On April 29th, 2011 the world watched as a normal, middle class girl made all of our dreams come true as she married her Prince Charming...a real live Prince! When Kate Middleton married Prince William, the fantasy of all little girls sprang to life and someday she will get to be the Queen of England. How many of us have watched our Disney Princesses kiss their fairytale Princes and dreamed that someday it could be us? I know I did. There was time when I was young that I saw Prince William in pictures and just knew someday he would come to America, whisk me away and I would be snogging him on that balcony. Obviously that didn't happen, but I was blessed to get marry very own prince charming, the Mr. Charles McGee in February of 2007 and have the two most wonderful children God ever made. I got my happily ever after after all.
When little girls are born, they are all the prettiest, smartest, sweetest things their mothers have ever seen. Every little girl born into this world is, in my opinion, a princess. We all start out that way. We dream big, imagine big, and love big. One of the greatest tragedies in this world is when a girl stops feeling like a princess and starts believing she is worth less and deserves less than what she should have in life.
I have always taken pride in my appearance and capabilities. I would even admit to a touch of vanity every now and then, but always (I hope) with the humility I was raised to have. Do I believe myself to be the prettiest, smartest girl ever conceived? NO! Not by a long shot, but I fully advocate for every girl and woman to have a very positive sense of self worth and self esteem. A little humble self assurance and/or confidence can make every aspect of your life happier and less stressful.
I have met several girls, especially since entering my career that have lost themselves somewhere along the way. Either they have never seen themselves as smart or beautiful or they have let some loser man make them believe they aren't. Weight issues also take a huge toll on the self esteem of so many girls. For some, they start out heavy, lose weight, and still don't see the hot new figure in the mirror or they may gain weight over the years or get the dreaded post baby body that is near impossible to live with. Trust me, I know my spectacular full C boobs turned into saggy B's and will never be the same after breastfeeding two babies!
I think the key is to make a conscious decision that you will start to focus on the positive traits you have and force yourself to make an effort on your appearance and mind power. I am not saying you have to dress to the nine's, put on full makeup and read three newspapers everyday, but little pick-me-ups every now and then really do make a difference. Buy a new shirt for no reason, put on some mascara, go by yourself to Waffle House on a Sunday morning for a cup of coffee and read the paper. There is something really empowering about going alone to restaurant. You cannot rely on other people to make you feel good about yourself just like you should never allow anyone to make you feel worthless!
Seven years ago I had a traumatic event take place in my life effecting several people very close to me. I was depressed and suffering from anxiety attacks. I didn't care about much of anything. I didn't worry about what I was wearing and rarely put on makeup like I always had. One day I went to see my mom and I was still in my downward spiral. She said something like, "why don't you just try to put on some makeup or get dressed and go somewhere? I know you would feel better." She knew this new drab, melancholy girl before her was not the daughter she raised. That really made me realize how far I had fallen. I went to counseling and started taking medication for depression and anxiety. Eventually, I discovered that the meds were making me completely devoid of any emotions happy or sad and the counseling didn't really help that much so I quit it all. Over time I was able to pull myself out and decided I had to go on with life. Another time my youngest sister was going through a funk of her own and my middle sister finally told her, "you can either choose to be happy or choose to be sad. It is up to you." I don't know if truer words were ever spoken. As a medical professional I know that true mental illness and clinical depression does exist and there are times when physician assisted intervention is necessary. I don't want to discredit that or discourage anyone from seeking out help that they actually need, but I feel like in most cases the decision on how we want to live our lives is totally up to us!
Women are powerful, beautiful creatures who deserve to be loved, respected, and appreciated from the second we are conceived (of course our male counterparts deserve the same in return). We all start out as little princesses and deserve to end our lives as queens. My wish is that every little girl, teenager, and fully grown hottie is able to look at themselves in the mirror and see herself for the smart beauty that she is and NEVER sell herself short or let anyone make her feel like she is less than stunning.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your permission!"
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
...The Not So Calm After The Storm..
I have been wanting to do this blog for a couple of days, but I have had a hard time putting my emotions into coherent words and not the ramblings of an emotionally distraught girl. I can't guarantee a completely ramble-free post, but I will do my best. Please bear with me.
Trees are beautiful, life giving structures. Their leaves provide us clean air, shade in the summertime, a beautiful display of colors in the fall, as well as provide us with innumerable products we use everyday. However, when they are laying in the middle of your living room or have fallen down all over your property ruining fences and killing livestock, they somehow lose their luster. The tornado and storm that went through my hometown of Vilonia Monday night seems to have left more trees on their sides and on houses than standing. This is just a portion of the destruction the people of Vilonia woke up to face early Tuesday morning.
As most of you may know a tornado hit my hometown of Vilonia, Arkansas the night of April 25, 2011. Several members of my family live in Vilonia; my parents, sister, paternal grandparents and great-grandmother, my mom's sister and her two children, and my dad's brother and wife. I live about 10 miles out of Vilonia now. The night the storm hit I was terrified for my family. I knew it was headed their way and I knew it may be bad. I never in my wildest dreams expected to see the level devastation this storm caused. After I found out that night that all my family was safe from harm but there was some pretty bad damage I went to bed with my heart heavy. I wasn't until the following morning that I heard more of an account of what really happened.
The first person I was able to talk to was my dad. My "always has a plan, calm and collected" dad. He told me he was busy cutting some of the cows out from under trees. I could hear the urgency in his voice and it scared me. Then I talked to other members of family and followed Facebook like I would die if I didn't look at least every 15 minutes. I spent an incredible stressful 7 hours at work. The pain of not being there with my family was almost unbearable.
It wasn't until I actually drove into town that I truly realized the magnitude of what had happened there. My grandparent's house was the first place of note that I saw and there was the big beautiful tree in their front, side yard blown over onto their front porch (along with many other trees stripped or uprooted). Then going down my parent's street I could see the nice subdivision Quail Hollow on the left side with tarps on all the roofs, windows blown out, fences gone or laying scattered in pieces with people everywhere, exhausted. The light poles were leaning over the road with some sheared in half and standing in the road. Then my parent's/grandparent's pasture on the right with countless trees blown over, their roots sticking up in the air several feet high. My mom and dad's house is surrounded by trees, many of which were laying on their sides. It was but for the grace of God that none of them hit their house. Huge trees were just uprooted with debris everywhere. When I parked my car and got out, I made a bee-line for my momma, hugged her, and cried tears of grief for our town and relief for their safety. My Aunt and Uncle's house back across the road at the end of the subdivision was missing a large section of roof over the kitchen and living room. They were also minus a nice shop on the side of their house.
Eventually after some work moving limbs into large piles in my parent's yard, mom and I went for a drive down main street. It was indescribable. There were more trees down everywhere, roofs missing, whole houses missing. The landscape is traumatic to look at. My heart aches for the town and its' people. There was also a subdivision with several mobile homes that was flattened by the storm/tornado. Vilonia will never be the same.
The good news is this... The outpouring of love and support from the community is wonderful. There have been many, many people coming out to help clear trees and debris. My great-grandmother's house sits right off of main street. It is surrounded by fallen trees to the point you could barely see it. She also had a tipped over semi truck in her yard. At the bequest of its' driver people were busy gathering the dry food goods that were packaged well and had spilled out. There were several strangers that just stopped to help and worked hard to start cleaning up her yard. As I had mentioned to some of family, if the storm had to happen somewhere, at least it happened to an area filled with people who love and support their town; people who will pitch in and help each other get this cleaned up and fixed.
We have a very long way to go rebuilding, but there is always hope. I have faith that God will see us through. I am praying for the strength of the people of Vilonia and for them to be provided with the donations needed to survive the coming weeks and months. Power is still out to a majority of the city and there is no telling when it will be restored. If you would like to volunteer to clean up or help rebuild my hometown or have anything at all you would like to donate please let me know and I will get you some information!
Click here for YouTube Video of some of the damage. My great grandmother's house is just after the truck, before the cereal.
