Well, another day, another dreaded trip to Wal-Mart. I hate that place. If you know me, you've probably heard me say that one or a hundred times. Oh how I wish I was not dependent on that store!
Reuben is on a particularly long hiatus from his boilermaker work right now. We still have a decent income coming in, but I've hit conservation mode. So, Wal-Mart should be my friend, right? I just don't understand why I cannot get out of that place without spending nearly $200!?! Today, for instance, I went in with a strong will to not buy anything "extra." I didn't even venture into the general merchandise side of the store. I was headed for groceries! The only two "extras" on my list were a much-needed lint roller and brown shoe polish. I wouldn't consider either of these extravagant. I think the two totaled something like $5.00. My total bill for the day was still $173.76! Why is this? I even broke down and bought Great Value brand on several items that I normally wouldn't. UGH!
I wish it were possible to boycott that place! If I had an endless supply of money, I would give them up in a heartbeat. I would spend twice the money at any other store available. I realize that Sam Walton built this store as a true American dream. It's an unbelieveable success story. However, Wal-Mart is turning its back on America. Have you noticed the disappearance of many grocery mainstays? In their places you will find Great Value, with no alternative. I fear this place is becoming a monopoly, and we are in its stranglehold. They are cheaper. There's no denying it. In today's economy, we are forced to watch out for our personal finances. We can't make the right choice, because the easy choice is so much more economical. We are fueling the problem. I, for one, am sick of it! As soon as funds are flowing more freely in our home, I will be giving as much business to another store as possible. If we could all just give one-third of our business to someone else, maybe Wal-Mart would be sent a message that we won't stand for their hostage-like treatment of the American consumer!
Aaahhh! I feel better now. I will step down from my soapbox for now.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Like Sands Through The Hourglass...
It's official. I am old. I know it's been a gradual thing, but it feels like an instant change. Last night, my baby had his first shave. YIKES!! He didn't have a major "stache" going on, but it was enough of a shadow to make him look like his upper lip was dirty. I am not dealing with this so well. I don't know why this milestone has hit me so hard, but it has. I should not have a child that shaves! You know as well as I that once you start shaving, it only gets worse.
The years seem to be slipping away like sand slipping through an hourglass. Try as I might, I cannot slow the progression. I feel helpless, watching it fall away. My brain is screaming, "SLOW DOWN!". It doesn't. So, it's time I hop on this ride and quit standing by watching it.
I love the snow. I always think about my mom when it snows. My mom wasn't the type that jumped in and played with us as kids. We'd play card games occasionally, but that was about it. When it snowed, though, she was just as excited as we were. I can remember her getting out old bread sacks and placing them over our socks before we put our boots on. I hated that! It did usually manage to keep our feet dry, though. She had these furry boots. Now that I think about it, they were pretty ugly. She never wore them unless we had snow out. These memories have made me associate snow with good times.
I am trying to make some lasting memories like that with my boys. I don't really know if boys appreciate those types of things like girls do. I've never been a boy. I hope they will one day look back on their childhoods with fond memories of me. I got out with them yesterday and pulled them on the sled behind the four-wheeler. They had a blast. It was fun for me, too. If the snow wasn't so powdery, we'd make a snowman. The snow ice cream was wonderful!
I believe it's important to take time out of our adult lives to just be a kid with our kids. I am certain that the memories created then will last a lifetime. And maybe, just for a moment, the sands of time will seem to slow their descent.
The years seem to be slipping away like sand slipping through an hourglass. Try as I might, I cannot slow the progression. I feel helpless, watching it fall away. My brain is screaming, "SLOW DOWN!". It doesn't. So, it's time I hop on this ride and quit standing by watching it.
I love the snow. I always think about my mom when it snows. My mom wasn't the type that jumped in and played with us as kids. We'd play card games occasionally, but that was about it. When it snowed, though, she was just as excited as we were. I can remember her getting out old bread sacks and placing them over our socks before we put our boots on. I hated that! It did usually manage to keep our feet dry, though. She had these furry boots. Now that I think about it, they were pretty ugly. She never wore them unless we had snow out. These memories have made me associate snow with good times.
I am trying to make some lasting memories like that with my boys. I don't really know if boys appreciate those types of things like girls do. I've never been a boy. I hope they will one day look back on their childhoods with fond memories of me. I got out with them yesterday and pulled them on the sled behind the four-wheeler. They had a blast. It was fun for me, too. If the snow wasn't so powdery, we'd make a snowman. The snow ice cream was wonderful!
I believe it's important to take time out of our adult lives to just be a kid with our kids. I am certain that the memories created then will last a lifetime. And maybe, just for a moment, the sands of time will seem to slow their descent.
Me, my mom, my sister, & a family friend
(Around 1983)
Friday, January 29, 2010
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Well, it's a beautiful morning as I sit here at my laptop. The snow is falling at a steady pace, and the whole world just seems quieter. I love that part of the snow. It muffles out all the noise. It looks like some snow ice cream is in my near future. I'll share the simplest way to make it. All you need to do is add sweetened condensed milk and a little vanilla. That's it. Add more snow to make it the consistency you like. Mmmmm!
Reuben and the boys are settled in watching a movie together. I like when we find something on TV that everyone can watch together. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen all that often anymore. I'm thankful that my kids have their own satellite and TV in their room, so they can watch kid shows to their hearts' desire. I remember a day when families always gathered around the TV together, though. It was a different time we were living in then. The majority of shows were appropriate for all ages to watch. I'm going to take a walk down memory lane with some of my favorite '80's TV shows. I'd love for you to add your favorites, too. I know I'm missing some of mine, and perhaps you'll jog my memory.
First of all, cartoons were on Saturday mornings, period. I loved getting up on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons. The one that stands out the most in my mind is Looney Tunes. I loved Bugs Bunny. A close second would have to have been the Flintstones. Who didn't love Rocky and Bullwinkle? I loved the Fractured Fairy Tales on there! My brother and sister were somewhat older than me and enjoyed Fat Albert (Hey, Hey, Hey!) and WWF wrestling (the Von Ericks, Macho Man Randy Savage, Andre the Giant.) These are some of my earliest childhood memories. A little later on, a new favorite emerged for me, The Smurfs. La la la la la la, la la la la la. I can remember wanting a pair of Smurfette tennis shoes SO bad. Wal-Mart had them. This was before Supercenters, and we didn't buy clothes and shoes from Wal-Mart. I'm thinking my mom finally gave in this one time, though.
I'm trying to remember another show. Maybe you can help me out. I was thinking it was the ABC After School Specials, but I've looked online, and now I'm not sure. There was a black man with a ventriloquist's dummy that told jokes in between the story segments. I cannot find this on the internet. Locals will also remember Aunt Norma on Saturday morning. "Blow out the candles!!!" Oh, the good old days. Ah! I just remembered another favorite show of mine as a very young kid, Captain Kangaroo! I loved that show. I used to watch it at my grandma's all the time. I'm thinking it may have actually been a daily show. Hmmm. My memory just isn't what it once was.
