Me (after hearing a bonk): Riley, did you hurt your head?
R: Yes.
Me: Are you ok?
R: Yes.
Me: Can I look at it?
R: No.
Me: Can I kiss it?
R: No.
Me: Can I lick it?
R: Yes!
---------
R: (from the other room) Maaammmmmaaa!
Me: Whhhaaaattt?
R: I'm poooopiiiing!!
Me: Good job, buddy.
R: Thank you.----------
I've been toying with the idea of buying a ring that has the birthstones of all of my children - Riley, Reese and Baby "R" (my miscarriage 8 years ago).
As I thought about this over the holiday break, I realized in horror one day that I didn't know what Reese's astrological sign is. Guilt came crashing down on me that I hadn't even thought to look it up before then. This was the same guilt that visited me when someone asked me the other day what time she was born. I know the approximate time, but not the exact time. Am I a horrible mom that I don't know this?
But then I realized that I don't even know the exact time Riley was born. Again, I know the approximate time but that is about it. I had never felt guilty about not knowing this. I suppose I am not great at the details and I know they are written down somewhere so I don't normally worry about it.
What is the value in knowing what time your children were born? I guess this depends on each person. For me, it's not extremely critical. I suppose it's nice to pass the details down to your children so that you can celebrate the exact time on their birthdays but I don't think this information ever really makes it past one generation. I think my mom mentions the time I was born each year on my birthday but I don't tend to remember it past that day. I couldn't tell you right now if you asked me what time I was born.
So, in my ongoing quest to give myself a break these days, I laid the guilt to rest and looked up Reese's astrological sign. As I was typing in the words in Google, I thought, wouldn't it be my luck that the date she died (probably Aug 22) and the date she was born (Aug 24) would somehow cause a problem with determining her sign. And I was right. Most places list the end of the Leo month at Aug 22nd and the beginning of the Virgo month at Aug 23rd (Wikipedia randomly says the 24th starts the Virgo month). So here I am, not really sure if I should consider her a Leo or a Virgo.
The truth is though that I am not a big astrological or horoscope fanatic so for some reason, it really doesn't bother me that much that there is no answer. This is another part of the great Reese mystery. Just add it to the growing list of things I don't know (yet!) about her. It's probably one of the least important on the list.
The good news is, however, that birthstones are based on months, not astrological signs so I can still think about that ring and wear it without confusion. My sweet little Reese shares my August birthstone of Peridot (which I'm not a big fan of but that's neither here nor there) and my spunky little Riley will be represented by aquamarine.
So now the big question is what should I use on my ring for Baby "R?"
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