We enjoyed a wonderful concert by Tracy Lawrence on Saturday night. In the one moment I stepped away with Bailey, he sang a funny song about pills and our nation’s use of them over taking good care of ourselves. He sang of pills to make you gain weight, pills to make you lose weight, and how if we would just get up off our rear ends and exercise we would need far fewer pills if any at all.
Charlie was still laughing when Bailey and I returned. He said I had to hear it because I am always talking about how exercise, and movement in general, makes such a difference in your physical and mental health and well-being. So I got on YouTube today to look for it. Some of it is a little off-color, but in general right on the mark.
How funny that a country singer would put together a song so right on the mark about society in general. Or maybe it isn’t funny at all. Common sense tends to govern the thoughts of the simpler life, where we get up and work and take responsibility. If you need a good laugh, take a look at the video, or just take a look at your own life. Could diet and exercise help your body care for itself?
I am not by any means advocating ignoring your doctor’s prescriptions or advice. But eating right and exercising, taking responsibility for our actions and exhibiting the common sense our parents tried to instill in us makes a tremendous difference in the health outcomes possible. So look at your own life. What did you eat today? What did you do to better your health? Is common sense winning out?
Just a thought for your Monday. I am enclosing the link, but watch it judiciously, like I said, a little off color in some parts. But right on point. Happy Monday!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Here's to Mama...
Last week, my little girl called me for Valentine’s Day advice on letting a boy down easy and keeping his friendship. This after mean kids started a rumor the week before having her together with a boy she didn’t care for. She wanted nothing to do with all the boyfriend/ girlfriend drama at that point. It sounded like she did well with it, since he was still her friend when she got sick a day later and ended up spending the remainder of the week in bed.
After the struggles of the farm in the last months, and everyone having been sick in the last couple weeks, I drove the morning carpool into the school lot this morning. The other little girl from the carpool said have a good day and took off across the field. I let Bailey out her door and gave her a hug, bidding her good luck. Last night was the first night she had been out of bed for more than a couple hours, and just the morning chores had her coughing, but now that she was no longer contagious, it was just too hard to miss any more school, especially during the run up to fair in an accelerated program.
As I turned back to the car, I saw Wyatt Clay taking off to the path across the back of the parking lot to the elementary school. His school bag slung across the front and lunch box across the back, he hadn’t even so much as called a goodbye. I called out to my baby, who walked back to meet me half the distance, and informed me he was walking to his school, and that Bailey lets him walk that way when he wants to on days she has him before school. I asked if he planned to say goodbye, and two strong little arms shot out around my waist. A quick kiss, a “Love you Mama,” and he waved and turned.
I got behind the steering wheel and watched him while I waited for a chance to back out. Funny, he walks faster when he is on his own. I felt the tears behind my eyes and noticed he had left a Taylor Swift CD in, with a song about never growing up and the Mom you are leaving growing old. (So not fair!) I pulled around the circle and headed for the elementary school to watch him. He caught me. I pulled into a parking spot facing the field at the elementary, and he walked up, waving goodbye for the fourth or fifth time. I was dismissed with a smile and an assurance that I could go, he could walk in by himself just fine, and he saw a tear.
“What, Mama?”
“Nothing, just checking. It’s my job, you know.”
“I’m fine. You can go now.” Another wave.
Ouch.
I know I am still loved. I still get hugs and kisses, whether others are around or not. And when the world comes crashing in, it is me. But Charlie is fun and cool- I know partly because they see so little of him, with his schedule and theirs, and all the travel. Part of being the one who is always there is the holding on and letting go dance. Feeling the weight of the world and the need to keep the world at bay while I cheerlead them into it. And feeling like the one growing old and wanting them to stay little with me when I know they cannot. I will get there- someday. Just don’t make it too soon, okay? And how about another hug and another wave while we are at it? I have a feeling they like knowing they can still find me in the parking lot and at the other end of the cell phone call. I know I like finding my own Mama at the other end of the phone.
Here’s to Mamas everywhere.
After the struggles of the farm in the last months, and everyone having been sick in the last couple weeks, I drove the morning carpool into the school lot this morning. The other little girl from the carpool said have a good day and took off across the field. I let Bailey out her door and gave her a hug, bidding her good luck. Last night was the first night she had been out of bed for more than a couple hours, and just the morning chores had her coughing, but now that she was no longer contagious, it was just too hard to miss any more school, especially during the run up to fair in an accelerated program.
As I turned back to the car, I saw Wyatt Clay taking off to the path across the back of the parking lot to the elementary school. His school bag slung across the front and lunch box across the back, he hadn’t even so much as called a goodbye. I called out to my baby, who walked back to meet me half the distance, and informed me he was walking to his school, and that Bailey lets him walk that way when he wants to on days she has him before school. I asked if he planned to say goodbye, and two strong little arms shot out around my waist. A quick kiss, a “Love you Mama,” and he waved and turned.
I got behind the steering wheel and watched him while I waited for a chance to back out. Funny, he walks faster when he is on his own. I felt the tears behind my eyes and noticed he had left a Taylor Swift CD in, with a song about never growing up and the Mom you are leaving growing old. (So not fair!) I pulled around the circle and headed for the elementary school to watch him. He caught me. I pulled into a parking spot facing the field at the elementary, and he walked up, waving goodbye for the fourth or fifth time. I was dismissed with a smile and an assurance that I could go, he could walk in by himself just fine, and he saw a tear.
“What, Mama?”
“Nothing, just checking. It’s my job, you know.”
“I’m fine. You can go now.” Another wave.
