate so he could get on it! Bwahahahaha! (I would have let him, too, had the height requirement not been 42 inches! Little man was 7″ shy!)

But wait… it gets better. There was a little carousel of cars for toddlers, and since it was really the only thing Jack could ride, we thought it’d be cute to put him on it right before we left. I figured my nephew could sit with him so he wouldn’t be alone (but Andrew chickened out on that, too. No, I’m not kidding.) SNORT. I didn’t say a word, though. Just told him it was okay (and it is, but it’s still funny).

So Jack got on by himself and he loved it… at first. Small car + horn + steering wheel = FABULOUS. But then it started to move and go ’round. He was having a grand old time for the first few spins, but when he tried to stand up and realized he was belted in, he had a little meltdown, chucked his pacifier on the ground and started crying. Ooooooops!

Exhibit A:

Despite that little bit of drama, he was perfectly fine after he got off the ride. Everyone had an absolute blast. I loooooooooooovvvvvvvvve summer carnivals, they’re so much fun!

A few photos:

Jack chowing down on some Dippin' Dots

Andrew shooting cans to win a prize

Brian and Arden at the bottom of the Super Slide. Yes, the same slide Andrew refused to go on. Heh.

I was worried it was going to be hard for me, seeing as how I’m estranged from my own mother and all, but it really wasn’t. That’s not to say it doesn’t bother me—it does. But it didn’t bother me yesterday, and it bothers me less and less the more time that passes. And that’s a good thing.

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on.” – Robert Frost

I chose instead to celebrate how blessed and lucky I am to be Jack’s mom.

I saw this poem and I really like it because it reflects most of my feelings on how to be a good mom to my son:

What Is a Mother?

A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,
To love us, whatever we do,
With a warm understanding and infinite patience,
And wonderful gentleness, too.

How often a mother means swift reassurance
In soothing our small, childish fears,
How tenderly mothers watch over their children
And treasure them all through the years!

The heart of a mother is full of forgiveness
For any mistake, big or small,
And generous always in helping her family
Whose needs she has placed above all.

A mother can utter a word of compassion
And make all our cares fall away,
She can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter
And make life delightful and gay.

A mother possesses incredible wisdom
And wonderful insight and skill –
In each human heart is that one special corner
Which only a mother can fill!

- Katherine Nelson Davis