Yesterday, on the ride home from school, my sweet Logan said that a girl in her class (who shall remain nameless...okay it was Taylor) told her that her "hair was gross." This irritated me on a number of levels.
One, I am Logan's personal hairdresser, so I take all hair related comments quite personally. Two, her hair was NOT gross. I stand by my work. Three, my daughter already dislikes her gorgeous curly hair and complains every day that she wants straight hair like her friend Emily, so I do not need a heartless 6-year old adding to her already somewhat distorted self-image. And four, bratty kids bug a mamma bear, let's be honest.
So I asked all the pertinent questions...
Me: Why did she say that?
Logan: I don't know.
Me: Had you done something to her?
Logan: No. She's always mean to me.
Me: Well, what did you say?
Logan: Nothing. I just ignored her.
Then I gave her a little advice...
Me: You know what you should have said? You should have said, "Yeah? Well I think your personality is gross, and I can always cut my hair."
That last part made my friend Shilo gasp, "Laurel!?" but I don't think arming my children with some verbal defense tactics is such a bad thing. I'm not for drawing first blood, but I firmly believe in teaching kids how to put bullies in their place. Is that so wrong, people?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
What Do You Know? I Was Right Again!
Some of my friends have taken to calling me "The Queen," and I'm officially going on record to say that I hate it! I have told them as much to their faces, but they think I'm kidding. I'm not.
Okay, so maybe I do think that I am right a lot of the time. Turns out that I AM right a lot of the time. Is that my fault?
Anyway, to prove them wrong, I took a personality test on line, and as it turns out I'm a green: Officially (Can an online personality test be called official?...for these purposes, yes!) Officially, I am "the most down to earth color of the spectrum."
Hah, my friends!!! Take that and shove it in your royal you know what's!
You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!
What color are you?
Okay, so maybe I do think that I am right a lot of the time. Turns out that I AM right a lot of the time. Is that my fault?
Anyway, to prove them wrong, I took a personality test on line, and as it turns out I'm a green: Officially (Can an online personality test be called official?...for these purposes, yes!) Officially, I am "the most down to earth color of the spectrum."
Hah, my friends!!! Take that and shove it in your royal you know what's!
You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!
What color are you?
Friday, February 8, 2008
Under the Weather
I know some of my Utah friends are sick of this:
But I'm just sick, period:
Wanna trade? Please?
But I'm just sick, period:
Wanna trade? Please?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Sew What?
Today I'm sewing, and I hate sewing. It makes me grouchy. So grouchy, in fact, that my friend told me I should try to limit my swearing on this current project to five curse words. So far I've used two.I'm not bragging. Believe me this is not something I am proud of, but sewing makes me crazy. Like foaming at the mouth, pulling out my hair, nuts.
Poor Mr. Wicke. You can imagine his horror when he sees me haul out the sewing machine. Inwardly he must be cringing, but outwardly he is stoic, even when this goes down:
Mr. Wicke: Is there anything I can do to help?
Madwoman: (armed with a seam ripper) Just stay away from me! I mean it!
Mr. Wicke: (backing slowly towards the door and shepherding the children behind him) Okay, okay...We'll just be in the next room if you needs us...
Madwoman: Fine, fine...(and with more twitching and incomprehensible muttering she turns back to her work.)
So why do I do it, you may ask. Because I want pretty things in my house that I can't afford to buy. *@#% budget! Ah, nuts. Three down, two to go.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Preschool
Some friends and I do a rotating preschool for our 3 and 4 year olds two days a week this year. Last week it was at our house. Now don't get me wrong, they are cute and they love "school", but I can't help thinking the whole time, "Yes...teaching high school was the right decision for me." Here's an example:
Me: Okay guys, today we get to learn about the letter U! Look at this. You see this letter? It starts at the sky, curves down to touch the grass, and goes back up to the sky. Do you see that? That is the letter U. Now what letter is that?
Them: (blank stares)
Me: That's the letter U. The letter U says, "yoo" or "uh." Can you say that? "Yoo..."
Them: "Yoo."
Me: "Uh."
Them: "Uh."
Me: Very good! Let's see which of these pictures start with a "yoo" or "uh" sound. If it starts with "yoo" or "uh" let's circle it, okay? Oooh, what's that first picture?
Them: A giraffe!!!
Me: Right! Does that start with a U? Does it say "yoo" or "uh?"
Them: Yes!
Me: Are you sure? Uh, uh...giraffe. G-g-g-giraffe? Does that sound like uh or yoo?
Them: Uh-huh.
Me: No--no it doesn't. Don't circle that. What's next?
Them: An umbrella!!
Me: Good! Does that start with the letter U?
Them: NO!!
Me: Hey, I've got an idea! Let's paint!
