Life Lesson #15,041-Holy Political Posts, Batman!!

Has anyone else noticed all of the political posts on Facebook?  OMG! I am so over it!  I mean, has anyone ever changed political parties because of a post on Facebook?  Has anyone changed their vote because of political rants?  Have you been blocked by 100 friends?  I think everyone has decided by now who they are voting for so STOP IT!!  I don't have to agree 100% with my choice and disagree 100% with his opponent to vote for who I want to vote for.  Okay, y'all know that I am a Republican and I will be voting for Mitt but that doesn't mean that I agree with him on 100% of the issues.  I don't disagree with B.O. on 100% of the issues.  Just because I am a Republican does not mean that I won't vote for a Democrat.  There are a few that I will always vote for.  Take for example the Attorney General of North Carolina.  His name is Roy Cooper. If you are thankful that there is a National Do Not Call List, you can thank the Attorney General of the great state of North Carolina for that.  I still get tons of calls by law dodging fundraisers but at least it is not constant like it used to be.  Roy Cooper (D) has my vote every time he goes up for re-election.  Also there are a couple of local races that I will vote for the (D) on.  Really, I think everyone should go to this website and see which side of the fence they are really on. It can be very eye-opening!! It is called On The Issues and it is totally non-partisan.  Here is the link: 
http://www.ontheissues.org/Quiz/Quiz2010.asp?quiz=Pres2012


Hopefully we can all be "Friends" again in 2 weeks!!  If you are like me, I joined Facebook to catch up with old friends and see what is going on with everyone.  I look forward to seeing endless posts about pets, food and family feuds.  I will not even complain for at least a month about your relentless bragging on your children!! (Who are BRATS, by the way!! The little cuties!)  I look forward to being "Poked" by my high school friend, Zach.  I look forward to seeing birthday wishes to people I hardly know.  I look forward to seeing "Check ins" at CVS and Olive Garden.  I even look forward to the posts that say to "Share if you love Jesus"!  I do love Jesus, I just don't want to "Share" your picture of a rainbow with everyone on my friends list!  Jesus will not deny me entry into Heaven because I didn't "Share" your photo!! Don't pray for my soul!!  I've got it covered! Oh and Facebook will not give a dollar for every "Like" or "Share" to the sick little girl in the picture.  I promise, you can keep scrolling!!

This is a great rule of thumb for all forms of Social Media:


Oh my Goodness!!! Is that a Blog icon??  Oh no!! There goes my blog!! I will miss you all!!!
Just kidding.  No, my blog isn't always true or helpful or inspiring or necessary or kind.  Sometimes it is just a rant!!  Most of the time it includes lies half-truths.  I really am trying to help humanity by telling y'all what everyone else is thinking but is afraid to say out loud.  Sorry but I wasn't born with that filter thingy.  Anyway, back to rules for everyone but me...Let's be nice to each other.  We are all going to be in it together next month so let's just accept that we all have political, moral and religious beliefs.  Let's not be judgmental of each other and our beliefs.  We don't have to agree on 100% of the issues to be "Friends" so stop fighting about them!!!!  Oh and just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them stupid, closed-minded or uneducated.  They just don't agree with you!! Come on November 6th!!!

Life Lesson #15,034-Raising Kids To Be Good Adults

#15,034-Raising Kids To Be Good Adults, Not Good Kids

I don't care what anyone says, being a parent is the hardest job ever!  You have one chance to get it right.  If you are the mother then you will be the one who gets blamed for any character flaws in your child.  If they are spoiled, it's your fault.  If they are "trouble" then it's your fault.  If they have any problem whatsoever, it is your fault.  For some reason, the Dads get off free and clear!! I don't get it.  Aren't Dads half of the parents?  Anyway, we are raising these children to be good adults and we have to remember that.  If we are just trying to raise good kids then most of us have succeeded but then when they become teens some of them get lost to the struggles of being a young adult.  Some kids who are raised with very tight restrictions become wild animals when they are finally allowed some freedom and some kids turn out fine.  Some kids who are given free reign turn into homeless drug addicts and some turn into very responsible adults. So what do we do?  How do we know what is the right way to raise our children?  I mean, some kids who are raised in church or even by pastors are awesome kids and others rebel.  Some of the most rotten kids I knew were the pastors' kids.  I remember one bringing beer to school and drinking it in middle school.  Some of the nicest people that I know now, have never even been to church. I think every child is different.  Every kid should be raised on a case by case basis.  See what works for your particular child and do that.  Some kids will need an occasional spanking, some can just be threatened with taking away a toy and they will never stray!  Before you start telling me how horrible spanking is, I am not for beating or prolonged spanking but a little swat on the rear end has done wonders for my son.  He hasn't had one in many years but I can threaten it and he straightens right up.  The last time he got one, he had been talking during church and being disruptive and he deserved it.  He got a swat on the rear end when he was three for lying to me and he has not lied to me again.  That was 10 years ago.  He may start lying to me tomorrow and never tell me the truth ever again but so far it worked.