After school I remember there being lots of old re-runs of shows. Some of my favorites were Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, I Love Lucy, and The Beverly Hillbillies. These shows came on around 3:00 or 4:00. Of course, back then the news came on for just thirty minutes, along with thirty minutes of national news. Why do we need so much news today? Does the news really change that much between 5:00 and 6:00? I think not!
I've compiled an entire list of primetime shows we watched back then. I won't take the time to address each one. I will list what I've got, though. Maybe it will conjure up some pleasant memories for you. Us kids liked shows like Diff'rent Strokes, Silver Spoons, and Family Ties. My sister and I loved The Facts of Life. My mom really didn't approve of that one. She thought it was a little too racey for us. The girls were often too boy crazy and such. HA! It seems pretty benign compared to what you'll find on TV these days.
As a family, we would sit down to The A-Team, Magnum P.I., Simon & Simon, The Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The Jeffersons, and Little House on the Prairie. Of course, the ultimate family show was The Cosby Show. My family had a beta machine back then. We recorded every single episode of that show. My brother had always been a fan of Bill Cosby. You just can't find a better family TV show than that.
I can remember my dad loving Hogan's Heroes, though I can't remember what time of day this show was on. I'm sure it was in re-runs, so I just don't know. M*A*S*H came on every night after the ten o'clock news. My parents would stay up and watch it. I can vividly remember sneaking out of my bed and sitting in our hallway listening in on the show. I always had trouble going to sleep. So, I would sit there and listen to that show without my parents ever knowing I was up. Maybe that's why I still love that show.
I also remember watching Alice at my grandma's house. It must have been a daytime show. I know it wasn't in re-runs, but I think there must have been more daytime sitcoms back then or something. I also remember shows like Too Close for Comfort and One Day at a Time being on during the day.
I guess I have to stop somewhere. I have sort of just rambled on today. I really would welcome any of your memories of classic TV. I'm sure I've overlooked some of my favorites. Take some time to find a good movie for the whole family to watch. Sit back and remember the days when that was the norm. What else is there to do on a snowy winter's day?
Reuben and the boys are settled in watching a movie together. I like when we find something on TV that everyone can watch together. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen all that often anymore. I'm thankful that my kids have their own satellite and TV in their room, so they can watch kid shows to their hearts' desire. I remember a day when families always gathered around the TV together, though. It was a different time we were living in then. The majority of shows were appropriate for all ages to watch. I'm going to take a walk down memory lane with some of my favorite '80's TV shows. I'd love for you to add your favorites, too. I know I'm missing some of mine, and perhaps you'll jog my memory.
First of all, cartoons were on Saturday mornings, period. I loved getting up on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons. The one that stands out the most in my mind is Looney Tunes. I loved Bugs Bunny. A close second would have to have been the Flintstones. Who didn't love Rocky and Bullwinkle? I loved the Fractured Fairy Tales on there! My brother and sister were somewhat older than me and enjoyed Fat Albert (Hey, Hey, Hey!) and WWF wrestling (the Von Ericks, Macho Man Randy Savage, Andre the Giant.) These are some of my earliest childhood memories. A little later on, a new favorite emerged for me, The Smurfs. La la la la la la, la la la la la. I can remember wanting a pair of Smurfette tennis shoes SO bad. Wal-Mart had them. This was before Supercenters, and we didn't buy clothes and shoes from Wal-Mart. I'm thinking my mom finally gave in this one time, though.
I'm trying to remember another show. Maybe you can help me out. I was thinking it was the ABC After School Specials, but I've looked online, and now I'm not sure. There was a black man with a ventriloquist's dummy that told jokes in between the story segments. I cannot find this on the internet. Locals will also remember Aunt Norma on Saturday morning. "Blow out the candles!!!" Oh, the good old days. Ah! I just remembered another favorite show of mine as a very young kid, Captain Kangaroo! I loved that show. I used to watch it at my grandma's all the time. I'm thinking it may have actually been a daily show. Hmmm. My memory just isn't what it once was.
After school I remember there being lots of old re-runs of shows. Some of my favorites were Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days, I Love Lucy, and The Beverly Hillbillies. These shows came on around 3:00 or 4:00. Of course, back then the news came on for just thirty minutes, along with thirty minutes of national news. Why do we need so much news today? Does the news really change that much between 5:00 and 6:00? I think not!
I've compiled an entire list of primetime shows we watched back then. I won't take the time to address each one. I will list what I've got, though. Maybe it will conjure up some pleasant memories for you. Us kids liked shows like Diff'rent Strokes, Silver Spoons, and Family Ties. My sister and I loved The Facts of Life. My mom really didn't approve of that one. She thought it was a little too racey for us. The girls were often too boy crazy and such. HA! It seems pretty benign compared to what you'll find on TV these days.
As a family, we would sit down to The A-Team, Magnum P.I., Simon & Simon, The Scarecrow and Mrs. King, The Jeffersons, and Little House on the Prairie. Of course, the ultimate family show was The Cosby Show. My family had a beta machine back then. We recorded every single episode of that show. My brother had always been a fan of Bill Cosby. You just can't find a better family TV show than that.
I can remember my dad loving Hogan's Heroes, though I can't remember what time of day this show was on. I'm sure it was in re-runs, so I just don't know. M*A*S*H came on every night after the ten o'clock news. My parents would stay up and watch it. I can vividly remember sneaking out of my bed and sitting in our hallway listening in on the show. I always had trouble going to sleep. So, I would sit there and listen to that show without my parents ever knowing I was up. Maybe that's why I still love that show.
I also remember watching Alice at my grandma's house. It must have been a daytime show. I know it wasn't in re-runs, but I think there must have been more daytime sitcoms back then or something. I also remember shows like Too Close for Comfort and One Day at a Time being on during the day.
I guess I have to stop somewhere. I have sort of just rambled on today. I really would welcome any of your memories of classic TV. I'm sure I've overlooked some of my favorites. Take some time to find a good movie for the whole family to watch. Sit back and remember the days when that was the norm. What else is there to do on a snowy winter's day?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
I'm Only a GIRL After All!
[Yes. The Smooth Away works. I don't know how, but it does. Just wanted to share.]
On occasion, I hear or see something that just really sets me off. This was the case this past Tuesday evening. We had the local news on the TV. I was preparing dinner but was somewhat listening to it. I'm not an avid news watcher. I tend to just scan the newspaper. Maybe that's an irresponsible way to be as an adult, but I am guilty of it. There is so much content that I completely do not care about or which stresses me out to the point that it's just not worth my time. I'll stay on top of major news stories, and that's good enough for me.
