Cool Zebras

Simply Joy Sunday #42

2009-11-08T08:19:00.003-06:00

I've enjoyed celebrating the little joys in life every Sunday here at Cool Zebras. This Sunday my joys are very simple:

I love drugs. Especially drugs that make the searing pain in my throat go away. In fact, that's another simple joy: being able to swallow without fear of the razor blades scraping my throat. Also, not drooling all over my pillow because I don't want to swallow.

I'd much rather recover from abdominal surgery than to have strep throat. This is my second round in 9 weeks. Gee, this winter is going to be F.U.N!

Anyone still playing along? Leave me your link (and don't forget to link here!) and I'll link all the participants here as usual.

Playing Along:

Athena's Armoury

Whatever Happened To Manners?

2009-11-07T08:07:00.000-06:00

Sometimes progress and technology are very bad things. People no longer connect beyond a superficial level. You used to know your butcher, your grocer, your postal carrier. I don't know the man who delivers my mail. I have a slight relationship with some of the people at one branch of our local post office, merely because I choose to go there to ship packages when people buy stuff from my shop.

This lack of connection seems to allow people to forget common manners...or maybe it's just my city. I guess when I've been in other cities the salespeople have been more pleasant. My city is full of people who have a strong sense of entitlement.

Clerks in stores no longer think it's necessary to thank you for your purchase. Instead, they hand you your receipt and say "here you go" as though they are doing you a favor.

I went into one store for the first time ever (so it was a liquor store, so?) and the clerk barked at me "what's your birth date?" I looked at him incredulously because it's quite obvious I am older than 21. I thought he was joking. No. "What's your birth date?" he barked at me again. The cash register apparently required him to enter a birth date before he could ring in the sale. I told him the date, he took my money and said "here you go" as he handed me my receipt. I said "you're welcome" as he rolled his eyes and thought I was a bitch.

Honestly, how hard is it to treat people nicely? If you don't like your job, find another one. If that's not possible, find some joy in the work you are currently doing. Why spread the misery? Sometimes all it takes is a shift in your own perspective to make a job more enjoyable.

How could this exchange at the store gone better?

Clerk: "Hello" [smiling] "Could I have your birth date please?"
Me: [pleasantly surprised that someone is courteous] "suchandsuchadate" (Did you really think I'd post that info? Come on!)
Clerk: "Thank you" [rings up sale] "That will be $10.35."
[I pay.]
Clerk: "Here's your receipt. Thank you!"

{end scene}

It's a similar tale at other stores that want to know your zip code so they can track where their customers are coming from. "Zip code?" the cashier will demand. Maybe it takes longer to be polite, but what's a few words to make an exchange better? "Could you please tell me your zip code?" sets the tone for the transaction at a much nicer note.

I worked in retail for I think 14 years. I can admit I wasn't always happy to be at my job, but I always thanked the customer and I almost never acted like I was bothered they were there. (I say almost never because there was that one time, a story for another day.)

Is it really just my city that has rude salespeople? (Although the people at our post office are really fantastic. I'm thinking I need to do something to acknowledge that.) Do you agree that technology and the impersonal nature of the Internet is to blame for the decline of simple manners?

Just a Little Tip, Take a Little Tip From Me

2009-11-06T07:41:00.003-06:00

So, let's just say hypothetically that you have a girl in second grade who is extremely social. Perhaps so social that the teacher has explained that she has several girls in her class who have very strong, confident personalities and it may or may not be stressing said teacher out. [pointed look that ensures you know your child is one of those girls]

These girls that your daughter hangs out with at school have distinct and increasingly teenage-esque behaviors that maybe are starting to alarm you a bit on occasion, though most of the time they are harmless things...just little girls experimenting with being bigger girls.

But let me tell you. Just a small tip. If your daughter has long hair and asks to wear her hair down instead of in the customary braids or "twisties" she usually wears because her and her friends want to play "beauty shop" at recess, decline the request. Really. Just. Say. No.

