Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Realities and Realizations from 2008

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with times to remember. Ours was far richer than I could have imagined. We had our moments, of course, and a few meltdowns along the way... but that is a post for another day.
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This year held some fairly important epiphanies for yours truly. It was the year I started blogging, for one, and I found that I really do love it.

But I made some other important discoveries along the way. I thought now would be the time to share.

I realized some quirky things about my family:
  • Logic does not apply to three-year-old-girls. My daughter will not eat the outer crust of a slice of bread, under any circumstances. She will, however, eat the entire heel of the bread (which, of course, is all crust.) She now says it's her favorite part.
  • My five year old changes his socks (three times a day) more often than he brushes his teeth (twice a day.) Apparently avoiding funky breath is less important than avoiding funky feet.
  • My oldest son is incapable of letting someone else win – at anything – even rock/scissors/paper or eenie meenie miney moe. He is, however, generous to a fault. Yesterday, he saved his brother five french fries from Wendy's by stuffing them into his jacket pocket and producing them when we got home. (They were, in fact, gratefully consumed by the brother in question.)
  • My husband will help someone else finish a home improvement project from start to finish but sometimes gets stuck in ‘start’ mode when it’s a project in our own home. When he does get a job done here on the homestead, it is better than anything I could have imagined.


And now for me… realizations from the year 2008 are as follows:

  • When my house is dirty, I cannot function properly. Once it’s clean, my happy times are happier and my rest is more restful.
  • I have far more patience with my own children than other people’s children. So, my suspicions about whether I would be unhappy as a schoolteacher have been confirmed. I absolutely would.
  • Change is tough for me, especially in parenting. When my children grow into some new behavior, I am slow to adapt. It takes about two weeks of friction before I even figure out what is going on.
  • I am so tired of making pie for special occasions. I’m ready for a new challenge. (Is 2009 the year of soufflĂ©? Sounds good to me!)
  • Reading is more relaxing than watching television in the evening. I’m actually happier without TV.
  • I am relieved that the presidential election is over and am happy with the result, but I am now officially burnt out on politics.
  • Becoming just like my mother isn’t as bad of a thing as I once thought it was. She’s really quite talented and smart, you know.
  • I want to be fit, but you’re more likely to find me typing at this computer screen than in an aerobics class.
  • Finally, I’ve realized that 2008 has been great, but 2009 has the potential to be even greater. I can’t wait to see what’s around the bend.


- Midwest Mom

8 comments:

  1. I'm glad to hear you had a happy holiday. I too am ready to see what 2009 brings.. I belive Matt already got the terrible twos out of his system but we will see what May brings when he officially turns two lol. I hear you about the dirty house, I feel the same way!

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  2. I love your lists! I wish you all the best for 2009.

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  3. Those are some great lists! I see a lot of similarities with a list we might have.

    kid and bread crust - check
    clean house - check
    home improvement projects - check
    generous to a fault - check

    I could go on. Maybe it's a midwest thing. :)

    I wish you all the very best in 2009!

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  4. (chuckle) the year of the souffle--that's great! Your lists are both funny and insightful--good luck with 2009 and I'm right there with you on several of those items--clean house, politics and working out!

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  5. I remember the "crust" ordeal when my children were small. Now, they have the same situations in their households - my revenge, their children!

    Happy New Year, Julia!

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  6. Great list MM, love the reflections - With all of the quirks that are familiar to many (the husband thing was spot on) :) - All the best to you and yours in '09!

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  7. That's a nice way to handle a New Year's post. I myself went all old-fashioned and did resolutions for the first time in ages. Something about this insane year sparked the reflection that led to them. Maybe this will be the golden lining for many people.

    Now please don't give up politicking.

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  8. I LOVED the point about becoming more like your Mom..brilliant! Happy New Year, and I just know that 2009 is going to be awesome.

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