There was a particular story this night that I couldn't help but overhear. I was just minding my own business when I heard Ethan, the news anchor, say something to this effect...A study has shown that female elementary teachers' math anxiety may convince girls that they are bad at math....He went on to say that it's known that boys, in general, do better in math than girls. Now this study has shown that female elementary teachers at the first and second grade levels may be projecting their own anxiety onto their female students.
Apparently, they found that female teachers are more likely to feel anxious about performing math in public and somehow subconsciously transfer this anxiety to the girls in their classes. Are you kidding me? It ticked me off enough at the moment that I didn't dare address it on here right away.
Okay. If there are any teachers out there feeling anxiety over performing math at a first or second grade level, we have real problems! And can someone please tell me why someone is wasting their time studying this theory in the first place?? Are there not more important issues that could stand a little research to be applied to them?
I cannot say that girls are just as good at math as boys. I don't know. I do know that girls have the potential to be just as good at math as boys. If they are not, I certainly am not looking into the psyche of their female math teachers.
Why do we, as a society, always look to point the finger at someone else for our shortcomings? I suck at some elements of science. I own that. I wasn't interested enough in those areas to care what my teachers were saying about them. I seriously doubt that my teachers were projecting that disinterest on me.
Let me stop and say that I do acknowledge that there are some sorry teachers out there that may be causing students to fall behind in many areas. That is an issue that I'd like to see addressed. The reason they are sorry teachers cannot be blamed on their subconscious self-doubt. More often than not, it is simple laziness or indifference. Hmm. Maybe we can trace those problems back to some professor they had or something. ??? Give me a break!
Here's a link I found online to the same story. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/ct-met-0126-girls-math-anxiety-20100125,0,198793.story
If you are good at something, good for you! If you are struggling with something, buckle down and work harder. Quit worrying about whose fault it may be. Take ownership of your own frailties. Only you can overcome them!
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13
On occasion, I hear or see something that just really sets me off. This was the case this past Tuesday evening. We had the local news on the TV. I was preparing dinner but was somewhat listening to it. I'm not an avid news watcher. I tend to just scan the newspaper. Maybe that's an irresponsible way to be as an adult, but I am guilty of it. There is so much content that I completely do not care about or which stresses me out to the point that it's just not worth my time. I'll stay on top of major news stories, and that's good enough for me.
There was a particular story this night that I couldn't help but overhear. I was just minding my own business when I heard Ethan, the news anchor, say something to this effect...A study has shown that female elementary teachers' math anxiety may convince girls that they are bad at math....He went on to say that it's known that boys, in general, do better in math than girls. Now this study has shown that female elementary teachers at the first and second grade levels may be projecting their own anxiety onto their female students.
Apparently, they found that female teachers are more likely to feel anxious about performing math in public and somehow subconsciously transfer this anxiety to the girls in their classes. Are you kidding me? It ticked me off enough at the moment that I didn't dare address it on here right away.
Okay. If there are any teachers out there feeling anxiety over performing math at a first or second grade level, we have real problems! And can someone please tell me why someone is wasting their time studying this theory in the first place?? Are there not more important issues that could stand a little research to be applied to them?
I cannot say that girls are just as good at math as boys. I don't know. I do know that girls have the potential to be just as good at math as boys. If they are not, I certainly am not looking into the psyche of their female math teachers.
Why do we, as a society, always look to point the finger at someone else for our shortcomings? I suck at some elements of science. I own that. I wasn't interested enough in those areas to care what my teachers were saying about them. I seriously doubt that my teachers were projecting that disinterest on me.
Let me stop and say that I do acknowledge that there are some sorry teachers out there that may be causing students to fall behind in many areas. That is an issue that I'd like to see addressed. The reason they are sorry teachers cannot be blamed on their subconscious self-doubt. More often than not, it is simple laziness or indifference. Hmm. Maybe we can trace those problems back to some professor they had or something. ??? Give me a break!
Here's a link I found online to the same story. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/ct-met-0126-girls-math-anxiety-20100125,0,198793.story
If you are good at something, good for you! If you are struggling with something, buckle down and work harder. Quit worrying about whose fault it may be. Take ownership of your own frailties. Only you can overcome them!
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
A Guilty Pleasure
There are many things about myself about which I am not proud. I am going to confess to one of those things right now. I enjoy "reality" television. I don't miss an episode of 'Real Housewives,' 'Little People, Big World,' and a few others. I don't know why. I am fully aware that the lives these people lead are not true reality. It may be their reality, but it's a skewed version of real life. I am ashamed that I enjoy watching these things. So, why do I keep tuning in?
One such show I watch is 'Little Miss Perfect.' It's a show all about children's beauty pageants. [You may notice I'm entering this post a little ahead of my normal schedule. I felt compelled while watching.] OK. I have watched MANY shows that follow "normal" people as well as celebrities. One thing I have definitely learned from this is that I wouldn't wish fame on my worst enemy. I know a lot of people have aspirations of becoming famous. I just wonder if they fully realize what negatives fame brings with it. So many of these once-normal people fall victim to the price of fame. When will they learn their lesson?
I am sitting here listening to a mom talk about her 5-year-old daughter. She's talking about how beautiful and talented her daughter is and that she is sure her daughter will one day be famous, and she has her daughter convinced of the same. I heard a father say the other night that he hopes his son (age 2) becomes famous so that he can take care of him and his wife one day. WHAT?!?
Are kids really becoming a commodity for their parents? I know a lot of children are born into situations that turn them into commodities by way of government aid. I don't agree with that any more than I do this. However, we are talking about people grooming their children to become famous. Grooming them to grow up without any privacy. Grooming them to be scrutinized in the public eye. What are these people thinking? This is not to mention that these kids are learning to be vain and materialistic. I don't doubt that pageants can instill positive virtues as well, but at what cost? At the end of each show, they interview the winners and losers. Someone is always heart broken and left wondering why they weren't good enough to win the title. I'm sorry, but there isn't enough money to convince me to place that kind of pressure on any child of mine. Society places enough outrageous expectations on kids without their own parents adding to the stress.
PEOPLE! Stop placing your kids in situations of such high stress. Being a kid today is so much more stressful, anyway. My kids don't have half the free time I did as a kid. School has become a job requiring more hours per day than most adults work. By the time you figure in homework, most kids are working way more hours per week than their parents. There is something wrong with this picture. We, as parents, may not be able to slow the machine that is our education system, but we can control what pressures we place on our kids at home. Let's vow to let our kids be kids.
I will leave my venting on "real" housewives for another day.
