Be grateful for the life you have.
Be thankful for all you’ve been given.
Ask forgiveness for your sins and errors.
Live your life without fear or anxiety.
Love with all your heart.
gratefulness
Just a little rant. . .
It’s been a while. But I’ve got something to say and this is quite likely the best place to say it.
I wish to GOD that people would stop posting all those melodramatic posts about what it means to be a mother.
Don’t get me wrong – I know being a mom is a tough (tuff) job – but come on people! It’s not like you’re working in the salt mines or digging ditches in 100 degree heat all day!
The tone of all these posts that get circulated on the internet is that somehow being a mother is akin to being in shackles and that there is absolutely no respite or appreciation or compensation for the job.
I call bullshit!
I don’t get why all these women who wanted a home and family are now so bent on getting attention and recognition for their ‘sacrifices’. It wasn’t a sacrifice — it was a choice. A choice women since the dawn of time have made. And they made it knowing that it would change their lives. Mostly for the better.
Despite all the mewling and whining and ‘woe-is-me’ out there, I believe most women who have been mothers or are mothers just get on with the job of being mom. That includes being wife, housecleaner and chief bottle washer. They get up each morning with a smile and greet their families without the marks of self-flaggelation upon their backs.
You don’t see a gazillion weepy-penned articles or posts about what it means to be a dad. If all these women crying the blues think they’ve got it so bad, think they’re so under-appreciated and under-valued, why don’t they try being the dad for awhile. Gain a little perspective, then talk about sacrifice.
I was a mom. I loved it. Not every day did I love it, but 93% of the time I have to say, I completely loved my job. To me, it was the most important thing I could ever do in my life. Raising a child, teaching him, guiding him, providing for him. I chose that, no one forced me into it.
I was lucky, I had a husband who worked full time while I stayed home. Occasionally I worked at a part-time job when we wanted extra money for holidays or some big purchase. But mostly, I got to be at home – a place I took pride in, a place I felt blessed to have, a place I knew was my responsibility to keep clean and maintain as a trade-off for being a stay-at-home wife and mother.
I don’t get how the women in these posts and articles feel they need all this validation. They’re constantly bemoaning the fact hat their husbands come home and question them about what they did all day when they walk in the door to chaos and no supper. Well, I question that, too.
What the hell are they doing all day? Surfing Pinterest for the next great birthday theme so that they can impress all the other whiny-mommies? Or, perhaps it’s searching for butt and ab exercise routines that can be done in under 20 minutes? No, more than likely it’s for smoothie recipes to help them lose weight.
And, if it’s not Pinterest, then they’re probably on FaceBook or Twitter or just texting to complain about how hard their little lives are. Meanwhile their kids are being ignored, the house is a mess and they don’t get why their husbands are no longer attracted to them.
It’s time for women to stop acting like martyrs. Time for them to step up, do their job, and do it well. Time for them to stop begging on social medial for respect and acknowledgement. Nobody, except movies stars and athletes, gets to do that.
You’re a mom — get used to it.
May 21st
Day 142 — Ah, exactly one month away from the official start of summer!
Today, working out in the garden I came across a toad. I picked him up to move him out of harm’s way when I suddenly remembered my grandkids and our frogging foray. So, I went and got a little container and put the toad in it. I then drove over to the kids’ house and surprised them. All three of them were amazed by the little critter. I had them put on my gardening gloves to handle it (so that they didn’t hurt it more than necessary). They each took turns holding it and, of course, asked to keep it. No, both me and their mother said, it wouldn’t live, we have to let it go. The hunt for a suitable place to let it go began. Finally, we let it go in the flower garden. I’m sure the three of them will go out there tomorrow expecting to find the toad living in their garden.
I’m so glad they live close enough for me to do stuff like this.
March 20th
Day 79 — First day of Spring–hah! But, at least it’s here. Days are longer, you can feel the change in the air.
A bit of a disappointment today — the kids couldn’t come for dinner as planned because they’re all sick. But nice of them to stay away so Tim and I don’t catch it. Not with the Break coming up.
