Last Day of School

Today is the last day of school.  Boy has this year gone fast.  Zachary will be a Freshman in high school next year.  I find that hard to believe.  I remember very vividly, taking him to his first day of pre-school and how he cried nearly every single day the whole year.  I also, remember quite well his first day of kindergarten and how I cried.  I feel myself, as most parents with children this age probably do, very conflicted.  I want to let go and let him experience life but I want to hold on so tight because I only have a few short years left until he's off to college.

I am enormously proud of Zachary.  He will be taking AP World History next year as a Freshman as well as honors level courses for all of his other classes.  Zachary has struggled and we've hit bumps in the road but he always manages to keep going and I think that says a lot about his character.

Here is my handsome guy before heading off to his 8th grade dance 2 weeks ago:

I think some words from one of my favorite authors seem appropriate here. "How did it get so late so soon?  It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June.  My goodness how the time has flewn.  How did it get so late so soon?" ~Dr. Seuss

I think what I am trying to say is I wish I could slow time down, just for a minute.  I am blessed and proud but sad at the same time.  I love you Zachary!

*I am trying to add a Follow Me on Facebook gadget to the sidebar but can not seem to figure it out just yet.  In the meantime here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/NotSewPlain.  I have been a bit more successful at using the FaceBook page for quick updates.  Check it out!

You are Beautiful

Have you seen the Dove video's circulating around the internet yet?  If not, here, I'll help you out.

I have watched this video over and over.  As the mother of a little girl, it has had a profound effect on me.  I do my best to make her feel loved and strong but I forget that the way I view myself will have a large impact on how she views herself someday.  Women are hard on themselves for everything from how clean our house is to how much we weigh and every facet of life in between.  I want to break that cycle for my daughter.  In recent years I have tried in earnest to focus less on things like my weight and the way a certain piece of clothing makes me look.  I try to be thoughtful when talking about myself and not use too many negatives.  I also try to focus on the positive when talking to her not just in her looks but her strength, her character and her mind.  I want Piper to grow up knowing, believing, and owning her beauty, not focusing on her flaws.  I have to remember it starts with me.  But, it's not just me, she will learn from every woman she comes in contact with growing up.  Our daughters need to see us focusing on what is good and not what is wrong.  We are all beautiful regardless of size, regardless of wrinkles, regardless of flaws.  In fact sometimes it's those wrinkles and flaws that add to our beauty.  Nearly 2 years ago, I had abdominal surgery and was left with quite a scar down my belly.  I own that scar because of the what it means.  Life before the surgery was difficult, each day was a challenge.  My scar reminds me of that battle and it reminds me that I am still here, stronger than ever.  I need to look at myself and see those laugh lines and tired eyes as reminders of what I have endured and I am still here. 

The next time you look in the mirror, try to see what we all see, how beautiful you are.  I know I will.

I am a Princess

A little while ago, I wrote this post on Raising Strong Girls.  Since the day Piper was born, I have feared her becoming a "princess."  I want her to be strong and independent.  I didn't want her to fall into that trap of the princess waiting for someone to rescue her.

This summer I was thrilled to take Piper to see her first movie.  We took her to see Brave.

I loved the idea of a movie about a girl that takes her life into her own hands.  We still watch the trailers on YouTube from time to time.  I will of course buy the DVD when it is released.  I don't mind Piper looking to Merida as an inspiration.  Merida is strong and independent, a great role model.

So, this past week while watching an afternoon cartoon on Disney channel with Piper I saw this.

My princess fearing heart melted a little.  Disney, did a wonderful thing by putting this video out there.  Disney made it okay to be a princess, a strong princess.  Well done Disney.  :)

Every Day is a Gift

One year ago today I was taught a very important lesson, "every day is a gift."

I went to the doctor thinking I would walk away with some Advil and directions to rest my leg.  I thought I had pulled a muscle.  Several whirlwind hours later, I was sitting in the ER waiting to be admitted to the hospital with 2 blood clots in my left leg.  That day will stick in my mind forever.  What stands out most is every medical person I came in contact with from the moment the blood clots were seen on the ultrasound screen said this, "you are lucky to be alive."  I had ignored the signs and symptoms for almost 2 weeks.  I was lucky to be alive.