One such show I watch is 'Little Miss Perfect.' It's a show all about children's beauty pageants. [You may notice I'm entering this post a little ahead of my normal schedule. I felt compelled while watching.] OK. I have watched MANY shows that follow "normal" people as well as celebrities. One thing I have definitely learned from this is that I wouldn't wish fame on my worst enemy. I know a lot of people have aspirations of becoming famous. I just wonder if they fully realize what negatives fame brings with it. So many of these once-normal people fall victim to the price of fame. When will they learn their lesson?
I am sitting here listening to a mom talk about her 5-year-old daughter. She's talking about how beautiful and talented her daughter is and that she is sure her daughter will one day be famous, and she has her daughter convinced of the same. I heard a father say the other night that he hopes his son (age 2) becomes famous so that he can take care of him and his wife one day. WHAT?!?
Are kids really becoming a commodity for their parents? I know a lot of children are born into situations that turn them into commodities by way of government aid. I don't agree with that any more than I do this. However, we are talking about people grooming their children to become famous. Grooming them to grow up without any privacy. Grooming them to be scrutinized in the public eye. What are these people thinking? This is not to mention that these kids are learning to be vain and materialistic. I don't doubt that pageants can instill positive virtues as well, but at what cost? At the end of each show, they interview the winners and losers. Someone is always heart broken and left wondering why they weren't good enough to win the title. I'm sorry, but there isn't enough money to convince me to place that kind of pressure on any child of mine. Society places enough outrageous expectations on kids without their own parents adding to the stress.
PEOPLE! Stop placing your kids in situations of such high stress. Being a kid today is so much more stressful, anyway. My kids don't have half the free time I did as a kid. School has become a job requiring more hours per day than most adults work. By the time you figure in homework, most kids are working way more hours per week than their parents. There is something wrong with this picture. We, as parents, may not be able to slow the machine that is our education system, but we can control what pressures we place on our kids at home. Let's vow to let our kids be kids.
I will leave my venting on "real" housewives for another day.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tomorrow is Another Day!
Well, today is yesterday's tomorrow. It's a new day. The sun is shining, and I'm feeling more optimistic about the day. If you read yesterday's post, you will know that I am looking for more substance in my days. So, I've decided to start a personal Bible study. It's geared toward new Christians, but I think anyone can benefit from it. I just wanted to acknowledge that I am following through with my quest to do something more worthwhile with my time.
Past, present, or future? Where would you choose to live if you had the choice? This is a pretty easy question for me. I don't have the right answer, but it's an honest one. If I could, I would rewind the clock to somewhere around 1985 in a heartbeat. It is mind boggling for me to think that it's been 25 years ago. I would have been in the second half of my fourth grade year. My teacher, Mr. Bridges, would be teaching us that 6X7 is 42. Our free time in class was spent playing eraser tag. Michael Jackson's Thriller album was still riding high. It's not that I particularly loved this specific year. I just would like a do over from about this point on.
There are so many changes I'd make if I could. I was terrified of competition. I hated sports that were competitive. I enjoyed the actual game, just not the pressure. I did manage to enjoy volleyball, cheerleading, and track in my middle school years. I just wish I hadn't worried so much about messing up. This is just one lesson I'd teach myself if I could go back.
I would teach the younger me to be more considerate of the less fortunate kids in my school. As an adult, I have looked back at certain kids that I went to school with. They were the so-called "rejects." I wasn't really mean to them. I just wasn't really nice to them. They were usually withdrawn, a little unstable, and unclean. As a kid, that's all I saw. Today, I realize that school was a safe haven for these kids. They most likely loved the escape from the hell that was their home life. How sad. Why don't we see this in others when we're twelve?
An all important lesson I would convey to myself at about age thirteen is to not focus so much energy on boys, or more specifically, one boy. Friends are much more important than any boy. So much energy is wasted on trying to be the girl a boy will like. Just be yourself. Don't judge yourself based on what a boy sees in you.
Lastly, I would heed the advice a dear friend tried to give me in my teens. She used to always say, "You're young for a little while. You're married forever." Oh how true that is. I'm not saying that I regret marrying my Reuben. I just wish I hadn't been in such a hurry to grow up. What a priceless lesson this is!
These are just a few lessons I could benefit from if given a second chance. What would you tell the younger you if you could have a do over? Or would you choose to live in the present? Is your reality so wonderful that you wouldn't change a thing? I would caution anyone wishing to live in the future. Time flies by so quickly. Why be in a hurry? Don't focus so much on your future that you forget to enjoy today.
Past, present, or future? Where would you choose to live if you had the choice? This is a pretty easy question for me. I don't have the right answer, but it's an honest one. If I could, I would rewind the clock to somewhere around 1985 in a heartbeat. It is mind boggling for me to think that it's been 25 years ago. I would have been in the second half of my fourth grade year. My teacher, Mr. Bridges, would be teaching us that 6X7 is 42. Our free time in class was spent playing eraser tag. Michael Jackson's Thriller album was still riding high. It's not that I particularly loved this specific year. I just would like a do over from about this point on.
There are so many changes I'd make if I could. I was terrified of competition. I hated sports that were competitive. I enjoyed the actual game, just not the pressure. I did manage to enjoy volleyball, cheerleading, and track in my middle school years. I just wish I hadn't worried so much about messing up. This is just one lesson I'd teach myself if I could go back.
I would teach the younger me to be more considerate of the less fortunate kids in my school. As an adult, I have looked back at certain kids that I went to school with. They were the so-called "rejects." I wasn't really mean to them. I just wasn't really nice to them. They were usually withdrawn, a little unstable, and unclean. As a kid, that's all I saw. Today, I realize that school was a safe haven for these kids. They most likely loved the escape from the hell that was their home life. How sad. Why don't we see this in others when we're twelve?
An all important lesson I would convey to myself at about age thirteen is to not focus so much energy on boys, or more specifically, one boy. Friends are much more important than any boy. So much energy is wasted on trying to be the girl a boy will like. Just be yourself. Don't judge yourself based on what a boy sees in you.
Lastly, I would heed the advice a dear friend tried to give me in my teens. She used to always say, "You're young for a little while. You're married forever." Oh how true that is. I'm not saying that I regret marrying my Reuben. I just wish I hadn't been in such a hurry to grow up. What a priceless lesson this is!
These are just a few lessons I could benefit from if given a second chance. What would you tell the younger you if you could have a do over? Or would you choose to live in the present? Is your reality so wonderful that you wouldn't change a thing? I would caution anyone wishing to live in the future. Time flies by so quickly. Why be in a hurry? Don't focus so much on your future that you forget to enjoy today.
