A good friday mantra
People can be annoying. But, sometimes, if you really pay attention, they can delight you.
“ The components of happiness are quite simple. Happiness is gentleness, peace, concentration, simplicity, forgiveness, humor, fearlessness, trust, and now. In its true form each quality includes all the rest, for happiness is whole, and one feels whole when genuinely happy. ”
~Hugh Prather
Better together :)
Just passed...
TV in the waiting area of my office - Dr. Phil’s on. The text on the screen said (it’s captioned) “We’re going to have an intelligent conversation” as Dr. Phil ushers out the wayward family….
I laugh/shake head at “going to have an intelligent conversation” - um, as opposed to what exactly…
good one, dr. phil - so glad this family has you to fix their broken-ness - oh, and to teach them to stop having dumbass conversations…
:)
10 Things Motherhood has Taught Me...
by Denise Jonas (yes Jonas, as in the mom of the brothers):
1. Put in the rug time. I called our family’s spontaneous father-and-sons games “rug time” or “rearranging the living room without a license.” But without a word, the boys and their dad called it love. I learned that no carpet or piece of furniture is worth more than the bonding that happens in rug time.
2. Cook when you can. Life on the road wreaks havoc on kitchen togetherness but I love to cook and I’ve learned to do it as I can. Something’s very comforting about eating food mom cooks.
3. Never mind the hair. Moms also know this lesson as “choose your battles.” As issues come up, I’ve learned to weigh each for its big-picture significance and adjust my response. Some things, like a teenager’s hair, I let go.
4. Buy the drums. Your daughter wants to play softball? Find a team. Your son wants to sing? Encourage it. Someone’s good at drawing? Quick: paper and colors. At times you have to study your kids. Other times their gifts hit you full force. Whatever the case, give them a chance—then stand back and give them room.
5. Celebrate the wrinkle cream. In a store once, I saw a wrinkle cream and mentioned to the boys that I liked it. Next Mother’s Day, I’m unwrapping the wrinkle cream and felt like crying! But the sweet thing is, my sons had heard me and wanted to please me.
6. Trust the detours. First the news of Nick’s diabetes brought shock. Then we responded as a family. We learned about diabetes, followed the guidelines, and stayed the course—and our eyes opened to others with health issues. Bad news has been a backdoor blessing.
7. Stay grateful. With recognition comes responsibility, and we’re grateful for all of it. Yes, everything. Our flight is held up? We’re grateful to be going. Our hotel reservation is one room short? We’ll sleep on the floor. Life isn’t perfect, but in every circumstance, our job is to manage our response.
8. Sit close, hug often. This family speaks the body language of hugs, and we speak it often. I’ve learned that when words aren’t enough, holding my child says volumes. Kids outgrow laps but never hugs.
9. Set internal pillars. The world presses in with schedules, expectations, and exhaustion. How my children withstand that has everything to do with what’s inside them. We don’t just assume our kids will pick up good inner structures such as honor, self-respect, honesty and kindness. We talk about those things and praise our kids when those qualities show.
10. Be the mom. My kids don’t need me to be a buddy, a sidekick or a maid: they need me to be a mom. Kids need a mom to set limits and set the example. Anyone can be a friend. Only the mom can be the mom. That’s the highest calling…
…concur & striving to emulate
Happy Sweet 16...
Mitchell
I pass a sign w.this posted on the daily drive ~ I chuckle every time…hope Mitch had the sweetest Sweet 16 :)
New York to California...
Mat Kearney’s newest album, “City of Black & White” is now my official “sustain me till I can play Christmas music” CD. It’s all good - start to finish…New York to California’s one of the more mellow tracks ~ so sweet
you could find your self lost out in this world
And I found a way to get back to your side
no mountains to high, no stone is too small
I’ll build a bridge through the fire, for you I would crawl
From New York to California
ps. to the bully that pushed my child this morning - don’t let the cute smile fool ya…we’ll be working on our “pushing back” this weekend
:) I kid, I kid - maybe…
Aforementioned offspring @ the State Fair on his 1st Carousel Ride :)
just got the call...
from daycare:
“An older child pushed John down this morning - he bumped his head. We iced it & gave hugs & kisses…he’s fine, just wanted to let you know”
That 2nd part - standard “boo boo” protocol…
That 1st part - Mama bear in me wants to call back and start taking names…
- who was it that pushed him
- did we call their parents
- how old we talking - my kid’s 16 mos.
- was he/she punished (i imagine they “know better”)
Deep breath, count to 10 - repeat out loud, “I will not get upset when I see the bump on John’s head”
Lil’ things like this make my mama-head spin :)
About me
Bright smile, deep soul. Happy to be in this life – blessed beyond measure. A loving husband – a beautiful, bright-eyed little boy…the apples of my eye. Hot coffee in my cup – a chair to rock in on my front porch…it truly is the simple things that matter most. A fat cat that beats us down the stairs – a dog who’s afraid of her shadow…we never have to use the bathroom alone. A job that allows me to grow and learn – hard to believe I’m actually getting paid to be here sometimes. Family that warms my heart at just the thought of them – if they were a choice, I wouldn’t have picked differently. Grown up, but realizing how much growing room this life allows. Used to think I knew a little about everything only to find out, I don’t know much about anything sometimes. That part’s ok, pressure’s off. Believer, Mother, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend – in that order. Hoping to get better as I get older – embracing the moments and learning from the stumbles. Ecstatic to be along for the ride…
