Thanks

I want to thank you all for my second year writing Ask Moxie. It is such an important part of my life, and has meant more to me than you can ever know. Thank you for coming and reading, commenting, keeping me on the right track, and supporting each other. Thank you for being such wise, funny, warm, vulnerable, thoughtful, and supportive people. Your children are lucky to have you.

I'm thankful for my two amazing boys. My greatest joy is that they enjoy each other so much.

I'm thankful for my family and friends, my coworkers, and my little village here in the middle of this big city.

I'm thankful for my cats, who keep everyone entertained day and night (including Alex's new trick--chewing through the yearn I'm knitting with as I'm knitting).

And I'm thankful for the usual stuff: pumpkin pie, green bean casserole, the DVR, YouTube, and the fact that I won't be at any stores tomorrow morning at 5 am.

You?

Comments

[Michelle]

I have so much to be thankful for this year.

First, I am thankful for my son - who teaches me more about patience, frustration, and overwhelming love everyday than I ever knew was possible.

I am thankful for another healthy pregnancy and natural home birth this year, and my beautiful daughter who delights me with her smile and infuriates me with her sleep habits!

I am thankful for my husband - having 2 kids under 2 is challenging for a marriage, and he reminds me that I am still a sexy, attractive woman despite the spit up stains and extra 10 (okay 20) pounds.

And I am thankful for my friends, family, and my boss...all of whom love me and my kids...which is huge.

And I am thankful for this site, with two babies in my house I would lose my mind without the insight and support of you Moxie and the others who post comments. I don't get to comment as often as I would like (it's hard to finish anything around here) but I read and learn everyday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[marsupial jones]

I am thankful for my husband who knows me best and loves me with abandon. I am thankful for his unconditional support of all of me: doctoral student, mother, wife, sexy woman, and goofball.

I am thankful to leave near and adore my parents and my in-laws. I am thankful for all the wonderful people I will see soon, especially my sister-in-law and her wife.

I am thankful for my health, for my medications which make me functional, for a wonderful therapist and psychiatrist.

I am thankful for the people in the world who work for ecological sustainability, support and defense of the poor and oppressed, and those that promote secular humanism as a kind and good way of living.

Thank you Moxie for a irreverant, honest, and infinitely helpful blog.

[paola]

I am very thankful for my Graco Stadium Duo (vertical twin pusher) which I just would never have managed without with my two littlies. Unfortunately my older child has just gotten too big for it and (sigh) I have to get rid of it.Am so worried that I won't have the same independence now and that it will take me thrice as long to get anywhere as mi boy will just have to walk.

I am thankful for pressure cookers. It takes 20 minutes every couple of days to prepare Zoe's veggies instead of one hour.

Am thankful for the internet as how the heck would I be able to keep in contact with all my old friends on the other side of the world and learn so much about child rearing from Moxie and all you wonderful people out there.

Of course it goes without saying I am thankful, so thankful for my family, our health and for becoming a mother.

[caramama]

I am thankful for my daughter, who is delightful, inquisitive, energetic and snuggly! I am thankful for my husband, who is kind, funny, intelligent and sexy. I am thankful for both our families, and their love and support. I am thankful for my wonderful friends IRL and online.

I am thankful for fertility treatments and the people in the field who are compassionate and helpful. For us and many others I know, our lives have been made infinitely better with their help.

I am thankful for Moxie and this community. You all are so funny, thoughtful, supportive and interesting. I know that I am a better mother and better person thanks to you all. I especially would like to thank Moxie for taking the time to receive, read, and answer questions sent to her, writing out her wonderful responses and reading the comments we all leave, and even taking the time to read and review books. All this in addition to her job and her family. Moxie, you are a very special person who has made this world a better place, one post at a time.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you all are as blessed as I am!

[Simone]

I'm thankful to have found a site where people are so THANKFUL. Seriously, so many times when mothers get together it's about kid- or husband-bashing, and it's refreshing and uplifting to have found a place where we can comment, commiserate, and ask for advice, in a "healthy" way.

I'm thankful for my family's decision to move to this country 27 years ago, and for my newly gained citizenship, which makes me proud of this country (flaws and awe).

I'm thankful for my friends, moms or not, which keep me grounded and offer such great support.

Finally, every day I give thanks for my family--for two healthy, beautiful boys who adore each other, and for an amazing husband and father who truly enjoys his kids rather than merely putting up with them, and whe sacrifices much for our family to have what we need. I'm even thankful for my neurotic dog (must be a good day!:)) I'm truly blessed!

And Moxie, thank you for you! :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

[LauraLou]

I am so very thankful for my wonderful son, who is healthy, happy, and delights me every day with the new things he can do.

I am thankful for my husband who supports my goals, loves me even when I'm angry, and tells me I am beautiful every day (even when I'm not).

