Okay, there is one downfall to having a child that's so smart. Sometimes they are too smart. I mean smart as in shut-your-mouth-before-I-have-to-slap-you-in-it smart.
I subscribe to the 65-35 method of parenting. 65% old school and 35% new school. I realize that we are living in a totally different time than when I was a child but at the same time there are some things that will never change:
1. Children have no business in grown folks business!
2. Children should not talk back and/or disrespect their parents.
3. No negotiating with children. It makes them think they have the upper hand.
4. No telling children to do something 3 and 4 times.
5. Spankings help children see their options a lot more clearly.
I incorporate these old stand-by's into my daily parenting routine because of the simple fact that I have a FOUR YEAR OLD asking me questions like, "Why do we have to always do everything you want?" "Why can't I get to choose when I go to bed?"
I have NO patience for stuff like that!! I suppose I could get down on his level and say something like "because Mommy knows what's best for you" or "because Mommy wants you to get your rest". But I prefer that old adage "BECAUSE I SAID SO". You give these kids an inch they want to take a mile! I don't want to set a precedent that everything is up for discussion!
I don't know if it's hormones or what but me and my little MISTER have been bumping heads a lot lately. I've got to nip this in the bud with the quickness before Baby Girl's arrival. So I have been known to walk around the house with a belt over my shoulder to let him know I mean business however I never get to use it ;-( because all it takes is one word from his father and he's scrambling and tripping over himself to straighten up his act!
I think that he will probably end up being a lawyer because not only does he ask questions- and I'm not talking about typical inquisitive kiddie questions- he ask questions directly related to him getting what he wants and he has already developed this ability to make you second guess your answers so that he can prove his point which is- THERE IS NO REASON I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY WAY. I pray for him daily that he does not become a victim of a back hand from his hormonal mother. If he's starting this mess at FOUR. . .I'm thinking he better have a back up plan like where he can go and live by the time he's TEN because I ain't having it!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Momversation
I found this clip over at dooce.com (one of my guilty pleasures). I thought it was very interesting and although most of my experiences are from the perspective of a black woman I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with these women on many different levels. I guess the one truism in life is, regardless to your race, motherhood and marriage ain't no joke!!
(Sorry about the Christina Aguilera commercial be patient it's worth the wait.)
(Sorry about the Christina Aguilera commercial be patient it's worth the wait.)
Monday, January 5, 2009
Condolences
I felt compelled to write this post this morning before I started my work day. I have always really liked John Travolta. Not saying that I'm a big fan but I do enjoy his work. At the risk of dating myself, I remember original episodes of Welcome Back Kotter and I found his ditzy Vinnie Barbarino character adorable. Not a big fan of Saturday Night Fever but loved him in Grease (I'on care who you are, you KNOW you had at least two songs memorized from that movie!) But one of my favorite roles of his was from Face Off with Nicolas Cage. I know I've seen that movie at least ten times!
So when I heard about his son, Jett (whose name I knew from seeing him in random interviews and he mentioned him practically every time) dying for some reason it really pierced my heart. I'm sure it's mainly because I'm a mother and I don't ever want to think about my son leaving this Earth before me. . .but also because it was so apparent that he absolutely adored his son. It is so tragic for a life to be taken so young (16) and I pray that the Travolta family can get through this tragedy.
So when I heard about his son, Jett (whose name I knew from seeing him in random interviews and he mentioned him practically every time) dying for some reason it really pierced my heart. I'm sure it's mainly because I'm a mother and I don't ever want to think about my son leaving this Earth before me. . .but also because it was so apparent that he absolutely adored his son. It is so tragic for a life to be taken so young (16) and I pray that the Travolta family can get through this tragedy.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
Why does today seem like Sunday?? I guess because I have to go to work tomorrow. Me and my two favorite guys spent a quiet evening at home last night watching the spectacular fireworks display our neighbors put on every year at New Years and Fourth of July. We feasted on chips , cheese, boneless BBQ wings and pizza. Then at midnight my husband poured a glass of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice for my son & I while he toasted with champagne. It was the perfect evening.
