A Pleasant Surprise

Sunday morning while eating pancakes with Welansa (remember pancakes are reserved for the weekends) a tall and handsome man opened my door and entered my apartment. At first I was startled and with no contacts lenses it took me a few seconds to determine who this guy was. No it was not Idris Elba although he is part Ghanaian like Idris. It was my brother John. My brother along with his wife and 3 of their 5 boys drove from the ATL to spend the week in New York. Excited is not the word. I love to see Welansa playing with her cousins. She is my mom’s youngest and only granddaughter. She has six cousins and all of them are BOYS. They love her dearly.
Welansa was meant to be in this family. She is loud, aggressive, and strong. Just the way I like it. She does not let her cousins take advantage of her either. Her cousins were playing with her kitchen set and she loudly said, “excuse me” and squeezed her way in the middle. My girl is no joke.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings. I have a feeling it will be one of the best weeks ever!
I am going to need some earplugs though.

Single Parenting = Losing Your Mind

I think I am losing it:

I keep calling my cat (Nekay) Welansa.
I keep calling my daughter (Welansa) Nekay.
I took Welansa to the sitter without a diaper.
I combed my hair and went to work only to find there was still a roller in my hair.
I have looked franticly for keys that were found in the cat’s toy basket (I put them there)
I have freaked out over loosing a cell phone that I put in the dashboard of my car 15minutes prior
I have gone to a room to look for something and forgot what I was looking for.
I put shoes on Welansa that were the same but different sizes
I have forgotten on many occasions where I parked my car.
I have taken the right train but in the wrong direction.
And finally drum roll please…. I have forgotten my age at times. I literally have to do the math.

Please don’t judge me but continue to love and pray for me. A maid, cook, washer and dryer in my apartment, Idris Elba and 10 additional hours in the day would help too.

Roller Skating Is Still Cool

My Girl Gives me Strength

Over the past 6 weeks I had two non-envasive, nerve racking, uncomfortable, and at times painful procedures. On both occasions the doctors explained exactly what would happen. However, telling me something and experiencing it for myself is TWO SEPARATE THINGS. During the first procedure I almost told the doctor to stop because I was ready to leave. I had enough. It was then that I thought about my girl. I had to be strong. I had to complete the test. I am a mother now and I have to take care of my business. I am responsible for another human being so I have to make sure that my body is healthy. I pictured her face and kept affirming I can do this, I can do this. Welansa needs me. I can do this.

Today I went for the 2nd test. All was well until the doctor steps in the room and the technician begins to instruct him step by step on what should be done. Are you serious? What the %^&? The people in the room don’t know me. Do they realize I don’t have time for incompetence. I have a little girl at home who needs me and depends on me. She has already lost one mother and I will be d$&^ if she looses another mother. I am ready to get up and tell the medical staff to get me someone who knows what they are doing. Again I am ready to leave. It was then I thought about my girl. I had to be strong. I had to complete the test. I am a mother now and I have to take care of my business. I am responsible for another human being so I have to make sure that my body is healthy. I pictured her face and kept affirming I can do this, I can do this. Welansa needs me. I can do this.

Before I picked my girl up I stopped by the store and bought a Cherry Pepsi, Cheese Doodles, and a Dove candy bar. Hey I deserved a fix. When I picked my girl up from the sitter in true fashion she was excited to see me and started calling “mommy, mommy, mommy”. I knew in that moment she was my strength when I could not be strong for myself.

Great Book - The Return

I am currently reading “The Return” by Sonia Levitin. The book is about an Ethiopian Jewish girl named Desta who flees Ethiopia in order to survive.

Have you ever looked at your little one and asked:

How did you get so stubborn?
Where does your strong will come from?
Where does your determination come from?

Once you read the book you will see it is innate. In order for Desta to survive she had to be stubborn, strong will, and determined.

If you are looking for a good read I recommend the book highly. I don’t know if she makes it. I haven’t finished the book yet and if I did I wouldn’t tell. Reading is fundamental so you can find out for yourself.

Now that my girl has turned two I often wonder where does her stubbornness, strong will, and determination come from? The other day I was speaking with her Godmother, who is also Ethiopian, about her stubbornness. She assured me it was in the blood. I guess she knows from experience.

Innate stubbornness + Terrific Two’s = Lots of love, patience, and a time out chair !