When I was a kid I wanted to be a doctor. I don't remember any specific reason why, other than it seemed the only choices in life were to be a doctor or a lawyer, and doctors made more money and had more prestige (few people ever say in joyous surprise, "Oh, you're a lawyer?" unless that's followed by a request for free legal services). Then I realized that the sight of blood made my stomach turn. And, since I believed that the only type of doctor worth being was a surgeon, I decided I could no longer be a doctor.
When I was an older kid, I wanted to be a lawyer. After all, the only two choices in life were to be a doctor or a lawyer, and I had already ruled out doctor. Besides, my dad is a lawyer, and other than working really long hours it seemed to be a good job. He told funny stories about the crazy things people sued for, and their audacity in thinking that a jury would actually award them money. The other lawyers in the firm seemed like good people, so I figured this could be a good job. Then, when I was 15, I worked in my dad's law firm one summer, and I realized that being a lawyer wasn't all dramatic court scenes and the glory of saving your client tons of money--it was a lot of paperwork, writing boring letters, and dealing with bottom-of-the-barrel loser lawyers who barely graduated correspondence law school, failed the Bar Exam countless times, and now were taking frivolous cases to court since that's how they made their money. And, I decided that law wasn't for me.
When I was a teenager, I wanted to be a psychologist. And not just any psychologist, but one who helped rape victims recover from their traumatic experiences. I researched it, and knew that I had to be a Ph.D, and that was fine with me. I also knew that I could make a good living with this career path, but really the appeal was in helping someone overcome what would hopefully be the worst thing that would ever happen to them, and return to a normal state of being. I had it all planned: I would take AP classes and college courses while in high school, graduate from BYU with my Bachelor's degree, go on an LDS mission, finish my Ph.D, get married at 30, and have a glorious career. Maybe kids would be in the mix, but not until I had at least practiced a few years to build up a clientele that would allow me to work from home.
When I was 19 (a week before my 20th birthday) I met the man who would soon become my husband. As things progressed, I realized my life plan was splitting. I could either take Path A that I had planned in high school, or Path B--get married to a pilot who would take me to live who knows where. So, I took the safe course--Path C. Path C meant start with a Master's program. If Path B turns out to be a dead end, I could skip the Master's program, go on a mission, and resume Path A. If Path B worked out, I could do the Master's degree, and finish the Ph.D. wherever hubby's job sent us, and then pick up Path A with the career.
Path B ended up not going where I wanted it to go. I had assumed the job would start sooner than it did and that we would have time to travel a bit before the kids came. Instead, I finished my Master's degree, started working in a completely unrelated field, and we started our family. We bought a condo that we now can't seem to sell, we're living in a state that my husband promised me while dating that we would not live in, and I so desperately want the dream house that it seems everyone our age is getting.
Yes, life did not work out in just about any way I had planned. On the bright side, I have a wonderful husband 10 years earlier than expected, two wonderful (most days) boys that make me laugh on a regular basis, a condo we can afford that's not ghetto (that could definitely be worse!!!), and wonderful neighbors. I finally get to be a stay at home mom to my boys. But, sometimes I spend too much time on Pinterest or Facebook and see what I still wish I could have: the nice, attractively decorated house with a basement for my food storage and a back yard for my boys; pictures of the thousands of places I want to visit; and so on. Today is a day that requires a lot of extra effort to not covet what I don't have (and, in some cases, never will), but instead be grateful for what I do. After all, I thought I knew what I wanted 10, 15, and 20 years ago, but look how wrong I was...
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label change. Show all posts
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Are you hungry?
This is going to be a me-bragging-about-food-I've-made type of post.
This month I've been taking a cake decorating class through our local university's community education program. For those who know me well, you know I L-O-V-E baking. Well, a few years ago my best buddy from high school took a cake decorating class in Hawaii and made this awesome cake. Of course I was horribly jealous and wanted to learn how to do something that awesome too. Well, I finally did it. During February I've been taking a cake decorating class. We didn't learn as much as my friend (her cake included gum paste flowers, and we only did butter cream stuff), but I did learn a lot. Here are some pictures to document my progress.
Week 1: we didn't bring any cakes or anything to decorate, so we just practiced with some icing. I didn't save any of my practices, as it was pretty basic and stuff I had mainly done before.
Week 2: We learned how to make round balls of icing. It's a lot more difficult than you think, because icing wants to act like Hershey Kisses and have a tail on the top! Here's my practice cake:
Week 3: We learned how to make some basic flowers and leaves. Loved 'em! The flowers were a lot harder than I expected. After lots of extra practice at the end of class, I finally got a few decent ones to decorate my cupcakes.
Week 4: Tonight was the last day of class. Our assignment was to come up with a cake design and implement it. We also learned how to do roses, though I just barely realized I didn't take any pictures of my completed roses before I threw them away. However, I am super, super excited about my cake. I took my inspiration from the nursery set that J and H picked out for their new baby. The colors didn't turn out quite right (mine is more of a violet than a plum), and the flowers on the outside of the cake were too tall, but otherwise I'm really thrilled with how it looked. It tasted pretty good too--strawberry cake with chocolate pudding, and a thin layer of icing. Yum!
