Eye of The Tiger

I think I can

I think I can

I think I can

I know I can

The Little Engine That Could by: Watty Piper

Remember the classic board book “The Little Engine That Could” ?! it’s such a relic, it’s older than me and so is it’s message. I almost forgot about it until Tuesday night when I was at a “sprinkle”— that’s a baby shower for a mommy who is already at least 2 kids deep and she didn’t keep any of her baby necessities anymore or an amazing excuse to put a lot of women in a room together —

These women— mostly mommies— gathered on a weekday night to break up the monotony of the day-to-day or night-to-night and celebrate. They were over-poured house white or red but not too much so they can drive home safely to their suburban estates. Listening closely I heard them over share about their children, MILs and husbands in no particular order. It was a fun excuse to vent and giggle together and forget the current events or responsibilities… but there are a few of them who go way back and tell about the one that got away or they should have slept with— but then we wouldn’t be at the same table weekday drinking together celebrating this new little bundle into our exclusive club if they did…

We played silly games and stained our teeth on the blue fondant of the cake fit for the coming prince. One of the games was to guess the Children’s book based upon the emojis. Either I’m super smart or I’ve become that person to over use emojis myself, but I got them all right. At that very bottom of the list of 10 there was one that seemed to stump a handful of mommies. I know these mommies read to their children good night books so maybe this book hasn’t received as much dap as it should anymore. Sitting there last but not least was the emojis for “The Little Engine That Could”. It had a muscle and a train.

I have been thinking a lot about the coulds, shoulds, woulds. I also have been thinking a lot about my grandma. She wasn’t a typical grandma. She was multi-dimensional. She could keep her home and her family in the most quintessential ways of a woman of her generation, but she was also generations ahead of her time. A wicked combination of beauty and brains and moxie. I think the memories of my grandparents have been flooding my thoughts lately because of my parents (who are now grandparents themselves) are taking my family away on our first magical Disney vacation together next week .

Things we do with our grandparents shape us differently than other experiences. It’s usually because these moments come from another era, another set of values and traditions mixed into modern times. It’s a blend of history and making it.

My children never met my grandparents— but they are named after them and their legacies. I assume my future grandchildren will be the same. But I don’t like to think that far ahead…

The Masters is on TV this week. Golf is a big thing in my house and throughout my life. However, I didn’t pay much attention to it until a wild twist came on the green many years ago. His name was as head turning as his swing. It still is—

All eyes have been on Tiger. Would he, could he, should he return? Will he be able to comeback— again? With each great fall he seems to put himself back together again— better. He’s like the other classic board book…

My children are extremely strong. Resilient. They learned how to comeback and maybe even better either after a tumble resulting in skinned knees or the wicked curve ball of COVID— and everything else in between. Life lessons, growing up and growing pains and coming of age. Life for children today is multi dimensional. And so is being a mommy…

Last night, late in the evening I listened to the commentary about Tiger coming from my master bedroom television. It was met with mixed reviews and emotions. My grandma would be thrilled to hear of Tiger’s return. She is probably wearing red for him somewhere in the galaxy— maybe across her lips.

As I listened, I wondered if he was listening, too, in his master bedroom television. I was saddened by some of it and enthusiastic with other comments. I wonder if he takes it all in, too, or does he not let it get to his core and his game…

It made me think of the things we, I, say to our children. Do my words shape and shake up their coulds, shoulds and woulds? In full disclosure— theirs do to me.

I think the comeback in life is what defines the setback. Not just in sports but in everything. My children are learning about setbacks and comebacks now more than ever. They are learning them young. Nothing comes easy and everything worth its reward takes work. So does being a mommy.

Last week we watched kings and heros fall from grace. I needed to explain— again, the importance of what to do with our hands and how to use our words. But I didn’t want those setbacks to define what it means to have or lose success.

This week my message to my boys is different. It’s about perseverance and determination. Thankfully this locker room pep-talk I will have with them arrives just as spring sports season begins. My boys will be on many different greens the next few months. Some of their opponents will cause them to be struck out and others will be in themselves and how they get to the goal.

Currently and ironically Tiger is number 10 on his own leader board like the classic children’s book in the game I played. He has the potential to advance. And in that moment it will be the theme for the comeback kid who changed the way we all learn that we always have the same power to define our own stories. To never give up and keep on going no matter how many obstacles are in our way.

To be continued…