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When each of my boys was born, my friends Risa & Howard sent wooden letters to spell the newborn’s name. (And a caboose and engine, of course.)

Think they’d be surprised to know that the long train with all three boys’ names lives in plain view all these years later?

It was such a wonderfully, thoughtful gift. Maybe I’ll pass the letters down with the brio trains someday…

But still, I found 2 things to love.

This castor oil bottle. The dried roses are remnants from a lovely bouquet that I’d held onto. I love them in this bottle.

The other was a 3+ foot diameter rusted double circle. While a little bent, it had some charm. I didn’t really know what I’d do with it, but while we chatted at the store, some interesting ideas were thrown out. I knew it had possibilities. And it was very inexpensive.

Back at home, my oldest son saw the circle and reminded me that we’ve been looking for a big clock and, you know what? This would make a great clock.

He was right. Today, we finished the project and hung the clock. I particularly love his idea that the movement be off-center. And we consciously left the dents and dings on the circle.

Our work here is done.

I’ve saved every postcard that our family has received since the kids were born. I thought the boys would appreciate having them. 

Stored in a vintage wine bottle basket, they quietly sit on a high bookshelf in my bedroom. 

But I know they are there.

The basket caught my eye this morning and I had to take it down. I spent time with every card and smiled as I remembered the boys’ excitement as they looked at the pictures and I read them out loud…

This year, as he enters his 9th decade, I just want to post the cake I made for him.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

I should have said hello.

But I didn’t.

I should have asked how she’d been. I should have told her she looks so much like her mother did.

But I didn’t.

She couldn’t see me. But I could see her. It’s always been that way. And I let it stay that way today.

I’m not proud.

But I just couldn’t bring myself back to look into the past. Or rather, I chose not to.

Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/harrykeely

In a couple weeks, we’re going again.

For no reason.

Just to get a night away and be a couple.

Of course, it’ll be cold this time. But, again, we’ll stay in a Kimpton (a different one this time) and again, we’ll eat great food and sleep late.

It amazes me how hard it is to get time alone together now that the kids are older. When they were young, we had a standing sitter – every other Saturday – and we’d go out.

But now, there’s driving to do, places for the boys to be. Kids here. It’s just way more complicated. Way more.

We all know that to be a good couple, you need time together without the kids. And sitting together in the stands at wrestling tournaments does not count.

photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/doctor-a

I was checking email. Voicemail. After all, it was during work hours and, though I hadn’t stopped for lunch, I was feeling guilty for taking the half hour to attend to the boys’ dental needs.

I heard the dad say, “I have too much work to do.”

And then, the girl’s whisper stopped me in my tracks.

Why don’t you just tell them, “no?”

And then, without even looking up, he answered. His response was like a punch in the stomach. “I’m responsible for everything. You just don’t understand.”

And I think he was right. She didn’t. She sat, staring ahead. Holding back tears.

I am not going to sit here (while my kids want my attention) and say that I won’t ignore them, work too hard, take on too much.

I probably will.

But this will stick with me. And I’ll keep working on being more present and more available.

Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/iwanbeijes

My friend Lisa has been talking about how she wanted to be like a small town doctor since I’ve known her. I am so excited for her and for our community as she launches her new business:

I wanted to let everyone know that at the end of this month I will be happily going back to my career as a pediatrician. I have been searching and waiting for the opportunity that felt right for me. I am excited to have found that now. I am joining a friend of mine from high school named Zee Beams who is also a Pediatrician in Columbia and together we are hoping to create a unique practice with a small “hometown” feel. We plan on restoring the personal touch, which is too often lost, back into medicine. I will be doing my own scheduling and taking phone calls from patients directly, with no nurse triage system or answering service. I will be available by phone, text or email 24 hours a day for all of my patients, including evenings and weekends. I plan on doing home visits for newborns and others as needed. My office will be nearby on Cedar Lane, and I plan on doing all of my urgent care visits myself when at all possible. My hope is that with easy access to my office on weekends and in the evenings, I will be able to avoid visits by my families to urgent care clinics, emergency rooms, etc. I am excited to have a chance to practice medicine the way I have always wanted; please feel free to pass along my name and contact information to anyone you know who might be looking for a pediatrician.

Lisa Laborwit, M.D. can be reached at 410-905-1941 or via email.

If you’re in Howard County and looking for a pediatrician, you’ll love Lisa. She’s amazing.

Spread the word. I hope this is the beginning of a wonderful trend.