We slept until 10:00 this morning, then my husband got up and fixed us breakfast. I put on a roast and plan on topping the meal off with potatoes, black eyed peas, greens and cornbread. Maybe that's why it seems like Sunday- Soul Food Sunday to be exact. It's days like this that I think God has blessed me over-abundantly. I am EXTREMELY thankful although I know at times I am undeserving.
I usually don't make New Year's resolutions. . .but I do set goals. As a New Year begins I am mainly focused on ONE thing: having a HEALTHY baby in April. But aside from that there are some things I need to accomplish this year:
1. Keep pushing forward with school even if I take one class a semester
2. Get rid of the disgusting carpet in our bedroom
3. Get a new car (it's been WONDERFUL not having a car note for 10 years but the gig is up- we need more space)
4. Take my son on one last trip before school starts. . .I am dumbfounded that this kid starts kindergarten in the fall!
5. Get my children baptized!
Other than that I am going to TRY TRY to watch my language since my husband says I curse three times as much as I did when he first met me. . .wonder why?!?!
Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year and that 2009 brings you everything you wish for and more!!!
(The picture is of TheGenius getting his shave on Christmas morning.)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Post Holiday Greetings
Ho, ho, hum. . . . Well, another Christmas bites the dust! The madness and the mayhem was over within a matter of hours. I enjoyed this Christmas and tried to take it easy because, God-willing, next year I will have TWO children at Christmas- AGH! So, I enjoyed just having to focus on one child and play one game of pretend instead of being stretched between two children and feeling like I'm not devoting an equal amount of time.
Now that the holidays are about over I am starting to focus on how my life is about to drastically change in FOURTEEN short weeks! And I doubt seriously that I will even have time to take a breath. . .in addition to New Year's, my husband is running the Houston-Chevron marathon in January, hubby's birthday (along with 2 nieces, my moms, & only aunt birthdays) is in February, my son's b-day is in March and then BAM! Baby girl is due in April. OMG! People have been asking me about names. . .I am sooooo far away from thinking about names it's not even funny. I think I'll probably get it together after my son's b-day (March 2nd) maybe. . .I really need to FOCUS! I tell you what I am looking forward to the MOST (besides having a healthy baby) is taking THREE MONTHS off after my delivery!!! I am exhausted!!! Okay, I'm getting tired just thinking about it. . .
Instead I'll share my favorite story from Christmas. Christmas Eve to be exact. My son, got a ridiculous amount of STUFF from my family (as usual) and as he was opening his presents I was taking them and hiding them in the closet- because we open family presents at midnight and afterwards he needs to go to bed so Santa can make an appearance. One of the presents he received was a Batman shaving kit. It came with all the fake razors and a small can of foam a.k.a shaving cream.
After my family packed up and left (around 12:45am) I told my son it was time to go to sleep so that Santa could stop by and he started to have a MELT DOWN!!!! He had big crocodile tears and he was saying, "But I have to do something first," And I'm like- WHAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE TO DO AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING?!?! He started stuttering and blubbering that he: NEEDED TO SHAVE!!!!!! Bwahahahahahaha! He was sooooooo serious and looking so pitiful but I bust out laughing!!!! My husband didn't find it as hilarious. He told him he could shave in the morning and proceeded to march him upstairs. In less than three seconds he was out cold. He didn't wake up the next morning until almost 9:00!!! After he checked out what Santa left for him, he ran back upstairs to SHAVE!!! (I'll post pictures later).
I was still beyond exhausted so after playing one round of Power Rangers I went back to sleep. As I was nodding off that movie, A Christmas Story was on t.v. When I woke up it was still on so I thought I had only slept about twenty minutes- turns out the show was on a continuous 24 hour Christmas marathon loop and I had almost slept through it TWICE.
Now, I'm back at work still a little out of it. . .good thing Christmas only comes once a year because if it was more than once a year, I'd be celebrating Hanukkah!
Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas!!! I wish you much peace, love and exponential blessings for 2009!!!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Balancing Act
Yesterday, my co-worker was going on and on about how she thought I was such a wonderful mother and that I seem to have found such a perfect balance in my life. I swear I just stared at her blankly for a few minutes because I thought she was gonna start laughing and say, “SIKE!” If anyone perceives that I have perfected “balance” in my life let me set the record straight: IT’S ALL SMOKE & MIRRORS.