Trees are beautiful, life giving structures. Their leaves provide us clean air, shade in the summertime, a beautiful display of colors in the fall, as well as provide us with innumerable products we use everyday. However, when they are laying in the middle of your living room or have fallen down all over your property ruining fences and killing livestock, they somehow lose their luster. The tornado and storm that went through my hometown of Vilonia Monday night seems to have left more trees on their sides and on houses than standing. This is just a portion of the destruction the people of Vilonia woke up to face early Tuesday morning.
As most of you may know a tornado hit my hometown of Vilonia, Arkansas the night of April 25, 2011. Several members of my family live in Vilonia; my parents, sister, paternal grandparents and great-grandmother, my mom's sister and her two children, and my dad's brother and wife. I live about 10 miles out of Vilonia now. The night the storm hit I was terrified for my family. I knew it was headed their way and I knew it may be bad. I never in my wildest dreams expected to see the level devastation this storm caused. After I found out that night that all my family was safe from harm but there was some pretty bad damage I went to bed with my heart heavy. I wasn't until the following morning that I heard more of an account of what really happened.
The first person I was able to talk to was my dad. My "always has a plan, calm and collected" dad. He told me he was busy cutting some of the cows out from under trees. I could hear the urgency in his voice and it scared me. Then I talked to other members of family and followed Facebook like I would die if I didn't look at least every 15 minutes. I spent an incredible stressful 7 hours at work. The pain of not being there with my family was almost unbearable.
It wasn't until I actually drove into town that I truly realized the magnitude of what had happened there. My grandparent's house was the first place of note that I saw and there was the big beautiful tree in their front, side yard blown over onto their front porch (along with many other trees stripped or uprooted). Then going down my parent's street I could see the nice subdivision Quail Hollow on the left side with tarps on all the roofs, windows blown out, fences gone or laying scattered in pieces with people everywhere, exhausted. The light poles were leaning over the road with some sheared in half and standing in the road. Then my parent's/grandparent's pasture on the right with countless trees blown over, their roots sticking up in the air several feet high. My mom and dad's house is surrounded by trees, many of which were laying on their sides. It was but for the grace of God that none of them hit their house. Huge trees were just uprooted with debris everywhere. When I parked my car and got out, I made a bee-line for my momma, hugged her, and cried tears of grief for our town and relief for their safety. My Aunt and Uncle's house back across the road at the end of the subdivision was missing a large section of roof over the kitchen and living room. They were also minus a nice shop on the side of their house.
Eventually after some work moving limbs into large piles in my parent's yard, mom and I went for a drive down main street. It was indescribable. There were more trees down everywhere, roofs missing, whole houses missing. The landscape is traumatic to look at. My heart aches for the town and its' people. There was also a subdivision with several mobile homes that was flattened by the storm/tornado. Vilonia will never be the same.
The good news is this... The outpouring of love and support from the community is wonderful. There have been many, many people coming out to help clear trees and debris. My great-grandmother's house sits right off of main street. It is surrounded by fallen trees to the point you could barely see it. She also had a tipped over semi truck in her yard. At the bequest of its' driver people were busy gathering the dry food goods that were packaged well and had spilled out. There were several strangers that just stopped to help and worked hard to start cleaning up her yard. As I had mentioned to some of family, if the storm had to happen somewhere, at least it happened to an area filled with people who love and support their town; people who will pitch in and help each other get this cleaned up and fixed.
We have a very long way to go rebuilding, but there is always hope. I have faith that God will see us through. I am praying for the strength of the people of Vilonia and for them to be provided with the donations needed to survive the coming weeks and months. Power is still out to a majority of the city and there is no telling when it will be restored. If you would like to volunteer to clean up or help rebuild my hometown or have anything at all you would like to donate please let me know and I will get you some information!
Click here for YouTube Video of some of the damage. My great grandmother's house is just after the truck, before the cereal.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Life: The Grand Finale
We have all heard about or been close to tragic death. When someone goes "before their time" like accidents, car wrecks, or homicide/suicide for example. Unfortunately this seems to be happening more and more these days as war and apathy grip the planet. What you don't see or hear about on the news are the times when death is embraced as a natural part of life. You may be expecting the death of a friend or relative due to illness or old age. Then you get the dreaded phone call or news from the doctor that they have passed. Some are fortunate enough to be there to hold a loved one's hand as they take their final breaths passing from this life to the next. Today I became one of those people.
Death is often seen as sad, unfortunate, and depressing. That is because it is....to a point. For those people who have lived a full life and grow into old age, or become terminally ill there comes a point where death turns from tragedy to blessing. For the last few days I have had the gift of being able to sit with a gentleman at the end of his life. He was a great friend to many and lived a different, but full and happy life. I sat by his bed and rubbed his hands. I sang to him. I turned him every hour. I medicated him. I bathed him. I visited with his friends. I hope I did everything I could do in order to make his time as pleasant and comfortable as I possibly could. Was it hard? Hell yes it was. I tell you what though, there is nowhere on this earth that I would rather have been. Then, this afternoon I got the great honor of being by his side as he departed this earth and went on to better things.
I only knew him for a matter of months, but in caring for him I built bond of friendship that I hope he could feel. As a human being, of course I was sad when he passed. I was sad for me and his friends that had known him for years. I was sad for his family in their time of great loss. And yes, I was sad for him. I know I shouldn't be though. I know without a doubt that he is rejoicing in Heaven even as sit here and type this. It's funny how you can know that, but at the same time when people are telling you that after someone you care about passes, it is almost no comfort at all to hear. I think it is our own selfishness that gets in the way. We want them be with us and be the way they were 10 years ago when they were "themselves" and not the sick version. What I also know for an immediate fact is that he is no more pain ever again. He is not thirsty for air or water. That is a great comfort to me.
As a nurse, I was living in a surreal time where I felt my career had just been taken to new a level. I haven't felt like a rookie nurse in a long time until today. I know that in those moments I have to keep a certain decorum and sense of professionalism. All I really I really wanted to do was cry and freak out. Even though those last moments were peaceful, I was experiencing a range of emotions from scared and sad to relived and honored. It was like nothing I have ever witnessed and impossible to describe in way that would do it justice. It is true that in times of emergency your adrenaline kicks in and you act and then later you have to cry and compose yourself.
When it was all over and the very stressful time of physician evaluation and proclamation of time of death was given I did shed some tears for my friend. There was still a little bit of work to be done to finish out my shift. I am so very blessed to work with amazing bunch a ladies who came to my rescue, saw my grief, and pitched in to help me get it done while I took a break. At the end of my work day, about an hour after his passing, it was finally time for me to go. I packed up my belongings, went over to his bed and kissed him on the forehead. I said my goodbyes and turned to leave knowing I would never see him again. My heart is heavy with grief, though all the while reaching for the peace that comes with knowing that he was one of the lucky ones. One of the fortunate people who got to live a great life, then go on to Heaven with peace and dignity when it was his turn to be given his wings.
Death is often seen as sad, unfortunate, and depressing. That is because it is....to a point. For those people who have lived a full life and grow into old age, or become terminally ill there comes a point where death turns from tragedy to blessing. For the last few days I have had the gift of being able to sit with a gentleman at the end of his life. He was a great friend to many and lived a different, but full and happy life. I sat by his bed and rubbed his hands. I sang to him. I turned him every hour. I medicated him. I bathed him. I visited with his friends. I hope I did everything I could do in order to make his time as pleasant and comfortable as I possibly could. Was it hard? Hell yes it was. I tell you what though, there is nowhere on this earth that I would rather have been. Then, this afternoon I got the great honor of being by his side as he departed this earth and went on to better things.
