Month: May 2016

Cleaning is cathartic

~ epiphanu ~ Leave a comment

Given our big move from C to B, we are in full on cleaning mode. This past weekend, we gave away 10 bags of stuff – toys, shoes, jackets, and clothes in good condition. We also threw away stuff we do not need. And we sold some furniture we do not need anymore. I feel a huge sense of relief seeing less full closets and much emptier rooms. Cleaning is cathartic.

We also explained to M that we do not need to hoard toys that we no longer use. It will be so much better to give toys to other kids that want them but do not have them. She seemed eager to do that which is a good sign!

But this whole process begs the question, where did all this stuff come from? Note to self is to pause and think if we really need something before we buy it..easily said:-)

Retain the sense of wonder

~ epiphanu ~ 1 Comment

Over this weekend, I was wondering how my young kids, M & m, have a sense of wonder about the little things in life. Most kids are like that. They find joy in so many things: m is amazed when she realizes that touching a certain button makes a certain sound on her musical toy and claps every single time that it happens; M is so excited every single time she is in the swing in our neighborhood playground. We all had that sense of wonder at simple things when we were kids. When do we lose it? Would it not be great to have it all the time?

I have that sense of wonder with certain things like seeing the little ones becoming their own people. And I am catching myself these days to chill, take it easy, and retain that sense of wonder.

Hah..how quickly we have settled into a new normal

~ epiphanu ~ Leave a comment

It has been a four-year hiatus from my blog. I have no excuse except good old procrastination. A lot has happened in the last 4 years since M was born..or should I say M1 was born! That is right – we now have our own M & m in the family and it feels just right. The story of m’s arrival is one for the ages and is the topic of this post.

Sunday, Feb 1, 2015 was the super bowl and it snowed a lot in Chicago. So, we were all asked to work from home on Monday. During the day, I asked K to shovel the snow outside our garage (in the alley) since I was due any day. K kept saying he will but never got around to it. Around 4 am on February 3rd, 2015, I started feeling the familiar cramps and a slowly escalating pain. BY 5:30 am I knew that it was time to go to the hospital. I asked K to bring our shiny new minivan (warrants another blog post) to the front so that I do not slip on the ice en route to the detached garage. 15 minutes went by and no call from K. I called him and he said he was stuck in the alley due to the snow! I was livid and my FIL S was even more livid. I told him we are taking a uber since I did not want to deliver at home:) So, K had to leave the minivan in the alley and join me for our uber ride to Prentice.

The usual process was followed at Prentice. As usual, the pain stopped after we reached the hospital and I was all prepped for the delivery. But mid-morning, the pain started again and m was delivered in a matter of 15 minutes. She also had a full head of hair, was red, and absolutely beautiful. She was so much like M but also different, physically and temperamentally. She still is like that.

I never thought that I could love anyone as much as I loved M but m was born to prove to me that I can love both M & m equally. The last year has been exhausting but exhilarating. It is a good life!