Because if ~~you're stupid like me~~ you let your child wear her hair down to school for such purpose, you might just end up spending 45 minutes of your life trying to get a tangled hair band out from several knots of hair and brushing 2682 snarls out of her hair.

Just. Say. No.

Cold Weather Haiku

2009-11-05T07:22:00.002-06:00

The thing about coats
is if you really need them
the kids won't wear them.

The Only Thing In My Son's Lunchbox That He Didn't Eat

2009-11-04T07:01:00.000-06:00

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Blogging on Blogging

2009-11-03T06:51:00.005-06:00

This space came about as a whim, a lark. I was cavalier about it. I would write about my life, things that were on my mind, the funny things my kids said, the things about parenting that make my blood boil. I wanted to tell my story. My story includes my children. They are an inextricable part of my life, especially since I am a stay-at-home-mom. Some would say that I don't have the right to tell my children's stories. Their stories are their own and not mine to tell. And those people may be right.

The line is blurred between my story and theirs.

When it comes to my husband the line is more clearly marked. Even our story together is often off limits for me to write about here. Our story is not mine alone. So I do not write Craig's story here. It is only his to tell.

This blog is my story. It's a story that sometimes features cameo appearances from my parents or my brother or my brother's kids. But their appearances are superficial. You will never know them because of what I've written here. They have their own stories. I know only a small part of their stories anyway.

I realized in the last few years that writing about my in-laws is also generally not helpful and is probably hurtful to my husband so I have limited my writing about them as well. As far as I know, they do not know about this blog but I cannot be sure. I do not want to hurt my husband's family for the sake of comedy or whatever I thought my goal was there. I try. I do not always succeed in curbing my urges. This too is a part of my story.

Even as this blog is my story and I write fairly openly about things in my life and my experiences make no mistake. I do not share it all. There is much more to my life than will ever be shared here.

I chose to share my blog address with some of my family members. For the most part this has been a good thing. My family enjoys reading about my kids and laughs about the misadventures of Heather and Amma. My parents like to see the photos I take of my kids.

Sometimes though, having family read this blog is not a good thing. Feelings get hurt unintentionally. Some may wonder why they are not a part of this story. So I question the wisdom of writing so publicly. It suggests to others that they know me better than perhaps they really do.

This is only a small part of me. And I wonder if even that small part is too much to share.

Lessons in Church

2009-11-02T07:04:00.004-06:00

We went to church yesterday. Miss M was supposed to sing during the service for the first time as a member of the Calvin choir. They wear red robes in the Calvin choir. K sings with the Cherub choir for another year, then he'll be in the Calvin choir and M and K will sing together again.

I was excited to see M in the bigger kids' choir, but first there was the Sunday School hour. Craig took D to the nursery and I walked M and K to the sanctuary where the big kids gather together for music before splitting into grade levels for school. The early service was running a little long, so my big kids and I gathered at the door along with K's teacher. Before long the service ended and the kids went into the sanctuary. Moments later a woman that I've gotten to know a little bit at the church (we'll call her Y) appeared with another woman (we'll call her B). They stopped K's teacher and told her that they wanted B's daughter to move from the preschool class to the Kindergarten and first grade classroom because she is bored in the preschool class. The teacher was obviously not thrilled with the idea because there is quite a difference between almost 5 and first-graders. But Y and B pressed the teacher insisting that the girl is very bright and polite and would do better with the older kids. The teacher eventually gave in, saying she'd give the girl a shot. After the teacher went into the sanctuary to be with her class, the other two women began to chat about how rude they thought the teacher was for saying something like "well, I am a Kindergarten teacher and there is a big difference between 4 and being in Kindergarten." I didn't find this statement the least bit rude as there is a big difference. I agree.

However I said nothing that indicated I agreed and just listened, smiling B went on and on about how bright, how mature, how wonderful her daughter (who will be 5 in a couple of weeks she mentioned 4729 times) is and how she belonged with the older kids.

Then she turned to me and said She is certainly more mature than K. Oh yes she did.

