~Tiffany Sosa~

Entrepreneur family OR gypsies

I had a conversation today with another mom about schools and moving. At the time I was polite and all, but it was one of those conversations that I was left feeling a bit stung. 

She had told me she moved this past September. It is the school district right next to our current one so I asked her if she was going to be switching her childrens’ school next year. 

“OH NO!” she replied “Absolutely not! It is way too difficult for the children. They need to grow up with the same friends. It’s hard enough for them to switch classes with new classmates. I would never switch schools!”

I completely agreed and said so. It’s absolutely beneficial for them to stay in the same school with the same kids. I’m really hoping to achieve that…after this one last move, but this time it’s just outside the city back to the suburbs and where my kids can still see their Brooklyn friends. City life is just not for us. We are a backyard BBQ/bonfire/large garden family.

The part that stung a bit was that she knew I had moved a few times in the last few years. So I felt a bit judged. But I know she probably didn’t mean anything by it. At least, I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt. The part that hurt a little more is…I really wish my children had that and that I knew that this was it, but I don’t.

But also, I’m really glad that they had the living experiences that they did. I’m so thankful that my children had the opportunity to live in one part of the country where we would pick fruit from the orchards and can and bake with them. They had more of a “farm” living and they also had the beach right on the lake to go to on the weekends. They got to have bonfires and cookouts and parades in our hometown of Holland, Michigan. I’m so glad that they got live on the other side of the country where their backyard was the mountains, well foothills, that they could hikw anytime they wanted and were accompanied by huge boulders right in the middle of the magnificent Pearl St. that they could climb on while watching the street performers every single day and take in the unending beautiful sun and breeze in Boulder, Colorado. And now I’m thankful that they get to experience the city with it’s diversity and learning to step up to the plate in order to be the best you can be and all the amazing sites and history that NYC has to offer. We didn’t anticipate this many moves, but with my husband’s startup/entrepreneurial life, this is what it is (thanks honey), and I’m thankful for it all because we’ve gotten to experience life outside of the “bubble” and learn and grow from that.

Also? Children transition so well. They’re so flexible when they’re younger. Do they really miss a few specific friends once in awhile? Yes, but do they forget them after time and move onto other friends? Yes. It’s easier while they’re younger. And I’m thankful to have a wonderful, strong, loving relationship with their father that creates an extremely strong and happy foundation for our children.

So folks, home is where the heart is….but, yeah, it’s time to plant some roots….right after we get a suburb commuter’s distance out of the city ;D

My Little Builders

Maddox needed a new dresser, so of course I ran to our local Ikea and got him a dresser. I love Ikea. Maddox loved his new project. He put together himself!

He said he was building his cage. I agreed.

Jaden helped out too

Maddox’s favorite part….hammering!

trains, bridges, and water taxis

We had what was probably one of the best days in NYC/Brooklyn ever. A neighbor mom/friend took me, my boys, and her 2 little girls on a fun field trip after school. We took a subway train to the Brooklyn Bridge, walked OVER the bridge to Pier 17/South Street Seaport on NYC side of the harbor, then we took a water taxi back to Brooklyn back on the subway train home.

First of all, the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh.My.Gosh.

Just look at this view!

The kids absolutely loved it, even though it was so absolutely stinking cold up there!

My neighbor friend did warn us to STAY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WHITE LINE, otherwise we would get our heads chopped off by the bicyclists. Only one near heart attack episode that was quickly righted

Mighty Milers!

I am so proud of Jaden. There is a program at his school called Mighty Milers. It encourages children to be active and builds their self-esteem. They run miles at school. Nobody is on any of the kids saying “you need to run”. It’s completely up to them. They get rewarded with different things based on how many miles they run during recess. You know, that time where other kids are playing on the monkey bars? Jaden, along with a bunch of other kids, forgo their normal recess activities to run during one of the recess periods. They can stop running whenever they want. According to Jaden, it’s so much fun!

He’s been talking about wanting to earn his Tshirt and medal for a few weeks now, and folks, HE DID IT! You should have seen his face when he showed me. I honestly about cried right in front of all his classmates and other parents. This is something he did. On his own. No one else helped. It’s completely his, and I couldn’t be more proud.

I love you, buddy. You are my hero.

He Lost A Tooth!

My youngest has lost his very first tooth. This is a bitter sweet moment for me. Not sure if I want to cry or be very excited. Whaaaaa!!!

When my oldest son’s tooth was loose, I couldn’t wait to pull those little suckers out for him. I was so incredibly excited! Then I realized, a little too late, that his sweet little boy smile would never be the same again. I remember Maddox would *CRY* every time Jaden lost a tooth because he wanted to lose his too. He tried to refuse to brush his teeth because we told him if he doesn’t take care of them they will fall out. Now, my baby, for all I know my VERY. LAST. baby just lost his first tooth. He will never have his cute little boy smile again. He will grow and grow until he’s taller than I am, move out, find some nice girl (he’s already girl crazy), and make a family of his own sniff! sniff! Ok, breathe. I know. That’s the way it should be. I really am so happy for him and I love how stinking excited he is right now. He feels all grown up now. Too cute!

Stress management - what do you do?

ugh…. stress management…. not my strongest point. I tend to be a worrier, unfortunately. It’s getting better because,well, first step: I’ve realized that it IS a problem-thanks for the wakeup call ALL OF LAST YEAR-and I am actively working on it every day, but jeez louise, even if my mind says you’ve got a handle on it, my body says uh uh uh you are internally freaking out. Sometimes I don’t even realize that I’m stressing out until I’ve realized I haven’t taken a good breath for the past 15 min or - all of a sudden, for no good reason, my stomach starts going crazy on me. Thankfully, I am finding wonderful ways to help manage it and become more mindful.

Here’s are 10 tips that help me:

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The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;

The deed develops into habit;

And habit hardens into character;

So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love

Born out of concern for all beings. ~ the Buddha

Excerpt from a wonderful book  Buddhism for Mothers

Ninjago Cupcakes!

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