Even though the weather has been a bit chaotic, it still is Spring! As I’m writing this piece hunched over the table at the diner, I can’t help but wonder what the waitress eyeballing me is thinking. Maybe she thinks I’m a great writer incognito and she’s wondering if she has read anything that I have written. More likely she’s thinking that I had one too many glasses of wine with my lunch and I’m some sort of psycho note writer. LOL! It’s Spring and things are not yet fantastic nor are they horrible, but middle of the road at best. We just came back from an amazing vacation in Iceland. Add this country to your must visit list! Trust me you will not regret it! Where should we sprint off to next? I think we have the travel bug! Too bad we don’t have the wallet to support it. The next trip will have to wait, but until then I’ll keep learning.
This Spring I learned that:
10. the more I travel the less items I want to own. ( I’m still in the process of getting rid of stuff from my home. I see a yard sale in the future. The thrift stores have been loving my donations and they will continue to get them as I clear space.)
9. you can either let some people take cheap shots at you or say something about it. The choice is up to you. (I’ve been letting a few people slide on some statements they have made, but I think I’m done with it. Next time I’m calling them on it. If they are my friend they will get it.)
8. while change can be hard, staying in the same place is worse. ( I had a mini-cry this week over some changes that my son wanted to make in his life. I’m proud of him for being able to prioritize his interests and know his limits. )
7. you should never let anyone minimize your child’s accomplishments to make themselves feel better. ( Ugh! I had 2 parents say things to me about something my son recently achieved. I let it slide, but it still bothers me that I didn’t say anything back. Never again. He deserves the full credit for his accomplishments and does not deserve for that to be diminished.)
6. when I am in full make-up and dressed a bit more nice people tend to respond me more than when I have no make-up and jeans on. ( I’m talking all types of people. I had a weirdo try to come on to me at Walmart, an old man approach me at the grocery store asking me the ingredients of humus, a young mom in pajamas talk to me the bookstore about why she was wearing pajamas, and the list goes on. Maybe I’m more approachable this way? Do I want to be? LOL!)
5. it can be hard not doing what everyone else is doing. ( Well, it’s official and the boys have not signed up for any sports this year. While I’m thrilled that my boys have found things that they truly love to concentrate on, I do miss my sports friends. It is very hard to connect with those friends off the field because they are ON the field all the time and on weekends. I don’t miss the practice and I certainly don’t miss all the driving and my weekends not being my own.)
4. I should have changed our children’s doctor years ago, but I was just too lazy to drive further away. Don’t be lazy when it comes to medical care! ( Long story short: I had some concerns over my son’s reoccurring sickness. The doctor looked at us like we were nuts ordered a drug test and didn’t tell me. (my son was 11) Then when all the blood work came back and everything was fine insisted that I take him to be evaluated by a psychologist! Switched doctors, because my kid was born with rainbows shooting out of his ass he’s so happy all the time not depressed or a liar-, New doctor listens to us, turns out my kid has acid reflux. Mic drop.)
3. what I want to say for number 3 can be taken in so many different ways that I decided to not post it. I am however saying this spot for it.
2. it creeps me out when I’m home alone and it’s so quiet that I can hear my cat snore. ( Or as my husband would say, breathing!!!!!)
1. it is even more important to connect with your teens and tweens at this age. ( I played video games on Sunday with my kids and had a blast! Take some time out of your schedule to do something with your teens that they want to do! That’s when they talk and share things they might not otherwise. It also makes them feel loved on a level that has nothing to do with their accomplishments or performance, but on who they are as people.
Ashley says
This is a great list. Change is hard but I’ve decided I’m done staying in the same place in certain areas of life. I’m ready for more.
Emily says
I think these are great lessons learned! I have dealt a lot about celebrating my kids accomplishments, I have a family member that gets very upset when I mention anything my kids do because of her kid’s struggles. It is a hard balance of not making someone else feel upset but still giving the accomplishments their fair due of celebrating.
Adriana Lopez says
I agree travel is so much fun and also a great opportunity for learning. So yes less stuff more travel money =) And that people that their only purpose is to hurt and criticize eliminate from my list. No more I guess we are on the same page =)
Rebecca Bryant says
I love #1 I have learned so much from just hanging with my teen. I am so amazed at how much he has changed over the years. He has really grown into a lovely young gentleman. I also agree with everything else you had to say about your kids. Especially the doctor. It’s important we find a dr. that listens to us as moms. We know our kids.
Ana De- Jesus says
When people take cheap shots I tend to call them out on it because even though I am not really the person to like drama, if I find something annoying or out of line I am going to say so and you should definitely do this if people do this to you as well. Also it creeps me out when I am home alone as well haha!