I am tired, my dishes are not done, my house is a mess, there is laundry that needs to be folded... and... I just listened to my sweet Little Lady scream herself to sleep. Not the ending I was hoping for...
For those who know me well, you know that I DO NOT let my kids cry it out- especially not in the first 12 months of life. In the first year of life babies are learning trust/mistrust and, well, it's pretty simple: if you don't respond to crying- even if it is just for attention- then they will learn to not trust you or other people in their lives. You don't have to agree with me, but, that's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it!
Now that Brooke is almost two, though, it becomes a different story. The "Trying Twos" are upon us and, well, I need to get ahead of the curve here! She wanted to take her book to bed with her tonight and I said no... and I stuck to my guns... thus creating a massive temper tantrum that was fueled by her extreme exhaustion.... I went in once to pray with her and, as she calmed and then escalated again I prayed out loud, "Lord, show me what to do... I am lost here!"
The quiet whisper: "Tell her I am with her, kiss her, and put her to bed." Five minutes later, she was out.
That hysterical cry though- it cuts me to the core... I hate it! It literally makes me sick to my stomach. But there was nothing that I could do... I had to let go and let God...
We have been battling a nasty head cold for almost two weeks now. Brooke is still coughing like crazy and Shane just started with the stuffy nose for the second time... I am so DONE with illness... and it's not even November yet! I am paranoid, yes, I know. I like to 'control the situation,' yes, I know... but, let me just be completely frank here...
If your kids are actively coughing, sneezing, snotting, vomiting, have diarrhea, or have had a fever within the last 48-72 hours... KEEP THEM HOME! I am NOT tooting my own horn here, but... I have missed two 'Mommy and Me' yoga classes, a Halloween party, and have had to reschedule 2 playdates (with the same person no less) because I do not and will not contaminate the rest of the world with our illness!!!
Just because your kid only has a runny nose does not mean that the kid next to him won't respond differently to the virus!
OK... rant over!
The Lord is working in our life as a family though. Rob's involvement in Men's Fraternity has been huge for us. Ladies: if your husband has the opportunity to go through this make it happen! Push them to do it! It will change your lives- for the better!
God is good... He has a plan for us and, He is teaching me each day how to be a Mommy to these two little loves...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
"Miss Representation"
https://www.facebook.com/#%21/groups/166691884672/?notif_t=group_activity
I hope the link above works!
This is the trailer for a new documentary about how women are portrayed in this country. Specifically how the media has created and is now 'distributing' women as objects meant for the satisfaction of men.
**Be warned-- there are images that may not be appropriate for some men who struggle with pornography and definitely those not appropriate for children under age 18.
I would like to hear thoughts/reactions to the trailer (if the link does not load, then Google: Miss Representation Trailer).
My reaction/thoughts after viewing this two separate times...
The first half is completely true, appropriate, and should be disturbing to any woman, father, grandfather, brother... you get the point- it should bother all of us. I agree wholeheartedly that we need to stand up for the decency, modesty, beauty, and RESPECT of women and their bodies. This is a cause near and dear to my heart.
I do, however, find fault with the second half of the trailer for "Miss Representation." They list statistics about women in high profile, "powerful" positions in America. At one point the woman being interviewed states that at a young age (I can't remember exactly what age- I think Kindergarten) an even number of boys and girls say that they want to be President of the United States and that at age 15 or 16 the percentage of young women who still have this dream are just a fraction... (at one point a man being interviewed compares our government to that of Cuba, China, and Afghanistan- saying that they all have more women in high political positions than we do... hmm...not sure I want our government compared to those in the first place!) I could go on summarizing- just watch it! :)
The basic "gist" of the trailer is that we need to change the way America views women- we need to have women in those high profile jobs, teach girls that they should be in those positions.
Here is where my problem lies... at no point do they ever suggest that a woman has value if she is at home caring for her children and creating a stable environment for them. I have had conversations like this with other women, family members, acquaintances and here is the conclusion: in this country, there is NO glory in being a mother. At the doctor they ask: "Do you work?" My response: "HA! Heck yeah I work... and I am 'on call' 24 hours a day, 365 days/year." But what is meant by the question is: "Do you work outside of the home?" And if the answer is 'No,' then nobody there can possibly understand why you can't make the 1:30 appointment they have set for you for next Thursday... "Because I have babies that nap! That's why!!" (And all of your stay-at-home-'workers' know that there are very few times that you sacrifice that sacred nap time!)
