The Happiest Place on Earth

Last week, we visited Disney World for the second time and Universal for the first.  Many times during our visit, I wondered why being in the "happiest place on Earth" brings out the worst in my children.  (And by the looks of things, it wasn't only my children who succumb to this.)  At least Cole smiled in pictures this time without having a bucket of popcorn in hand.  However, as we rode the carousel at the Magic Kingdom (our first full day in Disney, when we attended Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party), Cole stated, "This is the worst trip ever."  Without yelling, I lost my mind.  I'm certain I repeated phrases that have been used by many a parent.  "Do you know how many children never even get to go to Disney?"  "I'm so glad we spent thousands of dollars that we can't really afford to bring you here."  "Do you think this is what I would choose for my vacation?  No, I would rather be on a beach!"  Even though Reed hadn't said anything negative at that point, he was apologetic, and Cole started crying.  That was probably the low point of our trip.  Not that we didn't have other negative moments and times of complaint, but the kids were slightly more positive thereafter.

By the second parade, the kids were winding down.  We sat down to watch it, with Cole in my lap, and within minutes, he was asleep.  He missed the entire thing.  Reed was in and out of sleep throughout.  Our picture with the pumpkins was on the way out of the park.  Chad (aka Superman) carried Cole the entire way from our parade perch to the ferry to the shuttle, where Cole woke up long enough to walk to the car.  Thank goodness Reed woke up enough to walk because nobody is capable of carrying him!

All in all, we had a wonderfully exhausting trip.  One day, we opened Epcot and closed Islands of Adventure, taking over 20,000 steps.  Now we are home and I need a vacation from our vacation.  We made some fabulous memories, spent a ton of time together, tried new things, and made some magic.  One of my favorite moments was when Reed got chosen at Ollivander's wand shop to have his wand choose him.  It was magical, and so awesome when the wand that ultimately selected him was made of reed!  Cole had to pick his own wand, but they both enjoyed making wizardly magic throughout the two parks.

I'm grateful that being on sabbatical allowed me time to travel at a time when I usually could not.  I was able to complete all of my reading on the plane, and finished my corresponding posts this morning.  I am also grateful to be able to provide these experiences for my children, even when it goes unappreciated.  Perhaps one day they can do the same for their own children, and we can go along as grandparents to remind them that they behaved the same way.

Kindness Check-in

Well.  What have you done this week to try to spread kindness, or at least gain some zen?  Let's see...I did try a new church on Sunday (without Reed, who backed out on me).  I actually really liked it and plan to go back.  Perhaps one day I can get the kids to join me.  And dare I dream, my husband...probably not.  But that's ok.  It really helped me to get through the week.  The lesson was on being generous.  Not with money necessarily, but with our gifts.  Which got me thinking about what my gifts are and how I can share them.  Still not certain, but I have some ideas.  If you want to see the message yourself, the church broadcasts live on Facebook.  Check it out here.

I took a few minutes to write a kind email to Cole's teacher and both of Reed's teachers.  Just letting them know we appreciate their efforts and that they are largely the reasons my kids are happy to go to school each day.  Pretty huge, yet so often forgotten.  Passing on that good feeling I so appreciate myself.

Image courtesy of http://bitsofwisdom.org/2017/06/06/kindness-is-free-2/

When people held the door for me this week, I was sure to give a heartfelt "Thank you so much" with eye contact.  ( I can't stand when people don't say thank you, and I've been known to huff out a cranky, "You're welcome."  Passive aggressive, I know, but really, people?  Just say thanks.)

I apologized to someone else who I was probably somewhat rude to in an email.  I was feeling defensive over another similar situation that I had recently dealt with, which was handled quite rudely, and I passed it on.  So, I admitted my weakness and mistake and apologized.  It made me feel better, and hopefully did her as well!

For my own peace and wellbeing, (which I know is important, so I can spread love and peace as opposed to anxiety and impatience) I started a 30-day yoga challenge online.  It's on YouTube through Yoga with Adriene, and while I've only completed two days, I am really enjoying it.  It's a quiet time to focus on bettering myself.  Breathing.  Being quiet and peaceful.  Gaining strength and flexibility.

During my last massage, my massage therapist (she is as wise as she is amazing) said the way I was talking to myself wasn't nice, that I needed to be nicer to myself.  So, I'm trying to focus on my self-talk, being kinder to myself the way I try to be with others.  

Small steps.  Nothing outrageous or crazy.  How were you good to others and yourself this week?  (If you weren't, what baby steps could you take next week?  It's never too late.)

Image courtesy of https://usergeneratededucation.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/conspiracies-of-kindness.png?w=700

Kindness and Common Courtesy

Events over the last couple of weeks have led me to wonder what has happened to common courtesy.  Why are we so eager to blame someone else, hurt someone else, attack someone else?  When did it become easier to give someone the finger than wave?  So hard to say thank you?  To offer a simple smile?  Say hello?  Why do so many people feel so self-important, that their wants and needs are the only ones that matter?  Why are we quicker to criticize than show appreciation?

I find myself wasting time, stewing over how I've been treated, how my husband has been treated, multiple other situations I've heard about lately where people have been treated unfairly or in an unkind way.  (And I don't even watch the news!)  

At the same time, I struggle to ensure that I do not become one of those people being unjust or unkind, who forgets to smile or say thank you.  To teach my kids to be kind and compassionate, fair and conscious of other people's feelings.  

I suppose with the recent events in Las Vegas, we are all likely struggling with similar questions.  As we see the hate that grows within our country, separates us because of skin color, sexuality,  religion, and other reasons that should have become extinct long ago.  Even though we are all different, we are all people.  We share a common core.  We are all equally important, none of us more so than another, regardless of our status, income, color, religion.

Can't we just stop judging other people?  Shaming other people?  Talking negatively about other people?  Does that really make anyone feel better about themselves?  Let's start focusing more on being kind, sharing our appreciation for others, smiling, saying thank you.  As a teacher, it means the world to me when I get a card or note from a family that expresses their gratitude for what I've done, acknowledging that I've made a positive difference in their child's life.  We should each make a conscious effort to pass around more of that feeling.

An unexpected, yet very much appreciated, thank you made its way to my husband this week.  It makes such a difference to know that someone notices when you care, when you volunteer to help, instead of only noticing when you make a mistake or do something to upset them.  Those Random Acts of Kindness, even when not so random, make an individual difference that can spread exponentially from person to person.  If you don't believe it, read this children's book about Ordinary Mary and how her kindness spread from person to person, impacting so many more people than expected.  

As for me, I am going to try to do more of this and less fretting about what other people think about me.  (Because I am surely not saying I am perfect.  If you've been reading my blog for any length of time, I hope you've adequately received this message.  I am anything but.  However, I am trying to be better every day.)  Reed and I are going to try a new church tomorrow, in a search for a home church where we belong.  Perhaps if we all join together in spreading kindness, we can try to overpower the hate that seems to be catching like wildfire.  In this spirit, I'll end with one of my favorite quotes: