Thursday Thoughts

Well, it's started.  I always knew it would, although I secretly hoped that we had avoided this stage when I witnessed others dealing with this at an earlier point in their child's development.  Of course, no such luck.  Granted our child has put her own twist on this particularly annoying chapter in her little life, as we should have suspected she would.  I'm not sure what is worse:  "Why" or "Why not?"

As you may have guessed, our darling 3YO has opted for the latter, despite the nature of the statement which precedes the query.  You see, whether we say, "You can't watch TV right now," or, "You need to eat your vegetables," the response would consistently be, "Why not?"  Which not only makes you want to pull your hair out (because of course this is usually the 50th time in the last hour your little one has posed that same question), but also makes you pause and wonder if this little dynamo understood the statement to begin with.

I do realize it is all part of growing up and learning, and that her curiosity is to be commended.  She is, after all, only trying to learn more about this world she came into as a blank slate.  Some people even try to expand the learning experience by throwing it back at their kids with, "Why do YOU think?" and wait for them to respond.  I'm sure my little imp would simply also adopt this question into our daily routine at regular (read: annoying dripping faucet) intervals.

So for now I'll do my best to respond to the questions that actually have a response, despite the fact that when I do it really doesn't appear to matter greatly in her world.  My response is often returned with an obscure change of conversation as only a healthy toddler can do.

Then again, maybe I should just stick to the tried and true statement coined by my own Mom (and I'm sure countless mothers before her):  "It's because I said so!"

Wordless Wednesday - Thank you for giving me "earrings" version

Busted for Being Well-Behaved

When I picked up Maaike from preschool today, her teacher told me the kids in the class were each given a special item from the Director of the centre that morning. I guess there was a line up for the washroom and the kids were waiting in the hall for their class's turn to do their business. Well, the Director took notice of how quietly and patiently they were waiting and awarded them each with a little coin that says, "I was caught being good."

I love this concept!

In my never to be humble opinion, this should be common practice among human beings everywhere. How often do we jump to criticize, judge and hurtle insults at people? Maybe if someone just handed us a little shiny coin acknowledging our accomplishments rather than our failures, the world would simply be a better place. Food for thought ...

Dutch Irish Hex

Hex signs are a form of old Pennsylvania Dutch folk art which, in the more recent years, have became more commercialized for the tourist market. Some people think hex signs hold some form of magical powers; but most see them as purely decorative, or "chust for nice" as they say in the local dialect.

I recently found out that one of the most popular hex symbols is "Dutch Irish", featuring a large green shamrock (good luck of the Irish!) at the heart of it. A pair of Irish Distelfink birds shower the shamrock with a double dose of happiness and good fortune. And trinity tulips, a familiar symbol in the Netherlands, adds a dose of faith, hope & charity.

To me this symbol is overflowing with love, just like our little family. Must find one somewhere to hang in our house ...

Words to Live By

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." Author Unknown

Entitlement - A Reality Check

I have been wandering around over the last number of months effectively feeling sorry for myself. Whining internally (and sometimes externally) about some things I essentially have no control over, and also about some things that I do control but obviously had been questioning my decisions about. It was almost 100% reflected in jealousy I was experiencing towards people in my life whom, I believed, had more than I. More kids, more money, a nicer house, a nicer car ... the list goes on.

Today I got a slap in the face, once again, at church. (Figuratively, of course). It amazes me when these things hit me. They come out of the blue, and I always know it's striking a chord when the throat starts to seal up, the nose starts to burn, and I am blinded by tears.

What makes me think I'm entitled to all these things that everyone else has, when I have so much more than so many equally deserving people already? There was a day when we were essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul; now, although finances are tight and we live on a budget, our bills are paid and we have assets that far out-weigh our liabilities. There was also a day when I believed I would never be a wife to a good man, and that I would never be a mother; now I am blessed to be both.

I have a great family, immediate and extended, & seriously awesome friends. We are all healthy. We have a warm home, clothes on our backs, and we get to do a few things here and there to "live life". I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with our beautiful child, a benefit I would never have imagined I'd be able to have the opportunity, let alone the means, to do. THAT's the nitty gritty important stuff that we are blessed with.

Really, isn't winning the lottery enough without the bonus round?

My Girl & Her "Magic" Shoes

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