I want to teach my daughter what God created her for: to be a 'help-mate' to her husband and raise her children to know and fear the Lord. Those first years of life are critical and I am sick of women being told that they are not glorious or powerful or beautiful or wonderful if they choose to mother their children. Once they are off to school, then it's a completely different story (unless you homeschool!)!
Mommies: you are the hardest working group of people in the world! Keep up the hard work! It's worth it in the end!
I hope the link above works!
This is the trailer for a new documentary about how women are portrayed in this country. Specifically how the media has created and is now 'distributing' women as objects meant for the satisfaction of men.
**Be warned-- there are images that may not be appropriate for some men who struggle with pornography and definitely those not appropriate for children under age 18.
I would like to hear thoughts/reactions to the trailer (if the link does not load, then Google: Miss Representation Trailer).
My reaction/thoughts after viewing this two separate times...
The first half is completely true, appropriate, and should be disturbing to any woman, father, grandfather, brother... you get the point- it should bother all of us. I agree wholeheartedly that we need to stand up for the decency, modesty, beauty, and RESPECT of women and their bodies. This is a cause near and dear to my heart.
I do, however, find fault with the second half of the trailer for "Miss Representation." They list statistics about women in high profile, "powerful" positions in America. At one point the woman being interviewed states that at a young age (I can't remember exactly what age- I think Kindergarten) an even number of boys and girls say that they want to be President of the United States and that at age 15 or 16 the percentage of young women who still have this dream are just a fraction... (at one point a man being interviewed compares our government to that of Cuba, China, and Afghanistan- saying that they all have more women in high political positions than we do... hmm...not sure I want our government compared to those in the first place!) I could go on summarizing- just watch it! :)
The basic "gist" of the trailer is that we need to change the way America views women- we need to have women in those high profile jobs, teach girls that they should be in those positions.
Here is where my problem lies... at no point do they ever suggest that a woman has value if she is at home caring for her children and creating a stable environment for them. I have had conversations like this with other women, family members, acquaintances and here is the conclusion: in this country, there is NO glory in being a mother. At the doctor they ask: "Do you work?" My response: "HA! Heck yeah I work... and I am 'on call' 24 hours a day, 365 days/year." But what is meant by the question is: "Do you work outside of the home?" And if the answer is 'No,' then nobody there can possibly understand why you can't make the 1:30 appointment they have set for you for next Thursday... "Because I have babies that nap! That's why!!" (And all of your stay-at-home-'workers' know that there are very few times that you sacrifice that sacred nap time!)
I want to teach my daughter what God created her for: to be a 'help-mate' to her husband and raise her children to know and fear the Lord. Those first years of life are critical and I am sick of women being told that they are not glorious or powerful or beautiful or wonderful if they choose to mother their children. Once they are off to school, then it's a completely different story (unless you homeschool!)!
Mommies: you are the hardest working group of people in the world! Keep up the hard work! It's worth it in the end!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Creativity Coming to Life!
I have a new addiction! That's right.... I am now on Pinterest.com and, holy cow, I have a problem.
Too many great ideas, not enough time!
I am grateful though, to my dear friend, who invited me to join. As my previous posts have hinted at, we are on a budget, and, this site is giving me all of the ideas that I need for Christmas and birthday gifts on a dime.
So excited to start crafting!
If you have NOT joined Pinterest... you MUST! Yes, it's addictive. But- for those of us that are completely black and white, logical thinking, reality driven people- it gives us the ability to "think outside the box" and use the opposite side of our brains! A little creative stimulation....
Oh, and while you all are at it... join my blog and follow me here too!!
Happy Sunday!
Too many great ideas, not enough time!
I am grateful though, to my dear friend, who invited me to join. As my previous posts have hinted at, we are on a budget, and, this site is giving me all of the ideas that I need for Christmas and birthday gifts on a dime.
So excited to start crafting!
If you have NOT joined Pinterest... you MUST! Yes, it's addictive. But- for those of us that are completely black and white, logical thinking, reality driven people- it gives us the ability to "think outside the box" and use the opposite side of our brains! A little creative stimulation....
Oh, and while you all are at it... join my blog and follow me here too!!
Happy Sunday!
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