I am thankful that we have a house to live in, enough food to eat, and family and friends to bring warmth to the house and joy to the meals.

And, like others here, I am thankful for Moxie and this community. I have learned so much from your experiences. Thank you for taking the time to share.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Charisse]

I'm thankful for my husband, my darling girl, my larger family and my friends known and un-known (you all mostly count as un-known) :) . I'm grateful for work I love and the beginnings of time to think about the work I love even more. I'm thankful for a comfortable home and a lovely city to do it in.

I'm grateful my awesome MIL made it here last night and will be here to help me finish up the feast for 12 I'm working on. I'm thankful to be able to host my dear ones. I'm thankful it's a beautiful day!

And I'm thankful that Moxie decided to blog one day, and that everybody here decided to contribute in such thoughtful and nonjudgmental ways--this site is such a help, every day.

[Shandra]

Y'all are so late with your Thanksgiving. :)

I'm so thankful for this blog, especially for coming through for me on the Montessori question (where my son is really happy, as it turns out). It is the best!

I'm very thankful for health, my family, and my family of the heart, however far-flung they get.

And I'm thankful for the abundance in my life - home, food, professional scope, and all manner of good things.

[Brooke]

I am thankful that we now live in a state with second-parent adoption. I'm thankful for my new job, my partner's new job, my daughter's wonderful daycare. I'm thankful that our house sold, sold quickly, and only lost 1% of it's value, and we only had to leave apart for 3 weeks.

I am so overwhelming like thankful and amazed that we not only have a enough money to pay our bills, but we have enough to (slowly, but surely) get us out of the debt we got into when we didn't. And we now have enough income that we can decide whether or not to (try to) have a second child instead of being absolutely unable to choose to (try).

I'm also thankful that we bought the Britax because two minor accidents (in two months!) later, we just about broke even on price since it didn't need to be replaced. On that note, I'm thankful we are spending the day with friends 15 minutes away instead of family 7 hours away.

[rebecca]

I am thankful for all of you.

I am thankful for my family, in a crazy big love way. My husband, my child, my friends who are chosen family.

I am thankful to be able to stay at home while my son is small, even if that means cutting way back, we're doing ok.

I am thankful for my lovely dog (the "firstborn") and cats, and the furry beings that bring us joy.

I am thankful for nice people at stores this time of year, I am thankful for nice slippers, I am thankful to have a tiny bit of time to knit, I am thankful it is beautiful and sunny in Seattle right now. I'm thankful to be able to pay the heat bill.

I am thankful that most days, most hours that life is completely beautiful. And thankful that sometimes I remember to remember that.

And the internet. I would seriously not have managed so well without it this last year.

[m]

I am thankful for my unbelievably gracious and giving husband, my sweet, sweet son, and this healthy pregnancy. I love my family so much and feel so lucky to have found the right person to create this family.

I am thankful for my sister and close friends who feel more like siblings than friends. The community I still belong to although we have moved away from it. I'm also thankful for the few new friends in this new city who have reached out to me.

I am thankful for dried cranberries, because they are the magic treat for my son. I'm thankful for tea and blueberries and so many yummy treats.

I am thankful that I live in this country, at this time. I am thankful that my husband and I have the luxury of living as artists, although we scrape by. And for all the fun I had when my book came out.

I am thankful for my midwives and for the BC provincial government for giving them the rights to practice and for paying for them as part of our healthcare.

I, too, am thankful for the internet, especially Moxie's site and Sweet Juniper!, Sweet|Salty, Soulemama, and Go Fug Yourself for giving me joy, perspective and sanity this past year.

[anonymous today]

I'm grateful for all of you, and for the screen that keeps me close to my friends from "home" while I get used to my new life far away from them. And for the support I am getting in my new life too, and the people who understand. For the ability to pay my mortgage and my credit card bills.

For a son who says, when he's tired, "I wanna cuddle!" and a husband who says "you need sleep" and plays with him in the morning.

And let's be honest: for my new sweater dress and comfy tights, my purple shoes, my new books, Netflix, Wild Oats, streaming radio, and my stalwart sports bras.

And for the (don't tell anyone I know!) second line on the test yesterday. And for vitex, that made it possible.

[caramama]

anonymous today: Congratulations! How exicting!

And I wanted to add thank you to all you bloggers who have given me the courage by example (and my husband who gave me the encouragement and time today) to start my own blog. Yikes, I'm nervous, but I did my first post today.

[Monica]

I am Endlessly Thankful for the wonder of life, all the delightful twists and turns, and for my fantastaculariffic baby daughter who reminds me to love every minute every day as I try to see through her eyes. There are not words that exist for the way I love her, but words are not neccesary among other parents who must feel the same for their own child[ren]. :)

(She seems to be thankful for finally eating some REAL food. And being held by Mommy as much as possible, thankyouverymuch.)

