It's amazing to me how quickly a child will decide whether or not they like someone. My son has a girl for a best friend. He talks about her more than anyone else in the world. He will do anything to be able to go play with her somewhere. Her little brother on the other hand was not okay in his book. From the moment her little brother started walking around, my son went out of his way to bully him. Now they are friends just fine, but it took a lot of patience from their parents and a lot of scolding from us.
Today, he met another girl at their house. He liked her right away, even when she "called him a monster" cause he was wearing a Jack t-shirt. I turned and noticed that as they were chasing each other around, he and this new girl were holding hands. They held hands for about ten minutes before she finally let go.
How do kids do that? When do they lose that innocence that makes it so they can trust each other completely? When do they start to realize that everyone is not always what they seem to be, so they put a guard up?
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Neighborly Love
I have this really close friend here in North Carolina. She's got two kids and a great husband. Like myself, she's a housewife. She's one of those woman you don't ever want your husband to meet because the moment he walks into her house you know he's going to ask why you can't keep your house clean like hers. One husband had the gall to ask right in front of her.
We have always been there for each other. When one person needs to run to the grocery store or just wants fast food in the middle of the night and can't drive for some reason, we call the other person. When we are having big fights with our husbands, we call each other. When our children just won't behave and we want to wear them out, we call each other. When we are lonely during our husbands' deployments, we call each other.
Recently, every time I go by her house, one of her new neighbors stops by. Then, I start to hear about how "great" I am. Honestly, I am not that great. For a while I thought that she thought I was this really awesome person and wanted them to like me too. This would make sense because most people don't like me when they first meet me. Nope. The reason is because her neighbors don't seem to have the understanding of how to treat your neighbor.
While my friend and I were always there for each other, we were always there for our other neighbors too (even if we didn't like them). One of the ladies we didn't get along with fell down her stairs while she was pregnant, so I went to the hospital with her. Another person needed a sitter but couldn't afford one so my friend watched their child for several months for free. Another friend of ours was always willing to watch our kids when we had to run errands but they couldn't come along. Another neighbor was always inviting us in for dinner. The guys would all help each other too: fixing lawn mowers, mowing lawns while the husband was away, getting together and fixing a car, etc.
I guess her new neighbors are willing to accept this neighborly love, but they are not willing to return the favor. It seems to be that way in my new neighborhood as well. What happened to the "Love they neighbor as thyself" verse or even way of life here in the United States? My foster parents often lent me out to neighbors to help clear out weeds or move furniture or even prepare for garage sales. Helping someone in need (great or small) doesn't seem like such a huge deal to me and it's almost second nature. I know it's true of several other people as well. But the more people that I meet, the more it seems like that way of life is dying out.
My friend here has recently found out she has cancer. I found out she wasn't eating much let alone eating healthy for the most part. I know how eating properly is extremely important for normal people let alone people trying to fight with their own bodies. So, I resolved to myself that whenever I had plans to meet with her, I would make sure to bring food with me. Even if she doesn't eat it, then her husband and children have a meal for those days that she is too weak to cook.
I'm not doing this to get "awesome" recognition or so that people see me. I am not doing this because someday she'll repay the favor. I really do care about this person and her family and I want to help in anyway possible. I don't live right next door anymore so I can't be there every time she needs me to help wear the kids out. Part of it is selfish: I want my son to have this same attitude towards helping others that my husband and I have. The only way to teach him to show him.
We have always been there for each other. When one person needs to run to the grocery store or just wants fast food in the middle of the night and can't drive for some reason, we call the other person. When we are having big fights with our husbands, we call each other. When our children just won't behave and we want to wear them out, we call each other. When we are lonely during our husbands' deployments, we call each other.
Recently, every time I go by her house, one of her new neighbors stops by. Then, I start to hear about how "great" I am. Honestly, I am not that great. For a while I thought that she thought I was this really awesome person and wanted them to like me too. This would make sense because most people don't like me when they first meet me. Nope. The reason is because her neighbors don't seem to have the understanding of how to treat your neighbor.
While my friend and I were always there for each other, we were always there for our other neighbors too (even if we didn't like them). One of the ladies we didn't get along with fell down her stairs while she was pregnant, so I went to the hospital with her. Another person needed a sitter but couldn't afford one so my friend watched their child for several months for free. Another friend of ours was always willing to watch our kids when we had to run errands but they couldn't come along. Another neighbor was always inviting us in for dinner. The guys would all help each other too: fixing lawn mowers, mowing lawns while the husband was away, getting together and fixing a car, etc.