I only knew him for a matter of months, but in caring for him I built bond of friendship that I hope he could feel. As a human being, of course I was sad when he passed. I was sad for me and his friends that had known him for years. I was sad for his family in their time of great loss. And yes, I was sad for him. I know I shouldn't be though. I know without a doubt that he is rejoicing in Heaven even as sit here and type this. It's funny how you can know that, but at the same time when people are telling you that after someone you care about passes, it is almost no comfort at all to hear. I think it is our own selfishness that gets in the way. We want them be with us and be the way they were 10 years ago when they were "themselves" and not the sick version. What I also know for an immediate fact is that he is no more pain ever again. He is not thirsty for air or water. That is a great comfort to me.
As a nurse, I was living in a surreal time where I felt my career had just been taken to new a level. I haven't felt like a rookie nurse in a long time until today. I know that in those moments I have to keep a certain decorum and sense of professionalism. All I really I really wanted to do was cry and freak out. Even though those last moments were peaceful, I was experiencing a range of emotions from scared and sad to relived and honored. It was like nothing I have ever witnessed and impossible to describe in way that would do it justice. It is true that in times of emergency your adrenaline kicks in and you act and then later you have to cry and compose yourself.
When it was all over and the very stressful time of physician evaluation and proclamation of time of death was given I did shed some tears for my friend. There was still a little bit of work to be done to finish out my shift. I am so very blessed to work with amazing bunch a ladies who came to my rescue, saw my grief, and pitched in to help me get it done while I took a break. At the end of my work day, about an hour after his passing, it was finally time for me to go. I packed up my belongings, went over to his bed and kissed him on the forehead. I said my goodbyes and turned to leave knowing I would never see him again. My heart is heavy with grief, though all the while reaching for the peace that comes with knowing that he was one of the lucky ones. One of the fortunate people who got to live a great life, then go on to Heaven with peace and dignity when it was his turn to be given his wings.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Shout Out To Those Who Made Me, But I Never Got To Meet
My ancestry is something that has always interested me, but not profoundly untill a couple of days ago. I read a comment my aunt Kathy Marsden posted to my first blog entry that really struck a chord. She wrote, "...you have a little of your grandpa Barnes in you! He loved to write about anything and everything." For some reason, at that moment, I was struck with joyful adoration for someone have I never met. Unfortunatly, he passed before I was born. I don't even have a picture of him in my head, but I felt a connection to him that was very real.
Then I thought, "Why have I never had this feeling before?" I am 27 years old and have studied my family history, particularly on my father's side, through pictures, stories, and family tree. However, I have never really thought about them actually being part of me or that I am a part of them. Not really. To think that I could have some of the same personality traits and idiosyncrasies. We all say things like, "You have your mother's eyes," but to have something personal in common with a stranger from your past is kind of surreal. It is a neat thing to thing about how you are the incredible sum of so many "parts." For the good or the bad, you have someone to thank for giving you life.
For me, writing is an escape, a stress reliever, and fun. I have loved to write about my thoughts and feelings on random subjects for as long as can remember. I feel like putting my thoughts and emotions into print is a very personal experience and certainly something that is all mine. I can share what I want to share and keep private what I want to keep private. I have never known anyone in family, or even any friends, that like to write the way I do and more importantly, share what they write. To find out I have that one little thing in common with my great-grandfather is a special thing to me.
I wonder how many things I have in common with other members of family that have gone on before me. I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet so many of them. I hope that my grandparents are around long enough provide healthy memories of them to my children. Family is the most important thing in my life. Family will be around long after every other relationship fades. I hope I can impress upon my babies the importance of their family and family history. As the old saying saying goes, "You have to know where you've been to know where you are going."
Then I thought, "Why have I never had this feeling before?" I am 27 years old and have studied my family history, particularly on my father's side, through pictures, stories, and family tree. However, I have never really thought about them actually being part of me or that I am a part of them. Not really. To think that I could have some of the same personality traits and idiosyncrasies. We all say things like, "You have your mother's eyes," but to have something personal in common with a stranger from your past is kind of surreal. It is a neat thing to thing about how you are the incredible sum of so many "parts." For the good or the bad, you have someone to thank for giving you life.
For me, writing is an escape, a stress reliever, and fun. I have loved to write about my thoughts and feelings on random subjects for as long as can remember. I feel like putting my thoughts and emotions into print is a very personal experience and certainly something that is all mine. I can share what I want to share and keep private what I want to keep private. I have never known anyone in family, or even any friends, that like to write the way I do and more importantly, share what they write. To find out I have that one little thing in common with my great-grandfather is a special thing to me.
I wonder how many things I have in common with other members of family that have gone on before me. I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet so many of them. I hope that my grandparents are around long enough provide healthy memories of them to my children. Family is the most important thing in my life. Family will be around long after every other relationship fades. I hope I can impress upon my babies the importance of their family and family history. As the old saying saying goes, "You have to know where you've been to know where you are going."
Monday, April 4, 2011
Grocery List + Kids' Menu Ideas
The grocery store can either be a very stressful or a moderately stress relieving place. When I can go to the store by myself and take my time, it almost seems like a little mini vacation. I know, that probably seems really sad. Most of the time though, I have to go with my kids and I run through the store like it's the Daytona 500 all the while protecting the shelves from tiny hands and breaking up fights. So, it really does help if I can go in with a plan. My grocery store routine if you will.
Obviously, I have to know what I need and how much I can spend. Like most everyone, I have to buy on a budget. I generally spend anywhere from $80-$150 per week to keep my family happily well fed, watered, and snacked. We all have some things we are not willing to skimp on. For me that is diapers and wipes. They MUST BE Huggies. However, there are a lot of ways to cut corners and save money. I shop at Kroger for my groceries. I find it to be small enough to keep me focused as well as help keep me from going for the impulse buy like I would at Wal-Mart. Also, I am familiar with Kroger now so I know what specials they usually run and can more easily predict my final total. Shout out to the 10 for 10!
I work full time as well as being a full time mom to two preschoolers so having a well stocked pantry from which to create quick and easy meals is a must. Things like pasta, pasta sauce, canned fruits and veggies, granola bars, raisins, and other snacks need to be there. When my kids decide they want to eat, it needs to be ready now! That doesn't mean I have to cut out the nutritional value.
Unfortunately, processed and nutritionally void food is cheaper and more plentiful than fresh produce and organic foods. How I would love to have a famers' market open in Conway when I am off work to be able to shop at! My solution tends to be the semi-homemade meal consisting of a mix of ready-made and fresh foods. For example, I watch the produce section for what things are on sale and plan meals around that. My kids love fruit and always have some at breakfast and for snacks. So, I see which fruits they have at a good price and get those. Usually, we get bananas, grapes, and either apples, oranges, or strawberries. I love when they put the precut fruit or berry bowls on sale. Those are awesome! Most kids like fruit, so it is any easy way to get those vitamins in there.
Another of my favorite produce section finds is the boxes of the prewashed, ready to eat salad. For some reason my kids love salad with ranch, so it is easy to make something for dinner and throw some mixed greens, shredded cheddar, and ranch on the side and helps me feel like they are eating well. The little bag of baby carrots is also great for a easy quick partner to a sandwich or a healthy snack. You can put them in a zip top bag the first time you open them and they will keep for a long time. Celery is cheap and comes in a big bunch. When you get it home you can go ahead and wash it, cut it up and put it in a zip top bag. Then it is ready for you when you need it for some tasty "ants on a log" snacks. It also has great shelf life. It is actually cheaper in the long run than buying the little individual bags of chips or cookies and much healthier.
Snacks are the most fun to make and they are really important to keeping the munchkins at bay. Snacks can be quick, easy, and healthy. My favorites usually consist of all or a combination of a carbohydrate, a dairy, and a fruit. Some of my stand bys are: fruit yogurt, granola bars, cheese cubes with grapes or raisins, peaches or pineapple and cottage cheese, celery sticks and peanut butter, bowl of berries, peanut butter on crackers or vanilla wafers, and goldfish crackers or cheeze-its with raisins all with a glass of milk. At our house, by milk, of course I mean whole milk with a little bit of Hershey's calcium enriched chocolate syrup added in; shaken, not stirred.