I am thankful for my (practically/almost) husband who is and does all those things I'd wished for in a perfect teammate. IE: He's totally crazy in love with our baby. Oh, and me, apparently.

I am thankful the much-anticipated move is almost here (next Friday!). The waiting around until we can finally pack the truck and GO ALREADY is killing me.

I'm thankful for all the modes of communication I can employ to stay in touch with my far-flung family. Okay, I'm the one that flung far from the most-immediate fam, but the buffer of distance means less meddling, for which I'm also very thankful. ;)

THANK GOD for Ask Moxie.
There have been many nights (afternoons, whenever!) when I uttered that exact phrase since stumbling upon this site while DD was just an itty-bitty. Everyone here has my thanks for their helpful and entertaining contributions. I honestly don't know what I would do wichout yous guys.

Yay, internets!

Congrats to anonymous today AND caramama on your newest news!

Happy and Sappy Thanksgiving, all!

[Brooke]

Congratulations!

[julie]

This is really a special and unique community. I feel like I know many of you, your children, your husbands......and for that I am thankful.

I am thankful for my son - the light of my life and joy of my days and nights - thankful for his sense of humor, patience, perseverance, stubborness, easy-going attitude....I could go on and on. He is truly a miracle happening before my eyes everyday.

I'm thankful for my husband......for sticking with me through some pretty tough times. For his sense of humor and charm. He's a hottie, and on the days we don't get along, I try to tell myself that hey.....looks aren't everything but at least they're something. And on the good days....yummy yum. He's loving and supportive and a wonderful dad too.

I'm thankful for my parents who take care of Alex 4 days a week so I can work at a job I enjoy enriching the lives of other people's children and not feeling guilty because I know my son's life is enriched in ways I could not do myself. A grandparent/grandchild relationship is magical and I'm so glad that he gets to participate in one that is as wonderful as the one I had with my grandparents.

It's been a good year. Thanks to all of you out there for enriching my life as a parent, as a friend, as a human being.

And thanks to amyinmotown (I think ) for saying organic milk is like drinking heaven. It sure is.......and I'm thankful to you for telling me about it. And now thankful for organic milk.

[Kate]

I am thankful that among all the daily stresses--big and not so big--my husband and I are a team to the very core.

I am thankful for my family, both extended and very close. Especially my children, who continue to make mothering the most challenging and interesting pursuit I hope to ever have. (The hugs are particularly nice!)

I am thankful that my aunt safely delivered a beautiful baby girl at age 44--a desperately hoped for but unexpected surprise.

I am thankful for books and the time to read them--even better, that my kids love them too.

I am thankful for all the people I've "met" via the computer, those I have met IRL and those who I never will, for friendship and commiseration in all things.

Hope everyone is with people they love today.

[longlurker]

I'm a long-time reader and lurker thankful for your blog and the insightful regulars who post.

[Nutmeg]

I'm thankful I've had the fabulously good fortune to be born in this place and in this time. This land of plenty. I'm warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot. I'm thankful that I've never been hungry and probably never will be. I'm thankful I don't fear for my life or the lives of those I love.

I'm thankful that I got the much longed for baby this year, and he had his first thanksgiving this year with his family who loves him and loves me. I'm thankful that the tenuous end to my pregnancy that was happening in the next few weeks last year did not end with anyone's death or injury!

I am loved and I am very fortunate and I remember that everyday.

Thanks to all for letting us read what you are thankful for. It's a nice reminder of the little things I am thankful for that I forget sometimes.

[Susannah]

I am thankful, above all, for B, who this time last year was a maybe-baby with a huge question mark, and who yesterday, almost a toddler already (!) brought goofy delight and sloppy kisses to each of the 32 aunties, uncles, grandparents and cousins who held him yesterday. The same 32 (together with many more) who prayed endlessly for him to be born and stay a while with us, and who fed me soup and washed my underwear held my hand and whispered and sang to him in my belly and each day simply invited him to "be". He accepted the invitation and here he is, healthy and happy and silly and joyous and only a little confused about why mama keeps crying when she tells him what thanksgiving is about.

I give thanks for the many years I got to spend with my sweet kitty m.c., who went missing on Monday, and is nowhere to be found. I am thankful for the family I pray has taken her in these last few days, and fed her and sheltered her from the snowstorm, and rainstorm, and bitter cold of this week. I am thankful for the Homeagain microchip that tells me she has most likely not yet been found dead. And for the hope that swells in my heart when I look for her on my front step every dawn. I am thankful for my stepmom who loves her almost as much as I do, and who will cry with me any time I want.

For my sister who knows how to give my mothering advice in a way that makes me feel like the best mom in the whole wide world.

