Mac has had a fever for the past day and a half and my busy little boy is content to just lie in my arms and snooze. I didn’t get much work done yesterday but I was glad I could just hold him and love this little boy of mine. He’s learning so much, so fast! He’s just begun learning letters of the alphabet and of course the first one he learned was “m” (from M&M’s and Mac) and the second was “o” and he’s just mastered r, e, and a. I love how he wants to know everything about everything and his favorite expression at the moment is “what’s that?”
With my oldest son about to start his junior year of high school, my middle son starting 7th grade, its so fun to have Mac just running around being Mac…no homework, no stress, just a smiling face boy that is eager to do everything.
I appreciate my career and am hugely, seriously grateful to have such amazing and loyal readers and friends, but its being a mom that has changed my life, and defined me. I’m not looking forward to kids growing up and going because being a mom is my favorite part of my life. I’m so lucky to have these boys. So lucky to experience life with them. All is good.
Tell me what you’re grateful for. I’d love to know!
Hi Jane! Love the pics. I, too, am so grateful for my kids, for my husband, for my life. I try very hard to appreciate each moment of each day because I know how different things could be right now. I’m grateful for the blessings we’ve been given- there are too many to count. I’m so grateful for my friends, near and far.
Have a wonderful day, my friend 🙂
Being a mom is a career and has some wonderful potential when we “retire” called – Grandchildren! There is also the time and energy to work and play with lots of children as coaches or counselors or just playful ol’ ladies with lots of skills in coloring, dramatic reading, and face painting.
I am finally growing into the mom role. It took me a while and I didn’t care for the baby stage. But I love it now more than anything! My kids are in middle and high school and it fits me.
I feel especially grateful for you and all that you have brought to my life. Thank you for sharing your life with us thru your blog and books!
I’m the lucky Grammy of two little boys, a two year old and a three year old. It’s a wonderful adventure and I love being a Grammy as I have time to dote on them like I never had when I was working outside the home 60 hours a week and raising my own children. Life continues to grow more rich every day…
I am grateful for my wonderful family, for the nice climate we live in, for the opportunity to travel and see new places, and for times just spent at home kicking back with the family and enjoying life. There are so many things to be grateful for.
I hope Mac is feeling better today!
I’m thankful that the kids go back to school next week. They need the routine and so do I. I adore them, but this tween/teen stage, wow. As a friend says, not a lot different than the toddler stage only you can’t pick them up and put them down for a nap when they need it. 🙂
Seriously, I’m grateful every day for my husband and children and wonderful friends.
When I think I’m not doing anyting right, the kids show me differently. As an example, my kids were trying to save an injured wild bunny – lots of tears, lots of effort to find a rescue, and then they did the work to bury the poor bunny. I’m glad they are the tenderhearted, caring people that the world needs. I joke about them needing school, but they are bright, hard working, and curious.
Feel better Mac!
SharonA
When you go through a rough patch of life it does make you sit and realize what you are grateful for. I lost my job at the end of June and have since become a stay at home mom by default. I never realized how much I enjoy being involved and there for my children. I am also incredibly grateful for understanding and supportive children. They realize things have changed and know when to back off in asking for things, understand when we can’t do some things or just need to be there for an extra hug. As long as we have each other we will make it.
Amen Sistah! I love when we are able (nothing else pulling at us) to sit and enjoy holding our little ones! Such precious time that is fleeting. Ahh…at times I just want to freeze everything for fear of them growing up and leaving, but that’s life! I’ve just got to learn to embrace every new day!
Hi Jane ~ Wishes & prayers to Mac for health & healing from his fever. The pics r great; thanks 4 sharing! I’m thankful 4 many things ~ even the stress & difficult times. I always seem 2 learn something & grow from those opportunities. It also reminds me how fortunate I am to have such amazing friends & family. They r so supportive & loving. I have 4 children 25, 24, 14, & 10. I also have 6 grandchildren! I’m a single Mom & professionally am a nurse.
There is no question, I appreciate the amazing people in my life ~ especially my children & grandchildren!
Jane, your post brought tears to my eyes because as much as I get frustrated and frazzled by my kiddos, being their mom is who I am. I am dreading the first day of school tomorrow and having to say goodbye to my 3rd grader for the day – it’s been so fun to have her home with me! I have a 3 year old boy to keep me busy all day though. 🙂 Thanks for the reminder of how precious they are. What a blessing!
