Giles: Mom I am a real boy. I could dance all night in the rain!
Mommy: Oh how I love the rain and how much Mommy loves dancing!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
Leap Into Action!
Giles is 6 years old
Giles: Mom I don’t want Donald Trump to be President.
Mom: Really dear?
Giles: Yeah, I think there should be a law that anyone with the first name Donald should not be allowed to become President.
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
Giles was 5 years old when he said this.
While chewing Eclipse Classic Bubble Gum for the first time in the car
Giles: Mom I really like this old school bubble gum!
Mom: Good dear!
Giles: I call things that are classic, old school.
Mom: That works dear.
All my best to you,
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
The Wellness Coach form Building Better Bodies Rocks
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
As we approached the stairs, from the second floor, in my little brick, on Christmas morning in Cleveland, Ohio, the chatter my boys were engaging in would warm the heart of any twin parent, or parent of children close in age. Jarvie and Giles were explaining some things to me that were important for me to know, before we began opening our Christmas presents, which was going to happen momentarily!
Giles told me excitedly, “Mommy, we have decided that any gift, whether it says Jarvie, or Giles on it, is something we are going to share.
Jarvie added, “Mommy, it doesn’t matter what the package says on it. We can open any package, because we are going to share everything. So if it says Giles, I can still open it, and if it says Jarvie on it, Giles can still open it.
Giles went on to say, “Christmas is about family and sharing and the time you spend together, and not about gifts, so we have decided to share everything!”
What else could I say but, “Amen! or Bravo! or I love you boys?” All I can tell you is that, as I marched down those stairs, my heart was bursting with pride!
This stance completely alleviated any fears I had about any perceived indiscretions on my part, regarding the balance or fairness of the gifts provided! Sweet relief! What a gift this was on Christmas morning! Never forget, not all gifts come with a bow!
As my boys opened their Hot Wheels remote control cars, from my friend, Charrise in Virginia, they exclaimed “Awesome,” in unison! As they opened their Growing Crystals, and Tegu wooden, magnetic blocks, they related, “We are the luckiest boys in the world,” and “We have the best presents on the block!”
It was truly a lovely experience watching them get along and rip through their gifts squealing with delight!
To their credit, I must tell you, they followed the guidelines about sharing, they set out initially to the tee, throughout the gift opening, as well as, all day long, while they played with all of their newly prized toys! Truly spectacular!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
Boys are nearly 6
Early last Fall, I visited my sons’ school, University School or “US,” as it is typically called. I met with their teachers, and other parents of boys in their class. The teachers took that opportunity to have me write a personal letter to both of my sons, who just so happen to be in the very same classroom! The teachers explained the method to their madness. Since the boys are in kindergarten, their teachers are interested in any activity, which promotes curiosity about reading. The letter was just one vehicle to that end.
Jarvie came across this note with its accompanying drawing of a rainbow At Christmas time and asked me to read it to him. I pointed to the rainbow and the words beneath it which read, “You are just as magnificent as a rainbow!” The next part read, “Dear Jarvie, I had the chance to come to your school on Founder’s day. Mr. Rein, your Head Master, spoke to us first. The teachers have been telling me all good things about you at school. You’re in kindergarten, and you are on your way! Mommy is so proud of you dear! So much love, Mama”
When I finished reading, I handed Jarvie the letter, which Jarvie held out in front of me and asked, “Mama did you make this yourself?”
To which I replied, “Yes!”
He queried further, “All by yourself?”
I nodded my head to reply affirmatively once again.
Jarvie then took the letter and pressed it against his heart and said, “Mama, I will cherish this forever!”
As if that weren’t enough, he then said, “Mama, I don’t really know what cherish means, but I will cherish it forever!”
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
Boys are 5, but getting ever closer to 6 these days!
Last night, on Christmas night, we were unable to join our family gathering, owing to sickness and went out for a bit of traditional Chinese food, at Jackie Chan’s. On our way over, Gilie asked “Mom, what does alchemy mean?” After briefly explaining, he went on the ask, “and what is deconstruction?” Now if that doesn’t just beat all! The boy is only 5! Words like that simply flew right over my head, without a second thought at his age, but he hears them, learns them or inquires and then not only claims them as his, but spits them out at a later appropriate time! His vocabulary blows my mind!
Giles vocabulary is not only interesting, but fun, as he surprises and delights continually with his choice of words in day to day life!
Today when we were having tickle fights in bed in the early morning, he decided to try to blow in my ear. As we trussled this was Not an easy feat. When he succeeded he whispered, “Jackpot!” His mind is just quicker than mine. Consequently, I frequently find his brief utterances to be laugh out loud funny! He made four or five of these remarks one to three and each one caused me to burst into laughter. Alas, I have forgotten the rest and cannot share them with you!
I swear the boy is going to be a writer of some sort! His use of similes start one month after he began talking when he said, “I am freezing like an ice cube!” His speech is just so colorful, quick witted and efficient. It is really something to marvel at in such a young child.
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
Single Mom by Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
The boys are 5 now
The other day Giles said to someone, “You know what I like better than candy?” And when asked, replied with a big goofy grin, “More candy!” Those two lines pretty much sum up Gilie’s feelings about candy. The kid lives for the stuff!
