Words of Wisdom – Lessons learned

A selfie?

Have you ever heard the adage, “you learn a new lesson every day?” I’ve learned that lessons are found in many different situations. Today’s blog post is a combination of lessons learned during my daily interactions.

The Principal’s List

My cousin who lives out of state posted a statement on her Facebook page about a proud moment. She said her daughter made the Principals List. I congratulated her on a job well done. Then a thought occurred to me.

A number of years ago my son made the Principals List too…it wasn’t a good thing. Thanks goodness kids mature…eventually.

I have learned to eat an elephant one bite at a time (another adage I’ve heard often). I challenge you to do the same. Celebrate the successes of others, turn your challenges into stepping stones and live each day with joy.

The Photograph

Spending time with family is always entertaining for me. Recently I hung out with my nieces who I had not seen in a while. In my excitement, I said to my niece, “Let’s take a selfie.”

She simply said, “A selfie is one person.”

“Ok, then what is it called when there are two people?”

“A picture.”

I learned from my niece that I am not as hip as I thought I was.

In what situations have you uncovered a lesson lately?

Muffins with Mom – Spring cleaning- 3 ways to clean your parenting life

spring cleaning - organizing leftover graduation invitations

When do you begin spring cleaning? Some people like to begin when the weather is warm and windows can be opened to let in fresh air. I was forced to clean when my son came home for spring break. He rearranged furniture in our study room, the area reserved for all of my writing materials, books and other catch-all things.

My son decided he wanted to move the futon from the study room into his room. When he made this transition, he exposed everything that was hiding underneath the futon. There was a storage bin that held thread, scissors, scrap material and other sewing items. Next to that was a stack of file folders that needed to be purged. Lying dormant near that was  a stack of leftover invites and thank you post cards from my son’s graduation open house.

1.  Take a self-inventory – ask yourself questions about how you perceive yourself as a parent.

-what makes me a unique and wonderful parent?

-what is my favorite part about being a parent?

2.  Clean your parenting attic – dust off your own attic…your mind. Find time to spend relaxing – use meditation, read a book, listen to quiet music or whatever helps you relax and become refreshed.

3.  De-clutter your calendar – make time to spend with your child.

              

For the complete list of ways to clean your parenting life click here.

Have you started spring cleaning yet, what does it involve in your household?

Easter Blessings

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Feel Good Friday - Inspiration

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Words of Wisdom - Inspiration for parents

YouTube Video Credit: Strong for Parenting

Muffins with Mom – A Teen sports enthusiast

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Have you ever been a sports mom or dad....spending countless hours in a gym, at a soccer field, sitting in a stadium chair and so on? My teen boys have played sports, beginning with pre-school soccer.

My sixteen-year-old plays high school football and during the off season he continues conditioning. It should have come as no surprise to me when he called me from school one day and said, “Ma, I’m staying after school for track.”

“Oh, are you watching a meet?” I asked.

“No, I’m on the team.”

Somewhere along the way I must have missed the conversation with my son about wanting to join the track team. We moved past that, then last week my son came home from school and said, “I’m going to play Rugby with Justin.”

After Rugby practice, my son brought home a consent form for me to complete. Of course there were fees associated with this sport. I asked my son, “Do you have to play every sport?”

“I want to stay in shape.” He replied.

”Well, why don’t you tell the coach you don’t really want to be on the team, you just want to practice with them. Maybe you won’t have to pay the fee.”

I completed the form a few days ago, but it is still on the table waiting for my son to take it to practice. So, I don’t know if he is on the team or not. I guess I’ll know for sure if he brings home a game schedule.

The story does not end here.

This week after football conditioning, my son arrived home and said, “Ma, I’ll be home a little late tomorrow. I’m in a dodgeball tournament.”

All I could say was, “You have got to be kidding me.”

My son showed me a t-shirt with his name in block letters across the back. He was not kidding. The good news was that the tournament was only a one day tournament.

It seems a sports parent’s season transitions from one sport to the next. One day you’re sitting in the blazing sun on metal bleachers, later you’re sitting in a stuffy gym or pool side at a swim meet. No matter what, at the end of the day you support your child’s endeavors.