Jane,
Such cute pics! Enjoy them while you can. They grow up too fast but then you have the grandkids to look forward to…just found out my daughter is having a baby boy. Second grandson!!
Dawn
Hi! I love how your talk about your everyday life,being a mom is a wonderful job and my 2 kids are 20(Kenny) and Marian is a senior in high school. Its a bitter sweet feeling.I’m excited for she’s going to attend college, culinary school and its her dream. I’m still looking for a job,no infants or toddlers in my home daycare so I’m trying to find something, going to school to get restated for my CDA license, it needed to be renewed-then my divorce willbe final by May or June if all goes well. I’m so grateful so my kids and my friends who keep me laughing, acouple ladies and i a re walking at the park every other day and then doing Zumba the other two. Its fun and just getting together and gab is alot of fun! I love the pictures of all of you and they are handsome boys. Hope Mac feels better! Keep writing and try not to stress out to much on your wedding plans. Have a good week!
I’m grateful for my family, too. My son moved to his college a few weeks ago. My daughter is 16 and learning to drive. Life has flown by so fast. Enjoy these moments.
i’m grateful for my husband, children, family and friends. also grateful that the earthquake and hurricane didn’t do much damage anywhere near where i live. i just hope the ones it hit harder will be okay.
Hi Jane,
I love the pics of you and the kids. I feel the same way as you. Being a mom is my most proud accomplishment in life. I love seeing all the new things that my baby is learning … as do I also love seeing my oldest son growing into a wonderful young man. Nothing compares to being a mom 🙂
I’m the enthusiastic mom of three, one is already in 8th grade but luckily we got two more (now 5 and 6) after a long wait- I think that’s why I appreciate them even more. I feel torn between my job and them all the time, although I work from home and can arrange my time around their schedule.. usually, but deadlines are deadlines, as you well know… I never feel I have enough time with and for them and time goes by so fast. Sigh.
I’m working in my den and watching Flirting With Forty on LMN for the third time – I am so happy for your success! It’s been well over a decade since I knew you when we both went to the Eastside RWA meetings. You were probably the very nicest person there so I’ve always remembered you. I’m getting back to my own writing and you are a wonderful inspiration!
I miss them being small enough to cuddle fully in my arms… while it’s awful when they’re sick there is a certain comfort on both sides when you can just hold them forever.
I only have one at home this year and she’s 18… in the past six years I’ve gone from a full house of four kids to just one and I miss having them all around.
I am grateful that each and every one of them keeps in touch and I see them and talk to them frequently and regularly. I love being a mom and wish the younger years could have lasted longer and I’m so proud of how they are all turning out. One in junior college, one just starting Pastry Arts at a culinary school and two in university. They’re just great!
My husband and I say that being parents is the best thing that ever happened to us and the hardest, too! Being a parent with the responsibility of those little ones was difficult, yet oh so very rewarding. Now having a grandchild is like icing on the cake!
Enjoy your boys! Hope Mac feels better soon! Thanks for sharing those great pictures!
love and prayers, jep
I’m grateful for the same thing! My kids have taught me sooo much. Feel so much. I have never laughed, smiled, cried or worried as much about anyone or anything than my babes. I cry just thinking about them leaving the nest. Rich has said he will not sit with me for high school graduations:)!
I am so sorry to here little Mac is sick but that’s part of a moms job to be there and hold them.
I am so greatful for my one and only son. It seems like yesterday he was Mac’s age but he just turned 22 and is away at college right now, but I will go get him this weekend. They just grow up to fast. Love and hug those boys of yours while you can.
I am deeply grateful/thankful for a husband who not only loves me, but is a man of integrity. I am blessed beyond measure with two healthy, happy, wonderul children.
My list of things that I am grateful and thankful for is so long, that I would take up quite a bit of space here!
Jane,
I am grateful for my kids also. They are what life is about. I am grateful for good friends and family and the ability to stay home and raise my kids and witness all their moments! Good and bad! I am grateful for good books to read for escaping those bad moments.
Enjoy all your moments with your children…they grow too fast 🙂
Love ya!
Cindy
Love the pics, Jane. Hope Mac feels better soon. I’m grateful for my daughter and husband. It can be hard being a mom, but definitely worth it.