And that's why I teach teenagers. But, I have to admit: Teenagers aren't nearly as cute as this:
Me: Okay guys, today we get to learn about the letter U! Look at this. You see this letter? It starts at the sky, curves down to touch the grass, and goes back up to the sky. Do you see that? That is the letter U. Now what letter is that?
Them: (blank stares)
Me: That's the letter U. The letter U says, "yoo" or "uh." Can you say that? "Yoo..."
Them: "Yoo."
Me: "Uh."
Them: "Uh."
Me: Very good! Let's see which of these pictures start with a "yoo" or "uh" sound. If it starts with "yoo" or "uh" let's circle it, okay? Oooh, what's that first picture?
Them: A giraffe!!!
Me: Right! Does that start with a U? Does it say "yoo" or "uh?"
Them: Yes!
Me: Are you sure? Uh, uh...giraffe. G-g-g-giraffe? Does that sound like uh or yoo?
Them: Uh-huh.
Me: No--no it doesn't. Don't circle that. What's next?
Them: An umbrella!!
Me: Good! Does that start with the letter U?
Them: NO!!
Me: Hey, I've got an idea! Let's paint!
And that's why I teach teenagers. But, I have to admit: Teenagers aren't nearly as cute as this:
You Might Be Getting Older When...
...a blazin' hot Friday night includes:
1. Getting take out from here.
2. Getting a movie from here:
3. And watching your friends do this:
It was 10:20pm. Yup, we've officially crossed over.
1. Getting take out from here.
2. Getting a movie from here:
3. And watching your friends do this:
It was 10:20pm. Yup, we've officially crossed over.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Choosing Happiness
My blogger friend EKB posted a question the other day that got my mind churning. She asked, "What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you plan?"
It's an important question given its universality. While considering just my immediate friends and family there are: people who wish they were married and are not, did marry only to later divorce, want children and can't bear them, had a child who died, had a child who made poor decisions, had a child with a handicap, lost a spouse, live in a dissatisfying marriage, struggle with depression, face ill health, watch someone they love suffer, grew up with a lousy parent, grew up without a parent, settled for a less than dreamy job so they could be a more involved parent, work their dream job but don't make enough money, make a lot of money but hate their job...okay, okay, you get the idea. And that is just people I know. The list of heartbreaking and challenging circumstances in the world is endless.
The realization that life rarely turns out the way we plan seems to be the baptism into adulthood. The question then becomes: If the vast majority of us are living among the shards of shattered dreams, is it possible to be happy given the debris? I believe the answer is a resounding yes!
First of all, let's get one thing straight. Suffering has important purposes. Among its predominant blessings are greater wisdom, empathy, humility, and character. If we floated through life, unopposed by circumstances, always getting our way, wouldn't we remain childish in our scope of vision and character developement? Yes, and so God in his great wisdom put into motion a world that, by its very nature, would be unfair. Not to torment us, but to be the making of us, depending upon our reactions to the disappoints we endure. That is the tipping point. Often so much of our energy and focus is on the trial--"Why did this have to happen? It isn't fair. Why me?"--when the trial is not the point. Quite frankly, if it wasn't one thing it would be another. No, it is not the trial but our reaction to it that will determine our life satisfaction.
The picture of our life is first determined by the brush we choose to paint it with. Happiness is a choice.
So, my question to you today is: How do YOU choose to be happy despite life's disappointments?
It's an important question given its universality. While considering just my immediate friends and family there are: people who wish they were married and are not, did marry only to later divorce, want children and can't bear them, had a child who died, had a child who made poor decisions, had a child with a handicap, lost a spouse, live in a dissatisfying marriage, struggle with depression, face ill health, watch someone they love suffer, grew up with a lousy parent, grew up without a parent, settled for a less than dreamy job so they could be a more involved parent, work their dream job but don't make enough money, make a lot of money but hate their job...okay, okay, you get the idea. And that is just people I know. The list of heartbreaking and challenging circumstances in the world is endless.
The realization that life rarely turns out the way we plan seems to be the baptism into adulthood. The question then becomes: If the vast majority of us are living among the shards of shattered dreams, is it possible to be happy given the debris? I believe the answer is a resounding yes!
First of all, let's get one thing straight. Suffering has important purposes. Among its predominant blessings are greater wisdom, empathy, humility, and character. If we floated through life, unopposed by circumstances, always getting our way, wouldn't we remain childish in our scope of vision and character developement? Yes, and so God in his great wisdom put into motion a world that, by its very nature, would be unfair. Not to torment us, but to be the making of us, depending upon our reactions to the disappoints we endure. That is the tipping point. Often so much of our energy and focus is on the trial--"Why did this have to happen? It isn't fair. Why me?"--when the trial is not the point. Quite frankly, if it wasn't one thing it would be another. No, it is not the trial but our reaction to it that will determine our life satisfaction.
The picture of our life is first determined by the brush we choose to paint it with. Happiness is a choice.
So, my question to you today is: How do YOU choose to be happy despite life's disappointments?
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