Category: chalkitup

Be kind: a good place to start

Posted in chalkitup

As I was putting Miss O to bed she said, “Mama, I saw on tv that there were people at Northgate that were outside in the rain because they didn’t have homes. They just stayed in tents all day because they didn’t have HOMES!” It reminded me of a man I’d seen earlier that day with a sign that said, “broke and hungry.” Looking into his careworn and tired eyes, they seemed to convey both meanings of the word, that he was out of money and he felt broken.  

So when Miss O mentioned her new understanding that there are people without homes, it was actually the second time that day I was completely at a loss. Too often I see homeless people as a problem to be solved and not people to greet. Maybe I should stop thinking and just be kind.

Breathe. Just Breathe.

Posted in awakeandinspired, chalkitup

As I was heading out the door with Miss O the other day, I was holding the doll she wanted to bring, the doll’s bottle, a plate of cookies, some snacks and a cup of lukewarm tea. Then she wanted me to carry her so I bent down to pick her up and it seemed like she’d gained a couple of pounds overnight. Suddenly I was off balance and because dropping her was out of the question, I instead spilled the tea all over the floor, my sleeve, the hood of the shirt Miss O was wearing, my shoes and her shoes. It was all over…

 One of the parts about parenting that I find most challenging is that I don’t feel free to express myself fully at times. When I’m frustrated, angry, sad, scared, I don’t just let loose but instead try to find the mature and exemplary way through the situation until I can scream, cry or swear in an appropriate moment which is usually long after the feeling has passed.

 As I got my bearings after spilling the tea all over, I set Miss O on the counter and she said, “Take a deep breath, Mama.” Sometimes that is all that there is left to do and she was right, it helped.

Life is An Adventure

Posted in chalkitup

My back door is broken. While we wait for the very specialized repairman we’ve found a way out the window. It uses a step stool, picnic table, play table, slide and tiny chair and proves many things:

1. There is a quote for everything.
2. My mom is amazing and a terribly good sport.
3. It’s easy to grumble about the door being closed but if you go with the window God provides it feels like an adventure instead of failure.
4. It pays to be flexible.

Doing the Impossible

Posted in chalkitup

I heard an interview with singer/songwriter Billy Bragg that suggested the opposite of faith wasn’t doubt but cynicism. We so easily say we have faith in each other, in the system, and in God. If faith is what makes the impossible possible so we can change our lives, make a difference in the world or believe in a new dream maybe we should suspend our cynicism just long enough to take the first step….

Give It a Rest

Posted in chalkitup

Remember before we had roles and responsibilities, before we were defined by political beliefs or likes and dislikes and could run and laugh and play all day? Yeah, me neither. 😀 But I think the point here is that what defines us also divides us, what makes us feel singular also makes us feel alone so whenever possible or whenever needed, give it a rest so you can run and play and laugh all day!