The World of Author/Mom Alicia Murphy!

My 4-year-old asked me out of the blue today, “Mommy, is there TV in heaven?”
My first thought was, “I’m sure Daddy is hoping so.”
Instead, I answered, “I don’t know, Bud. I’ve never been to heaven.”
My son looked at me curiously and asked, “How about food and drinks? Do they
have those in heaven?”
Again, I said, “I don’t know. I haven’t been there … Why do you ask?”
“I was just wondering,” my little guy said.
I knew where this was coming from.

Last night, my friend and her husband dropped their two boys off at our house
so they could go to the viewing of their 43-year-old sister-in-law, who lost her
life to cancer last week. While we were eating dinner, my friend’s 5-year-old son
suddenly said, “My aunt died.”

“I know she did, Buddy,” I said softly. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” he asked. “You didn’t kill her.”
“I know,” I explained, “but I’m sorry she died.”

At this point, my own children asked what we were talking about.
I told them that their friends’ aunt went to live in Heaven with Jesus.
“Her is watching over me,” their little friend said with a smile.
“Yes, she is,” I assured him.
The children talked about all of the people their aunt would be watching over,
including Santa Claus. Their innocence was adorable … Their lack of ability
to understand why this happened matched my own. This woman leaves behind her
husband and five children, ages 9, 9, 7, 4, and 3.

I attended the funeral this morning and wiped my eyes as I watched the
family follow the casket up the church aisle, led by the husband, who held
his 3-year-old daughter in his arms. Heartbreaking.

The entrance hymn was “All I Ask of You,” with the lyrics saying, “All I ask of
of you is forever to remember me as loving you…” As I sat through the mass, I
couldn’t help but wonder how my husband and children would remember me if I should
die early. I would hope they knew that they were my whole world, and I would want
my children to be able to say, “Mommy made everything fun.”

This afternoon, I couldn’t stop hugging my kids. I played with them; laughed with
them; sang with them. I jumped on a trampoline with them. I painted my daughter’s
fingernails and read her a book while they dried. I giggled with my boys about silly
things.

Yesterday I posted my concerns about keeping my kids busy all summer. No more panic.
Just fun. Laughter. Joy. Songs. Memories.

Will our summer be free of getting-on-each-others-nerves-ness? Absolutely not.
But will I keep things in perspective and continue to count my blessings? Absolutely.

This summer is for you, Debi and Bob, Kristen and Larry.
God bless.

Okay, raise your hand if you’re panicking about how to fill the next 75+ days with fun and hilarity for your kids. I have BOTH of my hands in the air. There. I admitted it. Sheer panic.

Some great stuff at the pool today. One conversation went something like this:

Mother (from a shaded chair about 10 feet from her son): “Hey Luke!”
Luke (from the baby pool): “Yeah?”
Mother: “What were you trying to tell me a few minutes ago?”
Luke: “What?”
Mother: “What were you trying to tell me a few minutes ago?”
Luke: “What?”
Mother: “Did you tell me you can’t find your goggles?”
Luke: “What?”
Mother: “Did you say you can’t find your goggles?”
Luke: “What?”
Mother: “YOUR GOGGLES!”
Luke: “What? My goggles?”
Mother: “Yes!”
Luke: “I don’t know where they are.”
A Nearby Kid: “Dude, they’re on your head.”
Luke: ” …. Oh.”
Mother’s shoulders bounced up and down as she and I made eye contact and giggled.
At least moms aren’t the only ones losing our minds.

Another scenario:

My own mother pointed to a 17-year-old boy and said to me, “There’s Jim Rullo. Look at all the weight he’s lost!”
Me (out loud): “Oh my gosh! He looks great.”
My mom: “Doesn’t he?”
Me (in my head): “He’s like … hot.”
Me (out loud): “He’s like … hot.”
My mom cuckled.
Me (out loud): “I wonder how he lost it.”
My mom: “I don’t know.”
Me: “Look at his shoulders and waist. The girls must be lined up.”
My mom: “I bet they are … Hey, Jim Rullo, is that you???”
Jim (turning around like Dylan McKay in the 90210 theme song and removing his sunglasses): “Yes it is.”
My mom: “You look wonderful!”
Me: “Yeah, you look great.”
Jim: “Thank you!”
My mom: “Were you on a special plan or …”
Jim: “No, I just worked out on my own.”
My mom: “Good for you!”
Me (in my head but on the very edge of the tip of my tongue): “I wish I was 25 years younger!”
Me (still in my head): “Close your mouth, you dirty OLD woman. What the hell is the matter with you anyway? You could be this (hot) kid’s mother!”
… Sad, frightening, and extremely disturbing moment, on so many levels.

Carol Brady – She always said, “Don’t play ball in the house,”
and she could drink 45 cups of coffee each day without any concern that there was only one toilet in the entire house.

Elise Keaton – She managed to raise 4 children, have a successful career, keep an immaculate kitchen, and sing a mean Kum-Bah-Yah while strumming her acoustic guitar.

Shirley Partridge – What other single mom leads a band made up of herself and her kids???

Roseanne – She DIDN’T clean her house. Ding ding ding! We have a winner!!

Clair Huxtable – Still found her husband funny after more than a year of marriage.

Caroline Ingalls – Winner of the “Makes a Delicious Beef Stew Every Night” award.

Rachel Green – Most of the time her baby wasn’t with her and she didn’t seem to notice.

Please comment and leave a note about YOUR favorite TV mom(s)!

You know you’re taking good care of your family when you take out the iron and
ironing board to get ready for a special day and your kids say, “What are THOSE???”
Marion Cunnningham would be apalled.

While dropping my kids off at school this morning, I repeated the words
“I love you” several times as they got out of the car. This was nothing
unusual, but I wanted them to really hear me today.

Just a few feet away stood the church which, in 90 minutes, would host
the funeral of a 17-year-old boy from our community who was killed in a
car accident last week. I can’t imagine the agony his parents and sisters
must be feeling today, as the rain pours down, just like it did the day of
his accident. This young man was to graduate from high school over the
weekend, and I believe he had received a scholarship to play lacrosse in
college this fall. I know that God has a grand plan for each of us, but I
honestly can’t figure out what could possibly be the reason for this boy’s
untimely death.

This horrific example of life’s fragility is a strong reminder to me that
no matter what difficulties I face with my children or what they put me through,
THEY’RE HERE WITH ME. I can hug them, hold them, smell their unique scent, smile
at them, and hear their laughter … Let’s hug our kids.