I told her she was rude and walked away. I have never been so insulted or angry or upset that someone would essentially cut down my child wholly unprovoked. My son was never brought up at any point until she callously stated that her 4-year-old was more mature than my almost 5 1/2-year-old Kindergartner.

Who does something like that to another parent? Who judges another person's child's maturity level, especially only having minimal experience with that child? Why do people have to cut others down to make themselves feel superior?

I allowed this woman's words to cut me. They cut Y too. I cried and as I was crying Y was in another area of the church crying also for me. She's the mother of 4. She felt the insult too.

Later B tried to come to the nursery and apologize, but I told her I didn't want to talk to her. Even her attempt at apology felt contrived and false. She was smiling. I will never be able to smile at this woman again.

This whole incident makes me so sad. Why can't parents support one another instead of making things into a competition?

*********
I'm also considering making this blog private. If I decide to go this route please send me an email at cool_zebras at hotmail dot com if you would like to be a reader. It looks like I would only be able to allow 100 readers if the blog was private.

Simply Joy Sunday Halloween Edition

2009-11-01T08:13:00.004-06:00

All of my parents' grandkids together! They've gone Trick-or-treating every Halloween together. They have so much fun together even though it is a little chaotic. There is always way too much excitement so us parents start yelling a little too much to try to get them in line again. But they eventually start to get tired and slow down a bit!

I'm mad at myself that I didn't take any photos of my big kids by themselves. M was a monster bride, or the Bride of Frankenstein. She really was very cute. And that's the K-Man in the front on the right. He was a Dragon Warrior or something like that. And GASP! He wore a mask! that covered his FACE! I didn't think that would ever happen.

This little bug was raking in the candy. She had so much fun running from house to house. She almost got away with 3 full-sized Kit Kats from one house but Mom made her put two back. The man at that house said she could take them all though because she was so cute.

Fun Halloween!

What are the joys you're celebrating this week?

Also celebrating:

Athena's Armoury

Halloween Festivities

2009-10-31T07:25:00.002-05:00

The big kids were waaaay too excited to carve pumpkins. Yes, K is actually balancing on his. The finished works... M's is on the left. She drew her face, carved some of it herself then asked Dad to finish carving. K drew his own face which was impossible to carve so I asked him what he wanted and did my own interpretation. His is on the right. Ms. D didn't care about her face. She was interested in the guts of the pumpkin, but not enough to actually touch it. Hers is in the middle.

This poor girl in front of K during the "character parade" (DON'T call it a HALLOWEEN parade! NO!) was so irritated with his exuberance during the parade. She kept pushing him back and telling him to stop. He was completely oblivious to her frustration. I'm sorry to that girl and her parents.

M spotted Daddy watching and literally jumped in the air.

The poor girl is still trying to keep K in line.

Before the parade. One of D's costumes (one M wore as a baby). The photography is lacking.

Waiting to see the Big Kids in their parade. It was "warm" in the morning yesterday but the temps dropped quickly. Isn't she adorable in that coat? I love it.

Dad trying to get D to pose before the parade. I just think she's so little and cute with her Minnie Mouse costume sticking out under her red coat.

This is the principal. I laughed heartily when I saw him. And I think he's awesome. (Made extra awesome because I went to high school with one of his sons.)

I thought M was beautiful, as usual.

Happy Halloween! Hope all your tricks are treats and that all of us northerners stay warm!

