Archive for the ‘Parenting’ Tag
Admittedly my blog has been sorely neglected lately! There are many reasons for this but only one good reason to resume writing. This would be that perhaps I could help just one person get through a tough time by reading my words…then it has served it’s purpose!
It has now been 33 years since my Mom passed away… It is so hard to believe that it could actually have been that many years since that Saturday in 1986. Here is my original blog post that was dated May 2011. I feel for anyone who has experienced a similar loss or is going through it right now. The Sunday after my Mother’s funeral was Mother’s Day and continues to be a difficult time every year. I wish I could tell you the pain subsides. You just learn to lean on the Lord a little more each year…
It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning. Perfect really. The weather was glorious. Clear and crisp with birds chirping and butterflies flitting around. The sound of grass being mowed filled the distance. Flowers bloomed and lawn sprinklers hissed. May is such a pretty month in Tennessee. Then the phone rang. I didn’t want to answer it. I knew who it was. As I answered it, the person on the other end said in a very upbeat tone “I just wanted you to know that Mrs. Todd just left us”. I said “Thank you for calling”.
Mom was 63 and I was 30. She was gone too early and I wondered what I would do without my Mother! I even asked her about 2 weeks before she left. It was a selfish thing for me to say to my dying parent. She could not have known the impact that her words would have on me and do to this very day…..
Through my tears my question to her was “Mom, what am I suppose to do without my Mother for the rest of my life? I’m thirty years old!” She replied in a still small voice but with strength unimaginable “I don’t know darling, but I know the Lord will help you through it”……And He has! Unbelievable that it has been 25 years on May 3rd. Unbelievable that my daughter was only 5 years old then and a pre-schooler. She is now a grown woman and a Mommy herself. Unbelievable that somehow, someway I have been able to navigate the past 25 years “without” her! She was after all my best friend and my Mother. By far the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life was watching the slow deterioration of her body as Ovarian Cancer stole her from us and the eventual loss of her everyday presence in my life. But even so….her spirit lives on in me. It was about 8 months later when I found myself at a cross-roads regarding my decision to return to college or not. I was 31 by then and a single Mom of a beautiful 5-year-old daughter… and in my deepest time of need I cried out to my Mom. I had made a commitment to return to College to finish the degree I had started 12 years prior! I was panic-stricken as I thought about what was ahead of me…. I said out loud (as if she could hear me) “Mother, what HAVE I gotten myself into????”. That’s when it happened. A warm peaceful feeling blanketed my body from head to toe, a comfort like I know I had when she covered me as a child in my crib… and her “voice” came into my head saying “You can do anything you put your mind to!” I don’t know if it was her spirit speaking to me or just my recollection of the MILLION times that she had said that to me in my lifetime, either way it was all I needed to push me through that moment of doubt. I will quickly tell you that I took those eternal words of advice from my Momma and proceeded to excel beyond my own belief. I finished 4 years of college in 2 and 1/2 years, graduating Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA in my major course of study at age 33 as a single mother! I’m not boasting, I’m just saying that if you think we as Moms don’t have an everlasting effect on our children….even after we are “gone”…think again! Mother’s Day is a tough day for me… and next Sunday represents 26 such holidays without her. I still miss her so…
I dedicate my blog to my Mother and all that she has meant to me during her life and everyday for the past 25 years! I thank her for all the inspiration that she brought to my life and appreciate the way that she prepared me to be the best Mom and Grandmother (“Gigi”) that I could possibly be. After all it isn’t so much what we TELL our children to do…as it is what we SHOW them. This is written by a grateful daughter…. I love you Mom.
A few years ago someone sent me this poem in an email:
This is a truly BEAUTIFUL piece. Please
read this at a slow pace, digesting every word and in
leisure…do not hurry….this is a treasure…
For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom,
this is beautiful. For those of us who aren’t, this is
even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you’ll love this.
MOTHER
The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is
this the long way?” she asked. And the guide said: “Yes, and the way is hard.
And you will be old before you reach the end of it.. But
the end will be better than the beginning.”
