I am not one that will routinely give out parental advice. At least not anymore. There was a time when I thought I ought to impart my well earned wisdom on others (what was I thinking???), but these days I try to keep my judgments, comments, and otherwise to myself. I am currently of the thought that everyone has to find their own way, their own parenting style. You need to figure out what works for you and your family.
However, the lack of parenting (of any style), has me ranting today. We have been a little vacation this week where we stayed at a hotel with a pool. I cannot believe the lack of supervision that occurs. Cell phones have taken ignoring your kids to a whole new level. Not only are there excessive amounts of children without supervision, the ones that have "supervision" are so preoccupied, their kids may as well be unsupervised. Do parents not realize that this is a pool? With water? Where kids could drown? Seriously, people, watch your kids!
Now, I try really hard not to let the teacher and lifeguard in me loose when I am on vacation. That doesn't mean I wouldn't help someone (kid) in need, but I try really hard not to correct behavior. I have zero authority, I am not their parent, and most kids and parents get really upset when you interfere. But I cringe and have anxiety when I see what is clearly an accident waiting to happen. I cannot understand why parents cannot see that there is eminent danger when kids randomly jump into a crowd of people in the pool, or that if their kid is standing in front of the waterslide, there is a really good chance they are going to get hit. And with the amount of roughhousing going on, a kid could get shoved under the water and not be able to come up for air. For kids, a pool can be very dangerous, especially in an unfamiliar pool with unfamiliar kids.
Now, Calah is a pretty good swimmer, but Gabe is not. Calah can hold her own, but she is not old enough to really understand that even though she is swimming and trying to be safe, other kids are not and could run over her, jump on her, or something else that would prevent her from getting oxygen. Gabe likes to push his limits, but is not confident that he could swim on his own. I fear that someone will knock him off of his safe areas and he wouldn't be able to keep his head above water. So we are there to ensure that those things don't happen. Either right there in the water, or watching closely from the side of the pool so we could respond within seconds. I am not paranoid, but I do want to walk out of the pool area with the same number of children I walked in with. Preferably happy, healthy children that have not been traumatized.
And that doesn't even address the lack of manners and complete rudeness. I try to overlook them and teach my kids that tossing things up the slide is not ok, throwing things across the pool so they land on other people is not ok, and running into other people repeatedly because you are not paying attention is not ok. Silver lining, I guess.
So the pool is rough for me, which is ironic, because it is usually the place I feel the most at home. But the kids had fun, so I guess it is worth it.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Plans for the spring
The calendar says that spring has arrived!
I am not one that gets all crazy when the calendar says March 20th and the *poof* the snow isn't gone, the temperature isn't 70 degrees, and we can't wear shorts yet. We live in Michigan. It regularly snows during spring break in April....get over it. Winter will reign for another few weeks. Now, if there is snow in June, I'll complain. But not in March, never in March.
However, I am making exciting plans for our family this spring and early summer. From now until the end of the year we will be busy, busy, busy! I sat down yesterday and sort of mapped out the next couple of months. Here is how it adds up:
Gabriel: He is active! He will be finishing up the last of his young 5s program on his 6th birthday. He has learned so much, and his speech is so much better. Kindergarten, be ready, he can't wait! In the meantime, he is finishing up a session of swimming lessons, taking dance class, and starting t-ball. Also, he may be adding a hip hop dance class. He hasn't decided yet.
Calah: Loving the third grade! I can't believe how grown up she is. She is also finishing swim lessons and dancing. She will definitely be starting her hip hop dance class! She can't get enough of dance. And I am so very proud of her. Her musicality has improved so much in the last year. I see her listening to the music to help her know what to do next.
Chuck: Things are busy for my husband, too. With the obvious and normal work for school, he has agreed to again be Gabe's t-ball coach. There is also the finishing touches to his German trip. He leaves in June. He is very excited. I am so happy that he gets a chance to travel like he does. He really loves it.
Me: Well, sometimes I feel like I am the busiest of all! Auction for the kids' school is quickly approaching. That will eat up at least a week of my time, plus some evenings and weekend leading up to it. I am hoping the network hooks up easily this year to save me some time. Also, NHS is kicking into high gear with new member selection and induction, as well as officer election and installation. Maybe I'll get some time in at the pool....I hope!
Then school gets out and the craziness of June begins. Once the end of school celebrations and parties end, we will have Gabe's birthday, which he has informed of his wishes for his party already (just like last years superhero party, but with more Batman, and he wants to go to SkyZone, and he wants to have 10 more kids, and a pool party, and ice cream). Sure, whatever, we'll see what we can do......... On a sadder note, we also have my mother-in-law's memorial. I am not looking forward to opening those wounds with the kids. They miss their Granny terribly and talk about her often. We all miss her a lot. :(
Then it is the recital. And this, my friends, is an EVENT! If you have never had a dancer, let me fill you in. In our little studio (which is in year 5 and growing!), we are having the dress rehearsal the day before. Every group is on stage doing their number and trying out the stage at least once. The little kids are hilarious! On the day of the recital, it is an all day event. We start early in the morning and all the girls (and Gabe) get their hair and makeup done at the studio, then they are all walked down the street to the theater and herded back stage into little rooms to await their turn on stage. Now, this may not seem like much, but as the person in charge of the makeup, trust me, it's daunting. All those little girls (and Gabe!). Fortunately, there is a lot of help. All the moms pitch in, one way or another. Either hair, or makeup, or helping with costumes, or entertaining dancers while they wait, or herding them down the street and into the theater. It is busy and so much fun. This is a big deal. The kids have worked so long all year for this. This is their showcase, where they show off all they have learned.
After the recital is Father's Day, and a couple of days later Chuck leaves for Germany. I feel like after that we can relax a little, at least until our summer vacation!
I am not one that gets all crazy when the calendar says March 20th and the *poof* the snow isn't gone, the temperature isn't 70 degrees, and we can't wear shorts yet. We live in Michigan. It regularly snows during spring break in April....get over it. Winter will reign for another few weeks. Now, if there is snow in June, I'll complain. But not in March, never in March.
