Monday Motivator

Happy Sunshiny day!

I know most people don't like when it rains on the weekends only to have the sun shine all work-week long. I personally prefer it that way. I would much rather be able to stay home and lounge around than have to be out answering to someone else when it is stormy and cold outside. So that is pretty much what we did this weekend, watched movies, cuddled, and lounged around.

With that, there's not much to report. I have a few new people to our list so let me remind you what this is and why I do it. The Monday Motivator started back in 1999 as a way to keep in touch with friends and family. I typically talk a little about what is new with the Partak family and then try to provide all of you with a little motivational "something" to get your week off to a good start. Some weeks are way more fun than others, but hey, isn't that the way life goes?

Have a great week and make the most of the way this springtime weather makes you feel! I love this quote. Especially for women, we need to remember this when we feel like we can't sleep in because we have "too much to do," or we don't have time to roll around in bed with our kids and pets because the house needs cleaning. I say, sleep, roll, and cuddle! The list of things to do will never get shorter, and the house will always need cleaning. You will never have this moment again, and if someone wants to play with you, by all means, play!

Lots and lots of love,

Kathy

"God doesn't look at how much we do, but with how much love we do it." - Mother Teresa

Monday Motivator

Last Thursday was Valentine’s Day, and it became clear to me that I am not completely in touch with how fast Mason in growing up. If you have children you will easily get this, and if you don't, well, you may still find the humor in it. This is the story of the pink shirt for Valentine’s Day.

In preparing for the school party with cookies and cards, I also found a pale pink button down shirt that I thought would look great on Mason. I planned to pair it with some dark khaki pants and a red turtle neck shirt. Does that really sound so bad? Mason thought so! "I don't want to wear a pink shirt. The kids will laugh at me." Huh? How can this be, you are only 4 years old, I thought. I went on to explain that there are no such things as girl colors and boy colors, there are only colors. "We wear red at Christmas, pink on Valentine’s Day, green for St. Patrick's Day, and red, white, and blue for the 4th of July" I said. He wasn't having any of my logic. "I'm not wearing pink!" he exclaimed.

Being a little older (as far as my time in life to be a mom), I decided not to push the issue, although I was disappointed. I am glad that Mason has a sense of himself and how he feels, but I don't want him to be motivated by his perception of what other's will think. Mason put on the outfit without the pink shirt and finished getting ready for school. At the last minute, he came out of his bedroom wearing the pink shirt. I smiled and clapped and gave him a big hug letting him know how pleased I was. He still wasn't having the "happy" part, but he was wearing the shirt. His dad explained to him how happy it would make me (and I suspect he even bribed him with a new Hot Wheels toy).

Mason wore the shirt to school and made the announcement immediately that no one was to laugh at him for wearing a pink shirt. His teachers picked up where I left off about how great he looked, and especially how great he looked in his pink shirt. Much to my surprise, when I picked him up at lunch time he was still wearing it. I asked him how it went and he said fine. I then asked if he wanted to take it off and before I could finish asking the question, the shirt was off and in the back of the car. With the tossing of the pink shirt came a huge hug and kiss from my independent and opinionated 4 year old son. I wonder where he gets those traits.

"You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence" - Abraham Lincoln

MM Post Script

It wasn't all bad, as you can see here, Mason was able to wear the pink shirt with a good attitude and sweet spirit. That's my boy!

Monday Motivator

Happy Valentines Monday!

The weather is gorgeous! The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and the air is crisp. Mason does not have school today and Dave is home, too. It seems I am the only one who has to work, but even that isn't so bad.

Dave was away in San Diego this weekend so Mason and I were on our own. It was actually really nice. Friday night we went out to dinner with some of Mason's friends from school. Mom's and kids taking over the local Applebee’s. Saturday, we stayed home all day. We baked Valentine cookies and Mason's friend Taylor came over in the afternoon. It is so fun for him to have someone to play with. They played bulls, rode bikes in the backyard, played on the playground, and colored. After decorating the cookies we all played board games until it was time for Taylor to go home. On Sunday, we picked Dave up at the airport and went to Old Sacramento to have lunch. We enjoyed the boats on the river and looked in some of the specialty shops.

What did you do? Was the sunshine teasing you with spring and summer? Post a comment and let me know. The forecast is for more of the same, so take in all the vitamin D you can, because it will be raining again before you know it! Have a great week!

Kathy

A true friend is one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your successes.
-Doug Larson-

Monday Motivator

Happy Monday! I don't know about where you are, but here in Auburn, the sun is shining and it is gorgeous outside. I hope the sun is giving you a dose of vitamin D, too.

This last weekend, Dave had to work in San Diego and I took the opprortunity to meet him for a few nights. We went country dancing on Friday night and I have to say, this was as close to being in a time machine as you can get. Everything about that night took us back to 1997 when we were just getting to know each other, dancing, laughing, and falling in love. Of course, the falling in love part took more than six years, but it was all those moments that made up the "happily married" that we are today.

Every married couple needs to do this! Go back to something or someplace that is part of your dating history - without your kids. Maybe the place you married and/or honeymooned. This kind of rekindling is a shot in the arm that works like a slingshot. It stays with you days and sometimes even weeks after you get home. We held hands through the airport coming home and even this morning, we were still smiling about the good time we just had.

When we picked Mason up, he immediatley asked the two of us what we brought him. We just looked at each other and smiled because we know we brought him a mom and a dad who love him enough to keep our marriage thriving, and dare I say, spicy? I can't think of a better gift to bring home for all of us.

Have a great week and get outside and enjoy the gorgeous winter weather!

Kathy


A Thought on Couplehood

"If you want to have the kind of relationship that your heart yearns for, you have to create it. You can't depend on somebody else creating it for you."
— Gary Zukav