But the young mother was happy, and she would not
believe that anything could be better than these years. So she
played with her children, and gathered flowers for
them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and
the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried,
“Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”
Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was
dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother
drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,
“Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.”
And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and
the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary.
But at all times she said to the children,” A little patience and we are there.”
So the children climbed, and when they reached the top
they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.”
And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up
at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my
children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage.
Today, I’ve given them strength.”
And the next day came strange clouds which darkened
the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped
and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.
” And the children looked and saw above the clouds
an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the
darkness. And that night the Mother said,
“This is the best day of all, for
I have shown my children God.”
And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and
the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent.
But her children were tall and strong, and walked with
courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her,
for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill,
and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And
mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end
is better than the beginning, for my children can
walk alone, and their children after them.”
And the children said, “You will always walk with us,
Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates
closed after her. And they said: “We cannot see her
but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence…….”
Your Mother is always with you…. She’s the whisper
of the leaves as you walk down the street; she’s the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered socks; she’s the cool hand
on your brow when you’re not well. Your Mother lives
inside your laughter. And she’s crystallized in every tear drop.
She’s the place you came from, your first home; and
she’s the map you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love
and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can
separate you.
Not time, not space… not even death!
My beloved Mom….Marjorie Holderfield Todd
November 21, 1921 – May 3, 1986
Happy Halloween!
I invite you to read my post from last Halloween as I celebrate my one year in blogging!
https://dsgnmomonline.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/happy-halloween-superheros/
This Halloween spend some special time with the little one. Here’s some ideas on how to make your holiday a little more fun!
1. Carve some pumpkins
I have listed some links below that have free pumpkin carving templates. Just practice safe knife skills while watching little fingers! Also tips on toasting the seeds are also available online. This teaches resourcefulness to kids and gives you a treat to eat!
2. Decorate some mini “pumpkins”
Here’s a simple trick if carving is not possible. A visit to the grocery store then the fabric shop for a few ribbons …
a little glue and you have your decorations (which will keep til Thanksgiving!)
3
3. Let them help you decorate a table
See this quick and easy tablescape above using the same cute “pumpkins” and some hurricane globes with pins to hold in place. These items can easily be found at many local craft store!
4. Go candy shopping
Find some coupons for Halloween candy in your local paper (lots of them this time of year) and look at the store ads… like Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid. Then match them to your coupons for the most bang for your buck! Let the kids help scout for the bargains. You have to buy candy if you are going to participate in “Trick or Treat” so you might as well make it a fun experience while saving money and teaching the little ones to save too!
Whatever you do… have fun and be safe! These meaningful times together will never be recreated so please spend it wisely!
Some articles I like!
http://theresjustonemommy.com/?p=1413
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/beginner-halloween-pumpkin-carving-templates/pictures/index.html
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/beginner-halloween-pumpkin-carving-templates/pictures/index.html
http://halloweencoloringpages.blogspot.com/2011/07/halloween-party-coloring-pages.html
http://halloweencoloringpages.blogspot.com/2011/07/charlie-brown-halloween-coloring-pages.html
“Attitude”… No! “At-TWO-tude”
On living with a two-year-old…. “Gee Gee…. dolly, wankie, piggie!” she said this morning. “Okay Marissa, you carry them downstairs and I will carry you” I replied. “No Gee Gee!” as she layed on the floor in defiance. I stood at the top of the stairs waiting for Marissa to comply with my request. And I waited! And I waited! Then the threats started… “One….Two….Three” (to which she replied “four”. Then I said “Do you want to go to timeout?”…. That was the only thing that seemed to have any influence on her….. At-TWO-tude I tell you!
Funny how time heals the jagged memories of such things. About 29 years ago I had a two-year-old. My now 31 year old daughter has my two and a half year old granddaughter. I will admit that being a grandmother is very different than I thought it would be… in a good way. I have this amazing connection to her and now “get” the whole “GRAND”child thing that all my friends would talk about- make that RAVE about. I suppose the independence that she is showing which creates this whole “at-TWO-tude” should be celebrated. It means that she is thinking for herself and trying to make some of the little life decisions. I will celebrate that and remind myself that they grow up far too soon and the “at-TWO-tude” that she displays today will quickly get better as she learns to navigate this life… And I will be helping her to pack for college next week, or so it will seem!
