Here of late Chase & I have been having many conversations about perspective. How different people can have a different perspective about the same event. We had these conversations in hope that he will have a greater understanding of himself & of other people. Being able to see something from another persons perspective can help in so many ways. When you're hurt it can aid your healing; when you're sad it can make you smile; when you're confused it can give clarity and my favorite, it can make you laugh.
Just recently we had gone out to dinner during which Kalyn and I were playing Tic-Tac-Toe before our meal. Once Kalyn & I were done eating she wanted to play some more so I told her to draw the grid. Well a few minutes past and I hadn't played. This is the conversation that followed:
"Mommy you lost" Kalyn exclaimed.
"But I wasn't even playing...you cheated" I said with a smile
"No I didn't...I was just helpin and took your turn" She said laughing
Unfortunately it's not always that funny as I have experienced and now Chase is learning first hand. Sometimes to find out the other persons perspective can be scary, confusing and down right nerve racking. However, on the other hand my family and I have gained so much from getting "perspective". My husband & I understand so much more about each other and I'm getting to know my kids on whole new level and I am truly amazed by their depth of insight at such a tender age.
24 January 2009
16 January 2009
Good & Tough Week All in One
Our week started off with Larry heading out to CA to close out a project he's been working on. I was concerned whether or not the kids were going to have a good week or not. I'm pleased to say that it was a good & tough week all in one. Kalyn proved to herself that she can have a good day at school even if Daddy is not here. I'll be reminding her of that fact in the months to come. It's tough being in kindergarten but she does love it! She even likes being able to sit in the kitchen with Chase & do homework. So much so that I have to hide her homework packet so she does not try to do a whole weeks worth in one night. I'm sure it won't be too much longer and that will change.
Chase and I had many long conversations about perspective & consequences this week. It was great to see those "light bulb" moments during our talks. Chase has made so many strides this year academically & socially. Learning to work with his ADD instead of fighting it. We are so proud of him! The best part is to watch him get excited over school & to tell us all about it. He never wanted to talk about school before or much of anything else for that matter. Everything was always locked up in his head.
I started writing this entry before we left for school so now I have to tell you about this mornings conversation with Chase. He was telling me that at the last book fair a few of his classmates did not have any money to buy anything so Chase decided it would be a good thing to lend them money so they could buy something. He then said "and I didn't ask or want anything in return. I just felt good about it". Now, how cool is that? I told him that is was a wonderful thing he did and that I was very proud of him. However, I felt the need at that moment to talk with him about being careful and asking himself a few questions before doing something like that in the future. "Ask yourself Chase, is this a person who will truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and is honestly your friend or is this a person that is only being nice because they want something from you". Yes, I realize that this may be viewed as a cynical way of thinking but unfortunately this is how some people are. I've experienced it and at Chase's tender age of 11 has already experienced it as well.
After we talked about that for he bit he said to me " I don't know why but some people think that being able to buy lots of stuff is more important than other things. Having stuff is not more important than love, family or faith." Wow......I was floored! Then I replied "some people think that being able to buy lots of stuff or the most expensive stuff will make them happy and some (not all) of those people are the most sad" . To that Chase replies "now that's just wrong".
It was a tough week trying to figure out a new routine that will make things as easy as possible for when Larry heads back to Iraq. It may not have been the funniest or easiest week; but it was a good week. I saw my daughters' strength & determination to have a good week. I saw my sons' new found love for himself and understanding of others. So I think that is an amazing week!
Chase and I had many long conversations about perspective & consequences this week. It was great to see those "light bulb" moments during our talks. Chase has made so many strides this year academically & socially. Learning to work with his ADD instead of fighting it. We are so proud of him! The best part is to watch him get excited over school & to tell us all about it. He never wanted to talk about school before or much of anything else for that matter. Everything was always locked up in his head.
I started writing this entry before we left for school so now I have to tell you about this mornings conversation with Chase. He was telling me that at the last book fair a few of his classmates did not have any money to buy anything so Chase decided it would be a good thing to lend them money so they could buy something. He then said "and I didn't ask or want anything in return. I just felt good about it". Now, how cool is that? I told him that is was a wonderful thing he did and that I was very proud of him. However, I felt the need at that moment to talk with him about being careful and asking himself a few questions before doing something like that in the future. "Ask yourself Chase, is this a person who will truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and is honestly your friend or is this a person that is only being nice because they want something from you". Yes, I realize that this may be viewed as a cynical way of thinking but unfortunately this is how some people are. I've experienced it and at Chase's tender age of 11 has already experienced it as well.
After we talked about that for he bit he said to me " I don't know why but some people think that being able to buy lots of stuff is more important than other things. Having stuff is not more important than love, family or faith." Wow......I was floored! Then I replied "some people think that being able to buy lots of stuff or the most expensive stuff will make them happy and some (not all) of those people are the most sad" . To that Chase replies "now that's just wrong".