Monday, January 25, 2010
It's All Fun & Games
What to do with a dreary, blustery day? Here we sit, Reuben & I, with another day before us. The weather isn't terrible, but it's not what I'd call comfortable, either. While he waits to go back to work, we find ourselves in this predicament quite often. Too bad we don't enjoy the same types of shows or movies. Oh, occasionally we find something we both enjoy watching, but more often, one of us isn't paying any attention to the TV. This is why one or both spouses should work outside of the home. There is something to be said for a little absence every now and then.
I've done dishes and started the laundry. The daily grind is underway. We've played three games of Yahtzee already. I enjoy it, but it gets old after a while. I won twice. He won once. I've checked my facebook, nothing new there. Lunch is in my near future. There's something to look forward to.
Where's the substance to the day, though? Too often I find myself just trudging through one day after another. There are no real high points to mark the day in my memory. If I'm lucky, there will be no low points to mark it, either. It will go down as just another day in my history. I am quite confident that I'm not alone in this. Countless people spend their days in a fog of just moving forward with the day. What can we do to change this? I am determined to find something more substantial to do with my days. There's got to be some good that I could be doing for someone. Any ideas?
For today, I will try to convince my husband to humor me with a few card games. Perhaps we'll try and refresh our memories of the game Canasta. It's a game that holds many precious memories of my grandma for me. Maybe we'll move on to another fun game, Phase 10. Who knows? Tomorrow I will hope to find a more meaningful use of my day. Housework is only fulfilling for so long.
I've done dishes and started the laundry. The daily grind is underway. We've played three games of Yahtzee already. I enjoy it, but it gets old after a while. I won twice. He won once. I've checked my facebook, nothing new there. Lunch is in my near future. There's something to look forward to.
Where's the substance to the day, though? Too often I find myself just trudging through one day after another. There are no real high points to mark the day in my memory. If I'm lucky, there will be no low points to mark it, either. It will go down as just another day in my history. I am quite confident that I'm not alone in this. Countless people spend their days in a fog of just moving forward with the day. What can we do to change this? I am determined to find something more substantial to do with my days. There's got to be some good that I could be doing for someone. Any ideas?
For today, I will try to convince my husband to humor me with a few card games. Perhaps we'll try and refresh our memories of the game Canasta. It's a game that holds many precious memories of my grandma for me. Maybe we'll move on to another fun game, Phase 10. Who knows? Tomorrow I will hope to find a more meaningful use of my day. Housework is only fulfilling for so long.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A Moment Captured, A Treasured Memory
Photos, family videos, my most treasured possessions.
I love pictures. I love looking at anyone's family photos. They are literally moments frozen in time. Can you put a price on such a thing? I thank my mom for owning a camera and using it over the course of my childhood. I am trying to do the same for my kids, though I doubt that boys appreciate it as much as girls. Sure; there are pictures that are horribly embarassing, but I've grown to love those as well. I have an entire album on my facebook dedicated to those less-than-flattering pictures. It's easier to laugh at them when a few years have passed.
A couple of nights ago, we were reminiscing about some of Brady's quirks he had as a toddler. Of course, he has no memories of these things. Thankfully, we managed to capture some of them on video. He spent most of yesterday watching old family videos. A few years ago, I transferred all of our tapes to DVDs. I didn't put them in chronological order. So, when you choose one to watch, it's a hodge podge of various events. I sort of like that. It makes them more interesting.
After going through a couple of videos, we found the one we'd been looking for. It was a clip of Brady at about 22 months old. He jabbered on incessantly at this age. You couldn't understand a tenth of what he said, but that didn't stop him. He told stories with the greatest gusto. You could hear the inflection of a question or exclamation, but you never knew what he was talking about. I can remember specifically getting the camera out to capture just such a rant. So often we would put these things off and fail to put them on film. I purposely took him outside and told him to take me on a tour of our place. We had only gone a short distance when we ran across Reuben's grandpa, Papa John. He loved to tell a tale, too; so, he especially enjoyed listening to Brady. We stood there for a few minutes listening to Brady ramble on before moving on to see our horse at the barn. Watching this yesterday, Reuben said, "I wish you'd have gotten more of Papa John." The camera had only briefly panned up to him. I told him I knew what he meant, but at the time you're just thinking of catching all the cute things the kids do. You see, Papa John has been gone from us for years now. He's still alive, but Alzheimer's disease has stolen him from us. He lives in a rest home about 30 miles from us. Brady's memories of him are few. Robbie has a multitude of wonderful memories of him, though.
This made me stop and think...the next time we video at a family event, I will be sure to capture the adults, too. You just never know when they'll be taken from you. I enjoyed hearing the voices of Papa John, as well as both of my grandmas. I just wish I'd have paused the camera on their faces more. Goodness knows we didn't need 30 minutes of just watching Robbie or Brady. I could have spared the extra tape in order to capture treasured memories.
Take time to treasure those around you. Make as many memories as possible. And if you are able, commit these moments to film to share with those that won't have their own memories of the ones that pass from us.
I love pictures. I love looking at anyone's family photos. They are literally moments frozen in time. Can you put a price on such a thing? I thank my mom for owning a camera and using it over the course of my childhood. I am trying to do the same for my kids, though I doubt that boys appreciate it as much as girls. Sure; there are pictures that are horribly embarassing, but I've grown to love those as well. I have an entire album on my facebook dedicated to those less-than-flattering pictures. It's easier to laugh at them when a few years have passed.
A couple of nights ago, we were reminiscing about some of Brady's quirks he had as a toddler. Of course, he has no memories of these things. Thankfully, we managed to capture some of them on video. He spent most of yesterday watching old family videos. A few years ago, I transferred all of our tapes to DVDs. I didn't put them in chronological order. So, when you choose one to watch, it's a hodge podge of various events. I sort of like that. It makes them more interesting.
After going through a couple of videos, we found the one we'd been looking for. It was a clip of Brady at about 22 months old. He jabbered on incessantly at this age. You couldn't understand a tenth of what he said, but that didn't stop him. He told stories with the greatest gusto. You could hear the inflection of a question or exclamation, but you never knew what he was talking about. I can remember specifically getting the camera out to capture just such a rant. So often we would put these things off and fail to put them on film. I purposely took him outside and told him to take me on a tour of our place. We had only gone a short distance when we ran across Reuben's grandpa, Papa John. He loved to tell a tale, too; so, he especially enjoyed listening to Brady. We stood there for a few minutes listening to Brady ramble on before moving on to see our horse at the barn. Watching this yesterday, Reuben said, "I wish you'd have gotten more of Papa John." The camera had only briefly panned up to him. I told him I knew what he meant, but at the time you're just thinking of catching all the cute things the kids do. You see, Papa John has been gone from us for years now. He's still alive, but Alzheimer's disease has stolen him from us. He lives in a rest home about 30 miles from us. Brady's memories of him are few. Robbie has a multitude of wonderful memories of him, though.