What can you do for free with your kids this weekend?
Now that Fall is here you might be looking for a way to spend some quaility time with the kiddos… but since it’s the end of the month (and the month ALWAYS seems to last longer than the money) I thought you might enjoy knowing about some free things to do together!
1. Build something with your kid!
This Saturday (9/24) take the kids to Lowe’s! No they aren’t paying me to say this…. 😉 They are offering a free “Build and Grow” workshop where your kids can build a firetruck! All supplies are free and kids get an apron, goggles and a completion patch at the end of the workshop… only catch… you have to register! So go HERE and get them on the list for this fabulous free even!
https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/
(If you miss this week… check the schedule at your local store! They offer these free events almost every month! Other home centers do as well….)
2. Take a walk!
A walk is free and priceless at the same time. It is a perfect time to walk and pick up beautiful leaves which could open up all types of topics. You might ask (unless they ask first) “How do the leaves turn all these colors?” or “Can you name the colors you see?” My daughter used to love to collect leaves in the fall and we would press them between wax paper to preserve them. She is 30 now and I swear I believe I STILL have some of those leaves!
3. Teach your kids to use a camera!
I recently heard of an idea where your child is asked to find something to photograph that begins with the letter A, B … and so on. If this idea initiates a conversation then I say give it a try. Otherwise, with todays digital technology… they might just like to go out and take pictures of things that they like. Again you might be amazed at what they find interesting and you might just have a budding photographer on your hands!
4. Let’s have a cooking lesson!
Photo Credit: http://cooking724.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/kids-cooking/
Pick one fall treat that you enjoyed as a kid (mine is homemade popcorn balls….yummy) and teach your kids to make it. Or let them suggest something that they want to learn how to make. You may be surprised at how creative they can be!
5. Involve them in your football watching!
Whether it be your favorite college team on Saturday or your NFL Fav on Sunday… let the little ones get involved too! This is a great time to answer questions about sportsmanship and how to be a team player. Please remember to be patient and watch the explatives … they are little carbon copies of you!
6. Teach them one thing that you learned from your Grandparent!
Photo Credit: http://www.lilsugar.com/Family-Ties-What-Call-Grandparents-1134034
In my most recent blog post I wrote about my Grandmama Bessie (https://dsgnmomonline.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/on-being-a-mother-and-even-better-a-grandmother/). She taught me some amazing “lost arts” like sewing and cooking. What type of things did you Grandparents teach you? How to whittle? Make a bird house? Master the yo-yo?
7. If you blog, ask each of them to write a guest post
If they aren’t old enough ask them to draw a picture which you can feature on your “guest blogger’s” day! This will bring them such joy to be “published” and who knows what budding writers we have hidden in our own families!
8. Storytime at your local bookstore!
Check out the scheduled free storytimes at your local bookstore. Doesn’t cost a thing and they may just fall in love with reading!
9. Check your local museums for their “free” day!
We are so fortunate in Memphis to have an array of fabulous Museums available and many of them have free or greatly reduced days for kids! So while you may not have the Cotton Museum (shown above), the Civil Rights Museum or even the home of Elvis in your city… There are wonderful museums everywhere just waiting for you and the kids to explore! *Ask them about a yearly family pass to save money all year long.
10. Google your city then go explore a site that you have not visited yet!
http://www.memphisloveskids.com/
Find out what untapped resources you have in your city. In Memphis we have trolleys to ride and Beale Street to see. Do some digging on the computer and see what your city has that could be fun for a free fall afternoon!
11. Farmer’s Market exploration!
Photo Credit: http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/836245/things-your-kids-can-learn-at-the-farmers-market
The Farmer’s Market is a wonderful place to share your knowledge of different types of fruits and veggies. How many vegetables can they find? Make a game of trying to fill in the blank A-Z. Then let them pick one vegetable that looks interesting to them that they have never tried. Who knows, maybe their involvement will make them more interesting in eating it.