I think one of the lessons I have learned- begrudgingly- since I got married and had a child is that, unfortunately, life is not all about ME anymore and that I have to put my selfishness aside. Armed with this knowledge, I have been able to avoid a lot of frustration and disappointment. Don’t get me wrong I still feel extremely overwhelmed from time to time but when I do, I just breathe and think whether or not it’s worth me losing my mind. And sometimes I TOTALLY fly off the handle to get my point across and to let the people in my life know without a shadow of a doubt : she’s kinda crazy. It’s been my secret weapon for years! :-)
Another thing that has really given me more sense of “balance” in my life is accepting my job for what it is. A job. It is not my “career”. I do not have delusions of grandeur or thoughts of climbing the corporate ladder. For the most part, I enjoy what I do and I when I am here I give 100% (it ain’t brain surgery, though) but I do NOT work overtime (I am salaried and don’t get paid for it), I don’t take any of the b.s. or politics home with me (I’m too busy pretending to be a Power Ranger with my son), and I don’t get involved in office cliques (I’m too damn old for that).
So, I have relieved an incredible amount of stress from my plate by not letting my job consume me or my time. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have options and I could work here or not and it’s not going to cripple me or my lifestyle so the way I see it, my job is pretty lucky to have me, not the other way around. And I say that strongly even in the current economic environment.
Besides I’m only one person and there is no way I can give all of myself completely to my job or to my husband or even to my son. It’s just not humanly possible. And there are times that I still feel like I am failing miserably in some area in my life but I just try to do better the next day. I want my mind to be strong and sound for decades to come so, I can’t afford to start losing bits and pieces of it now.
One thing that is out of balance is the weather in Houston. We keep going from 40 to 77 degrees (and vice versa) overnight! Here's a picture of my son playing in the snow from last week!
I think one of the lessons I have learned- begrudgingly- since I got married and had a child is that, unfortunately, life is not all about ME anymore and that I have to put my selfishness aside. Armed with this knowledge, I have been able to avoid a lot of frustration and disappointment. Don’t get me wrong I still feel extremely overwhelmed from time to time but when I do, I just breathe and think whether or not it’s worth me losing my mind. And sometimes I TOTALLY fly off the handle to get my point across and to let the people in my life know without a shadow of a doubt : she’s kinda crazy. It’s been my secret weapon for years! :-)
Another thing that has really given me more sense of “balance” in my life is accepting my job for what it is. A job. It is not my “career”. I do not have delusions of grandeur or thoughts of climbing the corporate ladder. For the most part, I enjoy what I do and I when I am here I give 100% (it ain’t brain surgery, though) but I do NOT work overtime (I am salaried and don’t get paid for it), I don’t take any of the b.s. or politics home with me (I’m too busy pretending to be a Power Ranger with my son), and I don’t get involved in office cliques (I’m too damn old for that).
So, I have relieved an incredible amount of stress from my plate by not letting my job consume me or my time. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have options and I could work here or not and it’s not going to cripple me or my lifestyle so the way I see it, my job is pretty lucky to have me, not the other way around. And I say that strongly even in the current economic environment.
Besides I’m only one person and there is no way I can give all of myself completely to my job or to my husband or even to my son. It’s just not humanly possible. And there are times that I still feel like I am failing miserably in some area in my life but I just try to do better the next day. I want my mind to be strong and sound for decades to come so, I can’t afford to start losing bits and pieces of it now.
One thing that is out of balance is the weather in Houston. We keep going from 40 to 77 degrees (and vice versa) overnight! Here's a picture of my son playing in the snow from last week!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Totally Random
The most random thing happened in H-Town yesterday evening. . .IT SNOWED!!!! Earlier that afternoon I was running errands and it was COLD (32 degrees) and raining and at times the cold combined with the rain made it feel like ice was hitting my face but I never thought it would SNOW!
