Wow! What Happened Here?!

Or Not!

I am not sure where I have been,

Or why I have not posted.

Maybe it was because I finally decided to wash my dishes,

Or attempt to try on and give away clothes that no longer fit.

(It is a good sign that is is time to let them go if they either get stuck going on or coming off...)

Or maybe I was coupon cutting.

(This has become my renewed passion.)

I am so excited about the great deals I have been finding,

that I am buying things like Huggies Little Movers (with no toddler),

and recordable discs (being the Luddite that I am of course.)

It could also be that I have been working on my presentation for a parenting class.

I am honored that I have been asked, 

yet always sometimes feel inadequate to be "the expert".

Well, I guess I am.

On what not to do as a parent.

It seems that my own family issues surface right about the time of my class presentation.

I worry that I will appear to be 'the hypocrite'.

(So I am considering using the Brady children as my examples.)

But then they didn't grow up so perfect either did they?

My diet has been blown by all the Humble pie I have been eating.

I also think I need to re-read my last post on guilt as that is contributing to my weight too.

I want to stand up in front of those parents and tell them that I made many mistakes as a parent,

but that it has all worked itself out now.

That I no longer have struggles.

That every one of my children are making mature, healthy choices,

and that I didn't contribute to any negative behavior.

I want to say this but I can't.

So I will just have to tell them the truth.

I will just have to admit that I am an imperfect parent
and that I have human children

and that we still have not figured it all out.

That what I do have readily available is my love.

And my desire and determination to keep learning and growing.

The End

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
~Diane Loomans, from "If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again"