Sing a Song

I find singing soothing in stressful situations. Too bad my kids don't feel the same way.

Great Benefits

Parenthood is like any worthwhile career: There are times when it's boring and times when it's aggravating, but there are also lots of times when you feel incredibly blessed to be part of something so rewarding and wonderful.

One big difference is that with a career, you may change the world, but you may not. By contrast, as a parent you make an indelible impression on your child's life and indirectly influence every person they will ever meet.

Also, you get to hug your coworkers on a regular basis. :)

Song Association

I always sing a hymn or Primary song to my three-year-old when I put her down for a nap. I usually ask if she has a preference, whereupon she asks for a song about painting (I sing "Primary Colors") or bed time ("Did You Think to Pray?" - "Oh, how praying rests the weary . . .").

Today she asked for a song about hangers, so I sang "Hold to the Rod." :)

I Couldn't Agree More

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx

Character Test

"Hard work spotlights the character of people: Some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all." --Sam Ewing.

At Table

"It's a French term, à table, like time stops and that you're breaking bread, and you're drinking wine. And you're telling stories, and you're talking, and you're sharing. You know, I think back on Thanksgiving memories and how that brought the family together and cousins. And in a little way, that's what we do is that we bring people together, and it's almost like a little Thanksgiving dinner and that just sensual joy of eating and drinking really good things."--Chef Frank Stitt

And on that note, I recently discovered that Martha Stewart's strawberry bread recipe is delish.

Good Dirty Fun

"If a kid is dirty at the end of the day, they probably had a good time." --Cousin Jodi

The first time I took my first baby to the park, I was traumatized by the idea that my pristine angel might come in contact with . . . dirt (shudder). I've loosened up a bit since then, but I still have to remind myself that it's more important for my kids to experience life than to keep their fingernails perpetually clean. That's why the good Lord gave us soap and water.