Parenthood- List Part 1

Things that I have realized from being a parent. (please keep this list away from all children, otherwise they will know all of my secrets ;)

1.  Most of the time, I have no idea what I am doing
2.  Sometimes you have to choose your battles
3.  Structure and Rules without Love is worthless
4.  I'm not lazy, I am just exhausted
5.  Whats the point if you can't spoil them at a least a little??
6.  Bribery is almost always necessary ;)
7.  I rocked both of my kids to sleep,  it didn't spoil them (maybe temporarily), but once they are big, you can't do it anymore
8.  They are only little once (so hold them, rock them, kiss them, love them as much as possible before they are too big, because by then you are lucky is they acknowledge you)
9.  You can't get back missed moments (so always cherish them)
10.  Every child is different, what works with one doesn't always work with the other
11.  Learn their currency, it always helps
12.  Sometimes it takes all I have to keep a straight face when disciplining my kids
13.  Apologize for your mistakes,  it shows imperfectness and humility
14.  I am your parent, not your friend, I will be your friend when you are older
15.  I don't think any parent has it all together,  its impossible, some are just better at making it look like they do,  so don't feel inferior as a parent if you don't, believe me you are not alone
16.  Sometimes I want them to stay little, other times I wish they would hurry up and grow up
17.  Don't always focus on the negative, if they feel like they can never do anything right, then they will never try to
18.  Always acknowledge their accomplishments no matter how small,  it builds their self esteem and shows that you are paying attention
19.  No one told me that I would love them so much

God must really love me because He gave two amazing kids that I know I don't deserve.

(I made this a part 1 of a list because I am sure that as I learn my list will get longer and longer)

I Didn't Even Get to Say Goodbye

My oldest cleaned out his room the other day.  He put all of his little toys in a bag. He kept telling me that I needed to go through the bags.  Of course I kept putting it off.  So my hubby stepped in and went through them.  He threw away the broken ones and then got rid of the rest.

A few days later I went in my sons room to finally go through the bags.  I didn't even know that my husband had already beat me to it.  I guess I was just a little heart broken.  He got rid of almost all of his action figures, all of his "little kid" toys.  Sure a lot of them were broken but I didn't even get to say goodbye.  His transformers gone,  his power rangers gone, they were all gone.  Just a few remained.

This past weekend I finished helping him clean up.  We actually we are still not done, we will finish up this weekend.  I did manage to save some of my favorite toys, it took a little convincing.

Now video games and his imagination station have taken over (he likes to invent things).  I do have to admit that his room is a lot cleaner but still.  I thought getting rid of the baby toys was hard.  This is even harder because now he is turning into a little man.  No baby no more, not even a trace.

I Always Have To Learn The Hard Way

I was up till after three yesterday morning and it was not by choice.  Once again my stupidity gets the best of me.

I just couldn't fall asleep, my mind was racing.  I had more energy then usual.  Trying to figure out what in the world was going on. Then it hit me.

Before dinner around 7:30 the night before I decided to take this new all natural supplement that is supposed to help your body burn calories.  I am really trying to lose that last 10-15 pounds, you know the hardest pounds to lose.  I guess I just didn't learn my lesson from last time.  The instructions said take 1 tablet, 1-2 times daily, 1 hour before meals.  So that is what I did, give or take 20 minutes.

I knew that my dinner wasn't very healthy so I made sure to take one before.  Well that is where my trouble began.  I was really tired that evening but falling asleep was impossible.  I went to bed around 10:00 pm and spent the next several hours wide awake.  I must have gotten up about twenty times.  It was seriously driving me nuts.

Finally falling asleep after three in the morning.  I was a zombie at work the next day,  completely exhausted and tired.  I was jittery and jumpy too.  I was past the point of crazy.  Well at least this time I didn't end up in the hospital ;)

Apparently I am very sensitive to any kind of stimulant, wish my fat was really sensitive and burn off like it is supposed to.  But no I have to learn the hard way.  Guess another one bites the dust.  I will just have to do things the old fashioned way,  watching what I eat and exercising.  Not fun ;)

Mr. Didn't Want to Do Anything

When we first arrived at family camp my oldest didn't want to do anything.  They had tons of activities and he had an excuse for everything.  He didn't want to ride horses, he didn't want to ride in a boat.  So I just put him down for everything.  I told him that he just had to do everything once and then he wouldn't have to do it again if he didn't want to, but he at least had to try it once.

