I'm a bit behind as I haven't read a blog post in WEEKS! I only recently discovered a new meme over at Ali Edwards' blog who lifted the idea from her sister. As I'm also a bit behind in my Project Life, I figure this will serve as a fun little catch-up of my here-and-now.
Here’s what’s on my…
VANITY | Alas, my vanity is still sitting on the floor of Chloé's bedroom. I am anxious for my plumber to arrive and install everything!
PERENNIAL TO DO LIST | Fold laundry, cook dinner, chauffeur kids, make plans, pay bills, schedule appointments, keep schedules straight.
REFRIGERATOR SHELVES | Asparagus, 1% Milk, Perrier, Dijon Mustard, Hummus, Raspberries & Blackberries, Greek Yogurt, Chicken Thighs, Half & Half, Brita Water someone always puts back almost empty!
ITINERARY | Planning
summer: overnight and day camps for the kids, family visits, a big service trip to British Columbia for Cole, baseball & softball games and tournaments, our annual trip to Cape Cod, tickets to Stratford, concerts, oh, so many concerts!
FANTASY ITINERARY | A photo walk almost anywhere: Scotland, Morocco, Bora Bora, Scandinavia, Russia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Turkey, Alaska, so many places!
PLAYLIST | Going a bit retro: Dido, John Mayer, Imogen Heap, Keane and Maroon 5 along with Imagine Dragons, Mumford & Sons, Fun., Jimmy Eat World and Of Monsters and Men.
NIGHTSTAND | A stack of books that just seems to grow and grow!
WORKOUT PLAN | Walk. 2,500 - 3,500 steps 3x each day - every day, without exception. When the weather gets better I'll add in some swimming and biking. When the weight comes off I'll add in some hills.
IPHONE | iMessages from Claire, Cole, Chloé and Caden. Facebook updates. Texts from Beth. Scheduled reminders to get off my butt!!
TOP 5 LIST | Enjoying all that comes with better weather, witnessing my kids grow up, trusting myself - my instincts and intellect, making plans, looking forward to so much goodness.
BUCKET LIST | More
travel. More reading. More daring. More vulnerable. More silly. More family time. More learning. More love. More peace. More trust. More compassion. More embracing good things. More healthy choices. More letting go. More laughter.
MIND | Wanting to get the house d.o.n.e. completely. Plans for Claire to go to University in August. Staying OPEN to opportunities + ideas + people + life. Considering what I want to be when I grown up. Keeping in touch with those who matter. Remembering to breathe.
BLOGROLL | I've not read a blog in the weeks I took a break from mine. Google Reader made it so easy! I think I'm going to use Facebook as the keeper of all my social media links. In that case, the blogs will include: Cathy Zielske, Danielle LaPorte, Marc & Angel Hack Life, Ali Edwards, Brené Brown and Oprah with no more guilt or need to worry if I "miss" a post - they won't mind :)
WALLS OF YOUR FAVORITE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE | Even though it is currently a disaster, my favourite room is my bedroom. The walls are Benjamin Moore Rusty Nail, my furniture is dark espresso and oyster brown and the linens are bright white. It makes me happy.
LIQUOR SHELF | Cleared off so Claire could have a party a couple of weeks ago. I must think of what to put there for the summer. Probably Tequila and Vodka - maybe some Rum, too. My drink? Sauvignon Blanc found chilling in the fridge.
LAST CREDIT CARD STATEMENT | Flights for Claire & Cole to Montréal and camp fees for the summer.
SCREENSAVER | My reminder to make the best of everything.
TV EVERY NIGHT | I'm not often paying attention. The kids put on what they like and I get to listen to a bit of their favourites: Republic of Doyle, Elementary, The Voice, Nashville.
live a better life | don't feed the demons
[source]
I don't often go onto my "stats" page. Imagine my surprise when I was clicking around and realized over this past weekend that I was getting a ridiculous number of hits and page reads - starting last Thursday. We're talking in the area of 300+ per day. This, I can assure you, is not normal.
The good thing is I can see where the weird clicks are coming from and in this case it was a link from Two Peas in a Bucket. No, it was not a beautiful layout I had posted, it was an article I had written five years ago.
Ah yes. It's summertime. The annual dragging up of "the post".
What's the big deal? Once I realized where all the activity was coming from, I did not click through myself to see what was being said. Now, all of us familar with Two Peas know that, like too many a lot of online forums, the "General" Message Board is toxic and troll-filled. This suited my purpose perfectly when I originally posted my rant - which I posted on my blog at the time, as well. Then, like all things on a toxic message board, it burst well out of my control. People did not read my actual post, they read the comments and that is where they formed their opinions.
