November

waking up to a new day

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Terrorists use violence in an attempt to achieve political goals. Their intent is to bring about political change by creating a climate of fear within the society they oppose. The targeting of innocent victims and symbolic locations for a high-profile attack has long been the preferred method of terrorist organizations. As defined by Kids Encyclopedia – Kids Britannica

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This morning our girls asked why my husband and I were looking at a photo album.  The album filled with photos from our honeymoon in the Fall of 1999 and pictures of our stay in Paris.  We shared with them the news of events in Paris yesterday, and the acts of terrorism.  Also sharing we were looking to find our pictures to share in solidarity with the people of France.

It was just this past September that we were open in sharing to our now 9 and 7-year-old daughters the history of September 11, 2001.  Up until now it has been a day that we have given thanks to first responders, the people who enter into a situation whether they are fire fighters or police as its their job. We shared more about the history of that day in terms of why we were so thankful for the first responders on that day and what they did that makes us so thankful to the jobs they do each and every day.  It was the first time our girls heard us discuss terrorism in 20th century terms. Both girls know both my husband and I grew up on the East Coast near to New York City.  Like the explanation I shared above from the kids encyclopedia, we shared the history of the day in terms not to scare them, but to have them understand what has happened and if at school they were to hear anything in remembrance of the day it would have been from us they heard it first.

Today we shared again what we know in terminology they would understand from the news, where these attacks took place and that there were lives lost. Again we referred to the kids encyclopedia definition to give them a way to define what happened yesterday in Paris.

We do not share this with our girls to create fear or anxiety.  At their current ages we believe they should have an idea of current events even those that are sad and upsetting. We want them to hear it from us and allow a discussion before they may hear it from others.

Our discussion was thoughtful and through their questions brought about the discussion of 9/11 again.  I believe we are giving them the foundation to understand what can happen in our world today.

Locally we pass on the freeway a hillside in Lafayette filled with crosses that is updated with the number of deaths from our armed forces from the Iraq/Afghan war.  This is something we discuss as we drive past now and again.

So it was this morning that we woke up to a new day in our world that was changed yesterday by the acts of terrorism in France.  It is with solemn hearts we stand with the people of France together as a family.

Day 14, #NaBloPoMo #BlogHer

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Thankful to be raising readers

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I am so thankful for books and the tales and adventures we enjoy as we read .. I am enjoying hearing Ally read and watching her and Jess’s ♥ of books grow… this comes both from school and from our reading every night and day … thankful for the teachers who have touched our lives as they have expanded our girls minds with reading too!

Story books have been part of our girls’ lives since they were babies with night time book time.  As toddlers they had easy access to piles of board books to look through on their own and choose for us to read to them.  This love of books is part of our family life.  I too am an avid reader and am so excited that my girls are sharing this love of books too!

 

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 Day 13, #NaBloPoMo #BlogHer

Mom’s a taxi

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Not surprising that I feel like a taxi.  I think that is one of the many jobs a stay-at-home parent does.  I was sitting tonight on my way to dropping both girls off at ballet knowing in an hour I’d be right back to pick one of them up. I am the driver to and from school, to and from ballet, to and from girl scouts, to and from swim practices in the summer, and to and from camp in the summer too.

I think instead of tracking my daily footsteps, I should be tracking my daily mileage.

I am happy to be able to be the driver for my girls.  It is something that is just part of our daily routine and what I signed on for those 9 years ago when we first became parents.

It’s been almost 2 years since we got the minivan and boy have we put it to use. I may be the primary driver for my girls but there are days you will find my car loaded with their friends.  I am always happy to help a friend out with getting their kids to and from the places we are going too!

My husband jokes that in 7 years our oldest could get her learner’s permit and eventually her driver’s license.  I’m not sure I’m ready for that but maybe in another 7 years I’ll have changed my mind.

I dream sometimes at the stoplight of the car I will have when my children are grown, just a bitty one maybe a beetle convertible for just my dogs and me. After all, I will only be carting us around by then 🙂

How do your children get to and from school or their activities?

Day 12 #NaBloPoMo #BlogHer

What do I want to be when I grow up?

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I am counting down to my 52nd birthday (13 days to be exact) and am sitting here tonight thinking what do I want to be when I grow up?

I’m looking at going back to work on an almost full-time basis next school year.  I know for sure that my career in the retail/wholesale business is not going to be resurrected 10 years later.  I don’t want a job that adds any stresses to our family life.  I had at one point considered going back to school and becoming a social worker.  I really want to help educate those individuals considering adoption as a family building option.  I have as a lay person hosted education peer groups, but I want to do more and can only work for an agency in a capacity as a LCSW or MSW. But as I’ve thought about it more and more I don’t have the focus to return to school and be available to my kids. So what’s next?

It’s been 10 years since I’ve worked for a company in any capacity.  My current bosses are 9 and 7 years old.  Will I be able to work under anyone else?  I’ve enjoyed the current position I’ve taken on as noon supervisor at our school but it’s only 2 hours a day.  I’m happy to have a little extra cash now.

Is this considered a mid-life crisis when at almost 52 you don’t know what you want to be?  Am I needing to reinvent myself for full-time work? What should I do, what should I be?  I don’t know, I do know that working at least 35 hours a week will be a BIG change for my family and me.

I am considering taking the typing test at our school district and look for a school office job as an assistant or clerical.  I want to be on the same schedule as our girls with holidays off and summer off.  But is this really what I want to be when I grow up?

Have you returned to work after years home as a stay-at-home mom?  Did you go back to your career?  What did you do?

Day 10, #NaBloPoMo #BlogHer