I Was Spanked As A Child

I am here to admit that I was, in fact, spanked as a child. I am opening up to my parents abuse of me. What cruel, mean and amazing parents. I deserved every single spank I ever got. I grew up balanced, loving and caring for others. I am not a bully. I am not aggressive. I am not an abusive parent. I am just the way I should be. And, yes, I spanked my kids.

Time Is Most Important

Better late than never for a blog post today. I have spent the last two days having a girls "weekend" with Jess and my mom before Jess heads back off to school. We crammed a lot of fun things into our two days, along with even getting our picture taken with the Easter Bunny..... sort of ;o) I have learned, over the last few years, that time is the most important thing in life you can give.

Coffee Shop Win!

I never really understood parents who let their kids do whatever they wanted, wherever they were: wreaking havoc on everyone around them. I know a few like this, that just sit down and tune out to their kids with complete disregard to how those said children are effecting all the other people in the room - destruction left in their path.

Here is one mans brilliant answer to just such an episode in a local coffee shop - my complete hero.

Be A Kid And Play!

When my kids were young enough that going to the park to play on the toys all day was the bomb, we did that a lot. It was free, gave them good exercise and best of all it would wear them out for bed that night. We'd pack a picnic lunch and head out for the afternoon. There were a handful of parks to choose from a short distance from our house, including the local grade schools, and we utilized them all.

Don't You Dare Do It! But, Let's Talk.

Don't stay out past midnight! Don't drink! Don't take drugs! Don't hang out with that crowd! Don't color your hair blue! Don't get a tattoo or body piercings! And, for God's sake, don't have sex!!!

This is what many teens face with their parents: I did. Not open for discussion. Period.

I raised my kids a little differently than this.

11 Rules Your Kids Will NOT Learn In School

We have somehow, in our quest to raise confident children, created a world in where all kids are wrapped in bubble wrap: instead of confidence we have given them a warped sense of reality. "Everyone wins", "I'll drive you, it's not safe to walk or ride your bike anywhere", "If you go to college you will make $100K plus in life"..... this certainly wasn't how I was raised. I rode my bike EVERYWHERE, my parents couldn't be bothered with taking me places. I NEVER got a trophy or an award unless I earned it and I certainly didn't think I was going to be making that kind of money unless I worked my ass off and worked my way up in the world.

Pet Benefits

by Amy Hamblin

I come from a long line of pet haters.  If you told any of my family members that they were pet haters they would deny it:  we all know, however, that they would be lying.  They would give excuses like, “as long as they are outside pets” or “if I didn’t have to feed them or pet them”.  Yeah, my family is full of pet haters.  I have to admit that I am one myself BUT a few years ago read about the benefits for kids of having pets. After that we went to the Humane Society and bought our cat Tiger.

Write Your Family History

I read an old African saying yesterday that really hit home with me: "the death of an old person is like the burning of a library". The importance of this saying has hit home with me personally in the past with the death of my father. I realized that all of the sudden, all the things that he felt, knew and experienced were just gone..... gone forever. It's important to get these things written down before it's too late! 

My New Years Resolution

I am not a new years resolution type gal. I have always figured, if you want to do something why wait until new years to start it? I have, however, decided to start something this year and January first was as good as any other day to start it. I'm going to do a running streak this year.

Parenting Is A Serious Commitment

My mind has been on little Sky Metalwala the last couple of days. This adorable little two year old went missing a couple of days ago when is mother... get this... left him in the car for an hour while she took her four year old daughter to "get gas"!! There are so many things wrong with this scenario I wouldn't even know where to begin.

I'm Taking My Little Girl To College Today

We are climbing into our vehicle in just a few short hours for the drive to Jess's new home. As I type this I have butterflies in my tummy. This is certainly going to be a new adventure for both of us, but most especially Jess. Will tears ensue? Only time will tell.

Family Is Thicker Than Blood

It has been a whirlwind of a week. I am home now, and I have my mom home, safe and sound, as well. With this recent passing of my Uncle, my family has dominated my thoughts. I find myself in remembrance of all those members who have passed on before me. We have all heard the adage "Blood is thicker than water". I would like to rephrase that to say "Family is thicker than blood".

Be A Stay At Home Mom With Pride!!

Being a stay at home mom is viewed these days as an old fashioned practice: the more money and prestige a woman has the better, seems to be the more common view. I have felt it was worth the pay off to be home with my kids and raise them myself. There are people out there that will make you feel bad, or lesser of a person, for making that choice. Don't let them!

The Goal In Parenting Is For Your Kids To Leave

As you know, I just spent the last two days at Central Washington University with Jessica at her freshman orientation. I really have mixed emotions going on right now about my baby leaving home. We are very close and I will miss having her around me, but I am also very excited for her to grow into the woman she was meant to be. I had an eye opening moment while there I would like to share.

I'll Play Drums When I'm 80

I appreciated Aaron's post yesterday "Rocks and Sand". This, of course, is a parable I have heard many times, I am married to "The Man Cave" after all. It's funny that he posted that, because I have been having all of those same thoughts lately, but on a much grander scale: on a life scale vs. a daily one.

Don't Wish Your Life Away

Wow! What a whirlwind of a weekend! In 36 hours I had 8 hours of work, two band gigs with Aaron, about 12 hours of sleep and two graduations: Yup, two. Our baby graduated from both High School and Community College with her AA Degree this weekend. It seems like just yesterday that I was taking her to her first day of school in kindergarten.

Quantity over Quality

I had a great evening yesterday. I didn't do anything grand, go anywhere special or spend any money: I went for a walk.

Sometimes it's the simplest things in life that bring us the most joy. Seeing your child smile, eating an ice cream cone on a hot day or walking hand in hand with your hubby lost in great conversation.

Happy Mother's Day

I have heard many people say that they do not celebrate mother's day because it is a fabricated day put on by the card and flower companies to generate business: a "Hallmark Holiday". As a daughter and mother myself, I have to completely disagree. I think it is wonderful that we set aside a day to celebrate motherhood, in all of it's forms.

Ever since I can remember I wanted to grow up and be a mommy. Even at a really young age, cradling this ugly plastic doll, I did so with the utmost tenderness. I would like to take a moment to recognize all of the mothers in my life.

Gearing Up To Send My Daughter To College

A new phase in life is quickly approaching me. Aaron and I just spent the day yesterday driving Jess and her friend over to Central Washington University for their Open House. The main attraction for the two of them was touring through the dorms that they will be staying in. It was very fun, and hard at the same time, watching Jess walk around the place she will be calling home in a few short months.

Keeping Open Communication With Your Kids

One of the most popular posts to date here on Family Strong has been Aaron's The Man Cave: Calling Grandpa Out. I have been thinking of his words in that post lately, "Some things on my list are urgent...and mostly have to do with the things in my life. Others are important....these usually have to do with the people in my life. I think a real man of action and purpose is one that budgets his time well enough that the urgent stuff never tramples over the important stuff." I would like to expand on this thought.