Things you never knew you needed to know!

 

It is normal to reflect upon your life when birthdays are approaching. One the eve of mine, I would like to share some of what I have learned over the years. And perhaps, some observations, truths and just plain good advice.   

1. Go to church.
2. Don’t spoil your children, but do spoil your husband.
3. Act irrational and crazy once in a while around your husband so he doesn’t get spoiled.  
4. Play games. (Oh, not "play games" but "play" games like UNO, Yahtzee, checkers, wiffle ball, etc...  )
5. Don’t gloat when you win, or pout when you lose.  
6. Ask for forgiveness when you gloat when you win and pout when you lose. 
7. It is impossible for your children to only inherit just your fabulous, wonderful qualities. 
8. Love your children. 
9. Don’t judge people. 
10. Double check that your clothing or bathing suit covers up your birth control patch. 
11. If you are going to wear a thin skirt and be outdoors in the sunlight, it is a good idea to wear a slip. 
12. Don’t wear tan pantyhose with white pumps. Actually, don’t wear either.
13. Don’t wear your husband’s camouflage fleece, pajama bottoms, and slippers when driving your children to school late. You will surely have to go sign them in at the school’s front office. 
14. If you decide to get spunky and wear shorts on that warm mid-winter day, remember to shave the legs you have neglected for 2 weeks. 
15. Enjoy the rain, it brings the sun. (If live you in Seattle, go to a movie and get a coffee.)
16. Try growing a garden and camping, at least once.
17. Be thankful for your parents. 
18. It is okay to go to therapy. 
19. If you have the option of laughing or crying, laugh. 
20. Apologize when you should. 
21. Appreciate your friends. 
22. Dog is a man's best friend. 
23. Ombre style hair is not when your dark roots grow out 4 inches, so book your next hair appointment as your leave your last hair appointment. 
24. Watch hoarders occasionally if you need help getting rid of things you don‘t use, need or like. 
25. Go to college.
26. Nothing good happens after midnight. 
27. Don't drink and drive.
28. Don’t let yourself get over-served. If you do, drink lots of water the next day and take ibuprofen, because you will wish you followed #26. 
29. Nap and occasionally sleep in. (also helpful for #28) 
30. Come to a full stop when a school bus has the “STOP” sign out. 
31. Donate money and/or time to a charity.  
32. Eat dinner as a family. 
33. Eat cereal for dinner if you don’t want to cook; teach your children to cook. 
34. A serving of ice cream is ½ cup, but a serving of Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies is 1 sleeve. 
35. Exercise. 
36. Brush and floss your teeth. 
37. Read something. 
38. Be thankful and keep pity parties short.
39. Smile.   
40. Pray. 

So I am not really 30-something,
oh wait, I am  for a few more days! 

The World has Winners and Losers

I am sure you fellow parents can agree, you get tired of hearing your kids whine about what they can't do or don't have.... "Why don't I know how to do _____ like so in so", "How come so in so gets to do ____ ", "How come they are better then me at _____"

After what seemed like hours of that one afternoon (okay, it was 12 minutes) I said, "Ya know what? (good parenting with the proper grammar already) There are winners and losers in this world."

The reply, "Are you calling me a loser?"

"No, but you have a decision to make about how you feel, sit here and feel sorry for yourself or start practicing what it is you wish you knew how to do and make a change for the better."

Oh, I felt real good (more awesome grammar) like maybe I had hit a home run. Let that sink in your little head. We are not gonna feel sorry for ourselves in this house!

The next day I was trying on clothes... hmmm, maybe if I lean this way the back fat won't be there, ooo, if I can just suck my stomach in, hmm, where did that come from? Maybe I can just find some  full body SPANX? 

I stared right in the mirror.... it rang in my head, "there are winners and losers in this world." I thought, how many times have I said to myself, "Why don't I look like so in so...." "How come I don't have ab's like so in so..." "How come my _____ doesn't look like that?" Well, because I am not really working at it. 

Well, I have decided in this instance, I am going to be become a LOSER and then I will be a WINNER.

What has been weighing on you that you need to change?