Ten years ago, I was planning to spend New Year's Eve in some freezing computer room making sure the Y2Kmadness didn't swallow all our technology and all our clients' money along with it.
TEN. YEARS.
Where did those years go? Can it really be ten whole years since then?
I'm happy to say that in those years I paid my dues. I don't find myself planning to be away from the fam this December 31st. But I have found myself thinking though. About the passage of time and the milestones that mark this past decade.
And the 8 years since I met my firstborn.
And the 6 years since I met Son the Younger.
And the past year since the Diva has come to join us.
I find myself chuckling like an old woman reminiscing. It's been a full and happy decade, for the most part. There's been too much drama for my liking, but that's all part of the journey, right?
I choose to focus on the good memories.
I'm so glad I started blogging, because now my memories are right here for me to look back on. And for my extended family and friends and kids to look back on.
Inspired by Scary Mommy, I've decided to make a list of a post each month where the words formed themselves - sometimes through tears, sometimes through laughter - to capture the state of my soul at that point in time.
I had a long talk with my eldest in the wee hours of this morning.
He kept me company as I sat feeding his sister while the rest of the household slept. He looked like he was turning something over in his mind, some puzzle he was trying to figure out on his own.
Mom. I want to believe in Santa Claus, but Daddy is making me feel like maybe... He's confusing me! He tells me he exists, the he says things to make me think maybe he doesn't exist!
My husband, as it turns out, isn't very good at keeping his story straight. Clearly there must be some kind of coordination between Santa and the 'rents, but it seems the Santa-Parents connection has been less than consistent of late, leaving my son to wonder if he's being "led down the primrose path". Did I get that Polar Express reference right?
Just like the little boy in the Polar Express, my son is at the age where the magic could be at an end. We've known this day was coming, and while we have no intention of fooling our son... how can I tell him Santa doesn't exist?
I can't take that magic away from him when I... I still believe in the magic.
That's right. There's a part of this grown-up that still believes in Santa Claus.
The way I look at it (and the way I explained it to my son) what's Santa about?
Generosity of spirit
Justice
Hope
Sharing
Community
Love
with a dash of Miracle
If that's what Santa represents, I don't see any harm in keeping the faith alive in a little corner of my heart.
I mean we all know the media can blow things out of proportion, don't we? Stories take on a momentum of their own and details get fuzzy... distorted... blown out of proportion.
Maybe instead of travelling the world, Santa only travels a small portion of the world and hopes to inspire by example.
Maybe he isn't around in flesh and blood anymore. But who's to tell me that I can't take comfort in knowing that somewhere, in some time, Santa exists.
Nobody. That's who! Because I know for sure he exists. And I hope he always lives right here in my heart.
Take weekend-long trips to the beach with the fam.
Laugh. I surround myself with people who make me laugh.
Listen to music. They say music tames the savage beast, and it is indeed a powerful thing. When I listen to something particularly beautiful I will tear up (dunno why! can be very embarrassing.)
Be crafty. I love making stuff, and I love being challenged to be inventive and turn flaws into features!
Have long conversations with my girl friends. Unfortunately most of my BFFs live overseas (miss yall!) so we don't get to do it as often as I'd like. But we seriously could talk for days.
Here are the Circle of Friends Award rules
Grab the award, post it on your blog along with 5 things you love to do and 5 others you want to recognize.
Okay I'm starting off a week of awards, cos I have too many to do all at once.
But I really hate disappointing the people who DID give me awards, so here we go...
The Kreative Blogger Award
or
7 Things you didn't know about me: (courtesy of Serenityville)
I used to be a teacher. Yep, for one school year when I was 20. I taught math, and I did morning music sessions with the little kids.
I play the guitar - hence #1. Acoustic, nylon-strings (not electric). I have played for weddings, and concerts. I also provided the accompaniment for our church services every weekend for many years.
I made my peace with the fact that I'm the audience, not the comedienne. I love to laugh but I don't tell jokes, usually cos I think someone else can do it better!
My mother's family hails from Venezuela and speak both Spanish and English. We converse in English, and I read Spanish way better than I speak it. That doesn't mean I read it well! Just that I read it better than I speak it.
My major in college was originally Psychology. By the end of freshman year I was always figuring out what was wrong with my friend's computers, so I decided I was in the wrong field and switched to Computer Science.