Lunch and dinner can be a little more complicated. Remember, I am cooking for a 2 and almost 4 year old. My decisions have to be based on what is easy to eat and digest, and on most days days, what they won't have spread from one end of the dinning room to the other. Some things I know they won't do well with are most soups, rice (have you tried to sweep cooked rice of a wood floor...yikes!), and most spicy things. During the week, I also need these meals to be easy and fairly quick to make.
I work during the day and my husband, Chuck, works in the evening so we can save on daycare costs. Needless to say, since he is making lunch it needs to be simple. Love you honey! Some things I get for him to make include: fish sticks and chicken nuggets with mac and cheese, frozen pizza, sandwiches with either deli meat and cheese or pb&j, spaghetti-o's, and hotdogs, all paired with fruit and/or a veggie.
Dinner is my arena and is quite variable. Like most families we seem to kind of go in phases as to what we are eating. Lately, I have not been doing as intense cooking as I used to. Some things I like make are as follows: chicken of all kinds, different kinds of pasta dishes like, spaghetti, alfredo, and goulash, some casseroles, homemade pizza (it is easy to get the kids involved on that one), stuffed pablano peppers, burgers, "breakfast for dinner," tacos, taco casserole, and many others. My main rules of thumb are I want the plates to look very colorful and diverse, and I want to see all food groups represented. Some items that definitely make life easier for me are the bags of veggies you can steam in the microwave, Prego and the like, and canned cream soups.
I cook things for my kids that I want to eat. I also like to expose them to a lot of different kinds of foods with different textures and appearances to expand their palates. I think it is an in-born mom thing that we feel good when we feed our kids well. I love it when I try a new recipe and they say, "mmmmm mommy this is yummy!" Cookbooks are wonderful inspiration along with the Food Network channel. My favorites are Barefoot Contessa, Rachel Ray (because she cooks just like me, "chop and drop"), and Sandra Lee. While shopping for the groceries may not always be an enjoyable experience the cooking and the love that comes out of kitchen sure can be. Cooking with my kids can be a lot of fun too, when we are in the mood. Chloe and Jackson love to mix things, sprinkle on shredded cheese, and pour things in. Cooking teaches them about measurements and about the ingrediants. Just remember to remind them and yourself of safety around heat and sharp objects like knives and graters. If you have any good time or money saving ideas put them in the comments or comment under this post on my FB. I love hearing new ideas. We all get in a rut sometimes. So, until next time, keep the plates happy and the tummies full!
Obviously, I have to know what I need and how much I can spend. Like most everyone, I have to buy on a budget. I generally spend anywhere from $80-$150 per week to keep my family happily well fed, watered, and snacked. We all have some things we are not willing to skimp on. For me that is diapers and wipes. They MUST BE Huggies. However, there are a lot of ways to cut corners and save money. I shop at Kroger for my groceries. I find it to be small enough to keep me focused as well as help keep me from going for the impulse buy like I would at Wal-Mart. Also, I am familiar with Kroger now so I know what specials they usually run and can more easily predict my final total. Shout out to the 10 for 10!
I work full time as well as being a full time mom to two preschoolers so having a well stocked pantry from which to create quick and easy meals is a must. Things like pasta, pasta sauce, canned fruits and veggies, granola bars, raisins, and other snacks need to be there. When my kids decide they want to eat, it needs to be ready now! That doesn't mean I have to cut out the nutritional value.
Unfortunately, processed and nutritionally void food is cheaper and more plentiful than fresh produce and organic foods. How I would love to have a famers' market open in Conway when I am off work to be able to shop at! My solution tends to be the semi-homemade meal consisting of a mix of ready-made and fresh foods. For example, I watch the produce section for what things are on sale and plan meals around that. My kids love fruit and always have some at breakfast and for snacks. So, I see which fruits they have at a good price and get those. Usually, we get bananas, grapes, and either apples, oranges, or strawberries. I love when they put the precut fruit or berry bowls on sale. Those are awesome! Most kids like fruit, so it is any easy way to get those vitamins in there.
Another of my favorite produce section finds is the boxes of the prewashed, ready to eat salad. For some reason my kids love salad with ranch, so it is easy to make something for dinner and throw some mixed greens, shredded cheddar, and ranch on the side and helps me feel like they are eating well. The little bag of baby carrots is also great for a easy quick partner to a sandwich or a healthy snack. You can put them in a zip top bag the first time you open them and they will keep for a long time. Celery is cheap and comes in a big bunch. When you get it home you can go ahead and wash it, cut it up and put it in a zip top bag. Then it is ready for you when you need it for some tasty "ants on a log" snacks. It also has great shelf life. It is actually cheaper in the long run than buying the little individual bags of chips or cookies and much healthier.
Snacks are the most fun to make and they are really important to keeping the munchkins at bay. Snacks can be quick, easy, and healthy. My favorites usually consist of all or a combination of a carbohydrate, a dairy, and a fruit. Some of my stand bys are: fruit yogurt, granola bars, cheese cubes with grapes or raisins, peaches or pineapple and cottage cheese, celery sticks and peanut butter, bowl of berries, peanut butter on crackers or vanilla wafers, and goldfish crackers or cheeze-its with raisins all with a glass of milk. At our house, by milk, of course I mean whole milk with a little bit of Hershey's calcium enriched chocolate syrup added in; shaken, not stirred.
Lunch and dinner can be a little more complicated. Remember, I am cooking for a 2 and almost 4 year old. My decisions have to be based on what is easy to eat and digest, and on most days days, what they won't have spread from one end of the dinning room to the other. Some things I know they won't do well with are most soups, rice (have you tried to sweep cooked rice of a wood floor...yikes!), and most spicy things. During the week, I also need these meals to be easy and fairly quick to make.
I work during the day and my husband, Chuck, works in the evening so we can save on daycare costs. Needless to say, since he is making lunch it needs to be simple. Love you honey! Some things I get for him to make include: fish sticks and chicken nuggets with mac and cheese, frozen pizza, sandwiches with either deli meat and cheese or pb&j, spaghetti-o's, and hotdogs, all paired with fruit and/or a veggie.
Dinner is my arena and is quite variable. Like most families we seem to kind of go in phases as to what we are eating. Lately, I have not been doing as intense cooking as I used to. Some things I like make are as follows: chicken of all kinds, different kinds of pasta dishes like, spaghetti, alfredo, and goulash, some casseroles, homemade pizza (it is easy to get the kids involved on that one), stuffed pablano peppers, burgers, "breakfast for dinner," tacos, taco casserole, and many others. My main rules of thumb are I want the plates to look very colorful and diverse, and I want to see all food groups represented. Some items that definitely make life easier for me are the bags of veggies you can steam in the microwave, Prego and the like, and canned cream soups.
I cook things for my kids that I want to eat. I also like to expose them to a lot of different kinds of foods with different textures and appearances to expand their palates. I think it is an in-born mom thing that we feel good when we feed our kids well. I love it when I try a new recipe and they say, "mmmmm mommy this is yummy!" Cookbooks are wonderful inspiration along with the Food Network channel. My favorites are Barefoot Contessa, Rachel Ray (because she cooks just like me, "chop and drop"), and Sandra Lee. While shopping for the groceries may not always be an enjoyable experience the cooking and the love that comes out of kitchen sure can be. Cooking with my kids can be a lot of fun too, when we are in the mood. Chloe and Jackson love to mix things, sprinkle on shredded cheese, and pour things in. Cooking teaches them about measurements and about the ingrediants. Just remember to remind them and yourself of safety around heat and sharp objects like knives and graters. If you have any good time or money saving ideas put them in the comments or comment under this post on my FB. I love hearing new ideas. We all get in a rut sometimes. So, until next time, keep the plates happy and the tummies full!
Monday, March 28, 2011
I'm Just Sayin'....
