Always Make Time To Play

Elsa and I had some quality time the other day - just the two of us. We were on the sofa, sprawled out -she was at one end and I was at the other end, rubbing her feet. Out of the blue, she announced that she has made some changes to her plans regarding her future;

"Mom, remember how I said I wanted to be a baby doctor on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and have bake sales on Saturdays?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, let me tell you what I've been thinking. I'm going to be a pop star. I like to SSSIIIINNNGGG (she sang the word sing)! But, I still want to be a doctor and make sweets. I can sing at night and do all of the other stuff during the day. Is that a good idea?"

"It sounds as though you've been doing alot of thinking about the sort of work you'd like to do. It's a full schedule you have. I'm wondering when you are going to have time to play?"

"Hmmmmm, that's a good point. Let me think about that."

Later...

"Mom, instead of being a pop star, I'm going to sing to my baby patients when they come to see me on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. And I don't have to have bake sales. I'll just make treats to take to work or give to the neighbors like you do. I'll have so much more free time this way."

Smart cookie.

When There Isn't A Pillow...

Although long-distance relationships have been a mainstay in the dating world for some time, it's with the advent of facebook, match.com, and other online dating services that these types of connections have grown in acceptance. With easy access to each other via texts, cheap flights, and email - as well as the occasional phone call! - long-distance relationships are becoming easier to maintain. Or are they?

How do you create intimacy via email? How do you create shared memories when you are in two different places?

Thoughts?

Health Care

If you like the public option, why?

If you don't, why not? And what's your solution?

I Can Still Hear You

'The Horse Whisperer' ranks up there as one of the saddest stories I've read.
Today, I learned about the Cat Whisperer. Along with being a great lesson, the story is one of the funniest  I've heard all week.

My friend - we'll call her Kitty because she doesn't want me to disclose her identity - stopped by the house today. During our conversation, she disclosed that she had been having troubles with her young cat, Steve. So, she did what any sane person would have done in the same situation and called a Cat Whisperer (CW) to aid in resolving the problems.

Apparently, even though Kitty and her daughter have loved and cared for Steve (they scoop his poop for goodness sake!) he didn't feel as though he was part of the family. He shared this news with the CW. The Cat Whisperer also relayed that Steve felt he was reprimanded too much...shunned a bit. Therefore, he acted out by walking on the counter tops even though he knew that area was off limits.

Kitty was made aware of Steve's concerns. Now, she uses a different, sweeter tone when she speaks with Steve. He, appreciating this, has changed his behavior. No longer does he lash out by crossing set boundaries.

I have to believe that if we took-to-heart this one suggestion, change the way we speak by using a softer, gentler tone, we'd see positive changes in our relationships ~ especially with those we love.

Hiss less, whisper more.  Purrrr.

From Me, To You Fridays

Tis' the season for "Be Mine, Valentine" and heart-shaped candies. Of course, the kids love it.

When I picked up Luke from school, he had a grocery-sized paper bag which he had decorated with sticky hearts and rainbows. Inside the bag were all the goodies from his Valentine's Day party.

When we got home, he asked if I'd help him read the names on the cards. Initially, I thought this would be a lengthty process due to the number of children who participated in the exchange. However, Luke was still on a sugar-high from whatever he ate at achool for snack that turned his lips and tongue a Slurpee-colored red , so we were cruising through the bag.

At one point, he stopped everything and looked at me. "Mom, our party was so much fun. Everyone was nice to me. What's today?"

"Today is Friday, sweetheart."

"Yea, that's right."

We picked up the pace again, reading each name and pulling off any treat that was attached to the card.

When we were finished, he had a revelation.

"Mom, I think we should have a party every Friday, so people will be nice to each other."

Genius!

*********

Why do we only dedicate one day out of the year to shower people with affection? Love and kindness should be dished out daily. Or, at the very least, on Fridays!

What Does A Woman Want?

Freud posed this question.
A friend posted it on his facebook page.
And now I'm wondering ~
What does a woman want?

Sweetness...

What's purple, yellow, and pink...is sticky on your fingers, sweet in your mouth...and is irresistable to 4-year olds?

Me: "Lucas, did you sneak and eat the cotton candy that was in this bag?"
Lucas: " YEP! Woo, good thing I told you the truth, Mom. Now, I won't get in as much trouble."
Holy cats! The lessons are being learned.