The pictures of you and your kids are adorable. I’m sorry Mac has been ill. Get better soon Mac! I’m grateful for all of the people in my life (family, kids, friends). I feel incredibly blessed to have them. I’m also grateful for the new washing machine that was delievered to my home last week.
I am so grateful for my 2 fine sons!
I always love reading your blog, Jane! You summed up something so well that I’ve always felt–while I love my career and writing and am so grateful to my readers, my heart is my family and being a wife and mom. My “baby” turned 21 a few weeks ago. I often miss the little boy he was, but am so proud of the wonderful young man he’s grown into. We’re very fortunate that he likes spending time with us, and that although he’s away at college, he’s only 45 minutes away so we get to see each other frequently. Keep your fabulous books coming! Love always, Jacquie
I am so grateful for my health and the health of my boys.We are fortunate enough to be able to feel and enjoy our lives. The pain,love, hardship and laughter is amazing.Live is great and you are absolutely right Jane, being a mother is my greatest pleasure!
Not only do I love my own family, I am also blessed to like (most of) my in-laws!
Jane,
You have surely been blessed with you three handsome boys as have they with you as a mom. Wishing you all much love and happy days always. I hope that Mac is feeling much better now.
Today, I am incredibly grateful NOT to be underwater. Hurricane Irene demolished parts of New Jersey, indeed, major parts of the entire east coast, and I’ve just been looking at pictures only 10 or 20 miles away from my office where the water reaches the roof of the mall – and you know how we Jersey Girls love our malls!
Seriously, not a drop, not a molecule of water came into my apt or into my office. I never even lost power. I am extremely fortunate and incredibly grateful to have dodged so great a bullet.
The clean up is vast and mighty and it will take a long time before my Garden State is back to blooming.
I´m great full for finally being a Mother too. And I´m loving every moment with my twins. They keep me busy but it´s all wort it 🙂
HI Jane,
What a wonderful post.
I hate that Mac is not feeling well.
I am at that stage in life when the kids are moving on with their lives. I am grateful for my wonderful husband of 27 years and my pooch. I am also grateful that my girls are happy and starting to really live their live.
Oh how I miss the days when they were little , sweet and they sought me out to show me their new finds or pictures they had drawn and colored for me.
Jane, I have to say love the pictures!
Great as always, too cute!
I cherish those moments when my children were little, everything out of their mouth was so darn cute! And they are so curious at two years of age!
I am so grateful for my three sweet children
(and of course my wonderful husband)and that I was there, able to enjoy all the moments as they were growing up.
I am one of those moms that hated when school started, because I was going to miss them so much.
I am so grateful for my family and good friends. And wonderful people like you that write great books and
share good things in life.
Thank you for sharing this post!
Happy Writing! 🙂
I think it’s the first time I realized we both have children starting their junior year in high school! Busy with school starting..and getting over massive poison oak..back from 1600 mile roundtrip to California…
Hi Jane,
I love the pictures you included in this blog. Mac is so cute!
First of all, I just got a teaching job two days ago and so I am VERY grateful for that! It is tough even getting an interview these days in this profession.
I am grateful for being a mom to my son. I am grateful for the wonderful, loving, supportive family and close friends that I have – my “beach” girls.
Congratulations! May your new teaching job bring you much joy.
Hi Jane,
Love seeing photos of you and your family. I am grateful for so much…family, friends, kind strangers, gentle weather, hearty laughs and the health to enjoy it all. I am also grateful for you and for your giving us this space to express ourselves and your encouragement to do so. Hope your weekend is all you want it to be.
I’m really grateful for these 2 past weeks. As you know, we just moved to Texas and didn’t have internet or tv. While cleaning and unpacking, I loved watching and listening to my family swim in the pool. {my daughter is 6 years old and my son is 18. I couldn’t be prouder!]
i am most grateful for my four kids;my sister, laura, and my boyfriend, sev. i am also grateful for my true friends and family; or a day with “no signs” of crohn’s disease. hope mac is better!!!
I’m grateful for my family and friends—most especially long term friends!
