Deep Thoughts...

I'm currently reading a book by Barbara Coloroso called "Kids are worth it!". One of my Board members, who is a retired principle, recommended it to me. She is the international guru on parenting and the person that educators reference when they talk about teaching children. She started her life as a Franciscan nun so she brings a unique perspective to the subject. She is now married with three children and I'm finding it riveting.

She feels that we should stop teaching our children "what" to think and start teaching them "how"to think. As a parent it makes me pause to consider "what or how am I teaching my child?" and what do "I" believe?

The subject interested me enough, that even with my incredibly busy schedule, I decided to put her book down and start with something that establishes a bit more of a foundation on the subject. So, I have starting researching philosophy. Once I have the basics I plan to pick up where I left off with her book and then carry on with the others she has written. (She has three.)

It's funny how sometimes you reach a point in your life where you start to ask yourself. "Who am I?", "What do I stand for?" and "What do I believe?". If you know me at all...you know that I planned, at one point in my life, on becoming a nun. Maybe that's why her book has struck a chord with me? But it has also got me thinking about my beliefs and organized religion as well.

It is unlikely that I will re-embrace my Roman Catholic upbringing but it makes me want to quantify what I believe and find out if there is an organization or religious order that has similar beliefs. So after building a foundation in general philosophy I plan to move on to philosophy of Eastern and Western Religion.

For those interested in these topics...I'll keep you posted. For those who aren't...you've had fair warning.

Wake up Call...

For the past few weeks I have been working and doing little else. I have logged more than 100 hours in each of the last few pay periods. It's amazing how oblivious you become to the world at large. Your entire focus narrows to trying to get enough sleep to deal effectively with whatever the following day throws your way.

My birthday and my sixteenth wedding anniversary came and went, as did Mother's day. Just another day with too little sleep.

Then there are events that occur that bring you back to yourself. Make you aware once again that your life is spilling like sand between your fingers without you even realizing it.

Today I have the unhappy duty of taking my lovely, adorable, sweet-tempered, seventeen year old dog to the vet. She hasn't been well for awhile. We knew the time was coming. I don't expect to bring her home.

No matter how you try to prepare yourself for events like this. There truly is no way to really be ready. But it's events like this that wake you up to the fact that there is a lot more to life than work. Even if you work for a noble cause in the non-profit sector you need to remember that there are family, friends and, yes, pets that depend on you. They need your time and attention as well.

I look back and I can't remember a time that our little Ducky dog was not a part our family. She can be seen is in our wedding pictures, our son's baby pictures and was present at every important event that has occurred in our lives. Our son has never know life with out her. She may only be "a dog" in some people's eyes. But for us it may mean the loss of part of our family.

So...today, as I whisper a prayer for my beloved Ducky, I will promise to remember to hug my kid, to say "I love you" to my mom, to call my dad to just ask "how are your doing?", to invite my friends to dinner more often, to pet my cats, to really look at and admire my garden, to listen to the birds in the back yard and to hold on tight to my hubby while I cry.

All things come to an end...the trick is remembering to really appreciate the important things while you have them.

Tent Trailer Trash: The Season Begins...

The weather has been great lately and if you know me at all...you just know that I've been bugging my hubby to set up the tent trailer in the back yard. I prefer to sleep in the tent trailer when I have a choice. Hence the nickname "Tent Trailer Trash".

We are planning to go camping at Silver Lake Provincial Park for the May long weekend. The kid has decided to stay at Grandma's a go to Riverfest with his friends. I just hope that he doesn't run his Grandma ragged driving him all over the countryside.

So I have the unexpected bonus of a long weekend alone with my hubby of sixteen years. COOL! Happy Victoria Day!