Ah… My little Three Year Old, Tia.

Tor-Tia

Last night as we were cuddling, my three year old asked if she could watch a show on TV.  I said no, so she asked me to tell her a story.

Now, as any mother knows, sometimes “Tell me a story” is a LOT harder than it sounds sometimes.  Sometimes we are tired.  Sometimes we are not creative.  Sometimes we just get writers block.

Last night was one of those times.

I sat there for a minute trying to think of some stories I knew.  I discarded some of the over told ones (bye bye three little pigs), and I started to think if I knew any newer ones.  I tried to stumble through the Christmas story, but to integrate the pre-Christmas stuff was just too much for me last night.  So, I decided to start with just SOMETHING.

“Once upon a time…”(think think think)

“There was a… girl…”(cripes, what girl stories do I know?)

“Her name was….”
(Think of a good name!  I should know SOME…  I have had four girls for Pete’s sake)

“Tia.”
(oh man, now this better be AWESOME since I am using her name)

At this point, Tia looked up at me beaming.  She was so excited to hear a story about HER!  I smiled and continued.

“The little girl was magic.”

*Tia’s voice here* “Am I magic???”

“Well, you see it is a special kind of magic.  This little girl could make people smile just by being around her.”

From here on in she was so proud to be this little girl.  I told her a ‘story’ that was basically just a run down of the day, but she was amazed by it.  Captivated.  I ended with:

“And the little girl yawned, was very tired, got into her pajamas and went to bed.”

*Tia* “Sounds like she is a big girl.”

“Yep, she is starting to be…”

And to my amazement, she got up, got in her pjs and went to bed.

Since then she has been asking me to tell her more and more “Tia stories”.  So I tell her the funny ones of when she was little, and the mundane ones of regular days, and the exciting ones of the future.  And she loves it.  Every minute of it.

So I thought about my life, and about how much I need to appreciate the “Catholic Momma” stories of my everyday experience.  About how I have “magical” abilities to cook dinner, and bring smiles.  How even my seemingly mundane days are great stories in the book of my life.

I am so, so grateful for the gifts that my children bring me.  Even when it is reminding me of things like this.  I thank God every day for them.

Pray for me, as I pray for you.

In Christ,

Catholic Momma

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What would you do?

So, a few years ago, when my kids were younger, I was a few months pregnant, and my husband was sick.  It was a Sunday, and I decided to take my two children to Mass by myself.

It was a life changing decision.

I went to the Mass, and before we even walked through the door, the girls were being ancy.  They were in no mood to sit, or relax.  The church was absolutely packed, as it was Palm Sunday.  I took a chair along the wall and decided to sit out of the way as I knew that my kids were giving me a bit of a battle.

Well, part way through the readings, one of my daughters COMPLETELY lost it.  Running, crying, not listening.  I grabbed her arm to tell her to calm down and she started to yell that I was hurting her, and collapsed to the ground while I was holding her wrist.  The other one was barely containing herself.  I was pregnant, frustrated, embarrassed, and completely all alone.  By the time the sign of peace came, I completely broke down into tears.  I was sobbing, trying to figure out what to do.  I turned and just faced the wall and cried.

And not one person asked me if I needed anything.

Not one.

I was surrounded by people.  I was emotionally broken.  I was at my wits end.  And not a single person even tried to comfort me.

So what changed my life?  I learned right then and there that I would never, ever look away again if I saw tears in someone’s eyes.  That I would never pretend it wasn’t happening to the person right in front of me.  I promised myself that I would go out of my way to make other moms feel welcome in Mass, or wherever I was part of.  That I would help them if I could.  That I wouldn’t let them suffer alone.

I learned that moment, how important a simple smile, or gesture of kindness really is.

I didn’t care, when I was broken, embarrassed, and completely alone who helped me.  I just wish someone would have.  That someone would have even offered me the sign of peace.

I promise you this: I will do it for you.  If you are ever near me and need it, I will do it for you.

Please remember to do it for others.

A small gesture really can change people.

Pray for me as I pray for you always,
Catholic Momma

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