Day 20and 21: My Husband and A Week Off

Day 20: It goes without saying that I am thankful for my husband. In fact, I know I blogged earlier this month about how he helps out. But today I am thankful for how he parents our boys. When they were younger, Rob and I fought a lot about how to parent them. We would both raise our voices at the boys or at each other. As they've grown up, however, Rob's approach to parenting has changed and I am learning more from him than he is from me. (Who's the one with the Child Development degree??? HA!) Last night, while the boys played their football games we sat on the sidelines and talked. I loved just sitting there, cheering on our boys, and being able to talk about things. He said something that I've thought about a lot today. We were talking about getting the boys to do things and he said, "Sometimes you've got to make them think it's their idea." Brilliant. I don't do that. I tell them to do something and expect it to be done. That doesn't always get the results I strive for.
Later, on the way home from football, I grounded E for being disrespectful. When the boys were getting ready for bed, I told Rob what had happened (He had driven seperately.). He gave me a different perspective to think about. I did and it resulted in an open, honest conversation between me and E.
I don't always agree with Rob's way of parenting. But, that's what happens when you have two different people growing up in two different homes by two different sets of parents who have two different sets of values who then become parents themselves. As the boys get older I realize there's definitely different ways of dealing with their behavior and choices. Yelling and grounding them isn't always an effective way to discipline. I am thankful for a husband who has made me realize that and who gives me parenting advice when needed.

Day 21: A Week Off
I don't need a week off. I love my job and don't feel like I need a break. But I am so glad we have one coming up. Mainly because I think the boys need it. E has been under the weather off and on the past couple weeks. P is struggling with school and his brain probably needs a break from math for a few days. And I just want to do some fun things with the boys. Because we aren't going anywhere and don't have company coming to us, we planned to do some fun things that we don't normally do. We are going to go see "Frozen 2" (I was surprised P wanted to see that!). P is going to have a friend spend the night one night then we'll go to the big zoo in New Orleans with his friend. We are going to go to the new jump park that opened by our house that the boys have been dying to try out. And then the boys get to go Black Friday shopping with me that neither one is really looking forward to. (Truth be told, I'm not either but I can't leave them at home for hours while Rob is at work.) I am looking forward to sleeping in, drinking a hot cup of coffee and going at our own pace next week. I am thankful that we'll have a week to relax and do a lot of fun things together!

Day 18 and 19: Gym Dates and Internet

Day 18: Our life has been inundated with football for the past month. Our boys have played football games 3-4 nights a week. That doesn't allow for extra time to get to the gym or even enjoy a homecooked meal together. Yesterday, E had to go to the doctor because he had been sleeping non-stop and said he didn't feel well. It turns out that he just has a virus that has to run its course (Praise the Lord it isn't strep or the flu, which is going around the school like wildfire!). Rob and I decided he should miss his football game, which meant I had a free night to get to the gym. Woohoo!!! Not only did I get to work out, but I got to see one of my good friends AND close all my circles on my Apple watch for only the 2nd time since I bought it. It was so refreshing to get to the gym and feel good about my workout. I always love my gym dates and can't wait to get back into the routine of them after Thanksgiving. I am thankful that I love going on gym dates with my friend.

Day 19: To save a few bucks, a Cox representative recommended that we buy a different modem. She was very specific about what to buy. Over the weekend I tried to change out our modems, causing us to lose internet. No big deal. Except it was because I kept getting the run around from two different companies as to why our internet wasn't working. After spending well over an hour on the phone during the past few days, I decided to unplug the new modem and use the other one. It was such a relief when I started up the laptop and saw the internet icon in the corner, signaling that we once again had internet. On top of getting internet again, we are getting a free new modem and our bill is lowering $5/month. It's amazing how much we rely on technology these days. But I am thankful that ours is reliable once again.

Day 17: Devotions

My favorite part of the day is the morning. I particularly like lazy mornings, when I have time to enjoy a good cup of coffee and a hot bath. But, regardless, my favorite part of the morning is my devotions. I sit at our picture window with my coffee, my breakfast and my devotional, watching the day awake all around me. A couple years ago my parents bought me a devotional that I love. Sometimes, when the boys are arguing nonstop or I haven't slept well, my devotional is my saving grace. It calms me in the midst of tiredness or chaos. It brings things back into perspective. It reminds me to change my focus and spend a few minutes in prayer (which is usually about all I have). My quiet time, which is rarely quiet, is my favorite part of the day and I am so thankful that it has become part of my morning routine.

