summer
2008
our stories...(summer 2008)
swimsuit shopping
by Jenni, Pasadena, CA
I hate swimsuit shopping with a passion.  I never fail to leave thoroughly depressed. This year, while babysitting Molly, we received an invitation to a swim party.  She was so excited about the whole thing (and adamant that I was going to swim too) that I decided it was time to bite the bullet and get a new suit.  So off to the store I go with Molly in tow.

Shopping with Molly is always an adventure.  She like to look at, and touch, EVERYTHING.  She has her own agenda, her own timing, and her own path that she likes to take through the store.  I have my agenda, my timing, and my rules.  She likes to test those rules, and each time she hears a firm "No Ma'am."

This time our trip to the store was different.  As we climbed out of the car, she took my hand, looked me square in the eyes and told me, "Today, I'm the nanny."  "You are?" I asked.  "Yes, so check for cars before crossing the parking lot young lady."  I smiled and into the store we went. 

She took us straight to the swimsuit section, the little girl's swimsuit section. Then she looked at me, looked at the suits, and giggled.  "These just won't do," she said and steered us to the growup swimsuit section.  Since we were in a bit of a hurry (we did have a party to get to), I grabbed a handful of suits in my size without really looking at them, and we headed to the dressing rooms.  Once there she helped me pull of my flipflops and stepped outside of the dressing room door.  "Now hurry up and show me," she demanded.

I took the first suit off the hanger without really looking at it, pulled it on and gasped.  It might have been a one-piece swimsuit, but the V in the front was cut clear to my navel!  "Come on, Jenni.  I'm waiting," I heard from the other side of the door.  I shrugged to myself and opened the dressing room door.  She took one look at the barely-there suit and stepped back in shock.  "Oh no!" she exclamed, and then more emphatically, "No ma'am! No ma'am at all!" I couldn't help but giggle.  How many times had I said those word to her?  I even heard a chuckle from the stall next to ours.  Her eyes met mine and before we knew it we were both belly laughing.  Leave it to Molly to transform one of my least favorite annual experiences into one of fun and laughter!



independence
by Vivianna, San Gabriel, CA
Tara is 12 years old and she has never enjoyed fireworks.  As a result we had lost interest in the traditional blasting of sidewalk “Safe and Sane” and have had no desire to take our family to a professional firework show for the fear of a total meltdown.  We have tried to be comfortable with the televised celebrations of our nation’s independence and once Tara was asleep, we’d sneak out for a few pops in the street for our son to experience.

This year, however, we witnessed through our backyard trees, a beautiful display of fireworks a day early from the nearby country club.  We coaxed Tara into the backyard with promises of cookies and milk and videos and the use of the computer and finally got her to cross the line by providing a lift on her father’s back.  Though very hesitant for the loud blasts, she showed us with (whole body) excitement that the “stars” and the “Christmas lights” and the “flowers in the sky” thrilled her.  Never having seen this in person, she was simultaneously scared and delight.

   “WOW…WOW…WOW!” with each beautiful “flower” that appeared.  She talked herself through the entire show and then we walked her into the house to follow through with our end of the deal.  This was a miracle that most families will never experience.

So, on July 4, 2008, we celebrated not only the Independence of the United States of America, but the independence that continues to grow in our daughter.


elle's first day
by Audrey, Pasadena, CA
Our first day of preschool, could NOT have gone any better – Estelle was a doll! I was so proud of her and my favorite take away was this: One of the girls was really struggling—tears and the whole bit, Elle saw this and right away went  over to her and said “Are you ok?” while gently patting her back! It was wonderful, sweet, darling and everything you could hope for but she didn’t stop there… after a few seconds and nothing but more tears, Elle sat down next to this distraught gal and kept saying “it’s ok, it’s ok” blowing a periodic kiss! My heart soared! What a gift that she got to be the “role model” for others and on her first day? 


learning from him
by Cynthia, North Hollywood, CA
Elias, my son, just turned 3 and is about to start school, but I can't help but feel butterflies in my stomach. I lose sleep every night thinking "My baby has to go to school, and I just don't think he's ready."  I can't help but wonder if him going to school is the best chose for him since he is not walking or crawling and only stares at other children when they play.  He wants to go after them and play with them, but he isn't able to. Today on his birthday my views changed.  For the first time ever I saw him play with other children in his own way. Seeing the joy in his face makes me think I am holding him too close and having no children around him in our home just is not helping him develop. I know that this transition is hitting harder on me than it will on him because at the end of it I think he will be happy. Day by day I learn from him more than I ever learned in all my years.  He opens new doors and shows me the way.



back to school
by Rose
Sistine and her friend Tyler love hanging out together.