Career Woman??

The work vs. kids issue is on-going. I'm at a point where I would like to earn more money. This means actually committing to a full-time schedule instead of working shifts around my family life. In order to do this I would have to put my kids in child care full-time, which equates to about 10 hours per day with a care giver. Although I would be able to get private, in-home care as oppose to a day-care--- 10 hours a day seems like an eternity. Currently I am able to work around my husband so we don't have to use a care giver other than the occasional family member. Although accepting a "professional" nursing career as oppose to working random shifts would substantially increase my income and probably my sense of self fulfillment as well----would it be worth it??

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Life, not as bad as it seems!

Well, I recently found out a co-worker has pancreatic cancer; I think we all know the ramifications of what that means with all the news about Patrick Swayze. If I had to list the sweetest people I work with, this particular co-worker would be on the top of my list. Is it me or does it seem like these types of things always happen to the kindest people?  The news of my co-worker's inoperable cancer really made me inventory the things I complain and stress about. Suddenly money, bills, and feeling over-worked are not as important. I feel guilty for wasting so much time worrying about these sort of things when there as people who simply wish to live another month.


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Small things don't matter

As I get older, everyday I realize more and more that small things really don't matter. I watch myself become more and more patient as each year passess. God is on my side; my kids are alive and healthy, my husband is alive and healthy; I am alive and healthy --- this makes for a great day. I find many times people get too bogged down with things that really don't matter. Why worry about something you have no control over?  Society, in general, for too often doesn't recognize or appriciate its daily blessings. Laugh, Have fun, Enjoy life



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"Good by Comparison"

If a person is "good by comparison", --- What does that really mean. Does it mean the person is good with a few flawes? Or, does "good by comparison" mean the person is bad but when compared to someone even badder -- the person appears good? If the latter is true -- "good by comparison" is really just a sugar-coated way of characterizing a person as bad.
Just a thought!


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Trust?

I have really been reflecting on my relationships, the trust issue in particular. I think I am naturally naive and too easy to trust people. For this reason I tend to keep to myself and mind my own bussiness. I guess this is my protective mechanism from becoming involved with dishonest, untrust-worthy people. I was never a quiet person, but I have learned to keep quiet and to keep to myself to avoid icky  situations. Often my quietness is mistaken for being anti-social and unfriendly. I just don't like drama. I don't want to start trusting someone, then find out they are untrustworthy  after I am already close to them. My query is "how do you deal with someone very close who is dishonest and often untrustworthy". At what point do you stop forgiving the dishonesty? At what point do you stop trying to re-build trust?


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Seven Pounds

After about 4 weeks of actively pursuing a healthier life-style I have lost 7 lbs. I'm sure most of it was actually the well known "water weight", but I really see a difference. I can actually breath in my jeans now. My jeans were so uncomfortable to wear, I was actually still wearing my elastic maternity pants (My baby is 6 months!). I do thigh/butt exercises for about 15 minutes and abd exercises for about 15 minutes- 2 to 3 times a week. For me the real catch was portion control; I make my portions about 1/2 the size of what I was eating. I drink a considerable greater amount of liquids. I really don't care for plain water or "crystal light" type drink mixes; so I drink a lot of juices and Kool-aid. I know the Kool-aid is not all that good for me (considering the sugar), but I figure Kool-aid is better than "pop" or soda. (I'm from the south; so I say "pop".)   I really feel a lot more confident and have a lot more energy. It's amazing the difference a few pounds can make in one's self esteem and activity level.  

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Off to School!

Well, I got through the first week of kindergarten with a minimal amount of tears. My daughter actually went to pre-kindergarten last year, but it felt more like a day-care. Now she is in a "real" school. I am so excited, but at the same time I am afraid of the change.  There's no stopping it now.  Time just seems to just keep moving --fast. Still, I look forward to participating in her school activities (plays, sports, cheer leading, etc.). Also, the fact that she really loves school helps to ease my nerves.


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Some women?

