Started the new job this weekend, busy as hell. I was up from 6am-2am several days in a row, and the kids did really well. However, they have needed assuring hugs, nods and approval a bit more.
Family chats go deeper than anything I’ve ever experienced as a christian. My kids are pulling up past wrongs and admitting, asking for and giving forgiveness to each other, not some blind, unseen god. There is so much lost in translation in modern christianity.
Anyway, I’m not focused on the negative of life. Many shitty things will go on without me having to bring them up, why not be a beacon of light, instead? Why not look around at all the beauty and joy to be had, all the joy to be felt, all the sunlight to soak up and shine outwards than focus on what could be or what might happen? I know through observations that unsuccessful people focus on gossip, negativity and troubles in their conversations and I know that the most miserable being in my life was the most negative. I have no desire to go re-living their existence.
The kids are so healthy, now. We are eating so much good food; lots of living foods like fresh fruit and vegs. I was feeling concerned for my 7 yo because she’s so picky. She is so small and petite, her likes list is very short. Most of the family had grass-fed, organic burgers for our big lunch, yesterday (I increased the volume of 1 lb of meat by adding whole oats & an egg). We had chips, dip, baked (vegetarian) beans, and only 2 of us had veg burgers (I’m one of them). I’m using our food stamps very carefully, stocking up on the fruit selections at Aldi & Sam’s, everywhere else is gouging prices.
We blow through peanut butter. Not the ones with Palm Oil, though, like store brands, and PeterPan, Jif, and Skippy. We aren’t going to be responsible for depleting rain forests and displacing the Orangutans! I even called Kwik Trip corporate, yesterday to make a request that they switch to coconut oil instead of palm, for all their bakery goods (yes, all but the bread and muffins…). We steer completely clear of the cookie/snacks and candy aisles in the grocery stores; it’s depressing, just take a look. Palm oil is the number 3 ingredient in Skittles… we have to start at some point! Why not now? Our world keeps turning & people keep saying, “I’ll do it when it’s time…” Well, IT’S TIME!
We’re loving our life! We’re digging our digs. We’re enjoying our family, and we’re still working out the kinks, but there has been great growth here! So much reflection, vulnerability, honesty, and true love for one another being shown, here. No one’s biting the other’s back, gossiping and bad-talking. In fact, one sister stopped being friends with a neighbor girl because this friend hurt her sister and never apologized. This positive parenting is working!
Yesterday, my 9 yo (a twin) had been giving over to shouting at anyone who bugged her. We had a nice long talk, and at the end she asked me, “Do you remember the last time you yelled at me, Momma?”
I said, “Um… no.”
She said, “Me neither. I love you, Momma.”
Happy parenting! It’s so worth taking this time to focus on them. The rewards are exquisite!