Why are some kids or people dorks? Is it because they want attention? Is it because they are bored? Or just are clueless that they are being dorks?
I have a student today who could not be quiet if his life depended on it. I'm not sure what the deal is? The weather? He's making noise of all kinds-from sucking on his pen so he sounds like a slobbering pig at the trough to guzzling all the water and air out of his water bottle so the plastic crinkles and makes noise! Then wants to go fill it up. I don't think so.
I don't expect complete silence but come on, listen to yourself kid! Especially when everyone else is quiet and working!!!!
And one more thing....if you ask to go to the restroom before the period starts and again during the period, I really don't want nor need to hear a detailed explanation of what has or is going to come out of your body. You just better make sure you need to go if you are going again less than 15 minutes later. We are not in elementary school, get a little control over things.
Ahhh, the joys of working with high school kids who someday, I hope, will look back and think about what dorks they were.
Yes, I said dorks!
Monday, April 14, 2014
Snow in April!
Some much needed rain fell over the weekend. After a balmy and warm, dry Saturday lots of thunder, lightning and winds finally brought rain on Sunday-all-day-long. Then Mother Nature decided to have a little fun and add some strong winds to the rain and drop the temps to make things a bit more interesting. So if you thoroughly enjoy the warmth of Saturday then Sunday was a reality check and a reminder that we are not in control of the weather. And Monday was a cold, cruel slap in the face! And despite that we never have been nor will ever be in control of the weather some people just complain and make a fuss over the weather! It's too cold. It's too winding. It's too hot. Walking up to the ground white with snow and temps in the 20's quickly reminded me that appreciating what you have is a must. The fact that the furnace was keeping the house warm and snow will melt within a 24-hour time frame-all things to be grateful for.
This sounds like an odd observation but I watched people this morning (on purpose) to see how much the weather affected their moods and behavior. The first thing I tried to be aware of was what the mood and attitude people had with winter-like weather making a reappearance in mid-April. For the most part people took it in stride-yes there was complaining but to a minimum. Granted it has been the winter that does not seem to want to end....it keeps going and going. The usual Monday morning blahs and "I'm tired" seemed to be at it's usual levels, nothing extreme. I also took note of the attire of people. Those who seemed to let the snow, cold, gloom affect their wardrobe-winter-like with layers and dark colors. And there were those rebels who refused to let the weather tell them what to wear. Spring colors and short sleeves won out for some. I love sitting back and watching and observing. How quickly you can figure out people if you watch and listen! Read them like a book if you look close enough and watch.
Have you ever listened to how people walk? Some walk heavy like they have the weight of the world or they want to be noticed. I try to tread lightly without anyone noticing. I remember the sound and weight of my mom's foot steps...you could tell when she was tired or not happy! Or in a hurry. Otherwise she always walked lightly. I think how people walk tells a lot about their attitude and personality, but is subject to change quite often depending on how their day is going or how tired they may be!
So with snow still on the ground it is almost noon the chances of it being gone by the end of the day is not looking so great, but with warmer temps back in the forecast spring and then summer will some day soon arrive for good and stay. Surely we can't have snow in June....at least I hope not!! Maybe spring will arrive with heavy footsteps so we hear it's arrival and know it's finally here and plans to stay. I don't care how it gets here, just so it stays!
Positive thought of the day-It's a four-day week. Well now it's 3-1/2 days, we can do this!!! And having a four-day weekend is always something to look forward to!! Bring on Easter/spring break!
This sounds like an odd observation but I watched people this morning (on purpose) to see how much the weather affected their moods and behavior. The first thing I tried to be aware of was what the mood and attitude people had with winter-like weather making a reappearance in mid-April. For the most part people took it in stride-yes there was complaining but to a minimum. Granted it has been the winter that does not seem to want to end....it keeps going and going. The usual Monday morning blahs and "I'm tired" seemed to be at it's usual levels, nothing extreme. I also took note of the attire of people. Those who seemed to let the snow, cold, gloom affect their wardrobe-winter-like with layers and dark colors. And there were those rebels who refused to let the weather tell them what to wear. Spring colors and short sleeves won out for some. I love sitting back and watching and observing. How quickly you can figure out people if you watch and listen! Read them like a book if you look close enough and watch.
