About a month ago right before Halloween, Jason posted a blog about how “Adults Are Ruining Everything.” The conversation started with The Madison School District ‘not encouraging’ classrooms to have costume parties for Halloween. Yesterday I ran across a blog along the same lines posted on Blogging Baby, which is a online magazine about pregnancy, baby care and parenting. If any of those four words connect with your life, you will want to check out this blog. It is really well done. Actually, none of those words currently connect to my life, and I am really enjoying it. Sarah Gilbert wrote …
Kim's Random Musings
Pockets in my Pockets
I was in first grade. It was the first time I would eat dinner at a friend's house. I was excited. Being the youngest I always longed to be 'old enough' to do all of the cool things my three older sisters could do...going to a friend's house for dinner was one of those many things. Julie and I played all afternoon and had a blast. Then supper came. We sat down with her parents and older brother. Julie was excited about what was for supper. I, on the other hand, was in pure panic mode. …
Truth or Dare
Maybe it was just me, but when I was little I always dreamed of staying up all night. I always wanted to have the freedom of being a grown-up. Staying up all night was a very concrete action I could do that would 'show the world' that I was in charge. Bed times were so annoying as a child. If I was allowed to stay up all night I would do tons of cool stuff...like...um...well where do I start, there are so many things...hmm...give me a minute. Exactly! I really had no clue what I would do all night, but it was still one of my life goals as a child. …
The Best Gift Ever
Jason and I are 'wish granters' for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of WI. This is such an unbelievable volunteer opportunity. We get to work directly with wish families to help them through the wish process. By definition this job means we get to talk with the wish child about his/her one special wish, sometimes brainstorming wish ideas with the family and we help them fill out the necessary paperwork. In addition, the job allows us the opportunity to humbly walk into someone's life at a particularly dark time and add a small bit of light and hope. This job has given Jason and I a lot to think …
The Shopping List
When you are helping a three-year-old in the bathroom, you just never know what will happen. I got a fun story from a friend the other day that I want to share. She has a three year old son, Matt. One recent evening they were in the bathroom together, as he was going 'pee pee.' As he was doing his business he pointed down and said 'Penis, mom.' She replied, 'Yup.' Then he said, 'Daddy has penis too.' She replied, 'Yup. But not Mommy.' Then Matt said, 'Buy one, Mommy?' Makes sense in a three-year-old's mind. How adorable! …
Turn the Tide on Breast Cancer
Being in my late twenties, it wasn’t uncommon for women in my mother’s generation to be seen smoking cigarettes while pregnant. In fact I know of quite a few women who have embarrassingly admitted that ‘they didn’t know.’ The thought of a pregnant woman lighting up these days sends shivers down your spine. Now knowing what we do about the effects of smoking on the unborn baby, woman today are socially persuaded to refrain from smoking – thank goodness. It’s sad because ‘back then’ (which wasn’t that long ago) women simply were not educated about the risks they were sharing with their babies. …
Slowing Down
Every morning I listen to the radio station, Life 102.5, WNWC in Madison and featured each day is a two minute segment called, 'Lighten Up,' by Ken Davis. Ken is a speaker, comedian, and inspirational communicator. He always manages to put a smile on my face at 6:20 a.m. and that's saying something. This morning he was speaking my language. He told a story about a six-year-old boy who was somehow taking an hour to walk home from school, a walk that should reasonably take him twenty minutes. Ken shares that for children the shortest distance between two points isn't a straight line. It is is …
Class Has Started
You don’t have to have a degree in Education to be a teacher. I believe we are all teachers. It’s what you choose to teach that defines who you are. Last Sunday Jason and I met with some friends for lunch. All four of us have been employed as teachers at one point in our lives. We were talking about how if you really want to learn something, you should try to teach it. This is so true. …
Dog Craziness
Jason's recent blog entry made me livid, as he can attest to after our dinner conversation this evening. I almost spit out my spanish rice. If you haven't read his blog entry about stressed-out dogs, sneak over there now and take a peak. Dog's receiving massages. COME ON! I don't necessarily plan on having a dog in the near future, however I had a dog growing up, Princess. As you can see from the picture, I too, had an issue with treating her like a human (yes, that is a pacifier in her mouth), but I was 10 years old! She was like a doll for me. I would dress her up and treat her literally …
If You Build it, They Will Come
As much as I love that movie, Field of Dreams, I am not going to encourage you to build a baseball field in your backyard in hopes of some mysterious visitors. What I have been thinking about is the importance of building one’s family. Not only is it important for our own well-being and emotional health, it is important for our society and in the communities in which we live. I have to admit, I am often frustrated by the “break-down” of the family in today's households. It seems like people don’t make the time to have dinner together, communicate without having the TV on in the background, …