I am amazed at the low character of people. Today I am thinking of women, in particular. Why are some women willing to do indecent things with men who are in commented relationships? Why do some women make continued advances to a married man who has made it very clear he has no interest in being unfaithful? How can you befriend a commented man while secretly having impure intentions-- and still call yourself a women?  What ever happened to decency and having moral character. It is mind-boggling to me. Is the ratio of men to women so low that a women must sink to such a level? Or-- is the real  issue low self-esteem?  And-- yes, I am speaking from recent, personal experience.


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Quick, semi-homemade meals

I love to cook. Unfortunately, most days I don't have time to spend hours cooking. Altough, I don't believe cooking has to take all day in order for the food to taste good. I am a huge fan of  "real" meals which do not require a lot of time to prepare. My favorite cooking show is 30 minute meals with Rachael Ray. The recipes I have tried off of her show generally turn out pretty good for 30 minutes of effort. Another cooking show I enjoy is Semi-homemade cooking with Sandra Lee; there's no need to always start from scratch when you can buy the same ingridients already mixed together.That bieng said - I do throughly enjoy  making slow, home cooked meals when I have the time. Usually finding the time is the problem. Although I look forward to the day when I have more time to spend in the kitchen, for now I think I'll stick to my quick, semi-homemade meals. I bets serving my kids fast food.


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Staying Fit

My body is not quite the same after having 3 kids. Things I once was able to eat without consequence now seem to show up in all the wrong places - like my butt, thighs, and especially my stomach. I was never big on sweets and snacks - now, suddenly I am. I know my metabolism is not what it used to be. With each pregnancy I seemed to have "kept" a few more pounds.
Exercise was not an important factor in maintaining my shape -- Now it is. I am making a conscience effort to adopt a healthier diet. I bake, broil and steam as oppose to deep-frying. I incorporate fresh vegetables and lean, skinless meats when ever I can. Although it is difficult to find time to stay fit, I know I must find the time for the sake of my health, shape, and self-esteem. I have found fitnessnhealthnow.com to be a good source of free health information and low cost fitness products. When you feel good about the way you look, you feel good about yourself. I don't expect to have my pre-pregnancy body, but my goal is to be healthy and look good in my clothes.



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Work vs. Kids

I would like to consider myself a "stay-at-home" mom, but the reality is I work quite a bit. My career does allow me the flexibility to choose when I work, - but work is work. Rather you work around a company's needs or work when you choose, work takes you away from your family. Working provides the monetary resources needed to support my kids, but how much time away from your kids is too much time away from your kids? We work to take care of our kids, - but at what cost? I have vivid childhood memories of both my parents working. However, I don't remember many family activities. I know my childhood actually was filled with family activities, - but I just don't remember many. I wonder why I remember the time away from my parents so much more vividly than I remember time with my parents. I don't want my kids to have a childhood filled with memories of their moma leaving them to go to work. I am diligently searching for viable work from home opportunities. Most opportunities I come across seem to be scams - I admit I have been taken by a few. It seems difficult to find many honest, solid work from home opportunities outside of starting a home-based business. I often check the Work-at-Home Moms magazine for opportunities. I hope to find a solid opportunity that suits me.



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Saturday in Shreveport, LA

Well, it's Saturday in Shreveport, LA. --- and it's HOT. The temperature is right at 100 degrees and the air is very dry. It is just too hot to take the kids out unless I absolutely have to. Since I have everything I need to get through the day -- diapers, wipes, formula, milk, juice and finger foods-- we won't be going anywhere. The kids and I will spent the day watching cartoons, playing, reading books and baking cookies. I will dedicate some time to potty training -- what great fun. I find potty training in much easier for me and the child if we use potty time as an opportunity for play time. We read books, review flash cards, and brush our teeth. I find activities such as these really help toddlers to tolerate sitting on the potty chair. Making a really big deal- like clapping and singing a silly song - when the toddler makes "pee pee" or "boo boo" helps make the toddler more excited and interested about potty time.

Here are some great potty training articles:
Potty Training Basics
The ABCs of Potty Training




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