Category Archives: Transitional Parenting

Midlife Life, Parenting, Transitional Parenting

So, tell me a little about yourself

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Alfredo

Puppy spam! This #LilBit has been with us a whole week now. So, I suppose he is past due for a formal introduction and some fun facts.
1. #Alfredo was born at the #GuideDogsfortheBlind San Rafael campus on 9/4. We were told the designated GDB puppy namer did not want his placement assignment reassigned once he heard our solid Italian last name.
2. His mom is named Jordan and his dad is named Urvek. (Some of you may know, the 2nd #GDB pup we raised was named Urvek. He really, really didn’t want to be a guide dog and was renamed. He is now living a wonderful life in California with a fabulous mom & dad that love him dearly. We call Alfredo’s dad Urvek 2.0 around here.)
2. We think of him as a 4C diamond: confident, curious, cute, & cuddly.
3. In terms of personality, he reminds me very much of the first pup we raised named Keebler, who is now a working guide.
4. Alfredo made the ride out to Colorado with one of his siblings, his sister, Aisha, a black Lab.
5. He is an absolute spitfire who seems to know just how cute he is. (Did I already mention how much he is like Keebs?)

NaBloPoMo 2017

#puppyintraining #futureguidedog #loveandrelease

Midlife Life, Parenting, Transitional Parenting

Grateful for the past

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thanksgiving-2903166_1280.jpg

I asked my younger daughter for a Christmas list this morning. I’ve already tucked away a few goodies for both girls and have a good idea of what I want to do for my husband, but I know the time for shopping will be in the panic zone before I know it. Still, I don’t want to miss this month. Though not exclusive, this is the month customarily designated for gratitude. For me, it is also a month of reflection; a time to look back before the busyness of the holiday season ushers in the closing of the books on another year.

On occasion, I pull out my old journals and read through the pages. Who was I two years, five years, ten years ago? What did I worry about? What were my struggles, dreams, and triumphs? What changes have I made? Have I made progress?

I started this blog (originally named Transitioning Mom) back in 2011. I wanted to use it to both record and reflect on my life as I moved through the transitional phase toward the empty nest. My days were so different back then. I was still actively homeschooling my girls. Life was filled with their needs far more than my own. That, in many ways, is what we do as moms, intentional or not. We lose sight of our own needs and before we know it, another year has passed.

Tonight I looked back on where I was and who I was the year I started this blog. Delightfully, I was taken to post that walked me back to the early days of this blog and my children’s lives. It was a walk down memory lane of Christmas ornaments and construction paper gratitude chains. And, for that, I am grateful.

NaBloPoMo 2017