However, I am making exciting plans for our family this spring and early summer. From now until the end of the year we will be busy, busy, busy! I sat down yesterday and sort of mapped out the next couple of months. Here is how it adds up:
Gabriel: He is active! He will be finishing up the last of his young 5s program on his 6th birthday. He has learned so much, and his speech is so much better. Kindergarten, be ready, he can't wait! In the meantime, he is finishing up a session of swimming lessons, taking dance class, and starting t-ball. Also, he may be adding a hip hop dance class. He hasn't decided yet.
Calah: Loving the third grade! I can't believe how grown up she is. She is also finishing swim lessons and dancing. She will definitely be starting her hip hop dance class! She can't get enough of dance. And I am so very proud of her. Her musicality has improved so much in the last year. I see her listening to the music to help her know what to do next.
Chuck: Things are busy for my husband, too. With the obvious and normal work for school, he has agreed to again be Gabe's t-ball coach. There is also the finishing touches to his German trip. He leaves in June. He is very excited. I am so happy that he gets a chance to travel like he does. He really loves it.
Me: Well, sometimes I feel like I am the busiest of all! Auction for the kids' school is quickly approaching. That will eat up at least a week of my time, plus some evenings and weekend leading up to it. I am hoping the network hooks up easily this year to save me some time. Also, NHS is kicking into high gear with new member selection and induction, as well as officer election and installation. Maybe I'll get some time in at the pool....I hope!
Then school gets out and the craziness of June begins. Once the end of school celebrations and parties end, we will have Gabe's birthday, which he has informed of his wishes for his party already (just like last years superhero party, but with more Batman, and he wants to go to SkyZone, and he wants to have 10 more kids, and a pool party, and ice cream). Sure, whatever, we'll see what we can do......... On a sadder note, we also have my mother-in-law's memorial. I am not looking forward to opening those wounds with the kids. They miss their Granny terribly and talk about her often. We all miss her a lot. :(
Then it is the recital. And this, my friends, is an EVENT! If you have never had a dancer, let me fill you in. In our little studio (which is in year 5 and growing!), we are having the dress rehearsal the day before. Every group is on stage doing their number and trying out the stage at least once. The little kids are hilarious! On the day of the recital, it is an all day event. We start early in the morning and all the girls (and Gabe) get their hair and makeup done at the studio, then they are all walked down the street to the theater and herded back stage into little rooms to await their turn on stage. Now, this may not seem like much, but as the person in charge of the makeup, trust me, it's daunting. All those little girls (and Gabe!). Fortunately, there is a lot of help. All the moms pitch in, one way or another. Either hair, or makeup, or helping with costumes, or entertaining dancers while they wait, or herding them down the street and into the theater. It is busy and so much fun. This is a big deal. The kids have worked so long all year for this. This is their showcase, where they show off all they have learned.
After the recital is Father's Day, and a couple of days later Chuck leaves for Germany. I feel like after that we can relax a little, at least until our summer vacation!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
My Sister, My Hero
I have three fabulous siblings. They all have there wonderful qualities and I could write for hours about all of them. But I would like to give some special acknowledgement to my sister, Sarah.
She is totally my hero! I may be the older sister, but I have learned so much about being a good wife, a good mother, a good friend, and a good sister by watching her. For those that don't know Sarah, let me introduce you.
Sarah is three years younger than me, but has always been one of my best friends. We rarely, if ever, fought growing up. And even though I am sure I thought she was annoying when I was a teenager, I was so happy when she came to Grand Valley with me, and I will always treasure the time we spent growing up and going to school together. These days she is a mother of three, she writes a column for the local newspaper, and maintains their household in the most organized and well run way, a way that I can only envy!
But let me tell you what I have learned from her.
I have learned to be selfless. Sarah gives and gives to her family. Whenever I call her, she is off running errands for her family, going to playgroups so her children are well socialized (not that my nieces and nephew could be anything else....they are AWESOME!), or taking on cookie mom duty for her daughter's Girl Scout troop (I tried, I told her to plead insanity and give it back). Every time I walk into her house, it is tidy and clean. And, she has modified dinners for her family, so that they can all eat the same thing.
Here is why. My adorable nephew and godson is allergic to just about everything. You name it, he's probably allergic to it. At least all the main stuff. Milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, etc. For the first three months of life, he was so itchy. We all felt so bad that he would rub and rub his face on your shoulder trying to scratch. When it was finally diagnosed as food allergies, Sarah was nursing and had to cut everything out of her diet. Anything he was allergic to, she didn't eat. For like....almost a year. And then came the challenge of feeding him food. And Sarah does such a good job, she has adapted so many meals that their family eats that are allergy friendly, or there is a quick and easy substitution. For example, the spaghetti sauce she makes is friendly for all and she just has to make special noodles for my nephew. Every time there is a family get together, or the family wants to go out to eat, Sarah has to make and take special food for her son. All of this is reason to give her Mother of the Century (and I mean that with all sincerity), but there is more......She does this all without complaint. Seriously. And quite frankly, she has every reason to complain. Every now and then I expect her to just say she is tired of it all, that it sucks that her precious little guy will never have a peanut butter sandwich, that she is tired of always having to be worried about what he will come in contact with. But she never, ever does. From the time he was diagnosed, Sarah accepted it as a fact of life and figured out how to cope. She is always researching and trying to find new things to make that the whole family can eat (cookies, breads, puppy chow). Whatever she can do to make his life, and those of her other children, as normal as possible. I love her! She is A-MAY-ZING!
On top of all of that, she has a caring and sensitive heart. Over the last month, as my family has been through some difficult times, Sarah was always there to listen. To care. She has been sympathetic and understanding. I have always known that if I needed someone to listen, I could call her. I have other friends and family that have been wonderful, too, but Sarah has been my rock, as I have tried to be for my family. She is my inspiration, and some day, I hope to be half the women she is, because that would be a great accomplishment.
I love you, Sarah.
She is totally my hero! I may be the older sister, but I have learned so much about being a good wife, a good mother, a good friend, and a good sister by watching her. For those that don't know Sarah, let me introduce you.
Sarah is three years younger than me, but has always been one of my best friends. We rarely, if ever, fought growing up. And even though I am sure I thought she was annoying when I was a teenager, I was so happy when she came to Grand Valley with me, and I will always treasure the time we spent growing up and going to school together. These days she is a mother of three, she writes a column for the local newspaper, and maintains their household in the most organized and well run way, a way that I can only envy!
But let me tell you what I have learned from her.