They were not kind.
As tempting as it was, I didn't need to relive that experience. Though there was a pull of curiosity*, I realized it would provide me with no positive or helpful information or insight.
This year I've chosen not to feed the demons.
What I found very interesting, of the hundreds of clicks here through the week there was not one comment left here for me to read. Did you agree? I don't know. Did you disagree? I don't know. Can we have a conversation? I guess not.
We all have moments of insecurity. I doubt myself often enough as the sole provider of four teenagers without having a few hundred people who don't know me at all making harsh judgments about me, my character and my parenting.
The past couple of years, and indeed up until a couple of months ago I would have given into my curiosity*. Now? I know better. I am really learning to understand and embrace the concept that what others think of me really isn't any of my business. For those who found their way here, who want to have a conversation, let's have one. For those who don't, fine with me. I hope for those who spent over an hour and read over 100 pages that you learned what you think you needed to know.
What was that "famous" post?
Here it is:
13 June 2008
I am so looking forward to the end of the school year. Perhaps more than my kids are anticipating it! I cannot wait to spend some time with each of them ... and all of them!
Don't get me wrong. We do not experience the lazy days of summer as this season can be pretty hectic around here. There is no sleeping-in as most week days the kids are off to camp. This year camp includes: canoe, sports, adventure, basketball, soccer, leadership, golf, dance, theatre arts, baseball, sailing, archery, explorer, hockey, fitness, math, French and computers. Hey, I have four kids. It just looks like a lot ;)
We've also scheduled one "mama week" for each kid. They get to choose the agenda for the day for five days in a row. I've overheard conversations about visiting the Science Centre, R.O.M., Canada's Wonderland, Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls, Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Botanical Garden, a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame, Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara. I'm kind of hoping Claire suggests some kind of a Spa Day! We may even go for an overnight visit someplace depending on the 3on3 hockey, baseball, dryland training schedules that are ongoing every evening. As most of my friends know, I am not adverse to taking a small trip - 4 hours one way - to visit family and friends overnight. Yes, consider that a warning!
Not only that, but we have friends coming in to visit with us from all parts! My kids are thrilled to meet new people and entertain. My friends are thrilled to have a chance to kick back, have a BBQ and enjoy a glass of wine (or four) and let their kids go. It's always good when they run in a pack: with Claire keeping everyone safe; and, Chloe ready to step in and either report or boss around.
We have a theme going here: busy is good; bored is bad.
We make the most of every minute. We play hard. We relax hard. Though there is some structure, it is, for the most part, pretty flexible and pretty easy going.
Okay, to the bee in my bonnet: What is wrong with all of these wretched mothers?
Stay at Home mothers who dread summer holidays? Teachers who don't want to spend more time with more children - hey, newsflash, these are your children in the summer! Worse? Caregivers who are taking care of working mother's children because they cannot take the time off leaving children in your care and you're crabbing about how awful it's going to be?
Get over it! Why have children if not to enjoy them, nurture them, have fun with them, spend time with them? Why offer to take care of other children if you don't like it?
I know there are times when being a parent is trying and exhausting. It's certainly not all sunshine and flowers around here, but hey, that was our choice to have four delightful monsters. It is your choice.
You made a mistake? Suck it up buttercup.
Don't let those kids feel like the worst thing in the world is them being around ruining your time. You think they don't feel it? You make comments in the grocery line, to your friend at the park, to your sister on the phone, to your on line friends, at the ballpark or soccer field, to other mothers at after school pick-up, to your husband at the top of your lungs (with the door closed, of course), at the community pool, everywhere you think people are willing to hear you whine about how wretched your life is going to be for the nine weeks of summer holiday.
You think those children don't hear you? They don't feel it?
Come on. Be the GROWN UP. You are responsible for them. For nine weeks it is NOT ABOUT YOU. Deal.
Or even, dare I say it? Enjoy!
Originally published here: http://l2l-lemons2lemonade.blogspot.ca/2008/06/latest-bee-in-my-bonnet.html
Like I said, it served it's purpose at the time. Would I write the same thing now? For the most part, yes. Some of the words might change, but the concept would stay the same.
What about you? Agree? Disagree?
*curiosity = demon
Posted on 30 May 2013 at 06:00 AM in live a better life, parenting, shit happens, social commentary | Permalink | Comments (16)
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