Where Have I Been Lately?

Maybe you have been wondering if I forgot about my dear blog. Where are the Christmas pictures you ask? What about all those silly Sammy Says posts? Was it just a 2007 thing?

No friends, it is just that I have been extremely busy and totally stressed out. I have been busy as a bee trying to declutter and organize my home. We are moving in June and we are putting our house on the market March 1st. I have so much to do before then!!!! I know there is no way I can keep my house as clean as it needs to be when people come to see it if I don't get rid of most of my stuff.

Generally, I blog at night while the kids are asleep but I have been taking advantage of the kid-free time to sort, pack, and organize. Despite being totally tired of caring for 3 kids (who have been sick on and off since November), I feel the drive to clean this place up and so I have been using my former blogging hours to get organized and cleaned up.

My office has been an embarrassment to me because it is chock full of STUFF! The realtor comes tomorrow at 1:00 pm. and I will have this house looking decent-not perfect-but decent. I have packed up most of my kids toys (I don't think they even miss them); most of my craft supplies; the majority of my closet; and lots of other stuff. Despite all the work I have done, I still feel like I have so much to do. Yesterday we took 7 bags of clothes to Goodwill (7 BAGS-that is pathetic!) and a bunch of other stuff. It feels so good to purge! If I had my way, I would get rid of everything and start over in our next house.

So you ask, "Why are you blogging tonight? Don't you have stuff to do?" Well, yes, but it is Sunday and I'm taking a break. Besides, I'm getting a head cold. I'm all congested and tired and I don't feel like doing anything. So I'm taking it easy so I can get ready for some more hard work in the morning. Pray that Ben cooperates! I have a lot to do before 1:00!

Dear Santa Claus

Emily has been so cute this Christmas season. She has been trying to understand Santa Claus and how the whole reindeer, naughty and nice, and present thing works. She has been trying so hard to be extra good so she will get some presents. Earlier this month she even wrote a letter to Santa Claus tattle-telling on Sam (just to make sure Santa was well informed).

The entire day on Christmas Eve she tried so hard to do everything right. She worked diligently cleaning up her toys and not making any messes (because at our house Santa Claus doesn't come to a messy house). She spent some time drawing a picture for Santa and taped some treats (leftover Halloween candy) to it (see above). She also left him a present along with some cookies (that her Primary teacher gave her). She left her sweet offering near the Christmas tree so Santa would be sure to see it.

Another Sammy Says...

Early one morning there was a beautiful frost covering everything, Sam looks out the car window and says, "Mom, look! There's a snowflake tree! (Just as you would say, "Look! An apple tree.)

The picture doesn't capture the beauty of that morning. The sun was glistening off the frost covered trees. It was amazing.

Sammy Says...

The other day Sam was running around the living room yelling:

I'm a spaceship!

I'm blasting off!

I'm squirting fire!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I love the Christmas season. There is always so much to do to get ready for the big day. Christmas cards to send, presents to buy, packages to ship, food to prepare, and so much more. Because of all the excitement, I have to admit, I have not had time to blog lately. But, never fear blog readers, I'll post more soon. In the meantime, Merry Christmas!!

A Tablespoon of Honey is the Medicine That Goes Down

I have had a cough since Saturday and it has been driving me crazy. Brad read an article that said that a tablespoon of honey is more effective than an over-the-counter cough suppressant. So I decided to try it and I have to admit that it works great. For the past two nights I have taken a tablespoon of honey at bedtime and I did not wake up coughing. This afternoon I was coughing a lot (Sorry Sarah, I was coughing throughout your lovely birthday luncheon) and I took some when I got home. Sure enough my coughing has eased.

I have to admit, I don't usually use alternatives to drugs. I'm more than happy to relieve my symptoms by taking a little pill but I'll vouch for a tablespoon of honey (just don't give it to babies younger than one).

No by David Walsh, PhD

This book was reviewed in our local newspaper awhile back and it interested me so I checked it out from the library. I really enjoyed this book. I felt like it reflected our parenting style. It was nice to have a book validate what I have always believed in.

Here are a few chapter headings:

• No: Why Kids Need it
• Saying No in a Yes Culture
• No and the Brain
• Self-Esteem: Kids Need the Real Thing
• Taming the Gimmes
• Raising Media Wise Kids
• No is Not a Destination; No is the Road to Yes

He also has a chapter on different stages and how No is applicable and important during that stage such as toddler, middle years, teenage, etc.

At the end of each chapter he has Do's and Don'ts as well as a checklist to see how you are doing and where you need to improve.

Some points I like in the book:

• Tell stories that promote values.
• Slow down and take time to listen to your children.
• Limit your child's media.
• Teach your children patience. Make sure they periodically have to wait for things.
• Evaluate whether you allow your child to face No.
• Make family a priority.
• Decide if your kids are doing too much.
• Don't do things for your kids that they should be able to do for themselves.
• Don't become a nonstop entertainment committee for your children.
• Don't give your children everything they want.
• Don't become a doormat for disrespectful behavior. Tolerance and patience are important parental traits, but you are allowed to insist-and should insist- on courteous and responsible behavior by your children.

Here's what he has to say about balanced parenting:

• Clearly establish limits with judicious use of No.
• Firmly, consistently enforce consequences.
• Be respectful and engaged with your kids and require that from them in return.
• Keep an emotional connection with your kids.
• Demand accountability and responsibility, but always combine your demands with respect and warmth.
• Negotiate, up to a point, You set the rules as the parent.
• Give and take and-only occasionally-compromise.

My goal as a parent is to raise children who will be able to handle being an adult. I hope they will become successful, competent, loving, hard-working, spiritual adults (to name a few). If kids are not given a chance to face difficulties, how will they learn once they leave the nest. At least when they are at home, they can learn what they need to in a loving, caring, safe environment.

I also like how Dr. Walsh discusses how media influences children. Brad and I take the media's influence very seriously. Our kids do not watch any TV at home. We limit movies to long road trips and occasionally a free movie in the theater. We make sure the movies they do see are appropriate for their age and maturity. We do let them play computer games but this does not happen frequently enough to be a problem and most of the games they play are educational or art activities.

Some people think this is strange but we LOVE it!!!! I could post all the reasons why and how and what and maybe I will sometime but for this post I'll say that it is a blessing in our house. At this time of the year, I'm grateful that no one is telling my kids what they want for Christmas. Since they are not exposed to commercials, they decide for themselves.

So I would encourage all parents to find a copy and see what might help your family.