[blparent] Saving Memories: was Sleepless Nights

Tue Nov 13 10:23:12 UTC 2012

Melissa;
With the sudden passing of my mother in the middle of September, I really wish I would've had more memories of both her, and my younger brothers. I think this is a wonderful idea, and I think I might just start doing it. I like it.

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 12, 2012, at 8:26 PM, "Melissa Ann Riccobono" <melissa at riccobono.us> wrote:

> My husband and I do a recording every year on, or near, our kids' birthdays.
> They are just recordings where we reflect together about what the past year
> has brought, share stories and memories, and share hopes for the future. I
> also try to write down memories and stories, but I must say I've been a bit
> laxed on this now that I have three children... There just does not seem to
> be enough time in a day!
> Melissa
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Erin Rumer
> Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2012 11:17 PM
> To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Sleepless Nights
> 
> Hello Jerri,
> 
> All of those feelings you're having are more than normal and a sign that
> you're a loving mom.  I will be sending my little guy Dawson off to
> preschool two days a week come January and I'm having those same feelings.
> My husband and I began placing Dawson in child-care at church on Sundays
> when he was eight months old and that nearly ripped my heart-out as he
> clung-on to us when we passed him over to the child-care providers.  Now I'm
> beginning the process of weaning him which comes with all of its own
> emotions for both of us and preschool is right around the corner.  In just a
> few short years Dawson too will be 7 years old just like you're little guy
> and it will feel like tomorrow he'll be leaving for college.  It's times
> like this I do my best to stop and reflect on all the little things that
> make every day so special with our kids.  Seeing Dawson go pee pee in the
> potty for the first-time this past week, or watching how excited he gets to
> see all the wonders there are to explore at the zoo are moments I want never
> to forget.  I am trying to remember to write these precious memories down to
> reflect on.  Something I also want to do is to write letters to Dawson for
> him to open in the future at special points in his life.  These will
> hopefully be little treasures that he can keep safe in a box to read himself
> and share with us from time to time which will share with him our happy
> memories and thoughts as well as our prayers and hopes for his future.
> Something my mother-in-law did with my husband since he was a little guy is
> they would pray for his future wife where-ever I was and that I was safe and
> healthy and happy.  When I found-out about this I cried at the thought of
> how precious and special that was.  Here they didn't even know me yet, and
> yet they were praying for me.  I am carrying this beautiful tradition on
> with Dawson and even though he's only two years old, we say a little prayer
> each night for his sweet little future wife where ever she may be.  I also
> got Dawson's foot and hand-print bronzed when he turned a year and it's a
> very special thing I hold onto because even though I can't see all of our
> adorable pictures of our sweet boy, I can feel those prints in detail and
> it's almost like I'm holding him as a tiny guy all over again.  I recommend
> getting that done if it's something you can swing and depending on what
> package you go with, it can be pretty reasonable price wise.
> 
> Have a great night and thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings with
> us.
> 
> Erin
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jeri Milton
> Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2012 1:47 AM
> To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
> Subject: [blparent] Sleepless Nights
> 
> Hi out there to everyone. It's the middle of the night, or wee hours of the
> morning depending on whatever way you look at it. These last couple of weeks
> I've been having a heck of a time sleeping. I read somewhere a long time ago
> that people who are blind tend to have a harder time sleeping than those who
> are sighted. It has to do with Melatonin. Does anyone know about this study?
> 
> Anyway, when I have these dreaded sleepless nights I tend to lie there and
> think or worry about everything and it really drives me crazy. So tonight I
> was thinking so much about my children. Instead of tossing and turning,
> sleep for half an hour then waking up to twiddle my thumbs and think some
> more, I thought I would post my thoughts on here sense it is about being a
> parent. 
> 
> I was thinking about how fast the time really does go by. It seems like just
> yesterday I was pregnant with Dylan and enjoying every single bite of my
> huge Breakfast Jack sandwich from Jack in the Box. *smile*. Then, boom he
> was born and I was having sleepless nights with a new born baby that I had
> no clue what to do with. Funny how we're so scared at first and then the
> baby just becomes part of us, like he's always been there all of your life.
> Next thing I knew I was planning his first birthday party. I remember that I
> hand made them with pieces of construction paper folded in half to make a
> card. I used every primary color in the crayon box for each letter of the
> words. I wrote it as if he was writing it. It was very cute, I have to
> admit! Now, well tomorrow, because he is turning seven and is old enough to
> help fill out his invites, we're going to grandma's house to fill them out
> for his pizza party at the end of the month. So, just yesterday I was losing
> sleep and crying because I didn't know what to do with this new born, and
> now seven years later, I'm crying because he's growing up too dang fast!
> Also, I'm still trying to lose all the calories from that first dang
> Breakfast Jack! Not to mention the weight gain when I was pregnant with
> Kate. I know he hasn't been a baby for a while, but seven just sounds so,
> well, not babyish. He'll always be my baby though. I tell him even when he's
> forty he'll still be my baby. Then, somebody asked me the other day about
> Katlyn starting preschool and I almost immediately burst into tears over the
> thought of it. My gosh what am I going to do when they're both in school?
> Gone all day to the hands of other people. When Dylan started preschool I
> balled like a baby, and he was only going two days a week. Then, when kinder
> garden came I cried all week. I felt that I was sending him into the wolf
> pack. I worry about Kate because she does have eye problems and one of her
> eye's wonders pretty severely. I hope she doesn't get teased. I wish I could
> be with them every second of every day forever to keep them safe. While it's
> fun to watch them grow, there's a part of me that feels sad. Is this normal?
> I'll probably sing happy birthday to him and cry at the same time!  
> 
> 
> 
> Jeri
> 
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