Everyone deserves a fresh start. This year, my family and I could certainly use a clean slate. Full of challenges and stresses that would rival the building of the Great Wall of China, this year is one that we can be proud to have made it through, but for the grace of God. Now that we put some of that behind us, we are looking toward making New Year's resolutions.
Resoultions can seem silly because so many people make unrealistic goals and demands on themselves that they have no hope of ever accomplishing, but I look it as an opportunity. An opportunity to set small goals for yourself and your family to improve. This year my goal is to pay more attention to this blog. It has been a bit neglected lately, and that's not fair. My husband's resolution was semi-forced on him by his doctor and his cholestorol test: to be more active. (The damage done to his body was done before I was involed in "Spaeth Catering" everyday. lol) The bottom line is that both of our goals will help us be a better family, by improving our mental and physical health we can be better parents.
So make a resolution, a small realistic one. And if you feel so bold....share it with us.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Cold and Flu Season
I think I'm a germaphobe. Ever since my husband and I had our first child, I have been manic about germs. For a while I taught in a public school, where children came to school sneezing and coughing and felt the need to share their misfortune with anyone within a mile radius.
Our child was born in October, which is the height of cold and flu season. This only indulged my germaphobia. The doctor that saw our baby in the hospital said that we should not feel the need to let everyone hold her, especially if they seemed to be germy. That sealed it for me. Everyone had to sanitize their hands the second they walked in the door. My poor husband could not get within feet of the baby until he changed his shirt and sanitized his hands. I would take scalding hot showers before I would hold her if I went out. The showers may be a bit crazy, but the truth be told, she never had more than a cold for the last two years, and neither have we.
It seems that people seem to feel that germs are just a natural part of the winter season and we should just learn to get through it. Well, maybe not. Yes, there may be more germs when the human race is huhddled up in their cozy houses waiting for the big chill to where off, but shouldn't we be more considerate? Shouldn't we know not to shake hands with someone when our noses are leaking more fluids than the Panama Canal? Shouldn't we know that if we have a fever or cannot stop coughing that it would be best to stay home rather than infect the populus? Shouldn't we know that we should use tissues rather than our shelves?
Well, the truthis that there are people who just cannot avoid being sick and still have to work, go shopping, and circulate among the masses. So here are a couple tips from one mom to the world:
1) Always carry a small container of hand saniziter or saniziting wipes. Wipe everyone in the families hands clean after you have visited a public place like a library, museum, or resturant.
2) Wipe down grocery store carts or department store carts, especially during the shopping season.
3) Through diaper bags, changing pads, floppy seats, car seat liners, and winter gear in the wash as much as possible. Think of all the places that you have set down your bags or winter gear and then all the places in your home that you have set them down. Yuck!
4) Make an effort not to touch your face when you have touched public doorknobs, gone shopping, or pets.
Anymore tips? Please let us know. This the season.
Our child was born in October, which is the height of cold and flu season. This only indulged my germaphobia. The doctor that saw our baby in the hospital said that we should not feel the need to let everyone hold her, especially if they seemed to be germy. That sealed it for me. Everyone had to sanitize their hands the second they walked in the door. My poor husband could not get within feet of the baby until he changed his shirt and sanitized his hands. I would take scalding hot showers before I would hold her if I went out. The showers may be a bit crazy, but the truth be told, she never had more than a cold for the last two years, and neither have we.
It seems that people seem to feel that germs are just a natural part of the winter season and we should just learn to get through it. Well, maybe not. Yes, there may be more germs when the human race is huhddled up in their cozy houses waiting for the big chill to where off, but shouldn't we be more considerate? Shouldn't we know not to shake hands with someone when our noses are leaking more fluids than the Panama Canal? Shouldn't we know that if we have a fever or cannot stop coughing that it would be best to stay home rather than infect the populus? Shouldn't we know that we should use tissues rather than our shelves?
Well, the truthis that there are people who just cannot avoid being sick and still have to work, go shopping, and circulate among the masses. So here are a couple tips from one mom to the world:
1) Always carry a small container of hand saniziter or saniziting wipes. Wipe everyone in the families hands clean after you have visited a public place like a library, museum, or resturant.
2) Wipe down grocery store carts or department store carts, especially during the shopping season.
3) Through diaper bags, changing pads, floppy seats, car seat liners, and winter gear in the wash as much as possible. Think of all the places that you have set down your bags or winter gear and then all the places in your home that you have set them down. Yuck!
4) Make an effort not to touch your face when you have touched public doorknobs, gone shopping, or pets.
