Some thoughts

Did a lot of browsing thru blogs today and now facts are ratling arund in my head  (and clinking very loudly.

A father who upon hearing a college grad speech is doubting his parenting skills, "providing everything his family could want".   Chaos, economic decline are welcome and will lead to globalization of the world.   Possibly the lack of in depth in the household on the state of the world is leading to this belief.  I believe this comes from the breakdown of the family unit.  Both mother and father work outside the home, trying to catch -up on the never ending chores leaves not time for parenting

An article I read touched on the subject of over complimenting our children.  That once you start down this particular road it gets worse by questioning bad grades (especially when they were earned), giving trophies no matter how a team did (sports) or questioning umpire calls, coaching decisions.

In baseball, my husband had a parent banned from a season of games for "touching an umpire",  had another parent (assistant coach) start yelling because his kid wasn't put in the game ( the boy could not run and we needed the point) the parent quit coaching and never talked to us again.  We took another coach before the board and had him removed because of flagrant rule breaking against  half the kids and yelling at the umps and coaches of another town.  He also could not attend any of his sons games the next year.  My husband took the team over with the son on it and treated him very fairly.  The board continally begged him to coach because all the kids were played in accordance the the rules and he never favored our son (this gets noticed).  We believe that activities are for the kids to experience,  NOT for the parents to live out their fantasies.
                                                                                                                                                               My son played baseball from the age of 6 to 19 yrs and I saw some of the worst parenting.  This is just a tiny part of the parenting world, but I see evidence everywhere I go of over-indulgence.  And yes, I wanted everything for my children but they wouldn't have benefited from objects.  We had experiences:  horses, picnics, hunting, camping, star gazing, etc.

My kids want off of the crazy rollercoaster ride created by my generation and taken to extremes by the next!  I must agree because I want off too.

A MAJOR change in Scenery!

I am in an Oklahoma City suburb visiting my brother and his family for two weeks.  They are going on a 7 day cruise from Texas down to centrall America.  Here I am with two nieces whom I don't know and they don't know me.  The 14 yr old is so sweet, helpful and accommodating.  The 12 yr old is sweet, stubborn, exhausting and very independent with special needs.  At 13 months old, she had E. coli! with devasting results, brain damage and siezures, eye surgeries and physical therapy.  Being told she would be a vegatable basically did not keep them down.  With the best care and many prayers, country wide, she runs, talks, goes to school and does chores.  She is a miracle. 

My sister in law does not get more than a few hours 'off'.  So they asked is I would come and watch over them.  I kinew what a constant challenge she is.  The first siezure, I had to leave the room.  I could not keep the tears back, watching while mom cradled and talked to her daughter thru out a grand mal and half an hour of lesser episodes.  My brother and sister in law are also a miracle to me because so many couples do not make it thru the stresses of this lifestyle, they are strong, united and in dire need of time away and together.

She had them 3 days in a row which tested her mom's strength but hasn't had a seizure since they have left.  I am watchful!  My days have been full of puzzles, Go fish, yahtzee and movies.  A scary experience but one we will all survive,

It's been 4 years since they last came for a visit home to the Pacific NW and will be coming this summer, so I will see them twice this year!

Oh and the water is sooooooo nasty here!  I drink room temp water and it goes down better here if it is cold.