Tag Archives: confident

From Mommy Can’t, to Mommy Can

walking home from the fall festival

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

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.

Mommy can hike.

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?

 

Marley Jane & Mrs. Cane

Ever since she was little, Marley has always wanted her own cane.  So, of course, when we found out that she’s got mommy’s eyes, we didn’t hesitate to get her one.  What was the first thing we did when her cane arrived in the mail?  We made it purple, Marley’s favorite color.  For the first few months this purple cane remained nameless, until just last Saturday when Marley decided that her cane’s name was Mrs. Cane.

Marley and Mrs. Cane led the way as we spent an afternoon hiking at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park just outside Las Vegas.

 

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It’s apparently obvious that her steps are much more confident when she’s got Mrs. Cane with her.  After many spills, scraped knees, and stubbed toes, she’s starting to realize that she doesn’t have as much of those when Mrs. Cane is there too.

Last week during a thunderstorm, Marly ran into the house to grab Mrs. Cane saying, “I want to see if my cane sounds different in the rain!”

Mrs. Cane doesn’t always go everywhere Marley does.  It’s still a work in process getting her to want to take it along.  We work on the basic cane rules, and practice proper cane etiquette when she does have it with her.

Rules like:

1.  A cane is not a toy, it’s a tool.

2.  Nobody is to hold or use the cane accept Marley.

3.  The cane’s tip always stays on the ground unless when tapping it.

4.  The cane needs to be in front not behind so it can do it’s job right.

5.  If you’re not using the cane, it needs to be lying flat on the floor or standing straight upright so that it won’t trip anyone.

Today was a big day for Marley and Mrs. Cane.  Marley asked if she could bring her cane to school with her.  Of course I said yes.  I have been hesitant to push, wanting her to do it once she felt ready.  Today was that day.

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How was Mrs. Cane’s first day of school? ”

Great!  The other kids called it a stick, but I told them it’s a cane and I tap it like this.” as shetapped rhythmically

Her teacher also said she did great.  There were a few times between station rotations where Marley wasn’t sure where to put her cane and a few kids tripped over it.  We’re all excited to learn new tricks, tools, and tips together and work as a cohesive team with Marley’s best interest in mind.

 

 

Mommy Makeover

I can tell you the last three times that I’ve worn make up.  Last night, at a friend’s wedding where I was a bridesmaid in 2008, and at my own wedding in 2007.  I haven’t owned any make up since 2007, and since my daughter destroyed the last of my shimmery lipgloss a few months ago, I haven’t bothered to replace it.  I always used the excuse that I don’t like to wear make up because I don’t need it.  Yes, that is partly true.  I rather do hate the way it feels on my skin.  However the main reason is that I’ve never truly felt comfortable with applying it.  Crazy since I love all other things girly like clothes, shoes, purses, and jewelry, that I can’t even apply my own make up.

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Here’s a great candid from my wedding of me and two of my best gal pals, Yolanda and LM. These are two very confident and beautiful blind women.

I know plenty of blind women who wear make up daily.  I’ve been part of plenty of seminars teaching blind youth about beauty tricks and tips.  but when it comes down to it, I am 30 years old and I can’t even put on my own make up.  Don’t think that this is an, “Oh poor me, pity party,” blog post.  This is more of a self admission of the truth.  Why should I let this bother me and make me feel any  less feminine?

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That’s me in the same outfit I wore last night, but this was last January with my friends Deja and Jessica, also two stylish blind bloggers.

This weekend I had one of my oldest and dearest friends in town and my husband and I join her and her friends for dinner and dancing.  I decided to wear my fit and flare snake skin print dress from Express, black peep toe Maryjane pumps, a thin black belt, my black coral necklace I bought in Hawaii, and dangly silver and black earrings.  Something seemed to be missing.  Especially if I was going the Hakkasan Nightclub, supposedly the “It” club of the season.  I thought about leaving early and stopping at Sephora or Mac for a little makeover and picking up some basics, but that would mean leaving the baby sitter would need to arrive earlier, and we already planned to have her for ten hours with the kids.  So I sucked up my pride and asked a good friend if she wouldn’t mind stopping by to help me out with my make up.  She did an incredible job.

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There I am with hubby all done up before heading out to Las Vegas Blvd for the night.

Now that I am 30. my skin isn’t as great as it used to be.  The dry climate has perpetuated a constant cycle of dry/oily skin.  I think it’s time I start looking into doing a little bit more for my face.  And for those evenings where I want to get dressed up and look just a little bit glamorous, maybe it’s time I invest in some basic essentials in the make up department.