Mikey and I jokingly say that we have 4 types of friends: the type who don’t visit. The type who visit and leave the next day (usually because of kids and incredibly uncomfortable guest quarters), the type who who visit more than a day (even with incredibly uncomfortable guest quarters), and lastly, the type who stay more than a day (in the incredibly uncomfortable guest quarters) and then come back (to the same or even more uncomfortable guest quarters!).
My friend Stefanie is the rare breed of the latter.
She and I became friends a million years ago when we were both working in the disability field (she, with legal advocacy and me, with career counseling) and yeah, man. We gelled!
The funny thing is, so have our boys.
I get the warm fuzzies when I see them together. There is something wonderful about your kids being real friends with your friend’s kid, you know?
And seeing your own friend playing with your kids.
Stefanie is some kind of kid-whisperer.
I was flabbergasted by the way she can diffuse and whip situations around.
Because all of these happy pictures weren’t always happy.
The thing is, she sort of zeros in and figures out what the key issue/desire of the child is, then redirects it.
After I saw her redirect this really normal situation that Moxie and Mack get into (splashing/screaming/crying/fighting), I sputtered out a “WHAT are you doing?? HOW DO YOU DO THIS????” She said she tunes into this thing called “A-Ha Parenting” – it’s all about peaceful parenting, connecting and coaching, rather than controlling. Even Mikey was super impressed, and both of us are on board with taking the A-Ha Parenting course.
There is nothing – nothing!!! – like seeing a pro in action, actually diffusing and redirecting the explosions that your kids have daily, to make you a convert.
Not to make this post all about “A-Ha Parenting.” I just felt that as your friend, I really should mention it because, WHOAH.
Hey cutie!
You are pretty cute, too.
We had a lot of fun at the river.
When I first moved here, a mom said that the river here is like Chuck E. Cheese to other places – lots of birthday parties held there. It’s also the easiest place to just go and chill out. The water ranges from deep to super shallow, and it’s knock-out stunning.
The kids are all either swimming or learning to swim.
Know what else this Kid-Whisperer did? She brought a big-ass trampoline up (last year) and set it up with her husband (this year).
THANK YOU STEFANIE!!!!
Sooooo grateful for this.
The duo power of the trampoline and the play structure are totally priceless.
As are these precious people.
We love you.
Come back soon, okay?!
Meriah Nichols is a counselor. Solo mom to 3 (one with Down syndrome, one on the spectrum). Deaf, and neurodiverse herself, she’s a gardening nerd who loves cats, Star Trek, and takes her coffee hot and black.
Wow. Your lives are so beautiful and hopeful. Uncluttered, focused in the natural world, filled with simplicity and love. The way things should be.
After watching the hideousness on CNN this morning I am so very grateful to see this wonderful celebration of life and family, it’s pure joy, thanks.