I have learned to be selfless. Sarah gives and gives to her family. Whenever I call her, she is off running errands for her family, going to playgroups so her children are well socialized (not that my nieces and nephew could be anything else....they are AWESOME!), or taking on cookie mom duty for her daughter's Girl Scout troop (I tried, I told her to plead insanity and give it back). Every time I walk into her house, it is tidy and clean. And, she has modified dinners for her family, so that they can all eat the same thing.
Here is why. My adorable nephew and godson is allergic to just about everything. You name it, he's probably allergic to it. At least all the main stuff. Milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, etc. For the first three months of life, he was so itchy. We all felt so bad that he would rub and rub his face on your shoulder trying to scratch. When it was finally diagnosed as food allergies, Sarah was nursing and had to cut everything out of her diet. Anything he was allergic to, she didn't eat. For like....almost a year. And then came the challenge of feeding him food. And Sarah does such a good job, she has adapted so many meals that their family eats that are allergy friendly, or there is a quick and easy substitution. For example, the spaghetti sauce she makes is friendly for all and she just has to make special noodles for my nephew. Every time there is a family get together, or the family wants to go out to eat, Sarah has to make and take special food for her son. All of this is reason to give her Mother of the Century (and I mean that with all sincerity), but there is more......She does this all without complaint. Seriously. And quite frankly, she has every reason to complain. Every now and then I expect her to just say she is tired of it all, that it sucks that her precious little guy will never have a peanut butter sandwich, that she is tired of always having to be worried about what he will come in contact with. But she never, ever does. From the time he was diagnosed, Sarah accepted it as a fact of life and figured out how to cope. She is always researching and trying to find new things to make that the whole family can eat (cookies, breads, puppy chow). Whatever she can do to make his life, and those of her other children, as normal as possible. I love her! She is A-MAY-ZING!
On top of all of that, she has a caring and sensitive heart. Over the last month, as my family has been through some difficult times, Sarah was always there to listen. To care. She has been sympathetic and understanding. I have always known that if I needed someone to listen, I could call her. I have other friends and family that have been wonderful, too, but Sarah has been my rock, as I have tried to be for my family. She is my inspiration, and some day, I hope to be half the women she is, because that would be a great accomplishment.
I love you, Sarah.
Monday, February 18, 2013
100 Fabulous Things About My Life
I am having a very down day. I have had a lot of those lately. Part of it is mourning the loss of my mother in law, part of it is watching my kids and husband suffer with their loss, and part of it is the winter blahs. The point is: I don't want to feel this way. I don't want to post sad things on Facebook. I don't want to bring everyone around me down. I don't want to complain, so I am doing something about it. I am going to come up with 100 Fabulous Things About My Life. For the record, I am starting at 3:30 on Monday February 18th.....I'll post it as soon as I'm done.
1. Charlie: my wonderful husband
2. Calah: beautiful, talented, sweet, caring, and couldn't be nicer daughter
2. Gabriel: active, entertaining, loving, adorable, and completely wonderful son
(they both had to be #2!)
4. My mom and dad: they have loved and supported me my whole life, even when I'm not the nicest person to be around.
5. Sarah: My sister and one of my best friends. Love ya!
6. Josh and Emily: You can't find better siblings anywhere!
7. Jeff, Ellie, Jake, Anna, Candace, and James: You guys are so supportive and bring joy to my life
8. I still have 2 of my grandparents: and they are wonderful, generous people who inspire me
9. I have a job: and it pays the bills. It isn't the most glamorous, and sometimes it sucks, but I have one.
10. There is a roof over my family's head, food on the table, and the bills get paid: not everyone has that luxury (which by the way, shouldn't be a luxury, it should be an accepted standard of life..but that is a different blog).
11. My car runs and is safe: and we hope my driving is, too!
12. I have a strong faith: Maybe this should be higher, but I am writing them as they come to me. And I believe that God will answer your prayers, if you are praying for the right things. Last week, all I prayed for was peace on my heart and my husband's heart. We got it and it was the first time I felt my prayers were answered. I'm sure it's not, but it may have been the first time I was praying for the right things.
13. I live in a country where women are mostly treated with respect: To live in a country where you are treated as property would be enough to break anyone's spirit.
14. I am independent: I have my own mind, I will use my own mind, and don't try to tell me otherwise!
15. I get to travel: I love to see new places, and visit favorite spots again.
16. I live in Michigan: I love the seasons (even winter), and the beautiful scenery that doesn't exist anywhere else on earth.
17. I have healthcare: I can take my children to the doctor's or go myself without the financial burden that other people face.
18. I am healthy: I can do most any activity I wish.
19. My children are healthy: My heart goes out to people who have sick children and they have to watch them suffer.
20. My extended family is healthy: Aside from our recent tragedy, as a family we have had to deal with very little illness of loss.
3:41--not bad for 11 minutes. And I feel better. Now I am going home......
4:32...
21. Even though I have a commute, most days it is very tolerable: I have a great carpool buddy, and when I don't I enjoy the alone time.
22. I have a vivid imaginations: for many, many things!
23. I am passionate: for many, many things!
24. I am not fearless, but I am not timid, either: I think that I am the right amount of cautious and daring.
25. I have some good friends: I am not a person who has hundreds of good friends, I have many acquaintances and a few good friends. But they are all treasured.
26. I have hobbies: I know there are many mothers who live only for their children but I need my children to know that even though they are important to me, Mommy is human and allowed to have outside interests.
27. I have good vocabulary: I can be my own thesaurus and dictionary!
28. I cannot be pigeon-holed!: I have varied tastes in food, music, company, entertainment, clothing, etc.
29. I have active children: and most of their activities I like to attend. :)
30. I had a good childhood: again, not everyone can say that, but I did.
31. I have value system and I know what is important in life: God first, family second, and then everything else.
32. I was brought up with strong morals that teach me right from wrong.
33. I may not be beautiful, but I know that looks are only skin deep and I think I have a good heart: most of the time
34. I have a sensitive side: This means that sometimes other people's words and actions hurt me, but it also means that I can be compassionate and empathetic.
35. I have a sense of humor: I love to laugh and make others laugh
36. I can play 2 instruments: piano and clarinet
37. I have an education: I value knowledge and appreciate that I have been able to take advantage of the education system in this country.
