Rest in Peace, Maya Angelou

Born in 1928 into a welfare family, she climbed out of the despair of abuse and accomplished much in her life before being awarded the  Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008. Her eyes saw life from poverty to wealth, from abuse to fame, from silence to having a world who craved her honest, open sharing of life. She worked as a fry cook, a prostitute, a night club dancer, an actress, a journalist. She was active in the civil rights movement working with both Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcom X. She taught at Wake Forest University. She recited her own work, a poem entitled “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration.

While she certainly has her detractors, no one can say that she didn’t pull herself up by her bootstraps and make a life for herself. Some people have tried to have her works banned in their local libraries. Whether or not all of her autobiography is factually true, it was true in her mind. She shared her life as she remembered it.

I know she is a somewhat controversial subject. Well mannered women rarely make history. While I might not agree with everything she wrote, I admire her strength and courage. I admire her ability to share the pain she endured. By women like Maya sharing the most difficult times in their lives, we can perhaps all see our way clear to better days.

Your voice will be missed. Rest in Peace, Maya.

 

Leading by Example

Me with my son when he was just a sweet nine months old…

What does it mean to be a mom? Wow, is that a loaded question! Sounds like an idea for a series… but for now, I will postulate:

For me, it means discipleship. I believe children learn best by imitation. Washing dishes? Pull up a chair beside you and let your little one “wash” some unbreakable things, maybe even toys.  It will take longer. It will, but modeling and teaching joy in our responsibilities is worth the time and effort. Washing dishes in far from my favorite thing to do with my time, but I do not want to pass along that attitude, so I try to keep in mind that I have little eyes watching me. Does that mean I always wash them as soon as they hit the sink? Nope. I am not perfect. Dishes have been known to sit (usually scraped and/or rinsed) for days when life gets hectic. Still, I try not to eschew the dishes just because I hate them. It is usually busyness or physical problems that get me sidetracked.

It is the act of acceptance, imitation, and guidance that allows our little ones to grow and learn.  They are little sponges. They see and learn our attitudes. They copy them. They see and learn our actions. They copy them.  They want to be like us. It’s how they were created to learn.

When my son was little and wanted me to play with him while I was in the midst of “doing my chores,” I would always tell him that I would play when I was done with my responsibilities. That is, unless he approached me with a book. Books were special. I wanted my son to be a reader. To that end, I would always stop, sit, pull him into a snuggle on my lap, and read one or two short books with him. Then I would tell him that I had to go finish my responsibilities and would play with him when I was done.  It quelled a lot of whining and taught him that books were awesome. My now 14 year-old son is now quite a reader. Granted, he is pulled into video games at times and likes teen fiction right now, but he’s reading. Now, I do not subscribe to the idea of letting him read anything he gets his hands on, of course; I do provide guidance, but I also allow him freedom to choose. In response to slipping grades, his father recently threatened to take away his wi-fi, intending to take away his on-line gaming. My son was unfazed. He responded that it was ok with him, as he loved to read. Not a great attitude towards his father, but a great attitude towards books. Lest you think my son is a pale, wimpy bookworm, let me lay your fears to rest. He is also a high school football player and a thespian. He is a very well-rounded kid.

I don’t have all the answers to raising kids, but I can tell you what worked with me. He isn’t crazy about doing dishes, but he will do them when I ask. I consider that a positive.

 

So, this picture is blurry, but it’s ok. Books are supposed to be fun! Sandra Boynton “Oh My Oh My Oh DINOSAURS!”

Welcome to my new blog!

Mom on a Mission

Hello there and welcome to my blog! That’s me  up there ^^^ Just in case you need a face to go with the blog!

I believe that being a mom is the single most important job on earth. Raising the next generation to be strong, interdependent, caring people is a job without which society would collapse. I am a single mom, raised by a single mom. I have two wonderful kids, one here and one in heaven. I am looking to put my over 14 years of parenting experience as well as my years of working with many different age groups to work for me and you! I don’t have all of the answers, but I do have some. I tend to lean towards the Cliff & Claire method of parenting more than the Roseanne & Dan. I am hoping to learn from you as you learn from me!

My blog is not going to be the dissociative rantings of a PhD or anything even closely matching that description. I am a mom and while I am intelligent, as well as being an awesome mom, I am not an academic. My blog will share much of what I have learned personally, as well as what I have gleaned through my experiences. Occasionally, I will share what the experts have said, as I have seen it work in my life and the lives of those close to me. Once I get this going, I plan to have occasional guest bloggers as well.

So, Who am I?

• I am a mom. It’s my very highest calling.
• I am a Christian and while I don’t often get preachy, I have no doubt you will see that my faith affects my life and therefore my writing.
• I am a United States Air Force Veteran.
• I have lived in eight states as well as in Germany.
• I homeschooled my son for five years.
• I am a photographer.
• I have had 21 addresses in the past 25 years.
• I have had carried and borne a child with a rare genetic disorder.
• I have had that child die, not unexpectedly.
• My mother/best friend died very suddenly and unexpectedly.
• I have been through a divorce.
• I have fibromyalgia.
• I have been homeless.
• I am well acquainted with unemployment.
• I believe in a whole food diet.
• I believe diet affects attitudes, actions, pain, and almost every aspect of life.
• I have an awesome sense of humor and often use friendly sarcasm.

 

Why should you read my blog?

• I am funny.
• I am real.
• I love kids.
• I am a good writer.
• I am full of ideas, mostly good, some… well….
• I love to learn and share.
• I am an awesome mom.
• Even my son’s teenage friends like me.
• I have a tendency to say what I am thinking.
• I am a great cook and might even share recipes.
• I am a professional photographer (meaning I have been paid for weddings, ceremonies, and studio work). I might post pictures!
• I love everything about mom-ing, staying at home, homeschooling, writing, sharing, cooking, photography, and I am always wearing my heart on my sleeve.
• I like the idea of building a community of like-minded parents (dads are allowed here).

JOIN ME!