Talking in Parenthesis
Ramblings and angst from a mostly stay at home mom
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us. It is in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -Nelson Mandela
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Growing Up, part 2
This being a grown up thing is for the birds. Yep that is what I have decided. And I don't want to do it anymore. I don't want to deal with it. My Dad is in the hospital for observation and tests. He had had chest pains and discomfort. So far so good. But there still are tests yet to run. So I am supporting Mom through all of this. I want to support her, but it is a life changing moment to realize your Mom is leaning on you and not the other way around. I remember the first time my husband and I realized the torch had been passed from his parents to us as the head of the family. His sister had just died and it was up to us to keep it together. To all the organizing things, the little things that need done. Not that it was big deal but it is a water shred moment when you realize that you parents (or in laws) are looking to you for advice, support and general in what to do.
So What I have decided is I want to be 5 again. I think that is a perfect age. Young enough to still get away with so baby stuff. Like naps and the occasional melt down. But old enough to play. TOday I would like to spend the day in a sand box making giant mountains or on a swingset seeing how far I could jump. My only worries would be if we ran out of red popsicles and I had to eat the dread orange. Yep that would be the life.
So What I have decided is I want to be 5 again. I think that is a perfect age. Young enough to still get away with so baby stuff. Like naps and the occasional melt down. But old enough to play. TOday I would like to spend the day in a sand box making giant mountains or on a swingset seeing how far I could jump. My only worries would be if we ran out of red popsicles and I had to eat the dread orange. Yep that would be the life.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Growing Up
This morning made me realize yet one more thing that is different when you are "grown-up". Summer. For kids, my kids, summer is magical. I time to be look forward to, counted down to, even dreamed about. It is filled with going to the pool, staying up and generally having a good time. For me, while I enjoy the times with the kids, it is just another day to me. The same if not more work. The pool, while fun, means, finding all the goggles, towels, putting on sunscreen herding everyone out the door.
We have now entered the downside of summer for the kids, one month of summer break left. And for me I am excited, happy to regain my routine come fall. But as excited as I am to have them go back to school, I am not one of those people that wants to do away with summer break. I think that the unstructured time, the pure fun is a vital part of childhood. Too many kids are missing out on this. My kids are have friends that have every minute of their lives filled with lessons, play-dates and camps. Now my kids have activities, baseball, karate, various clubs, but they also have time just to be kids. Just time to play, pure play, not the educational, have to make something play. But the type where you run and scream with your friends. Or once you get older as my 14 year old is, hang out. At the risk of sounding like an old geezer now, kids today do not have the imagination that they once did. And without that imagination who is going to be our next astronauts, designers, inventors, theoretical anything? I think in the pursuit of making our kids better, we are actually hindering an important part of their development. Sad really
We have now entered the downside of summer for the kids, one month of summer break left. And for me I am excited, happy to regain my routine come fall. But as excited as I am to have them go back to school, I am not one of those people that wants to do away with summer break. I think that the unstructured time, the pure fun is a vital part of childhood. Too many kids are missing out on this. My kids are have friends that have every minute of their lives filled with lessons, play-dates and camps. Now my kids have activities, baseball, karate, various clubs, but they also have time just to be kids. Just time to play, pure play, not the educational, have to make something play. But the type where you run and scream with your friends. Or once you get older as my 14 year old is, hang out. At the risk of sounding like an old geezer now, kids today do not have the imagination that they once did. And without that imagination who is going to be our next astronauts, designers, inventors, theoretical anything? I think in the pursuit of making our kids better, we are actually hindering an important part of their development. Sad really
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Introduction
Okay I have jumped on the blog bandwagon. Sort of feel funny submitting to a fad, not like me. But since I have journaled all my life, this feels like the next step. Sort of like a technological Big Chief to anybody that understands that reference. I am not sure if I think I will get anything from this experience but here I go. This will probably revolve around my life as a stay at home mom, because that is what I know. And if I learned anything from Mrs Starkey it is write what you know. So no Bridget Jones, no Sex in the City here. More like Eight is Enough meets Roseanne. Okay not eight but how about 6? Well I think that is all I can handle for now.