Have you ever listened to how people walk? Some walk heavy like they have the weight of the world or they want to be noticed. I try to tread lightly without anyone noticing. I remember the sound and weight of my mom's foot steps...you could tell when she was tired or not happy! Or in a hurry. Otherwise she always walked lightly. I think how people walk tells a lot about their attitude and personality, but is subject to change quite often depending on how their day is going or how tired they may be!
So with snow still on the ground it is almost noon the chances of it being gone by the end of the day is not looking so great, but with warmer temps back in the forecast spring and then summer will some day soon arrive for good and stay. Surely we can't have snow in June....at least I hope not!! Maybe spring will arrive with heavy footsteps so we hear it's arrival and know it's finally here and plans to stay. I don't care how it gets here, just so it stays!
Positive thought of the day-It's a four-day week. Well now it's 3-1/2 days, we can do this!!! And having a four-day weekend is always something to look forward to!! Bring on Easter/spring break!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Is it Friday yet?!?!
Ever have one of those weeks? How often do we hear that asked?
Or the thoughts it conjures up when you hear it?
Has it been a wild, crazy, busy week?
A nothing has gone right kind of week?
A I can't take any more week?
Maybe it was a this was a great kind of week?
Or nothing has happened, boring kind of week?
Regardless we seem to work for Friday and the weekend as soon as Monday mornings hit, if not before. We are always in a hurry to get to the end of a week so we can enjoy, relax and celebrate life and not have it so stressed and dictated by work, school and other commitments. Life is suppose to slow down a bit on the weekend or it is because we have time for our selves to do what we want? Some times we have control over how our week goes, other times not so much.
Regardless the phrase "stop wishing your life away" comes to mind every time I hear the "I wish it was Friday" comment made or "I wish it was the weekend". And yes, I do this too. Life is flying by every second, every minute of every day. As soon as we are born we begin to die. No intention of being morbid or negative-just a fact. But just take the time to stop and look around, slow down and appreciate ALL that we have. We need to appreciate the moments, the time and the life we have been given, regardless of how today is going or how the week has went.
It is Friday. And yes we've made it to the weekend. Be appreciative for all that you have been given from the beautiful weather-including the rain that we are suppose to get, to the roof over your head and the food on the table and freedom to choose what you want to do.
TGIF!
A positive thought: The weather has finally turned to spring!!! Yes!!!!!! And despite the allergies our springtime, dry, weather has brought about we are on to the next season of our year. A season of growth and new life. Enjoy!!
Or the thoughts it conjures up when you hear it?
Has it been a wild, crazy, busy week?
A nothing has gone right kind of week?
A I can't take any more week?
Maybe it was a this was a great kind of week?
Or nothing has happened, boring kind of week?
Regardless we seem to work for Friday and the weekend as soon as Monday mornings hit, if not before. We are always in a hurry to get to the end of a week so we can enjoy, relax and celebrate life and not have it so stressed and dictated by work, school and other commitments. Life is suppose to slow down a bit on the weekend or it is because we have time for our selves to do what we want? Some times we have control over how our week goes, other times not so much.
Regardless the phrase "stop wishing your life away" comes to mind every time I hear the "I wish it was Friday" comment made or "I wish it was the weekend". And yes, I do this too. Life is flying by every second, every minute of every day. As soon as we are born we begin to die. No intention of being morbid or negative-just a fact. But just take the time to stop and look around, slow down and appreciate ALL that we have. We need to appreciate the moments, the time and the life we have been given, regardless of how today is going or how the week has went.
It is Friday. And yes we've made it to the weekend. Be appreciative for all that you have been given from the beautiful weather-including the rain that we are suppose to get, to the roof over your head and the food on the table and freedom to choose what you want to do.
TGIF!
A positive thought: The weather has finally turned to spring!!! Yes!!!!!! And despite the allergies our springtime, dry, weather has brought about we are on to the next season of our year. A season of growth and new life. Enjoy!!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
What's in a name?
Working in a school system you run across all kinds of names and the trends that seem to change yearly making things interesting when it comes to giving children their lifelong name and title. The old school names seem to be making a big come back but the unique, non-traditional names are still sticking around. And spelling of any of these names....well that's whole other blog!
When you become a parent and are given the honor of naming your child there are those names that you know you will absolutely never use! Never! Working in education seems to have a strong affect on what names won't be on your family tree-contingent to the behavior or experiences with people/children in the past. But other factors also make or break naming-from childhood bullies or friends to annoying encounters-there are names that will never have a chance! The names that just don't conjure anything good for you. Family-ties may dictate what name is used-family traditions are pretty cool and a nice way to honor people-most of the time!