38. I have a higher degree: that I earned through hard work and a patient husband.
39. The sun rises everyday and sets every night: Even on the worst day, there is always another one to make better.
40. I sleep well at night: not glamorous, but fabulous!
4:55....time to watch my kiddo dance. Feeling even better!
7:13
41. I have good time management skills: I usually get things done in a timely fashion.
42.: I am organized: some would say too organized, but I like it that way.
43. My house has character: I love my house, it is interesting.
44. I was a collegiate swimmer: Not many people can say they competed at the collegiate level, I am proud to say I did and nobody can take that away from me.
45. I am a Masters' swimmer: I got back in the water after many years and am competing again.
46. I am losing weight: Sort of plateaued at the moment, but still down from where I was last year.
47. I like my wardrobe: Shopping is way more fun when things fit!
48. I have a little disposable income: Not much, but enough to get my haircut and a pedicure if I need them.
49. I can cook: a least enough that my family doesn't starve and and most things taste pretty good.
50. I am a fierce advocate for my children: nothing is going to get in the way of what is best for my children.
51. I am comfortable with the major decisions in my life: nothing is worse that regret and, for major things, I don't have any.
52. I try to reinvent myself often: I don't want to get stuck in a rut, and I'm always ready to turn over a new leaf.
53. I am the stain master: I can get stains out of just about anything!
54. My children are getting a good education: Again, happy about the decisions I/we have made.
55. My children are well behaved: they are considerate and pleasant, and mostly behave in public.
56. I have strong principles that I try very hard to stick to.
58. We have good childcare: which has saved us more times than I care to count.
59. We have developed a good support system in town: and considering we knew nobody when we moved here, we are grateful for that.
60. My couch: it may be lame, but a lot of nights, it is just wonderful to sit on it.
61. Wine.
62. The Big Bang Theory: Love it!
63. All of my other favorite TV programs including but not limited to: Revenge, Dance Moms, Days of Our Lives, The Office, Elementary, Blue Bloods, and the Amazing Race.
7:43---time to put the monkeys to bed
8:22--I'm making cookies for Calah's birthday, too, so this may take a little longer.
64. My husband appreciates me: he just told me that it doesn't feel like home until the kids and I are here. Awwwww
65. My front porch: not now, necessarily, but in the summer it is AWESOME!
66. Camping trips: my family loves to camp, and so do I!
67. Good days: Some days are better than others, and my best days are when I see students understand what I teach.
68. Engaged Encounter ministry: I feel really blessed to work with wonderful, dedicated people and have the ability to help engaged couples.
69. A wonderful parish family: The people at our parish welcomed us with open arms even though we aren't from that small town.
70. Mary Kay: I not only love the product, but I can run my business when I can.
71. My neighborhood: it is nice to have pleasant neighbors and a safe neighborhood.
72. A curious mind: I want to know why, how, what, and where.
which leads to
73. A love of reading: mostly fiction, but nonfiction can grab my attention, too.
74. My pillow: along the same lines as the couch. It's comfortable and I love it at the end of a long day.
75. Hot water: Love me a hot shower!
76. Soda: I may not drink coffee, but this is where I get my caffeine.
77. Chocolate: quite frankly I am appalled that it is this far down the list. If anything makes me smile, it's chocolate.
78. My kitties: sure, I'm not a big animal person, but the kitties are nice and as long as they don't throw up, I like them.
79. My massage therapist: yup, I'm in every two weeks like clockwork. And I love it!
80. Snow days: I love getting them!
81. Top Gun: it's back in theaters. I really need to see it. "I feel the need, the need for speed!"
82. Wonderful co-workers: I have great colleagues that support each other in times of need.
83. Facebook: ok, fabulous may be an overstatement, but I get to stay in touch with people in my life that I otherwise would lose touch with.
84. My passport: I can go anywhere in the world! Maybe Mozambique?
85. My doctors: who will help me find causes for problems that I can't explain.
86. DNA: I get to talk about it whenever I want! It's amazing stuff!
87. My house feels like home: and it has ever since we moved in. It feels as though we never lived anywhere else.
88. My husband feels like the only one I have ever loved: it has felt like home ever since we met.
89. 3:30: I get to go home and see my family!
90. My friend Rose's book: I can't say why, but, it's fabulous! Thanks Rose!
91. Electricity: let's face it, life would suck without it and I totally enjoy it!
92. Comfy jammies: again, the couch, my pillow....but truly, I think they are fabulous
93. A warm home: I may have implied this earlier, but this is outright, I love my warm house and the work we put into it to make it more efficient.
94. Challenges: I am willing to rise to them!
95. My relatively high tolerance to pain: I think I can handle it pretty well before I complain.
96. My insistence on not airing my dirty laundry: I try to be positive instead of negative to inspire people out there.
97. My fabulous son: Gabe gets an extra special shout out because he worked so hard to learn how to speak.
98. My generous daughter: Calah teaches me how to be generous and giving. God Bless her!
99. People who read all of these lame things about me. :)
and finally...
100. Even when I am grumpy or sad, I can look on the positive side.: This blog is proof!
Finished: 9:33 pm----not bad, not bad. And I totally feel better about life!
1. Charlie: my wonderful husband
2. Calah: beautiful, talented, sweet, caring, and couldn't be nicer daughter
2. Gabriel: active, entertaining, loving, adorable, and completely wonderful son
(they both had to be #2!)
4. My mom and dad: they have loved and supported me my whole life, even when I'm not the nicest person to be around.
5. Sarah: My sister and one of my best friends. Love ya!
6. Josh and Emily: You can't find better siblings anywhere!
7. Jeff, Ellie, Jake, Anna, Candace, and James: You guys are so supportive and bring joy to my life
8. I still have 2 of my grandparents: and they are wonderful, generous people who inspire me
9. I have a job: and it pays the bills. It isn't the most glamorous, and sometimes it sucks, but I have one.
10. There is a roof over my family's head, food on the table, and the bills get paid: not everyone has that luxury (which by the way, shouldn't be a luxury, it should be an accepted standard of life..but that is a different blog).
11. My car runs and is safe: and we hope my driving is, too!
12. I have a strong faith: Maybe this should be higher, but I am writing them as they come to me. And I believe that God will answer your prayers, if you are praying for the right things. Last week, all I prayed for was peace on my heart and my husband's heart. We got it and it was the first time I felt my prayers were answered. I'm sure it's not, but it may have been the first time I was praying for the right things.
