monasequeda:

I know UFYH advocates purging cards.

But I just can’t do that.  So basically I have had ugly shoe boxes filled with greeting cards for years staring, reprimanding, and making me feel guilty for being a packrat.  

Every once in a while I’d go through the boxes and reminisce and purge some, but they stayed in the ugly ass boxes.

ANYWAYS, the point of this post is to say that I bought the cutest boxes from JoAnn’s!   I’ve embraced the fact that I can’t get rid of stuff, so I might as well store it prettily and not feel guilty about it.

And now they’re all in pretty boxes.  After 5 years of marriage I also collected all the wedding memorabilia and cards and put it in one box.  I put all of La Monita’s newborn/babby shower memorabilia in the other with the purpose that one day I will give it to her.

I also did end up tossing a lot of stuff.

NO MORE GUILT!

I have a neat hat box that has my daughters’ things from elementary school; she’s graduating high school this year. It’s great looking back on where you’ve been so you know where you want to go.

P.S. La Monita is adorable!

bookmania:

from Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

My daughter just started reading this book.

(via teachingliteracy)

atlas42:

stay-at-homedadblunders:

I have been asked a few times, “How can you be okay with your 3 year old son wearing girls dress up shoes?“  The answer is simple, he’s my son. 

I know that what he does now, may or may not influence who he becomes.  I further know that as a father if I show ignorance, bigotry and hatred; when none should be present, I will do much more harm than good.  It is my job as a parent to show my child that I love them unconditionally.  It is not my job to raise the next generation of intolerance. 

I have seen intolerance at it’s finest.  As a social worker, I have seen young expectant mothers not allowed home anymore because they were pregnant.  I have seen boys, working towards manhood, fall into drugs, alcohol and prostitution because their parents couldn’t accept there sexual identity.  I have even seen  children wind up in foster care because someone could not deal with their handicaps.

Experience and life shows me that me as a parent, our children and our society have nothing to gain through the acts of intolerance.  Parents may argue with me on these points but lets look at ourselves and ask “do we really gain anything by making others feel small?“  I don’t think we do.  If we make a decision to tell our young sons they cannot wear girls dress shoes, we could gain more lost children, runaways, and violence.

We are the role models they look up too and how can we teach them to love themselves if we are tearing them down.  I often wonder if people only ridicule others because they feel small about themselves.  Children often feel small just because they cannot do as they please.  They feel small because other children make fun of them.  I believe if we never teach our children to make others feels inferior they would never do it to each other. 

As a father, I want the best for my son and that means I have to show him acceptance and support in all he does.   Life has shown me that if a man or a woman cannot except their child for who they are and what they might become they everything to lose.  It might not be now but someday a person looks back on their life and will regret the decisions of not being approving to their children.  

Children often forget the good things that have happened in their life but they never forget the bad.  They are the ones that someday we want to come home to us with welcome arms and not dread the visit.  As parent’s someday we will just want our child to call to say hello but they might not be so ready to pick up the phone.

I make a pledge to my son to guide him, nurture him and respect who is he.  I will love the good, the bad and the ugly.  I will teach acceptance and tolerance and will promote a loving environment for him. 

The next time, as a parent, you are at your wits end with your child just remember, we were all little once and only once.  What do you remember from childhood that you didn’t like? If you can recall being made to feel inferior by your parents then I ask you to make a pledge to your child to change.

I don’t normally reblog too many posts on Tumblr because I feel that other people’s content is theirs (I’ve removed the photo attached as a courtesy - I see no need to repost images of others children) and I also like to keep the content on my site pretty well focused. However, THIS POST is so well written and really strikes at the heart of what being a good parent is all about. I felt overwhelmingly compelled to repost it in hopes that it may find a greater audience. Thank you so much for writing this. It could not be said more perfectly.

The message is simple and beautifully stated. I also appreciate the respect that Atlas42 shows for others privacy.

epifanio:

anayamia:

I’ve thanked Him before, but I’ll thank Him again. Thank you Lord, for technology. <3

Daddy’s a couple thousand miles away…but he was able to make a special appearance to bedtime tonight. <3 

I actually recorded when i told the girls we had a special person reading to us tonight…and their reactions to seeing him on our living room tv but the internet here is too slow, so i can’t upload it. :(  <3 Gosh i miss him. 

Of course they argued over who got hold the book, we settled on taking turns and we’re now watching it for the 3rd time, lol. He read “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr.Suess. 

Anaya made fun of me in the end when i teared up because he spoke to us and told us he loved us each by name in the end.

Mia’s most memorable reaction: When he said “I got this book for you, girls.” Mia shrieked, and said “FOAH ME?” pointing at herself. lol (i may have gotten that one on camera)

Anaya’s most memorable reaction: “Mom, did he hold this same book when he read it?” “Yeah” “Really!?…” and i suddenly caught her smelling the book. When she realized she’d been seen she said as non-chalantly as she could “What?…i’m just smelling it…” She was looking for traces of him. <3

My wonderful family ( German chapter)

This is so sweet!!

Love my Golden Girls!

(via mawriaa)

positivelypersistentteach:

childlifespecialist:

Balloon ping pong tested & kid approved! — used a paper plate, Popsicle sticks for the handles, a balloon, & two hyper kids.

At first I thought this was a giant ball over a giant Hello Kitty decal on the floor.

But then I looked again.

Me too!!!!!

mar-see-ah:

Porgy and Bess.

Audra McDonald is amazing. Cannot wait for this to start.

Saw a production in Richmond with my daughter’s theatre class, it was amazing!

bedbugsbiting:

I 100% unironically love Tom Jones.

This is one of my favorite episodes!

This is a project that I’ve started to raise money for the in-home counseling that I do. The money raised will allow me to take my clients on outings throughout the summer and get them ready for the upcoming school year. 

If you are unable to help personally please pass this on to anyone in your circle. Much appreciation for the support.

mavieenrose:

i don’t even have the words to write a comprehensible review of this book. all i can say is: it’s amazing. read it now. don’t be afraid by the length. it’s worth every single page.

Good reminder to get back to it; put it down to read other things and need to pick it back up.