Looking back now I would maybe change a decision I made regarding my oldest son who was suppose to be named Ryne after the Chicago Cubs shortstop Ryne Sandberg. But I was not so sure about this name. I was looking at the Ryne as in watermelon "rind" (don't ask me why, I going by the sound of the name, not the spelling) and so after 48-hours of labor and two weeks of being miserable and overdue I changed Ryne to Ryan. Hindsight now I wish I would have stuck with my husband's wishes. Ryne would be really unique (but misspelled and mispronounced his whole life, I'm sure) but it would still be unique. Plus being named after a pretty cool baseball player would be cool! Ryan means "little king" which seemed fitting as he was the first born grandson on either side of the family. I still love the name Ryan-except for a couple of bonehead Ryan's I've had over the past years it still brings good thoughts and feelings for me, I'd still used it! (And this is what Ryne means or at least according to nameberry.com "Baseball player Ryne Sandberg's nickname is RYNO. Need we say more?" Actually it also means little king! Oh ya and I'd want my first born nicknamed "Ryno" after a horned animal as in rhino!!) Ryan is the first born so the "king" seems to fit!!
Daughter Ashlyn was another name chosen from the result of being overdue and miserable. Ashley or Aimee were our choices. But I was just never settled or satisfied with either name. The only thing I did know was Marie for a middle name was a must so whatever was the first name it had to go with Marie as a middle name. It is my middle name and my mom's. It was sweltering hot that summer 25-years ago and again baby number two was overdue and July had turned into August-I was one very miserable pregnant person.) The inability to sleep kept me up with a very active baby who would not make his or her appearance in the world and I was going through the baby name book AGAIN to pass my time early two days before the birth day, when I ran across the name Ashlin in the boy section of the book. Something clicked, changes made and now we have Ashlyn Marie-which was unique until the name started to catch on shortly after her birth. The only change I would have made-putting two n's at the end Ashlynn - to be like my Lynn. But hey, it's unique, it fits her and I still love the name. Ashlyn means vision or dream, which fits child number two to a tee!
Finally came child number three-again the challenge of names for either a boy or girl...we found a name that we liked for a boy but just would not work with our last name-so we kept looking. And with a coaching father the names as they would sound while being announced at a football or basketball game were the 'test run' for any male prospects-as was done with the previous two as well! Ranen was found again in the boy section of the name book and means "joyous". Putting William, which was pulled from both sides of the family tree seemed to work. If this baby had been a girl and had had red hair she would have probably been an Amber-maybe! Ranen seems to have a joyous outlook at life from the moment he was born. He takes the world as it is and has a positive outlook. Ranen is often called Will or William by his siblings, a habit that I'm not sure how it came about, but still fun. I still like the name Ranen after almost 22-years.
Finding items with my children's names on them has always been a challenge except Ryan, but if I'd went with Ryne his would have been as impossible as Ashlyn and Ranen. I had a teacher ask one of my kids once if all his siblings had strange names...really, that spoke volumes about the maturity of that person. Who says that to a kid? But I now don't care (at the time I wanted to tell that teacher to grow up) I like each child's name and their meanings seem to fit each one and their personality!
How we got the name we have may or may not have a story with it but it is what makes us who we are and are known by!
Positive thought of the day: All the people, good/bad/happy/sad I've met/enountered over my lifetime whatever their names are. You have passed through my life for a reason!
When you become a parent and are given the honor of naming your child there are those names that you know you will absolutely never use! Never! Working in education seems to have a strong affect on what names won't be on your family tree-contingent to the behavior or experiences with people/children in the past. But other factors also make or break naming-from childhood bullies or friends to annoying encounters-there are names that will never have a chance! The names that just don't conjure anything good for you. Family-ties may dictate what name is used-family traditions are pretty cool and a nice way to honor people-most of the time!
