School is finally out. So, I was taking this morning to sleep a little later than normal. I was awakened by the sound of my phone receiving a text. The text was a picture of my daughter taken some 3 years ago sent by my mother who never really uses her cell phone let alone texts. So, you know where my brain went to...WHO HAS KIDNAPPED MY MOTHER AND ARE THEY COMING AFTER MY DAUGHTER NEXT?!
Just then the phone rang. It was a call from my mother and I said hello several times with no response. All I could hear was loud conversation. I kept saying HELLO?! After awhile my mother's voice finally said Erika? Rick Beam is teaching me how to take pictures with my phone!! Can you tell?
Now, unless her phone has some weird time travel device I'm pretty sure she didn't mean she was learning to take pictures but instead Mr. Beam was teaching her to text, but she sounded so happy I didn't want to belabor the point. Several times over the years my sisters and I have attempted to teach our mother to use the phone portion of her phone thus the ancient picture of my daughter.
I kept trying to tell her I think you mean text mama! Is he trying to teach you to text? She couldn't hear any of my responses she just kept yelling into the phone I CAN'T HEAR YOU!! So I finally screamed I LOVE YOU MAMA!!
My parents are 76 and 80 years old. They are on a party bus on the way to Georgia. My husband and I are 41 years old. We were still asleep with no true gumption to leave the house today. What is wrong with this picture?!
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
Fitting in.
I was a guest at a 5th grade awards ceremony the other day. 8 children had their speeches selected to be read before the audience. The general theme of all of the speeches was that it was a jungle out there. I was concerned about the fact that most of the speeches were all about how middle school was this horrible place but that they would survive if they would stick together.
My personal experience was that 5th grade was my absolutely most horrible year so middle school, while still awkward and strange, was by no means bad. I liked having a locker and changing classes. I liked being able to try out for activities and mostly I liked meeting new people.
I have a few friends whose daughters are going through some hard times right now. The daughters are both 8th graders and they have had horrible middle school experiences with mean peers and just general not fitting in. I can sympathize. I have never been the most popular or the most beautiful or the most anything. I was just me.
My overall impression of how I remember middle school is that it was fine. Now granted 6th - 8th grade are some 25ish years ago and I could very well be blocking some stuff out. I do remember crying when I was told that I was too hyper to be a cheerleader. I never dated in middle school I was just more of a tomboy than anything. Goofy and awkward. That is how I remember myself.
I am well aware that if I tried to explain to these girls that it is okay to not fit in now, that this portion of their life does not define them, that they would look at me like I had three heads.
I was looking through my high school annuals and you want to know something? The faces were not familiar. A few were but for the most part the familiarity that I once had with that portion of my life is long gone. All of the faces look the same. I can't remember who was popular or who dated who or who everyone thought was the most beautiful or handsomest. They all look the same to me now. (Quite honestly if given a quiz to select the people I went to high school with I would have failed miserably)
Do not concern yourself with the opinions of others. People will come and go throughout your life. The people whose opinion matters will stay with you through thick or thin. The people who judge you harshly will be long gone by the next chapter and they are but a life lesson of how not to treat others.
You are a beautiful gift from God to this planet to make life special in your way, not in the way of everyone else. God made you to be you. What do you like? Go out there and find your joy. Find others that bring you joy and enjoy your life.
My personal experience was that 5th grade was my absolutely most horrible year so middle school, while still awkward and strange, was by no means bad. I liked having a locker and changing classes. I liked being able to try out for activities and mostly I liked meeting new people.
I have a few friends whose daughters are going through some hard times right now. The daughters are both 8th graders and they have had horrible middle school experiences with mean peers and just general not fitting in. I can sympathize. I have never been the most popular or the most beautiful or the most anything. I was just me.
My overall impression of how I remember middle school is that it was fine. Now granted 6th - 8th grade are some 25ish years ago and I could very well be blocking some stuff out. I do remember crying when I was told that I was too hyper to be a cheerleader. I never dated in middle school I was just more of a tomboy than anything. Goofy and awkward. That is how I remember myself.
I am well aware that if I tried to explain to these girls that it is okay to not fit in now, that this portion of their life does not define them, that they would look at me like I had three heads.
I was looking through my high school annuals and you want to know something? The faces were not familiar. A few were but for the most part the familiarity that I once had with that portion of my life is long gone. All of the faces look the same. I can't remember who was popular or who dated who or who everyone thought was the most beautiful or handsomest. They all look the same to me now. (Quite honestly if given a quiz to select the people I went to high school with I would have failed miserably)
Do not concern yourself with the opinions of others. People will come and go throughout your life. The people whose opinion matters will stay with you through thick or thin. The people who judge you harshly will be long gone by the next chapter and they are but a life lesson of how not to treat others.
You are a beautiful gift from God to this planet to make life special in your way, not in the way of everyone else. God made you to be you. What do you like? Go out there and find your joy. Find others that bring you joy and enjoy your life.
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