walking home from the fall festival
A few Saturdays ago, I told the kids to put on their Halloween costumes and we would be going to the Fall Festival. As we walked out the front door, Marley asked me, “Who’s going to drive us?” My simple reply, “Nobody’s going to drive us baby. It’s just us, and we’re going to have a great day.”
Snacking on our loot of candy after the festival
It saddened me when I realize earlier that week that my daughter has begun to notice the mommy can’ts, more than the mommy cans. Mommy can’t drive. Mommy can’t read small letters. Mommy can’t this. Mommy can’t that.
All you want as a mom is for your children to look up to you and want to be like you, right? If she is acknowledging these things now, than what else will she start to pick up on? Especially if she is going to grow up to be a confident and strong young woman. I want her to know that mommy can, so she too can.
This mommy has decided to abolish the phrase, “Mommy can’t,” from our household vocabulary. From now on, it will be all about what mommy, “can,” do.
Mommy can read Braille. Mommy can cook. Mommy can bake cookies and cakes. Mommy can hike. Mommy can fix my toys. Mommy can take us to the festival. Mommy can hulu hoop on one foot. Mommy can sew my dolly back together.
Hiking at Valley of Fire State Park
Strength, confidence, and passion are the characteristics I want my children to see when they look at me. What are a few things you want your children to see in you?
Blind Mom in the Burbs 
That’s a really substantial list and it’s just a fraction of your can’s. Sight and all, I can’t hula hoop ( not even with both feet), cook, bake, fix toys, or sew. GAH! It’s a good thing my only child is a dog. 🙂
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haha Genevieve, I’m sure your dog notices and appreciates all of your, “cans.”
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It always gets me a little when my kids say those things, like “who is going to drive?” or says “Mom can’t drive” or something. As they have gotten older, I just sat down and talked gently with them about how it makes me feel when they point out stuff I can’t do. They got it, happily, and they don’t point that out any more. They say stuff like, “when we go downtown with Mom, we walk, and walking is healthy for us.” I love it. Education on good attitudes begins at home. Grin.
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Yes, Erin, yes! Education and a good attitude does begin at home. Not just about blindness, but about everything in life from good eating habits, health, fitness, relationships, work ethics, everything.
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I can totally relate! Lila is only seven months old, but this kind of thing has been on my mind a lot lately! I am really trying to use this time to face the fears of “can I really “since I lost my vision. By looking at Lila and knowing what kind of woman I would like her to be someday, I am seeing what kind of woman I wish I was not necessarily what kind of woman I am.
Sent from my iPhone
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Wow, Lila is seven months old already? Where has the time gone? We need to catch up soon.
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