by Bernard Gengel
It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago I became a mom for the first time. After 60 hours of labor and a broken tailbone, my Britney was born; 2 years later and an “easy” 17 hours of labor, my Bernie was born (only to have the emergency team come in and take him so they could get the meconium he swallowed during birth out then 3 years later after 24 hours of labor and an emergency c-section, my Richie was born. (Yes, being the great mom that I am, I have used these against them at the appropriate times). After Richie was born, our doctor told us no more children! She meant it~NO MORE!
Well………I guess she was wrong. ☺
This past week I was so lucky to have both boys home with me. As they get older I treasure these times more than ever! We went to Maine for a quick overnight trip, of course eating at The Steakhouse (any of you who follow us on a regular basis knows that food is a common denominator in everything we do). Over dinner we started talking about our favorite memories there. Going to the arcade (NOT my favorite) and them telling me how they had figured out how to “beat the system” with tickets (proud parent moment); swimming in the ocean; looking for crabs & lobsters; sitting on the beach (okay this is my favorite); the great friends we’ve made; food, family and of course Brit stories. One story led to the next and we were talking about things that happened at home in Massachusetts. Like when Bernie had a bunch of his friends over and they decided to have a snowball fight and how one “accidentally” hit a car going by (yeah~that was a great conversation I had with the man who chased the boys into the yard) or when Richie’s friend “accidentally” hit him in the forehead with a pellet from a BB gun (those two were grounded and guns taken away). Of course birthday parties, family & friends coming over along with music, dancing and a lot of laughter were at the top of our list as well.
The best part of listening to my boys tell these stories is that none of it had to do with “things”. It was all about the relationships and spending time together. Something I am truly grateful for: time with my children. With Britney’s passing, I realize how precious this time really was and even though I don’t get to create new memories with Brit, I feel blessed in the memories that I did have with her!
I’m hoping that’s what we are doing in Haiti with our 66 children: creating new memories that they will be able to share with one another; like their birthday parties, the music, the dancing, the food, laughter and most of all family. Our house is becoming a home!
I’m so proud to be Britney, Bernie & Richie’s mom and I thank God every night for them! I’d like to take full credit on how incredible they are but as you all know it takes so much more than just 1 person. Obviously Len is a huge part of who they are but today, Mother’s Day, I would like to thank all the “moms” that helped us in raising them, especially to their grandmothers: my mom Kathy and Len’s mom Winnie (who has passed); Britney’s Godmother: Jodi; Bernie’s Godmother: Ruth; Richie’s Godmothers: Carol & Chris; and their aunts: Joan, Susan; Cathy; JoAnn and Linda.
I am also proud to be mom to our new 66 and you know this is going to take a village! So to all of our “moms” in Haiti that are helping us to raise our children, Merci!
Happy Mother’s Day!
With Love from Britney, Bernie, Richie, Alexander, Andreline, Blanco, Christ-Love, Daffecat, Dalandya, Daphney, Darwens, Dave, Davidson, Daya, Devidson, Djoudemie, Doodlie, Doodmie, Dotchley, Ephesiens, Fredo, Germanie, Ginaldo, Ginaleda, Horlinne, Isemylove, Isselande, Jean Roodly, Job, John Jeffrey, Joobens, Kenelson, Kerby, Kervens, Kervins, Loobens, Louvens, Love Na, Mackenlove, Mackenson, Macson, Magdaline, Marie Cassandre, Marie Flaure, Marie Lourdie, MariePrisca, Medlens, Mirna, Nashca, Obenson, Rolson, Sandiana, Saradina, Sherly, Shilove, Shnaider, Socrate, Sophonia, Steeve, Tooveno, Venitte, Whenly, Wisely, Delienne, Dieulourdes, Guerlanda, Darlandyna, Valentina and Kathiana’s mom, Cherylann