I love to swim, and I love to swim in the open sea, yet I'm terrified of "things" lurking under the surface of the water. I know it's an unfounded fear, and if I'm in a group of people I'm fine. As the group thins out, my panic grows and I consciously have to tune out the panic.
I used to be so skinny in college I deliberately had to try to put on weight so I could tolerate the winters. I ate steak and cheese sandwiches and lots of fattening things every day and slooowly put on the weight. Flash forward a few years and now I can't lose the weight no matter what!
Here are the Kreative Blogger Award rules
* Share 7 things that people don't already know about you
* Name 7 other blogs to receive this award
* Leave a comment on each of the blogs I nominated and let them know how you found them
* Thank the person who gave you the award (duh, right?)
This is my first Christmas in Blogland, and I've spent a lot of it writing about the local customs and family traditions that mark the season here at home.
I've always loved experiencing Christmas here, and there's a part of me that believes that is because of the pride I have in my country. There's another part of me that says that there's just so much to enjoy and participate in at this time of the year, that it is just a great experience for visitors and locals alike.
As I reflect on what Christmas in Trinidad means, it strikes me that it's changing.
There's a lot more focus on the toys and gifts, and there's also an increasing focus on the parties and clubs. But the traditional festivities like the annual Parang festival are struggling to keep going. More and more people are buying their pastelles and black cake at the grocery, instead of making them at home.
I totally get it - we're living busy lives and so the services are focusing more on selling convenience and escape. This year, for the first time in this house, we didn't buy fresh sorrel but opted instead for the packaged pre-cut dried kind. But there's something to be said for taking the time to make your sorrel, or your pastelles.
The holiday food preparations have always been family-focused. Family members pitched in, young and old, and many hands made the work light. There is laughter and sharing and connection in those times. And these are the experiences that make the season. I can't say that I can make pastelles from scratch. But at a friend's house, in the assembly-line and over lots of laughter, man I can scoop filling like nobody's business!
The food can be had at anytime, anywhere, but if you remove the community, you remove the stuff of memories. When people miss Christmas in Trinidad, the food is a small component of what they miss. What they miss is what happens around the food. What happens during the parang. What happens when we "movin from house to house" (notice the paranderos in the first clip above would stop and sing at one spot and then move along to the next).
That open-hearted spirit is what makes us who we are, and shapes who we become. We are known to be warm and friendly. We are known to be welcoming and kind. We are known to be extremely creative. Because when you have to feed 10 more people than you expected on short notice, with grace, you learn to be creative! When the lime (party) turns good, and the parang touches your soul, musical instruments are made from "bottle and spoon" and a box with string... We are masters of invention.
What is going to feed the creative soul if we look only to convenience? What will the next generation produce?
***********
The beautiful and talented Trinidadian Heather Headley on stage with the great Andrea Bocelli.
Meant to post this yesterday but had 2 kids down with stomach flu, and REALLY had to concentrate on getting them better before Christmas!
Hi all my wonderful, darling bloggy peeps. Guess what...
We didn't win. On the last day, we took over 3rd spot from what I can tell, but PBD wasn't bound by number of votes, and awarded the 3rd prize to someone else. It's all good though, because we did WAY better than I thought we would and I am so so grateful to you for making it as fun and exciting as it was.
And don't go hating on PBD either because I knew up front that the ultimate decision was hers, (but I was kinda hoping that votes counted.)
Top 5 doesn't exactly suck, ya know! Give it up for TOP 5! Yay!
Anyhoo, so remember that thank you gift I had for one of you lucky peeps?
What Christmas would be complete without a trip with the kids to the local mall to see the gorgeous decorations?
Their Christmas tree is spectacular every year.
I love that the design incorporates local elements such as the stately palm trees...
...alongside the gorgeous poinsettias. (I guess the reindeer do make it this far south?)
And look! On exit, there's the roadside vendor selling Sorrel.
Sorrel is a local flowering herb, and these purplish flowers are harvested late in the year and used to make a delicious drink that is inextricably linked to Christmas.
The flowers are boiled with ginger and cloves and,
after being left to steep for some time, the liquid is drained off and sweetened.
In a word... Delicious! In another word, Refreshing!
I love the childrens' Christmas Pageants every year...
On Christmas Eve, it is customary to attend one of the many church services (not everyone can make it to Midnight Mass.)
And on Christmas morning, we wake early to just spend time as a family - sharing time, sharing presents and of course, good food!
What's Christmas like in your City?
Happy Holidays!
