Thoughts of spring run though my head. I am distracted by the breeze blowing through the screens in my house, the sun shining through the windows. I know I had a reason for sitting down here… Oh yeah that’s right blog..
I have seen the commercials on TV telling kids to get up and go outside. The epidemic of lazy and apathetic is sweeping our youth. Instant gratification and constant stimulation are things that they crave for survival. It seems they don’t stop and smell the roses anymore.
I guess I am lucky my teenager craves the outdoors and has taught her brother to do the same. They hit the park together whenever they can. They walk, ride bikes, sometimes the older one does some laps while my younger one plays with his peers. I don’t have to send them outside they ask to go. I don’t have to plan trips to the park to make them want to hit the great outdoors, we just need sun and warm enough weather for them to be out.
The sun makes me ill so going out for me is a huge event involving sunscreen, a hat, and lightweight clothing. Some days I wish I could go sit in the sun and soak up some rays, some days I do. Even with my anti sun issues, I can’t wait for the end of winter.
Find a reason to take you kids outside, enjoy the sunshine and warmth. Take a nature walk, wash the car, play a game of hopscotch. Take some music outside and dance in the sun. Of course don’t forget the sunblock!
A little over two years ago I moved to Clayton, NC. Not knowing anyone scared me the most. I am a social creature by nature and leaving my friends of many years to come to Clayton was overwhelming to say the least. Before I left CA I had joined a site called CafeMom (www.cafemom.com) and found it to be a great way to meet other mom’s in my area. There were groups about everything you can think of and I fell in love with the idea of being able to talk to other moms about all the things that motherhood was throwing at me. When I got to NC I noticed that the CafeMom Group for my area was a little slow so I put out a call for a coffee date and was rather excited when one other mom showed up.
I was excited that this might be the start of meeting people here in NC. Then this coffee date mom let me in on a secret: The Mommie Network (http://www.themommiesnetwork.org/index.shtml). This secret, this wonderful network has sites for many areas all over the US, including Clayton! The local site, I found out, is a wonderful place where local moms meet online to plan real live play dates. It is a great tool for a stay at home, home schooling mom like me. From having no friends when first getting to NC, to now, over two years later, I have found some great friends from being active on this great site.
I still miss my CA friends more that I can say, but thanks to TMN (The Mommie Network) I have met some great women who have become great friends.
Welcome to the 21st century, a time of change and innovation. The United States should be first in education and instead the US ranks 11th in Science and 9th in Math. We are a world Superpower yet our kids are getting a sub-par education. I believe that the there are many reasons for this, not the least of which is Education is no longer a priority. Test scores, diversity and zero tolerance are all seemingly more important than the actual education our children are getting!!
I am part of a few but growing number of parents who have the opportunity to home school. As a home schooling parent it is my job to teach my child everything. I also am a parent to two high school children in a traditional public school system so I think I have a unique take on this subject.
I understand the desire for mandatory testing; you do need an objective tool to see how your kids are doing however, now you have teachers who are bound to teach to the test so their kids do well. No longer is education key, now helping the kids get ready for the test is important.Zero tolerance in schools does not get our kids ready for real life. In an age when taking a butter knife to school or defending yourself can get you expelled, we are teaching our kids to NEVER question authority. I think that if they don’t learn to question it, they can not exceed our expectations.Where I think we fail them the worst is putting diversity ahead of education. In my opinion diversity should be taught in the home, not the school. I have worked hard to teach my own children that “All people were created equal” and that learning about new cultures is fun and fulfilling, but I have to tell you I have a child who did not know that people of different races had labels until he went from a private Montessori to a traditional public school. The schools with Forced Diversity do not have better test scores, do not have better attendance, but it does look better on paper. Forced diversity sounds great as a concept but in practice I think the busing and forced diversity break down community ties.
Just a last thought, what would the world be like if like Martin Luther King Jr. said “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” If we practiced that in truth instead of giving it lip service this country would be a much better place.
http://www.nheri.org/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39342787/ns/today-parenting/
In an age when everyone seems to want to be a new kind of different I have to say I was different before it was cool. I never quite fit in and it seemed to me that everyone was always so busy trying to be like everyone else that I could not stand it.
I tried to be the wife and mother that everyone else thought I should be, but sadly I am no Martha. Even on a good day I would never be as good as June. In the end it did not seem to matter. My kids are pretty well adjusted and seem happy. They are doing well in school. I am guessing by every measure I have done my job well.
I like a clean house and I enjoy having dinner on the table for my husband, to some that makes me crazy to others a saint. I say it’s just what I do to keep my house running.
