Am I Prepared to Raise a Child?

You’ve probably asked yourself this questions many times throughout your pregnancy “ am I prepared to raise a child?”  

You’ve most likely prepared your home, the nursery and bought all those necessary items all parents and babies’ need but I am not talking about being prepared in that sense.  You may or may not be surprised to learn that very few of us prepare for this very important role. Some think and are even under the impression it will come naturally. I’d like to impress upon you a couple of things, I don’t want to scare you but this will be the most important role of your life. Raising a child is not for the faint of heart or the weak. To raise a confident, positive human being you will need to bring you’re “A” game. You know that saying you hear some parents say “you didn’t come with an instruction manual” that may have been true 50 plus years ago it’s not the case any longer.  Apparently the good doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics thought we needed some help with this career of raising children because they have published many books on the subject.  I recommend you break open a couple of them and get busy.  This is serious business and a role you should study to gain the knowledge you will need.  It will be a long wait to see if you pasted the course. But at some point in your child’s life you will know your grade and you can relax and finally get a good nights sleep. OH yeah your first lesson… forget about sleep for the next 25 years!  You’ll probably be in your 50’s when you'll know if you’ve done a good job then you can sleep, with any luck you'll also be rewarded with life's true blessing, grandchildren and sharing your wisdom.

Break Open a BOOK it does a Baby Good

Life is a circle some of us are lucky enough to see full circle. The best and most important advice I can give you is spent time with your children; they grow up fast with or without you. Time is in short supply for all of us; use the time you have wisely. Educate yourself and through your own education your children will be mentally and physically healthy and able to reach their own full potential.

I’ve listed a couple great books to get you started. Good luck on your journey and god bless you for your courage.

You can find these books and many more on Amazon.com

1.     Guide to Raising Your Children – American Academy of Pediatrics

2.     The A-Z Guide to Raising, Confident Kids – Dr. Jenn Berman and Donna Corwin

Holiday Stress, Depression and Dysfunction!

Most of us love the holiday but it can bring on a great deal of stress, depression and anxiety for some of us. Getting together with family should be something we look forward to right? Some would disagree. Do you have a family member you just can’t stand to be around? Or someone you have unresolved issues.  Do you have a dysfunctional family? Are you expected to buy gifts for all of your relatives?

Do you have to travel to get to your family? All these things are typical and more importantly most of us have some type of stress during the holidays.  I’ve put together some tips for coping hopefully you can apply one or two of them to your holiday and make it a little less stressful for yourself.

1.     Do your best to stick to a budget. Money or the lack of it can be very stressful and it at the top of the list for a reason. Drawing names in a large or even a small family can help. Setting a limit on the amount of the gift can also help. Make homemade or baked gifts. If you have a family member who is in charge! Most of us do, ask them for some help. They can set the tone for the party and change things up because chance are you are not the only one that is broke this year. 

2.     You can’t pick your family member but do your best to resolve any conflicts prior to the family Christmas party and if someone owes you money don’t pick the family party to confront them about paying you back.  If you can not do these things maybe choosing to spend Christmas with friends instead of family might be wiser and less stressful.

3.     If your family is far away and your feeling anxious about not having the money to travel during the holiday, just don’t… take that pressure off yourself by visiting your family via video chat, pictures, email or some other form of communication. Instead pick a less traveled time to visit loved one that is less expensive.

4.     If you and your better half have a hard time deciding just who’s family you will be spending time with try to even things out. By doing this routinely you will avoid this very common conflict. Choose to spend Thanksgiving with one and Christmas with the other.  Or alternate each year with each side of the family. I know this sounds so simple but some of us have a hard time expressing ourselves and go year after year doing what your hubby or wife want to do. Express yourself and you will feel better.

5.     Learn to say “NO” taking on too much in such a small amount of time can make you crazy! Too many Christmas parties, too many luncheons, charity dinners. Limit yourself and your outings you will thank yourself in January.

6.     Remember to be realistic about the holidays don’t expect it to be perfect. 

7.     Last of not least take some time for yourself during this very busy time. Reduce your stress by taking a walk, take a long bath, go for a swim, go to the gym, go bird watching, count the stars, just do something you enjoy and take a minute to reflect. RELAX and enjoy the holiday.

We all have different types of stress and anxiety we deal with just remember you are not alone. If you are unable to cope and need help, don’t be ashamed because we all need a little help from time to time. I’ve put a link and national Hotline below for help if needed.

Thank you for visiting my blog, I would love to hear your comments or suggestions. Follow along by email or RSS feed.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1 800-273-TALK

FOR A LIST OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRISIS GO TO:

www.allaboutcounseling.com

Merry Christmas

Roxy

World Suicide Prevention Day… Are you aware?

September 10^th is World Suicide Prevention Day, which is part of the Suicide Prevention Week. Write “love” on your wrist or wear something yellow to show your support for those who struggle with suicidal thoughts or have attempted or succeeded in taking their own life. Nearly 300 people on average commit suicide daily and one million per year. Suicide Prevention day started in 2003 hoping to increase awareness we can reduce these staggering numbers of premature deaths.

If not the toughest, suicide is one of the hardest and most tragic situations for any family or community to manage. What makes it especially tragic is the mental health professionals know it’s preventable.

That certain psychotherapy and medications can be effective in prevention. Improving education and spreading information about suicide and awareness is also key to prevention.