This made me stop and think...the next time we video at a family event, I will be sure to capture the adults, too. You just never know when they'll be taken from you. I enjoyed hearing the voices of Papa John, as well as both of my grandmas. I just wish I'd have paused the camera on their faces more. Goodness knows we didn't need 30 minutes of just watching Robbie or Brady. I could have spared the extra tape in order to capture treasured memories.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Miss Congeniality, I'm Not.
I don't collect friends. In fact, I more likely repel them. I'm just not naturally friendly. I'd say a lot of people think I'm a snob or worse. It's really not so. I'm a pretty nice person. You just have to make it into my inner circle before you will see more of that side of me.
Being my friend isn't easy. I can be critical. I am very blunt. I'm outspoken. I'm not particularly nurturing or thoughtful. I'm sure, at times, I am condescending. Hey now! Slow down. Single file line to apply for my friendship. :)
Seriously, I would rather have two good friends than dozens of "friends." If you looked at my facebook profile it would tell you I have over 80 friends. That's a gross over statement. That's not to say that I don't like my fb "friends." I'm just saying that my definition of friend is different from theirs. You aren't my friend just by way of my knowing you and liking you. I like a lot of people that I wouldn't consider my friend. I have lots of pleasant acquaintances. Is there anything wrong with that? If I were to run a personal ad looking for a friend it would read something like this...
Being my friend isn't easy. I can be critical. I am very blunt. I'm outspoken. I'm not particularly nurturing or thoughtful. I'm sure, at times, I am condescending. Hey now! Slow down. Single file line to apply for my friendship. :)
Seriously, I would rather have two good friends than dozens of "friends." If you looked at my facebook profile it would tell you I have over 80 friends. That's a gross over statement. That's not to say that I don't like my fb "friends." I'm just saying that my definition of friend is different from theirs. You aren't my friend just by way of my knowing you and liking you. I like a lot of people that I wouldn't consider my friend. I have lots of pleasant acquaintances. Is there anything wrong with that? If I were to run a personal ad looking for a friend it would read something like this...
WANTED: A TRUE FRIEND
Applicant must be moderately intelligent. Thick skin a plus. Loyalty a requirement. Cussing, smoking, and excessive drinking discouraged. Two-faced fakers need not apply. Limited openings available. All those accepted will be on a trial basis. Payoffs will be based on performance.
Yes; I'm demanding. If you ever make it into my list of true friends, I am loyal like no other, though. I'm the girl you want in your corner. I'll fight for you and yours. I am extremely passionate in my emotions, both good and bad. I am compassionate almost to a fault. I am a giving person. If you can crack the wall, you will see that I am nice. I just don't advertise it.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Song in My Heart...
I am obsessed with music. Almost all music. It would be easier to list what I don't like than what I do like. Currently, I am listening to music to chill by; Fire and Rain, Blackbird, Dust in the Wind, Somewhere Over the Rainbow (the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version), Hallelujah, etc. Last week it was Steven Curtis Chapman's 'Beauty Will Rise.' The week before that it was current country hits. And before that, I was listening to the Gaither's Homecoming stuff. You can always bet that some good old 80's rock and roll will be thrown into the mix, too. I guess you could call my taste diversified.
I recently was pondering which would be worse, losing my sight or losing my hearing. Of course, I ultimately decided that losing my sight would be worse. I would hate missing out on seeing my kids grow up, seeing the beauty in nature, being able to draw or paint. It was a close toss up with my hearing, though. I simply cannot imagine losing the ability to hear music. I realize I have an entire library of songs in my head, but it wouldn't be the same.
Have you ever considered which would handicap you more? What would you be more willing to sacrifice, sight or sound?
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before His presence with singing." Psalms 100:1-2
I recently was pondering which would be worse, losing my sight or losing my hearing. Of course, I ultimately decided that losing my sight would be worse. I would hate missing out on seeing my kids grow up, seeing the beauty in nature, being able to draw or paint. It was a close toss up with my hearing, though. I simply cannot imagine losing the ability to hear music. I realize I have an entire library of songs in my head, but it wouldn't be the same.
Have you ever considered which would handicap you more? What would you be more willing to sacrifice, sight or sound?
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before His presence with singing." Psalms 100:1-2
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Pass the macaroni!
So, my kids have to be the pickiest eaters I've ever known. I mean, I know I am somewhat of a picky eater. I have texture issues. The kids, however, just don't eat anything. If there was no Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, my kids would shrivel up and die. I blame myself.
When my boys were little, I would fix them whatever they wanted to eat. For both, this meant primarily hot dogs and macaroni. Of course, they love pizza, like most kids. And they both like cheeseburgers. Neither will eat mashed potatoes, though. Is this not the strangest? I've never known of kids that won't eat mashed potatoes. At least 80% of all meals around here include macaroni. I know. I know. You're thinking, "Just don't fix that stuff, and they'll eat whatever is there." Wrong. I've tried this. My kids are like camels. They could go for days without eating anything of substance. This doesn't mean they aren't ravenous when they get home from school, but if faced with something they don't like, they will abstain. Here are a couple of memories I have of Robbie in regards to his eating habits...
In 1999, Robbie was starting preschool. We were concerned about him, because he has always been pretty shy. We thought we'd have separation issues. We were wrong. The first day of school came, and he was excited to go. [A little background info is needed here. I don't do breakfast. Occasionally, I'll fix it, but rarely. I've never been much of a breakfast eater. If my kids want it, they have it at school.] So, the kids all went into preschool (age 3) and were milling about the classroom. Some wanted their parents right next to them. Not Robbie. He was off wandering around the room and digging out toys. His teacher announced that it was time to put away the toys and go to breakfast. Robbie piped up, "But my tummy's full of dah-dogs (hot dogs)!" Of course, I hadn't fed him hot dogs for breakfast, but he had eaten them for supper the night before. We had to translate for the teacher what he meant, and everyone got a good laugh out of it. As a mom, it was a bit embarassing.
I remember another time that I was determined to get my child to eat a variety of things. I had fixed hot dogs (big surprise) and sauerkraut. Granted, sauerkraut is a stretch for just about any kid. Robbie was on my bad side that day for other behaviorial issues, so I insisted that he try it. We told him that he would sit at the table until he at least tried one bite of it. That kid made himself SO sick just thinking about the sauerkraut that he made himself vomit, without even tasting it. The funny part was him sitting there crying, "I don't want to eat sour crap!". LOL! We still laugh about that now. It will always be known as sour crap instead of sauerkraut to him.
My kids are healthy. They aren't overweight. Somehow they've managed to survive off of the few foods they really like. I'm finding that age is making Robbie more flexible. He's gotten to where he'll try just about anything once. Brady has always been a little more daring. He likes vegetables. They both like fruit. It's just the most basic things that turn their noses up. Maybe there's still hope for them. Here are a couple of recipes we do eat. The first one is a creation of mine. The soup is one from my mom. I'm not sure where she got it. I've never run across anyone else that eats it, but we like it.
