Tag Archives: son

June 12, 2021 · 6:25 pm

This is 31

*Amazing shot secured from creepy Facebook stalking.*

Happy birthday to my girl’s boy. Son #2. The calm in every storm.

Cor, It is hard to remember a time when you were not a part of my family. You have been with us through it all. And I could never fully express how grateful I am to have you there with your quiet strength and insightful perspective. You are my go to guy in an emergency.

Thirty to thirty-one has been one crazy ride. Never once did I see you falter. When things got scarier, you became more steadfast in your conviction to keeping it cool. Nothing like a pandemic to test the true colors of a man. (a little ironic, for a colorblind guy, huh?) When decisions had to be made, you brought them to the families with undying grace and respect. You always consider everyone’s feelings before making a move. And somehow, you manage to do it all with a smile on your face and a no big deal attitude.

When you marry someone you marry their family. That is not always easy to navigate. But we are so very fortunate that we took it one step further and married both our families into one. I could not imagine living without that. My gratitude is without measure.

For 31 I wish for you all that you have missed. All that you deserve. Music. Food. Festivals. Travel. Golf. And a fully opened NYC!

Can’t wait to see what this year has in store for you. Thanks for always taking us along for your ride.

Big Love.

1 Comment

Filed under advice to my son, birthday, Corey, moms, parenting, relationships, sons, Uncategorized

Tagged as birthdays, family, gratitude, love, moms, mother in law, son, son-in-law

November 15, 2010 · 8:50 pm

Time To Cry Tuesday – Four for Twenty

It is a bittersweet fact that as your kids grow, the time you spend as a family shrinks. If you have done your job well, their lives are full. If you are lucky, yours are as well.

We are four people with very full lives. Not one of us is the type to be idle or feel lonely. We have a great extended family, many friends and rich lives. We work hard and play hard.

Blah. Blah. Blah. Ok, so that is all academic. And though it is true on some level, after 21 years of being a family unit, you crave that time when you can be together. And you learn to appreciate the moments for what they are… fleeting and precious.

This weekend we visited our kids at college. If you don’t follow this blog regularly, my kids are away at school together as a freshman and a senior.

They love it. I love it more.

Parent’s weekend = fly. drive. eat. reverse. repeat.

But for twenty precious minutes, just the four of us sat on the couch in my daughter’s apartment and were simply US.

In all caps.

Nothing special was said. (oh except when my son told us about his human sexuality class and said he now knows more about the vagina than he ever cared to know – now that is something you rarely hear from a 18-year-old boy) There were no real heavy parenting moments. We just WERE. (again in caps)

And to me, there is nothing better on this earth than a little time with just us four…

even if it was only for twenty.

7 Comments

Filed under college, danny, family, gary, Jana, relationships, Time to Cry Tuesdays

Tagged as college visit, daughter, family, father, mother, Parent, parent's weekend, relationships, son

January 20, 2010 · 9:33 pm

Equal time for my boy

Seems that this is a monumental week in our household. As Jana is packing to leave for her semester abroad, young Daniel made the big announcement at dinner tonight. Friends, it would appear I will spend the next four years continuing to book flights from the midwest and cheering on the Badgers.

Danny boy is going to Wisconsin in the fall.

The upside for me is no learning curve. I already know the ropes and maybe after 7 years I will finally have enough points on Midwest for a free flight.

UW Madison will continue to be the single largest holder of our family’s income for a little while longer.

Congrats to my boy and may you enjoy the rest of your senior year knowing where you will be in the fall.

Now about that empty nest…

Haven’t had enough of me yet? You can also read me at 50-Something Moms Blog. For photo enthusiasts, visit Leaving the zip code, photos from outside the comfort zone.