May 23, 2009 Dear Alex

Dear Alex,
You're nine months old today. You're a happy boy who seems to want to grow up quickly -- to do whatever your brother is doing. You're crawling, you're using whatever you can find to stand up and you're constantly looking around to find your brother. You've also started taking baths with your brother -- and your mama or papa who hold you up.

Sometimes your mama and I think we had twins two years apart. You two look alike and play alike. Many nights or mornings you two wake up at the same time.

Of course, you also are your own person. You have a quick smile that lights up the room and you are determined to get what you want. The only time your brother gets a bit annoyed with you is when you take whatever he is playing with.




Video: May 10, 2009

May 1, 2009 Dear Therapist,

Dear Therapist,
I had another rough dream last night. Somehow I was laying down -- pinned down by a guy who had a knife at my back. Across the way was another guy with a knife pointed at my son Alex.

The guy next to me casually dropped his knife and I quickly picked it up. I figured the power turned.

"Go ahead and stab me," the guy says. "Then perhaps you can win a battle with the guy over there. Just think of this, though: he'll kill your kid before he does battle with you."

I froze.

"I know you think his (Alex's) life is more valuable than mine so I know you won't make a move."

So, what's this one mean?

Another protection dream, sure. But what was I supposed to do? What was I supposed to say? Of course I thought my kids' life was more valuable than this thug's. What does that say about me?