Raising Nice Girls

  Now before you start thinking this post is about how nice my girls are...it’s not.  Although I will say I think they’re getting better at being nicer more often.  

  I feel like my girls have both grown up so much this school year.  I’ve noticed changes in both of them, and it takes my breathe away sometimes.  It really wasn’t that long ago when their after-school festivities involved dressing up like a super hero (or a three musketeer princess), rearranging furniture to build forts, and sneaking snacks!  These days they're more in to just plopping down on a stool next to the counter to tell me every detail of their entire day!  I appreciate that they’ll do that though.  The social aspect of school is an education in and of itself.  The playground is tougher than it use to be!  I know mean-girl behavior has existed forever, but it’s really interesting to see some of these tendencies seep into the early elementary years.  

  I try to be careful about being that terrified parent who classifies everything as bullying though.  Some of it’s perceived, some of it’s provoked, but some of it’s real, and I guess that’s where we as parents have to make judgement calls - being attune to our child’s self-esteem and the social interactions that are affecting them - for better or for worse.  I can’t help but wonder what’s causing it though.  Girls wanting to be older than they are?  The excessive types of media made available to kids at such young ages?  Mean moms?  Who knows!  If anything, it’s started some healthy after-school conversations like - Are you saying hurtful things?  Are you telling secrets about other girls?  Are you upset when someone does a good job?  What do you think it means to be a good friend?  Are you concerned with what other girls look like or are you nice no matter what they look like and how they dress?  What’s the difference between being funny and making fun of someone?  Do you start “clubs” that exclude others?  Do you "wanna be” like someone else or do you “wanna be” YOU?  (The more I think about it, I need to ask myself these questions more often, too!)   

  It’s not easy helping girls to work through relationships, and I suspect it’s something I’ll be dealing with for a very long time, but through it all, I’m so very fortunate to have this experience - raising two beautiful daughters who are maturing the best they know how.  I’ll love them forever, I’ll like them for always - they can count on that.  Sad, but true - being nice doesn’t come naturally to most people.  

  But one thing’s for sure, we’ll continue to have plenty of opportunities to work on it here at home with each other.

AnnMarie, 3rd grade

 Carlie, 1st grade 

A few favorite moments I want to remember (from October)

Do you ever feel like we live in a world where there’s just way too much information out there?  Gasp.  I do.  I can only imagine how someone living in the 1930s would feel about that assessment.  Those who are close to me know that I really don’t like social media!  I keep giving it a whirl, and without fail, I really really don’t enjoy the obligation towards it or some of the non-essential information it fills my brain space with!  I’ll get off my soap box, but basically, I think our society could use a major social media hiatus.  Either that, or I just require a lot of brain space - probably the latter, haha!  I discovered this quote and have been pondering it:

“What information consumes is rather obvious; it consumes the attention of it’s recipients.  Hence a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention.”  - Herbert Simon 

But one thing I’ve learned about myself over the years is that I genuinely enjoy blogging - so I’ll keep doing that.  There’s something about it - reflecting, documenting, and sharing - that keeps my heart happy and my mind organized.  That being said, I managed to capture a few favorite moments from October that I wanted to share.  

^^^ Luke is walking! ^^^

^^^^ General Conference cinnamon rolls (my favorite weekend ever) ^^^

^^^ Ward Halloween Carnival that the Primary was over (fun times) ^^^

^^^ a man of many talents (the attire says it all) ^^^

^^^ Fall Festival at the Country Mercantile with Mom & Brad ^^^

^^^ an amazing weekend with Aunt Emmy & Uncle Nate ^^^

^^^ Trick-or-Treating in the rain ^^^

^^^ and last but not least, lazy afternoons with my buddy Gabe ^^^ 

Where I Wanna Be

Has it been two months already?  Why, yes it has.  I won’t overextend myself with regard to the busy-ness we’ve experienced as of late.  Life moves, doesn’t it?  I’ve been reading through some tender letters & cards that I received a few months after my dad died.  My heart is full as I reflect on life’s journey - the twists & turns - the enormous amount of faith that it takes to move forward some days, and the continued gratitude I feel for God’s plan at work in my own life.  

I tend to overthink things at times, so instead I’ll just do my best to relish in the simplicity these pictures bring.  

I love our house more each day.  This new year marked the longest we’ve ever been under the same roof (going on three years people)…which called for a house celebration.  For me that meant sprucing up the place & taking a few pictures of the upstairs before the holidays hit, haha!  I like the layout and the space we have here.  Things are always a work in progress, but I can honestly say that I feel at home here.    

Happy two and a half years house!  We’re happy to call you our home.