Looking back now I would maybe change a decision I made regarding my oldest son who was suppose to be named Ryne after the Chicago Cubs shortstop Ryne Sandberg. But I was not so sure about this name. I was looking at the Ryne as in watermelon "rind" (don't ask me why, I going by the sound of the name, not the spelling) and so after 48-hours of labor and two weeks of being miserable and overdue I changed Ryne to Ryan. Hindsight now I wish I would have stuck with my husband's wishes. Ryne would be really unique (but misspelled and mispronounced his whole life, I'm sure) but it would still be unique. Plus being named after a pretty cool baseball player would be cool! Ryan means "little king" which seemed fitting as he was the first born grandson on either side of the family. I still love the name Ryan-except for a couple of bonehead Ryan's I've had over the past years it still brings good thoughts and feelings for me, I'd still used it! (And this is what Ryne means or at least according to nameberry.com "Baseball player Ryne Sandberg's nickname is RYNO. Need we say more?" Actually it also means little king! Oh ya and I'd want my first born nicknamed "Ryno" after a horned animal as in rhino!!) Ryan is the first born so the "king" seems to fit!!
Daughter Ashlyn was another name chosen from the result of being overdue and miserable. Ashley or Aimee were our choices. But I was just never settled or satisfied with either name. The only thing I did know was Marie for a middle name was a must so whatever was the first name it had to go with Marie as a middle name. It is my middle name and my mom's. It was sweltering hot that summer 25-years ago and again baby number two was overdue and July had turned into August-I was one very miserable pregnant person.) The inability to sleep kept me up with a very active baby who would not make his or her appearance in the world and I was going through the baby name book AGAIN to pass my time early two days before the birth day, when I ran across the name Ashlin in the boy section of the book. Something clicked, changes made and now we have Ashlyn Marie-which was unique until the name started to catch on shortly after her birth. The only change I would have made-putting two n's at the end Ashlynn - to be like my Lynn. But hey, it's unique, it fits her and I still love the name. Ashlyn means vision or dream, which fits child number two to a tee!
Finally came child number three-again the challenge of names for either a boy or girl...we found a name that we liked for a boy but just would not work with our last name-so we kept looking. And with a coaching father the names as they would sound while being announced at a football or basketball game were the 'test run' for any male prospects-as was done with the previous two as well! Ranen was found again in the boy section of the name book and means "joyous". Putting William, which was pulled from both sides of the family tree seemed to work. If this baby had been a girl and had had red hair she would have probably been an Amber-maybe! Ranen seems to have a joyous outlook at life from the moment he was born. He takes the world as it is and has a positive outlook. Ranen is often called Will or William by his siblings, a habit that I'm not sure how it came about, but still fun. I still like the name Ranen after almost 22-years.
Finding items with my children's names on them has always been a challenge except Ryan, but if I'd went with Ryne his would have been as impossible as Ashlyn and Ranen. I had a teacher ask one of my kids once if all his siblings had strange names...really, that spoke volumes about the maturity of that person. Who says that to a kid? But I now don't care (at the time I wanted to tell that teacher to grow up) I like each child's name and their meanings seem to fit each one and their personality!
How we got the name we have may or may not have a story with it but it is what makes us who we are and are known by!
Positive thought of the day: All the people, good/bad/happy/sad I've met/enountered over my lifetime whatever their names are. You have passed through my life for a reason!
Monday, April 7, 2014
Monday, a fresh start!
Believe it or not but not everyone dreads or dislikes Monday. I have a young lady, Megan, that I coach who absolutely loves Mondays. She is always excited at Sunday practices for Monday to get here. She enjoys flipping the page in her planner to a new week and all that lies ahead. While I'm sure most of her team mates and I looked at her like she had things growing out of the top of her head when she first announced her way of looking at Monday's this past fall I've come to try to embrace Monday's with the same attitude. I call it my Monday Morning Megan Attitude or Megan Monday's!
Looking at the week as a fresh new start is not an original way of looking at things. Being positive is the first step to making any day, week or month good. It's a step in the right direction. Everybody likes new. Clean and fresh gives you positive way of looking at life. How YOU deal with each day and what comes your way is YOUR choice, regardless of what happens.
Megan Monday's are my new, fun way of dealing with a not-so-enjoyable work place and the people who come with it-the negative attitudes-the I'm pretty important people-the students who are trying and the ones who are not. It's just life.
I've found that having successful Megan Monday's depend a great deal on how prepared I am for Monday or the entire week. If I'm not ready to roll I'm setting myself up for a not-so-great start to my day or week. But regardless my attitude and outlook make a world of difference.
