Life Lessons

What was the life lessons you learned growing up?  Where they stumbled upon while going down the rocky paths?  Or was it that loving nurturing lesson at the hands of your parents?  Was you taught that 'You are a Gift to the World'?  Well I did not learn that lesson as a child.  But have found it to be true and pray that I did give that gift to my College Girl.  Michael Paul Brown learned many of his blessings from his mother.  And now is sharing them with everyone else in his book 'You are a Gift to the World'.  This is a great page by page guide in learning just that lesson.  And then letting yourself grow into it too.

I love helping kids understand they are the most important commodity we have.  That their future is what will help sustain this world in the years to come.  And how they act, think and behave with greatly effect that life.  So in that, they must hold true to their gifts and share them too.  Thankfully Michael was able to grab just that nugget of wisdom to share as a spiritual life coach.  I am sure his mother is very proud of him for doing just that!

In learning life lessons we make decisions on how we are going to take them in.  And how we learn them is so different than when I was a youngster.  Do you remember that report card you brought home.  You know back in 3rd grade.  You slid it out of the envelope with a big smile on your face.  As you unfolded the report card you made sure to hold up that one side.  You know where it had all the S's on it.  Not the reading, writing and arithmetic.  But where it had your citizenship grades.  There where we were graded on how well we worked with others, showed respect to others and their belongings, showed healthy practices and was productive in a timely manner.  I do not see that anymore.  Who is teaching these lessons to our kiddos?  Are they being taught these lessons?  'Uncle Dan's Report Card' does just that.  Gives you a guide on how to help your children (or grandchildren) to learn just those life lessons.  I love that it focuses on how to behave and conduct yourself.  That there is a focus on handling money they earned.  Where they note lessons in hygiene are being cared for.  And that one should be truthful, honest and kind.  Have you thought are you taking the time to really teach your children their citizenship?  What grade would they have right now?  Can it be improved and how?  Maybe you need a chance to read just what lil lessons can be incorporated into their daily routine.

And since I am bringing up how we raise our kids.  And what we teach them.  Have you thought of what they are learning when they are so busy you can't slow down?  You know what I mean.  Wake early so they can dress, have breakfast and do a morning jog before school so they have that extra practice for track and field. Or as soon as school is out they are headed to the barns to care for their FFA project animal.  What about rushing home to have a quick meal in the car so they won't be late for the baseball practice or is it soccer today?  Multiply kids equal multiply activities.  Dance, sports, music, community groups......what do they do? Are your kiddos learning to run run run through out their days?

Or is it wake, breakfast and then plenty of time without the rush to get to class?  Home after school so that they can do their homework, have a snack and decompress some before the family time begins?  Weekends of games with the family and home projects while learning at mom and dad's side?  I am not saying do not have activities.  But to do so with moderation.  'It's Your Kid not a Gerbil' is a great book by Dr. Kevin Leman that helps you create a happier and less stressed home.  A great guide to know what is good at what age for kiddos.  How they can learn and still be part of a loving family unit.  And more so just what steps you can take to help make the stress levels for everyone be at a minimum.  Even better?  I have a gift certificate for one of my lucky readers to receive this book from Tyndale House Publishers.  It is good til the end of this year.  So you can also use it as a Christmas gift for that son or daughter who is starting their own families too.

I do wish to thank the great publicity and publishing companies for allowing me to review these books.  As always unpaid and my own opinion.  But gosh it is great to share.  And that I am happy to do.  Here is how you enter to win.

Boostering My Mommies

Well lately I have been worried about my girls and their roles as mommies.  Not that I worry about their abilities but how they are holding up.  Vannah is a wonderful mom and I am always blown away at how calm she is with the grandbabes.  And Stacy is learning so much as she is beginning her role as a mom to be.  But I know that being a mom is a big job.  All of y'all that agree hold up your hands.   Yeah, I see all of them.

I know that these girls need a pat on the back to booster their self esteem.  And I have it for them in a form they will so understand.  Yo Momma!  And not the ones on yo' momma is so....put in degrading thought here.  But instead these.

