Momo Fali's: For Ali

Monday, September 14, 2009

For Ali

If you haven't read between the lines you may not be aware that the name of this blog is a bizarre take on "Mom of Ali". Years ago when I created an online account and gave myself the user name of "momofali", my best friend sent me an e-mail asking, "Who's Momo Fali?"

Since then, or at least since the creation of this blog, I often go by the nickname, "Momo". As far as nicknames go, this is significantly better than when my elementary school classmates called me "Dog-Star Diane".

But, even though I am Momo Fali, I am Mom of Ali as well. And, that Ali? Is one heck of a kid.

I talk a lot about my son's struggles, but his older sister was even smaller than him when she was born. Ali arrived 10 weeks early, weighing just 2 pounds, 9 ounces. That was almost 11 years ago. Considering where she started, she has faced a fair amount of obstacles herself.

Her biggest challenge is being the sister of a kid with medical problems. It is not easy. At all.

There have been times when she was promised a day of fun and she's ended up sitting in the emergency room because her brother was sick. There have been mornings when we had to drop her off at a neighbor's house at the crack of dawn so we could get him to the outpatient center for an early surgery. And, there have been countless meals when she's watched her brother choke and vomit at the dining room table.

Needles, meds, doctors, surgeries, therapy, x-rays...these things are a part of her life just as much as they are part of ours. Knowing what she does about life at the ripe old age of ten, just doesn't seem right.

Don't get me wrong. She's still a pretty typical kid. She bosses her little brother around, she talks back a lot and I've actually seen her spit her dinner into her napkin and then feed it to the dogs. Though, truth be told, I've wanted to do that myself a few times.

Despite the things she has seen, or possibly because of them, she is amazingly well-adjusted. She is smart, responsible, kind and compassionate. I am lucky to have her.

It is time that I told her so. Just like the letter I wrote to my favorite teacher last week, I am hoping she reads this so she can know how great I think she is.

Maybe, just maybe, it will actually get her to clean her room.

Labels: Family Life, Kids, Prematurity, Ramblings

# posted by Momo Fali : 7:05 AM

Comments:

I love it! I have many emails from you over the years, talking about how well she handled a disappointment due to an unexpected medical issue with her brother ... or how patient she has been through everything. And since she was just a tot, we've joked about how she is the "perfect" child to which others should be modeled after (including my own)!
Great tribute.
(But, I still argue that it's pronounced "Momo FAHLEE". It's MY word!) :)

# posted by

Bean : September 14, 2009 at 7:52 AM

It's not easy being the sib of kid who needs all the attention. Hope she continues to blossom.

# posted by

Kevin McKeever : September 14, 2009 at 8:36 AM

YOU are such a WONDERFUL mother to be raising two such INCREDIBLE kids.

You.Are.Amazing.

# posted by

meleah rebeccah : September 14, 2009 at 8:47 AM

-->Thanks for explaning the name of your blog. I never would have noticed it but now that I know how it came to be I won't miss it. It's sort of like the arrow in the FedEx logo. Have you ever noticed it between the E and X?

Your daughter sounds like a very well adjusted child. Congrats to you and your husband for that.

http://www.websavymom.com

# posted by

Deb : September 14, 2009 at 8:54 AM

I ADORE Ali. After meeting her in June, I was blown away by her. She is a beautiful girl, inside and out, and such a little sweetheart. Give her a hug for me! :)

# posted by

Melisa Wells : September 14, 2009 at 9:03 AM

Mom of Ali? I never would have seen that...duh!

# posted by

anya : September 14, 2009 at 9:21 AM

I always wondered about your blog name!

She sounds awesome. I love this post.

# posted by

Amy : September 14, 2009 at 9:37 AM

You have two pretty great kids and Ali is a lovely girl.

# posted by

WeaselMomma : September 14, 2009 at 9:40 AM

What a lovely tribute!

Thank you for the constant reminder of how fortunate we are to have two healthy preemies.

I find that my blog tends to reflect whichever child is more demanding of my patience, attention and creativity at the time. I hope that my day-to-day interactions are more balanced; if you'd got any tricks on how you achieve it, please share!

I was at the pediatrician's office the other day when an ambulance came to rush a child off to hospital. His older sister (10 or 11) was in the waiting room, and I talked her while she waited for her father to pick her up; her mom had left with her brother in the ambulance. She seemed so mature, patient and loving, and I'm sure part of it was having to grow up faster with a sick brother who's often in the hospital.