Ouch.
I know I am still loved. I still get hugs and kisses, whether others are around or not. And when the world comes crashing in, it is me. But Charlie is fun and cool- I know partly because they see so little of him, with his schedule and theirs, and all the travel. Part of being the one who is always there is the holding on and letting go dance. Feeling the weight of the world and the need to keep the world at bay while I cheerlead them into it. And feeling like the one growing old and wanting them to stay little with me when I know they cannot. I will get there- someday. Just don’t make it too soon, okay? And how about another hug and another wave while we are at it? I have a feeling they like knowing they can still find me in the parking lot and at the other end of the cell phone call. I know I like finding my own Mama at the other end of the phone.
Here’s to Mamas everywhere.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Dear Diary, Valentine's Day Post 2011
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!
It is Monday, and here am at the craft store. Charlie came home a week ago, and we had a busy weekend as a family this weekend, after a busy week. I guess this post will seem as much like a Dear Diary as anything else!
Last Monday, all of the Science Fair projects went in at the school. Yay! Over this year's process, I learned that Bailey Noelle doesn't like to experiment, she wants to research and find concrete answers. Wyatt Clay, on the other hand, loves the mess and exploration of any experiment. Working with a child with organizational issues who has a teacher who doesn't think girls can be scientists and doesn't really get into biology while my child has a heavy biology project makes me want to pull my hair out, and working with a child with processing problems requires me to be SEVERAL steps ahead of the teacher, as these projects are evil after farm chores and a 1.5 hour after school and after tutoring commute on a weekday! Needless to say, I am on the growing list of Mamas who want to do science project over the summer break when he children can actually learn something from the endeavor.
So after all of that, football and basketball practice were thankfully light leading up to the championship playoffs for Bailey's team and the last regular season game for Wyatt's team. Both kids are spending a lot of time in tutoring with their instructors, pulling things together that fell apart when all heck broke loose on the farm while Charlie was away the last time, and then they will begin working ahead in preparation for Pima County Fair. So through the letdown, all three of us were sick. Wyatt was the only one who ended up home from school, though.
Saturday we woke up slowly and took care of the animals before heading across town to Wyatt's football game. Another win for the undefeated Outlaws! Next up, playoffs! That's Wyatt, by the way, holding off two kids on the back right.
After football, since we were on the East side, we went to the commissary and BX, then headed home to feed before heading out again, this ime to Science Dicovery Night! When we got there, the Physics Factory was in full swing, and I hung ou in the field with Nathan (we had had no time to bottle feed so he came along) while Bailey and the boys went in. There were some great experiments on display, and each classroom had something special going on. Wyatt loved the robotics, but said the microscopes set up in Mr Ali's room were his favorite.
We got home late, enjoyed a special dessert Charlie had bought, and headed to bed. That didn't help me get up on time though, the dogs were VERY annoyed with it taking me clear to 7:30 to finally rise and shine!
We were up rather late finishing Valentines off for classes- hope everything got there this morning!Wow, am I tired. Oh, and here are some new photos of three week old Nathan- on second thought, maybe this post is long enough and he should get his own! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, hug someone special!
It is Monday, and here am at the craft store. Charlie came home a week ago, and we had a busy weekend as a family this weekend, after a busy week. I guess this post will seem as much like a Dear Diary as anything else!
Last Monday, all of the Science Fair projects went in at the school. Yay! Over this year's process, I learned that Bailey Noelle doesn't like to experiment, she wants to research and find concrete answers. Wyatt Clay, on the other hand, loves the mess and exploration of any experiment. Working with a child with organizational issues who has a teacher who doesn't think girls can be scientists and doesn't really get into biology while my child has a heavy biology project makes me want to pull my hair out, and working with a child with processing problems requires me to be SEVERAL steps ahead of the teacher, as these projects are evil after farm chores and a 1.5 hour after school and after tutoring commute on a weekday! Needless to say, I am on the growing list of Mamas who want to do science project over the summer break when he children can actually learn something from the endeavor.
So after all of that, football and basketball practice were thankfully light leading up to the championship playoffs for Bailey's team and the last regular season game for Wyatt's team. Both kids are spending a lot of time in tutoring with their instructors, pulling things together that fell apart when all heck broke loose on the farm while Charlie was away the last time, and then they will begin working ahead in preparation for Pima County Fair. So through the letdown, all three of us were sick. Wyatt was the only one who ended up home from school, though.
After football, since we were on the East side, we went to the commissary and BX, then headed home to feed before heading out again, this ime to Science Dicovery Night! When we got there, the Physics Factory was in full swing, and I hung ou in the field with Nathan (we had had no time to bottle feed so he came along) while Bailey and the boys went in. There were some great experiments on display, and each classroom had something special going on. Wyatt loved the robotics, but said the microscopes set up in Mr Ali's room were his favorite.
We got home late, enjoyed a special dessert Charlie had bought, and headed to bed. That didn't help me get up on time though, the dogs were VERY annoyed with it taking me clear to 7:30 to finally rise and shine!
I worked on my painting and greenhouse projects, Bailey worked on animals and homework, and the boys traded off four roosters when they went on the feed store run. Funny how it never seems like we get enough done! Charlie made a delicious dinner with grilled mushrooms and asparagus, and we gathered at the burn pile to make smores!
We were up rather late finishing Valentines off for classes- hope everything got there this morning!Wow, am I tired. Oh, and here are some new photos of three week old Nathan- on second thought, maybe this post is long enough and he should get his own! Have a wonderful Valentine's Day, hug someone special!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)