12. Check out your local “Kids eat FREE or CHEAP” for Saturday and Sunday
In Memphis the following restaurants offer cool deals for kids and parents on weekends!
Texas Roadhouse, Piccadilly Cafeteria, Firehouse Subs… just to make a few! Check out your local area online to see what you are missing!
Please remember that the meaningful conversations… the ones that lead to stories and lessons of life… often come from the small quiet times that we spend with our kids one-on-one! Doesn’t have to be an elaborate day out or an expensive event… just you and them sharing life and making lasting memories!
Related Articles:
http://www.shesaved.com/2011/09/free-lowes-fire-truck-workshop-for-kids-this-weekend.html
http://www.techlicious.com/guide/the-most-and-least-reliable-digital-camera-brands/
http://www.myrecipes.com/kids/cooking-with-kids-recipes-and-ideas-10000001814441/
http://cooking724.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/kids-cooking/
http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/836245/things-your-kids-can-learn-at-the-farmers-market
http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/greenscene/2009/11/raking-and-composting-leaves.html
I read and enjoyed this quote recently:
“Being a mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my
field, since the payment is pure love.”
~Mildred B. Vermont
MARISSA GRAY!
It’s fitting that I write about my only child’s only child on the occasion of her second birthday!
Honestly… before I became a Grandmother, I thought “What is the BIG deal?” When my friends who had become grandparents prior to me would go on… and on… and ON about their kid’s kids… again I would say “What is the BIG deal?” (if only to myself!). I now know what the big deal is. It is joy at it simplest. It is unmeasurable happiness. It is a vulnerable love that opens your heart and reminds you of the sweetest memories that are tucked way back in your mind… twenty… thirty years old or more.
When Marissa was first born I would sit and hold her, looking deep into those beautiful brown eyes. One day I just began to weep as I held her. The love overflowed and came out in the form of tears… guessing it had to go somewhere! This immense love washed over me and I felt that I truly “got it” that day.
I remember the beautiful connection I had with my Grandmama. Having lost her some 28 years ago at age 27 I should have to dig deeply to pull up the memories of my times with her… but I do not have to dig at all. They are here on the surface of my soul. I was lucky enough to spend many summers with her in her small rural town…even though we lived about 400 miles away in a big city. She taught me the lost arts of quilting, cross-stitch, and crocheting. We made clothes from the left over Pajama Factory remnants that she inherited from a close friend. She taught me to cook, bake and canning. I learned when and how to pick beans and other vegetables from their small but bountiful garden. I had cold biscuits and gravy (cold by my choice) which my Grandmama had made from scratch every morning at about 4 am prior to my Grandaddy’s departure to work as a carpenter. She let me sleep until I wanted to get up which as I recall was typically about 9 am. My memory of bedtime is amusing. Since my grandparents arose so early… they would literally “go to bed with the chickens”! So before the sunset had time to sink into the night… I was expected to be asleep. What? It’s light out…. I’m 12! Nobody I know goes to bed that early! So I chuckle as I re-live the memories of TRYING to go to sleep before 8 pm.
Grandmama Bessie –
She would say “If it don’t love… don’t make it eat it” (we -the grandchildren- were the “it” she was refering to… so spoiled WE WERE!)
The tight bond between Grandparent and Grandchild. Is it because the years of parenting make us more grateful for the little things? I know that since I have become a grandmother, a “Gigi” to be exact, I have enjoyed precious moments with my granddaughter… as if I really didn’t know how to enjoy them the first time around as a Mom. I guess God gave me a “do-over”. I think I did pretty good the first time… kind of like taking a class and getting a “C+” or maybe a “B-” the first time around… then re-taking the class like 25 years later and getting an “A+”. Funny how a little life under your belt helps your perspective. Maybe realistically I have a Degree in Mothering and a Masters in Life 101. That is the “it” that I needed to get to…
So I hope when Marissa Gray turns 25 she will be blogging (or who know WHAT they will be doing by then!) about her crazy “Gigi” who she has shared many countless wonderful fun filled days with and from whom she has learned much. I hope that I can impart some of my wisdom in her so that maybe her road to happiness will have less bumps and more downhill coasts! One Gigi can only hope.