13. I live in a country where women are mostly treated with respect: To live in a country where you are treated as property would be enough to break anyone's spirit.
14. I am independent: I have my own mind, I will use my own mind, and don't try to tell me otherwise!
15. I get to travel: I love to see new places, and visit favorite spots again.
16. I live in Michigan: I love the seasons (even winter), and the beautiful scenery that doesn't exist anywhere else on earth.
17. I have healthcare: I can take my children to the doctor's or go myself without the financial burden that other people face.
18. I am healthy: I can do most any activity I wish.
19. My children are healthy: My heart goes out to people who have sick children and they have to watch them suffer.
20. My extended family is healthy: Aside from our recent tragedy, as a family we have had to deal with very little illness of loss.
3:41--not bad for 11 minutes. And I feel better. Now I am going home......
4:32...
21. Even though I have a commute, most days it is very tolerable: I have a great carpool buddy, and when I don't I enjoy the alone time.
22. I have a vivid imaginations: for many, many things!
23. I am passionate: for many, many things!
24. I am not fearless, but I am not timid, either: I think that I am the right amount of cautious and daring.
25. I have some good friends: I am not a person who has hundreds of good friends, I have many acquaintances and a few good friends. But they are all treasured.
26. I have hobbies: I know there are many mothers who live only for their children but I need my children to know that even though they are important to me, Mommy is human and allowed to have outside interests.
27. I have good vocabulary: I can be my own thesaurus and dictionary!
28. I cannot be pigeon-holed!: I have varied tastes in food, music, company, entertainment, clothing, etc.
29. I have active children: and most of their activities I like to attend. :)
30. I had a good childhood: again, not everyone can say that, but I did.
31. I have value system and I know what is important in life: God first, family second, and then everything else.
32. I was brought up with strong morals that teach me right from wrong.
33. I may not be beautiful, but I know that looks are only skin deep and I think I have a good heart: most of the time
34. I have a sensitive side: This means that sometimes other people's words and actions hurt me, but it also means that I can be compassionate and empathetic.
35. I have a sense of humor: I love to laugh and make others laugh
36. I can play 2 instruments: piano and clarinet
37. I have an education: I value knowledge and appreciate that I have been able to take advantage of the education system in this country.
38. I have a higher degree: that I earned through hard work and a patient husband.
39. The sun rises everyday and sets every night: Even on the worst day, there is always another one to make better.
40. I sleep well at night: not glamorous, but fabulous!
4:55....time to watch my kiddo dance. Feeling even better!
7:13
41. I have good time management skills: I usually get things done in a timely fashion.
42.: I am organized: some would say too organized, but I like it that way.
43. My house has character: I love my house, it is interesting.
44. I was a collegiate swimmer: Not many people can say they competed at the collegiate level, I am proud to say I did and nobody can take that away from me.
45. I am a Masters' swimmer: I got back in the water after many years and am competing again.
46. I am losing weight: Sort of plateaued at the moment, but still down from where I was last year.
47. I like my wardrobe: Shopping is way more fun when things fit!
48. I have a little disposable income: Not much, but enough to get my haircut and a pedicure if I need them.
49. I can cook: a least enough that my family doesn't starve and and most things taste pretty good.
50. I am a fierce advocate for my children: nothing is going to get in the way of what is best for my children.
51. I am comfortable with the major decisions in my life: nothing is worse that regret and, for major things, I don't have any.
52. I try to reinvent myself often: I don't want to get stuck in a rut, and I'm always ready to turn over a new leaf.
53. I am the stain master: I can get stains out of just about anything!
54. My children are getting a good education: Again, happy about the decisions I/we have made.
55. My children are well behaved: they are considerate and pleasant, and mostly behave in public.
56. I have strong principles that I try very hard to stick to.
58. We have good childcare: which has saved us more times than I care to count.
59. We have developed a good support system in town: and considering we knew nobody when we moved here, we are grateful for that.
60. My couch: it may be lame, but a lot of nights, it is just wonderful to sit on it.
61. Wine.
62. The Big Bang Theory: Love it!
63. All of my other favorite TV programs including but not limited to: Revenge, Dance Moms, Days of Our Lives, The Office, Elementary, Blue Bloods, and the Amazing Race.
7:43---time to put the monkeys to bed
8:22--I'm making cookies for Calah's birthday, too, so this may take a little longer.
64. My husband appreciates me: he just told me that it doesn't feel like home until the kids and I are here. Awwwww
65. My front porch: not now, necessarily, but in the summer it is AWESOME!
66. Camping trips: my family loves to camp, and so do I!
67. Good days: Some days are better than others, and my best days are when I see students understand what I teach.
68. Engaged Encounter ministry: I feel really blessed to work with wonderful, dedicated people and have the ability to help engaged couples.
69. A wonderful parish family: The people at our parish welcomed us with open arms even though we aren't from that small town.
70. Mary Kay: I not only love the product, but I can run my business when I can.
71. My neighborhood: it is nice to have pleasant neighbors and a safe neighborhood.
72. A curious mind: I want to know why, how, what, and where.
which leads to
73. A love of reading: mostly fiction, but nonfiction can grab my attention, too.
74. My pillow: along the same lines as the couch. It's comfortable and I love it at the end of a long day.
75. Hot water: Love me a hot shower!
76. Soda: I may not drink coffee, but this is where I get my caffeine.
77. Chocolate: quite frankly I am appalled that it is this far down the list. If anything makes me smile, it's chocolate.
78. My kitties: sure, I'm not a big animal person, but the kitties are nice and as long as they don't throw up, I like them.
79. My massage therapist: yup, I'm in every two weeks like clockwork. And I love it!
80. Snow days: I love getting them!
81. Top Gun: it's back in theaters. I really need to see it. "I feel the need, the need for speed!"
82. Wonderful co-workers: I have great colleagues that support each other in times of need.
83. Facebook: ok, fabulous may be an overstatement, but I get to stay in touch with people in my life that I otherwise would lose touch with.
