Here’s To the Next Generation of Girls

I’m not sure what it is about being female, but we are inherently caddy.  Maybe it’s because we grow up always comparing ourselves to others and, therefore, must find fault in others to feel better about ourselves.  But, something happened the other day that just shocked me. 

We were at one of our favorite play places when I noticed this group of preschool/kindergarten age girls.  Two girls stood out because they were obviously the queen bees.  It wasn’t long before another little girl was complaining to her mom, “they are being mean to me and won’t play with me.”  And I thought “what?  When did little girls get so mean?"  Long story short, it wasn’t long before this girl was “accepted” into their group and SHE was being mean to other little girls (who had enough sense to not care.) 

As often happens, this got me thinking about what I want for my girls.  I’m sure that I’m not different from most parents out there.  Here is just a sample of my long list:

1. Confidence.  In whom they are and what they can do.  I want them to understand that they may not be the best at everything but, at the same time, know that they can do anything that they put their minds to.
2. Respect for others.  This is something that I work on continuously with our girls.  When they play together or when we are at playgroup, they have to share, wait their turn, and be mindful of those around them.  I hope that, as they get older, they will (begrudgingly at times) understand that, even if they don’t like someone or they’re not “cool” that they still have to show them respect.  If they don’t understand, you better believe that, when I can, I will be there to remind them.
3. A family that they can count on.  When I was younger, even when my siblings and I fought and made fun of each other, we always knew that we still had each others’ backs.  You gonna mess with my little brothers?  Well, then you’re going to mess with us and we’re not girls that are afraid to hit boys!  I want my kids to count on each other and build each other up even when others are tearing them down.
4. Pride in what they do—to understand that their work is a direct reflection of what they put into it.
5. Entitlement does not exist.  You are not entitled to a grade, you earn it.  You are not entitled to certain clothes, you work to achieve them.  You are not entitled to a car, you work for it.  Etc, etc. 

Our girls are still young, so I’m not sure how we will achieve all of this or if we will.  You just kind of do the best as these things come up.  I won’t shelter them because that is just delaying the inevitable.  Do I want my girls to get picked on?  No way.  Will they?  For sure.  But they will know that they can always come home and get plenty of love from their mom and that I will be here to build them back up when others tear them down. 

But, wouldn’t it be awesome if, as moms, we were resolved to not be backbiters ourselves?  That our kids would see us as people that were respectful to all people regardless of who they are?  If we lead by example, will our kids take note?  Isn’t it worth trying to raise a generation of girls who build each other up instead of tearing each other down?  I, for one, am going to try.

Our Christmas Card

I don't do Christmas cards.  It's not that I am opposed to them--I just can't get myself organized enough to even buy/order the cards.  I can't imagine actually sitting down, addressing, and mailing them too!  But, this year, I did my part--I made a very amatuer christmas video, compiling pictures taken throughout 2011.  I should have themed it "together" because that was just what this year was--nothing fancy, just being together.  And it has been awesome. 

So, those of you who aren't sick of constantly seeing my family, enjoy!

Ready or Not...

Yes, it’s that time of year again.  The Christmas season has been fun this year because Cecilia is excited about everything Christmas.  Our Christmas tree is on ALL DAY long because she insists on looking at the lights, she makes me make detours in the store just to see the Christmas trees, and she enjoys playing with our Nativity scene.  And, Anna is fun to watch because she idolizes her sister which means that she get excited about anything that Cecilia does.  It also means that you can hear “The tree is for looking not for touching,” followed by, “Cecilia, do not touch,” followed by, “Cecilia stop…..I said stop!” throughout the day.  But, who can blame her—our tree is pretty:

Yep, that’s live.  We went Christmas tree "hunting" together this year….at the church down the street.  This tree is compliments of the St. Francis Knights of Columbus.

In order to start introducing the story of Christ into Christmas, I decided to do a Jesse tree this year.  It’s been moderately successful in that Cecilia really enjoys putting the different symbol ornaments on the tree and she understands that it is about Jesus.  For 2 years old, I can’t ask for more.  I’m just hoping it sticks and as she gets excited for it every year, she soaks up more. 

And, of course, there is the snow!  It’s snowed a few times already this year.  I’m not a huge fan of snow, but the girls get so excited that I can’t resist bundling them up and taking them outside.  I even try to overlook the fact that Cecilia just enjoys EATING the snow.  Here are my little snow bunnies enjoying the snow:

She still has a little tear below her eye from the faceplant that she did prior to the picture.

Cecilia getting a snack....

Time For a Brain Cleanse

I was travelling for work recently and was in need of a book.  So, I do what I typically do which is hit the airport bookstore in hopes of finding a mildly entertaining book that would require little effort to read.  I had it narrowed down between “The Help” and “One Day.”  I had heard good things about “The Help,” but worrying that it might be too deep for an airplane ride, I opted for “One Day.”  Also, I should mention that it had Anne Hathoway on the cover which later will be my husband’s only reason as to why I considered the book at all.

See, the Anne Hathoway thing is this—it’s not that I really, really like her.  It’s just that she makes a decent airplane movie.  I would never sit down an voluntarily watch her movies but there is just something about being 30,000 ft in the air with 8 hours to kill that makes her movies mildly entertaining to me and, yes, mindless.