 

So what is the correct form of parenting?  Whose book should we go by?  Dr. Sears?  John Rosemond?  Or should we just maybe take a little from each and use whatever advice works for us.  To spank or not to spank?  To use Time Out or not?  Take away toys/gadgets?  Ground them?  Maybe it all changes and continues to change as they grow up.  Maybe one thing works for you from birth until they are 18-years old.  Maybe nothing works at all.  Every child is different just like every adult is different. I've seen two children raised in the same house and raised by the same parents with the same parenting style and the kids are totally different.  I've even seen twins who are completely different. I know some of it has to do with birth order or only children or if a sibling dies but it still amazes me. 
 

I think that just spending time with our children daily and letting them know that they are loved is the best thing that we can do for them.  Now before anyone starts saying, "But you only have one child.  It's so easy to do with one child", I just want to say that it isn't that hard to give 10 children a hug and a kiss and tell them that you love them.  Take that time everyday to tell each one of your children that you love them.  Never EVER let their head hit the pillow at night without you telling them that you love them.  Even on the days that they aren't that lovable remind them that you love them and that no matter what, you always will.  I can't think of one thing that my son could ever do or say that would make me not love him.  Okay, that being said, I am not the perfect parent and I'm not sure that there ever was a perfect parent besides our Heavenly Father and he loves us all unconditionally.  So here is to all of us who are striving to be the best parent that we can be!! Hug and kiss those kiddos today and every day after that!! They grow up so fast.

Life Lesson #15,033-Don't Worry. Be Happy.

Life Lesson #15,033-Don't Worry. Be Happy.

Don't we all know those people who just bring you down?  I like to call these people Eeyore. (Ya know? From Winnie The Pooh.) You see them in Target and you hope that they don't see you so you try to duck down the next aisle and you have to act like you are very interested in whatever is on that aisle.  Then they follow you down the aisle and are like, "Hi, I didn't know that you had hamsters" and you have to say something stupid like, "Umm. Yeah we are thinking about getting one for the kids" and they are like "Oh no. You don't want to do that. We had one and it died after 3 days and then had to get another one and it lived for 15 years".  And you just want to lie and say that you have had a terrible stomach virus and really need to go to the bathroom, really bad and rush away but you are too nice.  No?? Yeah, me either. (Lie)



Wouldn't life be so much better if we all tried to have a positive outlook on life.  I know it isn't always easy.  Sometimes we get bad news or our friends or family have illnesses that could take them away from us so I'm not saying we should be all smiles all the time but some people just are always negative.  "How are you today, Sammy?".  (In Eeyore's voice) "Well, my knee has fluid on it and I have a hernia and I lost my cell phone and...". "Well, Sammy, I've got to go.  See you soon".  All we really wanted to hear was "I'm fine" unless there is a real problem that you will need my assistance on.  That's why I was hiding from you in the hamster supplies aisle!! If you find yourself doing this all the time, try to stop it.  You will find that people will enjoy your company and you will probably get invited to lunch more often if you are a positive force in this life.  If you're happy and you know it clap your hands, CLAP, CLAP.



Is that mean?  Am I just cruel?  Seriously, if you see someone who you are not good friends with and they ask you how you are, please just say, "I'm good. How are you?".  Even if your dog just died that morning and you have a migraine and a Charlie Horse, please just say that you are good and ask about the other person because they don't really want to hear all about it.   And then if they are the negative ones, rush off to the bathroom in Target or the hamster aisle.  You may see me there!! Oh and if you ever catch me being Eeyore, Call Me Out On It!!!!