Yo momma so remarkable she ain't just yo momma...she's yo best friend!  Respect

Yo momma so sweet that I'm going to get diabetes if she kisses me on the cheek one more time.

Yo momma smells so good I wanna hang her from the rear view mirror.

Yo momma so perceptive I only have to say half of what I mean, she just gets me.

I found all of these in the Yo Momma so Extraordinary by Zachary Reese and Ethan McCcreadie.  It is one way to give these two ladies a high five, two thumbs up and YO!  Thanks to Quirk Books for sending this one my way.

Now on to my 'girls'.  One is a single mom of two kiddos (my lovely grandbabes) and the other is a mommy to be.  Each of them are trying so hard to be good moms that they tend to forget that they are worthwhile.  I know that Vannah is thinking of her kiddos all of the time.  And Stacy is anticipating what is to come.  I wanted to share with them that they are putting in wonderful everyday lessons for all to see.  It is like The Tao of Motherhood by Vimala McClure.  Where it has become automatic for Vannah to provide the right foods for her children, teaching them that these are the ones they desire to eat.  I am so proud when I here my grandbabes ask for water to drink, not sodas and the such.  Staci is learning that she has to strive for clarity in her life.  To see what motivates her and her relationships so she can share that love and wonder with her baby to be.  I love the one on Serenity in The Tao of Motherhood.

The best mothering looks like no mothering.
Smothering heats up, stillness cools.
Be a still, cool stream for you child's agitation.
A serene mother rocks the universe in her arms and
All is Well.
I know that our baby 'Turtle' is now a lil boy.  Stacy and Lil John are thinking up names right now for this new grandbabe.  I am hoping for a good strong name.  My grandson's name is Landon Lyric.  I love that name.  The name Landon makes me think of Michael Landon from Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie fame.  He made us see a strong moral man who stood up for his family.  Lyric denotes music that fills our hearts with joy.  I see Landon Lyric as his name suggest, strong, loving and full of joy. 
I hear they are thinking of the name Scott Wayne for our lil turtle to be.  I love the way that sounds.  Scott with that thought of hearing a burr in the voice as it rolls off the tongue.  And Wayne makes me think of that John Wayne swagger.  I can see a grandbabe that will charm you one minute and make you swoon the next.  I am going to share my new lil yellow book, Bring Back Beatrice! with them.  Here they can read about name origins and see the meaning and character of a name.  That was where I found the information for the names above. 

As always, any books here mentioned may be gifts to me.  I am never paid for listing them.

Is your Child Good Enough?

Today we have a guest post by Jan Denise. Jan Denise is a syndicated newspaper columnist, an

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empowerment guru, and author of the new book, Innately Good: Dispelling the Myth that You're Not (Health Communications, 2009). You can find out more about her and her teachings at www.innatelygood.com.

5 Ways to Raise a "Good Enough" Child

By Jan Denise

How many times have you told your ebullient child he's too loud or too active? How often have you told your contemplative, cautious child not to be a scaredy-cat and so shy?

In subtle ways, you are giving your child, when he's expressing his or her unique temperament, the message that he's not good enough. He will get the same messages at school, at church or temple, and from the media. By the time your child is an adult, he will have learned how not to follow the beat of his own drummer and how not to be himself. He will have learned exactly how to act in order to get the approval of others.

If you think that's not much a problem for a child, wait till she grows up and marries someone she thinks she should marry, works in a job she hates because it's expected of her, gets in debt buying a house or car that makes her seem more successful than she really is, or is on a perpetual diet and hates her body because women are supposed to be rail thin.

You can stop this negative conditioning! As a parent, you already instinctively know that your child is good enough. Your child was born good enough. Here are five ways to reinforce that positive message.

· Be there for him. Let your child have his true feelings--sadness or fear, for example. Show him with your support, reassurance, and presence that it's okay to have emotions, and that you'll stay with him through all those feelings, without judging.

