Raising Girls

So I’ve been thinking, and the other day I had an epiphany. You see, I’m raising three girls in a very tough world. My goals and aspirations for them are much like any other mom out there. I think the greatest thing they could do when they “grow up” is to be a mom.

I had a conversation the other day with my five year old. It went something like this:
“Hey Gabriela, what do you want to be when you grow up?” and she said, “MOM, don’t you remember…I’m going to be a dentist!” Oh yeah, I thought, then I said, “Well do you want to be a Mommy when you grow up?” She just sort of looked at me and said “Yeah.” That’s when it hit me…like a rock over the head. We have been trained since we are tiny little people that we need to pick some fabulous career when we are little tikes. Our society puts so much emphasis on careers and success and that all our education is to help us reach said career or status. I never in all my life heard someone say, “Wow Lindsay, all that college will sure help you be a good stay at home mom! Motherhood is an awesome career, way to go!” And somehow when we do decide to stay at home, do we sometimes feel a little disappointed, like we never really achieved our goal or got that great job we had been planning our whole lives around?

I decided right then and there, that I was not going to raise my girls that way. I want them to know that motherhood is the greatest thing they could do with their lives, and all the education they receive will give them experience and knowledge, and if they have the opportunity to work before having children, that is awesome, but really emphasize and stress that the greatest success and accomplishment will be within their own home.

So instead of asking, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” it might go something like, “what do you want to learn about when you grow up?” Emphasis on learning not on a job or title. Maybe then, my girls will really feel the success and joy of reaching their goal when they become mothers.

My Kryptonite

Wow, remember how Super Man would loose all of his strength when he came into contact with kryptonite. Well, I've found my own sort of kryptonite and unfortunately for me, I can't run from it. It's everywhere. It's TREES and GRASS!!!
I can't sleep, exercise, or much of anything else because I'm too busy stratching my eyes and face off or blowing my nose. I went in to the doctor last week and was told to be on antihistemines everyday forever. Great. I am having a little pity party or so you might think,

but OH NO, not this girl. Yesterday I woke up early, I'm talking 5:30, with Miguel to exercise, but soon realized that exercising straight out of the bed is just not my thing. I decided to go read instead. I picked up my question book again and came across something I found interesting. It asks, "when you tell your story are usually cast as the victim, the survivor, or the hero. Hmmm, well I usually tell it like the victim, feel like the survivor and rarely am I the hero. It tells you to start being the hero of your life. So no longer will I be the girl who is defeated by nature...nope, I'm going to be the girl who despite being surrounded by kryptonite manages to do ___________. It also tells you to write down your future next too weeks with you cast as the hero. Try it! I'm going too.

This is all baby steps to try to be a better me and enjoy life a little more.

Surfin' USA

The girls had their annual Spring Concert/Recital on Saturday. It was so fun to go see them up there on that big stage. It was Sophia's first performance and she did very well. Gabriela appeared bored, and at the end she told me that she was mad because she wanted to be dancing with the girls who didn't have their teacher standing at the front of the stage helping them. That lets me know that it's time to move her to a more advanced class. When I went to pick them up at intermission from their dressing room, they both looked mad that I had come. They were having a ball with all of the older girls who were giving them so much attention. During the second half Gabriela made friends with some early teens in the audience and sat with them to watch the show. That kid is crazy friendly I'm tellin ya. She was also mad that they were telling secrets and not including her. She thinks she's 14 in her mind. She begged to stay to the end, and so we did. The girls were adorable and we had a good time together. We were also thankful that Grandma and Grandpa came to support the girls.

SPRING at our house!!!

Serendipity

Serendipity: the faculty of making fortunate discoveries by accident

We should all have more of these moments. I didn't wake up planning to ride the Barbie Mustang out in the front yard, but it was a small moment to spend with my little one. I did kind of lower my head every time a car passed by. We live on a busy road, however I did feel proud of myself for letting go and taking a break from my agenda.

Family Scripture Study

My good friend gave me a great idea for family scripture study the other day. You take all of the children's songs from the Children's Song Book and pair them with the scripture references they give at the bottom. You cut them up and place them in a jar (there are so many we used one of our empty food storage cans). Each night let a child pick one, or three, and read the scripture and sing the song. We've done this two nights and the kids love it. If you want a copy of the document, leave me you email and I'll forward it on to you.

When Mom's not feeling so great.

I've been living in a fog all day. The seasonal allergies are creating havoc in my life. Last night I didn't go to sleep until 4:00 a.m. because I was too congested. Finally at about 3:30 I got up hoping to find something in the medicine cabinet. I thought I was out of everything, but in a desperate hope I found one dose of Benadryl left. That knocked me out until 7 am. Then it was up and at 'em. So by 6:00 pm. and dinner time, I don't have the energy to cook dinner, clean up, or go for take out, so it was yogurt and produce. I don't think they were complaining. It's what happens when Mom is not on her game.