Let me just clear something up for anyone who doesn't know about weather in the South. First of all, anything below 70 is COLD to folks born and raised in the South. Second, this weekend is supposed to be around 74 degrees. So, color us a little shocked to get enough snow to stick to the ground and cars for more than an hour. Some places on the outskirts of the city actually got about 2.5 inches of snow.
The other thing that's so fascinating and somewhat cool about all of this is when I picked my son up from school yesterday he asked me if it was going to snow. I laughed and said I don't know. His teacher (remember he attends a Christian day school) however told him to PRAY and maybe God would make it snow. When we got home my son asked me if it was okay to pray for snow and who am I to challenge prayer? I told him to go right ahead. He took a prayer posture- clasped hands, bowed head and closed eyes and he prayed: "Dear God please make it snow today, in Jesus name, Amen."
When my husband called us around 5:30 and told us it was snowing my son- to say he was excited is an understatement. He kept running from window to window exclaiming "I made it snow! I made it snow!" I had to explain to him that he didn't make it snow, that God did. And he countered with, "But that's only because I asked him to," I didn't even bother. . .
It would have been really cool if this miracle could have taken place on Christmas like it did 4 years ago. It actually snowed on Christmas Even in 2004, my son's first Christmas, and hasn't even been that cold on Christmas since. They are trying to tie the snow to the hurricanes and some freaky weather pattern. Whatever the case, it was pretty awesome, that is until this morning when Houstonians all over town went sliding and crashing into each other. There should be a city-wide rule that if it snows in Houston or if there is ice on the ground- the city is CLOSED for the day! We can drive in rain but snow/ice? Not so much.
Tomorrow I'll post pics of my son throwing snowballs. . .
Let me just clear something up for anyone who doesn't know about weather in the South. First of all, anything below 70 is COLD to folks born and raised in the South. Second, this weekend is supposed to be around 74 degrees. So, color us a little shocked to get enough snow to stick to the ground and cars for more than an hour. Some places on the outskirts of the city actually got about 2.5 inches of snow.
The other thing that's so fascinating and somewhat cool about all of this is when I picked my son up from school yesterday he asked me if it was going to snow. I laughed and said I don't know. His teacher (remember he attends a Christian day school) however told him to PRAY and maybe God would make it snow. When we got home my son asked me if it was okay to pray for snow and who am I to challenge prayer? I told him to go right ahead. He took a prayer posture- clasped hands, bowed head and closed eyes and he prayed: "Dear God please make it snow today, in Jesus name, Amen."
When my husband called us around 5:30 and told us it was snowing my son- to say he was excited is an understatement. He kept running from window to window exclaiming "I made it snow! I made it snow!" I had to explain to him that he didn't make it snow, that God did. And he countered with, "But that's only because I asked him to," I didn't even bother. . .
It would have been really cool if this miracle could have taken place on Christmas like it did 4 years ago. It actually snowed on Christmas Even in 2004, my son's first Christmas, and hasn't even been that cold on Christmas since. They are trying to tie the snow to the hurricanes and some freaky weather pattern. Whatever the case, it was pretty awesome, that is until this morning when Houstonians all over town went sliding and crashing into each other. There should be a city-wide rule that if it snows in Houston or if there is ice on the ground- the city is CLOSED for the day! We can drive in rain but snow/ice? Not so much.
Tomorrow I'll post pics of my son throwing snowballs. . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Enough Already
Okay, there is one downfall to having a child that's so smart. Sometimes they are too smart. I mean smart as in shut-your-mouth-before-I-have-to-slap-you-in-it smart.
I subscribe to the 65-35 method of parenting. 65% old school and 35% new school. I realize that we are living in a totally different time than when I was a child but at the same time there are some things that will never change:
1. Children have no business in grown folks business!
2. Children should not talk back and/or disrespect their parents.
3. No negotiating with children. It makes them think they have the upper hand.
4. No telling children to do something 3 and 4 times.
5. Spankings help children see their options a lot more clearly.
I incorporate these old stand-by's into my daily parenting routine because of the simple fact that I have a FOUR YEAR OLD asking me questions like, "Why do we have to always do everything you want?" "Why can't I get to choose when I go to bed?"
