2009 was a landmark year for me. In the spring I lost my mother to cancer, and then into the fall my oldest son, Full Speed, braved two tedious eye surgeries and came through with much improved vision. The event that shaped the year the most was the loss of my mother. The grief process has been long and complicated. I have learned that the more you love someone, the harder it is to let go of them no matter how complex the relationship was while they were here. I also learned that the more you have to rely on your own strength to get through a day, the more you realize you actually have a lot more than you initially thought.
The most exciting and anxiety producing moments revolved around Full Speed’s eye surgeries. I learned that when you don’t know the ultimate outcome of a medical situation to always choose hope. It gets you through the moment and when you realize your most desperate prayer has been heard, you feel a mixture of relief and a certainty that you knew it would be alright all a long.
As for T.Puzzle, as much as I resisted it, the terrible twos will keep on going into the threes. Most likely I will have to wait until he is five before I can safely and confidently take him in public. I had always wished my second child would be slightly easier to manage and in some ways he is, but ultimately an even-tempered child is not in the cards for me.
Having survived loss, uncertainty, tantrums and joy, I am most grateful to have the ultimate partner in parenthood and marriage, Mad Dog. When I started my little blog that could several months ago, Mad Dog’s support has been a constant source of comfort and inspiration. His patience as I grieve for my Mom and my attempts to successfully parent our boys is remarkable. I love that I am creating a life with a man I love so much.
And, last but certainly not least, is this amazing blog. I started it for the simple reason that writing for me is like breathing. It is an absolute joy for me to sit at my computer and share my thoughts. As a stay-at-home mom it gives me a voice. I hope that my readers can find themselves in this voice. Hopefully you can relate, if not I hope that at least you can find the humor that surrounds us always. I’m excited to see where my boys take me in this New Year (hopefully not to the looney bin) and I hope you keep on reading.
Whether you are a man or woman, married or single, or a parent or not, life’s adventures always have a universal theme of love connecting them together. All anyone ever wants is to love and be loved. Everything else is just gravy.
Writes for all Mommies 
Happy New Year Diana to you and your family 🙂 I am very happy you started your blog as well. When you moved away I was so sad because even though I wasn’t ever able to see you all the time when you lived here I did feel that the time we spent together was quality time.
I know it is so hard to keep in touch with others when you do not see them everyday but I feel so much closer to you being able to see your thoughts and read about your daily life. It is a real gift to me because it keeps you in my daily life and I am thankful for you.
You are an amazing friend Diana.
Thanks, Moni. I am a great listener and will talk endlessly about anything other than myself to most people. That’s why this blog has been such a growing experience. Especially as a stay-at-home Mom, people sometimes aren’t inclined to find out what really goes on in my day or to find out the thoughts in my head. It is forcing me to find out more about who I am and share it with the world. It’s disconcerting at times to have so much out there, but at the end of the day, I love it. It has turned into a sanity saver and way to stay connected to those I care about (like you!). You are a great friend, too, my dear.