Well, it has been an exciting week...gettin this blog started, tryin to figure out stuff with the whole set up, trying to keep the critics happy! lol
Nothing like an embarrassing story about oneself to keep laughs going. And believe when I say, its always better to laugh at yourself, rather than the other way around-at others...the latter will almost always come back to bite you in the butt...if you say something like, "Oh, I would NEVER live in a trailer"...guess what? Somebody, don't know who???, will make sure you're livin in a trailer before years end...
Here goes...worked like a banshee all day, dog tired, finally arriving home, only to realize I had forgotten my kitty's food. Hoping my cat was somewhere chasing down a mouse, I quickly told my middle child, "Let's go to the grocery store, I forgot to get cat food". Taking off like a rocket to the car (and hoping for a treat of her own, I'm sure), my daughter was out the door. She must have set off the cat's alarm, cause when I stepped on the porch, my kitty met me with a look and meow that could kill.
Clearly seeing my cat was not happy with me, I turned to go get a can of tuna that I kept for emergencies such as this. Opening the can really quickly, I rushed to the front door to sit the tuna on the porch. As I did, my daughter bumped into me as she came back into the house to see what was taking me so long. Little did I know, when she bumped me, some of the tuna splashed onto my shirt. Thinking I was fine, we quickly got into the car and drove to the store.
At the checkout, as I began to pay, my daughter again bumped into me. As she did, being about at the heigth of my mid-driff, she got a whiff of the tuna and its juice. When she did, she blurted out, "Ooohhh, Mama, you smell like fish". Well, I thought I would die right then and there, because the whole crowd of people at the check-out stands turned around to look at me. Wishing I could wither into the floor, I spent the next 15 minutes trying to explain to a bunch of strangers why I smelled like fish...and then another 5 minutes in the car, trying to explain to a 5 year old why women do NOT want to smell like fish, nor do they like to have it broadcast if they do...lovely experience, to say the least. uuggghhh
I used to wait tables, and I could count on these two older ladies to come in on Tuesday afternoon for lunch. They were obviously Christian and very straight laced. Over time, we became great friends, and we enjoyed the occasional chat together.
One afternoon, discussing their grandchildren, one of the ladies shared this: "I had just gotten a new clock that I then hung on the wall in my kitchen. On the hour, the clock announced , 'hallelujah!' ".
She then related, "My grandson visited me not long after I got my clock, and upon hearing it strike the hour, pronouncing, 'halleluja!', he asked, "What the hell is that?'" She went on to say, "I spent the next 5 minutes trying to explain to my 4 year old grandson why it was not polite to use such language." I guess all children have the ability to 'undo' our lacing at times.
A man, having new neighbors move in next door, was eager to learn just what kind of neighbors would be residing next him...Spotting a little boy playing outside, he approached him, and introduced himself. He continued with the question, "Son, do you pray before your meals?" The little boy quickly answered, "Oh, no, we don't have to...my Mom's a good cook!".
A local preacher, who always called up the little children in the audience to come, sit, and talk about God with him, rounded the wee ones to the front of the church. Discussing The Commandment, "Thou shalt not steal", he asked the children if they ever had anything stolen from them. One little boy, about 5 or 6, piped up and said, "Oh, yes, just yesterday, someone stole my Dad's beer out of his boat!".
Children learn from us, are like sponges, and they will live by our examples wet set for them...no doubt about it, they are watching our every move. We should all want a better life for our children, more than what we had growing up...and,we should all honor them by teaching them right from wrong. In fact, The Good Book tells us that we are supposed to show them the way to do good and right !
Here is another story about children and what each parent, or at least, Daddy should be teaching their sons and daughters about respect for their Mother...
Doug had two children, a son and daughter, about 4 and 6 years of age. However, when he heard one of them using a tone with their Mother that he didn't appreciate, he sat them down to have a little conversation...this is how it went..."Children, you I know I love you, right? "Yes, Daddy", they answered. And, you know, I only want the best for you right? "Oh, yes, Daddy"...Doug went on..."I have noticed you using a tone with your Mother that I do not appreciate. Now, you probably haven't even realized this, but before she was your Mother, she was my wife, and I love her very much. From now on, when you speak to my wife, I do not want to hear anything disrespectful come out of your mouths toward her. OK?" They all agreed that evening that the children would treat their Mother with respect and kindness.
A few days later, Doug, having just arrived home from work, was met by his daughter. She was excited and exclaimed, "Daddy, you won't believe how brother has been speaking to your wife!"
So, you see, we can ask for respect, and we get respect when we treat others the way we want to be treated...its that simple...yelling gets no where...sitting down, getting on their level, showing you care, above all else, for them, treating them well, teaching them well because you love them...that is what good parenting is all about!
Out of the mouths of parents, into the minds of our children...love and cherish them!
This Blog dedicated to the memory of Caylee Anthony.
By Mercy Me...order both CDs through Amazon.com