Thursday, June 26, 2008

Lessons of Motherhood

Being a mother can be very challenging. I have really learned this since staying home. It is now my one year anniversary of being a SAHM.
  1. Stress happens. It is inevitable. Just admit you are stressed and move on.
  2. Sleep deprivation. I always worked while the children took naps. Not good. I have to remind myself to sleep when they sleep. I am still adjusting to that idea.
  3. Think positive. Looking at the positive of seeing the poop on the floor instead of the toilet is important. At least your child isn't constipated.
  4. Plans Fail. Scheduling everything with children can wreck havoc on your sanity when it fails. I have learned that going with the flow is so much easier.

What are some lessons you have learn since crossing over into the world of motherhood?

Monday, June 23, 2008

1903s Wife Test

44

As a 1930s wife, I am
Average

Take the test!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Confirmation of my parenting skills

Today, I took the kids to the reservior. I wanted to create memorable moments for them. We walked onto a fishing pier at Goshen Springs. It was so cute to watch my little girl tiptoe onto the pier. After leaving the pier, we went to Lakeshore Park to feed the ducks. It was so very warming to watch them feed the ducks. However, I noticed something. One duck was being hasseled and not being allowed to eat. It was agressively made to leave the mainstream feeding session. My soccer pro made a point to make sure he threw bread far enough to the duck to ensure that it at. He didn't want to leave the duck out. Then I realized something. I make sure that whatever I do for one child I include the other child in some shape or form. It was amazing that this simple practice and value has made an impression on my children, and they are actively practicing it. For a quick moment, I felt proud of my ability to be a parent. I must be doing something right.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Jeremiah's Thoughts... Hot Water (as dictated to mom)

I sprayed my mom with hot water because she told me to not do it. But, I did it, anyway.

She also said to me to not do it because it was wrong.

We had fun, but Mama had a rule. But I broke the rule. Because rule #1 is to not spray hair, and rule #2 is to not spray in the face.

Then we are going to find some more trouble things to do.

We love to do water fights. Next time, I really really want to get soap water with hot water, and I will get my mama real good.

The end.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Family Night @ the Ag Museum






Tonight, the kids and I went to the Ag Museum for family night. We had a very good time. I was so proud of my children, when they purchased an item from the General Store with the money that they had saved. Each one politely gave the cashier their money and waited for their purchase and their change. Wonderful!

However, I do have mixed opinions about the outside exhibits. Since I haven't been in years, my expectations were really high. I was kind of disappointed to see that some of the exhibits were not being kept up. For instance, there was a rusting stove in the Doctor's office, cob webs in every exhibit, the mail room was filled with dead bugs, the blacksmith area had plastic bags and other trash laying around. There was even a MS Ag Government vehicle that was sitting next to the train ride trail. It was completely destroyed. They just mowed the grass around it.

Overall, the trip was well worth it. The kids had a great time. The play was really funny. The train exhibit was awesome. They loved the train ride.

When we visited the Main House exhibit, it was funny to hear my son ask where the television was. Cute, huh!

Having a staycation may not be so bad, if we can keep finding great family activities for FREE!

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Rankin County Sheriff Patrol to the Rescue


I know it's late, but my heart is still throbbing from the traumatic episode I just experienced.

After a wonderful chat with my friends on Facebook, I get up to check on my children. Walking past the door, I catch a glimpse of something by the brick wall next to the garage. OMG!!! It's a snake!!! I begin immediately freaking out. It's 12 am. What am I going to do?

I couldn't see the head. All I could see was the thick body and the long skinny tail. Immediately, I call Kwandis. He tells me to boil some water and throw it on it. I decide to use the automatic tea brewer I bought from a yard sale, since it heats up really quick. After I heat the water up, pour it in a bucket, and add bleach to it, I open the door and give it my best shot. My best shot is not good enough. I see the head, then I see it move to the edge of my garage. I start to freak out again.

So, I call Kwandis and tell him what happened. He says get in your car and run over it. Okay, I say. That makes sense to me. So, I run and get in my car. Let the garage door up, remembering not to actually hit the garage door (been there, done that). I back up, almost hitting the basketball goal. Look at the gray concrete, and no snake guts are seen. OMG!!! My first thought is that it went into the garage. I panic again. This time I panic a lot.