 

I ended up reading maybe three whole chapters on my trip.  I opted to do work instead….it was that bad.  The story idea was a little cliché and the characters really annoyed me.  I actually felt bad for them and there was just something about the Emma character and her life that made me feel dirty.  Not in a moral way—in a physical-living-in-filth-and-not-taking-a-shower-way.  I don’t even know why.  But, here’s the thing that confuses my husband to this day:  I actually FINISHED the book.  It didn’t get any better and I’m pretty sure that I rolled my eyes through most of the book.  I’m not sure why I did but it may have something to do with the $15 that I spent on it and the thought that, since it was a “New York Times Bestseller”, it HAD to get better.  Wrong.

As I studied the cover later, I realized what should have been one of many clues that this wasn’t for me.  All of the rave reviews on the cover were from tabloid-type publications, including a great 5 stars from People Magazine.  I should really spend more time picking up these small details.  Well, it’s not a total loss—on my next trip through Detroit Metro, I will be turning it back in and getting half of my money back.  In the mean time, I have decided to do a brain cleanse and read some classical literature.  Nothing too heavy, just some Jane Austen.  I feel better already.

Family Fun

While in Virginia this month, we went to one of those toy stores where they have a lot of toys out for kids to play with while shopping.  I found out that Anna likes trains and Cecilia has officially reached the age where she actually plays with dollhouses.  Once she zeroed in on the dollhouse, she was hooked—playing with the dolls, putting them to bed, etc.  Joe made the comment that I should probably step up my plan to build her dollhouse.  Hmmm….would it be possible to build one by Christmas?

So, the other thing that I witnessed for the first time in our travels was the show “Yo-Gabba-Gabba.”  We don’t have cable so I’ve never actually seen this before and all that I can say is, no need to get cable any time soon.  I hear about kids being addicted to this show and I feel really bad for those parents.  I’ve never done drugs, but I have to imagine that this is what an acid trip may be like.  So. Bad.  Check it out on YouTube if you dare.

We also managed to find time to go to the Air & Space museum at the Hazy Center.  I have to think that I am not normal in that one of the coolest items on display was a section cut of landing gear strut and, of course, the blackbird.  This is a cool photo from that day:

But, the best part of the trip was being able to see my in-laws and watching Cecilia and Anna play with them and tear apart their house.  Anna got to go on a tractor ride and Cecilia had crayons for coloring so all were happy.  Hopefully, we can make it back again soon.

Culinary Conquests – Super Easy Thai Green Curry & Awesome Pasta

We love this dish.  I picked up my secret ingredient on one of my many trips to Trader Joe’s and it blew me away the first time that I made it.  Super tasty, a little spicy but not too much.  Check it out:

Step 1:  Cook chicken

Step 2:  Add chopped red & yellow peppers (optional if you can spare the time)

Step 3:  Add secret ingredient, heat through, serve over rice. 

Ok, not a conquest.  But it’s so tasty that I will probably never attempt to make green curry from scratch.  Try it—thank me later.

If you really want to act like you are cooking, try this pasta sauce.  I got lucky once when I happened to have all the ingredients on hand and cooked them together.  So tasty that it is now a regular meal in our house.  The two secret ingredients:  spicy chorizo and this sauce:

Step 1:  Cook chopped onion, mushroom, and 2 links of ground mexican chorizo sausage until sausage is cooked through.  (adding an yellow or red pepper is also tasty)

Step 2:  Add sauce, simmer for 5 minutes.  Serve over pasta of your choice. 

The sauce by itself is not all that flavorful--the chorizo is what brings it to life.  If you try it with something like ground beef, you will be disappointed.   

I love Trader Joe’s. 

When I grow up, I want to be a ……

I’ve always wanted to fill in this blank with even the smallest amount of conviction and/or passion.  Well, maybe I should start with a disclaimer:

I believe that, in general, work is not fun.  I’m pretty sure that this is why they refer to it as “work” and not “super happy fun time where you make lots of money.”  And I believe, that even in your most favorite job, you still would rather be sipping mojitos on the beach listening to the sound of waves roll up on the shore.  Ahhh….  Yeah, anyhow, my point is that I haven’t been looking for a career that will complete me as a person (I’m pretty complete already. J) or for a job that I will be skipping to every day.  I’ve been looking for a career that I can focus on and, in general, find interesting. 

After my company went south management-wise (my opinion, of course) and then decided to move south geographically, the question was even more on my mind than usual.  Yes, I have become a stay at home mom and I love my girls and my family but keeping my brain stimulated really makes me an easier person to live with.  I decided to do what I try to do with most of my life but DEFINITELY in the areas where I have no clue—pray and have that little mustard seed of faith that God will lead me.

Well, God didn’t “lead” me anywhere.  What he did was drop a part time work from home job in my lap and it is SUH-WEET.  I mean, I get to still spend the majority of my time with my adorable girls but I get the mental break/stimulation that I crave.  But, today, after a conversation with my boss, I totally felt my mind start to clear and I realized with, yes—conviction—that I have been and am currently in the industry of my choice.  I could care less about cars, computers, etc. but aviation?  Love it. 

So for now, I am just going to be happy that I can continue down this path and see where it leads.  FAA?  Consultant?  Lobbyist?  That part is still cloudy but I don’t mind.   For the first time in a while, I am excited about my job.