This is one of those mornings that are God given and most appreciated. Roger and I are alone and have no firm plans for the day - which means I don't have to set the alarm clock, rush to get dressed, gulp my coffee down, etc. For those of you who don't know Roger, let's just say he's a tad bit ADHA - remember the squirrel from Over the Hedge? So, when I wake up and look at the clock and realize it's just after 7:00, I roll back over to catch a few more minutes of sleep. Not my darling husband, he hits the floor running - trying his best to be quiet. So, he turns off the house alarm, lets the dogs out of their kennels, grabs a cup of coffee and then tip toes into the bedroom because he forgot his towel for the hot tub. Mind you, up until he grabbed his towel from the bedroom closet he's been as quiet as a bull in a china closet. He then tip toes out of the bedroom and closes the door - a little late, don't you think?
So, I lay there a few more minutes and then decide it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the birds are singing and I might as well go join him in the hot tub. I grab my towel and cup of coffee and step outside. It's the perfect morning to drink my coffee and relax in the hot tub and just chill. I'm one of those people who need that first cup of coffee in me before I start chatting with others. In fact, it's really best if you give me a wide berth until the caffeine hits my system.
I get into the hot tub and find my comfy spot and start sipping my flavored coffee - my once a week indulgence - when hubby starts peppering me with questions. There's another nail on the roof that I need to fix, do you think we should put the pond on this side of the yard or over by the fence, oh look a duck...really? Yes honey, I see the duck - now can you just sit back a moment, relax and be quiet? So, he decides to amuse himself trying to get a 1/2" piece of a stick out of the hot tub and the tsumani begins as he keeps grabbing for the stick and missing it by a fraction of an inch. About a minute after the tsumani begins, the jets go off and I am watching him chase the stick around in the bottom of the hot tub and just when he's about to finally grab it - I smile and turn the jets back on :) Sometimes, it's the little things that get you through...
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
It's Your Life
Okay, I've done everything I know to get you to start paying attention to your school work, finish your assignments, study for tests, etc. but you've decided that is not what you want to do. You would rather play your video games and stare into space than do your work. We've talked to you, to your therapist, to your school counselor, your teachers and your principal and nothing as worked.
As hard as it is, I am going to let you take this walk on your own. When you are in the 8th grade again next year, you will have only yourself to blame. I hope that your video game is worth the price you are about to pay. If, and when, you get your grades back up to passing you will get your phone back and get your computer privleges back; until then, enjoy your video games.
We all have things in our life we do not like to do, but we learn to deal with them and get the unpleasant tasks behind us so we can do what we enjoy doing. If you don't get serious pretty quickly about your grades, you will be working at a minimum paying job trying your very best to have some of the things that you want in life.
It's very hard as a parent to watch our kids make mistakes, often life altering ones; but at the same time, there are some things we can't make them do. All we can do is warn them, explain the error of their ways and then step back and let them make their own mistakes. Hopefully, they will realize that we do know what we are talking about and do whatever it takes for them to correct the problem before it negatively affects the rest of their life.
So, dear son, I have done all I can do to get your to see the error of your ways. I am now going to let you make your mistake and hopefully, learn that in order for you to be successful, you MUST do well in school.
As hard as it is, I am going to let you take this walk on your own. When you are in the 8th grade again next year, you will have only yourself to blame. I hope that your video game is worth the price you are about to pay. If, and when, you get your grades back up to passing you will get your phone back and get your computer privleges back; until then, enjoy your video games.
We all have things in our life we do not like to do, but we learn to deal with them and get the unpleasant tasks behind us so we can do what we enjoy doing. If you don't get serious pretty quickly about your grades, you will be working at a minimum paying job trying your very best to have some of the things that you want in life.
It's very hard as a parent to watch our kids make mistakes, often life altering ones; but at the same time, there are some things we can't make them do. All we can do is warn them, explain the error of their ways and then step back and let them make their own mistakes. Hopefully, they will realize that we do know what we are talking about and do whatever it takes for them to correct the problem before it negatively affects the rest of their life.