Warning: This is a God related post, read on only if you have interest in hearing my opinion about hypocrisy and judgementalism as relates to SOME of my fellow Christians...
I have been noticing an influx of the "pro-Christian" chain-style status updates on Facebook lately. The irony is that so many of them have negative, judgemental undertones that are anything but Christian. They seem to attack groups as a whole or try to make us feel bad for not backing one cause or another. Unfortunately, Christianity lends itself very well to hypocrisy. It is easy to talk the talk, but very hard to walk the walk (the important part). The arrogant, all knowing attitude I have observed in a lot of Christians can be really off-putting. I'm certainly not saying all Christians act this way. Although, some Christians seem to think that by blasting their faith all over the place by telling us all how awful we are for not believing in prayer in school, or not to buy products that have taken "In God We Trust" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, or believe that the world is more than 6,000 years old, that they are honoring God in some way. I wonder, have they forgotten Jesus teaching us that by saying long prayers and making a religious spectacle of ourselves, that we are making it more about us than God?
I know that He also said we needed to go out into the world and make disciples, but I don't think that requires me to go around with an "I LOVE GOD" t-shirt and a megaphone. We prove what is in our hearts by our actions and how we treat people. Now, I will be more than happy to share my beliefs and faith with anybody who is interested and who wants to hear it (like those of you who are still reading this) and I tell people I will pray for them, then I do pray for them. I love to talk about religion, as you who follow my blog will notice by all the religiously based posts you will see. However, I have noticed that the easiest way to make someone uncomfortable and tune you out is talk about God when they have no interest in hearing about it. Bottom line on this point is that "You don't need to walk anywhere to preach if your walking is your preaching." The author of that quote unknown to me. If you know who said that, please let me know!
Christianity is supposed to about love and acceptance. We have to make judgments all day every day about people and situations. The very last thing we should be doing is judging people for their beliefs. Matthew 7:1 says "Judge not lest ye be judged." The spirit of this verse is often lost in translation when not accompanied by the rest of the paragraph. It comes down to this. Judgement is inescapable, the key is realizing that you will be judged to the same standard you use to judge others. If you want to put someone else's faith under a microscope, be prepared to have your own placed there also. The only one who knows His ways is God. No man has God figured out. I know I certainly am not even close. This is how I see it though, love it, like it, or hate it. I just don't believe in making anyone feel bad about themselves for any reason, including their faith. Well, maybe with the exception of serial killers and child abusers. That sin I will probably have to die with.
I have been noticing an influx of the "pro-Christian" chain-style status updates on Facebook lately. The irony is that so many of them have negative, judgemental undertones that are anything but Christian. They seem to attack groups as a whole or try to make us feel bad for not backing one cause or another. Unfortunately, Christianity lends itself very well to hypocrisy. It is easy to talk the talk, but very hard to walk the walk (the important part). The arrogant, all knowing attitude I have observed in a lot of Christians can be really off-putting. I'm certainly not saying all Christians act this way. Although, some Christians seem to think that by blasting their faith all over the place by telling us all how awful we are for not believing in prayer in school, or not to buy products that have taken "In God We Trust" out of the Pledge of Allegiance, or believe that the world is more than 6,000 years old, that they are honoring God in some way. I wonder, have they forgotten Jesus teaching us that by saying long prayers and making a religious spectacle of ourselves, that we are making it more about us than God?
I know that He also said we needed to go out into the world and make disciples, but I don't think that requires me to go around with an "I LOVE GOD" t-shirt and a megaphone. We prove what is in our hearts by our actions and how we treat people. Now, I will be more than happy to share my beliefs and faith with anybody who is interested and who wants to hear it (like those of you who are still reading this) and I tell people I will pray for them, then I do pray for them. I love to talk about religion, as you who follow my blog will notice by all the religiously based posts you will see. However, I have noticed that the easiest way to make someone uncomfortable and tune you out is talk about God when they have no interest in hearing about it. Bottom line on this point is that "You don't need to walk anywhere to preach if your walking is your preaching." The author of that quote unknown to me. If you know who said that, please let me know!
Christianity is supposed to about love and acceptance. We have to make judgments all day every day about people and situations. The very last thing we should be doing is judging people for their beliefs. Matthew 7:1 says "Judge not lest ye be judged." The spirit of this verse is often lost in translation when not accompanied by the rest of the paragraph. It comes down to this. Judgement is inescapable, the key is realizing that you will be judged to the same standard you use to judge others. If you want to put someone else's faith under a microscope, be prepared to have your own placed there also. The only one who knows His ways is God. No man has God figured out. I know I certainly am not even close. This is how I see it though, love it, like it, or hate it. I just don't believe in making anyone feel bad about themselves for any reason, including their faith. Well, maybe with the exception of serial killers and child abusers. That sin I will probably have to die with.
Beauty Review #1
I wanted to do this quick review on a couple of things new to me that I am in love with. I'm not a total girly girl. I don't mind getting my hands dirty, but I always love an opportunity to get all dressed up and feel beautiful. As a full time working mom and wife, I don't get those chances very often. So, when I can have or do little things to make me feel more like a woman and less like a scrub I will take it!
The first thing I want to talk about is my new Z Palette. I saw this in a video by Emily on Beauty Broadcast on YouTube. There is a link to her YouTube Channel on my page under "Things You Should Check Out." She does a lot of great reviews on different products and celebrates "drug store" products I can actually afford. If makeup is your thing, definitely check her out! But I digress....the Z Palette.
ZPalette.com sells these great little empty makeup palettes that have a magnetic back. The purpose is that you can take all of you little individual eyeshadow singles, duos, trios, quads, or blushes, bronzers, or just whatever and take them out of their original packaging then put them into the one larger palette. It cuts down on a lot storage space you need to hold all of those little packages as well as keeps your stuff in one easy to use and transport package. It is super simple to use and really cute too! They come in two sizes and four styles (black, pink, leopard, and zebra prints) and have a clear, hard plastic "window" on top so you can see what you have in there. I got mine about 2 months ago from the website and I love it! I will put the link to the website at the bottom of this post so you can check 'em out.
The other thing I wanted to talk about is spray tanning. We all know how dangerous tanning beds are for our skin, but may love having that bronze glow. Some people look beautiful with fair skin, but for those of us that adhere to the "dark fat looks better than white fat" policy, I strongly recommend looking into the spray tan. I got my first one about a month ago and knew instantly I was hooked. My sister is a stylist at The Hair Co. here in Conway and needed a guinea pig on which to practice this new skill, so I went and let her tan me.
The process includes standing in a little booth as naked as you are comfortable and being airbrushed from top to bottom. It is a little cold, but not uncomfortable. Then you stand in front of a fan for a few minutes to dry. That's it! The whole process only takes 30-45 min from start to finish. You can't shower for 8 hours and for that time you do kind of look like "a dirty hooker," as Ashley Evatt said on FB, but when you do shower that color blends and you look awesome! I will post a link to The Hair Co. website below this also if you would like to check them out and make an appointment. Ask for my sister Sarah Coker!
Feel free to message me with any questions or comments about these products. I hope you will try them out! Everything beauty should be about what makes you feel good and not what you do for anyone else. As we all know, true beauty comes from within. However, there is nothing wrong with giving the outside a boost too if it puts an extra spring in your step! Stay beautiful!
The Hair Co. Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Hair-Co/140300739332365?sk=info
Z Palette:
http://www.zpalette.com/
The first thing I want to talk about is my new Z Palette. I saw this in a video by Emily on Beauty Broadcast on YouTube. There is a link to her YouTube Channel on my page under "Things You Should Check Out." She does a lot of great reviews on different products and celebrates "drug store" products I can actually afford. If makeup is your thing, definitely check her out! But I digress....the Z Palette.
