Do you ever get so bogged down in the craziness that you forget to stop and reflect on all the good things in your life?
Yep, me too.
I try and teach my children about gratitude, yet I rarely talk about how grateful I am for what I have and for all the things in my life that bring me joy.
So today, I want to say that I am thankful for:
New writing adventures: When I was a little girl, all I ever wanted to be was “a writer.” Even though I have a degree in journalism and I’ve worked around the field for nearly 15 years, “writer” was never a title I felt comfortable using to describe myself – until I started this blog. Not only has it renewed my passion for writing, but it has also opened the door to some incredible opportunities that would have never been possible just six months ago.
One of those opportunities is my newest gig: I’m now a weekly contributor over at TheBump.com. Not familiar with TheBump? It’s the go-to site for the latest news in pregnancy and parenting, covering everything from celebrity baby gossip to the best products and ideas for expecting moms, parents and soon-to-be pregnant women. So not only is it fun, but it’s also helpful!
Now before you jump to conclusions, the answer is no – there is no baby bump here. Instead, I will be writing about trends and issues in parenting, like my first post: Why I Waited Five Years to Have My Second Child. So be sure to join me each week over on TheBump.com!
Being the classroom helper: I’m kind of nervous to write this, given the whopper of a storm they are predicting tomorrow and the possibility that school might get cancelled. But in the interest of staying positive, I want to say that I’m thankful that I will (hopefully) be the parent volunteer tomorrow morning in Buddy’s kindergarten class. My first scheduled day was cancelled due to his teacher being sick and ever since Buddy has been asking me over and over again when I’ll be the classroom helper.
As a working mom, one of the things I’ve been struggling with is how to help out in the classroom. I want to be an involved parent and get to know Buddy’s teacher, his friends and some of the other parents, but it’s a challenge when you work 9-5 and your office is 40 minutes away. And it doesn’t help when your child tells you that you’re the only parent who hasn’t volunteered, or asks why so-and-so’s mom is always helping out and you aren’t.
Ouch.
Another reason? While I know he is obviously learning in school, I have no idea what he actually does when he’s there because, let’s face it, 6-year-olds aren’t exactly forthcoming with the details. For example:
Me: “How was school today? What did you do?”
Buddy: “Fine. I played with my friends.”
Me: “What was your favorite part of the day?”
Buddy: “Recess.”
Thanks, kiddo.
He’s been in school for about six months now and he talks about friends I don’t know, activities I’m not familiar with and routines I don’t understand. And, truthfully, I still have kind of a hard time picturing my little boy in a big kid classroom. So I think I’m as excited as he is about tomorrow.
The bonus: I also get to meet his “former” girlfriend! (Yes, they broke up. Ahhh, young love.)
Other things I am thankful for this week:
- Our snowblower. And a husband who knows how to use it.
- That my kids are as obsessed with the soundtrack to “The Sound of Music” as I am. I always smile when I hear Buddy humming, “Do Re Mi,” or when Mimi requests that I sing “My Favorite Things” to her at bedtime.
- My hairdresser! I went back and forth about the bangs but decided to go for it, and Cristi worked her usual magic. Thank you for making me look less like a soccer mom.
- That I get to be there for my friends’ first 5K in a few weeks. So proud of them for signing up! We’re going to have a blast. Plus, how can you turn down a race that involves both a finisher’s medal and post-race pub hopping?
This post is part of a Thankful Thursday collection over on my friend Joanna’s blog, Baby Gators Den. Be sure to check it out and see what others are thankful for this week.
Dollops of Diane says
We’re going to need to see a pic of the new do!