So, dear son, I have done all I can do to get your to see the error of your ways. I am now going to let you make your mistake and hopefully, learn that in order for you to be successful, you MUST do well in school.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wish More Parents Were Like This
http://www.litefm.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=421220&article=9738000
I wish more parents were like this dad - unafraid of being unpopular with his daughter and her peers. He promised her if she ever did something like this again there would be consequences and he FOLLOWED THROUGH! If more parents did what this dad did, then our children would have a better chance of becoming the adults we want/expect them to be.
Another impressive thing about this video is that the girl's parents are divorced and the dad tells her that she was disrespectful of him, her stepmom AND her mom. Dad did not forget that she has both a mom and a stepmom and he expects her to show respect for both of them. At the end of the video, it shows him putting a bullet in the computer because her mom asked him to do so. This tells me that mom and dad are communicating and keeping each other informed about what their daughter is doing and each of them is supporting the other in handing out punishment and insuring their daughter is doing the right thing.
It is imperative that divorced parents work together to raise their children. They must learn to put aside their personal differences and show their children that they WILL stand together when it comes to punishment and they WILL each hold their children accountable for their actions. In order to raise our children correctly, we can't allow our feelings for an ex-spouse to get in the way of doing what's right for the child. Parents must communicate with each other about school work, broken rules, etc. and they must decide together what the punishment will be and work together and support each other in administering the punishments. They can not take this opportunity to try to be the "good" parent and try to play one parent against the other. By doing this, they show the child that they still respect the other parent and they are still working together to raise their child. It also helps the child to not play one parent against the other.
But, the most important thing is that this dad has, hopefully, taught his daughter a valuable lesson. They will be consequences when rules are broken, the parent will follow through with them and there will be no backing off.
Kudos to this dad!
I wish more parents were like this dad - unafraid of being unpopular with his daughter and her peers. He promised her if she ever did something like this again there would be consequences and he FOLLOWED THROUGH! If more parents did what this dad did, then our children would have a better chance of becoming the adults we want/expect them to be.
Another impressive thing about this video is that the girl's parents are divorced and the dad tells her that she was disrespectful of him, her stepmom AND her mom. Dad did not forget that she has both a mom and a stepmom and he expects her to show respect for both of them. At the end of the video, it shows him putting a bullet in the computer because her mom asked him to do so. This tells me that mom and dad are communicating and keeping each other informed about what their daughter is doing and each of them is supporting the other in handing out punishment and insuring their daughter is doing the right thing.
It is imperative that divorced parents work together to raise their children. They must learn to put aside their personal differences and show their children that they WILL stand together when it comes to punishment and they WILL each hold their children accountable for their actions. In order to raise our children correctly, we can't allow our feelings for an ex-spouse to get in the way of doing what's right for the child. Parents must communicate with each other about school work, broken rules, etc. and they must decide together what the punishment will be and work together and support each other in administering the punishments. They can not take this opportunity to try to be the "good" parent and try to play one parent against the other. By doing this, they show the child that they still respect the other parent and they are still working together to raise their child. It also helps the child to not play one parent against the other.
But, the most important thing is that this dad has, hopefully, taught his daughter a valuable lesson. They will be consequences when rules are broken, the parent will follow through with them and there will be no backing off.
Kudos to this dad!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Cheesy Spinach & Bacon Dip
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
1 lb. (16 oz.) Velveeta, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 oz. (1/2 of 8 oz. pkg.) Philadelphia cream cheese, cubed
1 (10 oz.) can RO*TEL diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
8 oz. bacon, cooked, crumbled
Microwave ingredients in microwaveable bowl on high 5 minutes or until Velveeta is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 3 minutes.
1 lb. (16 oz.) Velveeta, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 oz. (1/2 of 8 oz. pkg.) Philadelphia cream cheese, cubed
1 (10 oz.) can RO*TEL diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
8 oz. bacon, cooked, crumbled
Microwave ingredients in microwaveable bowl on high 5 minutes or until Velveeta is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 3 minutes.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
From www.myrecipes.com
1 15 oz. container part-skim ricotta
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 tsp. salt
1 lb. ziti
2 25 oz. jars marina sauce - I used Emeril's
2 Tbsp fnely chopped fresh basil leaves - I used dried
2/3 cup water
Combine all three cheeses and salt in a medium bowl. Rinse ziti under cold water in a colander, allowing some water to cling to pasta. Mist inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Place half of pasta in an even layer over bottom of cooker. Pour one jar of marina sauce over pasta. Dot with half of cheese mixture and half of basil. Repeat with remaining pasta, sauce, cheese and basil. Pour water over top. Cover and cook on high until pasta is tender, 2-3 hours.
