• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

Recipes · Blog · Shop

  • Meet Marta
    • Media Mentions
  • Lifestyle
    • Cuban-American Life
    • My Big, Fat, Cuban Family
  • Entertainment
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Television
    • Concerts
    • Books
    • Theatre
  • Celebrate
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Cuban Christmas
    • Mother’s Day
    • Movie Nights
    • Summer Nights
  • Recipes
    • Cuban Recipes With Pictures
    • Family Favorites
    • My Cook Book
  • Shop
    • Cuban Foods Poster
    • Cuban T-Shirts
    • Costa Rican Foods Poster
    • Honduran Foods Poster
    • Puerto Rican Foods Poster
    • Salvadoran Foods Poster
    • Scottish Foods Poster
    • Customize Your Own
    • Cuban Goodies In Your Mailbox
  • Contact
    • Advertise
  • Archives

Uno, dos, tres, cuatro…

January 26, 2007 By Marta Darby 5 Comments

P1260220This is the cover of my planner.

It reads:
5-28-06
They all belong to ME.

The photo is of all four of my kids: Lucy, Amy, Jonathan and Adam. And it serves as a daily reminder of the responsibility I have as a mother and mentor.

Amy commented on how funny that sounded to her.
"Does it really astound you so much?"

The answer is: Yes. Daily.

Because their ages are so spread out and they have always been in such different places in life, it always surprises me when I see all four of them together. 
Even after nearly 24 years of motherhood, the concept still humbles me.  You would think I would be used to it by now. It still takes my breath away and I think: "Wow. I’m responsible for bringing these four souls into the world."

On the day each one was born, I took a vow before God to raise them to be people of courage and integrity and to be decent human beings.  There were times when, as teenagers,  I wouldn’t let Amy or Adam do something and they would just shrug their shoulders and offer this explanation to their friends: "She took a vow." =D

Half of the time I think I am doing my job well,  the other half I feel like I’m failing miserably (just like every other mother in the world, I’ll bet).
But I’m a praying mother and I have mustard seed faith.

So every day when I reach for my planner, my primary job description looks me in the face.

And I am awed that God would trust me in this way.

You might also like:

Default ThumbnailI’ve got a “general” idea for a blog post… Full House Making a Man The Mother Ring Revisited – A Giveaway

Filed Under: My Kids

Previous Post: « He “hearts” me
Next Post: Fun, fun, fun. »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam says

    January 26, 2007 at 10:11 pm

    H1! No fair about the cup and saucer! Your kids are amazing and so are you! I did look for you on line a couple of times last week….now I’m up…you there?

    Reply
  2. keb says

    January 27, 2007 at 6:25 am

    what a gift you have for weaving these short stories: funny, thought provoking & utterly captivating. Next step: hard copy publication – I see a book in the making.

    Reply
  3. Melek says

    January 27, 2007 at 3:26 pm

    Marta,I agree with keb. You are a gifted writer! I’m sharing the following (sorry for the length) prayer for all parents or parents to be … It’s wonderful! Keep up the good work … it’s clear that you are a wonderful mother and mentor to your children … “You took the oath to heart … and it shows …” 🙂
    I wish you well 🙂 Melek
    ========================
    Dear Heavenly Father,
    Make me a better parent.
    Teach me to understand my children,to listen patiently to what they have to say and to answer all their questions kindly.
    Keep me from interrupting them,talking back to them and contradicting them.
    Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me.
    Give me the courage to confess my sins against my children and to ask of them forgiveness when I know that I have done them wrong.
    May not I vainly hurt the feelings of my children.
    Forbid that I should laugh at their mistakes or resort to shame and ridicule as punishment.
    Let me not tempt my child to lie and steal.
    So guide me hour by hour that I may demonstrate by all I say and do that honesty produces happiness.
    Reduce, I pray, the meanness in me.
    May I cease to nag;and when I am out of sorts,
    help me, O Lord, to hold my tongue.
    Blind me to the little errors of my children,
    and help me to see the good things that they do.
    Give me a ready word to honest praise.
    Help me to grow up with my children,to treat them as those of their own age, but let me not expect of them the judgments and conventions of adults.
    Allow me not to rob them of the opportunity
    to wait upon themselves,to think, to choose and to make decisions.
    Forbid that I should ever punish them for my selfish satisfaction.
    May I grant them all their wishes that are reasonable
    and have the courage always to withhold a privilege
    which I know will do them harm.
    Make me so fair and just, so considerate and companionable to my children that they will have a genuine esteem for me.
    Fit me to be loved and imitated by my children.
    Amen.
    -Author unknown-
    ==========================
    “What a child doesn’t receive he can seldom later give.” ~P.D. James

    Reply
  4. alysa giorgetti says

    January 28, 2007 at 11:52 pm

    Gotta say, “YOU ARE BLESSED!”LYS

    Reply
  5. Marta says

    January 29, 2007 at 6:15 am

    Thank you all for your kind thoughts.Melek –
    Thanks to you for sharing that prayer.
    I have to add that I am awed that God would trust me with friends like you, too.
    “Ah shucks, folks. I’m blushing.”
    (Cowardly Lion. Wizard of Oz.)