I love you Marissa. Happy Birthday angel. And to my daughter Alissa, I love you and thank you for giving me this precious gift. Being a “Gigi” fits me JUST RIGHT!
Related articles:
https://dsgnmomonline.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/special-guest-post-lifes-leaves-by-alissa-gray-mcquaig/
My new friend who is a blogger, husband and 31-year-old father, T.J. Brown, has written a post recently entitled “The Sad Story of My Creation” http://thomasjohnbrown.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/the-sad-story-of-my-creation/. I was heartbroken for him as he told of his parents decision to have him and then tell him (his whole life) that he was a “mistake”! I was so appalled by this that I was compelled to comment on his post and that has resulted in the development of a sincere friendship. My respect for him is enormous as he works through the pain that this has caused him to this day. He blogs to air his feelings and “get it out”. This is a brave journey that T.J. has accepted and I am very thankful that our paths have crossed. His very supportive wife, Amber, comments on his every post and I can tell that there is much love and support for him through their relationship.
We as parents have an IMMENSE effect on our children and the kind of adults they will be! Words are weapons. Words are powerful especially being uttered by one’s own parent. The harsh words of “you were a mistake” can only serve to debilitate a child from developing in any sort of normal way! Why would a parent want that for their child? As I said in my response to him (in part): “I am so appalled that parents could describe a child’s creation as a “mistake”. Honestly adults need to own up to their actions and stop the blame game… it was not the car load of people (regardless of race) or the missed birth control which is at fault here. The truth is, it seems, that your parents chose to have “divorce sex” as you call it and created another precious human being. I believe that God allows the people that are suppose to be born to be conceived and are allowed to live. Each life has meaning and teaches us lessons as parents. Your attitude is commendable. Please keep believing that you are special and NOT a mistake. You have the touched my life with this post and that is no mistake!”
I went on to tell him about someone who I worked for many years ago. She was told by her parents that she should have been aborted! Just knowing that her parents wished that she had never been born affected her daily existence and made her a very bitter and angry individual. It seemed to me that she was always looking to hurt others the way she was hurt. I may not be a Psychologist but I am smart enough to know that what we say to our children is carried throughout our lives. Unless we go through the long and arduous process of “reprogramming those tapes” in our minds… that is what plays over and over…. and over!
My story is a different from T.J’s as daylight is from darkness! My parents were married 13 years before my birth. My oldest brother was born about 13 months into their marriage and then there were 11 years of unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant with a second child. Eleven long year of being told that she was barren and may never have another due to complications that arose during the difficult birth of my brother. Imagine the happiness that they felt as they were finally able to tell their 12-year-old son that he was FINALLY going to be a big brother! That May my mother attended a local festival featuring a beautiful Queen and her court riding the “Strawberry Festival” float (a very big event in 1955!). Someone on that float had the name “Janiece”, I assumed it was the Queen but have never been able to confirm. I was told that my mother said “Oh if I have a girl I’m going to name her “Janiece”. I never met the person for whom I was named but always wondered if I could someday tell her that story. I was born about 4 months later… I was 3 weeks early and my parents had to travel from a rural Tennessee county about 90 miles away from Memphis to get to the hospital. Because of her complications she had a special doctor. They made it in time… No two parents were ever more proud to welcome their new baby girl… after over a decade of waiting.
When I was 18 months old their Christian strength was tested. I became very ill and was admitted to the hospital. The doctors told them to prepare for the worse. They said they had done all they could and that it was in the Lord’s hands. My mother used to tell me of how they kneeled at the foot of my hospital crib and prayed that God would spare my life if it was “His will”.
