aboutMiche

"I'm compromising too," They said.

2022-11-08T10:53:00.002-05:00

"Oh," I replied, "tell me how you're compromising, to help me better understand and then we can find some middle ground."

[Unsaid: because in the 4+ years I've been taking care of your finances, food supply, refuse disposal, correspondence, medication, medical appointments, blood pressure monitoring, trying to dig out your home from 40+ years of neglect, and in the 2+ years I've been doing this, by myself DAILY, I haven't noticed ANYTHING resembling compromising on your part.]

"I'm aging in place. I'm not in long-term care where you'd have to visit me every day."

It's been over a week since this exchange took place. And I still am unable to digest it.

Was It Something I Said?

2014-09-11T18:37:00.001-04:00

Dear Mom At School:

Three times this school year, we've chatted amiably at pick-up time. And three times now, a third mom has approached us. Each time, in mid-conversation you've turned your back to me to talk with the third party (different person every time), and ignored me for the duration.

I know that Hanlon's Razor states that one should:

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity*.

* or in this case lack of manners.

But it's starting to feel personal. Ya know?

Cut it out.

Yours,
M.

Tired of the Affirmations Yet?

2014-03-06T13:10:00.001-05:00

From Hay House:

Today I will let go of my need for approval and my need to be liked. Instead, I will choose to like and approve of myself. The people who count (including me) will respect me when I'm true to who I really am.

- Melody Beattie

Another Affirmation

2014-02-09T08:37:00.007-05:00

Another affirmation from Heal Your Life:

I release all feelings of worry and guilt.

Throughout life, the two most futile emotions are guilt for what has been done and worry about what might be done.

What Else Am I Going To Have To Teach At Home?

2013-11-24T13:29:00.000-05:00

Some people belive that cursive is still part of the school curriculum. From the Toronto Star:

It was always my understanding that the “examples” provided at any grade level for any specific learning expectation were based on what students should be able to do at that particular grade level.

On page 72 of the current Ontario Ministry Policy document for Language Arts the example provided for Grade 3 Expectation 3.7 says (e.g. use legible printing and some cursive writing, etc.) it is incumbent on teachers to make sure that students are able to do all of the examples provided.

Teachers are required to assess students’ knowledge and skills and provide instruction and practice so that students can acquire and master them. Cursive writing is included in every 3.7 learning expectation from Grades 3 through Grade 8 in the Ontario Language Arts policy document.

There is definitely an expectation that cursive writing be taught in Ontario schools. Cursive writing was used as an example rather than as a separate learning expectation to underscore the need for students to master a range of ways to communicate including the use of technology.

Read more.

Interestingly enough, I've yet to find a teacher who interprets the text as it's explained above.

*sigh*

Today I Took A (small) Stand

2013-11-21T13:28:00.000-05:00

content deleted by author

Today

2013-08-06T07:50:00.002-04:00

From Heal You Life:

Today I will tell myself that who I am is okay, and that what I'm doing is good enough. Of course I make mistakes and get off-track sometimes, but that doesn't mean that I'm not as good as everyone else. No one is perfect, and that's just fine.

- Melody Beattie

Powerful Affirmation

2013-07-18T07:42:00.006-04:00

Found at Heal Your Life.

I forgive myself for not being perfect. I am living the very best way I know how.

- Louise L. Hay

The Little Things

2013-07-12T09:12:00.001-04:00

Taking a walk and pausing at an intersection, waiting for the light to turn.

+

Noticing a fire truck (lights and sirens off) coming your way.

+

Saying to wM, "Wave at the firefighters as they go by."

+

Hearing the reply, "Seriously?"

+

Me waving anyway.

+

Having a half-dozen smiling firefighters wave back as they pass.

+

wM compelled to return their friendly gesture.

+

Me responding to wM, "Seriously."

= 2 big smiles

Regrets Of The Dying and an Epipheny of Sorts

2013-06-29T08:54:00.000-04:00

Beyond the Opposites has a post up about the Top Five Regrets of the Dying. All of them are things about which I'm trying to be mindful, but number five surprised me.

"I wish that I had let myself be happier."