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

TRY SUPER SMOOTH CAFE LA LLAVE ESPRESSO

Cafe La Llave

My Cuban T-Shirt Designs

“Cuban T-Shirts

Subscribe to MBFCF Newsletter!

Never miss a post! Sign up with your email address to receive recipes, news and updates right in your inbox!

Cuban Foods Poster

“Cuba

Cuban Coffee Poster

“Cuba

Cuban Desserts Poster

“Cuba poster - Cuban desserts subway art print

Get Snacking On California Strawberries!

California Strawberries

Most Recent Posts

  • Best Places That Will Ship Cuban Food To Your Door
    December 15, 2020
  • My Big Fat Cuban Family Christmas Gift Guide 2020
    December 3, 2020
  • My Needs Are Simple: The Verizon CareSmart Watch
    December 3, 2020
  • The Quest for Authentic Chimichurri – Cocina Knows
    November 30, 2020
  • Hogwarts Halloween
    October 30, 2020

Cuban Recipes Cookbook

Cuban recipes with pictures cookbook from My Big Fat Cuban Family

Abuela Mami

Abuela Mami Gifts

Cuban Food Market

Cuban Food Market

Follow Me on Instagram

mybigfatcubanfamily

My Big Fat Cuban Family Blog
Check out➡️ the newest addition to my shop. ☺️They make the BEST Christmas presents! 🎄🎁🎉

https://etsy.me/2VVscre

9x12 Personalized, handmade maple or walnut cutting boards.🥳
10% off through Dec 10th with code: 
CUTTINGBOARD10
(How clever is that?😁)
[shop link in profile]
De aquí p’al cielo! 
🙌🏼❤️🇨🇺

#ohthecubanity #martadarbydesigns #cubanfood #cuttingboard
Our Cuban motto should be: “Colamos 24/7” 🇨 Our Cuban motto should be: “Colamos 24/7” 🇨🇺☕️ 
Am I right? ✌🏼😎

#mybigfatcubanfamily @cafelallave #thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️ @havanabamacafe
I’m super excited to share with you My Big Fat C I’m super excited to share with you My Big Fat Cuban Family Christmas Gift Guide 2020 🇨🇺🎁🎅🏻 featuring all my favorite Cuban online shops. 🛍 Take a look around and make me proud. 👀 
Shop Cuban! 🇨🇺🎄❤️
You are the heart and soul of our Cubanity. 🇨🇺❤️🇺🇸

https://bit.ly/3qvrq2q

All the guide links in my story on my blog. Follow the link☝🏼in my profile. 

@marthaofmiami_shop
@lovelovegoose
@cafelallave
@havana78soaps
@guavettes_wonderland
@_ofpalmandpine
@havanabamacafe 
@albisacandles
@cassava_bath_and_body
@habanabrandclothing 
@santayanajwlrs
@pinpanpunco
@theartroomandcrafts
@peroletmetellyou
@porkchop_prints
@becaletters
@jennizzle
@lovelovegoose
@mybigfatcubanfamily 

#CubanGiftGuide #CubanChristmas 
#ohthecubanity
I’m kind of in love with my Verizon #CareSmart W I’m kind of in love with my Verizon #CareSmart Watch.🥰
Even if it’s reminding me to take my meds. (Shut up. I know.)😉

I wrote about all the features I love on my blog today.🤩❤️

https://bit.ly/3ofSjVU

(Story link☝🏼in profile)
.
#VerizonPartner

Promo from now thru 12/31: $50 off w/ purchase of any other smartphone #ad https://omm.media/CareSmart
Follow Marta on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

Follow Marta On Social

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

FEATURED POSTS

  • Best Places That Will Ship Cuban Food To Your Door
    December 15, 2020
  • My Big Fat Cuban Family Christmas Gift Guide 2020
    December 3, 2020
  • It’s Cuban Christmas Crema De Vie Time!
    December 7, 2017
  • My Big Fat Cuban Cooking Playlist
    November 21, 2016
  • Crema de Vie (Cuban Egg Nog) Recipe
    July 27, 2016

Blog Archives

Footer

Meet Marta

Marta Verdes Darby is a Cuban-American food blogger in South Orange County.

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Sign Up For My Newsletter

January 2007
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Dec   Feb »

Copyright © 2021 my big fat cuban family