Silver lining — my sister in law Michelle called with an offer of a free ticket to go see Billy Elliot. Couldn’t refuse! Have been wanting to see the show, and an evening with her was long overdue. Unfortunately, neither of us was really impressed with the show — for some reason it comes off very flat and emotionless, for a story that’s supposed to be so full of the joy and spirit of life and following your dreams. Ah, well, it was still worth it.
Gotta get back, gotta get back. . .
Some words borrowed from The Who.
That’s really dating me, I’m afraid.
I can just imagine some younger readers going The Who who?
But, I won’t be going there. This is not a post about old rock and roll bands.
This is a post about old me.
Although, really, I’m not old.
But, man! Was I ever starting to act like I was!
For a couple of years now I’ve been kind of free-wheeling in place, not really knowing what I was doing or where I was going.
Over the past 6 months or so I’ve really been doing some stock-taking, some re-evaluation, some soul-searching, some trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with what’s left of my life.
And, I’ve decided I need to get back.
Back to a place inside myself where creativity once reigned supreme.
I used to pride myself on my ability to creatively problem solve. If we didn’t have the money for something (which was quite often) I could usually come up with some way to find it. I thought outside the box. It was normal.
As time progressed and money became less of an issue I began to find it easier to just buy whatever it was I/we needed.
Not creative.
Well, maybe a little. Because, I always look to get the absolute best deal I possibly can — and that can require some small measure of creativity.
There’s another word for that, I know. Cheap. I prefer frugal.
It sounds more creative.
However, I need to get back to what I was saying. About getting back. Getting back to a part of myself that I’d abandoned.
About a week ago I was talking with a friend and she mentioned how she sees herself doing something entirely different from what she is currently doing.
She envisions herself as being a motivator. Talking to others, giving them inspiration.
And I know, that if anyone can do this, my friend can. She inspires me.
And, after I got off the phone I started thinking: where do I see myself in 20 years time?
Sitting in front of a TV? With knitting or crocheting? Waiting for a phone call from my son or my grandchildren? Waiting for the community senior’s bus to pick me up so I can go play cards or do a jigsaw puzzle?
I was horrified. This is not what I had ever imagined for myself.
No, the future I had imagined long ago, in the time before marriage and children and grandchildren was something entirely different.
I saw myself as an adventurer, a photographer, a writer. I saw myself as living in a place that nurtured me and inspired me and fed me.
Somewhere along the way that vision was altered.
And, not for one minute do I regret the alteration.
I have had a wonderful life up to this point.
Marriage, family, grandchildren, love in abundance.
A beautiful home, a great job, money to pay my bills and afford a few luxuries.
But, now, as time seems to slip and slide around me and I become daily more aware of the preciousness of it, I’m beginning to wonder.
Shouldn’t I be doing more with my life? Shouldn’t I be trying to live as creatively and beautifully as I possibly can in the years left before me?
Because, really, how many are there left?
As my favorite sister and brother-in-law pointed out to us this weekend it could all end in a moment.
You could step into the shower feeling strong and healthy and then, as you step out, have your heart falter and fail.
All chances to live better, live to your potential, live with creativity– gone.
And how you are going to be remembered is who you were when you stepped into that shower.
Maybe you wanted to be someone different. Someone who ran marathons. Someone who wrote poetry and read it aloud in small coffee shops. Someone who painted. Someone who took singing lessons. Or swimming lessons. Or bungee jumped. Or sailed around the world.
We all have dreams. We all dream that we can do and be so much more than who we really are.
Very few of us ever actually pursue those dreams.
Because doing that takes conviction and creativity.
And being creative takes work. It means always thinking beyond what’s obvious.
It means being willing to take a chance.
It means choosing the road less travelled, risking failure, forsaking ‘normal’.
I don’t know yet what it is exactly I’m going to do, but I do know it’s going to be something great.
I don’t mean great as in President of the United States great (I am Canadian, after all). I mean great in that it will make me feel great, make me feel as though each day I live has meaning and purpose.
It’s going to be fun and I’m going to do it with joyful abandon.
I’m going to get creative.
I’m going to inspire the people I love most in this life to live their lives the same way.
To their fullest, most creative potential.
That’s something I wouldn’t mind being remembered for.
February 3rd
Day 34 — A nice quiet day. The boys went home around 11 o’clock. We played more UNO and a couple of games of Snakes and Ladders. It was nice just having them by themselves. Had a nice phone call with a good friend; am so grateful she and her husband are okay. Life, you just don’t know which way it’s going to turn.