Anymore tips? Please let us know. This the season.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
We have so much to be grateful for this year. My family and I have survived a nasty car accident with an unlicensed driver almost two weeks ago now. It was a crazy time, but we are all so thankful to God that we are all here and healthy enough to celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving. We also want to thank everyone for their well wishes from our family at St. Peter's to our friends and close family here at home. Thank you!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
School Days
Alright, so I have to get something off my chest! As a former teacher, I have seen all kinds of parents doing what they think is best for their children's education. And now that I am a parent doing the very same thing, the best for my child, my husband and I frequently make sure that we are doing just that, and not pushing our child into something that doesn't fit!
Education is such a valuable gift that we can give to our children. Like faith, education and the love of learning walk with a person through their entire lives. How can we ensure that we are providing all that we can for our children? Money certainly isn't the answer, contrary to some opinions. The best way that we can ensure that our children's education is meeting their needs is to become an advocate for our children. This can be super difficult when grandparents, societal norms, and labeling push parents into prematurely identifying something that isn't there.
Listening and teaching people were two of the most outward examples of God's love and mercy that Jesus portrayed on earth. Understanding and exemplifying compassion toward our children, and their learning, may be two ways that we can model Christ to our children. Once we are able to truly identify the areas of strength and improvement, we are better able to provide assistance to children in the form of classes, professionals, methods, technology, or especially our presence may be the most helpful to a child's learning. Instead of pushing children into learning, we as parents and teachers must guide our children's learning and support them. Children instinctively want to learn. We must not damper that enthusiasm with pressure from outside sources.
As a teacher, I found the most profound learning advances always came when students worked together and felt that they were in a safe environment to express themselves and appreciate others. Parents that were concerned about their child's education were always welcomed by teaching professionals. It was obvious that learning first started in the homes of many students, with their parents as models. It is critical to a solid education that parents of children of all needs be reminded that their child's first teachers and classrooms start in their homes. And it is critical that parents take their role as teacher seriously enough to ensure the gift of education remains sacred and valued. Thanks, for letting me get that off my chest!
Education is such a valuable gift that we can give to our children. Like faith, education and the love of learning walk with a person through their entire lives. How can we ensure that we are providing all that we can for our children? Money certainly isn't the answer, contrary to some opinions. The best way that we can ensure that our children's education is meeting their needs is to become an advocate for our children. This can be super difficult when grandparents, societal norms, and labeling push parents into prematurely identifying something that isn't there.
Listening and teaching people were two of the most outward examples of God's love and mercy that Jesus portrayed on earth. Understanding and exemplifying compassion toward our children, and their learning, may be two ways that we can model Christ to our children. Once we are able to truly identify the areas of strength and improvement, we are better able to provide assistance to children in the form of classes, professionals, methods, technology, or especially our presence may be the most helpful to a child's learning. Instead of pushing children into learning, we as parents and teachers must guide our children's learning and support them. Children instinctively want to learn. We must not damper that enthusiasm with pressure from outside sources.
As a teacher, I found the most profound learning advances always came when students worked together and felt that they were in a safe environment to express themselves and appreciate others. Parents that were concerned about their child's education were always welcomed by teaching professionals. It was obvious that learning first started in the homes of many students, with their parents as models. It is critical to a solid education that parents of children of all needs be reminded that their child's first teachers and classrooms start in their homes. And it is critical that parents take their role as teacher seriously enough to ensure the gift of education remains sacred and valued. Thanks, for letting me get that off my chest!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Family Service
So I am a huge classic movie fan. I love them all from Lost Angel to The African Queen to Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. I love the escapism that classic movies provide. It's a world far far away. But the reality is that we live in a world that needs as much help as we are able to contribute. As a mother, I want my children to be able to contribute and give to the community from an early age.
I learned once that Joan Crawford, a classic actress, made her children reluctantly donate their favorite Christmas presents each year to needy families. Although an admirable act of charity, the method may have been a bit muddled. I wanted to be more clear, and less cruel, when modeling service for my children. A birthday recently came upon our family and my husband and I decided that it was the right age for our child to begin a service project independent from our family service projects. So when the invitations went out, we asked each guest to contribute a non-perishable food item to the party celebrations. We collected the food and donated it to the U.S. Postal Service Harvest Food Drive, a food donation program for those in need in our community. Our child was involved in all the different parts of this project and really felt like they were helping others.
The great part about this service project was that it has greater meaning then just donating to a local program. The birthday party was a "Pasta Party." It was based on one of our favorite children's story that tells of a girl and her mother of whom are poor and hungry, till they are given a magic pasta pot. The young girl and her mother, so over joyed by their good fortune, hold an annual pasta party for their community in thanksgiving. So as the guests arrived we had them pile their items in the biggest pasta pot that we could find, putting a visual to the story for our family. And the best part was that it was all our child's idea. I love it when it all works out that way.
