As this years summer winds down, I am in awe at how little we have accomplished this year. We went into the summer with grandiose plans and everyone made a list. Similar to our bucket lists of past summers. However, we never really focused on checking anything off! But you want to know what they really gained this summer? It was something I didn't plan on, but I am so glad I noticed it in action. My Kids Gained Valuable, Real-Life Social Skills.
I entered August optimistically. I was scared and nervous for my upcoming preventive mastectomy and breast reconstruction, but ultimately optimistic for the outcome that was being laid out in front of me. On the way to the hospital I felt nothing but gratefulness and luck. Surgery was seemingly uneventful, but my recovery at home was anything but. I was having a hard time. Read on and share my story if you think it could help someone else. ~Love to you all!!
My 9 year old daughter took on some new extra-curricular activities this school year, and that meant putting some other activities on "hold." She determined that she was just too busy to do it all and needed some time to adjust to life as a 4th grader. She had been playing travel soccer, but right as the season was revving up, she panicked. When she came to us and said she needed downtime, we were surprised, but ultimately we understood and allowed her to step back from the team and gave her the space she needed to grow and figure things out.
We are constantly in awe of our children, but sometimes we need reminders to see them.. I mean really see them. It is in the long days that I stop noticing all of their quirks, special qualities, and gifts. And it is in moments like today when I am reminded to slow down and pay attention. Today was a good wake-up call.
Early on, we made a conscious decision to change some words in our house. We always make sure to say our kids have "strong legs" that help them cartwheel, run, and kick. And we are especially careful about saying the "F" word- fat. That is a banned word in our house. I used to say it a lot, but as soon as we heard the kids say it, we realized that the word fat needed to be exiled from our home. It's not that I don't want them to know the word, but rather I don't want them to associate themselves with the word.
Do you ever have those days (or weeks) where you just think, how did I get here? Where am I going? What am I doing? Why am I doing this? There have been times that I just want to hit PAUSE so that I can think, process, and act before another minute passes me by.
Earlier this week, Jeff and I were heading home from a road trip out west. We were frustrated by the lack of coping skills our three children showed when dealing with disappointment. During the final 400 miles, we analyzed our kids and all the conditions that lead to their emotional state. We ultimately saw that our…
In case you haven't heard, the Chicago Blackhawks brought home the Stanley Cup this week. It was an awesome season of hockey. There were ups and downs and moments where we didn't think we could do it for a third time in 6 seasons, but we did it! And when I say "we" I mean,…
Summer is here! I finally get all three of my kids home! When I was teaching elementary school, I couldn't wait for summer to get here. It meant that I could be with my then 2 children, all day long! Now that I am a full-time mom, summer can't get here fast enough. It's not that I am looking forward to the fighting and the mess, but rather the memories we'll make making the messes and the lessons we'll learn from learning to disagree. More importantly, I am looking forward to not having a schedule and to doing what we want, when we want. This is the Summer of Wonder.
It's 3:02 am on the third day of summer vacation-no make that the fourth day- and I am not asleep. I am being me... up late, working on miscellaneous projects while my monkeys sleep, not being rushed, listening to the rain, and feeling inspired! To my husband, this usually means that I am planning something, and…
no happy accidents 