I have NO patience for stuff like that!! I suppose I could get down on his level and say something like "because Mommy knows what's best for you" or "because Mommy wants you to get your rest". But I prefer that old adage "BECAUSE I SAID SO". You give these kids an inch they want to take a mile! I don't want to set a precedent that everything is up for discussion!
I don't know if it's hormones or what but me and my little MISTER have been bumping heads a lot lately. I've got to nip this in the bud with the quickness before Baby Girl's arrival. So I have been known to walk around the house with a belt over my shoulder to let him know I mean business however I never get to use it ;-( because all it takes is one word from his father and he's scrambling and tripping over himself to straighten up his act!
I think that he will probably end up being a lawyer because not only does he ask questions- and I'm not talking about typical inquisitive kiddie questions- he ask questions directly related to him getting what he wants and he has already developed this ability to make you second guess your answers so that he can prove his point which is- THERE IS NO REASON I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY WAY. I pray for him daily that he does not become a victim of a back hand from his hormonal mother. If he's starting this mess at FOUR. . .I'm thinking he better have a back up plan like where he can go and live by the time he's TEN because I ain't having it!
I subscribe to the 65-35 method of parenting. 65% old school and 35% new school. I realize that we are living in a totally different time than when I was a child but at the same time there are some things that will never change:
1. Children have no business in grown folks business!
2. Children should not talk back and/or disrespect their parents.
3. No negotiating with children. It makes them think they have the upper hand.
4. No telling children to do something 3 and 4 times.
5. Spankings help children see their options a lot more clearly.
I incorporate these old stand-by's into my daily parenting routine because of the simple fact that I have a FOUR YEAR OLD asking me questions like, "Why do we have to always do everything you want?" "Why can't I get to choose when I go to bed?"
I have NO patience for stuff like that!! I suppose I could get down on his level and say something like "because Mommy knows what's best for you" or "because Mommy wants you to get your rest". But I prefer that old adage "BECAUSE I SAID SO". You give these kids an inch they want to take a mile! I don't want to set a precedent that everything is up for discussion!
I don't know if it's hormones or what but me and my little MISTER have been bumping heads a lot lately. I've got to nip this in the bud with the quickness before Baby Girl's arrival. So I have been known to walk around the house with a belt over my shoulder to let him know I mean business however I never get to use it ;-( because all it takes is one word from his father and he's scrambling and tripping over himself to straighten up his act!
I think that he will probably end up being a lawyer because not only does he ask questions- and I'm not talking about typical inquisitive kiddie questions- he ask questions directly related to him getting what he wants and he has already developed this ability to make you second guess your answers so that he can prove his point which is- THERE IS NO REASON I SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY WAY. I pray for him daily that he does not become a victim of a back hand from his hormonal mother. If he's starting this mess at FOUR. . .I'm thinking he better have a back up plan like where he can go and live by the time he's TEN because I ain't having it!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Momversation
I found this clip over at dooce.com (one of my guilty pleasures). I thought it was very interesting and although most of my experiences are from the perspective of a black woman I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with these women on many different levels. I guess the one truism in life is, regardless to your race, motherhood and marriage ain't no joke!!
(Sorry about the Christina Aguilera commercial be patient it's worth the wait.)
(Sorry about the Christina Aguilera commercial be patient it's worth the wait.)
Monday, January 5, 2009
Condolences
I felt compelled to write this post this morning before I started my work day. I have always really liked John Travolta. Not saying that I'm a big fan but I do enjoy his work. At the risk of dating myself, I remember original episodes of Welcome Back Kotter and I found his ditzy Vinnie Barbarino character adorable. Not a big fan of Saturday Night Fever but loved him in Grease (I'on care who you are, you KNOW you had at least two songs memorized from that movie!) But one of my favorite roles of his was from Face Off with Nicolas Cage. I know I've seen that movie at least ten times!
So when I heard about his son, Jett (whose name I knew from seeing him in random interviews and he mentioned him practically every time) dying for some reason it really pierced my heart. I'm sure it's mainly because I'm a mother and I don't ever want to think about my son leaving this Earth before me. . .but also because it was so apparent that he absolutely adored his son. It is so tragic for a life to be taken so young (16) and I pray that the Travolta family can get through this tragedy.