Even if you and your family already complete many service projects here are a few more ideas. Check out Make a Difference in 15 Minutes http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteenminutes.htm. I love this site and I know you will too. What do you and your family do as service projects? Share.
I learned once that Joan Crawford, a classic actress, made her children reluctantly donate their favorite Christmas presents each year to needy families. Although an admirable act of charity, the method may have been a bit muddled. I wanted to be more clear, and less cruel, when modeling service for my children. A birthday recently came upon our family and my husband and I decided that it was the right age for our child to begin a service project independent from our family service projects. So when the invitations went out, we asked each guest to contribute a non-perishable food item to the party celebrations. We collected the food and donated it to the U.S. Postal Service Harvest Food Drive, a food donation program for those in need in our community. Our child was involved in all the different parts of this project and really felt like they were helping others.
The great part about this service project was that it has greater meaning then just donating to a local program. The birthday party was a "Pasta Party." It was based on one of our favorite children's story that tells of a girl and her mother of whom are poor and hungry, till they are given a magic pasta pot. The young girl and her mother, so over joyed by their good fortune, hold an annual pasta party for their community in thanksgiving. So as the guests arrived we had them pile their items in the biggest pasta pot that we could find, putting a visual to the story for our family. And the best part was that it was all our child's idea. I love it when it all works out that way.
Even if you and your family already complete many service projects here are a few more ideas. Check out Make a Difference in 15 Minutes http://charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteenminutes.htm. I love this site and I know you will too. What do you and your family do as service projects? Share.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Thursday Night Retreats
I've been working on this post for a while and I would love to hear what you have to say.
Life seems to steadily get far more complicated by the end of the week then at the beginning. I really wish this wasn't true. For many, this may seem reasonable since most of us have relaxed to some degree on the weekends and take that calming nature with us into the week ahead. But for some, our lives are not broken up that simply. Some work nights, some have strange schedules, work weekends, have multiple jobs, or try to squeeze in as many family activities humanly possible into 48 hours that going to work on Monday seems like a relief from the weekend.
My family is on such a strange work/relax schedule that trying to keep the same two days a week to slow down and enjoy each other has become a secret priority.
To find some time where I can relax and find peace, I have begun taking mini-retreats. Bear with me for a minute while I explain myself. My cable company airs a channel called EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network). For those who haven't heard of it, EWTN is a global Catholic network run by Sisters and Brothers, as well as lay people. On Thursday nights at 8PM a program called Life on the Rock is broadcast. They invite guests who exemplify, for me, the modern Catholic, to share their story and gain support. By their example hopefully viewers can gain a better understanding of the Faith and maybe examine their own lives. The program is largely an interview between the clergy and a guest.
I like my little faith time-out. I enjoy my time reflecting and listening to others so much that I make sure I have answered phone calls, taken care of family, and feed the dogs before this program so that I am uninterrupted. I invite you to check out my mini-Thursday retreats. It's my quite time. And check out www.EWTN.com for more programming info.
Life seems to steadily get far more complicated by the end of the week then at the beginning. I really wish this wasn't true. For many, this may seem reasonable since most of us have relaxed to some degree on the weekends and take that calming nature with us into the week ahead. But for some, our lives are not broken up that simply. Some work nights, some have strange schedules, work weekends, have multiple jobs, or try to squeeze in as many family activities humanly possible into 48 hours that going to work on Monday seems like a relief from the weekend.
My family is on such a strange work/relax schedule that trying to keep the same two days a week to slow down and enjoy each other has become a secret priority.
To find some time where I can relax and find peace, I have begun taking mini-retreats. Bear with me for a minute while I explain myself. My cable company airs a channel called EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network). For those who haven't heard of it, EWTN is a global Catholic network run by Sisters and Brothers, as well as lay people. On Thursday nights at 8PM a program called Life on the Rock is broadcast. They invite guests who exemplify, for me, the modern Catholic, to share their story and gain support. By their example hopefully viewers can gain a better understanding of the Faith and maybe examine their own lives. The program is largely an interview between the clergy and a guest.
I like my little faith time-out. I enjoy my time reflecting and listening to others so much that I make sure I have answered phone calls, taken care of family, and feed the dogs before this program so that I am uninterrupted. I invite you to check out my mini-Thursday retreats. It's my quite time. And check out www.EWTN.com for more programming info.
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