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The first adventure trip for the year went down a couple of weeks ago and I posted a short video to tempt the rest of you for next year. My friend Jane made a top ten list of the trip…I am posting it, for you all to review- but it is probably funnier if you went on the trip: Continue reading
This story is NOT about me- but I DO need to set the stage:
On the day I invited Stephanie Buckley over to hear about her new business (read below), I had invited a neighborhood child over for a play date (it was scheduled days in advance). Also, that morning I got an email from a friend who was visiting town so I invited her and her daughter to join us for dinner (that same night) AND I was trying to finish laundry from vacation so I could re-pack my son Evan for a week long trip to Kansas. So you can imagine how chaotic my house was.
Just as I put the last breakfast dish into the dishwasher, the play date arrives, followed ten minutes later by Stephanie Buckley who blew in like a warm breeze looking put together, relaxed and bearing a fragrant candle as a gracious thank you.
As Stephanie and I started to discuss the details of why she started her company, we were rudely interrupted by the phone ringing (twice), a solicitor at the door, and my kids demanding food, water and then “something to do”.
As the crescendo built around us, the reasons why Stephanie started The Buckley School of Etiquette became so clear! Obviously, my kids could use some instruction on how to “demand” things more politely! Even I was borderline rude to invite a guest into the swirling vortex of activity in my home. Thankfully, Stephanie was unfazed by our poor manners and we got down to business. Continue reading
Recently, I was talking with a friend about how she balances her kids and work. Somehow our conversation took a turn to who we were before we were “mom” because those were times when guilt was not part of my vocabulary. I remember the adventuresome, spontaneous, well-rested gal who everyone used to call “K.B.” (short for Kristin Benz). I have been working to recapture my favorite parts of K.B. Not only for my own sake, but also for the sake of my kids and husband. The picture to the left is a picture of me when I was about 25. I was rafting on class 4 rapids with a bunch of people a barely knew. I am the second person back on the right side of the boat. I want my kids to know the fun adventuresome mom as well as they know the calm, reliable mom. Continue reading
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My oldest son Evan ran his first 5K in June of 2009. He came home excited by his accomplishment asking to do another. Not wanting to be left out, his younger brother Will, asked to be a part of the next run. I looked around for local 5K’s and discovered one on Fourth of July. We decided to make it a family affair- so Brad got the hard job of pushing a jog stroller through the crowds of 3,000 bodies. I recorded this video not planning to post it on my site, but my kids perseverance and courage inspired me in a big way- and I bet you will be inspired by them too. We finished as a family in about 36 minutes. Will was such a trooper- I really didn’t think he would be able to run the whole distance….but he surprised me. As a matter of fact, all of my kids surprised me- Cade didn’t fight us about sitting in the stroller for over an hour (since he had to sit tight while we lined up and waited for the run to start). Evan, surprised me with his courage to dodge through all of the bodies around him and set the pace for the whole family. Will surprised me by smiling the whole way and overcoming his exhaustion to finish strong. My boys have forced me to recognize that they are full of amazing capabilities. Enjoy the video- the quality is terrible- due to YouTube compressing my movie, but I think you can get the idea.
If you have ever dreamed of owning your own business you will enjoy this story about Phyllis Calza. Phyllis started her career in education working with children as the Program Director for a reading intervention program. Her job was part of a special program that was funded by the state of California (back when there was money to spend). In 2002, the funding for this reading program was cut and Phyllis was left wondering what she wanted to do for a career. She and her husband wanted to start a family; but, just like so many of us, Phyllis didn’t get pregnant as easily as she had hoped. While she was in the midst of career decisions and trying to get pregnant, Phyllis realized that she would really like to start her own stationery and gift business. However the timing didn’t feel right because she was more focused on getting pregnant. So, she took a short break from working and wound up pregnant with her first child, Austin. Continue reading
I love when I hear about readers pursuing their various goals. As a follow up to my admiration for setting a goal and pursuing it- I feel compelled to write the following statement…You should be proud of yourself for pursuing your goals, no matter what the results are.
I have four good friends who are training for an olympic distance triathlon in the early fall. A one-mile swim (in the ocean no less), a 25-mile bike and a six-mile run. I am so proud of them for training- they all got in the ocean last week and struggled through a 1/2 mile swim…but they did it! Now they are getting back in the water every other Sunday to prepare themselves for the full mile in the ocean. Will they all finish? Probably, but if they don’t there is no reason to be ashamed- I don’t know too many other mom’s with young kids who signed up for the event.
