Will you accept the challenge?

My latest Examiner article asks the question: Can you put aside your computer/devices for a day? If not for the whole day, at least when around your children? The article takes a brief look at information compiled in a New York Times article regarding the impact of parents' chronic usage of devices around their children.

So often our society places the spotlight on our youth and their lack of communication skills due to excessive use of all things technological, however, this article takes a much needed look at the other side of the coin. How, as parents, are we supposed to foster an environment of open communication if we can't be bothered to be torn away from our devices? Often times we are just as guilty as our children.

So I hope you'll check out my latest article and let me know if you were up to the challenge.

The awesomeness that is Abigail bean

"I  a cowboy girl!"

Recently it seems I’ve been remiss in noticing the awesomeness that is Miss Abigail bean. I always think she’s a cutie patootie and she provides frequent laughs in our family, but we’ve been spending the bulk of our time lately fighting.

I read a fellow Examiner’s article the other day reminding parents the power of positivity. Specifically, speaking and responding to our children in a positive manner. Abby has taken to responding to things that don’t quite meet her fancy with yelling and seriously outspoken frustration. We talk a lot about using her words and it being okay to be frustrated, but handling it differently. Yes, I know she’s only three, but I want to start filling her ‘toolbox’ now.

My realization(s)
I realize the way I respond when I’m frustrated is barely any better than how she reacts. It’s almost as if we’re feeding off each other. Hello! [knock, knock, knock] Adult…are you in there? My responses to her were coming off sharper than I intended - she’s my light, she deserves better. Not to mention a better example.

So how can I expect her to use the tools I’m trying so hard to provide her if I don’t use them myself? I’ve made a conscious effort to watch how I say things to her - it’s amazing what tone can do to otherwise innocuous words.

Bedtime? No way!

Bedtime has been an ongoing struggle for Abby and me. Throughout the summer we’ve grown lax with the actual bedtime. She’s taking issue to staying in bed and has become truly creative in finding reasons to be out of bed. By the end of the day I’m usually ready for us to have a break from each other - especially given our interactions of late. It’s amazing how much more smoothly things go when I choose to respond to her antics in a more positive manner. Take last night, for instance; at the point when tears would’ve been flowing and loud words would be exchanged, we were instead walking hand-in-hand back upstairs where she was happily tucked snuggly into bed dreaming away. Who wouldn’t melt, when at the bottom of the stairs, she instigated the hand holding with, “Let’s hold hands!” You bet sweet girl!

Rediscovering Abby’s Awesomeness

• How completely fabulously adorable she looks when standing on her tippy toes.
• Her inquisitive mind. Reading books is incredibly extended as she wants to know details of every picture. --“Why that dinosaur have jammas?” “Why that dog in her bed?” “Why he crying…” (Me: he has owies). “Why? I don’ like owies. I got owie, I ‘cwied’ because it hurt.”

• Her need to have things just so. If she’s going to dance, she needs to turn on the music, she needs to be wearing certain types of clothes or dress up, mom should not participate until invited to do so and for pete’s sake, don’t sing!
• How she knows her colors, but delights in making mom think she doesn’t.
• Her incredibly cautious nature. I love that she’s a safety girl and even wants to wear knee and elbow pads when roller skating on the carpet.
• When she gets out of bed just one more time because she needs hugs. I want her in bed, but how do you say no to that?
• When she asks for just one more story by holding her index and thumb finger a bit apart and says, “Just a wittle bit, a wittle one?”
• Her giggle when you get in a tickle fest or she thinks she’s getting away with something.
• How she waffles back and forth in declaring her independence: “I a big girl!” to “Abby not big yet.”
• Her “Phoebe” run - so dubbed by my sister. Remember that Friend’s episode when Rachel is embarrassed to run with Phoebe because she’s so…Free when she runs? That’s Abby’s run.
• When I ask her what her name is she says: “Abby.” Abby what? “Ab-i-gail.” Abigail what? “Abigail bean.” Yep, but what’s your whole name? “Ab-i-gail ‘Cistine’ Stewart.”
• As always, I love her because she’s Abby and my very best girl.

My very own 'agent'

Christine and Abby

If I could do so, I would absolutely hire my sister as my agent. She doesn't have a conversation with people without promoting my Examiner page. Dare I say, she might do more promoting than I do. I cover the technical (Facebook, Twitter) stuff and she takes care of the word-of-mouth sharing.

My sister is five years older than me and sometime while I was in high school she became my best friend. She was my matron-of-honor, she is my daughter's God-mother, and my constant. My family at large is one (growing) ball of support. They've all been incredible as I've started this venture into becoming a "real writer."

So this is just a short post to thank my sister, one of the most amazing ladies I have the privilege of not only calling sister, but friend (and I guess, honorary agent). Following is an excerpt from a piece I did about Christine.