Random Thoughts #41

2009-10-30T09:38:00.002-05:00

The baby got her first dose of the H1N1 vaccine. Apparently kids up to age 10 have to have two doses, 1 month apart. So, poor D will get 3 flu shots this year. I wish they would tell you that when you schedule the first shot, I would have scheduled the second one while I was on the phone the first time since it took 30 minutes of waiting to get the first one scheduled. But that would be way too convenient for people I suppose.
Due to a scheduling snafu, I will be posting over at Midwest Parents again next week. Apparently I forgot the first week of November. I hope there wasn't a subconscious or clairvoyant reason that I wanted to forget next week! Have you been to the new Midwest Parents yet? We have tips for running a healthy and happy family, Wordless Wednesday, Thursday Good Reads, and recipes on Fridays. With seven bloggers, you're sure to find someone new you'll enjoy reading!
Our trees have arrived for the annual Festival of Trees and decorating is scheduled to commence next week. It's always a lot of work for me, but it's fun too (when I'm not getting stressed out). Last year D rode in the sling when we were putting the trees up in the Civic Center. I suppose this year she'll have to sit in the stroller while I put the finishing touches on the tree. She still fits in the sling too, so I guess that's still an option too.
The big kids are having their "character parade" at school this afternoon. D is going to wear one of her costumes when we go watch too. They are so excited. Hopefully it's not raining so they can parade outside.
I wonder if I'll remember that Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend? Extra hour of sleep!

Weighty Haiku

2009-10-29T06:55:00.000-05:00

My weight loss is stalled.
In fact its only weight gained.
I need some support.

Not only that I
need motivation what can
we do to help all?

I'm not willing to
do another Aweigh since
I don't get to win.

Yes, I am selfish.
I need motivation so
that I keep working.

Boy on Hay Bale Maze

2009-10-28T07:15:00.000-05:00

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Trials of the Third

2009-10-26T07:04:00.003-05:00

There is both luck and curse in being the third child born into a family. By the time the third child comes along, the parents are more relaxed. Those who were once helicopter parents find themselves uttering phrases like "where's the baby?" and "what are you doing?" from another room while the baby climbs the walls or pulls the cat's tail.

Things that once exasperated you, like the baby dumping a bowlful of crackers on the floor, now hardly register. When she tosses food from the high chair you barely bat an eye. Your home becomes a chorus of "uh oh!" and quick cleanup, rather than irritation. And you see these differences in parenting in that third child. When she makes the puddle of water by squeezing the nub of her sippy cup and sees your face, she goes to the kitchen, grabs a towel and mops up her mess. She takes pride in herself for doing a little something to fix what she may have messed up.

She has more people who love her than her siblings did at her age. Sometimes this is a curse to being the third kid. M and K both pick her up randomly, when she's minding her own business, and move her to another area of the room. She protests, vehemently, wordlessly, with grunts and screeches that leave little doubt that she's upset about the detour but she is too small to fight them off.

The curse of the third child also comes with a mother who perhaps is not ready to let her baby (and always baby) grow beyond her need for mommy. Ms. D will likely be stuck in a high chair longer than her siblings were. She'll also be in a crib longer if her mother has any say in it. Although D is a climber, she is still petite enough that she can't get her leg up to scale the crib walls. She will always be the baby of the family. She will always be behind her sister and brother. Her name will always be signed last in greeting cards.

But the thing I've learned most with each additional child (and there will be no more additions) is that life becomes more full. That could sound negative or positive. I think it's positive. The heart fills even as it expands. I would never doubt that a larger family has any less love for each and every one of their children. I have my three and they are perfect for me.

Simply Joy Sunday #40

2009-10-25T08:17:00.005-05:00

More joys! Are you noticing the things in life that make you smile? This blue tub? It's GONE! No more bathing in the teeny tiny baby blue tub! Yippee!

I bought this wooden rocking horse at our church's rummage sale when M was almost one year old. I brought it up from the basement a couple of days ago and Ms. D loves climbing on and rocking away! (Also, I love her in her little jeans and that red button-down shirt. She looks so big and so little at the same time.)

And this? A photo of my eldest washing dishes! I knew there was a reason I had kids. The great thing? My son was mad that he didn't get to wash dishes too. Oh, K-Man, you'll have your chance too. Believe me.

Are you feeling the joy? Post on your blog, link to me, and I'll link any playas here.