In our subdivision, we have no street lights (that is another blog). So, it is extremely dark. My mine begin racing. I am driving in the grass, back and forth in my drive way. No snake. I just know this snake is in my garage. Then I start thinking about the kids. What if they wake up, don't see me and get upset. What if they see the lights and open the door? What if the baby falls out of my bed, nudging for me.

I am too afraid to get out. I call Kwandis. He tells me to go in the garage, and run in the house. In the infamous words of Whitney Houston "HELL to the NO!!!" I won't. He tells me to run in the house in the front door. No I won't. So in case of emergency, call 911. I tell the dispatcher my problem...saw snake, tried to run over snake, don't see snake, afraid to get out of car, young children in house, afraid to get out of car, husband at work, afraid to get out of car, dark outside, afraid to get out of car, don't see snake, afraid to get out of car, think snake in garage, afraid to get out of car.

He quickly explains that they don't do snakes. Then he tells me to hold on. Meanwhile, I call husband on three way, still freaking out. Thankfully, he says that an officer will come out. I call my mom, leaving a hysterical voicemail. She finally calls back, drunk from sleep. I keep driving around my driveway. Then I see it. It is curled in a ball, under my children's bedroom window. The hand is propped up, facing me.

Freaking out again, my heart starts throbbing. Can't let the garage door up, may go in. Can't run to front door, may bite me on the way. It is huge. Then I see two patrol men creep by my house. Thinking it's my rescuers I become a little relieve. Unfortunately, they creep on down the street, out of view. Meanwhile, I am still being mean mugged by the snake from hell.

Then, my knight in shining armour drives into my driveway with a flashlight. I explain to him that I found it and where it was. He tells me they saw me driving back and forth in my driveway and thought someone was breaking in. I must have appear a little off the wall doing that. Several patrolmen pull up to my rescue. They go in my garage and get the weapons of mass destruction (Home Depot shovels) and prepare for battle. This snake does not go down without a fight. It is huge. Turns out it was "just" a chicken snake. To me, a snake is a snake is a snake.

When they commence to removing the snake, my electronic window went up immediately. As I am writing this, I still have a slight ache and visions of "the snake."

Living in Rankin County has its benefits, we may not have the lap of luxury of hard liquor, but it is nice to know that these men take protecting their citizens to the full extent, even if it is only a snake and 1:00 in the morning. Parking in my garage and running or rather sprinting into my house, my nerves are still bad.

So, bad that I am waiting up for hubby to come home. Amazingly, the children were still sound asleep in their beds, somewhere in Dreamworld. Yet, I won't be visiting Dreamworld anytime soon.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Motherly Reflections

Having children in your life brings comfort and satisfaction at the right moment in time when you really need it. Sometimes I find myself just hypnotized by their very presence. I wonder if they notice me quietly admiring their existence. From eating their breakfast, saying, "Thank you," to me fussing at something that has happened, I am truly blessed. For hours, I played outside with them today. We went walking around the subdivision. When we returned from our short but exhausting walk, we played...
  • Simon says...
  • Red light, Green light
  • I spy
  • Basketball

I truly hope that they realize how important they are to me. As I sometimes watch them sleep, I pray over them. I pray for their success, safety, knowledge, endurance, and so much more. My children are wonderful blessings. I am so thankful that I realize this now and not when it is too late. Every moment I spend with them is beyond amazing. Every smile I can trigger, every hug I receive, every argument I stop, every "Thank You" I hear, seals the deal even more.






About Me

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Cassandra Hawkins-Wilson is Founder & President of Sensational Image Consulting, a professional image consulting firm based in the Metro Jackson Mississippi Area. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in English and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology with a minor in Political Science from Jackson State University. As a instructor with Millsaps College Enrichment Program and an experienced public speaker and seminar leader, Cassandra is experienced in image training. Working with individuals from business executives to universities. With over 12 years experience in retail/fashion industry, education, and Mary Kay Cosmetics, she has designed and delivered workshops and seminars on appearance, communication skills, and business etiquette. Cassandra’s loves working with individual clients to assist one-on-one with professional development, visual, nonverbal, interpersonal communication, and presentation skills. In addition, she is a frequent contributor to various journals and published author.