Why Are You Going to Work, Mommy?

This morning, I was getting ready for work, putting on my coat and shoes, grabbing my travel mug of coffee, when Malcolm inevitably asks me, "Mommy, where are you going?"

This is almost a ritual, these days. He asks where I'm going, and I tell him, "I'm going to work." He usually responds by asking me "you're going to work?" as if to verify that he's truly understood. But today, he instead asks me:

"Why are you going to work, Mommy?"

This is an important question, and the first time he's asked. So I put down my coffee, and sat down next to him on the couch. "There are some kids at the hospital who are sick, or hurt," I told him. "Sometimes they feel sad or scared, and it's my job to help them feel better."

He looked at me with such a serious face, clearly thinking about what I had just said. He then nodded, and told me, "Mommy, I want to come with you and help."

And Now a Word From our Guest Blogger

Hello Mommy's Blog Readers!

I'm going to write about my brothers. I have three brothers. They live with my B-Ma. (B-Ma is my name for my birthmom.)

I have one big brother. His name is Nahlo. In the picture, he's holding the baby. I have two little brothers, too. Noah is a year younger than me. Now there's Baby Michael, too.

My new brother is too little to play. But Nahlo and Noah and I like to play toys, and chase and giggle.

We like to eat pudding, too.

I like to play at B-ma's house with my brothers. I love my brothers very much.

- Malcolm Schoell

(guest writer)

An Invitation

In yesterday's mail, we found an envelope hand addressed to our son. Matthew and Malcolm sat down together on the couch to open it. It was an invitation to our friend's birthday party. Matthew read each word aloud to Malcolm, pointing to each word as he went.

Malcolm then carried the invitation around all night, and would climb first into my lap, then Matthew's in turn, and point to each word, and recite the invitation from memory, making up words when he couldn't remember them, and occasionally asking us "Uh, what comes next?"

I can't tell if he's more excited to be invited to a party? To have received mail addressed to him? Or to "read" it to us, as we read it first to him?

More Photo Catch Up

Photo Catch Up Time!

I've been quite lax, lately, about blogging and posting pictures. Bad Teresa, no biscuit. So, over the next week, please enjoy my pictures catch up days. Let's start with these, take last month at the storybook exhibit at our local museum.

Malcolm never pulled the sword from the stone . . . but you gotta admire his sincere efforts!

I Love My Job

It's been a while since I've written anything about my job as a Child Life Specialist. Or, per my last post on the subject, I should rightly say Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS). I have had an amazing few weeks, culminating in my reflection this evening: I love my job.

I would love to blog all about some of my amazing patients, and how child life services have made a difference for them, but can't without violating their trust and privacy -- which I value far above and beyond the HIPPA laws.

Instead, let me share with you the impact my work is having on me . . . I wake up in the morning, think about my upcoming day, and this completely genuine smile slow melts across my face, as I think I get to go to work today. There have been so many days this month, where driving home from work, I think to myself, I really made a difference today in the life of a child. I helped that family through a terrible and painful ordeal. I made the hard stuff a little bit easier. Sure, there are some days when I feel like I've worked 8 hours straight and accomplished nothing but answering a bunch of emails, handing out a bunch of crayons, and attending a bunch of meetings. But I know those things are part of the foundation that a quality child life practice is built upon. And I truly don't mind days like that.

But what I love most, is days like today. Days when I see tears of gratitude in a father's eyes. I feel so lucky to wake up each day, and go to my job where I do meaningful and gratifying work.

And at the end of the day, I get to come home and snuggle my sweet son, and amazing husband, and know that I am so lucky to have them, and their support. Driving home I think, I love my job and I am so glad I got to go to work today. And now I'm going home to my family, I love that even more!

Lellow Sullery

It's Beatlemania hear in the Schoell household. My brother, Darin, gifted our family with Beatles Rock Band for Christmas -- a gift we've all enjoyed greatly! Please enjoy this lovely home movie . . . Be sure to note in the very beginning of the video the quality high score in the upper right hand corner. For the Rock Band fans out there, you can also follow the skill with which which he plays!