Wishing you a season filled with Love Joy and Peace!
What is it that we do here every day, or week, or whatever frequency you want to use to measure. We sit at our laptops and pound out some words on a keyboard, and sit back and read.
Seems simple enough.
Kinda boring though. Why'd you want to do that every day?
I'm not sure I can answer that even for myself. But I do know I laugh my butt off at some of my more blessed-in-the-comedy-department peers. And am inspired by some. And some teach me stuff I should probably know as a mom - like easy crafts to do with the kids, and impressive-looking recipes to make when company's coming. I guess it's like having a group of girl friends, who are willing to jot down their thoughts in summary form so you can read them through, instead of missing bits and pieces while screaming through the chatter and belly laughs and forgetting the point of story, like it happens IRL (in real life).
It's not something my IRL non-blogger friends and family can really understand. But they know it makes me happy, and they like to read my stuff, so they humour me. :-)
But what kinds of opinions are formed by those outside my circle? What are the pundits pronouncing, sitting back in their chairs looking over the rims of their glasses as they study my words and what it says about me. Ignoring their own assumptions and prejudices, and getting the copy out and educating the masses?
I saw this CNN iReport and felt compelled to leave the following comment.
I doubt there would be this visceral reaction if Ross had been reaching out via telephone. Numerous calls via cell may have been seen as a desperate mother grasping at support lines, rather than playing with technology in a crisis.
The social media platform via twitter and blogging is experiencing massive growth. As millions come aboard and begin to explore this new outlet, others are simultaneously becoming increasingly sophisticated in its use. It's defining itself even as it grows. The borders aren't set and the norms aren't yet established.
Is twitter frivolous? Primarily for personal use? What is acceptable in terms of a business presence? Is it ok for the 2 (bus/personal) to mix and under what circumstances?
These are all questions to which there are not yet clearly and widely accepted answers. Unfortunately for the Ross family, their personal tragedy is now tied up in the intense social scrutiny that is part of society forming its norms.
My thoughts and prayers go out to a family who has had to say goodbye too soon.
I wanted to say more. I wanted to share how you have supported me through some dark moments when my son was first diagnosed with Aspergers. You shared stories, provided resources, and offered a shoulder to cry on. You saw the raw emotion that the public me never shared with anyone outside immediate family.
I wanted to show that there is community here, just as valid as the community we are surrounded with IRL. But I didn't. This story is attracting people, on both sides, with very emotional reactions. And I didn't want anyone thinking this was about me. I wanted the focus to remain on the bigger picture as I see it.
But here. In the privacy of my own blog. Here I can express my heartfelt compassion for a mother tortured over the loss of her son. It touches a nerve and brings back memories of another hospital, another mother grieving the sudden loss of her son. I will always remember that sound.
I never got to say goodbye to my brother. We were not close. But I made a lot of calls that night. I wasn't obviously grieving. I don't recall who I called and what I said. You can't lean on a telephone, but it certainly did find me some people to lean on that night when I needed distraction to make it through each passing minute.
Maybe because of that, I'm slower to judge another woman. Sending one message. To a group of people many of whom she felt close to (and who obviously felt close to her given their unwavering loyalty and support). Asking them to pray.
That's right! The kiddos are entered in parenting BY dummies Merry Effing Christmas Contest. Boy the Younger would love to win 3rd prize for an awesome Crayola set. But really, a decent top 5 showing is all I ask.
I try to live my life engaged. I don't know if I'm succeeding or not, but I know I'm always thinking. I don't want life to just happen to me. And wash over me. Experiences must mean something.
Maybe that's the hidden motivation for my blogging. I get to capture and process my thoughts. That's important to me - blogging or not. I am guided by the experiences of my past, and so I need time to dissect those interactions.
Figure out what works and what doesn't. Try to gain some insight. Some lessons are taught by wise and loving teachers, while others are much, much harder on the heart and mind.
How very rewarding to try and succeed.
But how much more valuable to try... and fail.
Not that I enjoy failure. I see in my oldest the fiercely competitive spirit that he inherits from me. But in his mother, time has turned the competition from an external thing, to something more internal. Much more personal.
Knowing the impatient spirit that raged within a younger more tempestuous me, I smile every time people admire my patience. If only they knew that the so-called wisdom I pass on was gained from hard-knock experience, not some impressive gift I was born with.
I firmly believe that life presents you with some experiences repeatedly - in different forms - until you've taken away the lesson you were intended to learn.
