Mother Inferior

Falling into Grace

Wanted to share an article about Fall that I wrote a few years ago..for many reasons, Autumn is my favorite season. :)

Falling into Grace

The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement. George F. Will

I love autumn, with its crisp leaves, brisk air and changing colors. However, as a recovering perfectionist, I’ve had many autumns in the past that fell short of my "ideal" fall. Here are my usual expectations, followed by a dose of reality:

1.  My husband will lovingly help me pick out just the right pumpkin for our son's kindergarten craft project.

Reality: Carey is so swamped with work that I run to Wal-Mart on October 30 and get a leftover shaped like a Hobbit.

2.  The Christian child I'm raising will help me shop for Thanksgiving baskets for needy families.

Reality: Five year-old Jordan stays in the toy aisle during the entire excursion, whining that he needs a "Home for the Holidays" G.I. Joe.

3.  I'll make pumpkin cookie platters for all the neighbors, with an evangelical tract attached.

Reality: Only when I see the neighbors packing to leave for the Thanksgiving holidays do I begin to bake, and then realize I need to borrow half the ingredients from those same neighbors.

4. The extended family will all be together, healthy and happy, for a quiet, reflective Thanksgiving.

Reality: Two siblings don't even show up, the "crazy uncle" shows everybody his newest surgical scar, and my giblet gravy looks more like—well, let's not even go there.

This year was no different. Since Carey had to work on Halloween, I took Jordan to our church's Fall Festival. It was a doozy—bounce houses, pony rides, Bible-themed carnival games, costume contests, and an inflatable obstacle course. I expected a fun-filled night, complete with many Kodak moments.

However, only an hour into our evening, Jordan came off the big slide in tears. My first thought was that someone had picked on him. My second thought was finding the little bully and—well, we were in the church parking lot, so I decided against physical violence.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" I asked.

He wouldn't tell me, but I soon figured out that he had torn his pants. And no amount of cajoling would get him back in the game.  So we went home and watched America's Funniest Home Videos. I was a little distraught at how our evening had turned out, especially when the doorbell rang. Since we hadn't planned on being home, I didn't have enough candy for trick-or-treaters.

"Mom, kids are at the door!" Jordan yelled at me, as I frantically looked for granola bars or fruit.

"I don't have enough candy," I lamented, as he kept pointing to the door.

"They can have mine," Jordan said, as he reached into his purple pumpkin, full of prizes from carnival games. With my mouth agape, I opened the door and watched him gleefully fill the trick-or-treaters' sacks.

The rest of the evening, my son had a ball passing out his hard-won candy to strangers with painted faces, and I marveled at the child who had reminded me: life may tear your expectations to pieces once in a while, but focusing on others helps you forget your troubles.

And being a perfectionist isn't near as much fun as it's made out to be.

:)

 

Some Fun New Car(d) Games

A few days ago, I received a package from Rand McNally with one of the new games (Travel Card Games) they've developed to keep kids entertained and families connected in the car.  

 

My husband is famous for his conversation starters, and our family loves asking each other hard questions--or just silly ones--while we're on a roadtrip or around the dinner table.  So we tried out two of the card games in Travel Card Games: "30 Second Interview" and "Tough Choice" (which reminds me of the game, "Would You Rather?") and everyone had a ball. The game is small enough to fit in a glove compartment or the backseat pocket of the front seat, and we plan on using it both in the car and at mealtimes.

 

If you're like me, you're conflicted about using DVD players and video game systems in the car--because kids get enough media time at home. Now, with the help of  Boredom Breakers you and your kids can tell stories, solve mysteries, play car games, sing classic pop tunes, discover new things about each other…and do it together as the hours quickly pass.

 

Here's a rundown of the five Boredom Breakers:

Story Starters:  Packed with 72 minutes of funny stories, mysteries and games, this interactive CD will be an instant road trip hit.  Story Starters combines the best of classic radio-style drama and audio effects to get families telling stories together.  

Car Karaoke: Mom can sing lead and kids are back-up vocals.  Just pop in the CD with 12 classic rock, pop, and kid favorite songs.  Includes everything needed to be a rockstar: an inflatable microphone, rating cards, and three lyric books.  Choose from favorites like “Build Me Up Buttercup” or “Twist and Shout,” to see who’s got the pipes in the family.  

Car Game Countdown: Car games are fun, but they are even more outrageous when you’re trying to beat the clock.  Car Game Countdown includes a car-shaped digital timer with electronic sound and laminated dual-sided game cards featuring 18 games on a clip ring.