If you know someone who is suffering from depression or someone who is in pain please help them get help. Call your doctor, mental health clinic or suicide hotline. 

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

1-800 273-TALK (8255)

Lighting of the Lantern Memorial Day Celebration

This annual event is celebrated by people traveling to Hawaii from all parts of the world as well as thousands of locals. The celebration is surreal and emotional as thousands gather at  Ala Moana Beach Park. for the 14th annual lighting of the lanterns a spectacular event. It’s a time to remember, share and pray for our loved one who have passed lighting a lantern in their memory and letting it float off in the sunset. 

A beautiful ceremony! 

Chicken Soup Cure! Recipe Included!

We all know chicken soup is the best feel good soup you can have when you are sick with a cold and even when your flu symptoms are on the mend the broth is oh sooo good! Yes it’s still the gold standard for soothing inflammation and making you feel better. I thought I’d share with you a recipe from my pantry it’s a great chicken soup and family favorite. 

• Roasted  Small Chicken deboned, cut into 1” pieces. Costco Roasted chickens are great for this.
• Celery 4 stalks chopped very small
• Carrots 3 chopped into small rounds
• Onion I like to use a Yellow onion but you can use White or red too (diced)
• Garlic 1 glove cut into small piece or crushed
• 6oz of sliced or chopped fresh mushrooms
• One large can of chicken broth and equal amount of water
• Use about 9 oz of your favorite noodles or pasta of your choice
• Salt and pepper to taste, you can also use your favorite herbs to season this soup, dill weed, thyme, rosemary are great choices that will add lots of flavor

You can cook this on top of the stove in a big pot OR what I like to do is add all ingredients in my crook pot turn it on High for 4 to 5 hours and walk away. But you’ll want to add the noodles in the last hour of cooking in the crook pot. They swell if you over cook and you don’t want that.

If you cook onto of stove you’ll want to heat your pan with some olive oil and add your onion, carrots, celery sauté them until they are softened about 10 mins stirring so they don’t stick or burn add our chicken mushrooms broth and water and simmer for about an hour, add your noodles the last 10 mins and season to taste.. get creative with herbs like dill weed, thyme, rosemary or whatever you like, it’s all good!

** alternative to noodles or pasta is Wild Rice (Yummy good too)


I hope you enjoy this family favorite! Thanks for stopping by.


Roxy

Are YOU to OLD for College? Are you willing to Pay for it into your Golden Years!

I was contemplating going back to college even at my age, I know REALLY! Most anyone would agree you can never be too educated, right? There’s always more to learn and I have a great thirst for knowledge.  Love to read, write so I thought I’d take up creative writing get some skills I am clearly lacking, you know the small stuff like proper English. I looked into some schools that offer creative writing for entertainment… OUCH the cost is insanely high. Are they freaking crazy and this was an online Bachelor’s program “Creative Writing for Entertainment Bachelors of Fine Arts”. The idea of doing this would be incredible and so much fun. But the wind in my sails were quickly depleted by the cost of $58,500 for the 3.3 years it would take to complete.  An online program so why isn’t it less expensive, no classroom, no books, I don’t get it! I would think it could be less expensive.  But no such luck!

I talk with young adults who have student loan debt all the time and I know the agony they are put through trying to pay back these education expenses and the many years it takes. Most young people don’t even have a concept of how much money this is and yet they are allowed to take on this debt. Many ruin their credit in the process. The estimated salary for my choice above once I graduate is $28,070 – $105,710, the upper end of that would be if I hit the lotto of writing jobs. Is it worth the cost, not in my world?  

It’s been a long time since I’ve looked into the real cost of college, I checked out some local community colleges too, less expensive but they didn’t offer the same course study as the one above and not nearly as exciting, I can see the draw for people to take on the debt. If I wasn’t facing retirement in 10 years I probably would too! Education should be FREE or on a sliding scale.There might be more smart people in this wonderful country… just sayin

 

For me I’ll have to continue on, making my grammar and English mistakes with the best of them and hope to just enjoy the fact I have the ability to write what I want, when I want in a free country.

Thank you for stopping by my blog, your comments and ideas are welcomed and encouraged. Come back soon and don’t forget to follow my blog by clicking on the follow button on the left.

Roxy

Is Your Kid Jumping Out of Airplanes?

As a parent you do your best to protect your kids against anything really that might hurt them.

You advise them against the perils of driving, dating, drinking taking drugs as they grow into adults you help them through marriage with advice from time to time. You never really stop worrying about them! Do you ever think you have to tell your grown adult child not to jump out of a perfect good running airplane?

My son Ryan text me a picture of himself jumping out of a plane, OMG… well I knew he had made it, right or I wouldn’t be getting a text from him. I wasn’t even upset really, surprised for sure, I mean it’s his life and I know he is pretty adventurous, but skydiving? Really!

Have any of you seen that citi commercial of the young girl rock climbing in the desert to the top of a rock tip, couple days before my own surprise, I told my husband I was so glad I wasn’t her mom! 

Silly me!

What would you do if your son/daughter sent you a picture at 10,000 ft?

The joy of being a parent no matter how old your children are it's a blast and I wouldn't change anything.

I love, that my son is enjoying his life and has the freedom to do what he wants to do. Even though it's a little scary for mom....maybe I'll find the courage to go with him if he goes again.

I am really curious and would love to hear your comments and opinions.  

Thank you for stopping by my blog, please follow for future posts. 

Roxy