The double-surprise for me, is that I'm currently skimming my way through Lynn Grabhorn's book, "Excues Me, Your Life Is Waiting," which also suggests that I'd be happier if I got out of my own way.

And then it hit me.

For years, I've been taking classes which all inevitably draw my attention to my breath. The various instructors have encouraged me to breathe into my abdomen.

And for years, I've consciously worked on forcing that to happen. Muscling the breath to where it should be going.

Recently, it occurred to me: I'm not supposed to be forcing the breath there, I'm supposed to be relaxing enough to LET the breath go there. I'm supposed to relax so that I'm not stopping it from going where it naturally is supposed to go.

For now I will start with getting out of my own way for my breath. When I master that, I need to figure out how to scale that to the rest of my life.

Today I Am Grateful

2013-05-15T11:49:00.000-04:00

That I am surrounded by so many caring, generous, kind and warm people. I am a very lucky girl!

Today I Am Grateful

2013-05-14T07:07:00.001-04:00

That in the past 24 hours, four unrelated people went out of their way to do small kindesses for me and my family.

Their thoughtfulness made my day fabulous!

Grateful

2013-05-02T16:20:00.001-04:00

I spent the afternoon writing thank you notes. I'm lucky I have so much to be grateful for!

Today I Am Grateful

2013-04-25T10:15:00.000-04:00

That there are so many people in my life that are helping me to advocate for wM. Loving guidance and input is a special gift indeed.

Today I Am Grateful

2013-04-09T19:15:00.000-04:00

For all of the supportive friends and family I have.

Thank you everyone!

HAPPINESSISNOWHERE

2013-04-07T12:15:00.001-04:00

From Heal Your Life:

HAPPINESSISNOWHERE

What do you see? How did you read this?

Things Happy People Do

2013-03-20T08:17:00.000-04:00

The article "22 Things Happy People Do Differently" came my way. I needed to see point number four, "Express gratitude for what they already have."

I've fallen off the wagon.

Will try to get back on.

Today I am grateful for school staff that care about wM as much as I do.

Today I Am Grateful

2013-01-16T07:05:00.002-05:00

That I'd had a chance to make myself a hot cup of coffee before our neighbourhood lost power!

When Talking to Moms That Stay At Home

2012-11-07T13:52:00.000-05:00

If you're a working outside of the house kinda mom, when you're talking to moms that either run a business from their home or just plan stay at home, it is not helpful to constantly state "But I work during the day, so I can't ...."

Yes, we understand you're scheduled from 9 to 5ish. You're busy. Your time is committed. Got it. But the constant emphasis on "I work" kinda chafes at the souls of those of us who stay at home and aren't able to eat chocolate and watch TV all day because we're busy too. Sometimes we're even busy volunteering in the community doing nice things for YOUR KIDS.

I work now, harder than I ever did before. I just don't get paid for it.

A Good Read

2012-10-21T08:07:00.003-04:00

Amy Suardi's post "Why I Am Dropping the Business Side of Blogging (My Truth about Making Money Online)" over at Frugal Mama.

Today

2012-10-17T20:09:00.000-04:00

I came dangerously close to being productive. Thankfully, the chaos that is my life saved me from that fate!

I'm right; You're Wrong

2012-09-22T09:35:00.001-04:00

Great posts on "Oppositional Conversational Style" by Gretchen Rubin:

Ever Been Stuck in an “I’m Right; You’re Wrong” Conversation?

and

Watch Out For the “I’m Right; You’re Wrong” Conversation.

This Summer I Am Grateful

2012-07-22T15:21:00.000-04:00

This summer, more than ever, I am grateful for electricity, air conditioning and municipal water supplies.

I hope that we get rain in short time to keep the farmers' crops viable.

Today I Am Grateful

2012-06-21T11:12:00.000-04:00

For EMS workers everywhere.

Someone on our street had a wee tumble and needed to be taken to the ER. I'm extra grateful the EMS guys took very good care.

Today I Am Grateful

2012-06-16T11:10:00.000-04:00

That 4 months ago, before Mr. Miche was off on a long highway drive, he checked his tires. Thankfully he noticed a defect in the tires before he left and he opted not to use that care for the trip.