So when I heard about his son, Jett (whose name I knew from seeing him in random interviews and he mentioned him practically every time) dying for some reason it really pierced my heart. I'm sure it's mainly because I'm a mother and I don't ever want to think about my son leaving this Earth before me. . .but also because it was so apparent that he absolutely adored his son. It is so tragic for a life to be taken so young (16) and I pray that the Travolta family can get through this tragedy.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
Why does today seem like Sunday?? I guess because I have to go to work tomorrow. Me and my two favorite guys spent a quiet evening at home last night watching the spectacular fireworks display our neighbors put on every year at New Years and Fourth of July. We feasted on chips , cheese, boneless BBQ wings and pizza. Then at midnight my husband poured a glass of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice for my son & I while he toasted with champagne. It was the perfect evening.
We slept until 10:00 this morning, then my husband got up and fixed us breakfast. I put on a roast and plan on topping the meal off with potatoes, black eyed peas, greens and cornbread. Maybe that's why it seems like Sunday- Soul Food Sunday to be exact. It's days like this that I think God has blessed me over-abundantly. I am EXTREMELY thankful although I know at times I am undeserving.
I usually don't make New Year's resolutions. . .but I do set goals. As a New Year begins I am mainly focused on ONE thing: having a HEALTHY baby in April. But aside from that there are some things I need to accomplish this year:
1. Keep pushing forward with school even if I take one class a semester
2. Get rid of the disgusting carpet in our bedroom
3. Get a new car (it's been WONDERFUL not having a car note for 10 years but the gig is up- we need more space)
4. Take my son on one last trip before school starts. . .I am dumbfounded that this kid starts kindergarten in the fall!
5. Get my children baptized!
Other than that I am going to TRY TRY to watch my language since my husband says I curse three times as much as I did when he first met me. . .wonder why?!?!
Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year and that 2009 brings you everything you wish for and more!!!
(The picture is of TheGenius getting his shave on Christmas morning.)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Post Holiday Greetings
Ho, ho, hum. . . . Well, another Christmas bites the dust! The madness and the mayhem was over within a matter of hours. I enjoyed this Christmas and tried to take it easy because, God-willing, next year I will have TWO children at Christmas- AGH! So, I enjoyed just having to focus on one child and play one game of pretend instead of being stretched between two children and feeling like I'm not devoting an equal amount of time.
Now that the holidays are about over I am starting to focus on how my life is about to drastically change in FOURTEEN short weeks! And I doubt seriously that I will even have time to take a breath. . .in addition to New Year's, my husband is running the Houston-Chevron marathon in January, hubby's birthday (along with 2 nieces, my moms, & only aunt birthdays) is in February, my son's b-day is in March and then BAM! Baby girl is due in April. OMG! People have been asking me about names. . .I am sooooo far away from thinking about names it's not even funny. I think I'll probably get it together after my son's b-day (March 2nd) maybe. . .I really need to FOCUS! I tell you what I am looking forward to the MOST (besides having a healthy baby) is taking THREE MONTHS off after my delivery!!! I am exhausted!!! Okay, I'm getting tired just thinking about it. . .
Instead I'll share my favorite story from Christmas. Christmas Eve to be exact. My son, got a ridiculous amount of STUFF from my family (as usual) and as he was opening his presents I was taking them and hiding them in the closet- because we open family presents at midnight and afterwards he needs to go to bed so Santa can make an appearance. One of the presents he received was a Batman shaving kit. It came with all the fake razors and a small can of foam a.k.a shaving cream.
After my family packed up and left (around 12:45am) I told my son it was time to go to sleep so that Santa could stop by and he started to have a MELT DOWN!!!! He had big crocodile tears and he was saying, "But I have to do something first," And I'm like- WHAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY HAVE TO DO AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING?!?! He started stuttering and blubbering that he: NEEDED TO SHAVE!!!!!! Bwahahahahahaha! He was sooooooo serious and looking so pitiful but I bust out laughing!!!! My husband didn't find it as hilarious. He told him he could shave in the morning and proceeded to march him upstairs. In less than three seconds he was out cold. He didn't wake up the next morning until almost 9:00!!! After he checked out what Santa left for him, he ran back upstairs to SHAVE!!! (I'll post pictures later).