I've learned to sit back and look for the lesson now - and it's taken decades of practice. I'm still learning. But now I can recognize those areas I keep failing in, and I keep trying. Some teachings may forever elude me - maybe that's a lesson itself - that some lessons can't be learnt in this lifetime. But when I find that little piece of wisdom, just like the cheat code you earn after conquering a level of a video game, I tuck it away somewhere safe.
I refer to those pieces of wisdom in the quiet of my mind when facing challenges myself, or observing my children face their own.
What goes around, comes around
That's a big one for me.
You have to put good out there. It's the only way to beat back the negativity that threatens to overwhelm us.
Listen, before speaking
Too often we are just waiting for our turn. My favourite way to illustrate this (of course it's from Sesame St)
Don't respond in anger
You can't take back those words once spoken. Or written.
I don't know about you, but I don't like to live with regrets. And responding too hastily with anger-clouded judgement has shown itself to be a pretty good way to create embarrassing situations and destroy otherwise wonderful relationships.
Everyone has a lesson to teach you
Smart, rich, powerful, dumb, poor, naive. All labels.
Everyone out there has the potential to teach you life-changing lessons. Most of those labels are there because of circumstances usually beyond our control - the cards we were dealt at birth. But no-one is more or less than you. They're just on a different path because of their circumstances, and if you want to get to where they are, all you need to do is work toward changing your circumstances. And figure out what they've been put in your path to teach you.
Nobody else is responsible for the choices you make
This one was taught to me primarily by a high-school religion teacher. (I went to Catholic school.)
I argued long and hard on this one, trying to show how it was possible for people to influence others and "make" them act in a certain way. And while that is true, I eventually had to concede that she was right. Regardless of why the decision was made, the decision can only be made by self, and self must always take responsibility. This is a make or break. And it's a lesson that our young men especially need to learn. This young man took a little detour before he finally got it, and I hope that he will be able to teach others through his own experiences (interviewed by Zack Arias at zarias.com).
I do not profess to be a teacher, nor do I profess to be wise. I do believe that age brings perspective, and that I've lived an adventurous enough life to have picked up a tidbit or two of useful information as a result of many, many hard knocks. The only lesson I am currently trying to teach is to my children - and that lesson is Silence is Golden. (wink)
This post inspired by prompt #2 of Mama Kat's Writers' Workshop 12/17.
Boy we are getting run over in this race. First and second place is all but set in stone and, well clearly they have a plethora of readers, and they keep coming back every day to rub it in our faces! BOO! Shhhhhh. I mean... Boo!
It's all in good fun though, and I thank all of you who voted for saving us, well ME, from the embarrassment of getting no votes I was sure I was going to face.
We actually haven't done that badly, and up to yesterday we seemed to be in fourth place. So thanks again to everyone who voted, and remember you can still vote once a day until Friday afternoon. I'm still going to need your help to stay in fourth place!
*****
And in other news... In case you missed it, go here, and put your name right there if you want to be the one selected to win two lovely necklaces from Happy Haven.
*****
I feel so domesticated these days having taken back up crochet! I decided way too late that I would give some handmade Christmas presents. There's no way I'm going to be able to juggle everything and get any big projects completed now, but it's ok because now that I remember what's involved I'm going to start planning much earlier next year. I stumbled on Ravelry.com and am loving the patterns and tools they offer. Yarns and threads are so limited here, I decided to check out eBay and found such gorgeous stuff! They should arrive on Friday and I am sooo excited for them to get here!
*****
My brats darling boys are going to sleep later and later, and the only way I'm getting them to actually fall asleep at a decent time is to pretend to be mad and be all stern and mean. Sigh. Even bribing them with "Santa's not going to stop at this house if yall can't make it to bed on time..." - nada.
How are you dealing with pre-Christmas excitement? What are you doing to maintain bedtime?
When I think Swatch I definitely think back to crazy rebellious teenage years. I had a collection of watches. All paid for with my T-shirt-painting, jewelry-making, math-tutoring pocket change.
And then I grew up, and the funkyfied watches became less and less a part of my wardrobe.
I guess Swatch must have grown up too.
I just found out twitter.com/SwatchUS isgiving away a watch a day, every day in December.
Interested?
Follow @SwatchUS on twitter and tweet with the hashtag #SwatchADayGiveaway.
Good luck!