ZPalette.com sells these great little empty makeup palettes that have a magnetic back. The purpose is that you can take all of you little individual eyeshadow singles, duos, trios, quads, or blushes, bronzers, or just whatever and take them out of their original packaging then put them into the one larger palette. It cuts down on a lot storage space you need to hold all of those little packages as well as keeps your stuff in one easy to use and transport package. It is super simple to use and really cute too! They come in two sizes and four styles (black, pink, leopard, and zebra prints) and have a clear, hard plastic "window" on top so you can see what you have in there. I got mine about 2 months ago from the website and I love it! I will put the link to the website at the bottom of this post so you can check 'em out.
The other thing I wanted to talk about is spray tanning. We all know how dangerous tanning beds are for our skin, but may love having that bronze glow. Some people look beautiful with fair skin, but for those of us that adhere to the "dark fat looks better than white fat" policy, I strongly recommend looking into the spray tan. I got my first one about a month ago and knew instantly I was hooked. My sister is a stylist at The Hair Co. here in Conway and needed a guinea pig on which to practice this new skill, so I went and let her tan me.
The process includes standing in a little booth as naked as you are comfortable and being airbrushed from top to bottom. It is a little cold, but not uncomfortable. Then you stand in front of a fan for a few minutes to dry. That's it! The whole process only takes 30-45 min from start to finish. You can't shower for 8 hours and for that time you do kind of look like "a dirty hooker," as Ashley Evatt said on FB, but when you do shower that color blends and you look awesome! I will post a link to The Hair Co. website below this also if you would like to check them out and make an appointment. Ask for my sister Sarah Coker!
Feel free to message me with any questions or comments about these products. I hope you will try them out! Everything beauty should be about what makes you feel good and not what you do for anyone else. As we all know, true beauty comes from within. However, there is nothing wrong with giving the outside a boost too if it puts an extra spring in your step! Stay beautiful!
The Hair Co. Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Hair-Co/140300739332365?sk=info
Z Palette:
http://www.zpalette.com/
Friday, March 25, 2011
Breastfeeding in Public
This is a subject my friend Natalie and I were talking about today at work and I really felt I needed to write about. Everyone knows that unless there is some anatomical, chemical, cultural, or psychological reason a woman shouldn't breastfeed her baby that it is always the healthiest alternative for both mother and child. While I would never condemn anyone for choosing not to breastfeed, I strongly support doing it if possible. Goodness knows it is not easy! I always thought that breastfeeding was just a natural instinct and babies came out looking for a breast and would go right to work; easy as pie. Anyone who has breastfed knows that is far from the truth. It can be very difficult, so I understand not being able to commit to it. I would still urge anyone who is able, to at least give it a try.
What I don't understand is the taboo surrounding breastfeeding an infant in public. It saddens me to think that we, as a society, are so sexually fixated that we view a woman nourishing her child as offensive. No one asks you to go out of sight when you are eating. Why then should we feel the need to shield ourselves from this beautiful miracle of nature?
There was a picture of a profile view of a woman's breast with an infant nursing from it (no nipple showing at all) that was run on the cover of a parenting magazine a few years ago. This caused such a controversy that many establishments would not display it in their stores. How sad. It was a beautiful picture of a beautiful thing. It worries me that this stigma would discourage mothers from proving this wonderfully beneficial nourishment to their babies.
The main two arguments I have heard against public breastfeeding are first, "I don't want to see that, it makes me uncomfortable," and second, "I don't want my kids exposed to that nudity." Let me argue these points right now. To the person who is uncomfortable I have a couple of responses. The first are questions. What about a mother feeding her baby could make you uncomfortable? Are you that uncomfortable with sexuality that you could possibly see that in a sexual way? I mean really? If you really are uncomfortable, your solution is simple. DON'T LOOK! For the person who wants to shield their own children from "such a display," I urge you to change your perspective. I see it as a wonderful teaching opportunity. If they are old enough to question it, they are old enough to hear a frank explanation.
I'm not saying that women should just sit around in stores or restaurants all exposed, but anyone who has children knows that when that baby decides its hungry, the time to act is five minutes ago. How great it would be for mothers to be able to immediately meet that child's needs in a stress free environment. Nursing a child is great for bonding time, it is also free and abundant. Breastfeeding is a natural, healthy, beautiful thing that should be celebrated, not shunned.
I got this image from cafepress.com
What I don't understand is the taboo surrounding breastfeeding an infant in public. It saddens me to think that we, as a society, are so sexually fixated that we view a woman nourishing her child as offensive. No one asks you to go out of sight when you are eating. Why then should we feel the need to shield ourselves from this beautiful miracle of nature?
There was a picture of a profile view of a woman's breast with an infant nursing from it (no nipple showing at all) that was run on the cover of a parenting magazine a few years ago. This caused such a controversy that many establishments would not display it in their stores. How sad. It was a beautiful picture of a beautiful thing. It worries me that this stigma would discourage mothers from proving this wonderfully beneficial nourishment to their babies.
The main two arguments I have heard against public breastfeeding are first, "I don't want to see that, it makes me uncomfortable," and second, "I don't want my kids exposed to that nudity." Let me argue these points right now. To the person who is uncomfortable I have a couple of responses. The first are questions. What about a mother feeding her baby could make you uncomfortable? Are you that uncomfortable with sexuality that you could possibly see that in a sexual way? I mean really? If you really are uncomfortable, your solution is simple. DON'T LOOK! For the person who wants to shield their own children from "such a display," I urge you to change your perspective. I see it as a wonderful teaching opportunity. If they are old enough to question it, they are old enough to hear a frank explanation.
I'm not saying that women should just sit around in stores or restaurants all exposed, but anyone who has children knows that when that baby decides its hungry, the time to act is five minutes ago. How great it would be for mothers to be able to immediately meet that child's needs in a stress free environment. Nursing a child is great for bonding time, it is also free and abundant. Breastfeeding is a natural, healthy, beautiful thing that should be celebrated, not shunned.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Bible
Let me preface this by saying that you may not like everything I have to say in this post. It won't be a "warm fuzzy" like my other posts have been, but it will be what I believe and what I think. Please feel free to comment and give me your friendly opinion. I am always open to hearing another point of view or engage in a hot debate. :)
Religion is a subject I have thought about all my life. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and had always found it to be comfortable. It is a rather open minded denomination, so obviously that has appealed to me. Recently, I have had several religious discussions with others as well as a good deal of internal monologue debating with myself on many spiritual subjects. So, you will most likely see more than one (and probably more than two) posts from me on my theological thoughts.
As you may have guessed, however, this particular post will be a SMALL window into my feelings pertaining to the Bible. So, without further ado, let's get to the point.
I believe, as many do, that the Bible is the "greatest novel ever written." I feel that it is a wonderful compilation of stories and guidelines, that if properly interpreted, could help lead one on the path to a happy life. The Bible is good place to turn to in times of crisis, uncertainty, and even joy. It can give you inspiration and guidance when nothing else can. By following the values expressed in the Bible, a person with a sound mind, could very well lead a happy, productive life.
I feel like the Bible is also a great tool to help with the early teaching of morals and values to children. It is easy to relate abstract concepts like faith and loyalty to kids by using the stories from the Bible. For example, the story of David and Goliath is packed full of internal strength, bravery, and standing up for what is right. There are numerous parables that illustrate how to treat others with kindness and respect. It can also be utilized as a history book to a certain extent.
The Bible's greatest strength and greatest drawback is one in the same. It is open for interpretation. There is no way to really know how many times the Bible has been translated and rewritten. While I certainly believe that the Bible was divinely inspired, there is no debating the fact that it was WRITTEN and EDITED by MAN. It is awe inspiring that the Bible was written a couple of thousand years ago and yet it remains relevant today. However the problem arises when people take some parts of the Bible too literally or out of context. There is a lot of symbolism in there, people. Does Creation ring a bell? Also, if they skew the message in a way that the Grace is lost and their own agenda takes precedence. Like the countless extremist goups doing idiotic things and/or placing people in harm's way "in the name of the Lord." Remember the guy wanting to burn the Korans?? Not to mention the fact that the people and the vernacular were very different. You could take years and years of formal education on the Bible's history and translation and you still would not know it all.