84. My passport: I can go anywhere in the world! Maybe Mozambique?
85. My doctors: who will help me find causes for problems that I can't explain.
86. DNA: I get to talk about it whenever I want! It's amazing stuff!
87. My house feels like home: and it has ever since we moved in. It feels as though we never lived anywhere else.
88. My husband feels like the only one I have ever loved: it has felt like home ever since we met.
89. 3:30: I get to go home and see my family!
90. My friend Rose's book: I can't say why, but, it's fabulous! Thanks Rose!
91. Electricity: let's face it, life would suck without it and I totally enjoy it!
92. Comfy jammies: again, the couch, my pillow....but truly, I think they are fabulous
93. A warm home: I may have implied this earlier, but this is outright, I love my warm house and the work we put into it to make it more efficient.
94. Challenges: I am willing to rise to them!
95. My relatively high tolerance to pain: I think I can handle it pretty well before I complain.
96. My insistence on not airing my dirty laundry: I try to be positive instead of negative to inspire people out there.
97. My fabulous son: Gabe gets an extra special shout out because he worked so hard to learn how to speak.
98. My generous daughter: Calah teaches me how to be generous and giving. God Bless her!
99. People who read all of these lame things about me. :)
and finally...
100. Even when I am grumpy or sad, I can look on the positive side.: This blog is proof!
Finished: 9:33 pm----not bad, not bad. And I totally feel better about life!
Monday, October 29, 2012
A Great Fall
We have had a great fall! It has really been wonderful. Here is the scoop:
Back in September we attended a wedding of a beautiful young woman from our church, who also happens to be my 3rd cousin (or something along those lines). I love weddings. I mean, I really love weddings. Yes, I enjoy the reception (more on that in a minute), but I really, really love weddings. If I am invited to a wedding there is no skipping the ceremony for me! To me, that is what the whole thing is about. Two people who love each other so much, committing themselves to each other. Beautiful and wonderful. I love weddings........and receptions. I may get a little tipsy, I may dance like a fool, but they are so much fun. Really, I just love to go dancing (and trust me, I pretend no one is watching because I am not a good dancer and would be very self conscious if I thought about it, that is where the adult beverages help. :) )
Then we had a busy weekend of homecomings, both my school and Chuck's. Lots of good football. The next weekend it was off to Art Prize, a tradition our whole family is really enjoying. It is so great to see so many people in Grand Rapids enjoying art of all different kinds. I think that the arts are so very important to stimulate creativity, and with so many cuts in schools and an increased demand for core curriculum, kids aren't given opportunities to explore and imagine. It is something that Chuck and I are passionate about for our kids. We are very luck to be able to expose them to Art Prize and different forms of art.
Then we were home for a weekend, which was good because it was ridiculously rainy. We went to a yummy chili cook off at church, did a little shopping at a craft fair, and got a lot of things done around the house because......we were camping the next weekend. I love that tradition. We had gorgeous weather at Sleeping Bear Dunes. It is really nice to get away with the family and have quality fam time! The kids enjoyed climbing the dunes and playing in the campground. We had fires and watched the sunset on Lake Michigan. We slept in and relaxed. None of us were in a hurry to get home.
And this past weekend we were in Chicago to meet the newest addition to the family. My nephew is so cute and snuggly and I wish I was there right now to hold him. He is perfect and I am so glad we had a chance to go visit. Calah and Chuck and I totally fought over holding him, and even though Gabe didn't want to hold him, he did concede that he liked James "better than the Lego store". We'll take it.
Of course, that is just the weekends. The weeks have been full of basketball practice and games (tonight is the last one, yay!), soccer games, swim meets, dance classes, LMRC meetings, homework, school, doctor's appointments, meetings, and running around like crazy. Oh, and did I mention Gabe had surgery? Yup, needed to remove the tube from his ear and repair the ear drum. Apparently if tubes are in too long and don't come out on their own, it is common to get an infection (which he did) and then they have to be surgically removed. It is unnerving to watch your five year old go off to surgery, but considering it is relatively minor and I know that I am so blessed, I won't complain.
The next weeks are not any better, busy wise anyway. This weekend I am scrapbooking (yippee!) and next week are PT conferences for me (Chuck had his, Gabe has his this week, and Calah's are the week after mine), and an EE weekend. Then Chuck has his LMRC Swap Meet and then it is Thanksgiving. And we get to see the baby again! And, as we all know, Christmas follows and the craziness ensues for that. I can say that even though basketball and soccer are over and we will have dance and swimming lessons, Chuck and I have designated a family night for this winter and I am really looking forward to one night a week without running. A night for a good dinner (as opposed to me slapping something together when I get home and we eat quickly before we are out the door again), some games and good quality family time. It will be nice to slow down a little.
Back in September we attended a wedding of a beautiful young woman from our church, who also happens to be my 3rd cousin (or something along those lines). I love weddings. I mean, I really love weddings. Yes, I enjoy the reception (more on that in a minute), but I really, really love weddings. If I am invited to a wedding there is no skipping the ceremony for me! To me, that is what the whole thing is about. Two people who love each other so much, committing themselves to each other. Beautiful and wonderful. I love weddings........and receptions. I may get a little tipsy, I may dance like a fool, but they are so much fun. Really, I just love to go dancing (and trust me, I pretend no one is watching because I am not a good dancer and would be very self conscious if I thought about it, that is where the adult beverages help. :) )
Then we had a busy weekend of homecomings, both my school and Chuck's. Lots of good football. The next weekend it was off to Art Prize, a tradition our whole family is really enjoying. It is so great to see so many people in Grand Rapids enjoying art of all different kinds. I think that the arts are so very important to stimulate creativity, and with so many cuts in schools and an increased demand for core curriculum, kids aren't given opportunities to explore and imagine. It is something that Chuck and I are passionate about for our kids. We are very luck to be able to expose them to Art Prize and different forms of art.
Then we were home for a weekend, which was good because it was ridiculously rainy. We went to a yummy chili cook off at church, did a little shopping at a craft fair, and got a lot of things done around the house because......we were camping the next weekend. I love that tradition. We had gorgeous weather at Sleeping Bear Dunes. It is really nice to get away with the family and have quality fam time! The kids enjoyed climbing the dunes and playing in the campground. We had fires and watched the sunset on Lake Michigan. We slept in and relaxed. None of us were in a hurry to get home.