I was one sick little girl but the antibiotics and fluids that they administered had given me the strength to pull out of the sickness. Iwas a fighter. Never gave up. My parents, both devout Christians, dedicated my life to the Lord then and there. I have scars in my forehead and my ankle that remind me of this story. As a huge happy surprise they welcomed another addition about a year later… my little brother! I have what I like to call a “brother sandwich”! 😉
MY BROTHER SANDWICH
(Left – Johnny, my oldest brother, me and my “baby” brother David – right)
Both my parents are no longer living but I can still hear my mother’s voice as she would recount how eternally grateful they both were that the Lord had spared my life. I always felt VERY special knowing that my parents desperately wanted me and then almost lost me…and then gratefully dedicated my life. They were wonderful examples of what a parent should be. I thank God daily that I had them in my life as shinning examples. And of course I miss them both terribly… Mom for 25 years and Dad only this year gone. You can read my memorial tribute to them here: https://dsgnmomonline.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/its-been-25-years-today-mom-i-still-miss-you/ and https://dsgnmomonline.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/holding-daddys-hand-forever/.
It occurred to me that the story of my creation could not be further from that of T.J. We had very different welcoming committees. Mine was very much like a ticker tape parade and his was vastly different. Yet be both ended up blogging and sharing. We ended up having our paths cross because of these differences. We ended up as friends. Thank you T.J. for your inspiration. I wish you all the best on your journey.
Photo credit: http://iamachild.wordpress.com/category/wilbur-lawrence/
Do you have an “Attitude of Gratitude”? I must say I really do try to have it everyday…some days I succeed and some days I fall short. After all, life has a way of beating you down. What I have found is that when you least expect it, you will be reminded that there is so much goodness to be thankful for! For example, I was researching my ideas for this post and I came across a photo that I wanted to use. It reminds me of how thankful I am for God’s gift of the beauty of nature.
http://www.poemsbycc.com/SeasonalHoliday.html
It is a beautiful Fall scene with leaves blazing in color! As I clicked on it I found myself in a blog of poems. Then the music starts… it is a piano rendition of “How Great Thou Art”. Immediately my eyes filled with tears as I sang the words that I had memorized as a little girl as I listened to countless times that my Mother practiced that song. She was a gifted soprano soloist at her many church homes throughout her life. Her voice filled my head with the melody and the precious words to that song. Even though Mother has been gone from this earthly home for more than 25 years, (https://dsgnmomonline.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/its-been-25-years-today-mom-i-still-miss-you/) my memory helped me fill in the blanks and I found myself deep in the Attitude of Gratitude! Grateful for a Mother’s love. Grateful for the many years of patient child rearing that she devoted to our family. Grateful that she had that amazing voice and was willing to share it with her congregation. This left an emblazoned etch on my mind and my heart. “How Great Thou Art”. Indeed, “How Great Thou Art”.
There has been much written on this subject but most theories closely relate The Attitude of Gratitude to the Law of Attraction. Simply stated “whatever you think about the most, your dominate thoughts, have to manifest themselves into your life… good or bad”. I totally believe in this theory. I watch it happen daily in the lives of those around me as well as my own.
“You are a living magnet, you invariably attract into your life the people, situations and circumstances that are in harmony with your dominant thoughts.” Brian Tracy
http://the-law-of-attraction-in-action.blogspot.com/2007/06/brian-tracy-speaks-about-law-of.html
I wanted to share with my readers something I witnessed a few days ago. As I was driving, there was a very young mother (maybe late teens) carrying twin boys across the street in busy traffic…not at the light or cross-walk… thru the traffic. The boys were twins, identical it seemed, and I would guess their age to be about 2 years old. I know full well what it’s like to carry a 2-year-old. My granddaughter is 2 and if you have carried a 2-year-old lately, you might sympathise with the chore that this young mother had at hand! It’s all she could do to keep them both in her arms and make it safely to the other side of the street. As she reached her destination, she had to put the toddlers down in the busy pharmacy parking lot. I really was frightened for her. I then noticed that she had dropped what looked like a lunch bag on the sidewalk…quickly asked myself do I call out to her and tell her? Or would the babies be in danger if I let her know? But what if the “lunch bag ” had all her money in it? My mind raced. I quickly rolled the window down and yelled “Excuse me mam, you dropped something”. There was gratitude in her eyes. Maybe it was the equivalent of her purse. All I know is that she scarcely noticed that it was missing from under her arm. She lipped “Thank you” to me. I smiled and drove away. My mind dove deep into what her situation might be. Was she homeless? Running? Hurting? And twins at a young age! My goodness. My heart melted for her. I feel quite sure that it would have been tough for her to have the “Attitude of Gratitude” right then in that situation, but she seemed to be thankful for my act of kindness and concern. Often it seems that people get wrapped up in what they don’t have or what injustice has been done to them. The next time I want to have a pity party…. I will remember that young mother’s face and the kind words “thank you” on her lips.