So having my calendar in order, my lunch packed, clothes laid out and whatever else I need to take care of on Monday or any day makes life go a while lot better. I'm more prepared to deal with the negative and the people don't look at Monday's as great!
Having a Megan way of looking at life, not just Monday's, makes life a while lot happier. I'm sure Megan will be successful where every she goes in life as long as she keeps her attitude of Monday's, or any day, as a fresh start and clean slate! The lessons you learn from kids, who knew!
A positive thought: RAIN! It may be a dreary, wet, rainy Monday but the sound of the rain coming down and the thoughts of the green that will come after the rain stops and the sun comes out makes me smile. New life, new day, new week!
Looking at the week as a fresh new start is not an original way of looking at things. Being positive is the first step to making any day, week or month good. It's a step in the right direction. Everybody likes new. Clean and fresh gives you positive way of looking at life. How YOU deal with each day and what comes your way is YOUR choice, regardless of what happens.
Megan Monday's are my new, fun way of dealing with a not-so-enjoyable work place and the people who come with it-the negative attitudes-the I'm pretty important people-the students who are trying and the ones who are not. It's just life.
I've found that having successful Megan Monday's depend a great deal on how prepared I am for Monday or the entire week. If I'm not ready to roll I'm setting myself up for a not-so-great start to my day or week. But regardless my attitude and outlook make a world of difference.
So having my calendar in order, my lunch packed, clothes laid out and whatever else I need to take care of on Monday or any day makes life go a while lot better. I'm more prepared to deal with the negative and the people don't look at Monday's as great!
Having a Megan way of looking at life, not just Monday's, makes life a while lot happier. I'm sure Megan will be successful where every she goes in life as long as she keeps her attitude of Monday's, or any day, as a fresh start and clean slate! The lessons you learn from kids, who knew!
A positive thought: RAIN! It may be a dreary, wet, rainy Monday but the sound of the rain coming down and the thoughts of the green that will come after the rain stops and the sun comes out makes me smile. New life, new day, new week!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Taking a stand.
Standing up for a cause or something you feel strongly about is commendable but uncomfortable. If more people stood up for what was right maybe there would be more good than bad going on in this country and the world. But we seem to be in a trend right now that the immoral and under educated are running their mouths and those with values, morals, character and education are swept under the rug and ignored.
But it takes guts to stand up for something. And even more guts to stand up for yourself. To finally say "I've had enough." You're looked at as being full of drama or all about yourself. Heaven forbid you take a stand or say enough. But what does it take to stand up for YOU?
Is there a breaking point or fine line? It is different I'm sure for everyone. And there are those people who never stand up for themselves or anything. They go with the flow, they agree with whatever everyone says or does or believes. If they are happy or not, who knows.
I don't know what it takes or what pushes me to the point of no return. Some times it depends on the day. Or maybe even more so the person.
I finally stood up, put as politely as I could my feelings (although it was a very watered down version) and walked away from a BS situation. For the first 24-hours after I did this I had a whole gamut of emotions and feelings-beating myself up and taking the blame. Hurt, sadness, frustration were the key feelings. But then the feelings of why had I allowed myself to be treated like this, and dealt with the BS and garbage for over two years? Because it was for a good cause and something I believed in. But then it came to me as I was being talked AT instead of TO that regardless of the cause and the good it was intended this was NOT good for me-this is NOT how a positive situation should go. The person talking at me was doing what she was doing because she a) can't help herself and has a control problem b) she likes to be in charge and finally c) loves to be seen as a martyr-poor me I do all the work and people see me as a great person. Well heck, this was not a good or healthy thing for me to be around or near.
So as they say, I put on my big girl panties today and I'm sticking to my guns, good, bad, right or wrong. This is not how you do something that is suppose to be a positive and good cause. You make every part of the team, not just you or the "select" that you choose or deem worthy. That's NOT a team.
I'm sure there are more stupid feels that will creep into my idle brain but as long as I believe in me, and making things more positive I'm moving on and forward.
Positive thought of the day: You don't need someone to make you happy or feel valued. You need to be happy with yourself and see your worth of yourself for yourself. Until you do no one else is going to value you and you certainly will never find happiness if you are looking for it every where else but from you, inside you! Life is too short to let someone else drive and decide where YOU are going. Unless it's God!
But it takes guts to stand up for something. And even more guts to stand up for yourself. To finally say "I've had enough." You're looked at as being full of drama or all about yourself. Heaven forbid you take a stand or say enough. But what does it take to stand up for YOU?
