Where was my recording button?

The girl Gracie stayed up very late last night just hanging out with me.  I knew that today around 3:00 it would be kicking me in the butt but it was quality mommy/daughter time anyway.

Well, it lasted until about 5:30 pm this evening when I called her in for dinner.  The tears and dramatic interpretation of my "meanness" started.   I managed to remain calm although I was pretty pooped out myself and explained it was more important to come in and have dinner with Daddy for his birthday than to keep playing outside.  The look in her eyes was classic as she, I'm guessing, realized this to be true. 

Then it happened...the words that I will probably never hear again in this lifetime...

"Mommy, I love you because you are my mommy and you are right.  You are right about everything.  I only know that you tell me things because they are right.  You are always right !". 

Why oh why didn't I have time to push the record button!!

IT'S NOT FAIR!!

After rebuilding the marble "run" for the umpteenth time while entertaining my 5 year old and her friend tonight, I finallly cracked.  They were sharing a can of more than 100 marbles, all different colors, types yet they were fighting over how many they would get.  These girls were shoving so many marbles in their hands that they were dropping them and they were rolling all over the floor - yet there were still many, many in the can.  It was as if they were desparately trying to get the most they possibly could and make sure each had more than the other.  When one finally got one more out when the other couldn't I heard "IT'S NOT FAIR" and the tears started.   That was my breaking point,

I calmly asked both girls to put all the marbles in the can, took apart my masterpiece marble run and proceeded with the "talk".  "Girls, it does not matter which of you has more marbles, or what color or size or even how pretty - they are all going to come down and you can choose them again.  We are all old enough to share what we have and if one of us gets more than the other - then that's okay too.  Things aren't always going to work out exactly fair - in fact sometimes things are really unfair.  That's when we make the most of it and try to have fun anyway!'

I would like to think I taught them both a bit about grace and perseverance tonight.  Many times especially lately I've wanted to shout "IT'S NOT FAIR".  But even if they didn't "hear me", I reminded myself that it's okay if it's not fair, if it's not always equal, if we don't have as much as someone else - money, happiness, whatever. 

That it's okay to just make the most of it and have fun anyway.'



Jer. 29:11 thought:  I have a plan for you - are you listening?

Why Molly?

To be completely honest, which I make every attempt to be, I chose the name Molly because it was my childhood nickname.  Stacy - Molly - they go right?   My sister was Millie and I was Molly Mugwumps.  Really I had no idea why my father nicknamed us this as children.  So, what should you do if you don't know something and you wish to know something?  A Google Search - what else!!  I did find out about a group called The Mugwumps who were republicans that supported the democratic candidate Grover Cleveland but I'm was almost certain that's not where the nicknames came from.  I'm sure that my sister and I were not little republican activists at that age!

When I couldn't find any substantial information on the Internet, the thought finally occured to me after 35 years or so to actually ask the one person who would know why or what they meant.....my dad!  Hello!  So, I called him up and was anxious to hear the perfectly fantastic explanation on how these nicknames were created.   I guess I was hoping for some marvelous story about two beautiful sisters who were loved by God and did wonderful and great things!  To my dismay (or maybe actually my relief at not being held to some mystery standard), my dad said "oh, I made them up.  It was a hard decision which to name Millie and which Molly.  Do I remember right that you are Molly and your sister Millie?).   

I love you dad and yes, you are right.  I am Molly.

Like my days - under construction.

On being Molly - I will explain later why Molly but just welcome you and would welcome suggestions on building my blog and page.  Let me know, give me ideas, good or not so good.  This will be an evolving project!

Stace