I am guessing that is where my normal ends. I hate spending money, and I am not a big fan of sports, I can’t figure out my daughters Alg 2 homework but I know I passed it in high school. When I go back to work I want to go back into Accounts payable, Yep I actually enjoyed it.
I would rather sit at a play then the mall, I despise with a passion going to the mall without a purpose, on the other hand I can spend a whole day window shopping at a thrift store, to me that is a fun and productive use of my time.
So why do I feel so out of place among my peers, who knows, but I have made some wonderful understanding friends who like me the way I am. To me that is worth gold.
It always amazes me, the amount of love and protection I feel for my kids. Sometimes I have to just stop and take it all in. They are all growing up so fast. I can’t believe that I have one about to graduate this year. My second one is not far behind as she will be a senior next year. My youngest is 9 and about to enter his last year of the primary grades. I sit here reflecting over the lessons I have tried to impart to them, knowing all too well that I have to let go and let them grow up.I remember all of the years of teaching table manners and posture, sharing and giving; every lesson of right and wrong; the hard times we have overcome. The lesson that we work hard for what we have. That pulling together when things get hard is the only way to get through the rough times. Each time I pointed out that hard work and dedication will get you farther than lies and laziness. I worry because we live in a world where people in general seem to want something for nothing. I see an apathy that I have had to teach my children is unacceptable. My wish for my kids is that they follow the right path, and that I understand each will have a path of their own. That they choose right over wrong, and work hard to make a life for themselves. I wish them happiness, not the false kind that you get from other people but a true happiness in themselves. I wish for them to know love, and forget any heartache that may come their way. I wish for all of my kids a great success in life in a career that they enjoy, because doing something you love is important. Of all of this my most selfish motherly wish is that they look back and remember they were loved
It’s a new year!! I see 2011 as a time of health, personal growth and improving the world around me. It seemed to me 2010 was all about survival, but I see this year as a new start to make some healthy changes for me and the people who are close to me.
Getting healthy is important for me this year. I have a renewed interest in getting my weight down, and I want to walk walk walk. I need to be outside in the fresh air. It’s time for me to get back into doing my stretching and core exercises. Time to get back to making healthy food choices for me and my family, back to my pledge to eat whole grains, more veggies and try to cut down my caffeine consumption.
Personal growth is a tricky one. I want to improve the quality of my relationships with those around me. I want to be a positive force in the lives of the people who have chosen to call me friend. I want to do what I can to make the world around me a better place. Some of this I will find easy; I love to help the people in my life. I try to only surround myself with those people who want to grow and be healthy
Spiritual growth is also a goal for me. I need to get centered. I have been off kilter for a while and just gasping for air. I need to get back to my meditation and taking time out of the day to enjoy what life has given me.
It sounds like a tall order I have to fill for 2011, however I am sure that I can do it. I encourage all of you to make some positive changes in your life too. No matter how small the change you make you will see big results.
It’s time for my annual “Not Christian at Christmas” blog.
Each person has to walk their own spiritual path, mine has been a crazy twisted and interesting journey. I have always enjoyed learning about new cultures and other religions, and it is this desire to learn that starting me on this path many years ago. I like to believe that I have become a better, more accepting, and well rounded person because I have taken this path of learning. My friends and family have supported me (for the most part) on this very personal journey of spiritual discovery. This has not always been easy or fun but I have learned tolerance, understanding, and a great inner peace.
It is sad state of affairs that people get offended so easily these days. It seems that no matter what you say, be it Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays you will offend someone. I say either depends on where I am or who I am with. As I am not Christian I send out “Happy Holidays” cards, I am sure to write Merry Christmas on the bottom of the ones that are going to my Christian friends. I receive both Christmas and Holiday cards, I love to open them and I am always touched that someone took the time and energy to remember my family during this insanely busy time of the year.
We celebrate with a tree and presents and a HUGE dinner with family. We take the time to talk about the pagan origins of many of the Christmas traditions that are celebrated around the world today. I am a lucky woman to have found a path that gives me a measure of inner peace, and I wish the same for each of you.
I just wanted to wish each of you a holiday filled with family, friends, food, and peace.
Being overweight sucks!! There is no way to pretty it up.This has been a sturgle for me my whole adult life. I loose weight something happens, sometimes it is an injury some times it is stress and I put the weight back on. I know it is my will power to keep up that is the problem.
My diet plan is eat less move more. With a heavy dose of high protein and low carb. Now that said I have challenges to deal with and I have got to stop letting them control my weight loss. Fibromyalgia is my big challenge. Chronic pain is hard to deal with and is the major cause of my rapid weight gain. SIGHS… But I will overcome. I am back on my stabilty ball working on my core. I am going to start walking again. First goal is to get unter 250 then under 200 and beyond. I will never be what most think of as thin. That is just not how I am built but I would LOVE to be able to move around eaiser.