Okay, cake decorating class done. For Valentine's Day, I made my hubby the following:
It's chocolate mousse (homemade) in a dark chocolate mini dessert cup (bought from a store) with red X and pink O sprinkles (a gift from my visiting teacher). I used my cake decorating tips to swirl them in the cup. Let me tell you--uh-maz-ing!!
Okay, boast-fest is done. Thanks for letting me brag.
This month I've been taking a cake decorating class through our local university's community education program. For those who know me well, you know I L-O-V-E baking. Well, a few years ago my best buddy from high school took a cake decorating class in Hawaii and made this awesome cake. Of course I was horribly jealous and wanted to learn how to do something that awesome too. Well, I finally did it. During February I've been taking a cake decorating class. We didn't learn as much as my friend (her cake included gum paste flowers, and we only did butter cream stuff), but I did learn a lot. Here are some pictures to document my progress.
Week 1: we didn't bring any cakes or anything to decorate, so we just practiced with some icing. I didn't save any of my practices, as it was pretty basic and stuff I had mainly done before.
Week 2: We learned how to make round balls of icing. It's a lot more difficult than you think, because icing wants to act like Hershey Kisses and have a tail on the top! Here's my practice cake:
Week 3: We learned how to make some basic flowers and leaves. Loved 'em! The flowers were a lot harder than I expected. After lots of extra practice at the end of class, I finally got a few decent ones to decorate my cupcakes.
Week 4: Tonight was the last day of class. Our assignment was to come up with a cake design and implement it. We also learned how to do roses, though I just barely realized I didn't take any pictures of my completed roses before I threw them away. However, I am super, super excited about my cake. I took my inspiration from the nursery set that J and H picked out for their new baby. The colors didn't turn out quite right (mine is more of a violet than a plum), and the flowers on the outside of the cake were too tall, but otherwise I'm really thrilled with how it looked. It tasted pretty good too--strawberry cake with chocolate pudding, and a thin layer of icing. Yum!
Okay, cake decorating class done. For Valentine's Day, I made my hubby the following:
It's chocolate mousse (homemade) in a dark chocolate mini dessert cup (bought from a store) with red X and pink O sprinkles (a gift from my visiting teacher). I used my cake decorating tips to swirl them in the cup. Let me tell you--uh-maz-ing!!
Okay, boast-fest is done. Thanks for letting me brag.
Friday, December 3, 2010
So S-M-R-T
I feel so much better educated today. Here's what I've learned:
1.) I learned that eating 2.5 pounds of chocolate cake will result in me not eating for 24 hours, and me losing all desire to eat chocolate cake again in the near future.
2.) I learned how to replace a broken headlamp in my Ford. Incidentally, it's not as easy as replacing it on a Lincoln, since the stupid people at Ford decided to surround the headlamp with a BLACK (rather than clear) cylinder of scratchy plastic, plus make the lamp be held in place by a metal wire spring that has to be latched to a plastic piece with grooves so that the metal must be in the exactly perfect position, all while having this all crammed next to other engine parts making it impossible to a.) see, b.) hold the lamp in place, and c.) maneuver the wire without losing all feeling in your finger.
3.) I learned how to import video from my older (2002) camcorder into my brand new computer. Results: we are finally going to have playable versions of home movies, vacations, and so on from the last 8 years! Beware family and friends--if you come over, we may make you watch our home movies!
While typing this, D pooped in his diaper and it smells. Unfortunately, he's finally asleep after being in his crib for almost two hours. I dread waking him up, but I dread even more scrapping the dried poo from his sore bum in the morning. TMI??
1.) I learned that eating 2.5 pounds of chocolate cake will result in me not eating for 24 hours, and me losing all desire to eat chocolate cake again in the near future.
2.) I learned how to replace a broken headlamp in my Ford. Incidentally, it's not as easy as replacing it on a Lincoln, since the stupid people at Ford decided to surround the headlamp with a BLACK (rather than clear) cylinder of scratchy plastic, plus make the lamp be held in place by a metal wire spring that has to be latched to a plastic piece with grooves so that the metal must be in the exactly perfect position, all while having this all crammed next to other engine parts making it impossible to a.) see, b.) hold the lamp in place, and c.) maneuver the wire without losing all feeling in your finger.
3.) I learned how to import video from my older (2002) camcorder into my brand new computer. Results: we are finally going to have playable versions of home movies, vacations, and so on from the last 8 years! Beware family and friends--if you come over, we may make you watch our home movies!
While typing this, D pooped in his diaper and it smells. Unfortunately, he's finally asleep after being in his crib for almost two hours. I dread waking him up, but I dread even more scrapping the dried poo from his sore bum in the morning. TMI??
