The Name Game...and Growing Pains

Do you think that me not being able to separate my child's name from my dog's name has scarred him and made him want to CHANGE his name??!!!
Does he not want to be a Henry because his name is Happy Henry...or Henry Happy , too ???!!!
When he entered those tween years , starting at about age 10, Henry all of a sudden started saying James when someone would ask him his name. I would always say, stop saying that, Henry.  Everyone calls you Henry. You should say Henry.  He would say my name is James.  That's my first name. Technically, that is true. But, he has been Henry since he was born.  Dear Hubby is the James in the family, although it is his middle name.  (We won't discuss the first name ...Rufus)
Around that time, also, His favorite words to me, if I tried to help him with anything, were "Mom, stop, treating me like a baby!" Eventually, I learned to start backing away when I had the urge to tuck in his shirt or brush something off his shoulder or ask if he had brushed his teeth.  I have stopped as much as I can, treating him like a baby.  So, I don't hear those words any more.  Just the occasional. "Mom, I can do it, myself ...or just simply "Mom!!!!" I know what that means, so, now, I just have to look at a safe distance at him becoming "this man" that he IS becoming!
When he first started this new assertion of independence,  I would hold my Dear Happy close and cuddle him tight , While saying in a loud enough voice for all in the household to hear : " Happy is my Sweet Baby ! Henry's not my Sweet Baby, anymore, Happy is the only one who knows how to be a sweet baby . He is the sweetest baby in the world.  Henry used to protest a bit ..with sad eyes ( or was he rolling his eye??!!) and say. “I'm still your Sweet Baby.”
Now, when I go through my routine (which I do, often) he just looks at us and smiles ( or is that a smirk?) and says nothing .
In my mind, of course he will always be my sweet baby.
And, to this Mom, he will always be THE SWEETEST BABY IN THE WORLD...and Henry!
No, I really don't think that my son has been scarred or wants to change his name because I call him ...and the dog Henry/Happy or Happy/Henry.   I have come to accept the fact that my sweetest baby is becoming his own man. I am always, still, a little taken aback when all of his teachers address him as James and I have to remember to say James when I am talking about him to them. I really DO love watching him grow into a fine young man, but at times like these when I reflect, try to put my emotions into words as I feel something slipping slowly ( or all too quickly) away from me , I try to keep myself together... and hope that all the tears don't short out my computer .
I am having growing pains!

HENRY

My son's name is Henry,
It's the only name he could be;
He looks and talks and acts
Just like a Henry to me.
His grandfather's name is Henry (James Henry)
And his uncle's a Henry ,too. (Brian Henry)
Three of his great grandfathers
Were even Henrys, too.
He had a great uncle Henry,
He's one we can't forget ;
And I'm sure on down the line,
There are other Henry's, yet .
I hope that Henry will wear with pride,
The name that is his lot,
And always hold most dear to him,
The strong legacy that he's got .

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-

A Life in Poems © 2008 Patricia Neely Dorsey

Age 12- June 2011

2 days before his 13th birthday

 

Hair's to You Our Beauticians and Barbers

I was very honored to have been asked to write 

an original poem for the Beauticians 

and Barbers Walk The Red Carpet Event
honoring the 60th Year Anniversary of 

the Tupelo Modern Beautician's Club.

 

  

Hair's To You

Hair's to you our beauticians and barbers,
You're a cut above the rest ;
With your expertise and talents,
You've helped us to look our best.
Doing it all with class and grace
And extraordinary STYLE;
You've seen us through our ups and downs,
And through our many tears and smiles .
You cut, You curl
You bob, You weave
You edge us and You trim
You've given us renewed confidence ,
When at times it had grown dim.
You've given us a new pep in our step
And often a new glow on our face
You hold a special spot in our hearts,
That nothing can replace.
We salute and thank you our beauticians and barbers
You've made an impact that none can erase;
Your sparkling presence in our lives,
Has made our world a much more beautiful place.

2012 Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Patricia & James Dorsey

 

Greetings from The Magnolia State !

The magnolia tree is Mississippi's state tree and the magnolia is the state flower..thus the nickname, "The Magnolia State"

Mississippi's state flower, the magnolia,
was chosen by school children of the state in November 1900.
It is recorded that 23,278 children voted and that the magnolia blossom
received over half of these votes.
The cotton blossom, promoted by the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs,
placed second and the cape jasmine placed third.

Magnolia blossom - 12,745 votes. Cotton blossom - 4,171 votes.
Cape jasmine - 2,484 votes
 
Magnolia grandiflora, commonly known as the southern magnolia or bull bay, native to the southeastern United States.   Reaching 90 ft in height, it is a large striking evergreen tree with large dark green leaves and large white fragrant flowers.  Widely cultivated around the world, over a hundred cultivars have been bred and marketed commercially. The timber is hard and heavy, and has been used commercially to make furniture, pallets, and veneer.  (Wikipedia)

 

Mississippi women are often referred to as 

Mississippi Magnolias.
I am one of those !

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems - LINK to AMAZON

My Magnolia Memories and Musings- In Poems - LINK to AMAZON 

TODAY is National Southern Belle Day!

Today is (unofficially) National Southern Belle Day.
It will be "official" on the unusual 

holidays calendar next year!  

Southern Belle Magazine suggested we start this year!   

I'm all in !!!!  Woo Hoo!

Who I Be? by Patricia Neely-Dorsey

 

 

First African-American Homecoming Queen Crowned at University of Mississippi

Commander Kerri Pearson & Courtney Pearson Homecoming Queen

 

 

 

In September, Courtney Pearson of Memphis, TN became the first
African- American to be elected as Homecoming Queen at the University of Mississippi .
Courtney won in a run-off vote, receiving 1,477 votes, compared to 1,387 ballots cast for Ashleigh Davis of Gulfport, MS.

Pearson wants to inspire other African-Americans to believe in themselves.

“I feel like it’s an inspiration for others to be like, there’s nothing that can hold me back, not my race, not my greekness, or my non-greekness – whatever it is that I want to do, I can do it. Now the students are saying ‘Not only do we want you to attend, we want you to represent us at a whole and go and show the whole world what we’re about and what we represent.”

The 21-year-old senior English secondary education major was escorted by her father Commander Kerri Pearson during halftime of the NCAA college football game between Ole Miss and Auburn in Oxford, Miss., on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012.