Motherhood
Saturday, May 2, 2009, by Leigh Anne
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There are lots of things I love about having my college kids home.
One of my top reasons is that there are more people around to help with Saturday chores! Yeah!
Here are the lists that were on the kitchen counter awaiting everyone as they got up this morning.
Of course the Honey Do one is for Jim.
The kid’s list is first come, first serve. As you can see there was a little negotiating going on as jobs were claimed but then traded around!
Cali got up last so she got stuck cleaning the kid’s bathroom - the biggest job!
While they were all at home working on their job list I snuck off to a plant sale at the Canby Fairgrounds and came home with these beauties…
These amazing coleus are going to look beautiful in my pots!
Poor Jim will probably only get one thing crossed off his list today - Fix the grill. After determining the grill was un-fixable he went out and bought a new one - eight hours later it is almost put together!
What was on your To Do list today?
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Categories: Family, Humor, Motherhood
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Monday, March 9, 2009, by Leigh Anne
I am hoping you will forgive my Mommy Moment today. One of those Mommy Moments when you just have to brag about one of your kids a bit and say how proud you are of them!
We have just finished “Show Week” at our house. We have been enjoying this week - really two weeks - for ten years now. Show week is the two weeks of the year that the Spring musical is being performed at our high school.
Every year for the last ten years, except for one, I have had a child involved in the musical. Show Week means lots of fun times spent at the high school helping with costumes, helping out at work parties, taking pictures at dress rehearsal, ushering, working in the box office, attending every performance, helping put together gifts for the director, etc. and helping with the cast party - I love it!
Two of my children, Logan and Cali, were both very involved with the high school theater department and Clark was very involved with the athletic department. When my youngest, Tessa, entered high school, to my disappointment, she announced that she was not interested in being involved in theater.
She had literally grown up in the shadows of the high school theater department but Tessa is my timid one, more reserved, doesn’t like the spotlight on her. I had somewhat sadly accepted the fact. I really enjoyed being involved with the kids and the productions, sewing costumes etc. and I must admit I love watching my children perform - whether it is on the stage or the sports field.
Last Spring I had a conversation with Tessa.
I wasn’t convinced that she really didn’t want to be a part of drama/theater in high school, there were inklings once in a while of interest. There were times when I could tell she was entertaining thoughts about it.
I explained to her that it was fine not to do something if she really didn’t enjoy it or have any interest but if she wasn’t trying out because she was scared that was not o.k. I shared with her that we all have fears and that we should not allow our fears to prevent us from trying something we really wanted to do. We shouldn’t let our fears win! We would live to regret it.
I had learned this from personal experience. There have been too many times in my life that I have allowed my fears to prevent me from trying something new, from taking a risk.
I have also learned that when fear is preventing one of my children from trying, the best thing to do is:
1. Look for an opportunity that would allow them to overcome their fear with very little risk at first. Last Spring Cali, Tessa’s sister, was directing a One Act play at school. Tessa was sure to get a part and of course she did.
2. Enlist the help of others. I knew if Tessa’s sister and a few of her friends were encouraging Tessa to try out for the One Acts she was much more likely to try than if it was just her mother! I asked them to help out by encouraging her.
Tessa had an amazing time and thanks to that one positive experience she overcame her fear.
This Spring our high school did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Tessa was part of the company and the featured dancer. It was so fun to watch her through the process as she did not allow her fear to prevent her from trying. She worked hard for her audition, pushed herself beyond her comfort zone, she embraced and loved the part she was given and worked hard to do her best.
She shone on stage and you could see in her face how much fun she was having
She also learned that she loves applause - especially when they are just for you. She had the part of the “featured dancer” in the show and quickly learned that she loved having people clap for her!!
We are proud of you Tessa and grateful that you chose not to let your fears prevent you from growing, from moving forward and from discovering the many opportunities that are available to you!
Do you have any tips or suggestions for helping overcome your fears or helping your children overcome their fears?
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Categories: Family, Inspire, Motherhood
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Saturday, May 10, 2008, by Leigh Anne
I hope all you mother’s are enjoying a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. When someone asked me what I was doing for Mother’s Day my reply was - “Nothing!” I doubt that will really happen but it is wishful thinking! Jim is cooking dinner but I told him I would make dessert.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish my mom - Mary Anne Best - a Happy Mother’s Day. You see - I do have the Best mom! Thanks mom for being the Best - in more ways than one!
A saying that we would repeat while growing up was:
“Good, Better, Best…..Never let it rest til your good is better and your better is best!”
Thanks mom for teaching me to always be and do my Best!
The picture on the card was taken last month on Prom night. Yes, I am the shortest of all the women in our family! Can you see a family resemblance?
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Categories: Motherhood
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Wednesday, April 16, 2008, by Leigh Anne
“The people in our lives”
I love text messaging. As a mother of teenagers and young adults it comes in quite handy.
