WHAT I KNOW ABOUT SUMMER...
1. If you go to bed with a full pantry, in the morning there will be nothing left but the healthy stuff.
2. SIX ROLLS OF TOILET PAPER. Seriously, six rolls of toilet paper in four days. My kids must have the cleanest fannies or they're eating it. I have no idea. It really could go either way.
3. If I plan a fun outing, a fight will be sure to ensue. It's has to be one of Murphy's hidden laws. In fact, I know it is, "if you plan something fun, no fun will be had" or something like that.
4. Swimming in a pool counts as a bath. I'm just saying, don't judge me.
5. Shoes=optional Of course, unless I need to run to the grocery store. Then a full on search is required because no one, I repeat NO ONE, can remember the last time they had their shoes on, (in a whisper voice) including myself.
6. When at the pool, I never really ever get to sit down. Sure I dream up these crazy fantasies about reading a book while listening to nature as the rings play nicely with each other. HA! I spend most of the time refereeing fights, grabbing floats, Popsicles, and goggles which is why I'm so exhausted when we get home. (SEE #4)
7. There is a TIME WARP. 8 AM is both the middle of the night (Ring 1 and 2) AND the middle of the day (Ring 3.) Now, sit back, let that sink in a second. Mind=BLOWN.
The secret is, although it's not much of a secret, I LOVE IT. All of it. Every last bit of it. The fighting, suntan shoulders, Cheetos fingers, a million kazillon toilet paper rolls in the trash, and swimming pool bathtubs. Summer ROCKS in all of its imperfectioness! (I'm pretty sure I just made that word up.)
Stay strong, Mamas!
Monday, June 29, 2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Dear Teenage Daughter,
Hi Mamas! I have struggled with today's post. I've written it and deleted it a half dozen times. I write it and think this is too personal. Delete. Write it again and think is this right. Delete. You get the pattern here. Even though I'm still a little uneasy about this post, I believe in it.
Several years ago I listened to a sermon, I have no idea who it was- Joel, Joyce, my pastor, a guest pastor- no idea, and I made a mental note because what he/she said rang true to me. The pastor talked about sex and how to teach your children that their bodies are treasures. I started my treasure talk early with each of my children and it sounds something like this you are such a treasure, look at you run fast your body is a wonderful treasure. As our two younger kids get older, that talk will become deeper but the treasure part will be familiar because I laid the foundation for it.
Here's the big talk. I have this talk with our oldest daughter often; it is normal in our house to talk openly. I feel like I have to work overtime teaching my kiddos what is important, because the world sure as heck never gives up in trying to teach them what pretty is or what cool is.
What if you were given a treasure box full of gold and riches. Would you show it to everybody? Would you tell everybody that you had this box full of riches? Or would you hide it, waiting for someone to come along that you loved and trusted to share it with? Your body is your treasure. It's not for everybody to see. It's your treasure, given to you as a gift and it should be protected and cherished.
It's HARD raising young girls. I never know if I'm doing or saying the right thing but I think if you stand on LOVE and TRUTH, how can that be wrong? Stay strong, mamas!
P.S. This post was teenage daughter approved which makes me even prouder of her. :)
Several years ago I listened to a sermon, I have no idea who it was- Joel, Joyce, my pastor, a guest pastor- no idea, and I made a mental note because what he/she said rang true to me. The pastor talked about sex and how to teach your children that their bodies are treasures. I started my treasure talk early with each of my children and it sounds something like this you are such a treasure, look at you run fast your body is a wonderful treasure. As our two younger kids get older, that talk will become deeper but the treasure part will be familiar because I laid the foundation for it.
Here's the big talk. I have this talk with our oldest daughter often; it is normal in our house to talk openly. I feel like I have to work overtime teaching my kiddos what is important, because the world sure as heck never gives up in trying to teach them what pretty is or what cool is.
What if you were given a treasure box full of gold and riches. Would you show it to everybody? Would you tell everybody that you had this box full of riches? Or would you hide it, waiting for someone to come along that you loved and trusted to share it with? Your body is your treasure. It's not for everybody to see. It's your treasure, given to you as a gift and it should be protected and cherished.
It's HARD raising young girls. I never know if I'm doing or saying the right thing but I think if you stand on LOVE and TRUTH, how can that be wrong? Stay strong, mamas!