Travel Card Games:  Travel Card Games features three great games to pass time and start conversations.  Includes a slim storage box to easily stow in the backseat pocket. (this is the one we tried)

Magnet Message Makers:   Magnet Message Makers is a mess-free way to get the kids and the car ready for the road .  It includes two reusable and removable magnets that will not harm your vehicle and five sheets of removable stickers for decorating the magnets.  “Florida or Bust!” “

 

Oh, and get this: the Rand McNally store has an affiliate program.  If you're a mom-blogger or just have your own website, put a link to the RM store (or Boredom Breaker products) on your site and get a 10% commission when a purchase is made. You can apply to be a Rand McNally affiliate by going to go.randmcnally.com/affiliates

 

Happy Labor Day travels!

If Your Toddler Picks a Boogie (Parody)

 

 

 

(based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff)

 

If your toddler picks a boogie,

he’s going to ask for a tissue.

When you give him the box of tissues,

he’ll probably take all of them out.

When he’s finished, he’ll take off his diaper.

Then he’ll want to run around the house,

laughing as you chase him.

When you finally wrestle a new diaper on him,

he’ll call you “poopyhead”

so he’ll have to get a time-out.

While he’s in time-out,

You’ll notice he’s getting sleepy.

You’ll have to give him his blankey,

a sippy cup, and turn on the music for him.

He’ll lay down, take a few sips of apple juice,

and ask for a story.

so you’ll read to him,

While you’re thinking about the nap you want to take…

and the dishes in the sink…

and the laundry in the hamper…

and you fall asleep on the floor.

When your toddler wakes up,

he shouts, “Nap’s over, mommy!”

After your heart returns to its normal pace,

you pick him up and notice how

warm his little breath is…

and how he looks with sleep in his eyes…

and for some strange reason,

you’re probably going to need a tissue.

Building Community through Laughter

Turn off violent and demeaning TV programs J

Try to make people laugh in everyday interactions J

Play together (think like a 5-year old) J

Buy funny stuff from local merchants  J

Share your laughs (and your toys) with others J
Take your children to the park J

Get together with your favorite funny people once a month or more J
Read funny stories aloud instead of whining about the news J

Learn a silly dance and dance it in the street J 

Defuse conflict by adding positive humor J

Organize a Laughter Block Party J

Practice the “I must create laughs for every time I whine” philosophy J

Put one positive and funny bumper sticker on your car J

Share your humor skills J

Compliment everyone sincerely J

Start a fun & games night J

Go out to see a funny play at a local theater J
Turn down angry music and turn up fun music J

Understand people better by understanding what makes them laugh J

 Reprinted from "Don’t Get Mad, Get Funny Newsletter,” a free ezine offering tips for lightening up work and life available at www.accidentalcomic.com

. © 2008 Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant and The Comedy Workout.

All the Things You Didn't Want to Know About Me...

I'm working on a book due March 1st (yikes!) so I haven't posted in a long time, and I'll probably be too brain dead after finishing the book to post for awhile.

So I thought I'd post a list of 25 Random Things about Me, in case you're bored out of your skull and don't have anything better to do. If you're on Facebook, you know that this list thing is sweeping the site. I'm going to propose to FB that they ban all future lists and consider them spam, because they take too long to do. Just kidding! But in any event, here's mine. :)

1. I love roller coasters...and almost joined the "Roller Coaster Enthusiasts of America Club" at one time. Seriously. :)

2. I can't ride them anymore because my back has issues. Sigh.

3. I wrote two romance novels--one when I was eleven and one when I was 13. They were called "Magical Daydreams" and "Someday, Somewhere." Hopefully, they'll never, ever see the light of day. (Burn them, Mom, please!)

4. I always thought I would have girls, but I love my boys.

5. I've been on the show "Walker, Texas Ranger" as an extra (with my hubby). We actually had a couple of nice shots where we were featured--and the episode aired on our anniversary!

6. But I never saw it--and my mom didn't know how to record on her VCR so she didn't tape it for us. Drat!

7. After college, I spent two years in a Christian singing/drama group with several other college graduates, traveling the country.

