Parenting 101

Ok, so maybe I passed the parenting 101 course but even after nearly 5 years of being a parent, I am constantly striving to be better, do better, love more and be present. It's a never ending course in self-betterment and unconditional love.

I continually get questions from friends and family on where I get my patience. I always tell them the same thing. I dig deep, some days deeper than others, and even then, I can still lose my marbles. 

If I'm being completely honest, I DO have some super secret parenting I'm about to let you in on. Ok, maybe not so SUPER secret but these are the things that help me get through my busy days with 3 willful, creative, lovely, exhausting children.

1- Support. A lot of support. I am lucky to have a kick ass husband, a mom and sister who live next door and the best friends in the entire world. It's nice to have a wide safety net and sounding board for when I need it. Totally necessary for successful parenting.

2- Meditation- no joke.  I squeak out 10-20 minutes each morning for deep breathing and relaxation. It's an easy way to get centered, refocus and re-energize. Seriously, try it!!

3- Expert advice- Unfortunately parenting does NOT come with a manual. However, fortunately for us modern parents, there are moms and dads who have walked this road before us and willingly share their stories, advice, tips and tricks. Even if I don't prescribe 100% to one specific "method" of parenting, I enjoy learning what works (and what doesn't) for others.  One of my favorite "can't live without" experts are Todd and Cathy Adams of Zen Parenting Radio. They seriously rock. Their message is positive but not prescriptive. They tackle parenting issues and offer gentle parenting solutions. I really can't say enough good things about them. They have seriously changed the way I parent. **Check them out:

http://zenparentingradio.com

Last but not least is my favorite super "secret" parenting tip-

4-Coffee, water and wine. 

Coffee to give me a jump start, water all day to keep me healthy and a relaxing glass of wine once or twice of week to unwind. 

Heck, if you are an overachiever you could do all my tips at once: Have a glass of wine with a friend, while meditating, and listening to Zen Parenting.

Bam, next stop Super Momdom. 

Ok, maybe that's a bit aggressive. These tips are not magic but I guarantee you'll feel at least a little better.

So tell me, what gives YOU parenting super powers?

** I am in no way affiliated with Zen Parenting Radio. I am simply a fan. 

 

First Day-January 2015

I had a fabulous first day. Spending the ENTIRE day with my best friend who was visiting from Florida. We rang in the new year together and everything. It was awesome!

Let It Snow

The best thing about homeschooling is incorporating learning into our everyday play. It's definitely how my kiddos learn best. This week we are talking about snow. (Which is fitting given where we live)

We read books, talked about how snow forms, and tomorrow are making borax snowflakes for our weekly science. Like I said turning easy, everyday activities into learning opportunities. Easy peasy!!!

Emmy Lu and Tanner LOVE outside. Harriet has yet to develop her appreciation for the great, winters outdoors.

First Day- December 2014

Oops.  Forgot to post this.  Here was our first day.

Thankful

 

thank·ful

ˈTHaNGkfəl/

adjective

1. pleased and relieved.

   "they were thankful that the war was finally over"

   synonyms:
   grateful, appreciative, filled with gratitude, relieved

   "she was thankful that the evening was over"

   • expressing gratitude and relief.

     "an earnest and thankful prayer"

     synonyms:
     grateful, appreciative, filled with gratitude, relieved

     "she was thankful that the evening was over”

3. Tis the season for giving thanks, relieved and appreciative we survived another year. Survived... Hmm...maybe that's a bleak way of looking at it. A life merely survived, for some of us, seems like we may just be doing the minimum to scoot by, unscathed by bad luck, bad fortune and negative consequences. For others, surviving another year is BIG. It means another year under our belts. 365 days lived.

sur·vive

sərˈvīv/

verb

1. continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.

   "against all odds the child survived"

   synonyms:
   remain alive, live, sustain oneself, pull through, get through, hold on/out,make it, keep body and soul together More

   • continue to live or exist in spite of (an accident or ordeal).

     "he has survived several assassination attempts"

   • remain alive after the death of (a particular person).

     "he was survived by his wife and six children"

     synonyms:
     outlive, outlast;

     live longer than

     "he was survived by his sons"

My news feed has been flooded with reminders of mortality. A friend's brother accepting his fate with a brain-eating tumor, another friend's sister losing her almost full term baby in utero, pictures of grandparents passed. All surrounded by a world of people who are surviving.  I venture to say that, in these mundane moments of survival, the magical happens.

We THRIVE.

 

thrive

THrīv/

verb

1. (of a child, animal, or plant) grow or develop well or vigorously.

   "the new baby thrived"

   • prosper; flourish.

     "education groups thrive on organization"

     synonyms:
     flourish, prosper, burgeon, bloom, blossom, mushroom, do well,advance, succeed, boom

 

 

1. New experiences and adventures were lived. New friendships were forged. Daily routines were tweaked, and old relationship evolved. We didn't just merely continue to exist, we FLOURISHED!!!!

   
   

   How do I know this?? By watching.

   All you have to do is look around. I fall into the category of belief that all humans are born good and, very fortunately for society, most of us stay that way. We have bumps and hiccups along they way and, of course, good people can perform bad actions. However, if you take a deeper look at your world- at your UPS driver who brings a new amazon package to your doorstep every other day with a smile, at the hug you give a friend you haven't seen for months, or at the mom in target dollar section striking up a conversation with you over Christmas shopping- you can see goodness is everywhere.

   
   

   This flourishing is happening Every. Single. Day. All over our worlds.

   
   

   Is it surrounded but a bunch of icky stuff too? You bet. Strife, loss, death, negativity, cynicism. That's everywhere too.

   
   

   BUT....

   
   

   And that's a big but...

   
   

   I am THANKFUL that GOOD IS WINNING.

   
   

   Even in fricken tough times, it is bright. It's brighter and louder than the dark if you ALLOW it to be. It is this goodness that we need to grab onto and protect. We need to live in it's light in order to thrive.

   
   

   I'm thankful for the compassion, and love and strength that help us do that.

   
   

   I'm thankful that we live in a world of social media and technology that allows me to see a glimpse into the lives of others. You all are doing some cool things and I'm happy I get to see it and, in a strange way, participate in it.

   
   

   I'm thankful that I am on a journey that I LOVE, with people I LOVE, doing the things I LOVE.

   
   

   I'm thankful for surviving AND thriving this year. I'm thankful I get to do it all again next year, because, just living life, however big or small you think it is, is something special.

   
   

   So you should be thankful too.

   
   

   Oh...And do something good today...because someone could really be needing the light you have to shine.

   
   

   
   

First Day- November 2014