Wars have been fought over God and religion since the beginning of time. Countless lives have been lost. I cannot imagine that it was in God's "plan" that his own creations would kill each other off in His name. It just goes to show how we should not ever be arrogant enough to assume we are right about our own interpretation. The ONLY one who knows what he was really trying to convey is God and in my opinion He used multiple avenues in which to share it with us. But that is for another time.
In the right hands, the Bible is wonderful tool to aide in the production of morals and values and learn about Christianity. However, it is probably the most dangerous piece of literature ever created when in the hands of extremists or those who are too narcissistic to listen to another person's interpretation of "The Word." I'm not trying to downplay the spirit of the Bible or say it's okay to "pick and choose" what to believe and what not to believe. I am only suggesting that it should be taken for what it is.
Religion is a subject I have thought about all my life. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and had always found it to be comfortable. It is a rather open minded denomination, so obviously that has appealed to me. Recently, I have had several religious discussions with others as well as a good deal of internal monologue debating with myself on many spiritual subjects. So, you will most likely see more than one (and probably more than two) posts from me on my theological thoughts.
As you may have guessed, however, this particular post will be a SMALL window into my feelings pertaining to the Bible. So, without further ado, let's get to the point.
I believe, as many do, that the Bible is the "greatest novel ever written." I feel that it is a wonderful compilation of stories and guidelines, that if properly interpreted, could help lead one on the path to a happy life. The Bible is good place to turn to in times of crisis, uncertainty, and even joy. It can give you inspiration and guidance when nothing else can. By following the values expressed in the Bible, a person with a sound mind, could very well lead a happy, productive life.
I feel like the Bible is also a great tool to help with the early teaching of morals and values to children. It is easy to relate abstract concepts like faith and loyalty to kids by using the stories from the Bible. For example, the story of David and Goliath is packed full of internal strength, bravery, and standing up for what is right. There are numerous parables that illustrate how to treat others with kindness and respect. It can also be utilized as a history book to a certain extent.
The Bible's greatest strength and greatest drawback is one in the same. It is open for interpretation. There is no way to really know how many times the Bible has been translated and rewritten. While I certainly believe that the Bible was divinely inspired, there is no debating the fact that it was WRITTEN and EDITED by MAN. It is awe inspiring that the Bible was written a couple of thousand years ago and yet it remains relevant today. However the problem arises when people take some parts of the Bible too literally or out of context. There is a lot of symbolism in there, people. Does Creation ring a bell? Also, if they skew the message in a way that the Grace is lost and their own agenda takes precedence. Like the countless extremist goups doing idiotic things and/or placing people in harm's way "in the name of the Lord." Remember the guy wanting to burn the Korans?? Not to mention the fact that the people and the vernacular were very different. You could take years and years of formal education on the Bible's history and translation and you still would not know it all.
Wars have been fought over God and religion since the beginning of time. Countless lives have been lost. I cannot imagine that it was in God's "plan" that his own creations would kill each other off in His name. It just goes to show how we should not ever be arrogant enough to assume we are right about our own interpretation. The ONLY one who knows what he was really trying to convey is God and in my opinion He used multiple avenues in which to share it with us. But that is for another time.
In the right hands, the Bible is wonderful tool to aide in the production of morals and values and learn about Christianity. However, it is probably the most dangerous piece of literature ever created when in the hands of extremists or those who are too narcissistic to listen to another person's interpretation of "The Word." I'm not trying to downplay the spirit of the Bible or say it's okay to "pick and choose" what to believe and what not to believe. I am only suggesting that it should be taken for what it is.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Raising Children....
Anyone who has children knows exactly how hard a job it is to raise them in this world (and everyone who doesn't have kids, know exactly how yours ought to be raised). As expecting and new parents, we all buy the parenting books and the magazines and read them like they are the Bible. By the time that kids is a year old, we have learned all those "crucial reads" are good for two things: 1. Making you feel like an incompetent parent for not being able to go a day without raising your voice or make the perfect "Bunny in the Grass" cupcakes like the ones the beautifully made-up mom on page 21 baked in her crystal clean kitchen.... and 2. The pages from those books are great for starting a fire.
Being a mom has brought more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined. It has been the hardest, most rewarding job I have ever had. It has made me realize just how much my own parents must have sacrificed and worked to mold my 2 sisters and I into the happy, productive members of society we are today. I've told my mom many times that I just hope I can be a fraction of the caliber parent to my kids that she and my dad were (and still are) to me.
I learned within weeks of being a mom that not all of the same "rules" of parenting apply to all parents and all kids. I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding for all those who can do it. I breastfed both of my kids for about 8 weeks, but it did not come easy at all. I remember calling my friend, a mother of twins and one older child, crying late one night because Chloe was having a hard time "latching on," was not waking up every 2 hours, and would not feed on both sides in one feeding like she was supposed to according to all of my "crucial reading material." Amanda just said, "Michelle, put down the books and listen to that baby. She will eat when she is hungry and she will sleep when she is not. She is fine and it will be ok." She talked with the amusement a veteran mom has when trying to calm a rookie mom. Her saying that to me made all the difference in the world to allow me to worry less that I was doing everything "right" and more about what was right for us. Guess what....the kid ate when she was hungry and slept when she wasn't!
Getting advice from a friend when it is solicited is one thing. Getting unsolicited advice via words or the dirty look from a stranger is quite another. You can do everything right, read all the books, enforce the discipline, go out at times when the babies are well rested, and provide entertainment and there will still be times when your child will scream their heads off in the grocery store for no apparent reason or run around like crazy people in the doctor's office. It seems like everyone in the world is staring at you when these embarrassing situations arise. The kids also only seem to act like this when you are in a hurry or are already exhausted from the day's events. I wonder sometimes when these meltdowns occur in public if those people who are giving me and my little monsters dirty looks are thinking I put the kids up to this behavior just to annoy them. Because I'm sure I must look like I'm having the time of my life!
I've learned, over time, to block out what other peoples' reactions are and stay focused on my family and reacting appropriately to the situation. Sometimes that means even letting the kids cry because I'm not going to "cave in" to a request I am not willing to grant just to keep them quiet. My rules for my kids cannot dissolve the minute we go out in public just to keep them from annoying others. I know my kids best. I know how they will react to most situations. I do my best to avoid things and places where I know they will be inappropriate, unacceptable, or will just embarrass the crap out of me. Some things like going grocery shopping are just unavoidable and I have to go when I have to go. I have to handle them in such a way that will benefit their future behavior, not just pacify them in the moment.
My children make me want to go crazy every day, but they also make me laugh every day. They are truly the light of my life. My husband and I love them with every fiber of our being and cannot imagine life without them in it. The world is a terrifying place in which to raise kids these days. I don't know what is going to happen in the future of the planet, all I can do is try to give them the tools they need to survive and be happy and healthy. The media tells us we need so many fancy things to make our kids happy and smart. It's not true, but it can be hard to avoid. I mean, you can hardly even buy a toy that is purely for imaginatively play and isn't supposed to teach them something. I like my kids to always be dressed cute, and i would love for them to be brilliant, but it certainly isn't necessary to make them good people or even happy.
There are really only a few things they need outside of food, water, and shelter. I think they are LOVE, comfort, a sense of security, guidance, and hope. All of those things are FREE, people! Hug those babies and kiss their boo boo's!
Being a mom has brought more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined. It has been the hardest, most rewarding job I have ever had. It has made me realize just how much my own parents must have sacrificed and worked to mold my 2 sisters and I into the happy, productive members of society we are today. I've told my mom many times that I just hope I can be a fraction of the caliber parent to my kids that she and my dad were (and still are) to me.
