--John's Daughter--

Friday, September 30, 2011

Dear John...

Re: Parenting Tip #623 from good ol' Dad

Sissy came home from school today and did very well on her spelling test.

I know you are an advocate of good language skills, Dad, and she is doing well in school.

Spelling is sometimes tricky for any kid when they're learning and she prides herself on her ability to sound things out.

You should hear her, dad, she's amazing!

I opened up her spelling test today and there it was--10 out of 10!

PERFECT!

It was a proud parent moment.

But what impressed me more was her bonus word...

knuckle

except she spelled it "knuckl" with no "e"-- because it's silent...but hey she got it!

It was there on the page staring at me.

this great big mountain of the english language and she's mastering it.

Suddenly I could picture you standing in our old kitchen by the stove looking at our schoolwork with so much enthusiasm. BIG smiles and "way to go's!"

and then we'd always hold back the best for last--our most successful piece of work that week.

It wasn't always a 10 out of 10 but to you it may as well have been...every.time.

We'd smile and wait in anticipation as you read the page and then drop it on the counter, slap your hands together and yell "Hallelujah!"

And we'd beam so proud.

It always made me so tingly inside knowing that you saw the hard work and that even though it wasn't perfect, it was a victory!

And you celebrated!!

With that memory fresh in my head I clapped my hands whooped and hollered and ran downstairs to Sissy to exclaim how pleased I was at her test.

And you know, Dad...she STOPPED watching t.v.

yes...stopping watching the screen is a big deal to her...she rarely looks anywhere but at the boob tube when it's on.

AND SHE BEAMED!

I made her day like you made mine.

You were a GREAT dad!

Love your ever loving daughter.

Friday, August 26, 2011

friday faves

More oldies but goodies!

sew much inspiration, sew little time!

1. Red Letter Day Quilt, 2. quiltish, 3. The Cutest Baby Quilt In The Whole Wide World, 4. Doll Quilt Finished (Full), 5. sprout quilt mockup, 6. Patch, 7. Doll Quilt Swap 7, 8. Three's Company quilt, 9. Urban Amish, 10. Fall Back, 11. belle quilt - full view 2, 12. Colorful Crafting with Jen: Rickie's Sashiko Pillow

Friday, August 19, 2011

Friday Favourites--Christmas Edition??

Christmas in July.....errr...August....

In June the new Christmas fabrics are launched onto the scene and it's about this time that I start thinking towards Christmas.

I always have a list a mile long and never do I get to even a quarter of it but maybe this is my year!

1. side swap package, 2. whimsy studios happy homes winter series, 3. savVy { seasons } package sent, 4. a winter wonderland..., 5. A modern Christmas - Jolly Pillow, 6. All About Christmas Swap - Mug Rug, 7. Merry Modern Table Runner, 8. christmas quilt, 9. Christmas Quilt 2009, 10. Christmas Zig Zag Quilt, 11. holiday ornament :: march, 12. Untitled

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas!

but maybe we should finish summer first :)

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Comparison

I am by no means a competitive person.

Like truly I could care less if you are better at something than I am or do it before I do--so what?

I've always said

"It's people like me that help winners, stay at winning..."

Don't feel bad for me...I don't.

Someone has to lose in order for someone else to win--might as well be me :)

I say it a bit tongue in cheek because no one enjoys being at the back of the pack ALL the time. but really I'm not too bothered either.

However, when I read blogs and see all the creativity and capability out there--in spite of being moms just like me and still doing it all? It does deflate me....

just a little.

But I have realized something about myself and those other moms/bloggers.

I can't do it all because I'm not programmed that way.

I don't thrive on the busy, noisy, craziness of creativity banging away in my brain.

I hate feeling the itch to be doing something else.

Or the pressure to be something else.

I can't function on lack of sleep and still be a good mommy. Heck, with a couple of hours loss of sleep I can't even be a half descent mommy!

Don't get me wrong-- those creative --do it all--women are admirable! And I do, admire them that is. But I won't compare myself to them.

Because they're not me.

I bring this all up because a mom came up to me this week and asked me "how do I do it all?"

How do I do what?!

"Cook, clean, sew, blog, and always have neat tidy children?"

I stared at her wondering if she had me confused with someone else. Could she seriously be thinking I am one of those creative, capable women?

It suddenly dawned on me at that moment that what I share on the outside may look as though I've got it all in check. (Clearly this woman has never actually read my blog!)

And If I look like I've got it in check then maybe those women I have been tempted to compare myself to just share the good stuff?

This woman didn't know me well and I could tell that she's been struggling with a new baby and a desire to be more than she thinks she is, but I think the answer is to be happy with what you are and then work to expand that definition over time.

Define yourself broadly and specify as you go along.

Everything in a season.

So I'm going to continue being me.

no pressure. just ME.

And just in case you are wondering--yes my children are always neat and tidy. Sissy's hair is always done and their clothes and faces are always clean.

But my floors are not.

It's a case of priorities.

I'll let someone else win the "cleanest floors" award :)