Do you have a child who is a sports enthusiast?

Fun Friday – Tooth Fairy

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Does the tooth fairy collect all type of teeth? Recently, I had cause to ponder this question. As I walked through my living room, I noticed a spec on the floor. At first glance it looked like a small kernel of popcorn.

As I examined the spec in the palm of my hand, I noticed it had a smooth enamel. Aha, it was a tooth, but whose tooth was it? I remember my son saying he chipped his tooth playing football the other day. However, it was not his tooth. The tooth belonged to our puppy, Diamond.

We haven’t had a puppy since I was a teen and at that time I don’t remember her losing any teeth. And this is how I arrived at my initial question, will the tooth fairy accept a doggie tooth? Perhaps she will collect it and leave a doggie treat in its place.

Are you a pet owner? Have you had any funny experiences with your pet or someone else’s lately?

Words of Wisdom – You are what you think

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If

If you think you are beaten, you are;

If you think you dare not you don’t!

If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,

It’s almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost.

For out in the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow’s will;

It’s all in the state of mind!

If you think you are outclassed you are;

You’ve got to think high to rise.

You’ve got to be sure of yourself

Before you’ll ever win the prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the Stronger or faster man;

But sooner or later the man who wins

Is the person who thinks he can!

By Anonymous

Muffins with Mom – Elevator woes

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My mom and I entered the six story brick building where we were to have our income taxes prepared. This was a new location so we left in time to find our way and arrive a few minutes early. A grey haired security guard greeted us with a smile, “Where are you ladies headed today?”

“We’re going to XYZ Financial on the sixth floor,” mom said.

“Okay, well the elevator isn’t working today.”

My mother and I looked at each other with big eyes and other non-verbal facial expressions. The security guard continued talking. “The good news is, you’re already on the second floor.”

After mom and I completed another round of non-verbal eye aerobics, we made our way to the stairwell. She told me to go on ahead of her because she needed to move slowly.

At the top of the second flight of stairs, mom stopped to rest. She exhaled then said, “Go ahead and have your taxes done first. Maybe by the time I reach the sixth floor you’ll be done.”

We finally arrived at the tax preparers’ office, ten minutes past our scheduled time. We paused outside of the office door so mom’s breathing could return to a normal state. Our business was conducted and two hours later we reconnected with the infamous staircases.

Once we were back in the lobby, mom and I noticed all of the signs that indicated the elevator was out of order.  The signs should have said, “Turn back now if you can’t manage stairs.”

The broken elevator situation gave mom and I yet another opportunity to exercise our stomach muscles by laughing through a problem.

Has anything unexpectantly funny happened to you lately?

Fitness Friday – Math trouble - When weight loss doesn’t add up

Do you remember solving math story problems in school? On a recent weight loss quest I felt like a living story problem. If you’ve ever set out to lose weight for a special occasion, you may know what I mean.

Here’s what I mean…

Angie wanted to lose 5 pounds before her birthday. She had 30 days to complete the task. In week one she didn’t lose any weight. In week two she lost two pounds. In week three she remained the same and in week four she gained three pounds. Did Angie reach her goal?

In the scenario above, Angie did not reach her weight loss goal. However, sometimes we have to change our perspective. Here’s a better questions to ask…Did Angie feel great having changed her health routine? Sometimes our weight loss efforts may not go as planned, but there are still benefits to having tried.

Here are three tips the experts give for healthy weight loss.

1. Track your positive behaviors - walk at lunch time, take the stairs instead of the elevator, try a new vegetable. Track these things so you can look back and see your progress.
2. Eat mindfully – avoid eating while watching T.V., on the phone or reading. Instead savor the flavor of your food and enjoy each bite.
3. Engage in 30 minutes of physical activity daily – get your body moving each day doing something. This could be walking, dancing or whatever it takes to get you moving.

For more tips click here.

The next time your weight loss efforts don’t add up, change the formula. Do something differently. Don’t worry if you don’t lose weight right away. Remember, your goal is long term health.

Have you been faced with any weight loss scenarios lately? What are your tips for survival?

Words of Wisdom - Inspiration

YouTube Video Credit: Sonia Ricotti