· Teach her not to personalize rejection. If someone tells her she's ugly or too brainy, for example, remind her that someone else's words aren't the truth. The truth is that she's fine--just the way she is.

· Teach him not to worry what other people think. If he's afraid to take chorus at school for fear of being teased, or cuts class with his friends to be part of the "cool" crowd, help him understand that following others' opinions won't help him be happy.

· Encourage her individuality. If your child wants to wear a pink tutu to church and it embarrasses you, consider the message you might be giving her about being an individual and expressing herself. Unless it's an act that could harm your child, try to allow her to be and do what she needs in order to fully explore who she is.

· Show him he is loved--unconditionally. Remind your child dozens of times a day, in gestures, words, and acts, that you love him just the way he is. A child who learns that he really is good enough will grow into a confident, healthy, fulfilled adult.

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Hot and Tired and No Help from Home Depot

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Yeooowowwww! It is hot here.
And now I am hotter yet!

Today I wanted to see if I could get some relief.
And no, instead I was pushed away.

I know that y'all are aware that I am disabled, my mom who lives with us is 75 and on SS and my Dear Hubby works 2 jobs to help pay his child support to two other families. Top that with helping College Girl with school cost and you know that thing here are so tight. That is why we are not using our central a/c this summer. We can not afford it at all.
Our home is almost 100 yrs old and does not have insulation. And I can not afford to side it so we do have some insulation. Well if we run the a/c then our electric bill runs $500-$600 a month. Could you imagine paying $2400 for just the summer's electric?
Well, we can't so we have been burning up here in our Central Texas heat.

Well, today I was at the point of tears. So me and my mom drove 45 minutes one way to the closest Home Depot. (We chose Home Depot because they are always doing great things for folks in need and the communities around them.) Well, by the time we arrived, my mom was exhausted and stayed at the car. (I thought we were hot enough already.) I went in to price window a/c's hoping we could afford one. They run $200-$500 each. Well I do not have enough to get one for just the living room alone so I picked up a few more things I needed. My hips and knees were really hurting from my RA and I thought I was in luck when there was a lady dressed in Pink (my fav color) at the service desk register. Yipee! I can check out and then get to mom in the hot car so we can head back home.

NOPE! The clerk (Marlyin) told me no she would not check me out. I asked if this was the

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register for disabled people? She said I would have to go to the other side of the store to the registers. Well, I know it is wrong but I was tired, hot (have been forever I think) and hurting. I said heck with it. I left my basket in the aisle and just went to the car. I told my mom no we can not get a window unit and that it was just going to be hot.

I am tired of being hot. I am tired of being ignored. And I am tired of being looked down on.
Would you feel the same way?

Taxes for Child Support

I am not sure if I have mentioned that Dear Hubby and I both have been married twice before to other spouses. I know that is not here or there to most. But due to previous marriages DH has to pay child support. That makes it much harder on us to be able to afford the things we need at our home.

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Now child support is not a bad thing, not at all. DH and I both feel it is important to pay this and help out where it is most needed. But there is a time and a place to have some of the payments stopped. DH's first family is now all grown and having children and lives of their own. Yet he is paying a outstanding child support on that family. The child support is not so bad as the amazing amount of interest our state tacks on to it. He will be paying this til the day he dies. HONEST!

DH also has a second family out of state and pays child support there too. His child there is almost grown and that support will be finished in a few more years. We do see an end in sight there. Now he pays every week out of his paycheck. Half of all his wages goes to child support before we pay taxes, health insurance, retirement or any other withholding. So why do we also have to lose any and all of our tax returns too? Yes, we never see a tax return. It is divided up among the two ex wives. I feel we should have some form of tax relief there.

Last year I did finally find out that I can file an injured spouse form and should receive something back of my own. But this year I have to say that the ex wives must have been quite surprised. You see when our tax return goes to them we do receive a letter telling us as to what the tax debt amount was. This year the tax relief that the ex wives split among themselves was a whole whopping $1.00. Yeah, the each received a check of 50 cents each.

I know that sounds awful of me. But for one time I am not losing a massive amount of money.

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