Recently one of my friends posted this article on Facebook. It's about how people tend to praise kids at the top of their lungs when they win at sports, but not when they bring home an A in school. I totally agree with the author's point. We should absolutely cheer for our kids when they get an A. That makes total sense.
Still, I can't help but wonder: is that what I really want to focus my cheers on? Don't get me wrong, I want my kids to do well in this life. Education is very important. My kids bring home an A and I cheer. I want to raise a bunch of nerds. The focus shouldn't be on that either, though.
If I had to choose one thing to cheer it wouldn't be the school tests, the essays or the SAT results. It wouldn't be the home run or the soccer goal either. My kids would get the cheers for spiritual achievements. Good character choices would have me screaming. When my older two were baptized, I was there with the camera and I shouted for joy. When my kids memorize Bible verses I cheer. When they make the choice on their own to do something nice for another, I want to take them out for pizza to celebrate.
In the end it isn't about how much money you have made. There was a quote by LZ Granderson in the article (a really good statement, by the way) "Jocks go on to play for your favorite team but nerds go on to own the teams those jocks play for. " Jocks and nerds alike still need Christ. There are plenty of both who have gotten into trouble for lack of integrity and self control. Character matters. Christ matters. Eternity is hell without Him.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Summer and Being Broke
I'm not a happy camper this summer....
I blogged about what I plan on doing to stop from being broke. My Clever Container business is starting. I got my supplies and I'm waiting with baited breath for the ability to start my website so people can order. I'm not making money yet, so it's not really a helpful thing yet. One day soon I'll have my kick off party and hopefully everything will go smoother from there.
Until then I'm dealing with bored kids.
Last summer I saved up some money and was able to send all the kids to different camps and Vacation Bible Schools and that kind of thing. I filled up the summer. This year my car was stolen and with that went my savings trying to replace it. It's been an adventure.
With my mom out of our house, I had to figure out some creative ways to continue to make sure that someone can cook every day even if I'm overheated for the day. It's Southern California, it happens a lot. Everyone has to eat even if mom doesn't feel good, so I spent a bit of money making that possible.
In all of this, my husband is umpiring...a lot. I don't really begrudge him that, he's a really good umpire and people count on him...but it's volunteer, so it's taking up time and gas money and making more issues.
So the kids are bored, they miss their dad, and they are driving me nuts...and I'm broke so I can't do much to fix it.
Last week Tony had the week off, but we had $20 to spend for the week (including gas) and that made the whole week difficult...along with a beautiful case of scarlet fever for the 3 girls. I called my mom and asked to borrow money for medication copay so that my kids could have amoxicilin so they didn't die from it, then I'm even more than broke, I'm in debt...but at least my kids are okay.
I can't handle another month of this. Something has to go right....
Tony starts his second job next month. This should help us stay afloat for a while. Hopefully my business gets off to a good start so that more pressure is relieved. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. August 1st my kids go back to school and thus will no longer be bored and sitting around my house thinking of horrible things to do. I'm not going to sink too far into household budget crisis. The end is near, and God has it under control.
I blogged about what I plan on doing to stop from being broke. My Clever Container business is starting. I got my supplies and I'm waiting with baited breath for the ability to start my website so people can order. I'm not making money yet, so it's not really a helpful thing yet. One day soon I'll have my kick off party and hopefully everything will go smoother from there.
Until then I'm dealing with bored kids.
Last summer I saved up some money and was able to send all the kids to different camps and Vacation Bible Schools and that kind of thing. I filled up the summer. This year my car was stolen and with that went my savings trying to replace it. It's been an adventure.
With my mom out of our house, I had to figure out some creative ways to continue to make sure that someone can cook every day even if I'm overheated for the day. It's Southern California, it happens a lot. Everyone has to eat even if mom doesn't feel good, so I spent a bit of money making that possible.
In all of this, my husband is umpiring...a lot. I don't really begrudge him that, he's a really good umpire and people count on him...but it's volunteer, so it's taking up time and gas money and making more issues.
So the kids are bored, they miss their dad, and they are driving me nuts...and I'm broke so I can't do much to fix it.