Playing nicely:

Athena's Armoury

Mrs. Dragon

Random Thoughts #40

2009-10-23T06:42:00.002-05:00

Ms. D still doesn't talk as much as her siblings did when they were 15 months. She turned 17 months yesterday. She's saying more words than she has, but still further behind than her siblings. Apparently we are all great at interpreting screeches and grunts, so why speak words?
When she does talk? I love it. New personalities in our family!
My big kids had their first report cards for the year. Both have done well. K did exceptionally well which was really surprising to me. I'm not sure why. Chalk that up to my issues...also he is so similar to me in some ways...so I shouldn't be surprised. And then that sounds weird too. But I always earned good grades in school, so I hope that my children will earn good grades too. Unrealistic. I know.
Just going to say it. Post babies, my periods have gotten increasingly heavy. I hate it. Clots, changing pads frequently, etc. I know! TMI! But this is one of those things that people never tell you before you have kids. Apparently it's common that periods get heavier after birth. I had to Google it to make sure I wasn't going to die. No, I'm just going to be crampy and grumpy and bleed everywhere. You're welcome for that.
Apparently I can't help but tell you about TMI things.
Honestly. Cramps. Not so bad that I barf like I did as a teen but sheesh. Not fun.
I'm running a sale in my etsy shop. Buy 3 items, get one free. Sentimental Journey
Ouch. Cramps.
I really should start exercising again. Really. Yep.
Thanks again to those who read here. I appreciate it.

Ode To An Attached Garage (Or, Thank You Craig)

2009-10-22T07:08:00.006-05:00

When the rain falls and the wind blows
and snow piles outside our door
my fondness for my husband grows
when I didn't think I'd love him more.
Thank goodness that I park
in the garage right under our home.
I don't like being cold and wet
when winter trees are stark
and acorn-seeking squirrels roam
to stash every nut they can get.

It pleases my heart to not freeze
immediately when temps dip
just because I have needs
outside and must take a trip.
It's better to start semi-warm inside
and keeping kids warm and dry
than to have to walk 10 feet and still
have to get in a cold car and drive.
My husband must love me though who knows why.
I know I love him and always will.

*************
Awwwwww. But seriously. You have no idea how much I love being able to get into my car without getting wet or freezing my ass off. My husband is a wonderful, wonderful man for giving me the attached garage while he uses the detached garage all year long.

Right Place, Right Time

2009-10-21T06:49:00.000-05:00

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Daybreak

2009-10-20T07:39:00.003-05:00

The baby moaned and rolled, setting off the musical aquarium attached to the side of her crib. It's always loud, no matter how often I turn it down and if I was a smarter person I'd have removed it from her crib months ago. As I struggled to sit up to take the one step to reach her crib and the offensive noise I vaguely noted a shape on the floor just in time to avoid stepping on it. With the room silent again I realized the shape on the floor was my son.

Rolling back into bed I note that the shape next to me on the bed is no longer my husband (he having left for work at least an hour prior) but is now my oldest daughter. I wonder if, at some point during the night, our entire family of five was sleeping in this tiny master bedroom.

Miss M has, since she was very young, crept into our bedroom more nights than not. I remember having fears as a child too though I'm unsure if it is fear that motivates her need to be with us. I think perhaps she just needs someone to be in the room with her. When she and Ms. D start sharing a bedroom I wonder if that will help.

K has been having bad dreams lately. Notably, since he went on a trip through school during the break to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. I didn't know the connection between the bad dreams and the trip until a conversation last Sunday. My husband said that K Man has been rather preoccupied by tornadoes lately, and that he's scared that he's going to blow away in a tornado. Darn History Center and its tornado (that K repeatedly told me was NOT real) display. It sounded cool from my kids' descriptions, but clearly it has terrified the poor boy that he's going to get whisked away like some Donald from the Wizard of Odd. Thank goodness (never thought I'd say this) that winter is on the way and much less chance of tornado warnings happening before he can get over this latest fear.

Even with the bad dreams lately, K has rarely come into our bedroom seeking solace. I don't know why he doesn't seek comfort there as often as his older sister, but this day he needed the comfort.

Whatever reasons brought my children to slumber with me in the early morning hours, I found comfort in having them surround me. So we helped one another on this day. It was not at all a bad way to greet the day.

