In normal housework avoiding fashion, I'm sitting at the kitchen table taking turns staring out the window at my middle child playing outside in the cold and staring at my loud laptop trying to come up with something to write.
I kinda gave up on coming up with something good to write, as you can tell, and decided to go with more of a stream of consciousness post. There is just nothing exciting going on and I, fortunately, don't have any major concerns or issues on my mind -- mostly thanks to my mom listening sympathetically to my rant during last night's phone call.
Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good about where I am in time and space at this very moment. The kids are happy and healthy. I'm feeling pretty good about where I am on my *current* weight loss journey (fit and fabulous at 40 is in full effect). I had a good February in my book business. And am looking forward to a busy March. I am a little nervous about March through May, as I need $1000 in sales each month to stay on track to win an iPad. But if I do it, I'll not only win an iPad, but I'll also be on track to finance my 40th birthday celebration in Vegas.
So yeah, overall, I'm in a good mental space.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fitting it all in
Since Sunday, after I dragged myself out to meet up with the Portland Metro Mocha Moms (moms of color, not a coffee group), I have been thinking a lot about the best way to raise my kids and set them up for success.
I am the first to admit that my kids are not likely to end up as a statistic. Kids raised in a two-parent household where both parents are college educated are rarely the ones dismal statistics are referring to. BUT it's not like that's a hard-and-fast rule. So naturally I worry about doing the best things for them. That's a universal momma thing I think.
I worry about who they will date. More specifically I worry about the parents' reaction when some little white girl brings my little black boy home as her boyfriend. Because really we live in Oregon and have no plans to move so that's likely going to be the reality. I posted a picture of Aliyah "tanning" recently, so yeah it's fair to say I worry about her self-esteem when she sees very few people who look like her.
Oh but wait the topic of this post was "Fitting it all in" not "What LaRonda Worries About." So back on topic. With all this going on in my mind, I start thinking about how to give my kids the best chance of success. Academically that has meant homework even when none is assigned. It has meant summer reading programs and workbooks, etc. And I think I have a pretty good handle on the supplemental education in that respect.
But then my friend Michelle mentioned that she does supplemental black history work with her children, too. And I thought, "Oh man! I should be doing that, too." But then I started to panic trying to think about how to fit that into what we're doing already.
I am having a hard time thinking through the balance between social time/play time, supplemental education, and extracurricular activities. There are only so many hours in a day after all. And I don't want to overschedule the kids or have kids activities totally take over our family time. So I guess what I'm looking for are suggestions for fitting it all in.
I am the first to admit that my kids are not likely to end up as a statistic. Kids raised in a two-parent household where both parents are college educated are rarely the ones dismal statistics are referring to. BUT it's not like that's a hard-and-fast rule. So naturally I worry about doing the best things for them. That's a universal momma thing I think.
I worry about who they will date. More specifically I worry about the parents' reaction when some little white girl brings my little black boy home as her boyfriend. Because really we live in Oregon and have no plans to move so that's likely going to be the reality. I posted a picture of Aliyah "tanning" recently, so yeah it's fair to say I worry about her self-esteem when she sees very few people who look like her.
Oh but wait the topic of this post was "Fitting it all in" not "What LaRonda Worries About." So back on topic. With all this going on in my mind, I start thinking about how to give my kids the best chance of success. Academically that has meant homework even when none is assigned. It has meant summer reading programs and workbooks, etc. And I think I have a pretty good handle on the supplemental education in that respect.
But then my friend Michelle mentioned that she does supplemental black history work with her children, too. And I thought, "Oh man! I should be doing that, too." But then I started to panic trying to think about how to fit that into what we're doing already.
I am having a hard time thinking through the balance between social time/play time, supplemental education, and extracurricular activities. There are only so many hours in a day after all. And I don't want to overschedule the kids or have kids activities totally take over our family time. So I guess what I'm looking for are suggestions for fitting it all in.
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