And this past weekend we were in Chicago to meet the newest addition to the family. My nephew is so cute and snuggly and I wish I was there right now to hold him. He is perfect and I am so glad we had a chance to go visit. Calah and Chuck and I totally fought over holding him, and even though Gabe didn't want to hold him, he did concede that he liked James "better than the Lego store". We'll take it.
Of course, that is just the weekends. The weeks have been full of basketball practice and games (tonight is the last one, yay!), soccer games, swim meets, dance classes, LMRC meetings, homework, school, doctor's appointments, meetings, and running around like crazy. Oh, and did I mention Gabe had surgery? Yup, needed to remove the tube from his ear and repair the ear drum. Apparently if tubes are in too long and don't come out on their own, it is common to get an infection (which he did) and then they have to be surgically removed. It is unnerving to watch your five year old go off to surgery, but considering it is relatively minor and I know that I am so blessed, I won't complain.
The next weeks are not any better, busy wise anyway. This weekend I am scrapbooking (yippee!) and next week are PT conferences for me (Chuck had his, Gabe has his this week, and Calah's are the week after mine), and an EE weekend. Then Chuck has his LMRC Swap Meet and then it is Thanksgiving. And we get to see the baby again! And, as we all know, Christmas follows and the craziness ensues for that. I can say that even though basketball and soccer are over and we will have dance and swimming lessons, Chuck and I have designated a family night for this winter and I am really looking forward to one night a week without running. A night for a good dinner (as opposed to me slapping something together when I get home and we eat quickly before we are out the door again), some games and good quality family time. It will be nice to slow down a little.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Fears of History Repeating Itself
This past summer, Calah's school ran a basketball camp for her age group. I asked her if she wanted to play, and without hesitation and with complete enthusiasm, she yelled "Yes!"
And then I cried.
I won't lie. I have been dreading this day. D..R..E..A..D..I..N..G.. I really was hoping she wouldn't want to play. I was hoping she would just want to dance and swim and all the things that keep her little. I have been trying really hard not to let her see how I feel, because I know that these feelings are remnants of my past.
I played basketball. I loved basketball. It was all I lived and breathed from the 4th through the 9th grade. I loved playing and I wanted to be good. I probably didn't practice enough, and I didn't have any real talent, but I loved it. My dad tried to help me every way he could. He would encourage me to practice, take me to games, and be my biggest supporter. But in the end, I was cut from the JV team at school and my dreams were crushed.
Granted, I went on to swim and found that I loved it and had some talent at that, but the truth is, when I was cut from the basketball team, my world sort of changed. Even though I probably never really fit in with the girls from the basketball team, I had a reason to hang out with them. They were the popular girls and I liked that. I wasn't popular, but I was on the edge of the crowd. And some of these girls I had played with since the 4th grade. When I was cut, I realized that they were also the mean girls. All of a sudden it was like I had never existed. The hurt I felt was unbelievable. I couldn't believe that these girls I had spent so much time with, practiced with, gone to camp with, couldn't even express any sadness that I wasn't going to play ball with them anymore. My world had been turned upside down, and it seemed like nobody cared. I felt like I had lost many of my "friends". I realize now that they were never my friends, but at the time all I felt was abandonment. And that is when my animosity toward the game started. I realized it was the game of the mean girls.
I would do ANYTHING to stop my daughter from feeling that pain.
I know it is only 3rd and 4th grade basketball. I know that virtually every girl in her class is playing so it is not a case of have/have nots. I know that she is having fun, and and it's good for her to learn how to play the game. However, knowing that I didn't have much talent, I wasn't holding out hope for her, and I didn't want Calah to feel the same pain I did. I just hoped she would lose interest in basketball before basketball lost interest in her.
Then we had to go to a game. I won't lie, I was totally dreading it. To my surprise and delight, Calah did pretty well, and the next game she did better, and this last game she was awesome! I mean really good. Even though she is one of the shortest on the team, she had a ton of rebounds. She shot, didn't make any, but sure gave it a good try. And many times she came out of a group of girls with the ball and took it down the court. She was aggressive, which is shocking after our experience with soccer. I was totally impressed. She is WAY better than I was at that age. And my competitive side raised it's ugly head. I totally became a crazy cheering mom, loud and obnoxious, even though I promised myself I would behave.
Maybe she will be a star and play through high school. Maybe she'll be bored with it next year and never pick up a ball again (but that would greatly disappoint her father who put the backboard and rim up on our garage the other day). But either way, I will support her, and love her, and do my best to protect her from any mean girls.
And then I cried.
I won't lie. I have been dreading this day. D..R..E..A..D..I..N..G.. I really was hoping she wouldn't want to play. I was hoping she would just want to dance and swim and all the things that keep her little. I have been trying really hard not to let her see how I feel, because I know that these feelings are remnants of my past.
I played basketball. I loved basketball. It was all I lived and breathed from the 4th through the 9th grade. I loved playing and I wanted to be good. I probably didn't practice enough, and I didn't have any real talent, but I loved it. My dad tried to help me every way he could. He would encourage me to practice, take me to games, and be my biggest supporter. But in the end, I was cut from the JV team at school and my dreams were crushed.
Granted, I went on to swim and found that I loved it and had some talent at that, but the truth is, when I was cut from the basketball team, my world sort of changed. Even though I probably never really fit in with the girls from the basketball team, I had a reason to hang out with them. They were the popular girls and I liked that. I wasn't popular, but I was on the edge of the crowd. And some of these girls I had played with since the 4th grade. When I was cut, I realized that they were also the mean girls. All of a sudden it was like I had never existed. The hurt I felt was unbelievable. I couldn't believe that these girls I had spent so much time with, practiced with, gone to camp with, couldn't even express any sadness that I wasn't going to play ball with them anymore. My world had been turned upside down, and it seemed like nobody cared. I felt like I had lost many of my "friends". I realize now that they were never my friends, but at the time all I felt was abandonment. And that is when my animosity toward the game started. I realized it was the game of the mean girls.
I would do ANYTHING to stop my daughter from feeling that pain.
I know it is only 3rd and 4th grade basketball. I know that virtually every girl in her class is playing so it is not a case of have/have nots. I know that she is having fun, and and it's good for her to learn how to play the game. However, knowing that I didn't have much talent, I wasn't holding out hope for her, and I didn't want Calah to feel the same pain I did. I just hoped she would lose interest in basketball before basketball lost interest in her.