No I did not receive a watch, or any compensation, for this post. I just thought it was pretty cool that Swatch was having daily giveaways!
Just a reminder about the Kmart return of the Blue Light Special, and their Holiday Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes ends on December 23rd, and you can wina $500 Kmart shopping spree so keep tweeting with the #KmartBLS hashtag!
All you have to do is follow @KmartDealsnNews on twitter, and every time you tweet, remember to include #KmartBLS for a chance to win a $50 Kmart Gift Card every day!
Also, with the holidays upon us, Kmart hours have been extended! They’re open from 6am-12am through December 23rd and 6am-10pm December 24th.
Be sure to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use these links to enter yourself for the daily drawing!
As I think about all that my family has been through in the past year, I know that we have so much to be thankful for.
We've lost the security of full-time jobs, but we've managed to keep going, keep the bills paid, and keep the family happily going strong.
We've had a son diagnosed with Aspergers and experienced the shock that comes with that initial diagnosis. But we've found support that works for us.
We are thankful for goodamazing friends, and great family, and we know that we are truly blessed.
I feel personally blessed to have found the community and creative outlet that I have found in blogging and to all my bloggy friends - I want to say a special Thank You to you this holiday season.
I love that you guys follow me not because there's a chance to win something, but because there is some connection you feel to the experiences and sentiments I express here in my little corner of the blogosphere. To you, I offer a little token of my appreciation during this season of thanksgiving and sharing. I'd love to give something to each of you, but my little pockets don't run quite deep enough. Yet. :-)
So to one of you, I will be sending two beautiful necklaces from
She has lots to choose from, from inspirational thoughts
to the whimsical
the beautiful
and popular characters
Keep them for yourself, or give them to a special friend, or to a child on your gift list.
Whether you follow in your reader or by twitter, subscribe by email or read in facebook, you're eligible. Whether you're in Singapore, the UK, the US, Trini... Wherever! You're eligible.
If you're interested, please leave me a little comment below letting me know you're a good sport. :-)
I need to have you post a comment confirming you're interested, because you will need to share your address with me. Me choosing from you on my own might make that a little awkward!
Special request: Not necessary, but my kids will thank you!
Vote up to once per day for my kiddos' photo in PBD's contest, where they have the chance to win great Christmas prizes. (Boy the Younger has his heart set on the Crayola set.)
HOW?
* Just leave a comment on PBD's site, saying "Vote for #1!".
* Then come back here and leave a comment so I know.
Each comment counts as an extra entry.
I will choose an entry using Random.org on Friday 18th Dec at midnight so you have until then to leave me a comment or comments.
(I will make every effort to get the items to you by Dec 24th.)
This video makes the song even funnier, and I think it's already hysterical!
If you can't make out the accent (it gets pretty fast in places) just let me know and I'll put up the lyrics for ya...
Enjoy!
In case you didn't catch it, he's complaining that no matter how good he is, every year he only gets socks and drawers (underwear)!
Don't forget to vote for my babies! Click HERE and leave a comment saying "I vote for #1!" Thanks!! :-)
My favourite time of the year. I kid you not, there are some decorations that never come down because my husband (who may love Christmas even more than I do) tries to keep the Christmas Spirit alive in our house all year round...
There's so much tradition here that surrounds this time of the year. You get wrapped up in food and music and friends and family. Even though the seasons don't change for us... there's just something special in the air!
Pastelles and Ponche de Creme
No self-respecting Trini household can be without pastelles at Christmas. Because as soon as your guests walk through the door - it's the first thing they're looking for!
It's basically a small cornmeal pie, wrapped and steamed. The filling is cooked minced meat (beef, chicken or pork) mixed with capers and raisins and olives - or any variation you like. Wrap that all in a cornmeal "skin" and steam it. Keep it from drying out by steaming and storing wrapped in a banana leaf, and you can freeze these babies for months.
And to wash it all down - a nice glass of ponche-de-creme. Depending on whether you're a believer in the French or the Spanish origin of this yummy spiked egg-nog there are different variations on the name (punch-a-creme, punch-a-crema, punch-a-cream) but any way you say it, it means delicious!
My mother's aunt makes the best pastelles EVER! Don't even come try to test, cos you're going DOWN Bobby Flay Throwdown style! These are not hers, these are my darling husband's. Have I mentioned that he's the best cook and keeps our tummies nice and happy all year round? Oh yeh!
You start off with strip of banana leaf, and roll out the cornmeal mixture in the middle.