1 15 oz. container part-skim ricotta
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 tsp. salt
1 lb. ziti
2 25 oz. jars marina sauce - I used Emeril's
2 Tbsp fnely chopped fresh basil leaves - I used dried
2/3 cup water
Combine all three cheeses and salt in a medium bowl. Rinse ziti under cold water in a colander, allowing some water to cling to pasta. Mist inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Place half of pasta in an even layer over bottom of cooker. Pour one jar of marina sauce over pasta. Dot with half of cheese mixture and half of basil. Repeat with remaining pasta, sauce, cheese and basil. Pour water over top. Cover and cook on high until pasta is tender, 2-3 hours.
Dear Daughter, Part 2
Dear Daughter,
I hope you weren't too upset when you got to the church retreat and realized I had repacked for you. Always know that when I ask you to do what you think "is right", I will check to see that you made the right decision. And I will do whatever is necessary to insure you are doing the right thing. I really hope that you learn some things about yourself and God this weekend and that one day you understand that I do the things I do because I love you and want what's best for you and your brothers.
It's not easy being a mom and I will make mistakes along the way but they will be unintentional - I would never deliberately hurt you. And, even if you don't believe it, I was your age at one time. I know it's difficult but it can be a lot of fun as well. I will be there beside you every step of the way to help you stay on the right path and I will always love you - even on the days that I don't like you very much.
I love you and pray for you,
Mom
I hope you weren't too upset when you got to the church retreat and realized I had repacked for you. Always know that when I ask you to do what you think "is right", I will check to see that you made the right decision. And I will do whatever is necessary to insure you are doing the right thing. I really hope that you learn some things about yourself and God this weekend and that one day you understand that I do the things I do because I love you and want what's best for you and your brothers.
It's not easy being a mom and I will make mistakes along the way but they will be unintentional - I would never deliberately hurt you. And, even if you don't believe it, I was your age at one time. I know it's difficult but it can be a lot of fun as well. I will be there beside you every step of the way to help you stay on the right path and I will always love you - even on the days that I don't like you very much.
I love you and pray for you,
Mom
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Dear Daughter
Dear Daughter,
You are going to a church youth retreat - you need to unpack your short shorts that you can only wear in the house when you are in the upstairs "girls only" area, shirts that you are constantly having to worry about the neckline showing something you do not want to show are not acceptable, you do not need 2 books, pens to draw with, iPod, cell phone, etc. You are going to make new friends and learn about God's love, not to post on Facebook, read, draw, etc. Last I heard, God was NOT on Facebook and doesn't have a cell phone number for texting or an email address for emails - you actually have to talk to him to communicate!
The only book you will need this weekend is the Bible - lots of good stories and lessons are contained in this great book. I understand there are no vampires, but you'll survive for 2 days and maybe even learn something.
I hope that one of these days you understand, but even if you don't, you are going to live by our rules and you will NOT go out of the house looking like a 13 year old hooker/tramp!
You are going to a church youth retreat - you need to unpack your short shorts that you can only wear in the house when you are in the upstairs "girls only" area, shirts that you are constantly having to worry about the neckline showing something you do not want to show are not acceptable, you do not need 2 books, pens to draw with, iPod, cell phone, etc. You are going to make new friends and learn about God's love, not to post on Facebook, read, draw, etc. Last I heard, God was NOT on Facebook and doesn't have a cell phone number for texting or an email address for emails - you actually have to talk to him to communicate!
The only book you will need this weekend is the Bible - lots of good stories and lessons are contained in this great book. I understand there are no vampires, but you'll survive for 2 days and maybe even learn something.
I hope that one of these days you understand, but even if you don't, you are going to live by our rules and you will NOT go out of the house looking like a 13 year old hooker/tramp!
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