I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes the days and even weeks can go by, before I realize that I haven’t even picked up the phone to talk to my family.  Last night, we celebrated my dad’s birthday, and I just felt an incredible urge to share this.  My dad and mom are getting older.  For me, “old” is a pretty strong word, and it’s not like I think they are even close to being elderly….it’s hard for me to see my parents as getting “old”er.  I just see them as Mom and Dad.  The truth is, though, we are all getting older.  It makes me really sad in ways.  Then, in other ways, I see the blessings, as my parents have been together for almost 50 years now.As I sat in their house last night, I could smell familiar, memorable smells of both my grandmothers’ houses.  The memories just came flooding back.  For me, I’m starting to realize that time is quickly passing me by, and I need to really take advantage of the time I have now.  I need to make the time to spend with my parents while I still can, to hear their stories, to let my children hear their stories, to just “be” with them.

So, this week, I encourage you to reach out to your own family, your own parents.  Maybe your parents live really far away; mine live about an hour and a half away.  At least, though, sit down and write them a letter, not just an email, but a handwritten letter.  Pick up the phone, and give them a call.  You just never know when it could be your last time to hear their voice.  Show them how much you care….just be there.

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

This post is a little bit different, in that it’s totally random (I’ve been feeling a bit random lately; just ask my MamaBuzz partner about my late-night, me so tired IM’s to her; LOL; oh so random)…..but this week, and I do mean this week, you need to do something fun. Not something fun for your kids, not something fun for your husband….but something fun for YOU.

Here are your instructions: I bet noone’s ever told you to do this, but go eat a piece of chocolate right now. Yes, you, just do it. If you don’t have any chocolate in the house, then dig around in the freezer until you come up with a bag of chocolate chips, and just eat a couple of chocolate chips. Now that you’ve cleared your mind with the wonderful mood-lifting abilities of chocolate…..think of that one thing you’ve been wanting to do. What is it? Do you want to take a long bubble bath with your candle and that long-awaited book? (That might have to wait until naptime or until the hubby gets home, so that maybe he can help with the kids). Do you want to bake something delicious and yummy? Do you have an urge to sit down and watch something girly? Have you been meaning, like me, to sew that apron you’ve had the material and pattern for, since last fall? Maybe you want to make a quick trip to the mall….or maybe you want to go have lunch with a girlfriend. Maybe you just want to chat with friends online. Whatever it is…..this week, plan a time, and just do it.

Contrary to what some may believe and teach, it is ok for mamas to have a little fun too. In fact, it’s healthy, and it’s good not only for you, but for your marriage and your kiddos. Maybe your idea of fun involves your kids, and that is perfectly fine! Just plan something fun for this week, whether it’s you time, family time, or whatever….but make sure it’s something YOU’ve been wanting to do.

What do I plan to do? Not sure yet, I have to go dig around in the freezer and find my chocolate chips….off I go! Have fun, Mamas!:)

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.

Sometimes we just need a little shove to take our minds off of our to do lists and let them relax….even at night, I find myself going to bed with my brain still running a thousand miles a minute, a gazillion directions all at once.

It’s spring time, though, and that means that warmer weather is here, the trees are budding, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing. The last week I’ve woke up to birds singing, which is a wonderful sound at 5am….it’s not all dead and quiet out there anymore. New life has sprung!

So this week, I encourage you to take a break from your to do list, tell your brain that you need a little time of peace and quiet away from the demands of work, chores, etc., and get outside with your kids. Take a walk, or work in your flower beds. Go to the park, and take a walk on the trails, or feed the ducks/pigeons. Go for a bike ride. Just get out there into the sunshine, and let it refresh your soul just being in the midst of God’s spring creation. Don’t miss the blessings of spring!

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit The Fifth Street Palace.

I’m reading a book right now called Mommy Power. In the book the author talks about how we moms can get over-competitive and actually end up discouraging our kids by that over-competitive drive to push them.  We’ve all seen the shows and movies that depict pageant mommies who push their little girls into becoming something they’re not.  Honestly, in real life, I don’t know if that’s what it’s like, and I’m sure that there are really good pageant mommies out there who don’t push their daughters….it’s just sad to see the little girls who are being pushed because of, again, that over-competitive drive or agenda that the mom, or parents have.  Oh yes, dads have it too, sometimes worse.  We want our kids to be the best they can be, so sometimes we end up forcing the issue.Dan and I have talked about this quite a lot, especially with Jacob doing tae kwon do and soccer.  We don’t want him to feel forced to do it in any way….we don’t want to push him by our own agendas.  BUT then we don’t want to just allow him to give up whenever he’s feeling discouraged or bored either, not that he is….I’m just using him as an example.  Sure, there are times he would rather just stay home, but ultimately, he’s excited about what he’s doing.  The problem is, how do we decipher between when it’s time to move on or when it’s time to keep encouraging him to do his best?

Honestly, just from my own personal perspective, I think we will know….I think you will know when it’s time to let go.  If your child isn’t excited anymore about the particular activity, when they’re actually kind of bored with it, when they put up a fight each and every time on going…..I think those are all signs.  Those are signs we, as parents, have to watch for and listen for.  In pushing them to be something they are not, it’s possible to sort of crush their spirits and actually topple discouragement upon discouragement.  So far, with Jacob, we really haven’t had to face this, but we’re ever watchful and mindful of it.

Maybe he will change his mind at some point and want to do something else, and that’s fine.  Maybe your children will change their minds, as well.  Encourage them in their interests; be there to root them on.  If they’d rather play a musical instrument than run down a football field, then run with it.  The more we can expose our children to, the more varied their interests will be as they grow up; at least, that’s how I look at it.  Why push an agenda, when ultimately, it can lead to resentment and a drift in the relationship, especially as they become teens and start making their own choices?  Why not encourage them to use whatever talents, gifts, and interests that God has uniquely given them?

For more Motivate Me Monday, visit Sarah at The Fifth Street Palace.