After a few lessons from my teenage daughter I have actually become quite good at it! I am a two finger texter!! My husband is a different story, he actually sent his very first text message not too along ago. We were all very proud.
But the thing I really love about text messaging is the connection it creates between my children and me.
They send me the normal text messages….
“I’m on my way home”
or a quick message to let me know where they are.
Then there are messages like the one I got the other day…
“I think I’m getting pink eye.” (high school daughter who was scheduled to have her picture taken that day!)
or
“I need 20 bucks for a test - can I put it on the credit card?” (sweet college boy)
I love messages like this….
“When you get home, come tuck me in” (this from my sweet 14 year old who still likes me to tuck her in each night!)
And that camera phone comes in handy too. One of my sweet college boys sent me a picture of his pantry in his apartment at school when I gave him a “mommy lecture” on eating healthy. Wanted to show me that he had bought some fresh fruit.
Then there was the picture of two ties and the accompanying text message asking me which tie matched his suit!
I love it when one of my sweet college boys texts me and asks me for a recipe.
But the other night I received one of those text messages that makes me know that it is all worth it - one that warms my mommy heart.
As any mother of teenagers knows - moments of appreciation and gratitude can be few and far between and I will take them when I can get them. Sometimes they come in the form of a text message.
The following text message arrived the other evening while I was cleaning up the kitchen….
“Thanks for being such a great mom.”
Usually those type of text messages are then followed by another one asking to put something on the credit card but this time it wasn’t…
“We threw a birthday part for my roommate today. I had no idea how stressful it is.”
Of course I picked up the phone and called sweet college boy. He then told me how much he appreciated me and had never realized how much work went into putting on a party. He had spent the day cleaning, shopping, preparing and then cleaning up again afterwards while the rest of his roommates sat around!
Finally - he gets it! I guess waiting 22 years was worth it!
Do you have a funny or favorite text message one of your children have sent to you?
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Categories: Connect, Motherhood
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008, by Leigh Anne
After sharing with you my Easter Outfit Issue I thought I would share with you a few pictures of my girls in their “coordinating” Easter outfits. I posted these on my family blog this week but thought you might like to see them too.
When the kids were little I would get them all dressed in their matching/coordinating outfits and take their picture. I remember what a frustrating and sometimes exhausting ordeal it was as we would try to get them all to sit still, look at the camera and smile - all at the same time. With no digital photography you never knew until they came back from the developer if you got a good one or not!
I use to think - “When they are older this will be so much easier!” Well - I was wrong.
It’s a lie - it doesn’t get easier - it only gets different!
Here’s the proof!
Even mom got in on the act…
Thank goodness for digital photography and the ability you have to waste dozens of photos trying to get a good one.
Finally…….
Aren’t they cute!
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Categories: Connect, Motherhood
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Monday, February 25, 2008, by Leigh Anne
Last week I made a new blogging friend, Rhonda, over at Because Mom Said So. I love the name of her blog because it reminded me of all those MOMMY-isms I use, my mother used and if you are a mother - you probably use too!
You know what I mean - those statements you make to your kids when they are driving you crazy or you just don’t know what else to say.
If you were to ask my children what MOMMY-ism I am most famous for I have no doubts that all four of them would answer - “Life is not fair”. If any of my children dare to even whisper the words “That’s not fair!” (can you hear the whine) in my presence they know my answer before it’s even out of my mouth…
“Life is not fair!”
They have told me that they are going to engrave those words onto my tombstone!
I first heard those words - Life is not fair- not from my mother, but from my high school chemistry teacher Mr. Winston -back in the good old days, at Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
My friend Hannah Kotz and I always sat in the front row of chemistry class. Often in answer to our response of “That’s not fair!”, although I have no idea what “wasn’t fair” about chemistry class, cute “old” Mr. Winston (he was probably in his mid-40’s!!) would say - ”When you were born - did a great big sign come down from heaven saying LIFE IS FAIR - no - LIFE IS NOT FAIR!”
It has been my favorite answer to the statement “It’s not fair” ever since!
Maybe some of these MOMMY-isms sound familiar to you…
Am I talking to a wall?
ANSWER ME!
Are you deaf?
Don’t make me come in there!
Go ask your dad.
Go play outside. It’s a beautiful day.
How many times do I have to tell you? I can’t believe you did that.
Why on earth would you do that?
I don’t care who started it…stop it now!
I just want the best for you.
If you’re too sick to go to school, you’re too sick to play outside.
I don’t know is not an answer
I’m not running a taxi service (one of my other favorites!)
Were you born in a barn?
Say you’re sorry and act like you mean it!
Some day you’ll thank me for this.
Someday when you have kids, you’ll understand
What part of no don’t you understand?
Do you have a favorite MOMMY-ism you say or maybe one your mother used. Let us hear it - just leave a comment in the box below!
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Categories: Inspire, Motherhood
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