Be careful!

The problem with blogging and journaling is that it can be sometimes embarrassing when you look back at what you wrote many months ago. For whatever reason. You realize how silly you can be sometimes. I've never kept a journal for more than 4 months or so. I've always had to throw them out promptly upon reviews of past entries. Don't worry, I won't throw out this blog. Hopefully, it's all a sign that I really am growing up.

Earlier today, I realized how careful you have to be when you are a parent. In everything I do and say to Lara, I am teaching her something. Being a stay-at-home mom of just one child, I have a lot of opportunities to be patient and mindful. Here are some ways I have to be careful.

1. Don't ever be in a bad mood (haha, right?). When momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

-Lara and I have a special bond. WhenEVER I am not happy, Lara senses it immediately. Kids force you to put your bad attitude aside. At the Hearts at Home conference I recently attended, a speaker asked us to consider the tone we set in our homes. Here is what she said: "Your kids are coming home from school and you know they will be cranky and hungry-they're going to barge in the door, yelling, fighting, making messes. You realize you haven't got anything to eat, and naturally you get VERY mad at your husband because somehow it IS his fault that you're so tired, there's no food, and too many cranky kids headed your way. You start slamming cabinet doors and working yourself up. Well, it's your job to be a thermostat-don't set the temperature in your home too high! So you take an onion and put it in a pan of boiling water. You hum a song while looking into your empty cabinets. You set the table. Your kids come home to a delicious smelling house and a mom who is singing a tune. Who can be upset with the delicious smell of a boiling onion? Supper is on the way and mom is happy. They don't know they'll probably just get peanut butter sandwiches later, they don't know mom just had a meltdown. For right now, all is well. Set the right temperature."

2. Never argue in front of the baby. If you do, the rule is: make-up in front of the baby.

3. Never have road rage in front of the baby. Dustin and I always have to call each other out on this. It also helps when the CD in your car is playing, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider...went up the water spout..." And a little hat in the backseat is head banging.

Well, there are lots more, but it's time for bed.