A few interesting things for our calendar:
Sophie started to nod her head so she now knows yes and no now.
On Roger Federer finishing second to Nadal in Wimbledon Olivia saw that he was presented with a plaque. She said, 'now he has a really nice plate to eat his dinner off'. Andrea and I had a good chuckle at that one.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Life is just a multitude of small Projects
I am typical of the same 40-somethings out there. Slighty overweight, soft around the mid-riff. I don't exercise because I am always tired usually from bad nights of sleep with kids etc. I have however great intentions. Well something happened last night and it has shook my world.
Item 5 ==> Life is like a multitude of Projects. So with this in mind, if you don't like something, then change it ..... just stop talking and do. As your own Project Manager, make a plan, identifying your end goal and how you are going to get there. Then simly action it while reviewing your progress along the way. Don't rely, blame or wait on anyone else just DO IT!
Item 5 ==> Life is like a multitude of Projects. So with this in mind, if you don't like something, then change it ..... just stop talking and do. As your own Project Manager, make a plan, identifying your end goal and how you are going to get there. Then simly action it while reviewing your progress along the way. Don't rely, blame or wait on anyone else just DO IT!
Build communications
My grandmother was a bit of a rebel in her day, always breaking with tradition. Why this is I will never know because I didn't spend the time with her to find out. Anyway there is no doubt that that trait has passed to my mother and I think down to me as well.
My grandmother had a very special relationship with my cousin Anne. Anne seem to see grannys house as a safe haven. Somewhere where things could be discussed person-to-person not bound by the 'I'm older so don't shock me' usual arrangement. I only now have suddenly thought that my granny's death must have been difficult for Anne, but I never heard it mentioned.
Well it would appear that my mother is following the old arrangement with my girls. Olivia and Isobel go down for a 'sleepover' where I know they get to stay up really late, go walking at night (which most kids love cause it's not the usual arrangement) and they sit and talk about stuff. So the clever old fox is building the same arrangement all over again .... nice to see.
When gran (my mother) asked the girls would they come and see her when see was old there were some interesting results. Olivia (7), being the lady she is, said "yes gran and I will bring an apple tart". Isobel (the rascal) had other ideas. 'No gran, sure you will be in the grave, gravy in the grave' (don't ask I have no idea) and then proceeded to dance around singing 'gravy in the grave, gravy in the grave'. Now there is a different view on things.
Item 3 ==> Try building a special bond with your grandchildren and give them an alternative to home, an alternative place to feel safe. If there are any issues at home then this is where they will run and good communication will solve anything.
Item 4 ==> Always talk in preference to other forms of communication. None of the others have the range of emotions required to let someone know how you feel. I have seen so many situations get out-of-hand purely because of misunderstanding. Avoid text messaging for important stuff and NEVER engage in 'ping-pong texting' (she said .... so I said ...)when things get nasty. It just a bad idea.
My grandmother had a very special relationship with my cousin Anne. Anne seem to see grannys house as a safe haven. Somewhere where things could be discussed person-to-person not bound by the 'I'm older so don't shock me' usual arrangement. I only now have suddenly thought that my granny's death must have been difficult for Anne, but I never heard it mentioned.
Well it would appear that my mother is following the old arrangement with my girls. Olivia and Isobel go down for a 'sleepover' where I know they get to stay up really late, go walking at night (which most kids love cause it's not the usual arrangement) and they sit and talk about stuff. So the clever old fox is building the same arrangement all over again .... nice to see.
When gran (my mother) asked the girls would they come and see her when see was old there were some interesting results. Olivia (7), being the lady she is, said "yes gran and I will bring an apple tart". Isobel (the rascal) had other ideas. 'No gran, sure you will be in the grave, gravy in the grave' (don't ask I have no idea) and then proceeded to dance around singing 'gravy in the grave, gravy in the grave'. Now there is a different view on things.
Item 3 ==> Try building a special bond with your grandchildren and give them an alternative to home, an alternative place to feel safe. If there are any issues at home then this is where they will run and good communication will solve anything.
Item 4 ==> Always talk in preference to other forms of communication. None of the others have the range of emotions required to let someone know how you feel. I have seen so many situations get out-of-hand purely because of misunderstanding. Avoid text messaging for important stuff and NEVER engage in 'ping-pong texting' (she said .... so I said ...)when things get nasty. It just a bad idea.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Why have we got toes?
Just my opening blog statement: I have three little girls, Olivia, Isobel and Sophie. You will not meet a prouder dad in Ireland I can assure you of that. My wife is Andrea and how important she is to me she will never know. I wanted to get all that off my chest at the start as no matter what happens I am hoping that all that will never change.
Tonight, my middle girl Isobel (who is about to turn 6 shortly) and she asked me the question 'why have we got toes?'. It's funny but I could never give them the "easy" answer, 'God made them' or something like that to any question they have ever asked. So I have always tried to engage them in conversation that gets them thinking too.
Understanding 1 ==> If you take the time to explain things to kids they get more inqusitive and this stimulates their minds. The last thing I want to do is raise kids that only accept what they are told and do not question anything.
The other day we took an old steam iron apart. Isobel thought this was really good until later on I have to take the lid off the toilet cistern as it wasn't flushing properly. Guess what? She thought the inner working were 'even more cool', I haven't seen her face light up like that since Christmas.
Understanding 2 ==> Kids just like spending time with you. What they seem to remember is the bond rather than the things that were involved. So getting down on the floor and being a kid is exactly what they want.
Tonight, my middle girl Isobel (who is about to turn 6 shortly) and she asked me the question 'why have we got toes?'. It's funny but I could never give them the "easy" answer, 'God made them' or something like that to any question they have ever asked. So I have always tried to engage them in conversation that gets them thinking too.
Understanding 1 ==> If you take the time to explain things to kids they get more inqusitive and this stimulates their minds. The last thing I want to do is raise kids that only accept what they are told and do not question anything.
The other day we took an old steam iron apart. Isobel thought this was really good until later on I have to take the lid off the toilet cistern as it wasn't flushing properly. Guess what? She thought the inner working were 'even more cool', I haven't seen her face light up like that since Christmas.
Understanding 2 ==> Kids just like spending time with you. What they seem to remember is the bond rather than the things that were involved. So getting down on the floor and being a kid is exactly what they want.
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