October Lessons…

So it is only halfway through November and I am writing my October Lessons that seems right about on schedule.

As always I hope what I learn each month helps you find some enlightenment and joy.

1. K.I.S.S.

Keep it simple stupid. I know not extremely kind words, but it is a good mnemonic device (regardless if I forgot it – I remembered it and that is the key). It is so important to keep things simple. Simple and I have a hard time remembering one another, but I am vowing that moving forward I will keep it simple. The birthday party I had this month with 33 kids was not simple and it will not be happening again. I learned my lesson loud and clear this time – all that second grade girl drama was way too much for me. I do not watch Desperate Housewives; I was so unprepared.

2. I am so over puppies.

Don’t get me wrong, I love our new dog. She is bright, has a spunky personality and is super cuddly. But the poop, pee and vomit on the carpet; I am SO OVER THAT. The chewing on everything that she can get her paws and teeth on; I AM SO OVER THAT. The jumping, biting, and me constantly repeating myself; I AM SO OVER THAT. I know once she is fully trained we will be fine and she is only 4 1/2 months old, but holy moly I do not think I will ever need to do the puppy stage ever again. She is pretty darn cute thought, isn’t she?

3. I am way more comfortable with us hiding our crazy

So this Halloween there were just a whole bunch of people who were out to scare children. This baffles me. I find it extremely creepy. There was a guy dressed like Jason that would just follow you around and then stare at you with his head cocked, and a house with a mad scientist complete with a chainsaw, and then people dressed super creepy at the grocery store just leering at you for fun. I do not need this sort of scary coming to life. I can’t even watch scary movies without sleeping with the light on for weeks and mostly I won’t watch at all. I am still scarred from Scream. In theater bathrooms I still think some scary freak is going to pierce metal through the side of the stall or that some crazy person is looming in the dark theater waiting to pounce. Totally judgmental I know. I just think when you bring that kind of crazy creepiness into life you are a little off your rocker. . I like it way better when people keep their crazy on the inside.

4. Take your kids out of school

Blasphemy I know…sorry teachers. We decided to go to Disneyland this year during school. It was the best decision ever! It was way less crowded and we had tons of fun. We were able to finish almost all the work the teachers gave us so the kids were not too far behind when we came back so it all worked out. I highly recommend going to Disney when school is in session.

5. Find your joy and keep it – make sure to use baby steps

Taking good care of myself is not something that I do. I come dead last out of 6. Each time I start to work on me and find some success, I let myself slide right back down the chain to last and I realize it again when my pants start not to fit. I know that may not make sense, but I eat when I don’t take care of myself. Literally feeding myself to try to fill the hole I created. It is silly and lame and I know better.

This time I am going to use baby steps. Take care of the little things a bit at a time until I am doing what I can take good care of myself . Like shower…I know that seems disgusting but you other moms know when mornings go awry you forgo a shower so that everyone gets where they need to be one time. I am going to try to make sure this one simple thing happen daily. Stopping and just reading a book for awhile because I need to do something I like that day. Writing in my blog again. Small simple things that I need to incorporate into my daily life so that I continue to keep myself on my list of things to take care of.

6.Balloon artists are awesome…

This Balloon Jetpack is awesome. That is all.

8. Keep past lessons top of mind

Last but not least, keep your past lessons in your mind because even though my kids drive me crazy with their bickering and selective listening skills in less than a decade my oldest will be graduating from high school and that thought makes me vomit a little in my mouth every time. So grasp the moments that you can and commit them to memory.

Last minute trips to the Pumpkin Patch.

Napping with balloons

First rain of the fall

Rock Climbing through a park

Halloween Hot Chocolate

Fantastic face paint and balloon crowns

Wishing you a very fabulous end to November,