Last week Tony had the week off, but we had $20 to spend for the week (including gas) and that made the whole week difficult...along with a beautiful case of scarlet fever for the 3 girls. I called my mom and asked to borrow money for medication copay so that my kids could have amoxicilin so they didn't die from it, then I'm even more than broke, I'm in debt...but at least my kids are okay.
I can't handle another month of this. Something has to go right....
Tony starts his second job next month. This should help us stay afloat for a while. Hopefully my business gets off to a good start so that more pressure is relieved. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. August 1st my kids go back to school and thus will no longer be bored and sitting around my house thinking of horrible things to do. I'm not going to sink too far into household budget crisis. The end is near, and God has it under control.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Starting Something New
I'm broke. All the time. It stinks. I hate it. When my bank account says that the balance is 11 cents and I'm stuck at home figuring out what is in the pantry that we can eat for the next week because we had an emergency and now don't have grocery money, I decided that I just can't do this anymore.
I've considered for a long time what I can do about this issue. I considered taking on a job. I hate that idea. I love being at home with my kids. I just can't think of doing something less than flexible with my time.
I considered extreme couponing. I've come to the conclusion that I don't have the space to store the bulk items that I would have to do to make it work. Plus with my son on a special diet, I just don't think that I'd be able to fully take care of his needs that way. I know that there are probably ways to do it, but I just don't think I could convince my son to wait on his almond milk until it goes on sale. I don't have the patience for it either.
My next idea came from several friends who are all in some sort of direct sales business. Creative Memories, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Cookie Lee....the list goes on for a while. I searched for a direct sales company with a good reputation that I love the products and I don't already know at least 2 consultants. That narrowed down the list quite a bit. You see, I know a lot of consultants. A LOT. If I'm not hosting a party, I'm going to one at least once a month lately. This week it was actually 3. Crazy, huh?
So I searched for a while and found that there is actually a list from the Direct Selling Association of reputable companies. I went through that list...it's really long. I don't wear make up. I am allergic to a lot of smells. That narrowed the list down a lot. I'm not a girly girl and jewelry doesn't appeal to me in the least. Decorating my house was fun, but I just didn't think I could get into promoting home decorating stuff when I know that even if I love the catalog now, next year they could have really ugly stuff.
Finally I found a company that I liked! It's a company called Clever Container. They sell organization products. Cool! I know, if you read my blog at all, you know that I'm not the most organized person that you'd ever meet. Why would I get excited about organizational products? It's been my goal for how many years now to become more organized? Well, now I have to be and I get to test out really cool new products and get organizational techniques from professional organizers (there are a lot of those in this company) while working my own flexible business.
I know myself. If I spend money on a cool new gadget that works to help me clean, organize, or make my life easier, I will actually use it. If I have to work for it, I use it even more so. Why? Because wasting money on products bugs me too much!
I think the thing that sold me was the entire line of car organizing products. My car is notoriously messy. If I am going to run an organizing business, though, my car can't be that way. If my car goes from the junk heap that it was to the organized masterpiece that I'm sure it will be as soon as I get my hands on my cool stuff for it (for I will go immediately out to clean out my car and become a rigid mom about what goes in there and what stays out), I will know that I can apply those same things in my house and the rest of my life.
How do I know I can do this? I look at my son's room. Everything has a place in that room. I set it up that way on purpose so that my son can be comfortable. He thrives in order and consistency. If he knows where something goes, he puts it there...and no where else. I look at the rest of my house. Anywhere that Micah consistently uses something is organized. Anywhere else is not necessarily organized because I haven't made it a priority. It's not that I don't know how to organize, I just don't do it unless I have to. Yeah, I sound lazy. I can say that about myself sometimes...until I look at my schedule. Still, part of my business is going to be being organized...so here I am. I have to do it, so I will.
The next thing that I think will make me successful is that my kids will all be in school as of August 1st. That will give me my mornings to do some organizing of my home, organizing the business, and still be there for my kids when they need me.
I am so excited about this company. Drawbacks are that I've never done direct sales before, this is a fairly new company that doesn't have the reputation that many others have, and that I'm a pretty busy person already. I am pretty sure I can tackle all those problems. I like talking to people, sales has never been a problem for me before. I know how to advertise myself and my products, so hopefully it won't be too long before people know about Clever Container. The busy thing? I don't think that will ever go away, but being more organized will save me time, so hopefully it will all balance out in the end.
