Goodbye July!

This was a busy week and I can't believe that July is already over. We had fun at the State Fair, spent lots of time on the boat, I taught a kids summer acting camp, and  I managed to squeeze work in as well. Now we are moving nicely into August. I'm super excited because later this week we are on the road to Costa Mesa where Mason will cook at the OC Fair and this year, not only is Dave going with us, but we have time scheduled in to spend some time with Michael J and Sari.

We will travel south on Friday and meet Michael and Sari for lunch at Real Food Daily. I can't wait for Dave and Mason to taste vegan food that tastes amazing. After lunch, we will head to Costa Mesa and check in to the hotel. Saturday Mason is scheduled to cook and Michael, Sari and Sari's parents are coming to see Mason perform and spend some time with us at the Fair. Sunday night, Michael and Sari will come back down to Costa Mesa and on Monday, Mason and Michael are going surfing together. I am tickled that the two of them will be spending some time together, just the two of them. I know that this is really weird for Mason so the two of them having opportunities to talk and get to know each other I think will help ease the odd feelings. I'll let you know how it all goes next week.

School starts for Mason on the 13th of August and I'm glad to get back to a routine, but I am not ready for summer to be over. I need more time on the lake and boat, I want more sunshine, and I love the long days and warm nights. I've not slept outside as much this summer, and Dave and I have not gotten around to finishing the deck (we need to stain/seal it) so that means we have not set it back up. We got Mason a new bed so the trundle bed is out there but it's not a real living space. Maybe that will be a project I can do while Dave and Mason are at their game conference on Labor Day weekend. We'll see. Until next week, happy Monday!

Parenting is SO Hard!

Being a parent is the hardest thing I've ever done. It's also been the best, most rewarding, and emotional journey I've ever been on. It seems to me as we head into the eye of the teenage storm that there is no right way, this is the "you just can't win" phase of parenting. If you are an absent parent, a parent who is more into yourself than you are into your kids, or the parent who is technically there, but puts yourself first in terms of things and experiences, your kid as a teen will recognize that they are not your priority. Of course there are people who struggle with addictions or other issues that limit their ability to be the best parent they can be, even if they want to do better. There are parents who are overbearing, abusive, and crazy overprotective. Even for parents who make their kids their priority, they provide them with opportunities from a very early age, they participate in a healthy home life with relationships that support teamwork, travel for personal growth, sports, success, and fun, and lift their kids up with affirmations of all they can do and tell them daily they love and are proud of them. The teen will of course easily recognize the less plugged-in or abusive parents as those who don't care, they may feel not loved or even that they don't matter at all. We can all see that, but what about the latter group of parents? For me personally, it's been a rude awakening that there is no winning when young humans reach this particular age range and time in their human development. For those of us who have spent the last 15 years encouraging our kids to try, to do things that scare them, to foster a healthy self-esteem while also teaching them to be humble and kind. How on earth do you not cry when your child shouts at you that you are holding them back? When you voice that you think they would be crazy good at "fill in the blank" and they gasp with, "Why do you want to put me in your box?" What box? I'm simply noting that I believe in you, sharing ideas for how your personal strengths can work into different career paths. It's been so hard to not cry when your child who used to hold your hand, wanted to cuddle on the couch, and share their ideas with you only wants to get as far away from you as they can. Just a parents mere presence in the same room as said teen will elicit eye rolls and a heaviness in the air that just sucks. I know it's normal. I know it's just a phase and all the time we spent encouraging them and lifting them up will come more clear to them as their brains fully develop. In their 20s they come back around and acknowledge that they love us and appreciate all we've done, but until then, this really sucks! sigh...

