i've been thinking for quite a while that i needed to do more for my family in the money department. since i'm home full-time with pbs i'm not bringing in any money. i feel guilty for that but at the same time, i feel blessed to be able to have this time with pbs. i know i could never get that back or replace being there for all of his firsts. i struggled with the decision of staying home vs. going to work full or part time, and i still do sometimes. that's why i decided to take the plunge.
i started researching, asking questions about starting my own at home business a few months ago and found a company that i felt would allow me to stay home, work my own hours, and that i believe in. i have started my very own mary kay business. i'm going to try it out, make the most of what i know i can do, have fun meeting new people and make some money while i do it. i will get to get out of the house for a while a couple times a week by myself. i think that will help me to be a better mother and wife to pbs and js.
i want to feel refreshed from my time away and be able to contribute more to my family. i love my family very much but need some me time once in a while. this business will help me to get that and more, all for my family.
(if you're interested in purchasing any products, hosting a class or party, or just getting information on how you can be your own boss, check out my website at http://marykay.com/lynnstraw/default.aspx.)
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
10 years and counting
js and i have been married for 10 years as of friday july 13, 2012. he's put up with me for a very long time. ;) we've been through a lot, had many ups and downs and have gotten through all of it together.
there have been times that we've wondered if we would make it to 10 years (or whatever year may have been closest) but we pulled through the rough patches to get to the good stuff. the three years on the west coast while js was in law school were pretty rough for many reasons. but we tried and succeeded and worked through as a couple. sometimes it felt like we were roommates and may have only seen each other for five minutes a day but the reward is knowing that he is going to be there when the going gets rough.
some of the ups were challenging as well but they made us stronger as a couple and as individuals. we have grown from our experiences and have learned and are learning what needs to be done in the future.
last year for our anniversary i wrote a list of things with a corresponding number for the number of years we had been married. i didn't do that this year. i wanted to do something else but still haven't done it until now. (js reads this every time i post something and brings it up after he's read it.)
js, i love you to the moon and back. i will always love you. you have pulled, pushed and prodded me, and us, through some rough and not so rough times. you have always been there when i've needed you. i hope you can put up with me for a lot longer than 10 more years. so here's to 10 years and counting! i love you!
there have been times that we've wondered if we would make it to 10 years (or whatever year may have been closest) but we pulled through the rough patches to get to the good stuff. the three years on the west coast while js was in law school were pretty rough for many reasons. but we tried and succeeded and worked through as a couple. sometimes it felt like we were roommates and may have only seen each other for five minutes a day but the reward is knowing that he is going to be there when the going gets rough.
some of the ups were challenging as well but they made us stronger as a couple and as individuals. we have grown from our experiences and have learned and are learning what needs to be done in the future.
last year for our anniversary i wrote a list of things with a corresponding number for the number of years we had been married. i didn't do that this year. i wanted to do something else but still haven't done it until now. (js reads this every time i post something and brings it up after he's read it.)
js, i love you to the moon and back. i will always love you. you have pulled, pushed and prodded me, and us, through some rough and not so rough times. you have always been there when i've needed you. i hope you can put up with me for a lot longer than 10 more years. so here's to 10 years and counting! i love you!
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
parenting is tough!
i've read a few articles and blog posts on parenting in the last couple weeks. these articles focused on how american children are spoiled. i don't completely agree that all american children are spoiled. i do realize that there are always exceptions.
after reading this article from the new yorker, i've been questioning js and my parenting style. i read the article and wondered how american children have come to be so "spoiled" and take so many things for granted? it has to start, and now end, somewhere. i don't want to raise a spoiled child. i want pbs to help out without being asked or told to do so. i want him to be respectful, loving and caring towards all people.
i read two other articles on similar topics with tips on how to curb this "spoiled" attitude. here are the links to those articles: are your kids spoiled? and 10 signs your child might be spoiled and what to do about it
js and i have been trying to have pbs help out at home whenever we can. he helps with laundry, picking up and putting away his toys and books, helping with the trash. those are things that he can do right now at two and a half. pbs loves to help and comes running when we ask for his help. i think we started this when he started walking. if he's in the nursery at church he picks up the toys he was playing with without being asked or told to. don't get me wrong, pbs is not the perfect child! in fact, he can be a downright terror sometimes, especially if he's overtired, overstimulated, or just plain over it.
when we were expecting pbs, we asked other family members and friends what they do for disciplining their children and how they got them to behave so well. they told us about this book called "parenting with love and logic". we've read some of it and have tried some of the techniques. we like what we've used and pbs seems to understand that we love him but we want him to figure out what needs to be done to make a challenging situation better. parenting is tough! i know we have a parenting style and have had friends and complete strangers ask and comment about what we are doing with pbs, but i just hope that we're doing what's right for pbs.
after reading this article from the new yorker, i've been questioning js and my parenting style. i read the article and wondered how american children have come to be so "spoiled" and take so many things for granted? it has to start, and now end, somewhere. i don't want to raise a spoiled child. i want pbs to help out without being asked or told to do so. i want him to be respectful, loving and caring towards all people.
i read two other articles on similar topics with tips on how to curb this "spoiled" attitude. here are the links to those articles: are your kids spoiled? and 10 signs your child might be spoiled and what to do about it
js and i have been trying to have pbs help out at home whenever we can. he helps with laundry, picking up and putting away his toys and books, helping with the trash. those are things that he can do right now at two and a half. pbs loves to help and comes running when we ask for his help. i think we started this when he started walking. if he's in the nursery at church he picks up the toys he was playing with without being asked or told to. don't get me wrong, pbs is not the perfect child! in fact, he can be a downright terror sometimes, especially if he's overtired, overstimulated, or just plain over it.
when we were expecting pbs, we asked other family members and friends what they do for disciplining their children and how they got them to behave so well. they told us about this book called "parenting with love and logic". we've read some of it and have tried some of the techniques. we like what we've used and pbs seems to understand that we love him but we want him to figure out what needs to be done to make a challenging situation better. parenting is tough! i know we have a parenting style and have had friends and complete strangers ask and comment about what we are doing with pbs, but i just hope that we're doing what's right for pbs.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
happy birthday america!
today is july 4th. independence day in america. the day we celebrate our independence as a nation, united as one, working towards the "american dream." i think most of the time those dreams and initial goals are so skewed that we forget that we are supposed to be working as one nation, united under God, indivisible by man.
the fireworks, barbecues, parties, etc. are great fun. remember why you are there, why we have this day to remember.
happy birthday america!
the fireworks, barbecues, parties, etc. are great fun. remember why you are there, why we have this day to remember.
happy birthday america!
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