I was still beyond exhausted so after playing one round of Power Rangers I went back to sleep. As I was nodding off that movie, A Christmas Story was on t.v. When I woke up it was still on so I thought I had only slept about twenty minutes- turns out the show was on a continuous 24 hour Christmas marathon loop and I had almost slept through it TWICE.
Now, I'm back at work still a little out of it. . .good thing Christmas only comes once a year because if it was more than once a year, I'd be celebrating Hanukkah!
Hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas!!! I wish you much peace, love and exponential blessings for 2009!!!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Balancing Act
Yesterday, my co-worker was going on and on about how she thought I was such a wonderful mother and that I seem to have found such a perfect balance in my life. I swear I just stared at her blankly for a few minutes because I thought she was gonna start laughing and say, “SIKE!” If anyone perceives that I have perfected “balance” in my life let me set the record straight: IT’S ALL SMOKE & MIRRORS.
I think one of the lessons I have learned- begrudgingly- since I got married and had a child is that, unfortunately, life is not all about ME anymore and that I have to put my selfishness aside. Armed with this knowledge, I have been able to avoid a lot of frustration and disappointment. Don’t get me wrong I still feel extremely overwhelmed from time to time but when I do, I just breathe and think whether or not it’s worth me losing my mind. And sometimes I TOTALLY fly off the handle to get my point across and to let the people in my life know without a shadow of a doubt : she’s kinda crazy. It’s been my secret weapon for years! :-)
Another thing that has really given me more sense of “balance” in my life is accepting my job for what it is. A job. It is not my “career”. I do not have delusions of grandeur or thoughts of climbing the corporate ladder. For the most part, I enjoy what I do and I when I am here I give 100% (it ain’t brain surgery, though) but I do NOT work overtime (I am salaried and don’t get paid for it), I don’t take any of the b.s. or politics home with me (I’m too busy pretending to be a Power Ranger with my son), and I don’t get involved in office cliques (I’m too damn old for that).
So, I have relieved an incredible amount of stress from my plate by not letting my job consume me or my time. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have options and I could work here or not and it’s not going to cripple me or my lifestyle so the way I see it, my job is pretty lucky to have me, not the other way around. And I say that strongly even in the current economic environment.
Besides I’m only one person and there is no way I can give all of myself completely to my job or to my husband or even to my son. It’s just not humanly possible. And there are times that I still feel like I am failing miserably in some area in my life but I just try to do better the next day. I want my mind to be strong and sound for decades to come so, I can’t afford to start losing bits and pieces of it now.
One thing that is out of balance is the weather in Houston. We keep going from 40 to 77 degrees (and vice versa) overnight! Here's a picture of my son playing in the snow from last week!
I think one of the lessons I have learned- begrudgingly- since I got married and had a child is that, unfortunately, life is not all about ME anymore and that I have to put my selfishness aside. Armed with this knowledge, I have been able to avoid a lot of frustration and disappointment. Don’t get me wrong I still feel extremely overwhelmed from time to time but when I do, I just breathe and think whether or not it’s worth me losing my mind. And sometimes I TOTALLY fly off the handle to get my point across and to let the people in my life know without a shadow of a doubt : she’s kinda crazy. It’s been my secret weapon for years! :-)
Another thing that has really given me more sense of “balance” in my life is accepting my job for what it is. A job. It is not my “career”. I do not have delusions of grandeur or thoughts of climbing the corporate ladder. For the most part, I enjoy what I do and I when I am here I give 100% (it ain’t brain surgery, though) but I do NOT work overtime (I am salaried and don’t get paid for it), I don’t take any of the b.s. or politics home with me (I’m too busy pretending to be a Power Ranger with my son), and I don’t get involved in office cliques (I’m too damn old for that).
So, I have relieved an incredible amount of stress from my plate by not letting my job consume me or my time. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have options and I could work here or not and it’s not going to cripple me or my lifestyle so the way I see it, my job is pretty lucky to have me, not the other way around. And I say that strongly even in the current economic environment.
