Personal Childhood Web

This space is dedicated to all some of the wonderful, magical people who loved, nurtured, and cared about me when I was growing up. The order is arbitrary, by the way. They are all of equal importance in my life, for sure!

My Sweet Papa

This is my sweet Papa. He joined my family when I was three years old and married my sweet Mommy when I was five. He loved me unconditionally from the day that I met him in his sweatie bandana and leather jacket (at least that's how I remember it, there is some argument as to how accurate that memory is). Papa was my rock and still is. If ever there was something I needed to talk about without being judged or chastised, he was there. Papa was in a unique position as his hands were tied on many "parenting issues" because he always tried to respect my dad's role as my father, but he still managed to teach me about hard work, equality, caring for those less fortunate, being grateful for what you have, and always trying to make the world a better place. Papa and I have a special connection, too. He is very often exactly the right medicine I need when I can't put my finger on exactly what it is that I need. I think I am the same medicine for him. With a look, we can make each other tear up. Someday I will get a tattoo that says, "Mi vida es sueno," as a personal homage and inside joke with My Sweet Papa.

My Sweet Mommy

My Mommy is a force to be reckoned with! She is the strongest, smartest, kindest, most honest, and definitely the most driven woman I have had the privilege of knowing. She loved me with a softness, attentiveness, and genuine magic that made me feel like the most important, talented, gorgeous, and wise person on the planet as a child. The love and lessons that she taught me were the foundation of my self image. Because of her, I know I am capable. Because of her, I know I am important. Because of her, I know that I am magical, wise, kind, talented, unique, hilarious, beautiful, loved, and capable of doing anything that I set my mind to with elegance, joy, and success. (And I know that I am an excellent cuddler, too... She taught me that, as well.) I was lucky enough to have my mother as my teacher, and with her as the model that I started out with when I became a mother, I have been oh-so-lucky. She often remarks that I am a much better mother than she is, but I am the mother I am because I got to start where she left off!  And then,  I set out to learn more and to do better, just as she taught me. So, in a way she is right. But, in reality, we are both just doing our very best. I love you, Mommy!!! You are still the best mommy in the whole wide world!

My Sweet Daddy

This is My Sweet Daddy. We look like twins! Our journey together hasn't always been easy... Not because we don't love each other like crazy- we do!! It was hard, because, well, my parents got divorced and it is often hard for dads to find their place in those situations. But, despite that, I never once doubted his love for me. Through the hard times, the lessons he taught me were only that much more potent. He taught me unconditional love, a love of nature as the source of all healing and happiness, to forgive, to build the biggest, deepest sand castle that ever was, how to belly laugh til you cry, how to fip a cherry pit at a sign out of a moving vehicle, how to sing all your sadness into joy, and how to be in the present without pretense or judgement. He is the most grounded, kind hearted, sweet, genuine, non-pretentious, sensitive, and quick-witted person I know. He also is responsible for my complete love of jibberish and nonsense sounds and words. This particular talent fed my clown acts for years and has kept me at the top of my kids' list as The Funniest Person in the World for many years running. A bigger gift, I cannot imagine!

And this... Is my Sisturd!

My sister is the person who knows and gets everything about me. My kids call her Cuh-Cuh, not ca ca, but Cuh-Cuh. Nearly every step on every journey that I have walked in my life, she was next to me. She can finish my sentences and read my mind when we are on different continents. She is my sounding board, my conscience, my partner in weirdness, mi ultimo refugio (get it, Cuh-Cuh?), my heart... The one who will always and forever get... it... all. It's hard to know where to begin and end telling how she effected my childhood. Basically, if it was hard, she was there, and we got through it together, so it was better. If it was great, she was there, and we enjoyed it together, so it was better. She is now my memory and my evidence that I exist. Does that make any sense? It would to her! We both have been blessed with a lot of gifts, but, perhaps, the biggest one that we ever received was each other. With her in the world (and I believe that she would say the same of me), I know I am capable of making magical, miraculous things happen. She validates all that I know and see in my heart, my spirit, and even my third eye. With her here, I actually get to be clairvoyant every day! Thank you, sister! You are the best.

She also is a genius artist and you can check out her work at: www.ericasteiner.com. Really, you should. You'll be BLOWN AWAY!

Thank you all for taking the time to read a bit about the people who have been my support system through my life. I am an extraordinarily lucky woman.

With loads of gratitude,
Lauren