I know one mom who signed up to swim pier to pier in a month and a half. After swimming miles in the pool she got in the ocean and is starting to have second thoughts about whether she can do the two mile swim in the ocean. I think she can do it, but I have to congratulate her just for the effort and training she has put forth so far.
Last example is a mom who started her own clothing line in this tough economy. When I asked to interview her for the The Inspired Mom, she said “Let’s wait until I get my product in a few more stores”. But, I think most of us are interested in hearing how she made it this far!
I hope as you are reading this you will start to think about what, if anything, has been holding you back from trying something you have been wanting to do? If your afraid that your result might be anything less than perfect, you are missing out on what you will learn from the journey.
Did you know that it takes about 75,000 trees to produce just one Sunday edition of the New York Times? And, did you know that if everyone used one fewer paper napkin each day landfills would have 1 BILLION less pounds of paper? These are just two interesting facts that I learned from Marty Jo McGrath who has embraced the phrase: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” (Margret Mead).
I sat down to interview Marty Jo because she embodies the idea that you shouldn’t refrain from doing something because you think you are too small make a difference. Instead, she took an issue that is incredibly important to her, environmental awareness, created a plan and started spreading the word. She has compiled a fact sheet that lists 75 ways you live “greener” and has been sharing her list with mom’s groups and community groups over the last year and a half. Continue reading
I am sitting in the same chair I sat in one year ago when I wrote my very first “blog”. I am amazed at what I have learned in the course of the year. I have learned about courage and kindness from the women I have featured. Talking to others has caused me to examine my own strengths and weakness too. I am thankful for my readers who keep me going through their kind words. I hope I can put together another year of interesting articles!
This has been an emotional (both happy and sad) week for several reasons: I started a new birth control pill, which has made me slightly crazy. Space Studio, where I have taught spin class for 2 years is closing (last classes were today). My first grade son performed in a class play at school. And, most importantly, today is Mother’s Day.
I am anxious to hear how all of you spent your day- I imagine it will be a topic of conversation for the next few days as we all run into one another at school drop-off etc. For me, today wasn’t much different from most the days of my year. But, I say that in a positive way because I really enjoy most the days of the year! If you all are reading and rolling your eyes at me- just give me a minute to explain: Continue reading
About once a month I find myself asking the same question, ”Why I am blogging and does anyone care?”. Each time I think about how I will find the inspiration to continue updating my website I hear from a reader. About a month ago, my neighbor and I were walking home from dropping our kids at school and she started talking about my site. She was reading up on the amazing moms who are featured on my site which, got her to thinking about her own dreams and goals. When she read the article about writing down goals she picked up a pen and paper.
She read about Jania Fox running a half marathon and Beth Armstrong doing the Ironman- but realized as much as she likes fitness- the desire to run anything more than 3 miles wasn’t creating that fire in her belly. She wasn’t burning to start her own business or create a charitable organization. Then she remembered a dream that had occupied her in the past but never quite got off the ground. Lisa had written a children’s book when her daughter Lauren was just over a year old. She sent it out to a few publishers- but when those publishers passed on the story she let the project die.
Cackling like a madwoman I snapped this photo of my closet that I had so meticulously organized about a year ago. My husband and the boys came running to see what was so funny. Obviously, they were disappointed to find that the source of my humor had nothing to do with bodily fluids or gasses (because that is the only thing that my 3,5 and 7 year old boys find funny). I was laughing at the reality of the mess.
Here’s the thing, I love blogging and I love inspiring others. I read and listen to my own words as much as I write them. The reality is…I am far from perfect. I have lots of things I want to improve on, I do get behind on my housework, I also yell at my kids occasionally. I have forgotten birthday parties, put my foot in my mouth on several occasions and I confess to periodically getting pissed at my husband for absolutely nothing! I have bounced checks, backed into parked cars, let my kids watch TV all day and accidently passed gas one time in church (in my defense I was only 20- but it still). I never write my blogs from a place of judgement..we are all in this together. We are all striving to be the best we can be: as mothers, wives, friends and daughters. Continue reading