Taking Pride in the Present

Problems past,
and prospective plans.

Somehow I manage to let them press me from either side, and get squashed out of enjoying the present. So this resolution is simple.

Play. And be pleasant in the present.

Taking Pride in my Parenting Personality

I am not the fitness mum.
Or the frugal mum.
I am not the social mum.
Or the soccer mum,
or the take lovely photos of my kids mum,
or the keeping up with the trends mum.
I am not the green smoothie with chia mum and
I am far, far from being the pristine mum.

Though sometimes I try.
I don't think that it is a bad thing, to expand your horizon. To grow and learn and try out new things. But for me, practices often develop into expectations (created purely for myself, by myself). And herein lies the problem of guilt, and the subverting of my own parenting styles and ways.

As I moved from my got-to-be-like-everyone-else teen years, to my discover-who-you-are twenties, and now to my thirties, I sensed a grounding of my personality. I feel more comfortable knowing and being who I am (though still and always growing), instead of trying to be another/others/everyone else.

As far as parenting personality goes though, I am still child-like. I am still working to feel secure in my style. This is my second resolution for the year.
I am a creative mum.
I am a compassionate mum.
I am a Christ-led mum.

Taking Pride in my Possesions

I know, it sounds like a anti-resolution.

We should be shedding our stuff and simplifying and not getting caught up in the Jones' trap.

But we practice that resolution already. We have always aimed to be a generous family and I am a bit of a minimalist so we have regular culling and giving sessions (one day I will expand on how we practice charity at home). We definitely want to continue to give as lavishly as we can, this year.

But while generosity has helped us to release ownership of our 'stuff', it has also swayed us to release responsibility for our 'stuff'. We do not manage our possessions carefully. Our kids are often rough and messy and careless with toys and clothes and furniture. They are under the impression that things broken or ruined can (and will) be replaced (and often they are, because we can). As parents we haven't done a good job at training our children to respect and take pride in their possessions. And of course it is a pattern learnt from us. As adults in this house, we are lax at fixing things that are broken, and after we grow tired of them hanging around broken, we dump them and substitute a new. 

It is an unacceptable habit ecologically, financially and spiritually. So this year, I am aiming to take pride in what we have, and teach our children to do the same. And I am hoping that our well looked after possessions will create more opportunities for generosity.

"I'll try to take care of all the books piled up on my bed"

 "I'll keep my nice dresses and dancing costumes and fancy headbands off the floor"

"I won't break special things"

Singing a New Song 2014

I do my best
To find some kind of glow
I'm giving it some heart and soul, now
From the darkest greys
The sun bursts, clouds break...

Well, this is life in colour
Today feels like no other
From the darkest greys
The sun bursts, clouds break

Well, this is life in motion

And just when I could run this race no more

The sun bursts, clouds break
This is life in colour...

Lyrics are OneRepublic: Life in Colour. Here!

Our NY 2013 song here!

Our NY 2012 song here!