P.S. This post was teenage daughter approved which makes me even prouder of her. :)
Friday, June 19, 2015
Be the GOOD
Good morning, Mamas! I had planned to write today about Father's Day, how we made homemade gifts this year, and share a few of those recipes but I can't- too much is on my heart this morning. I woke up this morning and the sun was shining. (I can't tell you the last time the sun has been out. Oklahoma drought? pst.) I looked in on my kiddos and I swear my heart grew as I watched them sleep. Tangled in curls, big t-shirts, where-did-the-time-go hands and feet, sweet faces totally relaxed and without a care in the world and I wondered... Has every generation of Imperfectly Perfect Mamas worried about raising kids in a cruel world? War, abuse, hunger, senseless acts of violence... the nightly news is too much to bare but it's just the thirty minute news. These acts of violence and despair happen every second of every day all of the world. It's easy to loose hope and to parent out of fear. My default is to protect my children from the world and to shelter them from all that is cruel and this is a REACTIVE approach. BUT this morning the sun was shining and it was a reminder to me to be a little sunshine in a world that has certainly felt gray lately. When I feel like the world is caving in and I have no control, I do something kind for someone else. It's amazing what the shift of energy can create. Be a little sunshine today. Be love. Be kind. Be understanding. Today, I choose to be PROACTIVE and to teach kindness and love regardless of what the world is trying to teach us. I stand on LOVE. My childhood friend Mr. Rogers, okay we weren't friends but I loved him, once wrote, "when I was a boy and I would see scary things my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Be the GOOD in the world. Stay strong, Mamas. You are imperfectly perfect.
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Run YOUR race
Since I've given myself the challenge of being completely honest and totally myself on this blog, I thought it might be fun to share a childhood story of mine.
I grew up in a small town and for the most part I loved it; I still love it. There's just something about having adult friends you've known since first grade. My elementary school, each year, hosted a field day. It wasn't meant for hardcore competitors, just for fun. The local students would compete in a preliminary meet during school, and then a final meet that night. For six years I dominated the sprinting events. I was a natural sprinter. I loved to run (I wish I still did.) I remember anytime a new student would show up to school, after a brief introduction, I would ask so how fast do you run? My parents noticed my natural talent and decided to sign me up for a real deal track meet. There were girls from all over the county and I remember feeling the intense emotion of competition firing in my belly. (Have you ever had that feeling? It's a great feeling.) I was a good healthy mix of nervous and confident. Up until this moment of competition, I had spent a lot of time devoted to running. I spent summers running dirt roads working on strategies and watching track on TV studying every aspect of the runners competing (obviously this was before the Internet :)) Moments before the race, the staff chose our race order, and we sat in a straight line waiting for our event. I sat next to a very talkative girl; something I never did before a race was talk. She babbled on and on about God knows what, I was busy visualizing. When we were called to the blocks she leaned over to me and whispered you're the one I'm gonna have to watch. I just smiled at her. See, when you study track as much as I had you can pick the winner before the race even starts. I had my eye on a tall, lean girl with big thighs, well-developed calves, and small ankles. I knew she was my competition. She, also like me, sat quietly with no emotion on her face. She was there to do work and so was I.
I grew up in a small town and for the most part I loved it; I still love it. There's just something about having adult friends you've known since first grade. My elementary school, each year, hosted a field day. It wasn't meant for hardcore competitors, just for fun. The local students would compete in a preliminary meet during school, and then a final meet that night. For six years I dominated the sprinting events. I was a natural sprinter. I loved to run (I wish I still did.) I remember anytime a new student would show up to school, after a brief introduction, I would ask so how fast do you run? My parents noticed my natural talent and decided to sign me up for a real deal track meet. There were girls from all over the county and I remember feeling the intense emotion of competition firing in my belly. (Have you ever had that feeling? It's a great feeling.) I was a good healthy mix of nervous and confident. Up until this moment of competition, I had spent a lot of time devoted to running. I spent summers running dirt roads working on strategies and watching track on TV studying every aspect of the runners competing (obviously this was before the Internet :)) Moments before the race, the staff chose our race order, and we sat in a straight line waiting for our event. I sat next to a very talkative girl; something I never did before a race was talk. She babbled on and on about God knows what, I was busy visualizing. When we were called to the blocks she leaned over to me and whispered you're the one I'm gonna have to watch. I just smiled at her. See, when you study track as much as I had you can pick the winner before the race even starts. I had my eye on a tall, lean girl with big thighs, well-developed calves, and small ankles. I knew she was my competition. She, also like me, sat quietly with no emotion on her face. She was there to do work and so was I.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
I'M BACK...
Hello Mamas! I'm back! Wow, how time flies. I've been writing a lot lately and decided to kick start this blog...again. Boy, do I have some catching you up to do. So here's the skinny in 5 seconds. I am now a teacher (kindergarten and soon to be 5th grade LA) and our rings are now 13 (gasp), 7, and 3. I can't wait to start sharing some of my stories. Until then, be strong mamas T-7ish hours to bedtime. :)
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