I am grateful for my new grandson born just today 🙂 Wyatt James weighed in at 6 lbs 10 oz. 🙂
Hi Jane,
Your posts always hit home with me. I am grateful for my family, especially being a mom…at times, I know I immerse myself in their lives (ages 9 & 8) and can’t imagine what will happen when they get older and may not always need me 24/7. Right now, it’s hard juggling between mom and wife because my husband just had a surgical procedure for kidney stones this morning and we only learned a few hours ago from the doctor that he wasn’t able to blast them. The stent is uncomfortable for him and the kids don’t quite understand that he needs my help too. School starts next week…Tuesday for me and Thursday for the boys. I’ve already slowed down on my reading, probably my last book for awhile. Anyway, your weddling will be here soon, and I am so thrilled for you, Ty and the boys…looking forward to the photos! My friend got married at a chapel in Vegas too, I can’t recall the name right now, but what was so cool about this one, was we were able to watch them get married online. Amazing how far we’ve come in technology. Much love to you and I also wish you luck in your writing. I’m sure you will get your pages done. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend:)
Love ya,
Stephanie
How lovely Jane! I want to experience motherhood just like you do. Very inspiring.
I am very greatful for my family and friends. My girls brought me so much happiness and I am greatful that I can be with them, especially as a few days ago a dear friend of mine passed away suddenly for a brain aneurysm leaving behind a 8 year old girl. I lost my Mom when I was 30 and I know that the life of this little girl will never be the same without her Mom.
So, even if sometimes life and all the rushing around make us forget to enjoy the small things, I want to make an extra effort to be thankful for every moment, because we really don’t know how long it is going to last.
Hi, Jane!
Better late than never, right?
You said, “I’m so lucky to have these boys.” Well, I’m telling ya, Jane, that THEY are lucky to have you too! Please don’t forget that!
I’m glad all is good in your life right now. Fingers are crossed that the rest of the month is smooth sailing for you and all the wedding arrangements!
I am grateful for Oprah’s “grateful journal”, which she told us all about many moons ago. I used to write down 3-5 things every day for which I was grateful, and now I think about dozens of them every day instead. As for my list … God, Mother Nature, family, and friends always rank high up there.
I hope you’re enjoying your long weekend, Jane. It is “Labour” Day weekend here in Canada too.
Hi Jane,
What a great post. Made me think alot.
I’m so grateful for having such a wonderful loving, supportive family and great friends. Very very blessed to have brought up such a wonderful, caring , considerate strong son. He has taught me this past month, to rise above the bad, and carry yourself with pride, and confidence when someone does you wrong. It was a beautiful day today with lots of reflections on the past, and much excitement about the future and all there is to look forward to 🙂
I am so grateful for so many things that I could probably write a list a mile long. I hope that everyone one is having a great weekend and Jane, hope that Mac is feeling better.
I think that one of the things I am most grateful for is that I live in the USA and that we have men and woman that work hard to keep us all safe; with the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 coming up, this is certainly front most in my mind.
Hi Jane – great post. I’m grateful for my girls. They are 20 and 14 now, and the thing I miss the most is them crawling onto my lap whenever they wanted. I miss the hugs and love that flowed so freely, so soak up Mac’s whenever you can get them. Yep, you have writing to do, and you have a wedding to plan, but being on both ends of the age spectrum with your boys, I bet you can think back now to times when you wish you would have taken that extra 15 or 30 minutes with them when they were so free to give it.
I’m also grateful for the USA and the fighting men and women who give so freely of their freedoms so we can enjoy ours. Been there, done that, have the t-shirt. I am also grateful to the families who give up time with their soldier, because that is also a gift to the rest of us. I am always grateful to amazing writers such as yourself, who give us an option to escape and relax and be a part of your lives.
mahalo
peace out
kim
I am grateful for a husband who has supported me through everything…we have had so many things thrown at us over the years and he has been my constant rock. And my girls who are the best daughters anyone could ask for. And my 2 grandchildren who bring a smile to my face even on my darkest days.
Jane!
I’m grateful for two healthy kids and a busy life. It often drives me to the edge, but I am thankful that I can get up and move. I’m thankful that I can get up each morning and tend to the family that God has given me. I’m thankful for a husband that keeps me from spinning into orbit!
I know this was posted 10 days ago, but it’s never bad to stop and list some things you’re thankful for…
One last: I’m thankful that Redbook chose you for a “hot summer read” and that I call you a dear friend!
xoxoxo,
Shannon in Tustin
PS: what a STUNNING necklace you are wearing in some of these latest photos…winner!! 😀