I am the proud mother of two delightful, exuberant, creative little girls. As the oldest child and only girl in a family of four, this was everything I ever wished for growing up. Now that our youngest is five ("graduating" preschool tomorrow as a matter of fact) my husband and I are happy to have diapers, 3 a.m. feedings, and bulky baby accessories behind us. We've decided that "we're done." Every once in a while though, especially when I hold a baby, I get that little pang of doubt. And every so often I think about the fact that my husband's family name stops here, since we have no sons. Then a friend's toddler throws the tantrum of the century in a quiet store where we're browsing, and I thank heaven the terrible twos, threes and fours are in my past! Today my 8-year old daughter's friend offered to carry my groceries into the house. Yes, I'm enjoying this older kid thing!
For the past several weeks, I've had the pleasure of having what I've jokingly called a Rent-A-son (although I haven't actually paid for the privilege). A dear friend was called out of town for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I was asked if I could help out by watching her son Willem, my daughter's good buddy and cohort in all matters of mischief and mayhem. It has been a complete and utter delight. I've reaped the benefit of having a steady play date for my daughter every Thursday, and the patter of little man feet around my house without having to worry myself about another college tuition. The little rapscallions have played an ongoing make-believe game of "mummy hunter", made homemade bread with great finesse, molded big chocolate Easter eggs that would garner compliments from the Easter Bunny himself, "got married", "broke up", and picked out matching seersucker suits for preschool graduation.
Today, Willem's parents sent me a clip from a wonderful video from Marine Mammal Conservation Through The Arts featuring, yes, you guessed it, Master Willem himself. An absolute charmer as always, Willem really sends the message home about the importance of saving the whales.
It's just over two minutes. Take a moment and enjoy...
If you're inspired to take action:
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) plans to vote to suspend the 25-year ban on Commercial Whaling.
There's still time to make a difference.
I encourage you to go to the NRDC's Petition Site to urge President Obama to keep his campaign promise of strengthening the global ban on commercial whaling.
Please spread the word!