Spoon in your filling. It doesn't have to be meat, although it traditionally is.
Growing up I hated raisins in mine and used to pick them out. Now I LOVE them. Still not fond of the olives. :-(
Once your filling is in, fold one side of the banana leaf over, so your cornmeal begins to make a little pocket for the filling. Kinda like a cornmeal envelope.
Do the same thing on the other 4 sides so the filling is totally enclosed in cornmeal.
Wrap the entire pastel in the banana leaf and steam in a colander over a pot of boiling water. (Some people tie them with twine and boil them).
These accompany breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are BELOVED.
Next time around I'll tell you about our homemade wine and sorrel. But for now, I'll leave you with a local song telling you all about Christmas in Trinidad - Trini Christmas is D Best!
Okay one more... A favourite of mine. I absolutely love this song. Sung by Sharlene Flores (but not originally by her) it's called Burbujas de Amor, and it's on constant radio rotation during the holidays.
For those of you kind enough to give me your advice on my neighbourkid situation, I know you've been wondering how that turned out. Wellll..... I haven't said anything. I've been keeping the front door closed until I'm "ready for company" And it's hot here. Usually my door is open once we wake up, and we get lovely breezes going through the house.
Boo! non-confrontational scaredy me...
It's not that I'm really scaredy, it's just that I think it would be really easy to come away with misunderstandings that would filter down to the kids and make them feel terrible. Or make the mom feel terrible. And that's not what I want at all...
So what is it that I want?
Well I want there to be that respect for the adults in the house. From my kids, and any of their visiting friends. I was raised to be polite to the parents first - Good morning! Hello! Thank you!
The younger neighbourboy used to just wander in silently and just. stand. there. You'd never even know he was there, or how long he was there. But we had a couple little chats about how I'd love to hear him say "Good morning!" when he comes in, and he does it so well and so cheerily now, that it really does make me smile, and I don't mind his visits. I do sometimes mind the HOURS of the visits, but we're getting there...
What irks me to no end though is when the older brother comes to stand just beyond my front door and sends the younger brother in to do his bidding. Which usually entails calling my oldest boy outside so that he can quietly ask him to go do something they both know I have forbidden.
What's with the sneakiness? You want to play with my kids, but you'll only approach them if the parents aren't around. You'll play with them, but only where YOU want to, even if it means they have to leave the friends and game their currently engaged in. What?! Where is this kid getting this?
Not a fan of sneakiness in children or adults, I positioned myself on the verge of their play the other day so I could hear better the whisperings of Neighbourboy. Imagine my surprise to hear:
Trying to convince the younger kids to gang up on the little girl upstairs to not play with her because he doesn't like her. And yet, he plays with her all the time. But her younger sister - she's cool - you can play with her. I was so mad.
Relentless non-step mocking of my oldest as he was practicing a new game of marbles his dad had taught all the kids to play the day before. (You STILL can't get that? You suck you know that? Oh and by the way, you suck.) Hey kid! Take a breath!
Well NOW I understand why he never wants to try any new games we're playing out in the yard. I thought his being overweight was the barrier, but now I know he's afraid to fail. And that makes me sad. But it goes against everything I teach my boys about learning from failure... so you know who transformed into Cheerleader! That's right,
Job Description section 3A - Mommy will act as Cheerleader to encourage and motivate her brood.
Clearly this kid has some issues to sort out. And I really do feel bad for him. I don't think any of his actions are really motivated from a wicked place, but I do think that they need some attention. How exactly do you say that to a mom?
Hey! Your kid seems to be a little short on the manners and seems to be sorting through some self-esteem issues. Gonna work with him a little on that when he comes to visit, ok? Alrighty then! Nice flowers! Bye!
I have no idea how I'm going to eventually handle this one. But if they're going to be around, they're going to know what is acceptable and not in this house.
Any parents or teachers out there with advice on how to encourage more constructive behaviours and self-esteem in a kid like this? I could really do with the advice!
On a side note I have to tell you about Sakura Bloom's sample sale going on right now! These are limited quantity, seriously gorgeous, silk and linen baby slings, so they're bound to go fast. Perfect gift for mothers of little ones, and moms-to-be!
Nobody from Sakura Bloom has any idea I'm writing this - I've always admired their slings, and I found out about their sale from Stephanie at AdventuresInBabywearing.com.