So, with the anniversary of that day looming I started to think about the past year and all the things I might not have been here for.  At first the list started with things like:

- Piper's 2nd birthday

- Zachary's 13th birthday

- another Christmas

- Our 13th wedding anniversary

- another Thanksgiving

- Zachary's first day of school

- Buying our first house

- Taking Piper to see her first movie

- Zachary's MESA team winning the county title and going to states

Then I started thinking about the smaller things I would not have been here for.

- bath time with Piper

- eating s'mores

- holding a sick toddler while she sleeps

- playing games with Zachary

 - building with Lego's

- smelling fresh laundry

- looking for sharks teeth

- baking (and licking the beaters)

- reading Good Night Moon for the 1,000th time

- snuggling under a blanket on a cold Saturday morning to watch a soccer game


Trust me, the list could go on and on. In thinking about all these moments I got to live, I realized that each day this past year was a gift full of memories and moments that I might not have gotten to be a part of.  Not a single one of us knows what the future holds for us.  We can be here one day and gone the next.  The only thing we can do, is live our lives to the fullest and enjoy each moment.  I'm lucky, I know that now.  I don't know if I have another year, or 10 or 50.  What I do know is that I will do my best to savor each moment I do have, you should too!

Do the Right Thing

How many times a day are we faced with making a decision about what to do in a situation?  (Probably too many to count on certain days)  Anything from picking up a piece of litter and disposing of it or witnessing a crime and reporting in and everything in between.  This week I was put in a situation that really got me thinking about "do the right thing."  We tell our children constantly to "do the right thing."  But, do we as adults always practice what we preach?

This week I needed to run out and get some red thread to start Piper's Halloween costume.  We also needed to run to the grocery store to get more banana's and peanut butter (Piper's current favorite meal. I wonder, is it bad to let a kid eat a banana and peanut butter for every meal? Anyway...)  Wal-Mart is the closest place to get thread so that's where we ended up.  Upon pulling into the parking lot I saw a local company truck parked funny.  Closer inspection showed me the truck had rolled into another parked car.  It must have recently happened because several people were looking at it.  When we got into the store I heard over the driver of the local company paged over the intercom.  In my mind, I said "okay, it's being handled" and went on my way.  We got the thread we needed, looked at a few more things then headed to the check-out. On my way out the door a gentleman caught my eye, I don't know why, so I watched him for a minute.  I'm glad I did.  He happened to be the driver of the truck that had rolled into the other car.  I saw the realization hit him and was so shocked by what happened next.  The driver picked up the pace to his truck, hopped in and drove off.  By this time I had Piper in her seat so I jumped into my car and followed him.  I got his licenses number.  I parked again and called the company to report it.  At first the girl on the other end of the phone seemed concerned.  Until I explained it to her a second time, when she discovered that their truck had hit a car and not vice versa she didn't seem as concerned.  So, there I sat in my car struggling with what to do.  I had called the company and reported it.  Was that enough?  I wasn't sure they were going to do anything.  I already had Piper in her seat.  I needed to go get banana's and lunch time was quickly approaching.  (I should note here that I don't handle confrontation well.  I like staying at home more than I like going out because I don't always like interacting with people, it makes me uncomfortable).  After sitting there for a minute, I went back in the store.  I found a manager and gave her the information.  As I was leaving I heard the driver for the other car (the one hit) being paged over the intercom.

When I got home it bothered me that I struggled so much with what to do.  Doing the right thing should be a no brainer.  Sure, I could have gotten in my car and left.  No one knew what I had witnessed.  I knew.  No one would have seen me leave.  Piper would have.  Yep, she's only two, but we have to remind ourselves that each and every thing we do in the presence of our children is laying a foundation.

So, I have made it a goal to make a more conscious effort when it comes to doing the right thing.  Zachary loves to pick things up off the ground.  I can't tell you how many times I have said, "eww put that down," when I should have been saying "let's find a trash can for that."  When I'm out walking the dog, I have bags with me already, I can easily pick up trash along the road.  When I am given 10 cents too much at the check-out, I'm going to return it (how many of us have ignored this one?).  If I can't return it, I will put it in a change donation box somewhere.  I will return the shopping cart to the corral and any others I see around me in the parking lot.  I will hold the door for the person entering a building behind me.  I challenge you to do the same.  No matter how small the act may be, do the right thing.  Do not walk past something / witness something and assume someone else will take care of it.  I think if we all did the right thing 100% of the time (and it's hard to do), this world would be a much better place.  Don't you?