Friday, October 21, 2011

New Mission


My new mission in life is to become a better Mom.

My inspiration and help are other blogs.  Certainly not my own…lol.  I’m a new Twitter nut and have found many resources for me.  Resources that can benefit all moms from finding crafts, activities, nutrition, products, routines to a stronger happier child and parent.  I don’t understand coworkers that think Facebook and Twitter are pointless.  Boy, they need to catch up to today.

Fridays on Twitter are Follow Fridays where you share with your Twitter followers others you thing they should also follow.

Today I’ll talk about a few.  

The first is @Resourcefulmom.  I thank her very much for creating Twitter Parties.  I have not won anything, but what I’ve learned from other parents far exceeds receiving a product.  http://resourcefulmommymedia.com/

The other is @MomCentral (and @MomCentralChat).  MomCentral has wonderful advice in multiple blogs, some great Twitter Parties, and giveaways.  Great blogs on lifestyle, food, books, babies, products and a listing that goes on and on and on.  http://www.momcentral.com

Twitter Parties have no longer become about let me win something please. I never win anything!  They have become a resource.  The ideas that are shared by other parents and the products represented have encouraged me to spend more time with my daughter, make better food choices for both her and me.  It makes me want to do crafts, spray paint pumpkins, make banana ghosts, go to a corn maze for the first time…lol.

The bottom line is I didn’t plan on being a mother let alone a single mother.  It’s been seven years and I’m still not prepared…lol.  Nine months I guess is not enough to shock you into being a good parent.  I look back and think of how fast the seven years have gone, and how much fun I’ve probably missed by not learning how to be a parent.  Why would anyone think that it comes naturally just because you deliver a child?  It doesn’t.  I know.  It’s hard work. 

I’m not saying I’m a bad parent.  I feed my child, I put her to bed, make sure she has clothes, we go on activities occasionally.  She enjoys Halloween, Christmas, Easter and other holidays.  She’s went to church, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School.  We have visited zoos, shopping, now a corn maze, birthday parties.  She even had her first non-family only birthday party.  We decorate for Holidays.  She has a dog and now recently a kitten.  We read, we do homework, she has tried soccer, wrestling, t-ball, tumbling and is starting swim team in November.

And, my child has a few emotional challenges.  We are seeking help because I can’t do it by myself, but I think I need to grow and learn and adapt to better help her with her challenges.  She’s not good at knowing no means no and that disappointment happens such as not getting a toy she wants.  Usually even a greater disappointment when something fun ends and unable to enjoy the day she has had and focuses on the point that it has ended.  The issue is how she manages those feelings.  Not well at all, in fact, full blown tantrums until sometimes she’ll even throw up.  All the time the tantrums make my temper rise and my desire to continue activities with her harder and harder to want to do.

So how do we journey through the trials we are facing?  I think in part as I grow and change she will grow and change.  I will find resources I need to better us both because we can’t do it alone.

Attitude Adjustment


I’ve been gone a long time.  I’ve needed an attitude adjustment.  I lost 16 pounds and hit a brick wall.  The frustration just built up until I ditched my plan.  I guess I’m this way.  What’s wrong with me?  Am I the only one that struggles with this…follow through on a plan.  I thought of a few things.  One being if you don’t adapt slowly and break it into small goals then you just won’t make it.  What can I start today to take a step at a time?

I also thought of Fish Philosophy.  Have you heard of Fish Philosophy.   Check it out on Wikipedia if you haven’t.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FISH!_philosophy   Two parts that I think of often.  I even used to have them posted on my computer like fortune cookie papers.  

Be there.  Like be there in the now.  Pay attention to what’s in front of you.  Don’t be running the grocery list and to do list through your mind when someone needs your attention and need you to be listening, really listening.  I find my mind wandering frequently lately.

The other is choose your attitude.  I forget this one.  I really believe that we can do this.  We can choose to let the dirty laundry and spilt milk destroy your day.  Or, you can choose to let it go and move one. Know shit happens.  Get over it.  I stew.  I stew and I easily snap.  Why?  No clue.  Forgetting what is important.

I think I’m about ready to Post-It Note my life with sayings. 

  •  Count Your Blessings
  • Will this matter tomorrow?
  • What’s your priority?
  • If you were going to die tomorrow what would you do today?
  • You know you feel better after you exercise.
 I need ones for the refrigerator/kitchen.  
  
  • If you eat that will you be here to see your daughter get married?
  • If you eat that will you lose weight? 
  • If you eat that will you be fueling your body?
  • Shut your mouth!  (Can’t put food in an open mouth.)
  • Can you substitute and make that healthier?
  • Don’t touch that!
  • Water.

 I guess this is a long way to say I'm back.  I'm better, and I'm going to figure this out.