Call me scrooge if you want. I've decided that the whold Christmas Card business and holiday gift giving is way to stressful. I can never understand why a person goes through so much stress and frustration just to send out a Christmas card to people you never talk to anyway. The same goes for the people that say "oh, I have to buy a stupid gift for so and so."
Maybe that's why no one sends me a card anymore. In my lifetime (Ok adulthood), I've gotten cards out for Christmas, maybe one time. Ususally it's a "Holiday Greeting", meaning New Year's is about the time I get it in the mail. Last year, it was spring time before I got around to announcing our move and wishing everyone a Chrsitmas wish. I had to do a lot of internet searching and digging to try and find everyone's address.
As far as Gifts go, I believe in showing appreciation and giving joyfully. Chrsitmas trinkets and social pressure do not drive me to want to give (or get for that matter). Why not give a gift at a surprise time? Isn't that the difference between a gift and a present? The gift of friendship or help counts too!
I know my reason for going through the struggle is that deep down I secertly hope that one of the people from my past would pick up the phone and say - "Hey, I know it has been a while, but how's life?". I may have been a bad friend, but these people meant something to me. They impacted my life is a significant way. So that's why I send a card, but not this year. I'm done hoping my life away. Time to step into reality. The people that are involved in our lives will get a card and no one else. If you know me, and don't get one, then pick up the phone and call. In this day and age of technology, there is no reason not to get in contact with someon.
How about you? Why do you send the card out? or Why don't you? Think about it next time. Why only at Chrsitmas? Wouldn't these friends like a mid-year update? Maybe it would take the pressure off the need to send a Christmas greeting.
I'm just wondering what the motivation is. I know I love getting everyone's letters and pictures, but it wouldn't matter what time of year it is.
Don't do something if you don't feel the joy in your heart when you do it. It's not being lazy if you don't send a card or buy a gift.
You are truly giving a gift if you can do it joyfully.
Blessings of the season!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Peanut Allergy
I was walking out of my oldest child's school today and noticed a "peanut free zone" sign on one of the classrooms. I know the district is looking at implementing a policy to address the various allergies that are "on the rise" and "potentially life threatening".
In my life I have only known 2 people with such horrible allergies that they need to carry an epi-pen with them. One is my nephew, he is so allergic to egg white that he swells up in the throat if an egg is cracked in his presence. Cooked egg is fine. He is now 16 and has had only a few episodes, but none that ever required actual use of the pen.
Person number 2: My dad - he is allergic to bee stings and fortunately or unfortunately found out while being allergy tested. The small amount that they inject caused his arm to swell and it was going right to his throat. Fortunately he was at the office so he could get the shot right there. I don't know if he ever had to use an epi-pen after that.
I know a lot of my opinion comes from my ignorance. I'd like to meet these kids and their parents. I'd like to talk to them, see their test results of their IgE test and know that they are truly allergic.
I've read a few articles to try and educate myself. All say it is only 1% of the entire population that is allergic. 25% of parents think their child is allergic, but only 4% truly are.
I'm all for a separate table at school, rules of no raw peanuts in the shell, or even bags of peanuts. But please don't tell my kid that has eating issues that a granola bar is not allowed in school because the peanut allergic kid might die.
Sort of like politics - Fear mongering brings change. I think we used to use the phrase - squeaky wheel gets the grease. Now that I write that I think I know why they don't use that phrase (when you add a 'd' to the grease).
END
In my life I have only known 2 people with such horrible allergies that they need to carry an epi-pen with them. One is my nephew, he is so allergic to egg white that he swells up in the throat if an egg is cracked in his presence. Cooked egg is fine. He is now 16 and has had only a few episodes, but none that ever required actual use of the pen.
Person number 2: My dad - he is allergic to bee stings and fortunately or unfortunately found out while being allergy tested. The small amount that they inject caused his arm to swell and it was going right to his throat. Fortunately he was at the office so he could get the shot right there. I don't know if he ever had to use an epi-pen after that.
I know a lot of my opinion comes from my ignorance. I'd like to meet these kids and their parents. I'd like to talk to them, see their test results of their IgE test and know that they are truly allergic.
I've read a few articles to try and educate myself. All say it is only 1% of the entire population that is allergic. 25% of parents think their child is allergic, but only 4% truly are.
I'm all for a separate table at school, rules of no raw peanuts in the shell, or even bags of peanuts. But please don't tell my kid that has eating issues that a granola bar is not allowed in school because the peanut allergic kid might die.
Sort of like politics - Fear mongering brings change. I think we used to use the phrase - squeaky wheel gets the grease. Now that I write that I think I know why they don't use that phrase (when you add a 'd' to the grease).
END
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Children are a parent's best mirror
I just want to start off by saying that nothing I write will probably be anything profound or new. I may repeat myself often, just a sign that it is my conviction. I won't have the best English, but I'm not trying to be a novelist. This is just may way to create a living diary of my thoughts. Maybe someday, someone, hopefully my children, will read it and gather some wisdom of their own. Or they may just think I'm crazy...as that may be true!
So today I wake up excited to embark on the new world of Blogging. Yes as a sort of middle-aged woman, I have become a technological dimwit. I used to have the coolest, latest and gratest computers. I remember several geek calls to Compaq trying to retrofit my Pesario with a DVD player and TV tuner. Imagine being able to watch movies on your computer or TV on your computer.
Today's thought: If you really want to know who you are, watch your child in play. They mimic their parents.
Unfortunately, the bad is mimiced as often as the good. My oldest daughter often raises her voice at her sister. Too often I say to myself "Boy, did that ever sound like her mama." She plays nicely most of the time, but when it comes to discipline, she wants to step right in.
This morning my youngest daughter really drove this point home. And I smiled since it was positive (she's too young yet to do the yelling). She was gathering up her dollies and aligned them on the rocking chair. She was humming something to them and rocking the chair. Then she climbed up right next to them. I came into view and asked her if she wanted to read to the babies. She said "Yep". (She says Yep to everything). I handed her a book and walked out of sight.
I watched her "reading" the book with a loving tone and inflection. I smiled to know that she must feel loved and that our ritual of rocking and reading is so important that she shares it with her dollies.
End
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