8. We toured in an RV, and I actually drove it a few times. We went to 46 out of 50 states.

9. I met my hubby in that group.

10. I liked him first. :) But I never told him that. At least until we were engaged!

12. I had my dream wedding (thanks, Dad!) and planned it with my mom's help while I was on the road (thanks, Mom!).

13. I am a chocoholic. Big time!

14. I also love coffee, but can't stand it without creamer and/or sugar.

15. Growing up, I wanted to be Sandi Patti. Or Amy Grant. :)

16. I was a charter member of a Christian sorority (no, it's not an oxymoron) at Baylor. (Go, KXA!)

17.  I had the best college experience EVER.

18. It almost made up for my high school experience.

19. I grew up in a small Texas town, thinking that I would leave and never go back--and that I would live in a big city like New York or LA, or somewhere "glamorous." Now, I live in a small Texas town and love it!

20. I spent a summer in college as a youth minister to American military youth in Hanau, Germany. It was awesome!

21. I've been blessed to travel to Korea, the Philippines, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, France, Czech., and other countries--either through missions work or singing (or both).

22. I long to travel more.

23. I don't do pregnancy well. Thus, six years between my sons.

24. I really, really like chocolate. And coffee.

25. Oh, yeah, and peanut butter. :)

Fun contests--one with a $30,000 prize!

I love contests—and have won a few. Once, I won $1000 by answering and sending in a radio station survey, and then calling in when they announced my name. That was awesome--and great timing, too, since I had just found out I was pregnant with Jax. :)

And I recently won a $25 gift certificate to Amazon by submitting a creative name for a newsletter. Listen, if you don't enter, you can't win--and someone has to!

So, just for fun and your perusing enjoyment, here are a few contests with great prizes:

Huggies is having a video contest, as well as a sweepstakes. The sweepstakes is for $30,000, and you can enter every day. In the video contest, you answer a question about being a mom and upload it. They’ll choose 30 moms to star in an ad campaign and receive $300.

The BlogHer Network is hosting a contest that asks you to tell how you stretch your budget. You can win $1000 from Prego. To check out more details about this sweepstakes offer, follow this link.

At the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) site, you can write a story (up to 300 words) about how participating in the Samaritan’s Purse project has affected you--and win a trip to help deliver the boxes. How cool is that?!

And until November 1^st, at Spry Living, you can write 50 words on what “spry” means to you and win a three-night spa vacation for two. Love it!

And finally, at www.whymilk.com, you can enter to win milk for a year. That’s a lot of moo-la! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) J

Overheard at my house

This picture is one of my all-time favorites...my dad with his three oldest grandkids (baby Noah isn't in the picture) at our family ranch outside Dumas, Texas.

Now, to brighten your day, and make you either (a) supremely envious of all the time I get to spend with my children or (b) very thankful you don't live at my house, here's something I overheard in the backyard when the boys were in their clubhouse and I was playing with the dog:

Jordan (age 10): Stop licking me! Lick yourself.

Jackson (age 4): But you taste good. I taste like rotten eggs.

:)

It'd Be Funny if It Weren't So True...

Saw this at my friend Cyndy Salzmann's blogsite. Hilarious! And, as "they" say, too true to be funny!

Cutest Kid Contest

The editors of Parents are looking for the cutest kid in America between six months and six years old to be the cover kid of the magazine's November 2008 issue.

To enter Parents magazine's online baby photo contest, just upload a picture of your child before June 24 here.  Your kid could be chosen as one of five finalists, flown to New York City with a guardian and professionally photographed.

And to help you take those great summer photos (and maybe win the contest!), Sharon Elcock, who has organized hundreds of photo shoots in her role as Sittings Editor at Parents magazine for four years, shares these basic picture taking tips:

1. Do: Take photos with a really simple – but pretty background. No one wants to look at dirty dishes in your kitchen sink! Instead, go for natural scenery in front of lush greenery or pretty flowers.
2. Don't: Please, please no pictures with food on the face. Cute for grandma's refrigerator – not so much for the judges.
3. Do: Try to capture your child in a care-free, happy moment. Photos that are too staged usually don't show you're child's true energy and personality.
4. Don't: No extreme close-ups please!  It makes it hard to see the whole child.
5. Do: Be honest with yourself about your child's temperament. Does he truly enjoy taking pictures or does he burst into tears the moment you point the digital at him? If he does not like taking pictures at this time in his development, be patient! Chances are, with time, he may come to like the camera. Enter the contest then and watch him win!
6. Don't: Lose the hat, the towel draped over the kid's head – what are you hiding under there?
7. Do: Try taking pictures using interesting, fun angles.

Have fun, and good luck!

Permission to Play Contest

Are you a frazzled family? If so, you might want to check this out...Southwest Airlines is sponsoring an essay contest with the prize of a fun trip to a brand new theme park! See details here...and hurry, the deadline is March 9th.