So the other day when their classmate, Atreya, wrapped up a gift for the two of them and presented it to them after school, they both eagerly unwrapped it, with its telltale clue of a lollipop stick peaking through! Giles remarked, “Hey Jarve, we hit the jackpot!”
With one gentle reminder that they might consider sharing their gift, they swiftly gave all but two pieces away to other boys in their kindergarten class, who were waiting for their parents to arrive. Neither one balked, or even considered sneaking a few extra in their pockets. For a mom, who always tells her kids things taste better when you share, it was a proud moment.
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rock, LLC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
Leap Into Action!
Giles and I are driving home from an appointment, and Jarvie is at home with Abbey our current babysitter
Giles: Mom what is 5 + 5?
Mom: Well, what is 5 + 5?
Giles: 10
Mom: Of course!
Giles: What is 10 + 10?
Mom: I think you know that one. What is 10 + 10 Giles?
Giles: 20
Mom: Very Good!
Giles: Mom what is 100 + 100?
Mom: What do you think 100 + 100 is?
Giles: 200.
Mom: Very nice!
Giles: Mom what is 1000 + 100?
Mom: 1100
Giles: No it isn’t Mom! It’s 100,000.
Mom: No, it really is 1100. You have to be careful what your doing
addition, multiplication or subtraction.
Giles: Mom what is subtraction?
Mom: Subtraction is takeaways!
(Mom holds up five fingers, then holds two down)
Mom: Giles what is 5 takeaway 2?
Giles: 2! Well, I was just improvising, or at least I think I was
improvising!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, OH
Boys are 5 1/2
It’s 7:00 AM and Gilie’s downstairs getting ready for school, while Jarvie hasn’t even gotten out of bed!
Mom: Where is your brother?
Giles: He’s still in bed! Mom, you know, Jarvie is obsessed with his bed!
Mom: Really?
Giles: Yah Mom, he really is obsessed with his bed!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, OH
Boys are 5 1/2
Our family vacation nearly got lost in the sauce this year. Jarvie, Giles and I were invited a year ago to visit my brother in Thetford, Vermont and my sister in Boston. Little did anyone know that I would have back surgery in the spring and that Jim, my sister-law’s father, would die a few weeks before our trip, making the timing of our trip less than ideal. Our compromise was that we would forge ahead and go on the trip, but stay at a resort, instead of staying with my brother and his family, allowing them more space and time to plan for the memorial service for Jim.
Nonetheless, the Lafave’s headed east and north for vacation this summer. First, we flew to Boston and then headed by car to South Hamilton, to visit my sister Annie and her family. Annie lives in horse country and true to form, there is horse farm across and next to her beautiful home. These pastures are home to the Harvard Polo Team and truly idyllic. Her dogs Piper and Lexi are free to roam and often saunter off with friends, as they pass by. Life doesn’t get much better!
While with Annie, we went on the Duck Tour in Boston, which is a bus, which tours the city and then becomes a boat, which tours the harbor. The boys, who are 5 1/2, loved the Duck Tour, but were dissappointed that the bus didn’t turn into a real duck!
After our visit with Annie and her clan, we journeyed by Lincoln Town & Country mini vanup to Lake Morey Resort in Vermont, near Thetford, where my brother Artie and his family have a summer home. Lake Morey provided just enough child activities to enrich the day. My boys took golf lessons, had story hour, engaged in crafts, played games, swam in the lake, went paddle boarding, canoeing, speed boating, played pool, and viewed family movies in the theatre, after dinner, and before bed.
The third leg of our trip was with my friend, Kate Stevens, from my Oberlin days of yore. Kate lives in Beverly, MA right on the water, not far from my sister Annie. Never did get a chance to glimpse John Theriault, whom Kate married shortly after college, as he was away on business in Singapore. Kate took us all over the place. We learned to “numb up” at the several beaches Kate paraded us around. The water was a bit cold, but once you get in, you can get used to it!
Have you been on a family vacation or any vacation, lately, at all? I think of vacations as much like punctuation. They demarcate periods of time before, after and during the vacation. It seems like if you simply stay home, and just do your regular routine, the days seem to blend together somehow. They lack the focus you feel when you remember a trip or a vacation!
Vacations are opportunities for creating a little history and making a few wonderful memories. Even if you can’t go away far, or for long, take a weekend trip, not far from home. We have done several trips like this including friends we adore! Sometimes getting away for just the weekend, somewhere just an hour away,is enough to make you feel, as if you’ve been away for longer and travelled a much greater distance. It is possible to be close to home, but feel light years away!
If you are a bit more strapped, try a staycation and save the money on airfares, gas and lodging and devote that money to living it up a bit in your home town. Create an actual schedule and stick to it. Go to the zoo, the museum, take in a movie, go swimming at a fancy location. And don’t forget about dinner. Dine out at a few favorite restaurants and fix a few fabulous meals.
One of my cousins had a tradition of having Family Fun Days, in which their family did everything together and no outsiders were included. Everyone in the family protected those days and really looked forward them. Why not create a few FF days of your own! If you are single you will have to create another special name for these days and decide who gets to join you on these days I’d delight! No matter what your circumstances, I encourage you to find ways to celebrate life with the people you care about!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Hts, Ohio
Leap Into Action!