Hanna's Home

No Filters

I should have known that for every fibre of strength, defiance and attitude I portrayed as a child (and adult) I would have this returned to me tenfold in my daughter. I've heard all these and more from Hanna recently:

I don't have to listen to you.
You're not my mom.
I don't like you.
Go away.
Move.

The beauty with kids is they have no filter. They say what's on their mind. They don't try to package the words before they say them. They just say them. They aren't concerned about someone else's reaction. They just say them. They don't think what they say means anything about them (or you). They just say them.

It's been interesting to teach Hanna how to ask for things nicely versus just tell people what to do. We were visiting my sister and her family at a campsite not too long ago. And a friend of theirs sat in a chair that Hanna was sitting in but then left for a moment. When she returned she yelled, "Heh! Get OUT of MY CHAIR!"

Oh my....

Part of me cringed inside. Years ago (before I had a child of my own...) I would have concluded she has no 'respect' for her elders. And yet, it came from my sweet Hanna, someone who is learning to assert herself very well, very quickly. It's amazing how perspectives shift once you have a child of your own.

We'll keep working on the please and thank you's.

Soccer Smile

We've been hit and miss with soccer since my last post. Lots of rainy wet days. But alas, I captured a soccer smile on our front steps.

No Soccer Tonight!

Yesterday I asked Hanna to go upstairs and change into her soccer clothes. This is what she came down in... a bathing suit.

Not exactly what one would wear on the soccer field on a cold evening. We tried and tried... no luck getting her dressed in her soccer clothes without a fight. So instead, Hanna and Elmo danced and sang in the living room. Hanna was tickled. I'm not sure Brad was.

Sometimes I wonder, at this age, who soccer is for... the parents or the children. I get that we want to expose our children to activities and give them opportunities to have fun and learn skills. But, I'm also so clear that if we're dragging our children there, where's the FUN in that?

Maybe on Wednesday!

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Hanna,
Last night was precious -- the two of us snuggled in my bed giggling hysterically as we made funny faces at each other. I love your eyes, your soft cheeks and your perfect little lips. You are blossoming into this perfect little girl. Each day you discover and explore more and more. Your comfort in doing so without any fear amazes me. You will speak to complete strangers and hug people you don't even know. Some people embrace you in return with open arms. Others scold me for not teaching you to stay away from strangers. But you are not phased by their reaction. You know they are merely reflecting their own fear, not yours.

You make up songs and new words that rhyme in a language all your own. You remember details from weeks and months ago that I've forgotten.  You remind me to "say please" and "may I" and "no gum for breakfast".

Most of all you show me how to have fun. Sometimes I'm in such a hurry I forget that part of life... the most important part.

My heart melts when you climb up the stairs to bed and shout, "I love you". I Love You, too.   When you gave me the card yesterday and said, "Happy Mother's Day", my eyes welled with tears. Life is beautiful with you in it.

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers of the world.

Hellloooo!

Wow, when I wrote the last post on Hanna's Home, I told myself I'd take a little break from updating it. I was busy preparing for my first solo concert. What an amazing, sparkling success it was! I was in heaven on that stage.  One of the best parts in preparing for it was singing around the house a lot and watching Hanna imitate me... hands in the air, mouth wide open, eyes closed.

She's also begun her own version of singing/songwriting, which is so delightful for me to watch. She makes up her own melodies and uses words that, when strung together, don't really make sense. I love it... an artist who is truly in touch with the formless art.

Anyways, Hanna's growing up so quickly. I'll gather some pictures this week so you can see. I love her a little more each day.