When my boys were little, I would fix them whatever they wanted to eat. For both, this meant primarily hot dogs and macaroni. Of course, they love pizza, like most kids. And they both like cheeseburgers. Neither will eat mashed potatoes, though. Is this not the strangest? I've never known of kids that won't eat mashed potatoes. At least 80% of all meals around here include macaroni. I know. I know. You're thinking, "Just don't fix that stuff, and they'll eat whatever is there." Wrong. I've tried this. My kids are like camels. They could go for days without eating anything of substance. This doesn't mean they aren't ravenous when they get home from school, but if faced with something they don't like, they will abstain. Here are a couple of memories I have of Robbie in regards to his eating habits...
In 1999, Robbie was starting preschool. We were concerned about him, because he has always been pretty shy. We thought we'd have separation issues. We were wrong. The first day of school came, and he was excited to go. [A little background info is needed here. I don't do breakfast. Occasionally, I'll fix it, but rarely. I've never been much of a breakfast eater. If my kids want it, they have it at school.] So, the kids all went into preschool (age 3) and were milling about the classroom. Some wanted their parents right next to them. Not Robbie. He was off wandering around the room and digging out toys. His teacher announced that it was time to put away the toys and go to breakfast. Robbie piped up, "But my tummy's full of dah-dogs (hot dogs)!" Of course, I hadn't fed him hot dogs for breakfast, but he had eaten them for supper the night before. We had to translate for the teacher what he meant, and everyone got a good laugh out of it. As a mom, it was a bit embarassing.
I remember another time that I was determined to get my child to eat a variety of things. I had fixed hot dogs (big surprise) and sauerkraut. Granted, sauerkraut is a stretch for just about any kid. Robbie was on my bad side that day for other behaviorial issues, so I insisted that he try it. We told him that he would sit at the table until he at least tried one bite of it. That kid made himself SO sick just thinking about the sauerkraut that he made himself vomit, without even tasting it. The funny part was him sitting there crying, "I don't want to eat sour crap!". LOL! We still laugh about that now. It will always be known as sour crap instead of sauerkraut to him.
My kids are healthy. They aren't overweight. Somehow they've managed to survive off of the few foods they really like. I'm finding that age is making Robbie more flexible. He's gotten to where he'll try just about anything once. Brady has always been a little more daring. He likes vegetables. They both like fruit. It's just the most basic things that turn their noses up. Maybe there's still hope for them. Here are a couple of recipes we do eat. The first one is a creation of mine. The soup is one from my mom. I'm not sure where she got it. I've never run across anyone else that eats it, but we like it.
Chinese Chicken Noodles
2 pkgs chicken breast tenders (the thin strips for stir-fry is best)
olive oil
1 lemon
salt, pepper, garlic powder, creole seasoning (optional)
soy sauce
sugar
broccoli, snow peas, any vegetables you like in stir-fry
3 pkgs Ramen noodles (oriental or chicken flavor)
Saute your chicken in a skillet with a little bit of olive oil, salt, pepper, and creole (opt.). There shouldn't be enough oil left to need draining. When the chicken is nearly done cooking, add the juice of at least half of the lemon, some soy sauce, and enough sugar to thicken the glaze. It will thicken and start to glisten as the sugar cooks into the soy sauce. You can always add more soy sauce if needed.
In a separate skillet, quickly saute your vegetables in some olive oil and garlic powder. I typically only use the broccoli and snow peas. It only takes a couple of minutes. Just keep tossing the vegetables in the oil over high heat until they turn a bright green. You can add whatever vegetables you like. Cover and remove from heat.
Lastly, add your 3 pkgs of noodles to a large pot and just cover with water. Heat to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in the flavor packets. Do not fix the noodles until everything else is ready, and do not over cook them. They will get mushy and yuck if they sit too long.
Now you are ready to assemble the dish. My kids won't eat the veggies, so I always keep them separate to add to the plates. I use a slotted pasta spoon to scoop the noodles out of the pot and into the chicken skillet. You really don't want a lot of the broth with them. Toss the noodles and chicken together. I always add more soy sauce and a little more sugar and turn the heat back on to marry the noodles with the chicken. All seasoning and sauce is to your taste. That's it. Add the veggies to the plates of those who like them!
Tomato Potato Soup
2 or 3 potatoes
approximately 6 oz. thin spaghetti (broken into smaller lengths)
1 small can tomato paste
Peel, wash, and cube potatoes. Put in a saucepan and add more water than what it takes to cover the potatoes. Bring potatoes to a rolling boil and add spaghetti. Cook at a boil until potatoes are tender and pasta is done. You should still have some liquid left. Add the can of tomato paste and stir until incorporated into the liquid. Remove from heat. I like to serve mine with a slice of cheese in the bowl. It's not necessary, though.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
My parenting transcript
Have you ever dreamed that you had a test today and completely forgot to study for it? This is how I sometimes feel about my job as a parent. Parenting, to me, is like a series of mini tests. It starts the day you take the baby home. Can you dress a baby? Check. Can you properly hold a baby? Check. Can you make a carseat work like it should? Check (after several trial and error attempts.) Every day is filled with these tests.
I never was one for studying for tests. I felt pretty confident in my retention of the lessons taught in class. Problem? There are no lessons for parenting. I guess there are if you count the example your parents set for you. How can I be expected to remember all of that, though? The big life lessons are pretty cut and dried. It's the little details that sometimes slip through the cracks. Suddenly one day, you find yourself realizing you've failed a test. But wait! I didn't know that was on the test!!! Too bad. It was. You missed it. If you're lucky, you'll still have time to go back and retake that section. Maybe no one else has noticed you skipped it. I was reminded of just such a test last night when I walked into my bathroom (one of the precious few quiet spots in my home in the evening) and heard the rain on the roof. For whatever reason, I thought to myself, "It's raining. It's pouring. The old man is snoring...hmmm I bet my kids wouldn't have a clue what that means." This isn't the first time I've been made aware of this little failure of mine.
Several years ago, Robbie was asked to sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" for some reason at school. To my surprise, he didn't know it. Who was supposed to teach him that? Why doesn't he know that? Oh yeah. That would be me. I'm the mom. Oops. An entire subject failed. Nursery songs. It had never occurred to me before. If Barney hadn't taught him, he didn't know it. Nursery songs are a childhood right of passage, and I had just forgotten about them. I knew them. I don't remember learning them. I just always knew them. My mom clearly excelled in this particular section of testing. Mary Had a Little Lamb. Ring around the Rosey. It's raining it's pouring. Hickory Dickory Dock. I can sing them all to you. My kids? Not a chance! Is it too late to teach a 13 year old these songs? Oh, he learned "Row, Row, Row...," but we never quite got around to the rest of the songs. Maybe I'll just pray he marries a woman whose mom had the foresight to teach her those songs. There may still be time for Brady.