Ok I don't do many of these, but when I see stuff I'd want someone to share with me I make sure to keep yall in the loop. It's my way of keeping the good karma going - after all I've learned so much from you guys.
Do you remember Kmart Blue Light Specials? Well theeey're baaack!
Every weekend there are specials in-store and great offersonline at Kmart.com. There are over 40 great Bluelight Specials throughout the weekend!
Here are a couple teasers of this weekend's specials (December 12th and 13th)
Win a $50 Kmart Gift Card Everyday until Dec 23rd!
Each day, Kmart is selecting one lucky person to receive a $50 Gift Card! To qualify you need to follow @KmartDealsnNews and tweet using the hashtag #KmartBLS.
And to top it off, all followers of @KmartDealsnNews as at Dec 23rd are entered for a chance to win a $500 Kmart Shopping spree!
HOW TO ENTER
For a chance to win:
1) Follow @KmartDealsnNews on Twitter from your personal Twitter account
2) Issue a Tweet everyday using hashtag: #KmartBLS
If you haven't yet guessed it from the title, this is my 100th post on WDIBMM.
100 posts in roughly 120 days.
What started off as a repository for chance ramblings and an opportunity to motivate myself to express myself, has evolved into something much more. Even as I write it, it sounds incredible.
What could be more than finding an opportunity to be as creative as I'd like whenever I'd like? An audience? Financial gain?
There's no pay in this. For me, anyway. Nada. Squat. So it ain't that.
And I haven't become part of any elite prize-winning circles because of my extraordinary ability to turn a phrase.
There's audience, yes. But I'm not arrogant enough to think that I have some captive loyal admiring audience that is totally enamoured of my style and creative talent. (Pfff.)
It's something much more humble and something much truer. One that can't be described in a single word or idea. Instead, it's an amalgamation of ideas.
It is Community. It is Intellectual stimulation.
It is Group Therapy. It is a research library more powerful than Google. (Sorry Google. I still love you!)
Whether it's light reading you're going for, or whether you want depth, not only will you find it, but there's a bonus no other resource library can give. You get to interact with the writer!
Have you ever read something that moved you to laugh, rage, love... and wanted to let the author know how it moved you? To give your take and your personal experience? But who does that, right? I mean writers are busy remote people with important lives. And who cares what you think anyway... So you do the next best thing - you tell all your friends about it. And maybe there'll be a book signing somewhere one day.
But right here, I get to talk right back to some of the nicest writers I've ever met. I get to see what other people are thinking. I don't always agree, but I'm forced to think. Sometimes I change my opinion. Sometimes my heart is torn. Always I open my mind.
I find out about issues making the news, and I get to make the news (not really, but maybe!). We get to change lives. Or at least feel as if we are making a difference.
From advice on raising kids to saving dinners on the verge of being too spicy (couldn't find the tweet for this but apparently sugar or honey will do the trick)... my peeps are the go-to gals (and guys!).
This connection - this Thing - and my feelings about it are evolving. It's a dynamic, new, fluid Thing that is itself evolving and finding itself and making its mark. And we are making our mark through It, and with It.
I don't know about you, but I'm up for the ride. (Hope you are too!)
May the warmth of the holiday find you, bearing gifts of peace and love to you and yours, no matter where you are…
Merry Christmas
I only wish this was the view from my house!
To all my readers, and to all my peeps stopping by from SITS, I hope that this holiday season brings time for reflection... May you find moments to warm your heart in the midst of all the commercialism, and may the memories you make be ones to treasure always.
We walk through this life behind masks of our making.
When we interact with others, we do not always allow them to see the effect their actions truly have on us. To do so would show our weakness. Or allow us to feel emotion we choose not to feel.
And to give in to that emotion would cause us to lose control. So we keep on going. Masks firmly in place.
Behind masks that protect us.
There are other less noble masks.
Masks behind which we hide.
Masks of thinly veiled hypocrisy. Masks constructed of the letter of the law, not the moral conduct those laws were intended to protect.
Masks which we weave ourselves to hide our greed and our vice.
A 30-ish mother of 3 and unintentional entrepreneur, I started my own IT Consultancy firm after layoffs at my old job. I balance the world of Corporate IT with my life as Manager of the education, health and well-being of my children. I write about the joys and trials of mothering a toddler girl, and two boys under the age of 10, one of whom has just been diagnosed with Aspergers.
Do the same thing on the other 4 sides so the filling is totally enclosed in cornmeal.
Posts