I am thankful for my step dad who takes care of B every Monday and is caring for him now to give me a much-needed break to cry about m.c. For my mom who, after 5 other grandkids, has found her silly side with my son. For my dad who sings slow, deep gospels songs to soothe B to sleep, and then holds him for hours because he can't bear to put him down. For my nanny, who takes tender care of B four days a week, and steps gracefully into the background (or into the kitchen to start supper) the minute I get home.

I am thankful for B's dad, who loves him beyond words and will always be there for him.

For my family of friends who are sometimes even more family than family.

For my job, which supports and provides for us, and lets me do my piece to make the world a slightly better place, every day. For my coworkers who make it fun to come to work every day.

For my health. Such sweet thanks for my strong, hardworking, forgiving body that enables me to do so much.

For Moxie- Oh, for Moxie, my 2am lifeline and for all the wise, caring, gentle, funny, curious bright souls who post here.

[Wandering Scientist]

One of the things that becoming a mommy made me realize was how grateful I am to my parents. I hadn't fully apprecaited what a hard job parenthood is before! I actually today (I was busy cooking turkey yesterday). I have soooo many things to be thankful for. But this year, my first as a mommy, the top one has to be family.

[rebecca]

I already posted my list, but... regarding being thankful for parents...

I may have said this before here (I've thought about it a lot in the last 8 months) but I am so thankful for my parents this year. I've never had a great relationship with my mom. It wasn't really *bad*, just disconnected. I was adopted (I don't think that being adopted was part of the issue with mom) and I've always sort of wanted to find my birthmother. This year things changed. I feel like I'm sort of past that. Being pregnant was definitely an experience like no other, but the first few months of parenting eclipsed any pregnancy moments. (I had a c-section, so that eliminates some of the delivery stuff). ANYWAY.

My point is that my parents are my parents, I am deeply thankful for them, in a way I never understood until I had my own magical deeply lovely son to take care of. I respect the decision that my birthmother made, but my parents stayed up with me when I was little, slept next to my crib when I was sick, made halloween costumes (and incidentally comforted me when I scared myself to death when I wanted to sleep with my witch costume on the bed next to me), read to me, took me to the lesson of the week, etc.

We all have our epiphanies. I'm thankful to understand parenting better, which also means being extraordinarily thankful for my own parents.

enough from me. :)

[hedra]

Anon, CONGRATS! I know so many people who are thankful for vitex, too. (I used mega-dose B vitamins, but vitex was next on the list if that didn't work...)

Caramama, lovely sappy thanksgiving to you. I hope the drive back was survivable - we found that it took a full HOUR out of the seat (with lots of exercise during, to work out the kinks) for every two hours in, on long trips, to make it survivable. Makes for a very very very long drive, but it works (except the naps, don't stop even to pee during the naps, LOL!). :)

Thankful...

I'm thankful right now for Moxie in many ways - for attracting a great community, for being a wise Mama, for being persistant and kicking things off every day (I find that awe-inspring, really), and at this very moment, for your repeated PPD-can-be-worked-on commentary, which encouraged me to continue to explore additional supporting options (including now both siberian and korean ginseng, which perfected the tweak). The last layer of lethargy is gone. I'm still me, and that means I'm still somewhat scattered and random at times, but I can focus and take on even tedious tasks with vigor and attention, and I can even listen to G's endless endless endless endless stories without tuning out (okay, maybe just for a moment or two, but I can come back again! He really needed that.). And I'm thankful that I don't even have to explain how much difference me being 'fully back' (for the first time in a decade) makes to everyone in my life. I am a better parent for Moxie's presence here, for that, as well as for the ongoing reminders to think, to be kind, to look at my efforts and improve them - without ever having to feel guilty or beat myself up over being less effective yesterday than I am today.

I'm thankful for this community, who opens their hearts and their minds willingly. I learn from you all, and you reinforce and remind me to be respectful and kind, by your endless respectfulness and kindness.

I'm thankful for my DH, who so profoundly believes in husbanding all of us, preserving, protecting, and supporting our goals and dreams even while pursuing his own. That takes a lot of effort. I'm thankful that he seems more grateful for the opportunity than grumpy at the complexity.

I'm thankful for my myriad parents, including all the step-parents and the ILs, each of whom have taught and supported and loved me in their own unique ways.

I'm thankful for my myriad siblings (fulls, steps, halfs, and friblings), challenging, passionate, endlessly peculiar, always loving. I could not be the parent I am without your support.

I'm thankful for my children, in number more than I 'wanted', and in every way so much more than I dreamed. Because of you, my life holds very little of the things I imagined I'd have, and so much more love and passion and joy than I thought was possible.

[jesse]

Thankful for all of the things mentioned above, AND for all of your answers to my sleep problem about 9 months back (Daughter staying awake to wait for father). They gave me no actual solution, but rather showed me I was doing the best I could since neither Moxie nor any of the smart Moxie posters could come up with something better. What a relief to just accept the issue and move on! Web 2.0 rocks.