Fun New Lunches

My daughter, who is the internet queen, found the cutest blog Bento for Kidlet. It was my introduction to Bento, fun little japanese lunch kits. I was impressed by the effort this mom gave to packing her kid's lunch, but also how fun they seemed.

I have learned in my life that if you want your kid to eat something, make it fun and they are more likely to eat it. Well, for those of you with little kids, remember this also applies to teens as well.

We bought a few Bento kids which were much smaller than I thought they would be. I wondered how I could pack my kid's lunch in these little kits, but I went ahead and gave it a try.

So, here is my first attempt at getting my kids (both teens) to eat more healthy. First is PBJ with grapes, blackberries and orange slices. The second is a hardboiled egg, raw mushrooms and grapes, oranges and blackberries. (raw mushrooms are a fave of this kid).

They ate it ALL! and were fine with the portions, which surprised me.

This also, I have found, caused me to be a more inventive about what to put in their lunches and look for healtier options.

I love these little inspirations!

Thankful for the Mundane

In this world of so much need, I make an effort and a commitment to be thankful for the boring and mundane.

As I sit here this Saturday morning and listen to my husband's droning about cars we are shopping for I wonder, can anything be so mundane as trying to shop for a car? not a car of your dreams, lets get excited, oooh just cant wait shopping, but, something in our budget, what will work for the family, can we pass it onto our college bound teenager in two years, what is it's fuel efficiency kind of shopping.

I do realize, however, that this is something that is a blessing, that this isn't what most of the population of my city, much less the world, can do.

Therefore, I am thankful for this mundane task just as if it were the "car of my dreams".

Successful Productive Day

I have had a satisfying day. I tried a new project design and, after much effort it finally worked.

The icing on the cake was being able to take wonderful pictures with my new camera. They turned out so well I was very pleased.

Being the Bad Guy

I had to be the bad guy today and I absolutely HATE it.

I have a daugther that, in her short three year driving career has had a total of five accidents. Two were minor (one cost us $500), one was major (we were hoping we wouldn't get sued), one was not her fault and one was just plain stupid (got stuck so gunned the engine and pulled the ENTIRE front bumper off, $1500 repair)

My husband and I decided that enough was enough. The next time an incident occurred she would bear the cost of the deductable plus the monthly/yearly increase in premiums that occurred. Well, I ended up being the heavy, the bad guy, the mean one, because I am the one who had to deliver the bad news.

It would have been easy to say nothing; in fact, I am still thinking on one hand I should have, make my non confrontational hubby speak up. However, my daughter needs to learn responsibility and to be a more careful driver.

I have seen her drive and she drives too fast, does not fully stop at stop signs and follows too closely. I know for a fact she talks on her phone and, sadly, probably texts as well.

How can I, as her mother, someone responsible for teaching her personal responsibility, not hold her accountable for her actions?

She argues that she didn't do it on purpose, that she wasn't doing anything wrong, "accidents" are just that, accidents. I reply that in her short three years of driving she has had more accidents than I have had my entire life. There is something that isn't working, obviously, that she needs to pay attention to.

So, I am left being the heavy, the bad guy. I comfort myself in the fact that, while I am "the mean one", I am doing what is best for her. I guess that is also part of the sacrifice of being a mother. *sigh*

If it saves her from another accident, from her getting injured or someone else, it will be worth it. If it makes her develop responsibility, then it was worth it.

I just hate being "mommy dearest".

Living On Purpose

I seem, as I get older, to question my purpose. I know this is something I should have done years ago. Growing up with parents who both worked, we kids were somewhat left on our own (that's how I remember it at least). There was more of a discouragement to get involved in things than an encouragement. I think it was because it would increase my mother's load, and she already had a full load.

At this time in my life I have so many regrets about things I didn't do, things I let myself be talked out of, things I was too scared to try. I want that to change.

I have made a few commitments to myself of late: One is to be sure to raise fearless children. Encourage, support and even push them (a little) to try new things,help them be brave in going for what they want and assist them, when needed, in making the ever so hard first step.

Two is to do the same for myself. Put myself out there, try new things, join groups, learn skills, complete projects. I believe that by doing so I will also set a good example for my kids.

I don't want to live a life by accident. So many bad things happen "on accident". I think just as much harm can come from being passive as can come from purposeful mean-ness or ill will.

I encourage everyone to live your life on purpose. Choose your actions, make them mean something. You don't have to have a big purpose, it doesn't have to change the world, although it just might change your little corner.

Live on Purpose.