So I begin again a journey of weight loss and fun. I have some wonderful friends who are supportive and my husband and kids are supportive too. I can do this…. I will do this and be better for it
My goal is to get back in shape so that I can do some charity walks this year
Marriage is defined by Merriam-Webster as the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. Many people associate marriage with their religion, for me it’s paperwork. My current relationship can not be defined by such a simple term.
I am not a fan of the word marriage, I prefer partnership as a term to describe the legal part of the relationship, not a very romantic image. It is a more accurate description of what happens. When you get married you join credit history, obtain legal privileges and a new tax status. You are now viewed in a new light in financial circles, joined with another person.
I got married young the first time. I was in love. People told me to wait, people told me to get married. No one was real with me. No one talked about what the legal implications were. It was all about love and a happy ever after. After my divorce I started to see what a marriage really is, a legal partnership.
Religious folks want to make it about a man and a woman, when in my opinion it is all about The legal partnership that is formed by getting the paper. The love, the trust, and the companionship are all a separate matter.
I am in love with a man who I have been in a relationship with for almost 13 years. He calls me his wife, and we are in love. We are happy! The legal ties that come with marriage have not been relevant to us until now. I do not need a piece of paper to make me feel more attached to him. I do not need the government to tell me that we are a couple.
Now I find we have a need to finish the paperwork. It’s a huge deal attaching your life to someone else. Even someone you have been with for a long time. We have decided we are ready to take that step. It’s going to be informal just us, witnesses, the kids and a Judge.
In the end, the things that change will all be legal. That paper will not change my strong level of commitment to this relationship or the love and trust I have placed in my partner.
I favor the term “Domestic Partnership” , let the religious people keep Marriage. I know that I am in the minority but I think that if ANY two consenting adults want to form that partnership it is no business of the governments or anyone else for that matter. Now if any couple in a partnership attend a church that will preform a marriage ceremony then let their religion recognize that relationship. I think the legal and emotional bonds should have different names for clarity sake!
So I am getting married to a man I have loved for years. This is a happy time for me, the one loose end that needed to be cleared up.
Facebook, Myspace, Cafemom, and Twitter….. OH MY!!! Is it worth the time?
I email, text, and tweet. I update my status, change my mood, and comment of photos. This is becoming a full time job. I have friends I have never met.
Today sitting at my computer something struck me. Most of the people I have met recently I have starting talking to online. The up side to this is that most of the time when you are looking online to expand your network, you’re looking for people who have stuff in common with you.
I am an active member of a couple of online communities for mothers. Being the mother of three kids with a wide age gap, I am always looking for people who have similar situations. I have a child on the Autism spectrum, again I want to meet people who have dealt with this and understand what I am going through.
I started on Myspace. My friend made me join to keep an eye on her kids who all wanted pages. So I did. Then I started to reconnect with people I had not seen in years. Is this a good thing? I have to say it’s a draw. I have reconnected with some people that I missed when we lost touch, but on the other hand I have had people try to drag me back in to drama I had walked away from a long time ago.
So then I found Cafemom. This was wonderful. It was a mommy network. People who can understand my life, talk to me about things I am dealing with. So I jumped in with both feet. I love Cafemom, I am active in several groups, and have met some wonderful women.
Now I added Facebook to the mix. I like Facebook, it has a simple interface and I have reconnected with lots of long lost family this way. Now the kids I am watching on Facebook and Myspace are my own teenagers. They will tell you that I am right there if they upload something I don’t care for, making sure it gets removed.
Being a stay at home mom, I use all the tools available to me to meet other people with common interests. So I found a local group shortly after my husband and I moved 2600 miles across country. This group has lots of face to face “playdates,” both moms only and with kids. So now I can put a face to the avatar. Meeting local moms has made the move much easier for me.
So what was the next level…. TWITTER. So I checked it out and it seems rather pointless to me. Doing my research I found that it breaks a lot and it seems rather redundant giving that I am active on Facebook and most of the people I follow on twitter are also on Facebook, but hey all the kids are doing it so I should too, right?
I am not a computer guru nor am I a tech geek, I am just a stay at home mom who wants to talk to people like myself. Who wants to reach out and maybe help someone by sharing some small bit of wisdom I have managed to gain in my journey through life. I want to find people like me in our new town to hang out with, to talk to.
So is it worth it? To me it is. I have met some wonderful people online and forged some strong friendships. My social networking has made this long distance move easier because I was able to meet local moms and get involved in our community much quicker. So it may be a semi full time job, but for now it is worth the time to save my sanity so I can reach out to my online friends and find someone to grab a cup of coffee with if I need to get out of my house.