Ask yourself the question. “Do I have the Attitude of Gratitude?” What do you want in your life? You are a magnet…
Related Posts:
http://www.frogprop.com/gratitude-your-key-to-activating-the-law-of-attraction/
http://www.shiftoftheage.com/2009/11/26/the-transformative-power-gratitude/
http://brianbilbro.net/2011/06/13/develop-an-attitude-of-gratitude-and-give-thanks/
http://lovingmycircleoffriends.blogspot.com/2011/05/keep-attitude-of-gratitude.html
http://www.shortpoems.org/poems/gratitude_poems.html
Does you silverware drawer look like this?
One glimpse at our silverware drawer and you can see… we have a toddler in our house! It got me to thinking….
how much could a person tell about you simply by looking at your silverware drawer?
Lets play a game! Say something descriptive about each picture as you look at the following
silverware trays and see if it matches my assessment!
Could be fun to see if a total stranger might have the same quick interpretation as you….
I am imagining conversations going on in these kitchens….
1. “I like order but with these deep dividers even the
guys in the house could hit the right slot!”
Photo credit: http://backintimefurniture.com/page3653.asp
2. “Organization? Whose got time for that? By the way has
anybody seen my Grandma’s priceless butter knife?”
3. “Happiness is every type of gadget all nicely placed in
one drawer…and who cares if you really don’t know what they are for!”
4. “Okay, who asked Harold to put away the silverware
last night? It’s NOT even April Fools Day yet!”
Photo credit: http://domesticwrecks.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/silverwaredrawer
5. “Wow, I’ve got the neatest stack of forks and spoons…oh crap
one slipped off and now I have to start over. Well look quickly!”
Photo credit: http://feetoffthetable.blogspot.com/2010/11/thursday-goodness-cleaning-out.html
6. “Now I’ve just got the cutest darn silverware anyone could
ever want! Yeah it’s red… I like red!”
Photo credit: http://mimisuescottage.blogspot.com/2010/09/polka-dot-fun.html
7. “Honey, since we moved to this house I haven’t been able
to find the tool I use to strain the oil in the car…
could it be in this kitchen drawer? If not can I use this yellow thingy?
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/minimallyinvasivenj/4411847234/
8. “Ahhh Okay there are my Ginsu knives that I got with my paid order
of those matching set of 24 mini salt and pepper shakers. Gotta love late night TV!”
Photo credit: http://sellerby.com/good_12656_459718551-Beechwood-Expandable-Flatware-Cutlery-Drawer-Organizer.htm
9. “Mom, who cares if they are not in the right place,
at least I hit the drawer!”
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45685497@N00/4260698416/in/photostream/
10. “What is this Knife Heaven?”
11. This one speaks for itself….and it’s profane! 🙂
Photo credit: http://www.casasugar.com/Poll-Silverware-Drawer-Organization-11264143
If you have a picky eater you might like these:
I simply could not write a post about silverware and not somehow include these adorable little things. I think the road equipment is hilarious. Backhoe and food…hummmm not sure about that. The “Air Fork One” is just too cute not to show! Little “wanna be pilots” all over the world will be happy at dinner time! I say whatever it takes. We have a picky eater and I’m always looking for clever ideas. That’s why we have some many toddler utensils!
