Dr. Mommy's Toy Clinic Is Open

Being a stuffed animal is apparently a hazardous lifestyle choice, at least around here. I've had to do surgery on two, yes TWO, stuffed animals already this week. Last night it was a bear who needed stitches near his ear. He's feeling much better today.

This afternoon it was a sweet tiger, one of my son's favorites. His paws needed cosmetic work, but that hole on his leg required immediate attention. Here's his picture, resting at the window.

I have fond memories of my mother doing "surgery" to repair my favorite toys when I was a child. Her sweet attitude, of taking great care to not only do a good job, but to make sure they rested after getting stitches taught me to be gentle. She started with stuffed animals and dolls and, as I grew, she showed me how to have compassion for our animals and most importantly for the people in our lives.

I remember going to visit an elderly lady, who had helped my mother around the house when I was little. Years after she stopped working, we would still visit her occasionally, and my mother always baked her a birthday cake. We would go together to deliver it to her house.

It is my hope that my children will learn those lessons, too. Even though my mother is no longer here to teach them, her spirit lives on when my son says, "My tiger needs to get plenty of rest tonight. His paws are sore from surgery."