# posted by

Sadia : September 14, 2009 at 9:50 AM

Nope.. never noticed it..

Ali sounds like an amazing girl.. kinda like her Mom. :)

# posted by

Kim : September 14, 2009 at 10:04 AM

ali rocks... and so does her momo.

# posted by

the planet of janet : September 14, 2009 at 10:38 AM

I agree with the planet of janet.

Momo, and her clan are awesome.

# posted by

Ian Newbold : September 14, 2009 at 11:50 AM

You just know she is gonna be quite an awesome adult, just like her mom.

# posted by

Kat : September 14, 2009 at 1:51 PM

Sweet post. I have read you for a long while and I never new the story behind Momo. It is a good one.

# posted by

Otter Thomas : September 14, 2009 at 3:13 PM

What a great post for Ali to read. I have a hunch that she knows ow much you love her, but it's always nice to read it.

# posted by

Angella : September 14, 2009 at 3:27 PM

let me know if this encourages the room cleaning...

# posted by

Jessica : September 14, 2009 at 3:56 PM

When I met you in June and you explained the name of your post, I thought, "How clever!"
Your daughter is a sweet girl and I'm so glad I had the chance to meet her and her brother. She's a stand up girl for handling her brother's freqent medical emergencies as well as she does. I know some adults who couldn't do it with such grace.
So . . . that's how you get a child to clean her room . . .

# posted by

SurprisedMom : September 14, 2009 at 4:29 PM

Hadn't read between the lines before. Ah ha moment! Great post.

# posted by

James (SeattleDad) : September 14, 2009 at 4:47 PM

Yes, she's probably wise beyond her years, but that's a gift. It'll serve her well when she gets older. Besides, she never really has to grow up. I haven't.

# posted by

Junk Drawer Kathy : September 14, 2009 at 6:59 PM

Ali sounds absolutely fantastic. What a wonderful little girl. She is blessed with an amazing family. Great letter Momo :)

# posted by

Jaina : September 14, 2009 at 7:22 PM

It's tough being the big sister sometimes. Sounds like Ali is a very special kid. I hope she reads this post too.

# posted by

Tara R. : September 14, 2009 at 7:43 PM

It sounds like you have a great family. I will continue to think of you as Momo.

# posted by

Neil : September 14, 2009 at 10:52 PM

I got it, but then, my name being what it is...

And don't be surprised if she grows up to be in the medical profession. She'll have a better and more understanding bedside manner than anyone. You and she are doing just fine.

# posted by

AlisonH : September 14, 2009 at 11:52 PM

*sigh*

Diane de Momo ;-) I love this.
LOVE.
You are an amazing woman, friend and mother. Ali is very lucky to have you and you her. This is going to bring her to tears and cause her such joy one day.xoxo

# posted by

Rachel : September 15, 2009 at 12:42 AM

That's just yet another reason why this is hard for you-- trying to make sure Ali knows how loved and appreciated she is, without it feeling forced, and while still paying attention to your son as much as he needs in his situation.

# posted by

LiteralDan : September 15, 2009 at 4:20 AM

Of course she's an awesome kid...she has an awesome mom!

# posted by

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional : September 15, 2009 at 4:51 AM

It's nice you can just say these words and share them. You are a great mom, and obviously friend to Ali.

God bless all of you!

Momo...LOL

# posted by

Oscar : September 15, 2009 at 5:10 PM

What a great post for your daughter.

I was wondering about Momo Fali too!

# posted by

ZDub : September 15, 2009 at 9:39 PM

It's tough being the big kid, surrounded by chaos. She handles it well, mostly because she's just like her mother :)

# posted by

Heather : September 16, 2009 at 8:19 AM

She sounds like a really good kid, and she'll definitely be very patient and understanding adult.

But no, it's not going to motivate her to clean her room.

# posted by

Tom : September 16, 2009 at 4:55 PM

Oh, C'mon.... Forget the room cleaning... She's one great kid and we all learn from her innocent child oops young adult wisdom!! Big hug to her for being so darn cute!

# posted by

Tracey : September 19, 2009 at 10:39 PM

Did she read it? Did she like it? Did she clean her room? lol.

# posted by

Angie : September 21, 2009 at 11:07 AM

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