Besides I’m only one person and there is no way I can give all of myself completely to my job or to my husband or even to my son. It’s just not humanly possible. And there are times that I still feel like I am failing miserably in some area in my life but I just try to do better the next day. I want my mind to be strong and sound for decades to come so, I can’t afford to start losing bits and pieces of it now.
One thing that is out of balance is the weather in Houston. We keep going from 40 to 77 degrees (and vice versa) overnight! Here's a picture of my son playing in the snow from last week!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Totally Random
The most random thing happened in H-Town yesterday evening. . .IT SNOWED!!!! Earlier that afternoon I was running errands and it was COLD (32 degrees) and raining and at times the cold combined with the rain made it feel like ice was hitting my face but I never thought it would SNOW!
Let me just clear something up for anyone who doesn't know about weather in the South. First of all, anything below 70 is COLD to folks born and raised in the South. Second, this weekend is supposed to be around 74 degrees. So, color us a little shocked to get enough snow to stick to the ground and cars for more than an hour. Some places on the outskirts of the city actually got about 2.5 inches of snow.
The other thing that's so fascinating and somewhat cool about all of this is when I picked my son up from school yesterday he asked me if it was going to snow. I laughed and said I don't know. His teacher (remember he attends a Christian day school) however told him to PRAY and maybe God would make it snow. When we got home my son asked me if it was okay to pray for snow and who am I to challenge prayer? I told him to go right ahead. He took a prayer posture- clasped hands, bowed head and closed eyes and he prayed: "Dear God please make it snow today, in Jesus name, Amen."
When my husband called us around 5:30 and told us it was snowing my son- to say he was excited is an understatement. He kept running from window to window exclaiming "I made it snow! I made it snow!" I had to explain to him that he didn't make it snow, that God did. And he countered with, "But that's only because I asked him to," I didn't even bother. . .
It would have been really cool if this miracle could have taken place on Christmas like it did 4 years ago. It actually snowed on Christmas Even in 2004, my son's first Christmas, and hasn't even been that cold on Christmas since. They are trying to tie the snow to the hurricanes and some freaky weather pattern. Whatever the case, it was pretty awesome, that is until this morning when Houstonians all over town went sliding and crashing into each other. There should be a city-wide rule that if it snows in Houston or if there is ice on the ground- the city is CLOSED for the day! We can drive in rain but snow/ice? Not so much.
Tomorrow I'll post pics of my son throwing snowballs. . .
Let me just clear something up for anyone who doesn't know about weather in the South. First of all, anything below 70 is COLD to folks born and raised in the South. Second, this weekend is supposed to be around 74 degrees. So, color us a little shocked to get enough snow to stick to the ground and cars for more than an hour. Some places on the outskirts of the city actually got about 2.5 inches of snow.
The other thing that's so fascinating and somewhat cool about all of this is when I picked my son up from school yesterday he asked me if it was going to snow. I laughed and said I don't know. His teacher (remember he attends a Christian day school) however told him to PRAY and maybe God would make it snow. When we got home my son asked me if it was okay to pray for snow and who am I to challenge prayer? I told him to go right ahead. He took a prayer posture- clasped hands, bowed head and closed eyes and he prayed: "Dear God please make it snow today, in Jesus name, Amen."
When my husband called us around 5:30 and told us it was snowing my son- to say he was excited is an understatement. He kept running from window to window exclaiming "I made it snow! I made it snow!" I had to explain to him that he didn't make it snow, that God did. And he countered with, "But that's only because I asked him to," I didn't even bother. . .
It would have been really cool if this miracle could have taken place on Christmas like it did 4 years ago. It actually snowed on Christmas Even in 2004, my son's first Christmas, and hasn't even been that cold on Christmas since. They are trying to tie the snow to the hurricanes and some freaky weather pattern. Whatever the case, it was pretty awesome, that is until this morning when Houstonians all over town went sliding and crashing into each other. There should be a city-wide rule that if it snows in Houston or if there is ice on the ground- the city is CLOSED for the day! We can drive in rain but snow/ice? Not so much.
Tomorrow I'll post pics of my son throwing snowballs. . .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)