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NOT SO PERFECT PARENT Blog |
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March 2009
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Paige: May 2007 ArchivesI came home just in time before he woke up for his nap. I waited like a child waits for Christmas morning. Finally, I heard him stir and then open the door. His face still groggy, he rubbed his eyes before they focused on me. “MOMMY!” he exclaimed. I picked him up and his body folded into mine. I took him to the rocking chair, the only thing remaining from his nursery. We rocked as I sang and praised God for this precious mome... Yesterday was Memorial Day. Like many Americans, we spent it at the lake. The sky was still overcast from a relentless rainy season, however, it did not stop my children from taking a dip. They begged me to get in. The lake looked murky and I did not want to go through the painful experience of putting on a bathing suit for the first time this season. However, in my quest to participate rather than observe my children’s lives, I... Okay, I admit it. I am a water waster. I recycle and turn out all the lights before leaving the house. But when it comes to water – I waste it like a rock star! You see, I believe mothers are entitled to baths. Not your “just enough to get you wet” philosophy that my grandfather had. No, I’m talking hot, soaking, bubbles to your nose kind of bath. In my opinion, we are entitled. It is our opportunity to regroup and reclaim our sanity. >> Continue reading: Not-So-Perfect Parent: Water Waster I love the rain. I love the way it smells. I love the way it makes the greens more vibrant and the yellows more lively. I love to listen to it when I sleep and watch it when I am awake. I love the boldness of thunder and the excitement of lightning. In between showers, I was able to go outside for a walk and enjoy the post-rain scenery. It still smelled like rain and the air was cooler than a typical pre-June day in Texas. The... I have been riding this “positive thinking” train and it finally ran out of steam. Frankly, I got tired. I got tired of thinking positively when I paid a locksmith $55 for taking less than one minute to retrieve my keys out of my locked car. I got tired of thinking positively when I lost my prescription sunglasses for the third time this year. I got tired of thinking positively when my youngest threw-up three times all over my new comforte... I remember as a child being fascinated and a little disgusted by my fifth grade teacher. Every time she shook her finger at a misbehaving toddler, the flab under her arms would jiggle like jello. It is one of the worst conditions of growing old. A friend of mine, (who agreed to allow me to write about her experience as long as I pinky-swore not to mention her name), had a nightmare experience at a water park. She was supervising an... She hands him the cone already dripping with Bubble Gum ice-cream. With every bite, the melting dessert slides down his shirt. Before he is halfway through, his mouth, nose and hair are sticky with pink and blue ice-cream. He walks up to me and I lean down unable to resist a bubble gum kiss. We both giggle as I wipe the cream off of my nose. Then he spots a bird enjoying the ice-cream drips on the side walk. Delighted he chases... The Thursday Boy picnic was last night. “Thursday Boys” is an afterschool program run by a local volunteer, Jim Redwine, who teaches good sportsmanship, fellowship and leadership using Christian principals. All children are welcome and the group has grown to over 500 members. Throughout the year, these kids are eager to grow in the ranks and earn different colored caps for their efforts – first Blue, than Red, than Black. Howev... It was the Saturday before Mother’s Day. I was startled awake by my oldest standing over me with his arms behind his back. “What are you doing?” I say, feeling very grumpy about the interruption to my precious sleep. “I have your Mother’s Day gift!” He said excitedly. “But Mother’s Day is tomorrow.” I replied a little sleepy but trying to be patient. “I know, I couldn’t wait”. I fumbled with the lamp ... I saw a billboard yesterday that read “Misery Has Enough Company. Dare to be Happy.” Pretty profound reading when you’re going 65 on the tollway. I reflected on this for the rest of my commute to Fort Worth. I believe that being happy really is a state of mind. For example, I received some discouraging news today. In most circumstances, this type of news would set me back and I would obsess about it for days. I decided to chan... I recently read a book about the power of positive thinking. The book professes that according to the Law of Attraction, if you think positively, then positive things will be attracted to you. Conversely, if you think that you will live a life in debt, be in a loveless marriage, and have a dead-end job, than the Law of Attraction will fulfill those prophecies. In graduate school, they called it “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” meaning that ... “I am going to College! I am going to College!” my seven-year-old chants, just trying to get a rise out of me. “Stop singing that “, I tease. “You aren’t leaving me!” My oldest continues to taunt until my youngest says, “I am going to College too!” “You are?” I say He pauses and says… “Do I have to go today?” “NO!” I shout and tackle him with kisses and hugs. I am fast approachin... I just returned from a girls’ weekend in California. I had moments of pain saying goodbye to little faces. However, once in the air, I resolved myself to being present and grateful for time with friends. The weekend was therapeutic. We went on hikes, ate at great restaurants and drank California wine. We giggled like school girls and ultimately laughed so hard that my jaw hurt the next morning. I heard a quote once that read, “A... There are certain things in life that sound better than they actually are. The 2-hour Jazz Concert, hot chocolate, outdoor camping, and the Complimentary Continental Breakfast to name a few. However, what tops this list has to be Gourmet Frozen Dinners. I get sucked in every time. I stand at the freezer section of the grocery store and ponder at the delicious choices. How could I go wrong with butternut squash linguini in a crea... |
