Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Things that make you go hmmm

Don't you just love a good book that makes you stop and reexamine your life, maybe even make a change or two?  I can think of just a handful that have affected me and won't ever forget.





































I could probably do a blog on each on these books, but this post is about The Help.


I loved it so much back in 2010, that I am re-reading it in 2011 and am throwing a Girls' Night Out party when the movie opens. (Go here for details, be sure to speak in your best Southern accent and wear your favorite apron!)

So, how did this book change my way of thinking?  Believe it or not, it has more to do with my parenting than to do with my views on race, which is the real point.  One of the book's mothers, Mrs. Leefolt, totally ignores her only child, Mae Mo, while her hired help, Aibileen, attempts to protect and raise the darling baby girl.

Reading how Mae Mo yearns for her mom's attention got me a thinkin' 'bout my own treatment towards Haley. (See me slippin' into that Southern drawl??)  She is now 22 months old, and still isn't sleeping through the night.  I've tried everything--let her cry it out, whole milk right before bed, carnation instant breakfast in bed, tummy drops, tylenol, a bear that makes noises that mimic sounds of the womb....

At yet another 5:00 am awakening, I had an epiphany.  Why not just rock my baby girl and spend some time with her?  I wasn't going to be falling back asleep anytime soon, so I might as well make the most of the sweet time I have with Haley.  It was the best morning we've had in 22 months!  We snuggled for a good hour until the rest of the house woke up, and I just loved watching Miss Priss sleep in my arms.

How many hours have Haley and I spent in this chair together?

Hopefully I will be given many more bonding mornings and won't grow weary of this special time!

3 comments:

Molly said...

Such a pretty photo!

Annette said...

aww that makes my heary smile! such a great picture too!

Nikki said...

Awwwww, it's so true...there is no manual for parenting, or what to do with each specific child....but i do believe that they grow up WAY TOO FAST and i feel like you have to eat up all those moments while you can....b/c they are NOT going to want you to rock them when they are 16....and at least when you are up in the middle of the night, or the wee hours of the morning, right now....you know where they are....in a few years they will be out and about and we will all be up worrying and wishing we could rock them :) Great pic and enjoy your "rock-a-bye" time, as Parker calls it. :)