Mother Talkers

Another Introduction

by thais

Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 11:21:35 AM PDT

I was out of town when the Who Are You thread popped up (which was great!) and although I chime in once in a while I've never really done this... Miles' momma's entry reminded me!

My name is Thais (I'm just about 30) and I live with my husband (27yo musician) and nearly-2-year-old daughter Sparrow in southern Louisiana. She was a Katrina baby. It's an interesting and long story, but the short version is that she was concieved in the lower 9th ward of New Orleans, inspired us to sell the house and move to the northshore 2 weeks before Katrina (luck), and then at 2 weeks overdue we had to evacuate to my mom's house a little further north and she was induced (they were running out of room) and born in a strange hospital and brought home to an air-conditionless house sheltering 13 family members and 14 pets.

So much for the birth plan.

I'm a science communications specialist on the university staff here and as such am a WOHM with a student husband and, oh my goodness, an exciting and expensive Montessori tuition bill this fall. We feel so lucky to have found the only non-come-to-jesus education available for her. Ecstatic, really. I grew up here on the northshore and after five years away in Oregon and traveling as a folksinger, we've lived here for the past five and I've never gotten used to this culture.

I found MotherTalkers after extensive internet googling... I think I can count the number of mothers I know here on one hand, and the number of progressives on the other, and they are not the same people. It's so good to have this community at hand to discuss Important Mothering Things with, and I've gotten some great advice already.

What kind of mom am I? No idea. I think I'm an 'everything in moderation' mom. A little organics, a little TV, a little attachment, and a little more impatience than my husband. Now that she's nearing 2, she's a hysterically funny kid with great spirit that I clash wills with more often that I like. She's also not talking in 2-word sentences as per pediatric guidelines and it worries me a bit. But I think she's catching on to our desire that she talk... and responding by calling everything "DEE", even the things I know she has words for.

"want some juice?"
"dee."
ask for juice.
Dee.
Say Juice.
Dee!
JUICE.
DEE!

I give her the juice.
She smiles, walks out of the room, pops her head back in.
"JOOOSH!"
Cracks up. Leaves room.

Dammit.

Now for some pictures: here's Wilson and Sparrow at the beach


and an older one of me and her

Anyway, it's lovely to meet you all!!

Tags: introduction, katrina, talking (all tags)

Permalink | 12 comments

  • Welcome Thais! (0 / 0)

    I gotta say, that when I read your intro I laughed out loud at Sparrow's obvious developed wit! It's so great to watch our children develop into the people they're going to be. I remember the first time I lost an argument to my son. Gotta tell ya, it's so embarrassing to lose an argument...as you're looking DOWN. :)

    Welcome!!

    by gloria on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 11:30:54 AM PDT

  • Welcome! (0 / 0)

    Welcome aboard! I too cracked up with your description of Sparrow's conversation. Jack my 18mo does a smilar thing, with the exception that everything is 'Cookie'. Lol!

    Jen in NJ

    by littlepear on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 11:32:45 AM PDT

  • With one of my sons, (0 / 0)

    everything was "peewee".  Everything was a peewee.  He pointed to open air and said "peewee". He talked about peewees all day long.  Several times, we took him to department or grocery stores and asked him to show us the peewee.  No luck.   Until this day, I have no idea what a "peewee" was.  

    Welcome, although you've posted here enough that it seems quite late to offer it.  I can't imagine what the last months of your pregnancy and the first months of your child's life must have been like.  

    by tjb22 on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 11:59:20 AM PDT

    • horrible--- (0 / 0)

      and, of course, great, as all babies are. She provided a wonderful shield as the world was falling down around us. By the time we came up for air, the worst was over. I can't help but wonder what it would have felt like in a pre-9/11 pre-Katrina world.

      I think she's the only thing keeping us sane! I'm a much happier person because of her... I don't have any other choice. No time to be maudlin and write folk songs. I wonder if this is a universal experience?

      if you wobba cypress trees then I will wobba you

      by thais on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 12:06:34 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      • It is for me. (0 / 0)

        My DD has made me much happier.  I didn't feel very joyful until she showed up.  And I'm capable of releasing my stress must faster with her around.  So she definitely keeps me sane!

        by tessajp on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 01:29:54 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  • Wow (0 / 0)

    What a memorable birth story for your little family!  I'm sure it was horrendous and beautiful all at once.

    And what a beautiful name for your little girl! If/when we get around to having a little sister for Miles, she'll be a baby bird as well - Wren. :-)

    by MilesMomma on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 12:23:18 PM PDT

  • Aw! (0 / 0)

    I love Wren!

    To be fair, it (Sparrow) was her great-grandmother's maiden name. Her first name is acutally my mother's middle name-- Egydia. But nobody can pronounce it. (Ee-zhee-dee-ya).

    if you wobba cypress trees then I will wobba you

    by thais on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 12:27:33 PM PDT

  • Welcome! (0 / 0)

    Love your daughter's sense of humor!

    by Lisa in Austin on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 12:36:23 PM PDT

  • Welcome! (0 / 0)

    Welcome!

    Wow, what a birth story.  

    I LOVE your daughter's name.  

    And such beautiful pictures...

    Thanks for sharing.

    by NJmom on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 05:12:39 PM PDT

  • Welcome Thais! (0 / 0)

    You have a compelling story and a beautiful family. So glad you are here!

    by Elisa on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 05:34:11 PM PDT

  • nice to be formally introduced! (0 / 0)

    Lovely photos - beautiful daughter!

    I love it when kids click to a sense of humor. Jess will do similar things. We'll ask her, "Do you know what that is?" (to get her to say the word), and she'll often say "yes," then walk away and giggle.

    by Rachel on Thu Aug 09, 2007 at 06:49:58 PM PDT

Permalink | 12 comments