A fresh mind

I’ve covered this topic before. D.E.L.E.T.I.N.G.

It feels good to clean out. I admit, I don’t do it often enough. For some reason lately, I have been on a rampage to clear the clutter.

I’m not sure why. Perhaps it was the epiphany I had in the shower? (Ever notice how most epiphanies occur near water? E.g., in the shower, while washing dishes, in the bath, while scrubbing the floor, Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist in the season of Epiphany. Just saying.)

So, I went hog-wild and cleaned out my Inbox again. I got rid of emails that I have been saving since 2009 (and the odd straggler from 2007).

I didn’t just hit DELETE as I have done in the past (and then panicked later when I discovered that I had tossed an email that I actually still needed).

Snakes Alive!

A friend of mine threw a fantastic birthday party for her son this past Canada Day weekend. As a mother, I know what it takes to pull a kid’s birthday party together. You want it to be a success on every level, for adults and kids alike. But it’s often hard to pull that off when dealing with the younger set because you have to navigate nap times and melt downs and various other toddler/preschooler hurdles. And I’ve never seen anyone do it better than my friend. She is a super mom among super moms.

Five Minute Friday – Dance

Linking up with Lisa-Jo over on her site today.

The word is dance. The deal is to write for five minutes, without using the Backspace key, without worrying about spelling or grammar; no do-overs, editing or over thinking. Then link back to Lisa-Jo and invite others to join in. Oh, and you must visit the person who linked up before you and comment on their post! This is about community and connecting people! Let’s jump in!

GO

Practice what you preach

I’m not one to follow celebrity stories (although I admit that there are times when I’m looking to “relax” my brain from the daily rush, and reading a bit of fluff helps me unwind. (Kind of like in the old days when I would pick up a Harlequin Romance novel in between reading more intensive literature.)

Today, over on People–Celebrity Babies, I read Kimberly Van Der Beek’s Spiritual Family Tips. (She’s married to James Van Der Beek of Dawson’s Creek fame.)

Boo boo Boo hoo

Waaaaaaa! Waaaaaaaaaa!

That’s me crying behind a locked bathroom door. It was the kids who had boo boos. But I was the one crying. How does that work?

Then enters a calm

Lately I’ve been feeling calmer. So have my kids. I don’t know what has come over me. I’ve read two parenting books, both fairly different in their philosophies.

But both books spoke to me and centered me. I am, rather suddenly, a more confident parent.

(Late) Midweek Confessions

So, I’ve been wanting to participate in this little link-up for sometime. But I always find out about it a few days after it happens by reading my cousin’s wife’s blog (note: she hasn’t linked up in a while, but her blog is still a great read!)

The argumentative child

Walking to school this morning, about 20 minutes before the bell was to ring, my daughters asks, “Did my bell go yet?”

I reply, “No, sweetie.” To which my daughter answers, “Yes it did.”

We walk on, hand in hand, in silence.

Another Update on my Nasty Voice

I’ve had plenty of reminders to check my tone. I have had plenty of opportunities to practice my count-to-5-first rule. (Rowdy 2 and 4 year olds are good for that ).

So now, about three weeks since my last post on my Nasty Voice, I’m seeing a marked improvement.

Yes, I’ve snapped on occasion. Yes, I’ve regretted my choice of words directed at the offending child. But each time, I have learned a little something new about myself and about my children.

Update On My Nasty Voice

So my husband had to remind me to check my tone while we were grocery shopping yesterday. (I guess he recently read my post.)

I had promised myself that I would use the count-to-5 rule before I opened my mouth and said anything in response to anyone, not just my kids.