It was a tough week trying to figure out a new routine that will make things as easy as possible for when Larry heads back to Iraq. It may not have been the funniest or easiest week; but it was a good week. I saw my daughters' strength & determination to have a good week. I saw my sons' new found love for himself and understanding of others. So I think that is an amazing week!
10 January 2009
A cold and funny New Year
New Years Eve was one of the coldest and windiest days we've had this year. So we decided to torture ourselves and go up to Wintergreen Resort to go snow tubing. Wintergreen is three thousand feet higher than we are normally so you know it was really freezing-burg cold up there!
We loaded up the van with our kids and our neighbors grandson and off we went. When we got there the resort had every single snow blowing machine going full blast! I went to go pick up our tickets and left Larry to get the kids into their snow pants. When I got back to the car I found out that Larry had given all three kids the wrong pants! It was kind of a "Goldie Locks" moment. All I could do was smile.
So I'm standing up on the observation deck, probably 100 or so feet above the tubing course watching the kids and Larry wait for their turn to go down. Now to give you a good idea of what the slop looks like: it's about a quarter mile-ish long track with 12 or so lanes. Each lane has snow packed up on either side to make the lanes.
They are next up in line and I realize that Kalyn is about to go down by herself. I'm saying to myself "oh no...this is not good." Kalyn starts heading down the slope spinning so fast I thought she was launch out of her tube. She was going so fast all you could see was this moving purple blob. Kalyn finally stops about 40ft from the end and just sits in her tube for a minute. Obviously dizzy.
Kalyn finally gets up and starts pulling her tube behind her trying to walk across the lanes. She keeps tripping and at one point trips doing a face plant in one of the banks. Meanwhile I'm watching all of this laughing with a huge smile on my face. I look down at the 60 plus people waiting for their turn to go down and all of them turn their heads to follow Kalyn's progress across the track.
Our tubing session was for two hours and to my complete and utter surprise Graham, Kalyn and Larry went for the whole two hours. Chase came up after an hour and fifteen minutes really cold and need a snack. So we sat in the cafe by the fire having hot chocolate, a cookie and a really wonderful conversation.
We loaded up the van with our kids and our neighbors grandson and off we went. When we got there the resort had every single snow blowing machine going full blast! I went to go pick up our tickets and left Larry to get the kids into their snow pants. When I got back to the car I found out that Larry had given all three kids the wrong pants! It was kind of a "Goldie Locks" moment. All I could do was smile.
So I'm standing up on the observation deck, probably 100 or so feet above the tubing course watching the kids and Larry wait for their turn to go down. Now to give you a good idea of what the slop looks like: it's about a quarter mile-ish long track with 12 or so lanes. Each lane has snow packed up on either side to make the lanes.
They are next up in line and I realize that Kalyn is about to go down by herself. I'm saying to myself "oh no...this is not good." Kalyn starts heading down the slope spinning so fast I thought she was launch out of her tube. She was going so fast all you could see was this moving purple blob. Kalyn finally stops about 40ft from the end and just sits in her tube for a minute. Obviously dizzy.
Kalyn finally gets up and starts pulling her tube behind her trying to walk across the lanes. She keeps tripping and at one point trips doing a face plant in one of the banks. Meanwhile I'm watching all of this laughing with a huge smile on my face. I look down at the 60 plus people waiting for their turn to go down and all of them turn their heads to follow Kalyn's progress across the track.
Our tubing session was for two hours and to my complete and utter surprise Graham, Kalyn and Larry went for the whole two hours. Chase came up after an hour and fifteen minutes really cold and need a snack. So we sat in the cafe by the fire having hot chocolate, a cookie and a really wonderful conversation.
08 January 2009
Well...here it goes
Today was interesting, fun and difficult all at the same time. I started off the day getting the kids to school and then working on volunteer project with a good friend. We worked and told each other funny stories. I love starting a day off that way!
I have to say thank you to my friend who is always so encouraging to me. Even when I do stick my foot square in my mouth! She's the reason I'm writing this now. I've got a tough year ahead of me but I'm determined to make it a good one. One of the ways I planning on doing that is by writing this blog. I want to write down memories and experiences that remind me of where I've been, where I'm going and all the fantasic people that I am truely blessed to have in my life.
I have to say thank you to my friend who is always so encouraging to me. Even when I do stick my foot square in my mouth! She's the reason I'm writing this now. I've got a tough year ahead of me but I'm determined to make it a good one. One of the ways I planning on doing that is by writing this blog. I want to write down memories and experiences that remind me of where I've been, where I'm going and all the fantasic people that I am truely blessed to have in my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)