Each day as a parent is full of opportunities to succeed or fail. I just hope I'm succeeding at the most important aspects. The Golden Rule. The Bible. And I pray I don't leave out too many of the details from my raising that I just take for granted. Nursery songs. Card games. Here's the church, here's the steeple. Wouldn't it be nice if we could peek at our parenting transcript and see where we're failing? I'm sure there are other tests I've failed without even realizing it was a test. Maybe we should all keep a mental checklist of the lessons we don't want to let slip through the cracks.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
I never was one for studying for tests. I felt pretty confident in my retention of the lessons taught in class. Problem? There are no lessons for parenting. I guess there are if you count the example your parents set for you. How can I be expected to remember all of that, though? The big life lessons are pretty cut and dried. It's the little details that sometimes slip through the cracks. Suddenly one day, you find yourself realizing you've failed a test. But wait! I didn't know that was on the test!!! Too bad. It was. You missed it. If you're lucky, you'll still have time to go back and retake that section. Maybe no one else has noticed you skipped it. I was reminded of just such a test last night when I walked into my bathroom (one of the precious few quiet spots in my home in the evening) and heard the rain on the roof. For whatever reason, I thought to myself, "It's raining. It's pouring. The old man is snoring...hmmm I bet my kids wouldn't have a clue what that means." This isn't the first time I've been made aware of this little failure of mine.
Several years ago, Robbie was asked to sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" for some reason at school. To my surprise, he didn't know it. Who was supposed to teach him that? Why doesn't he know that? Oh yeah. That would be me. I'm the mom. Oops. An entire subject failed. Nursery songs. It had never occurred to me before. If Barney hadn't taught him, he didn't know it. Nursery songs are a childhood right of passage, and I had just forgotten about them. I knew them. I don't remember learning them. I just always knew them. My mom clearly excelled in this particular section of testing. Mary Had a Little Lamb. Ring around the Rosey. It's raining it's pouring. Hickory Dickory Dock. I can sing them all to you. My kids? Not a chance! Is it too late to teach a 13 year old these songs? Oh, he learned "Row, Row, Row...," but we never quite got around to the rest of the songs. Maybe I'll just pray he marries a woman whose mom had the foresight to teach her those songs. There may still be time for Brady.
Each day as a parent is full of opportunities to succeed or fail. I just hope I'm succeeding at the most important aspects. The Golden Rule. The Bible. And I pray I don't leave out too many of the details from my raising that I just take for granted. Nursery songs. Card games. Here's the church, here's the steeple. Wouldn't it be nice if we could peek at our parenting transcript and see where we're failing? I'm sure there are other tests I've failed without even realizing it was a test. Maybe we should all keep a mental checklist of the lessons we don't want to let slip through the cracks.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Am I lazy??
I am a stay-at-home mom. I have been staying home since 1995. I left the working world while I was pregnant with my first child. I was having pregnancy complications and was unable to work. The plan had always been for me to stay home once the baby arrived. We just never planned a date for that to end. Some moms stay home the first twelve weeks. Some stay home until the child starts preschool or kindergarten. I guess in the back of my mind, I assumed I'd stay home until Robbie was firmly established in "real" school (a.k.a. kindergarten.)
Fast forward to August 2001. We were living in a new town, and Robbie was set to start kindergarten. Everything went according to plan, except that I loved volunteering in his classroom. So, I postponed going back to "real" work. Then September 11th happened, and I found myself re-evaluating our choice to have just one child. Something about that time period made me take a closer look at what I wanted for my life. Reuben and I decided our family would never seem complete with just one child. We would always wonder if we should have had one more child. We decided it was time to have another. God blessed us with a quick conception before we had a chance to change our minds.
Being pregnant again, working outside of the home was the furthest thing from my mind. I had a good five years to contemplate that decision, right? I did dabble in real estate when Brady was about three years old. It wasn't for me. I liked the work. I hated the atmosphere. I'm not competitive or accomodating enough for that field. It was a hobby for me, and a livelihood for my co-workers. This doesn't make for a good combination.
Anyway, here we are nearly eight years after Brady's birth, and I'm still at home. Does this make me lazy? It's not like I sit around doing nothing all day every day. My life is consumed with laundry, cooking, dishes, and housework. Evenings are full of dinner, homework, and ballgames. I really don't know how working moms manage their homes. I guess by being gone all day the house may stay cleaner. Reuben is home with me a majority of the time. His boilermaking job allows him to be home for months at a time. If I weren't home to stay on top of the housework, the house would swallow us up.
I guess I'm just looking for some validation. Is my job an important one? Would I contribute something more significant to society if I worked outside of my home? Would I be a better wife and mother? I don't know what the answers are. Sometimes it helps just to ask the questions, even if the answers are elusive.
Fast forward to August 2001. We were living in a new town, and Robbie was set to start kindergarten. Everything went according to plan, except that I loved volunteering in his classroom. So, I postponed going back to "real" work. Then September 11th happened, and I found myself re-evaluating our choice to have just one child. Something about that time period made me take a closer look at what I wanted for my life. Reuben and I decided our family would never seem complete with just one child. We would always wonder if we should have had one more child. We decided it was time to have another. God blessed us with a quick conception before we had a chance to change our minds.
Being pregnant again, working outside of the home was the furthest thing from my mind. I had a good five years to contemplate that decision, right? I did dabble in real estate when Brady was about three years old. It wasn't for me. I liked the work. I hated the atmosphere. I'm not competitive or accomodating enough for that field. It was a hobby for me, and a livelihood for my co-workers. This doesn't make for a good combination.
Anyway, here we are nearly eight years after Brady's birth, and I'm still at home. Does this make me lazy? It's not like I sit around doing nothing all day every day. My life is consumed with laundry, cooking, dishes, and housework. Evenings are full of dinner, homework, and ballgames. I really don't know how working moms manage their homes. I guess by being gone all day the house may stay cleaner. Reuben is home with me a majority of the time. His boilermaking job allows him to be home for months at a time. If I weren't home to stay on top of the housework, the house would swallow us up.
I guess I'm just looking for some validation. Is my job an important one? Would I contribute something more significant to society if I worked outside of my home? Would I be a better wife and mother? I don't know what the answers are. Sometimes it helps just to ask the questions, even if the answers are elusive.
Here we go....
Well, I'm new to the blogging world. I'm not sure if I have a whole lot to offer, but my mind is always full of ideas, observations, and opinions. So, I guess this is as good of a place to share them as any other.
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