Life's First Lessons

As parents we are always excited about the progress of our children. We celebrate their first tooth, their first step, their first word, and their first day of school. We faithfully take pictures and record times and dates to remember -- hoping to catch all those memories before they disappear. Well, a few days ago my baby had a great 'first', and as an ethusiastic new convert to blogging I rushed to record the news.

You see, my youngest learned something that his older brothers learned long ago -- If you don't sit still for Larry the Barber (no matter scary it seems), then dad will have to cut your hair himself.

My poor baby now looks like one of the little goblin monsters from the movie Labrinth. I have already been asked if he is "enfermito". That is the Spanish way of politely asking, "What in the world happened to your kid?!"

Nurture vs. Nature

Scientists have long debated whether it is nurture or nature that makes us who we are. Do we come to this earth as a clean slate to be shaped into the person we are by our environment? Or are there parts of us that have always been and cannot be changed no matter what we face?

Lately, at the Rancho, we have had this very conversation. Our debate has focused around the question of: Are you born Mexican or do you have to learn to be Mexican?

An Introduction Of Sorts

For some time I have contemplated starting a blog, but somehow in my mind the idea of "Blogger Mom" seemed to be right up there with "Minivan Mom", "Soccer Mom" , and "Home Room Mom"... not that there is anything wrong with these titles, but I just wasn't ready to go there yet.

Well, after the events of today (which, by the way, was like most days here at the Rancho), I discovered a secret long held by Blogger Moms. Blogging is great therapy! If you are tempted to inflict bodily harm upon any of your offspring -- just blog! If you need to remember how wonderful your husband is and why you fell in love with him in the first place-- just blog! If you need to be in denial that your house is a disaster and there is no possible hope short of a miracle of ever catching up on laundry -- just blog!

So, in these times of economic hardship I have decided that blogging is much less expensive than paying a therapist. And, while my little boys are running around in their underwear at 10:30 p.m. and the living room has already been filled with water once today -- I will just blissfully blog.