I Would Have Written a Lovely Post if I Wasn't BLOCKED

2009-10-19T07:26:00.004-05:00

My writing muse is still absent. I had hopes to write about an experience my children and I had at a local store. It was going to be a lovely post, complete with simile and metaphor and carefully constructed scenes.

I would have opened telling you about how my kids were being pleasant, mostly because they were allowed to pick out a small toy. They were giggly and happy and bubbling with life.

Then I would have told you that we went to the checkout line and ran into the mother of one of the kids who had been in K's preschool class last year. We had stood in line, chatting with her, not noticing that she had an unusually large amount of items she was purchasing which would indicate we'd be standing in line for an extraordinarily long time.

I would have told you that I was oblivious to those facts because I was just enjoying having my kids chattering and lively and with me.

Then I would have told you about how an older man, probably in his late 70s or early 80s approached K and pulled a Tootsie Roll out of his ear. I would have described K's infectious giggle that rippled through his body and electrified M's body to mimic his. I would have said that the man then pulled one from M's ear, to which she blurted that she doesn't like them, causing the man to shrug and tell her to give it to her brother. (I didn't let the kids eat the candy because even though he was probably a perfectly nice man, you never know these days.)

So then I would have told you the man shuffled away only to return a minute later to tell M that since she didn't like the candy, how would she like an apple instead. Then you would be amazed to read that the man pulled two balloons out of his pocket to fashion an apple out of them which he then handed to a giggly Miss M with a flourish.

To which K whined that he didn't get a balloon. So the man rooted in his pocket for another balloon and finding a purple one (to which Miss M protested that purple was her favorite color) quickly fashioned a whimsical hat for K.

Then I would have posted a photo of these two lucky kids that I am so lucky to be a mom to (and to their little sister) who for whatever reason seem to prompt strangers to do nice things for them. (Remember when another man gave them each $1 out of the blue?) Can you see the little "feather" in K's hat? I thought that was extra adorable.

(Whoever has my muse? Please return to me. Thanks bunches.)

Simply Joy Sunday #39

2009-10-18T08:35:00.003-05:00

I'm enjoying noticing the little things in life that make me happy. Do you take the time to notice the little things?

First, I bought this cute luminary at a friend's PartyLite show. The web is magnetic and it came with a leaf motif and a snowflake motif, or I can just use it plain. I thought it was cute. Now if I just remember to light candles once in awhile (after the kids go to bed, usually).

Miss M finally finished her 6 weeks of ear cleaning (three times a day...MY duty, not hers) and got to change her earrings for the first time. We bought several sets of earrings that came in different colors so she's a happy camper. I need to look in my jewelry box to see if I still have some of my earrings from when I was little. She's excited to see if I still have any.

And I bought a sock organizer at Target! It was on clearance, half-price and it works much better than cramming all my socks in the drawer haphazardly. I bought one for M's drawer yesterday too. I'll be organizing more socks!

What are the little things making you smile this week? Post on your blog (and link to me!) and I'll round up all the posts here! No blog? Tell me here in the comments!

Feeling the Joy!

Athena's Armoury

A Vapid Blonde

Another Adventure with Amma

2009-10-17T08:14:00.003-05:00

I'll admit when we decided to journey down to Harmony, Minnesota to check out some of the wares of the Amish I was slightly skeptical that my mom would be able to navigate the area successfully. We've had our adventures in the past, which most often lead us to get lost for at least part of the time.

I forgot my camera, which bummed me out. I know I couldn't have taken photos of the Amish, but the trees and the landscape were absolutely gorgeous on the ride.

We ate at a small restaurant in town when we got there, then went on our tour of Amish farms. The first stop was a bakery. These women/girls had baked so many things that morning probably starting before I even got out of bed. And so many things that looked delicious!

As we visited each farm, I had a small part of me that sort of wished for the simplicity of life that they lead. But then I enjoy peeing indoors when it's 40 below...and the blog would probably suffer a bit if I didn't have electricity.

