A friend of a friend started an 8 week weight loss contest- which I happily joined. I don't really expect to win ( the pot is $650 for first place!) but I like the motivation.
The problem is that I am not as motivated now as I was that first week (this is week 3). In fact, I GAINED last week. I attribute my weight gain to stress and hormones, but the truth is- I Just Don't Wanna Do It!! I want to eat the chips and pizza. I don't want to get my butt off the couch to exercise. I am a stubborn and lazy lady!
I lost a bunch of lbs. with Weight Watchers- and that works out well for me, but I have hit a plateau, and I am finding it difficult to rally my mind and body to finish this thing. I ended my membership to W.W to save money, and I also canceled my gym membership- both of those were necessary for me to lose the weight in the first place, and now I am floundering.
My family and I are in a season of sacrifice, and I know this is what God has called us to. But I feel like a complete failure because I am dependent on those memberships to lose weight. I also feel like my focus is split 100 different ways and I just can't get my attention trained on one thing.
Maybe this is a season of maintenance ( as in NOT GAINING, but not losing) and I should wait for the season of losing to return.
What ever it is, I take comfort in the fact that God will let me into heaven whether I weigh 100 or 1000 lbs. He loves me just the same.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
End-of-year celebrations!
May I make one humble suggestion to my homeschool friends? Actually, this could quite easily apply to public and private schoolers too. (If you haven't thought of this already.)
Don't let your school year come to an end with a fizzle. What I mean is don't just let the days of schoolwork fade into days of summer. Go out with a bang! Figure out an official day to end the school year and do something big to commemorate all your child's hard work. Have a party with friends, have a special dinner, buy them a gift---- just do something.
I think kids need closure just as much as we do. We can give them that by some type of fun event that they can remember.
Last year, my family and I went to the Oregon coast for the weekend to celebrate the end of the school year. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to go away on vacation after a hard school year! On the drive down, we praised each child for all their accomplishments that year and informed them that they were now moving on to the next grade. They were so proud and very thrilled!
Another year we had a party with other homeschooled friends to celebrate the end of the school year. That was lots of fun, too.
One year we bought the kids special gifts as "graduation" presents and took them out to dinner.
It's not the event that matters so much- it's the observation of the child's hard work through out the year and the initiation into the higher level of schooling.
Don't let your school year come to an end with a fizzle. What I mean is don't just let the days of schoolwork fade into days of summer. Go out with a bang! Figure out an official day to end the school year and do something big to commemorate all your child's hard work. Have a party with friends, have a special dinner, buy them a gift---- just do something.
I think kids need closure just as much as we do. We can give them that by some type of fun event that they can remember.
Last year, my family and I went to the Oregon coast for the weekend to celebrate the end of the school year. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to go away on vacation after a hard school year! On the drive down, we praised each child for all their accomplishments that year and informed them that they were now moving on to the next grade. They were so proud and very thrilled!
Another year we had a party with other homeschooled friends to celebrate the end of the school year. That was lots of fun, too.
One year we bought the kids special gifts as "graduation" presents and took them out to dinner.
It's not the event that matters so much- it's the observation of the child's hard work through out the year and the initiation into the higher level of schooling.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Ever had a day like that?
I'm in the shower this morning, enjoying a few minutes of peace before the storm of the day begins.
Knock, Knock!
(*sigh)
"Who is it?"
It's my son- "Mom, can I have some gum?"
"No! Please close the door and let me finish my shower."
Knock, Knock!
(*exasperated sigh)
9 year old son again, " Mom, I thought I had more gold coins than this" He sticks his hand in the door and shakes a bag of plastic coins. "Do you know where the rest are?"
"Close the door and let me finish my shower!!"
Knock, Knock!
(*no longer sighing, but whimpering a little)
Son, "Mom, may I play on the Wii?"
"If you don't leave me alone...(followed by threats)"
I get out of the shower, and open the door. There is my son, sitting on my bed- waiting for me. And that was just the beginning of my day.
My 5 year old daughter repeated a similar ritual at bed time:
"Can I have a drink?"
"No, go to sleep."
"That light is too bright, will you turn it off?"
"Go to sleep."
"What are you eating in there? My foot hurts. I need to go potty"...
*sigh*
Knock, Knock!
(*sigh)
"Who is it?"
It's my son- "Mom, can I have some gum?"
"No! Please close the door and let me finish my shower."
Knock, Knock!
(*exasperated sigh)
9 year old son again, " Mom, I thought I had more gold coins than this" He sticks his hand in the door and shakes a bag of plastic coins. "Do you know where the rest are?"
"Close the door and let me finish my shower!!"
Knock, Knock!
(*no longer sighing, but whimpering a little)
Son, "Mom, may I play on the Wii?"
"If you don't leave me alone...(followed by threats)"
I get out of the shower, and open the door. There is my son, sitting on my bed- waiting for me. And that was just the beginning of my day.
My 5 year old daughter repeated a similar ritual at bed time:
"Can I have a drink?"
"No, go to sleep."
"That light is too bright, will you turn it off?"
"Go to sleep."
"What are you eating in there? My foot hurts. I need to go potty"...
*sigh*
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
New blog address
I have decided to move my blog over to blogspot because I have become tired of pestering my poor husband every time I needed something fixed on the old blog. Muddy Pause continues, with a new web address. Hopefully you will find it easier to post comments and give feedback.
Testing
My dear son took his standardized test on Friday. He did really well!
I am relieved to have that over with. Next time, I will have him assessed and forget about the SAT thing. We did the assessment with a teacher last year and, to be honest, I feel like I got better feed-back. The teacher will tell you what grade level they are at for each test area. The standardized test will only give you scores compared to the rest of the kids in the country (percentile rank and stanine score).
So, forward and ahead! We are moving on.
Our school year ends on May 30. We have 3 weeks to finish up some curriculum.
I am relieved to have that over with. Next time, I will have him assessed and forget about the SAT thing. We did the assessment with a teacher last year and, to be honest, I feel like I got better feed-back. The teacher will tell you what grade level they are at for each test area. The standardized test will only give you scores compared to the rest of the kids in the country (percentile rank and stanine score).
So, forward and ahead! We are moving on.
Our school year ends on May 30. We have 3 weeks to finish up some curriculum.
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