Day 16: Voting

As an adult, I have come to understand and appreciate my right to vote. My right to have my voice heard. I enjoy when the elections come around because I feel like I can voice my opinion about how things are going in our parish, the state and the nation. This morning, after my photo shoot, P and I toured the state capital. I showed him the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. We discussed how bills are passed, how it's important to vote for someone who shares similar morals and political beliefs as you. Afterwards we stopped by the voting polls so I could vote for state officials. I had P come into the booth with me to show him how you cast a vote. He was very impressed. Then I let him have my "I Voted" which he wore with pride until it fell off. I am thankful that we have the freedom, right and privilege to voice our opinions in elections.

Day 15: Dates

Growing up, I loved my 1:1 time with my parents. Today, when I visit my parents, I cherish my mother/daughter lunch dates and my father/daughter The Habit hamburger dates. As parents, I find it is so important to have 1:1 time with each child. Just to listen and to talk, not to criticize or punish. A couple weeks ago I got to have a 1:1 afternoon with our youngest on his fieldtrip day. We spent the morning at the children's museum with his classmates. Then we came home and did art before we had to get P from school. Tonight I got to have a date with our oldest. He's been struggling this year with school. He's been grounded a lot and I feel like we're always fussing at him, always criticizing him, always telling him how he can improve (which sometimes seems like we're telling him how he can change to fit into society's little box). So our date was about him, I let him choose where we'd go to dinner. We tried a new sushi place. I let him direct the conversation, which was mostly about football. He talked a little about his problems at school and, together, we tried to solve them the best we could. After dinner he asked if we could rent a movie. Now he's been grounded from TV for the past few weeks. But I gave in to him tonight because I enjoy when grace is extended to me. I wanted to give him a special night, not one reminding him that he's grounded. We have enjoyed our evening together, just mother and son, that 1:1 time that I've always enjoyed as a child and now as a parent.
I also love my dates with Rob! Sadly, we don't get to go on dates as much as we'd like but it's nice when we get a babysitter, get dressed up and go out to enjoy a nice dinner as husband and wife. Last week we were fortunate to be able to go on a date...virtually for free. We had a business dinner to go to for Rob's company so we enjoyed fine dining with each other and a couple of Rob's co-workers. We have to be more intentional about going on dates because they are just as important, maybe more important, than my dates with the boys.
I am thankful for all of my dates with my boys. It's special time that I do not take for granted!

Day 14: Co-Workers

As you probably know, co-workers can make or break your work environment. They can make your job enjoyable or miserable. Yes, there's always one or two that people struggle to like but that's par for the course. I have been blessed with great co-workers at so many of my jobs. This week I was thankful for my current co-workers. On Tuesday we tag teamed a situation that no one wanted to touch-literally or figuratively. (And by tag team, I mean I stood there and cheered my co-workers on.) Yesterday we encouraged each other through a rough observation. Today we laughed and enjoyed our students to the fullest.
We confide in each other. We vent to each other. We vent about each other. We encourage each other. We have each other's back. We laugh together. We are in it through thick and thin.
This year I am in a new teaching situation- I work hand in hand with 2 other teachers....and we all share the same classroom. It's had its challenges as you can imagine when you put 3 strong personalities in the same room. But we've also gotten to know each other. We've learned from each other (I think??). We've become friends in just a few short months of working together.
The teachers I share a classroom with and I are also blessed to share a bathroom (hello, pre-k!!!) with another set of wonderful, fun-loving teachers. I absolutely love the other pre-k teachers! We peek our head into each others' room to share a story or ask a question or pull a prank on each other.
I honestly look forward to going to work. I enjoy my co-workers. I enjoy the students and the overall school climate. I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with this job and with wonderful co-workers, who make every day fun.

No we don't always dress like this. It was 80s theme day for Red Ribbon Week.

Day 13: Enjoying Holidays

Can I be thankful and gripe all in the same blog when it's supposed to be THANKSgiving month? I guess since it's our blog I can do whatever I want. Today I am thankful for the history of holidays. I love what each holiday means and the memories it creates. That's why I get frustrated that so many people rush over one holiday to get to another. Yes, Christmas and Easter are the most important holidays because of what they mean to me as a Christian. But I don't want to skip one holiday to get to the other. If I'm being completely honest, Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. This year more than ever because we won't be eating a big feast with family or friends. Since it'll just be the 4 of us there's no point in cooking a big meal (we're not big leftover fans). So we're going to have gumbo and call it good. I also don't get to do Black Friday shopping (my fav!) because Rob has to work and I can't wake them up early and take the boys to shop for their presents with me. But, that being said, it still doesn't mean that I want to skip it and go straight to Christmas. This year, more than any I can remember, it seems like everyone decorated for Christmas the day after Halloween. I don't get it. Why can't Americans enjoy the moment before rushing to the next one? It seems that's Americans' motto these days- Don't enjoy. Rush to the next moment in life. It's time to slow down and enjoy each day, and holiday, as it comes. For me, I am thankful for every holiday and what it means to my life, the memories that each holiday has created throughout my life.