My Bad Day is Not So Bad

Today has been a day! Lots of juggling, details rapidly changing, people agreeing to one thing and then changing their minds and deciding not to keep the commitment. Buyers who are NOT my clients (I represent the seller) calling me to discuss the house, what? I had to shop for a new dryer when the dryer that I am replacing is still new in my mind, only 3 years old. That presented challenges that are just too bizarre to even spell out here. I went to get the dryer and wouldn't you know, I blew out my flip - flop! All of this is a nuisance... but it's like being pecked by a chicken, not deadly, but painful! Too much is just too much. I want to be a good person, I want to help not only the people I love, but anyone who needs it and I have it to give. It gets harder and harder when agreements are not kept. I know this sounds like complaining but it's really more an acknowledgement of how good I have it. I have close friends who are dealing with serious cancer diagnosis, others who are barely surviving each day because of chronic pain, depression, and suicidal tendencies, and others who are working SO hard, sacrificing everything to get the education to start the second half of their lives. I am lucky, my bad day is a walk in the park for anyone in fear for the lives of their loved ones. Tonight I am going to sleep thankful. Thankful for so much including the friend who has my back, who bridged the gap between my current financial situation and my next escrow closing so I could get a new dryer, that my hubby and son are on vacation together at a national game convention, thankful that all my people are healthy.

I really am grateful, and I will keep being me no matter how others show up or don't show up. How I behave speaks to who I am, how others behave speaks to who they are... I say this to Mason all the time, so I will start my day tomorrow taking my own advice. Sweet Dreams friends, there is always something to be thankful for. Oh, and on the note of my flip-flop breaking, there was a thrift store right next door so I popped in and got these little lovelies for just $5 each! BRAND NEW! How's that for a way to turn this day around?

Congratulations Jennifer!

Huge CONGRATULATIONS to one of my best friends Jennifer Taggard who graduated with her Bachelor's Degree today!! This woman has come such a long way since we met at Sierra College a number of years ago. She is a phenomenal woman, a force of determination, loving, compassionate, funny, strong, and a bright light in my life. Jen, this degree is certainly an accomplishment, but you already are and have been so much more than enough even without the piece of paper. Love you girl!

I’m completely pooped out! This week I was teaching kids acting camp, and then in the afternoon, back to back cooking demos at the State Fair. It was all about "Fun with Food" and cooking with kids. Homemade ranch dressing, salad on a stick, no bake cheesecakes with fresh fruit, English muffin pizza, and a banana smoothie. My feet are throbbing and my knee is aching but it was a phenomenal day and week of acting camp!

On the motivational note, words are not "just" words or sounds. They have meaning, not only in the words themselves but in why you choose them, how, when, and where you deliver them, but most importantly why. Are you communicating to make yourself feel better, to create effects on someone else, or to really elicit positive productive change? Ask yourself next time you have an important conversation, "Why do I want to say this?" You might be surprised how often you choose different words, or even to not communicate at all.

Things Mason Says...

June 2019 Mason: Mom, your IGA is pretty weak. Me: Really? Why do you think that? Mason: Your posts don’t have very many likes at all. Me: Is that what makes an IG account strong or worthwhile, lots of likes? Mason: Well yeah, you have to have lots of likes. Me: What if I don’t have lots of likes, but one person tells me in a comment that my post was just what they needed to hear? Mason: Well, that’s good too, but really, you need lots of likes. Me: I’ll take the one comment sharing that I touched someone over lots of likes. Mason: Yeah mom, that sounds like you, your heart prefers the words more than the likes. July 2014 Mason: Dang this Pandora! There is no reason it shouldn't be loading, we are in a major neopolitan area. Me: Uh, I think you mean metropolitan. Mason: Oh, yeah. What is neopolitan again? Me: Either an ice cream flavor, an era, or a region depending on how you are using it. Mason: Oh yeah, okay, then that's funny, major neopolitan area! Shaking my head, he cracks himself up! He gets that from me. June 2014 Mason: Mom, I went on a genealogy website and I found my great grandfather, and he's still alive. Me: No, that can't be right, I know both of your great grandfathers are no longer with us, they have passed. Mason: No mom, I'm sure this is my logical great grandfather. Me: Well now I know that it's not true because nobody in our family is logical! Of course he meant biological. :) July 2010 While listening to a comment about ending world hunger Mason emphatically said to me, "I'm never ending world hunger!" I replied, "Why not?" "Because I'm always hungry and if we end world hunger how will we know it's time to eat?" Mason reasoned. I laughed, I didn't even know what to say.