Then we had to go to a game. I won't lie, I was totally dreading it. To my surprise and delight, Calah did pretty well, and the next game she did better, and this last game she was awesome! I mean really good. Even though she is one of the shortest on the team, she had a ton of rebounds. She shot, didn't make any, but sure gave it a good try. And many times she came out of a group of girls with the ball and took it down the court. She was aggressive, which is shocking after our experience with soccer. I was totally impressed. She is WAY better than I was at that age. And my competitive side raised it's ugly head. I totally became a crazy cheering mom, loud and obnoxious, even though I promised myself I would behave.
Maybe she will be a star and play through high school. Maybe she'll be bored with it next year and never pick up a ball again (but that would greatly disappoint her father who put the backboard and rim up on our garage the other day). But either way, I will support her, and love her, and do my best to protect her from any mean girls.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Back to the Grind
It has been a long and pleasant summer. Long and pleasant. Pleasant. I want it back.
With September comes the beginning of the school year and the beginning of craziness for us. Two weeks ago, Chuck started with meetings, last week Chuck started with students, Calah started school, and I started with meetings, and this week I started with students and Gabe started school. Plus, dance, basketball, and soccer are all starting. Some days I'm not sure which end is up!
We are doing the four different school schedules again this year. Last Gabe did two different preschools to address his social development and speech delays. This year we have opted to not send him to kindergarten, but to put him in kinderstart (a young 5's program) at the local public school. It is full day, 5 days a week. He still has some speech problems, though he is much better. And he needs a little more social development. Plus he did just turn 5 in June. If it sounds like I am trying to justify our decision, I probably am. I know he is 5 and academically ready for kindergarten, but I really think he needs another year to develop socially and I would like him to be as close to done with speech as he can be. Kids with CAS (Childhood Apraxia of Speech) tend to have higher rates of dyslexia, and if I can get him hearing and speaking the letters correctly before learning to read, he will be much better off. I have never been one to really push my children into growing up (they are little for far too short of a time), so I am enjoying the idea of not having a kindergartener quite yet. But I have a lot of friends who have children Gabe's age. Although it shouldn't be a concern, I keep wondering what they will say and how Gabe's friends will react to him being a year below them. I know Gabe will make new friends, he is very social, but I do worry about people thinking there is something wrong with him. There isn't. We are simply giving him another year. (And don't even THINK about saying we are holding him back. That has such a negative connotation. We are GIVING him another year, it's a gift. Yes, in this case the semantics matter.)
I love his teacher. She is amazing and we are so lucky that he gets to be in her class. He seems to be adjusting ok, but he is exhausted at night. Tonight he was asleep by 7:30. Maybe he'll actually sleep in this weekend......
Calah is doing wonderfully as a third grader. This year they are learning all about Michigan, which she loves. And there is a new girl in her class, so that is exciting. She is playing basketball and dancing, so we have another pretty tired child as she gets used to her schedule. Right now her biggest challenge is responsibility. Tonight she told me that I didn't sign her agenda yesterday. And I told her that she didn't tell me I needed to. (If I would have known I was supposed to, I would have hinted to remind her to ask me.) But over all, she is doing well.
Chuck is super busy. He has 6 teaching class periods, but 7 preps and a student teacher. He'll be ok, but WOW!
And this year my adjustment is taking a bit. Way more students than I have ever had in the past, more class periods to teach than in the past, and at the end of day 3, I'm exhausted. I am still trying to get to the pool on a regular basis. I had a really nice experience shopping recently for new clothes, so that is keeping me motivated.
One more day this week, I can do it. And since we are back in a routine, I will get back to a routine of posting. :)
With September comes the beginning of the school year and the beginning of craziness for us. Two weeks ago, Chuck started with meetings, last week Chuck started with students, Calah started school, and I started with meetings, and this week I started with students and Gabe started school. Plus, dance, basketball, and soccer are all starting. Some days I'm not sure which end is up!
We are doing the four different school schedules again this year. Last Gabe did two different preschools to address his social development and speech delays. This year we have opted to not send him to kindergarten, but to put him in kinderstart (a young 5's program) at the local public school. It is full day, 5 days a week. He still has some speech problems, though he is much better. And he needs a little more social development. Plus he did just turn 5 in June. If it sounds like I am trying to justify our decision, I probably am. I know he is 5 and academically ready for kindergarten, but I really think he needs another year to develop socially and I would like him to be as close to done with speech as he can be. Kids with CAS (Childhood Apraxia of Speech) tend to have higher rates of dyslexia, and if I can get him hearing and speaking the letters correctly before learning to read, he will be much better off. I have never been one to really push my children into growing up (they are little for far too short of a time), so I am enjoying the idea of not having a kindergartener quite yet. But I have a lot of friends who have children Gabe's age. Although it shouldn't be a concern, I keep wondering what they will say and how Gabe's friends will react to him being a year below them. I know Gabe will make new friends, he is very social, but I do worry about people thinking there is something wrong with him. There isn't. We are simply giving him another year. (And don't even THINK about saying we are holding him back. That has such a negative connotation. We are GIVING him another year, it's a gift. Yes, in this case the semantics matter.)
I love his teacher. She is amazing and we are so lucky that he gets to be in her class. He seems to be adjusting ok, but he is exhausted at night. Tonight he was asleep by 7:30. Maybe he'll actually sleep in this weekend......
Calah is doing wonderfully as a third grader. This year they are learning all about Michigan, which she loves. And there is a new girl in her class, so that is exciting. She is playing basketball and dancing, so we have another pretty tired child as she gets used to her schedule. Right now her biggest challenge is responsibility. Tonight she told me that I didn't sign her agenda yesterday. And I told her that she didn't tell me I needed to. (If I would have known I was supposed to, I would have hinted to remind her to ask me.) But over all, she is doing well.
Chuck is super busy. He has 6 teaching class periods, but 7 preps and a student teacher. He'll be ok, but WOW!
And this year my adjustment is taking a bit. Way more students than I have ever had in the past, more class periods to teach than in the past, and at the end of day 3, I'm exhausted. I am still trying to get to the pool on a regular basis. I had a really nice experience shopping recently for new clothes, so that is keeping me motivated.
One more day this week, I can do it. And since we are back in a routine, I will get back to a routine of posting. :)
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