Highlights:

• Recently, Christine divulged that when I was little, it wasn’t necessarily always me wanting to sneak into her bed because I was scared…Apparently, on stormy or otherwise scary nights, Christine would sometimes come into my room, poke me and say, “Rebecca, Rebecca, are you scared? Do you need to sleep with me?”
• When I was in 4th grade, our only living grandfather died, I remember us sitting on the edge of the bathtub, I was sobbing, and she was holding me as tight as she could-how did she get to be so strong? Aside from my parents, I would say Bean is my greatest supporter. My senior year when basketball season wasn't going well, she was my rock and she bolstered me more than once (as did my entire family).
• A month before my due date when the doctor realized things weren't right with my body or with Abby, I wound up at Christine's house because Bryan was at work, and she helped keep me sane that afternoon. She wholeheartedly agreed with me every time I said, "It'll be fine, anything else isn't an option." She, along with my mom, came to my appointment later in the week and spent the better part of the day and night by my (our) side when they sent me to the hospital and I was scared beyond all reason. Christine is a person who I, to this day, strive to follow in her footsteps. I've written about her phenomenal children, well, they didn’t get to be that way with a wish and a prayer, though certainly prayer is part of it, as I swear, this woman has a direct line to God’s ear. No, they’re off to such beautiful beginnings because they have a couple of exceptionally, wonderful parents.

Vacation Bible School and all that entails...

It's been a few days since my last posting. My life has taken on a sort whirlwind quality in the past week with the kickoff of this year's Vacation Bible School (VBS). I am the Christian Education Director of my church and this is my first year totally running the show. Let me tell you - it is a MASSIVE undertaking.

My sister suggested I do a series of articles on VBS and I sort of brushed it off at the time, I didn't know if it would be appropriate, but I realized her suggestion was one to take and run with. The series begins at planning and set-up then takes us day-by-day through the week. Tomorrow puts us at day two. Not gonna lie, day two went a lot less smoothly than day one.

At last year's VBS I was learning the ropes and one thing I observed was how we always seemed to run over on time. Not sure why, but there just didn't seem to be enough time in the evening. These last two days we've run well ahead of schedule. I shudder to think of what tomorrow is going to look like when our craft activity goes back to being fairly simple to complete. Part of our excessive earliness seems to be related to the cushion I gave the groups in getting from station-to-station, but I'm not willing to give up the time in the schedule. I don't know, I'd rather be ahead of schedule than behind, but what the heck?! Fortunately, our Discovery time leader is outstanding and always has several experiments to share with the kids. And I guess it is nice to not have to sprint through snack time...

So come along and experience the Galactic Blast VBS ride with us.

1. Behind the scenes: Vacation Bible School - getting ready
2. Behind the scenes: Vacation Bible School - day 1
3. Behind the scenes: Vacation Bible School - day 2
4. Behind the scenes: Vacation Bible School - day 3
5. Behind the scenes: Vacation Bible School - final day

Creating memorable birthday parties

My beautiful niece turned seven yesterday and had her party today. A few weeks ago she told her mom she'd like a 'Carnival birthday party.' My amazingly creative sister-in-law pulled it off and then some. It was an awesomely fun party.

Just clownin' around

I'd been procrastinating something terrible this week in getting a new article written (and I was crazy busy too, but still when I had opportunity to write, I didn't). I just wasn't happy with any of the topics flowing through my melon (brain for those of you who don't understand 'Becca-speak.') Then I went to her party and found myself some inspiration.

Abby is a winter baby as are all of my sister's children and we often lament the lack of options we have when it comes to party planning. Having the opportunity to be outside is an option I find myself quite wistful to have as we're jamming thirty people into our home, 16 plus, of whom are kids running about. It would be wonderful to be able to have people outside, you can do a little more theme-wise also (find out more tomorrow about the party I wished I could've thrown for Abby last year).

Meanwhile, Sarah's Carnival themed party was a big hit. Click here to head on over to my Examiner page and find out how to pull off such a magnificent party for the little ones in your life.

What inspires better writing?

Not a lot has been happening on the writing front lately. I posted a couple of new articles to my Examiner page and plan to round out the preschool articles in the next couple of days, but it is those articles that brought me to a glaring realization.

Writing how to, informational-type pieces is all fine and dandy and while I think I provide some relatively useful information; I don't think it's my 'hook,' so to speak. The Kibbe series, the piece I did on Relay for Life; those were pieces I felt I did good solid, draw-you-in, kind of writing.

Human interest stories are where my heart lies, I think. I realize I can't post profile after profile, but I want to find a way to draw people in on a more personal level...

So I guess you could say I had an 'ah ha' moment that has been simmering right under my consciousness waiting to be realized. I'm kind of intrigued as to what I can do with this semi-epiphany - should be interesting.