Day 3
The day’s not near to being officially over yet, but I know what I’m happy for already. I made Pineapple-Lemon marmalade — and it’s delicious! I can hardly wait to warm up a croissant for my breakfast tomorrow and have some of this lovely, golden marmalade on it. Yumm!
Menial Chores, the luxury of
So, yesterday, I got up close and personal with my kitchen and bathroom floors. For the first time in over 10 years I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed them.
Now, don’t go thinking I’m some kind of slovenly pig — I do wash my floors quite regularly — at least once a week, but I usually do it with a mop.
My husband owns this horrible pair of black-soled shoes that leaves awful scuff marks whenever he tromps through the house with them on. I’ve asked that he cease doing that, at least in those shoes, but, he’s a man and he forgets. So, I’m forever stooping down to scrub them away and cursing him while I’m at it.
Yesterday, I decided it was high time to wash the floors and I noticed that there were scuff marks all over the place. I would be stooping and cursing a lot, it seemed.
It would, I thought, be easier to just stay low to the floor. Out came the mop bucket, a good rag, one of those miracle sponge thingys and a scrub brush — and a towel for my knees, which I didn’t think of getting until I was nearly half-way done.
I enjoyed the exercise. Honestly. While I was down there scrubbing away and wiping off the scuff marks I had a great conversation with myself. I thought about the Christmas just past and how much I’d enjoyed myself, I envisioned my afternoon with friends and the movie we were going to see. I mumbled and muttered away to myself about all kinds of little, forgettable things. Yes, it took twice the amount of time it normally takes me to wash the floors, but, it was time well spent.
My floors are old. They’re pushing 30, I believe, and need replacing in the worst way. But, they’re going to have to last for a couple more years, at least. I took my time while scrubbing and wiped the baseboards down, I dug into corners and scrubbed grimy spots under the cupboards. I was horrified to discover just how much hair I’d lost — my god, it was everywhere!
While I was down there I thought about how much use these floors have seen: the years my son spent growing up here and the thousands of footsteps he’d taken upon them; the scrabble of our two dog’s nails upon them as we tossed balls or played catch-me! with them; the hushed footsteps of my husband and I as we traversed the cool linoleum on early mornings trying not to wake each other as we begin our days; the untold number of friends and family’s footsteps during visits and holidays; and now, the constant patter of my grandchildren’s small feet as they run and dash through the house whenever they’re over.
They are old floors, they are battle-scarred and worn, and as I washed and scrubbed and scoured I felt thankful that I had such wonderful floors.
Still, when I was done, when I stood up and slowly flexed my aching knees and stretched out my crooked back I took an appraising look at my handiwork and declared loudly that that was the last time I’d wash a floor on my hands and knees. Ever.
Oh, and lovely memories or not, those floors gotta go.
January 1, 2013
Day 1 — I spent the very first moments of this New Year with those I love the most — my husband, my grandkids and though they weren’t here, my son and and his wife. Landon called just after the midnight bells — or, in our case, the televised bells in Niagara Falls — rang. To me, that is happiness at its apex.
My New Year Plan for 2013
Image courtesy Google images.
Saw this neat idea on Facebook about creating a jar full of happy memories that you would then review at the end of the year. It’s very simple: you take a large, empty mason jar and every time something good happens in your life you write it down on a piece of paper and stick it in the jar. On December 31st you open the jar and read all the wonderful things you experienced throughout the year.
I think this sounds like a terrific idea — sort of the daily affirmation thing (that I’ve kind of let slide lately). But, what I’m going to do is use my blog as my jar and post my good things on here, and, I’m going to try and post something each day.
That’s 365 good things, one small post a day. I think — I hope — I can manage it. Surely, there has to be at least one nice thing that happens each day. This little experiment will prove it.
I sometimes find myself feeling very depressed and sorry for myself, but when I look back at my wonderful life I can see that really I have nothing to despair about. Anything that bothers me is usually because I choose to let it bother me. There is so much in my life that I have to be happy and grateful for that maybe by writing down one thing each day I will stay focused on that.
And so, with that little preamble, here goes.
All That Matters 