Is there a breaking point or fine line? It is different I'm sure for everyone. And there are those people who never stand up for themselves or anything. They go with the flow, they agree with whatever everyone says or does or believes. If they are happy or not, who knows.
I don't know what it takes or what pushes me to the point of no return. Some times it depends on the day. Or maybe even more so the person.
I finally stood up, put as politely as I could my feelings (although it was a very watered down version) and walked away from a BS situation. For the first 24-hours after I did this I had a whole gamut of emotions and feelings-beating myself up and taking the blame. Hurt, sadness, frustration were the key feelings. But then the feelings of why had I allowed myself to be treated like this, and dealt with the BS and garbage for over two years? Because it was for a good cause and something I believed in. But then it came to me as I was being talked AT instead of TO that regardless of the cause and the good it was intended this was NOT good for me-this is NOT how a positive situation should go. The person talking at me was doing what she was doing because she a) can't help herself and has a control problem b) she likes to be in charge and finally c) loves to be seen as a martyr-poor me I do all the work and people see me as a great person. Well heck, this was not a good or healthy thing for me to be around or near.
So as they say, I put on my big girl panties today and I'm sticking to my guns, good, bad, right or wrong. This is not how you do something that is suppose to be a positive and good cause. You make every part of the team, not just you or the "select" that you choose or deem worthy. That's NOT a team.
I'm sure there are more stupid feels that will creep into my idle brain but as long as I believe in me, and making things more positive I'm moving on and forward.
Positive thought of the day: You don't need someone to make you happy or feel valued. You need to be happy with yourself and see your worth of yourself for yourself. Until you do no one else is going to value you and you certainly will never find happiness if you are looking for it every where else but from you, inside you! Life is too short to let someone else drive and decide where YOU are going. Unless it's God!
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Lessons from mom
Everyone, well most everyone, thinks their mom is pretty great! Small children depend on their mothers for everything, and mom is their everything. As kids get older and become more independent they view their moms in a variety of ways, from over-protective to embarrassing to dumb because mom knows nothing. I went through these stages of growing up in a very mild, watered-down version. I usually got along well with mom. She was very over protective-to a fault at time, but she had a sheltered life and did not know what she was missing out on or how to change with the times. But I survived and lived to tell! Self taught is a big part of my life.
Mom worked hard. As a farm wife she worked every bit as hard as my dad did. What she accomplished in a day would put most people to shame in this day and age. When she went to bed at the end of each day she was tired from hard work. She was a very smart and talented woman who could figure out and do what she put her mind to. Her husband and family came first.
My mom taught me the basis of life like cooking, cleaning, baking, how to work hard, be responsible, treat others with kindness and put those you love first. I thought most of her meals were delicious, except for tuna noodle casserole made with doritos and when she hid liver- making it look like minute steak in gravy. Or the organ meats she tried to hid in a variety of ways!
I have nothing but fond, happy memories of my mom, except for two times...the time she called me a "nincompoop" for accidentally stepping on the hay rope and dumping a fork full of bales as they went up the side of the barn to the hay mow (it still hurt my feelings) and the time she chewed me out for saying "crap". As in "this is a bunch of crap." Yes that's what I said, oh boy was I chewed out and I was afraid to use the word for a long, long time!)
I used to have my moments of embarrassment because my parents were older when they had me and the fact that I was an "opps baby". Yes I feel gypped because I lost my parents while in my 30s and 40s while my siblings were in the 50s and 60s. They got all that extra time. But over the years, especially when I because pregnant with my daughter when my son was just over six months old, I've learned to appreciate these surprises in life. I'm now proud of being a "opps!" I'd read some place a response to the people who would ask if my baby was planned and I used it all throughout my pregnancy with her, "yes, GOD planned it!" I know that is what my parents felt and thought. That what I was for my parents and that is what my daughter (and both boys) are for me. (People are just plain rude some times.)