When we went horseback riding he complained the whole way there.  Once we were done he wanted to know when we could go again.  The same thing with tubing.  He didn't want to go until he went and then after that he couldn't get enough.  He had a blast and he made a lot of friends too, a lot from last year too. 

Mr. didn't want to do anything.  Good thing I'm a mean mommy that makes my kids do things that they don't want to do.  I know them better then they know themselves. Sometimes they just need a little push.

That's What Little Girls Do

At family camp we had morning and evening worship.  My little one liked to sit next her little friend.  They are about a week apart in age.  His dad used to be the pastor at our Church.  So we kind of arranged for them to get married when then are old enough ;)

So they sang their song, there was a skit and then the Pastor (the little ones friends dad) was sharing a message with the group (mini sermon).  As I look over to check on the little ones, I see my little one plant a great big one smack on the lips of her little friend.  The look on his face was priceless as his eyes were the biggest I had ever seen.  Thinking, rather hoping that nobody else saw,  hoping that they were paying attention to the message and not the two cute kiddies in the front.  Later finding out it was the talk of the day.

The Pastors wife, who is just an awesome friend leans over to me and says "When they are older we will just have to tell them they already kissed".  She just takes everything in stride, I felt better.

I guess that is just what little girls do.  If only I had my camera, but at least that image will stay in my head forever.  It was tooo cute.

No Fear

Last week at family camp, we did a lot.  I personally had to step out of my comfort zone for quite a few things.  My kids seem to let nothing faze them.  We went ziplining.  Now I for one am scared of heights, and two don't like to not have control over a situation.  So you can see how ziplining is the perfect choice for me.  I had to pump myself up for days, but I did it and I survived.  It was so much fun,  except for not knowing how to brake, but that was just funny.

My oldest went on it like nothing,  he didn't even blink.  My youngest got excited and told us all that she was going to do it all by herself.  She did, but one it started got a little scared because of the noise from the wire.  She didn't cry, she just had a really serious face at the end.

We all took a turn and had a blast.  I will try to post more about our vacation at family camp.

It's Official- I'm Crazy

(TMI DISCLAIMER- proceed with caution)

Well Monday will not be forgotten any time soon.  It was an experience to say the least, an expensive one at that. 

In an attempt to become healthier, I decided to make an effort to take all of my supplements and eat better. I am a real slacker when it comes to taking pills. I even attempted to try a new supplement, this is where my trouble began.

It was a hectic day.  What I thought I ordered for lunch and what I got for lunch were two different things, so needless to say I didn't eat much and about an hour later I was starving.  It was a few hours after that, that I got off and headed home.  Around 5:00 pm I took my supplements and the new one, we left to pick up the kids and then headed to eat dinner out.  Remind you I hadn't eaten anything since lunch. 

Around 5:45 pm we were in the car and I got this weird overwhelming feeling.  My heart stared racing and my body went weak and I thought I was having a panic attack.  Since I have these often I figured it would pass.  It did, then it happened again.  It ended up happening at least four different times at the restaurant. 

I knew something wasn't right so I started to think back, look at the time frame.  I figured it had to be the new supplement that I was taking.  I took it on an empty stomach and it is supposed to help with energy and metabolism, so that had to be it.  Only now I was having panic attacks induced by the rapid heartbeat and was unable to eat.

I made my husband take me to the emergency room. After blood work, an EKG and peeing in a cup (that in itself was an experience,  I had about ten wires hooked up to me). I told that doctor what I had taken, gave him the timeline. The ER doctor said well if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is probably a duck.  They had to give me anti-anxiety medicine through an IV to make the attacks stop. GO ME!!!!

Five hours in the emergency room and I am sure a hefty bill to go with it.

I am better now, but what an experience.  I learned my lesson. Note to self, take vitamins and supplements with food and throw that stupid new stuff away ;)