Am I crazy? Probably. We'll see how it all works out. By the way, I haven't got a website up yet, but I'm going to have one soon. In the meantime, here's a catalog if you want to take a look. I first saw that catalog and figured that no one could go through it and not find anything that they would use.
Let's see how this story unfolds in the next few months....
I've considered for a long time what I can do about this issue. I considered taking on a job. I hate that idea. I love being at home with my kids. I just can't think of doing something less than flexible with my time.
I considered extreme couponing. I've come to the conclusion that I don't have the space to store the bulk items that I would have to do to make it work. Plus with my son on a special diet, I just don't think that I'd be able to fully take care of his needs that way. I know that there are probably ways to do it, but I just don't think I could convince my son to wait on his almond milk until it goes on sale. I don't have the patience for it either.
My next idea came from several friends who are all in some sort of direct sales business. Creative Memories, Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Cookie Lee....the list goes on for a while. I searched for a direct sales company with a good reputation that I love the products and I don't already know at least 2 consultants. That narrowed down the list quite a bit. You see, I know a lot of consultants. A LOT. If I'm not hosting a party, I'm going to one at least once a month lately. This week it was actually 3. Crazy, huh?
So I searched for a while and found that there is actually a list from the Direct Selling Association of reputable companies. I went through that list...it's really long. I don't wear make up. I am allergic to a lot of smells. That narrowed the list down a lot. I'm not a girly girl and jewelry doesn't appeal to me in the least. Decorating my house was fun, but I just didn't think I could get into promoting home decorating stuff when I know that even if I love the catalog now, next year they could have really ugly stuff.
Finally I found a company that I liked! It's a company called Clever Container. They sell organization products. Cool! I know, if you read my blog at all, you know that I'm not the most organized person that you'd ever meet. Why would I get excited about organizational products? It's been my goal for how many years now to become more organized? Well, now I have to be and I get to test out really cool new products and get organizational techniques from professional organizers (there are a lot of those in this company) while working my own flexible business.
I know myself. If I spend money on a cool new gadget that works to help me clean, organize, or make my life easier, I will actually use it. If I have to work for it, I use it even more so. Why? Because wasting money on products bugs me too much!
I think the thing that sold me was the entire line of car organizing products. My car is notoriously messy. If I am going to run an organizing business, though, my car can't be that way. If my car goes from the junk heap that it was to the organized masterpiece that I'm sure it will be as soon as I get my hands on my cool stuff for it (for I will go immediately out to clean out my car and become a rigid mom about what goes in there and what stays out), I will know that I can apply those same things in my house and the rest of my life.
How do I know I can do this? I look at my son's room. Everything has a place in that room. I set it up that way on purpose so that my son can be comfortable. He thrives in order and consistency. If he knows where something goes, he puts it there...and no where else. I look at the rest of my house. Anywhere that Micah consistently uses something is organized. Anywhere else is not necessarily organized because I haven't made it a priority. It's not that I don't know how to organize, I just don't do it unless I have to. Yeah, I sound lazy. I can say that about myself sometimes...until I look at my schedule. Still, part of my business is going to be being organized...so here I am. I have to do it, so I will.
The next thing that I think will make me successful is that my kids will all be in school as of August 1st. That will give me my mornings to do some organizing of my home, organizing the business, and still be there for my kids when they need me.
I am so excited about this company. Drawbacks are that I've never done direct sales before, this is a fairly new company that doesn't have the reputation that many others have, and that I'm a pretty busy person already. I am pretty sure I can tackle all those problems. I like talking to people, sales has never been a problem for me before. I know how to advertise myself and my products, so hopefully it won't be too long before people know about Clever Container. The busy thing? I don't think that will ever go away, but being more organized will save me time, so hopefully it will all balance out in the end.
Am I crazy? Probably. We'll see how it all works out. By the way, I haven't got a website up yet, but I'm going to have one soon. In the meantime, here's a catalog if you want to take a look. I first saw that catalog and figured that no one could go through it and not find anything that they would use.
Let's see how this story unfolds in the next few months....
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