Monthly Archives: July 2012

Whirlwind Week: Friday Fragments

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Thanks to Mrs. 4444 for hosting “Friday Fragments” over at her place:Half-Past Kissin' Time

Musings I’ve had throughout the week:

  • 6-days in a row of competitive swimming, outdoors in 95+ degree weather will cause a 12-year old to have a complete meltdown due to exhaustion when he is awakened at 5am on day 7 for 6am swimming practice.
  • Taking time to pack a cooler full of healthy bites for said days of competitive swimming is time that is wasted because all 3 will just keep asking for $$$ for the concession stand.
  • Giving $$$$ to my swimmers without specifying what they are allowed to spend it on will result in blue mouths, sugar highs, and a massive sugar crash.
  • Having a husband that is a DIYer is VERY handy when it comes to improving your home!
  • Hosting an outdoor swimming invitational for 2 9-hour days kinda sucks the life out of you.
  • The power of prayer can do amazing things.
  • Comedian, Steve Martin, is a very talented author.  “An Object of Beauty”, is my latest read and I was amazed!
  • My boys must be having growth spurts, I can’t keep them full and they are eating everything in sight!
  • Having elite swimmers is a great feeling, but it sure makes championship swimming season looooonnnnnggggg.
  • Someone really needs to figure out how to put a “fold laundry” cycle on my dryer.
  • Getting a pedicure makes me feel like a new woman!
  • I become nervous when my 12-year old talks about modifying Nerf guns, and the fact that he looks up everything he needs to know on the internet kind of impresses me.
  • As much as we need the rain, I really am hoping for a clear weekend so that I can relax by the pool.

Bloom where you’re planted, Part 1

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One of the joys I have of being a parent is watching my boys “set their roots”.  They do this each and every day in countless ways:  friendships formed, love of their sport (and sometimes hate, depending on the workout!) and the discipline/camaraderie/achievements that are met while they are in the water, new interests pursued, and making the most of the situations that they find themselves in. I was reminded of this when one of my favorite childhood songs, “Bloom Where You’re Planted” popped into my head, completely unbidden, earlier today.  Perhaps it was God’s way of having me sit back and count the blessings in each of my children…

Each one of my boys is unique, yet they come from the same “garden” with the same principles, the same love, the same gentle hand leading them through life.

It is my job as their mother and my husband’s job as their father to nurture them and help them grow into strong, faith-filled, respectful (and respectable) young men,  This path isn’t always easy. There are times that I want to jump in and be that “helicopter parent” and tell them they are managing things the wrong way, or that their decision is the wrong one, but most of the time I refrain.  You see, my boys are already figuring out the art of negotiation and compromise.  They are slowly learning how to deal with conflict in their own way, and guess what?  They’re not doing a bad job of it!  As parents, we have decided to let them continue doing this unless it really looks like they need our help.
I see so many people trying to direct their children’s play, their children’s friendships, etc., and it makes me sad to know that these parents aren’t confident enough in the way that they have raised their children to just let them be.  Kids are smart; they know when they don’t want to be in a situation and they will remove themselves from it, don’t force them to be where they don’t want to be or do what they don’t want to do (within reason, of course).  I have found, through mistakes I’ve made along the way, that by doing so you just reinforce to your child the idea that the can’t manage their lives on their own and that they need you to do everything for them.  It becomes a vicious circle.

While we may not always like or understand what our kids have rooted themselves in (I do not understand video editing or software at all!), as long as it is not a danger to themselves or others we will let them bloom where they are planted.  After all, if my parents hadn’t let me bloom where I was planted I wouldn’t find myself the hip(pie) Mama that I am today!!

 

Friday Fragments

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Welcome to the first edition of “Friday Fragments in the “Hip(pie) Household” – even though it is Saturday morning…  Thank you to Mrs. 4444 for hosting this fun blogging topic!

  • “At least it’s a dry heat.”, is one of the most misleading statements EVER.

  • Three boys (two that are ‘tweens) may not mean PMS, but it means weird, funky smells coming from the bedroom.

  • Patriotic concerts without fireworks following aren’t entirely satisfying.

  • However, said patriotic concert with large cannons being used in the “1812 Overture” is pretty awesome.

  • Also, said patriotic concert with narrative explanations of the Civil War, a recitation of the Gettysburg Address, and a poem about the flag will be seen as “education in a not so great disguise” by your home schooled children and you will be called out for making them learn when it is supposed to be a fun event.

  • Spending the holiday with your family and your chosen family is a great way to celebrate.

  • Pudding shots are an even BETTER way to celebrate!

  • Coercing 3 boys to practice piano everyday is a whole lot easier when “Call of Duty”, “Skyrim”, and “Lego: Pirates of the Caribbean” video game time is withheld until the practice is complete.

  • Morning swim practice kinda sucks.