Photo credits:
http://www.dinikusuma.com/bring-your-children-appetite-on-the-table/
http://www.portagebaygoods.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=54&products_id=285&osCsid=
ghgoacumq64gulp5g2hdq3ngtkg7qgte
http://www.thegreenhead.com/2009/08/head-chefs-kids-silverware.php
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I have my very first Guest Blogger! I’m so excited to share George with my readers. He is a gifted writer, dad, granddaddy (“Tah”-his nickname) and all-round funny guy.
He serves our country as an officer in the Georgia Army National Guard and did a tour of duty to Iraq in 2005. I am proud to know George and hope that through his writing you too can know this man who is my friend.
Here’s his letter to his oldest daughter as she left the nest recently flying off to start her life with her brand new Marine Corps husband…taking the only grandbaby with her. This is priceless and SO George! See the note at the bottom explaining the nicknames for his kids… it will help if you have that information first. Thank you, George, for sharing your heart and showing us that your daughter is “Holding Daddy’s Hand Forever” just like I am! http://wp.me/p1aeRt-9L
FIRST BORN MOVING DAY by LTC George L. Fisher
“Dear Booger–
Sorry I got something caught in my throat when I was talking to you on the
phone…it must have been the chicken biscuit….
I will call you later because I know you are busy on MOVING DAY……
When you were born they threw your goo-covered butt in the warmer thing at
the hospital–you were squawling to beat all getout. I went over to where you
were and held your tiny little hand–you latched onto my pinky finger and
held on–in just a few seconds you stopped crying and the new parents had a
daughter….
I was hooked from that moment on—proud as I have ever been—as was your
Mom—and as a result you “may” have been a little bit spoiled…
So for the last 20 years or so you have been right there with us, thru thick
and thin..good times, bad times, and lots of just regular times.
Amanda “Booger” Fisher was there.
Along came Joe, then Winnie….. The tank of tropical fish, the cats, and
everything else—and the Booger was still there…
Then there was himself–your baby boy, aka “The Pottamus”–not exactly the
best timing in the world, but inasmuch you do things your own way, it all
worked out–Mom and God both knew this and as usual I was the last one to
figure it out– but eventually I did. (I’m not as big a heathen as folks
think, Booger…)
And the Booger…. like the Flag–like the mortgage–and like the
everlasting pile of laundry— was still there.
Our Booger AND our Pottamus, who is just as much “ours” as any of you kids,
even if he is a GRAND…. And he has been just that…GRAND—and
incidentally has a window into my soul and I’m powerless in his clutch.
Your Mom loves her babies—all of them–unconditionally. That means no
matter what. (I do too, but you kids aren’t supposed to know it)…
AND That means—while no matter that Moms’ babies are 20 years old and even
has a baby of her own, who is moving away–and regardless that there are
still two remaining kids , three dogs, and yet another round of trips to the
orthodontist and teenaged drivers pending to break our butts and our bank
account—the reality is our Boogs and our Pottamus won’t be there…..and
that, Dear Boogs, is what makes things get caught in ones throat.
And that’s why Mom and I wish we had a pinky finger to latch on to right now.
Love,
Daddy
George and his daughter Amanda on her wedding day
George’s Nicknames for his kids–
Amanda (oldest) is Booger (because she’s so fun to pick at)
Joe (middle) is “Mans best Friend” in my stories because he is and has been the most loyal to me especially when he was small because we were so tight..most other times I call him “buddy”-which is for the same reason…
Lyndsay (youngest) is Winnie just by default and she was into Winnie the Pooh so she got winnie poops and other variations (nothing spectacular on her nickname) but primarily
Tah and Pottamus
And the Pottamus (grandson) —well, he was 2 days old and was having tremendous gas–Amanda called and said I have a name for him-Poot. So Poot became “The Poot” then Pootie then Pootiepottamus which morphed into a prehistoric animal called the Pootasaurus, or Pootipottamus Bunkus Rex (his latin name) which translates to little brave scout. Ha ha.
How to stay sane on PAUSE 