Friday, August 20, 2010
Manners
I got on this new email distribution list at a website called iMom.com. The email list is called "Espresso Minute" - basically, it's an idea list of things you can teach your kids or play with them and so on. Today's minute is on teaching your kids manners, which a list of the top 10 manners your kids should know. I thought it was interesting, and I definitely want to work on some of these with B2:
1. Put others first: This could be the only point we need to make, because it's at the root of all the others. This principle is manifest in holding doors, stepping aside, offering the last cookie, giving up your seat, changing a tire, saying "no, after you…", carrying groceries, offering a hand.
2. Polite phone protocol: This item could have its own list! Turn the phone off during meals, movies, classes and conversations. This includes texting. Bottom line - give 100% attention to the people you are physically with. Your phone has a voice mail feature – use it!
3. The thank-you note: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who write thank-you notes for gifts or special occasions, and those who don't. Teach your kids to write thank you notes and they will have understood a foundational concept. Nothing elaborate is necessary, but the effect is always memorable.
4. Open the door for others: Contrary to popular myth, this is not a chauvinistic practice. Door-holders open for their peers, their mothers, their dads, and strangers. They also yield the sidewalk and hold the elevator. There's no stopping them. Good manners always say, "After you."
5. Use "Thank-you" and "You're welcome" routinely in conversation: Simple but powerful. Help the kids make it a habit. This is one you need to model at your end.
6. Shake hands and make eye contact: Teach kids to shake hands, to make eye contact and to offer a word of welcome when they meet new people or when others visit the home. It may be a cliché to say first impressions make a big impact, but it's a cliché because it's true.
7. Teach them to offer to serve people who enter your home: Make it routine - "May I take your coat?" "Would you like a glass of water?" "Let me take your bags…" People who visit are our guests. This is a key lesson, no matter what a child's age.
8. Stand up when an elder enters the room: Many adults have forgotten this gem. It's a sign of respect no matter what our age. Grandparents? Aunts and uncles? Teachers? Any visitor to the home. Teach children to stand as a sign of respect.
9. Be polite to people who serve: This means make eye contact and turn your phone off when talking to the cashier at the fast food restaurant or at the grocery. It means being respectful to the server at the restaurant. It means saying "thank you" when you're given food or change. Try thanking the bus driver for the ride home or a soldier for serving our country.
10. Practice manners at family mealtimes: Family dinners can be a perfect venue for manners. Demonstrate, practice, model, question, prompt. No TV, no phones, no distractions from polite interaction. "Please pass the potatoes…" "Thanks…" "Can I get that for you?" "Mom, can I pour you a glass of water?" The family unit is the most important venue to learn social graces and family mealtimes are maybe our best opportunity.
What a gentleman my little boy could be!! Am I a nerd because I'm excited to teach my kids manners? :)
1. Put others first: This could be the only point we need to make, because it's at the root of all the others. This principle is manifest in holding doors, stepping aside, offering the last cookie, giving up your seat, changing a tire, saying "no, after you…", carrying groceries, offering a hand.
2. Polite phone protocol: This item could have its own list! Turn the phone off during meals, movies, classes and conversations. This includes texting. Bottom line - give 100% attention to the people you are physically with. Your phone has a voice mail feature – use it!
3. The thank-you note: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who write thank-you notes for gifts or special occasions, and those who don't. Teach your kids to write thank you notes and they will have understood a foundational concept. Nothing elaborate is necessary, but the effect is always memorable.
4. Open the door for others: Contrary to popular myth, this is not a chauvinistic practice. Door-holders open for their peers, their mothers, their dads, and strangers. They also yield the sidewalk and hold the elevator. There's no stopping them. Good manners always say, "After you."
5. Use "Thank-you" and "You're welcome" routinely in conversation: Simple but powerful. Help the kids make it a habit. This is one you need to model at your end.
6. Shake hands and make eye contact: Teach kids to shake hands, to make eye contact and to offer a word of welcome when they meet new people or when others visit the home. It may be a cliché to say first impressions make a big impact, but it's a cliché because it's true.
7. Teach them to offer to serve people who enter your home: Make it routine - "May I take your coat?" "Would you like a glass of water?" "Let me take your bags…" People who visit are our guests. This is a key lesson, no matter what a child's age.
8. Stand up when an elder enters the room: Many adults have forgotten this gem. It's a sign of respect no matter what our age. Grandparents? Aunts and uncles? Teachers? Any visitor to the home. Teach children to stand as a sign of respect.
9. Be polite to people who serve: This means make eye contact and turn your phone off when talking to the cashier at the fast food restaurant or at the grocery. It means being respectful to the server at the restaurant. It means saying "thank you" when you're given food or change. Try thanking the bus driver for the ride home or a soldier for serving our country.
10. Practice manners at family mealtimes: Family dinners can be a perfect venue for manners. Demonstrate, practice, model, question, prompt. No TV, no phones, no distractions from polite interaction. "Please pass the potatoes…" "Thanks…" "Can I get that for you?" "Mom, can I pour you a glass of water?" The family unit is the most important venue to learn social graces and family mealtimes are maybe our best opportunity.
What a gentleman my little boy could be!! Am I a nerd because I'm excited to teach my kids manners? :)
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