Welcome!!

I started this blog as a place to put the "mommy stuff" that just doesn't fit over on my other blog.

I became a first time mom at the age of 43 so this blog is written from *gasp* an older mom's perspective.

I love being a mom to the funniest little girl on the planet (check out the scroll over to the right ---> for some of her gems!) and I hope you enjoy reading about our adventures together!

MY 13 VIRTUES of GREAT PARENTING


Welcome to my Everyday Game in which I explore 13 Virtues of Excellent Parenting.

A good part of the fun in playing an Everyday Game is coming up with the Virtues or attributes you want to delve into. The heart and soul of the game is based on the Earl Nightingale adage that we "become what we think about." So I believe it is very important to be deliberate in defining what it is that we are going to think about. When we see a word like "Fun" it is easy to dimiss it and think, "I know what that is." But even a simple word like fun has nuances. There are 74 Thesaurus  results over at Dictionary.com which is a whole lot of nuance! Anyway, today I will get clear about the type of fun I am intent on fostering during this game and do the same for each of my virtues.

My intention with these virtues, in addition to utilizing them as I parent my girl, is to instill the fundamental qualities in Sweets too. If she can grow up utilizing and calling on these virtues as she navigates through life then I know I have done my job as a parent.

Fun 
 Finding enjoyment and playfulness.

Discipline
The ability to follow direction and the courage to do what is right .

Creativity
The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.

Love
A feeling of deep affection and personal attachment. Affectionate concern for the well-being of others.

Wonder
To think or speculate curiously. The ability to see the miraculous and remarkable in everything.

Listening
To pay attention and be genuinely interested in understanding what the other person is thinking, feeling, wanting or what the message means.

Curiosity
The desire to learn or know about anything. To explore, question, and wonder.

Compassion
Empathy with an awareness of the interdependence of all things, and the strong desire to alleviate suffering.

Trust
Belief that you can depend on another and are able to predict what other people will do. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable.

Acceptance
Ability to be with people, situations and things without the need to force, change or alter them.

Empowerment
Foster individual self-discovery and self-esteem.  Validate trying, taking healthy risks, and listening to inner truths. 

Humility
The quality or condition of being humble; imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Flexibility
The ability to adapt and generate creative options rather than to obsess, worry and control.