But I had so many advantages that my siblings missed out on with coming along later in my parents lives. Yes by siblings told me, and still do, every chance they can that I was spoiled. Yes I got to do things that they did not because by the time I came along my parents had been at the parenting gig for 16+ years. I had to be drug along to things because a) no one was at home to babysit me or b) no one wanted to stay home and babysit me. I spent many, many evenings at the homes of my parents friends read, watching tv or just plain bored out of my mind. This taught me patience and how to occupy my time. I also had to learn a variety of farm duties and house hold tasks because no one else was around to help or do it. I've witnessed the good with the bad. Yes I was spoiled because I got to spend time, do things and got things the rest of my siblings did not. But the best part was that I was spoiled in the aspect that I had mom and dad all to myself! I have so very, very many fun, happy memories of both mom and dad. I am truely blessed.
April Fools day was one of my moms favorite days of the year. She played her tricks all in fun, no one was hurt or embarrassed. I can only imagine she was having great fun in heaven yesterday. And today she is enjoying the day she entered this world. Her birthday was always a big celebration for her and all those around her. I'm sure strawberries and ice cream are part of the menu. So to my mom on this her special day, she knows I miss her every day, but thank you for being my mom, for all you taught me, for the discipline, the life lessons, teaching me how to be independent, for spending time with me but most of all the unconditional love.
Positive of the day: Letting go and putting it in Gods hands. Despite those who bring nothing but negative to my life and all those around them, I am done letting you rain on my day. Go pee in someone else's cereal! This is a day of celebration! I think strawberries are on the menu!
Mom worked hard. As a farm wife she worked every bit as hard as my dad did. What she accomplished in a day would put most people to shame in this day and age. When she went to bed at the end of each day she was tired from hard work. She was a very smart and talented woman who could figure out and do what she put her mind to. Her husband and family came first.
My mom taught me the basis of life like cooking, cleaning, baking, how to work hard, be responsible, treat others with kindness and put those you love first. I thought most of her meals were delicious, except for tuna noodle casserole made with doritos and when she hid liver- making it look like minute steak in gravy. Or the organ meats she tried to hid in a variety of ways!
I have nothing but fond, happy memories of my mom, except for two times...the time she called me a "nincompoop" for accidentally stepping on the hay rope and dumping a fork full of bales as they went up the side of the barn to the hay mow (it still hurt my feelings) and the time she chewed me out for saying "crap". As in "this is a bunch of crap." Yes that's what I said, oh boy was I chewed out and I was afraid to use the word for a long, long time!)
I used to have my moments of embarrassment because my parents were older when they had me and the fact that I was an "opps baby". Yes I feel gypped because I lost my parents while in my 30s and 40s while my siblings were in the 50s and 60s. They got all that extra time. But over the years, especially when I because pregnant with my daughter when my son was just over six months old, I've learned to appreciate these surprises in life. I'm now proud of being a "opps!" I'd read some place a response to the people who would ask if my baby was planned and I used it all throughout my pregnancy with her, "yes, GOD planned it!" I know that is what my parents felt and thought. That what I was for my parents and that is what my daughter (and both boys) are for me. (People are just plain rude some times.)
But I had so many advantages that my siblings missed out on with coming along later in my parents lives. Yes by siblings told me, and still do, every chance they can that I was spoiled. Yes I got to do things that they did not because by the time I came along my parents had been at the parenting gig for 16+ years. I had to be drug along to things because a) no one was at home to babysit me or b) no one wanted to stay home and babysit me. I spent many, many evenings at the homes of my parents friends read, watching tv or just plain bored out of my mind. This taught me patience and how to occupy my time. I also had to learn a variety of farm duties and house hold tasks because no one else was around to help or do it. I've witnessed the good with the bad. Yes I was spoiled because I got to spend time, do things and got things the rest of my siblings did not. But the best part was that I was spoiled in the aspect that I had mom and dad all to myself! I have so very, very many fun, happy memories of both mom and dad. I am truely blessed.
April Fools day was one of my moms favorite days of the year. She played her tricks all in fun, no one was hurt or embarrassed. I can only imagine she was having great fun in heaven yesterday. And today she is enjoying the day she entered this world. Her birthday was always a big celebration for her and all those around her. I'm sure strawberries and ice cream are part of the menu. So to my mom on this her special day, she knows I miss her every day, but thank you for being my mom, for all you taught me, for the discipline, the life lessons, teaching me how to be independent, for spending time with me but most of all the unconditional love.
Positive of the day: Letting go and putting it in Gods hands. Despite those who bring nothing but negative to my life and all those around them, I am done letting you rain on my day. Go pee in someone else's cereal! This is a day of celebration! I think strawberries are on the menu!
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