I learned within weeks of being a mom that not all of the same "rules" of parenting apply to all parents and all kids. I am a huge advocate of breastfeeding for all those who can do it. I breastfed both of my kids for about 8 weeks, but it did not come easy at all. I remember calling my friend, a mother of twins and one older child, crying late one night because Chloe was having a hard time "latching on," was not waking up every 2 hours, and would not feed on both sides in one feeding like she was supposed to according to all of my "crucial reading material." Amanda just said, "Michelle, put down the books and listen to that baby. She will eat when she is hungry and she will sleep when she is not. She is fine and it will be ok." She talked with the amusement a veteran mom has when trying to calm a rookie mom. Her saying that to me made all the difference in the world to allow me to worry less that I was doing everything "right" and more about what was right for us. Guess what....the kid ate when she was hungry and slept when she wasn't!
Getting advice from a friend when it is solicited is one thing. Getting unsolicited advice via words or the dirty look from a stranger is quite another. You can do everything right, read all the books, enforce the discipline, go out at times when the babies are well rested, and provide entertainment and there will still be times when your child will scream their heads off in the grocery store for no apparent reason or run around like crazy people in the doctor's office. It seems like everyone in the world is staring at you when these embarrassing situations arise. The kids also only seem to act like this when you are in a hurry or are already exhausted from the day's events. I wonder sometimes when these meltdowns occur in public if those people who are giving me and my little monsters dirty looks are thinking I put the kids up to this behavior just to annoy them. Because I'm sure I must look like I'm having the time of my life!
I've learned, over time, to block out what other peoples' reactions are and stay focused on my family and reacting appropriately to the situation. Sometimes that means even letting the kids cry because I'm not going to "cave in" to a request I am not willing to grant just to keep them quiet. My rules for my kids cannot dissolve the minute we go out in public just to keep them from annoying others. I know my kids best. I know how they will react to most situations. I do my best to avoid things and places where I know they will be inappropriate, unacceptable, or will just embarrass the crap out of me. Some things like going grocery shopping are just unavoidable and I have to go when I have to go. I have to handle them in such a way that will benefit their future behavior, not just pacify them in the moment.
My children make me want to go crazy every day, but they also make me laugh every day. They are truly the light of my life. My husband and I love them with every fiber of our being and cannot imagine life without them in it. The world is a terrifying place in which to raise kids these days. I don't know what is going to happen in the future of the planet, all I can do is try to give them the tools they need to survive and be happy and healthy. The media tells us we need so many fancy things to make our kids happy and smart. It's not true, but it can be hard to avoid. I mean, you can hardly even buy a toy that is purely for imaginatively play and isn't supposed to teach them something. I like my kids to always be dressed cute, and i would love for them to be brilliant, but it certainly isn't necessary to make them good people or even happy.
There are really only a few things they need outside of food, water, and shelter. I think they are LOVE, comfort, a sense of security, guidance, and hope. All of those things are FREE, people! Hug those babies and kiss their boo boo's!
Here Goes...
So this is my first ever blog post and I'm not really sure what to write about. There is so much going on in the world right now, it is difficult to absorb it all. I am a mother, a wife, and nurse. For me that is enough. I do not claim to be a philosopher, a theologian, or a political or sports expert. I am not a dietitian, or a fitness and beauty guru, but I do have my opinions on all of these subjects. In some cases, rather strong opinions. There are many things I love and few things I hate. I have great respect for people who listen with an open mind, stand up for what is right and value what is in the interest of the common good of others. I have great loathing for people who act out of malicious intent, selfishness, and who feel the need to bring others down for their own personal gain or social stigma.
I think it is beyond tragic the way the world seems to be loosing itself into war, poverty, natural disaster and despair. I know the world has to be full of good people who are willing to work hard to raise their families and support their communities and who dream of a world at peace. Why then does that seem to be such an impossible goal to achieve?
Some would say it is because we are turning away from God, some would say it is because of money and power, and others still would say it is because of increasing turbulence in world politics. Maybe they would all be right. I think that is all true, but I can't help but feel like it has to be much simpler than that. I think point blank we have lost our sense of community. There are probably a thousand reasons this has happened. I blame a lot of it on the great advances in the technology that we all love and can't live without. I have heard so many stories from my parents and grand parents about how in their small town 50-100 years ago there was never anything else to do besides work all day and then sit out on the porch talking all evening with their neighbors. You didn't just take care of your own, but you took care of your neighbors also. And you damn sure didn't rely on the government to pay your way or plow your fields. We have all heard those stories and every time I hear them (even as a "Generation Y", with a smartphone and a facebook page) I try to imagine how sublime living in that world would be.
I love technology. I love having answers right at my fingertips. I love the security I feel by always having my cell phone everywhere I go in case I need help. I also know how much texting and Facebooking people has taken away being able to shake someones hand, look them in the eye, and have a real, involved conversation. To be held accountable to your real feelings by not being able to hide your body language and facial expressions.
The death of the conversation and the death of the community attitude has lead to people not caring. Not caring for each other, not caring for a hard days labor, not caring for themselves. We have to find a way to get people to care enough about the problems of others and not just their own in order to get them motivated toward making a change. The world will never be at peace as long as people continue to step on the proverbial "little guy" in order to full-fill their own ambitions.
All that being said, I know you are thinking, "well there has been war and conflict since the beginning of time." And you would be right. Even when there was more of a community attitude, war has always been an ever present reality. World peace is a tall order to be sure, and those that are believers in what I will call the "gospel truth," believe there will be world peace before the end. I really hope that is true. My point is, even if the world at large is always engaged in conflict, attitudes here at home can use some major adjustments. While I know we won't all agree on everything, how to treat your neighbor and work for a living or raise your family are not difficult concepts to grasp and ones in which we should all strive to improve. If we can master these simple tasks, I can't help but feel the ripple it causes could be greatly effective.
I think it is beyond tragic the way the world seems to be loosing itself into war, poverty, natural disaster and despair. I know the world has to be full of good people who are willing to work hard to raise their families and support their communities and who dream of a world at peace. Why then does that seem to be such an impossible goal to achieve?
Some would say it is because we are turning away from God, some would say it is because of money and power, and others still would say it is because of increasing turbulence in world politics. Maybe they would all be right. I think that is all true, but I can't help but feel like it has to be much simpler than that. I think point blank we have lost our sense of community. There are probably a thousand reasons this has happened. I blame a lot of it on the great advances in the technology that we all love and can't live without. I have heard so many stories from my parents and grand parents about how in their small town 50-100 years ago there was never anything else to do besides work all day and then sit out on the porch talking all evening with their neighbors. You didn't just take care of your own, but you took care of your neighbors also. And you damn sure didn't rely on the government to pay your way or plow your fields. We have all heard those stories and every time I hear them (even as a "Generation Y", with a smartphone and a facebook page) I try to imagine how sublime living in that world would be.
I love technology. I love having answers right at my fingertips. I love the security I feel by always having my cell phone everywhere I go in case I need help. I also know how much texting and Facebooking people has taken away being able to shake someones hand, look them in the eye, and have a real, involved conversation. To be held accountable to your real feelings by not being able to hide your body language and facial expressions.
The death of the conversation and the death of the community attitude has lead to people not caring. Not caring for each other, not caring for a hard days labor, not caring for themselves. We have to find a way to get people to care enough about the problems of others and not just their own in order to get them motivated toward making a change. The world will never be at peace as long as people continue to step on the proverbial "little guy" in order to full-fill their own ambitions.
All that being said, I know you are thinking, "well there has been war and conflict since the beginning of time." And you would be right. Even when there was more of a community attitude, war has always been an ever present reality. World peace is a tall order to be sure, and those that are believers in what I will call the "gospel truth," believe there will be world peace before the end. I really hope that is true. My point is, even if the world at large is always engaged in conflict, attitudes here at home can use some major adjustments. While I know we won't all agree on everything, how to treat your neighbor and work for a living or raise your family are not difficult concepts to grasp and ones in which we should all strive to improve. If we can master these simple tasks, I can't help but feel the ripple it causes could be greatly effective.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)