At one farm, a mother and one of her sons came to meet us in her store. M and K started to get a little carried away and I told them to calm down a little. The woman spoke with her German/Scandinavian accent and said "Oh, we're used to that around here. I have 6 boys." And as we were leaving I noticed that she looked like she was expecting. I didn't ask her if she had any girls, but if she didn't I hope this next one is a girl so she has some help with the "women work." The little boy who was with her was 4, just a few months younger than K. We had a small moment of connection. Just mothers, even though we are vastly different.

These are the experiences I want to drink in, live, expose my children to.

And even though Amma was navigating? We didn't get lost (although at one point she tried to tell me I was going the wrong way when the map we had clearly told me the way to go) so hey, an improvement over our last several adventures together.

I Hope to Notice More Often

2009-10-15T08:06:00.004-05:00

Any mention of entering the dollar store will generally make my big kids giddy with excitement. There are few other stores that offer such variety of candy, crafts, books, stickers, storage containers, toys, music, what-have-you, that my children salivate eagerly at the idea of being able to choose perhaps two or three things that Mom will buy.

The last several months, we have avoided the toy aisles altogether. My kids have an abundance of toys and we really don't need 4 more trinket toys that will break 3.5 seconds after we exit the store. These days my kids head straight for the craft supplies.

I tell you all this in a long-winded fashion to say that we went to the dollar store yesterday afternoon. The big kids each picked out a bag of pom poms, a package of poster boards and a spelling book for M and a Kindergarten workbook for K. We went to stand in the very short line to check out, and when it was our turn M put her items on the counter first and asked for her own bag. (Both kids require their OWN bag for their stuff no matter where we go.) Then K put his stuff up and requested his own bag. While the cashier was ringing in his items, placing them in the bag and handing the bag to him, K commented "Thank you for buying this cool stuff for me Mom!"

Since I was finishing up the transaction, I murmured "you're welcome" admittedly distractedly. It hardly registered that K had thanked me, to be honest. As I was putting my change in my purse I caught the eye of the woman standing in line behind me. She clapped her hand to her heart and said "That was so sweet and so polite!" She may have had a little tear in her eye.

So it occurred to me that I do have good kids who do the right thing probably more often than not, but I am often too distracted to notice or acknowledge it. That has to be the surest way to ensure they will eventually stop doing those things, right? I need to change and recognize those good moments. It's more empowering for the kids to know what they're doing right and well than it is to tell them what they're doing wrong all the time.

Positivity! (Speaking of that, I forgot to pick the winner! Whoops! My bad. Drawing name now...be right back. The Random Number Generator picked comment #1! So that's you Holly! I'll try to get those bracelets sent out tomorrow.)

Amazing Encounter

2009-10-14T06:47:00.000-05:00

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I Tried!

2009-10-13T08:16:00.003-05:00

Well, I'd planned to actually write a post of a little substance, but I wanted to also include a photo to illustrate my post (it seems very necessary for the post) and I don't know if it's Blogger or me or my computer, but I can't post any photos...so that idea is out. And apparently I'm too lazy to write about something else. (And interestingly, I could post a photo on another blog, through blogger, but still can't post one here. Ahhh, technology!)

Instead I'll send you over to Midwest Parents. The intros are over and now starts the regular posts, and it just so happens that I'm the blogger this week. Hope you'll come see what's going on there this week, and in the coming weeks!

Mocking

2009-10-12T06:47:00.001-05:00

There are days that the words flow easily and days that the white screen mocks me, throwing doubt in my face, making me question if I really am a writer.

Last week there was a day that I woke up with part of a short story already written in my head. I had time to sit at the computer and type most of the words that had appeared in my slumber into a more tangible form. The words invigorated me and left me wanting to write more, write better.

Today, the screen is laughing at me. It starts as a muffled chuckle, impudent yet trying to maintain some semblance of manners. Before long it degenerates into full on guffaws.

In short, it's not nice. I don't appreciate it at all.

Maybe my inertia stems from feeling overwhelmed. There is much to do. So much so that my fingers and my feet become mired. I'm looking for a starting point, hoping to take that first step out of the muck.