I guess her new neighbors are willing to accept this neighborly love, but they are not willing to return the favor. It seems to be that way in my new neighborhood as well. What happened to the "Love they neighbor as thyself" verse or even way of life here in the United States? My foster parents often lent me out to neighbors to help clear out weeds or move furniture or even prepare for garage sales. Helping someone in need (great or small) doesn't seem like such a huge deal to me and it's almost second nature. I know it's true of several other people as well. But the more people that I meet, the more it seems like that way of life is dying out.
My friend here has recently found out she has cancer. I found out she wasn't eating much let alone eating healthy for the most part. I know how eating properly is extremely important for normal people let alone people trying to fight with their own bodies. So, I resolved to myself that whenever I had plans to meet with her, I would make sure to bring food with me. Even if she doesn't eat it, then her husband and children have a meal for those days that she is too weak to cook.
I'm not doing this to get "awesome" recognition or so that people see me. I am not doing this because someday she'll repay the favor. I really do care about this person and her family and I want to help in anyway possible. I don't live right next door anymore so I can't be there every time she needs me to help wear the kids out. Part of it is selfish: I want my son to have this same attitude towards helping others that my husband and I have. The only way to teach him to show him.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Enemy #1- Laziness
One of the hardest things to do in my house is clean. I have a relatively small house, three bedrooms, one bath, all on one floor. It's not the fact that when I clean everything my 3 year old son and 1 year old dog will figure out a way to make it messy again or the fact that my husband who complains about the clutter helps to make it multiply. Nope, the cleaning sprees in my house often die because of laziness.
Take right now for example. I know that a cup was spilt on my livingroom floor and the laundry is waiting for me to change it out. But the draw to the tv and the addiction to the internet is calling for me to stay where I am. I figure if I at least get this out there some moms (even if it's only a few) will feel the same and know they aren't alone.
But, the laziness can't keep a hold on me for too long. We are moving soon and we have to sell our house. It's not too bad, but I'm going to have to keep it spotless everyday for about two months and that is going to be hard, especially since I have the "I can do it later" attitude.
Hopefully, posting about this online will help keep me accountable, just like talking about trying to lose weight and the such like. If I keep talking about how I can keep the house clean, maybe it will help other moms as well as show me ways that work better.
Take right now for example. I know that a cup was spilt on my livingroom floor and the laundry is waiting for me to change it out. But the draw to the tv and the addiction to the internet is calling for me to stay where I am. I figure if I at least get this out there some moms (even if it's only a few) will feel the same and know they aren't alone.
But, the laziness can't keep a hold on me for too long. We are moving soon and we have to sell our house. It's not too bad, but I'm going to have to keep it spotless everyday for about two months and that is going to be hard, especially since I have the "I can do it later" attitude.
Hopefully, posting about this online will help keep me accountable, just like talking about trying to lose weight and the such like. If I keep talking about how I can keep the house clean, maybe it will help other moms as well as show me ways that work better.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Awful Exercise
What is with the idea that we need to be skinny? At least, that's a question I hear all the time, but even a nobody like me wants to be skinny. I watch actresses on tv with envy and remember that I used to be able to wear little clothes like that or do those poses without looking ridiculous. My husband says that he is getting fat because he gained four pounds (he looks anorexic most of the time).
In order to be "skinny" we need to do two things, diet and exercise. Most people consider dieting horrible, but not me. It's a lifestyle change that I was working on anyway because I don't want my son to be raised on french fries and potato chips. It's eating healthier and smarter and I've bought the books and started living those ideas. I don't ignore sweets or junk food, I just learned moderation and to find the "healthiest" sweets and junk food they sell in my price range.
Exercise on the other hand... It's supposed to help us have more energy, but who thinks about energy when their legs are hurting so badly that they cry out every time they sit down. Who thinks about energy when they are desperately trying to figure out how to pay for a message to get all the kinks out of their backs? Who is thinking about energy when they are breathing like every gasp is going to be their last and it just doesn't have enough air in it?
I'm a bit smarter than most and stupider at the same time. I decided that I looked like such a fool at the gym that I was going to buy some things to work out at home until I was ready to be stared at. I have all these videos, games, and exercise items to help me out. The great thing is I can work out when I want to in the privacy of my own home. The downfall is staying motivated and knowing if you are doing everything properly.
I started a new game "Wii Active" a couple of days ago and it seems to be going well. I set the workout level on medium and it has been kicking my butt. I have been able to go above and beyond what the ideal calories burned each day. It also has options to input the food you ate the day before and other activities the day before so you can see "patterns" or something.
My son has even gotten to the point where he will do random poses and tell me he's "esercising" followed by lots of grunts.
I am not afraid to say it. I weigh 162 pounds; well, I did last Monday. I am only 5'4" tall, so I'm in the overweight group. I will weigh myself next Monday and let you know the results (because in my brain you are that interested).
In order to be "skinny" we need to do two things, diet and exercise. Most people consider dieting horrible, but not me. It's a lifestyle change that I was working on anyway because I don't want my son to be raised on french fries and potato chips. It's eating healthier and smarter and I've bought the books and started living those ideas. I don't ignore sweets or junk food, I just learned moderation and to find the "healthiest" sweets and junk food they sell in my price range.
Exercise on the other hand... It's supposed to help us have more energy, but who thinks about energy when their legs are hurting so badly that they cry out every time they sit down. Who thinks about energy when they are desperately trying to figure out how to pay for a message to get all the kinks out of their backs? Who is thinking about energy when they are breathing like every gasp is going to be their last and it just doesn't have enough air in it?
I'm a bit smarter than most and stupider at the same time. I decided that I looked like such a fool at the gym that I was going to buy some things to work out at home until I was ready to be stared at. I have all these videos, games, and exercise items to help me out. The great thing is I can work out when I want to in the privacy of my own home. The downfall is staying motivated and knowing if you are doing everything properly.
I started a new game "Wii Active" a couple of days ago and it seems to be going well. I set the workout level on medium and it has been kicking my butt. I have been able to go above and beyond what the ideal calories burned each day. It also has options to input the food you ate the day before and other activities the day before so you can see "patterns" or something.
My son has even gotten to the point where he will do random poses and tell me he's "esercising" followed by lots of grunts.
I am not afraid to say it. I weigh 162 pounds; well, I did last Monday. I am only 5'4" tall, so I'm in the overweight group. I will weigh myself next Monday and let you know the results (because in my brain you are that interested).
First Blog!
It seems like this is all anyone does lately: tell friends, family, and even random strangers what they think, feel, and are doing at that moment on the internet. It seems like everyone in every age groups has at least one page somewhere online. I have even seen children with a page and I've thought about getting my son one of his own... But I did not fall into that trap seeing as how he can't even spell yet let alone learn not to drool on the computer.
I decided to start this blog in the hopes of helping other moms, or educating the masses, or just to express myself when it seems like no one else is listening. So, hears to hoping it works out.
I am fairly young for being a mom and housewife, or maybe it just seems that way since most moms are thitry something on television. I just turned 24 (yes, I am a Gemini). I have a beautiful, but very crazy, 3 and a half year old boy whose imagination would astound even J.J. Abrams. My husband, who just turned 23, is about to get out of the military after serving four years and continue his lifes ambitions in the medical field.
I say things exactly the way I see them. I am very sarcastic and I love to joke around a lot (I'll just put the sarcastic comments in between some asterisks or something). I love to talk a lot and I have an opinion on about 65% of the things I hear about.
That's me in a bundle. The green housewife... and it's not green because I want to leave a better carbon footprint, but because I'm still a newbie at the whole housewife thing. That's what green used to mean.
I decided to start this blog in the hopes of helping other moms, or educating the masses, or just to express myself when it seems like no one else is listening. So, hears to hoping it works out.
I am fairly young for being a mom and housewife, or maybe it just seems that way since most moms are thitry something on television. I just turned 24 (yes, I am a Gemini). I have a beautiful, but very crazy, 3 and a half year old boy whose imagination would astound even J.J. Abrams. My husband, who just turned 23, is about to get out of the military after serving four years and continue his lifes ambitions in the medical field.
I say things exactly the way I see them. I am very sarcastic and I love to joke around a lot (I'll just put the sarcastic comments in between some asterisks or something). I love to talk a lot and I have an opinion on about 65% of the things I hear about.
That's me in a bundle. The green housewife... and it's not green because I want to leave a better carbon footprint, but because I'm still a newbie at the whole housewife thing. That's what green used to mean.
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