Einstein, Mali, and tests....

It's finally almost Fall but most schools in this country have been in full swing for a while. Some are on the tail end of the first semester. One thing is for sure - they have all gotten their testing in.  My 5th grader was MAP testing in his second week of school.

Because testing will fix everything. Right? It must be what we all believe because there is no group fighting school testing.  There are no outraged mom's picketing the PTA chanting "Hell to the No! Testing must go!"

There should be.  I have yet to see the test results that prove that test results fixed the problem.  I did just now finally receive my 5th-grader's 4th-grade test scores. Thank goodness! I was waiting on pins and needles for those to make sure he was on grade-level.

It's an election year - and while I do not want to discuss that- we all know that Education will be dissected by each candidate.  Common core will be brought up yet again as both the Sinner and the Saviour.  No child will be left behind to STEM for themselves.

There is a lot of talk about Education in the news this week.  Some of the interviews I have listened to have brought me to tears while others had me hopping mad. Each with its own worth. But every time the topic comes up I am reminded of what Albert Einstein said "Everyone is a Genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid."

Taylor Mali, a Teacher and amazing poet writes in a moment of brilliance something like How can a chicken give birth to an Eagle.  Well my friend, it can not. And a cheeseburger can not fall to far from the apple tree. And a fish can not climb a tree. But a school can get funding from their test scores.

for more Taylor Mali see his Poetry Slam - What Teachers Make

How do I look?

It's a dangerous question to ask when you live with all boys. Even more dangerous when you already know that you are pushing the boundaries of fashion pulling out a ten-year-old skirt and wedge sandals that you accidentally bought in the Junior Department.

I don't own a proper bra anymore because, well just because. I could own one but I don't like shopping and bra shopping seems even more hideous than regular clothes shopping. Also because most of what I have purchased in the last thirteen years since my children were born was an after thought at Target.

Even though I have started working part-time there was not a huge need to add to my wardrobe and certainly not anything all fancy nancy.  I work in a basement! Usually without human interaction at all so I guess you say I'm channeling Bob Cratchit in work and fashion.

That won't fly tonight though as all four of us from work are being treated to dinner by the boss at one of the nicest restaurants in the midwest. I've been quietly fretting over this all day but seeing as I had other more important things to do, like. Oh hell! I was just to lazy to go to TJ Maxx and find something.

So here it is zero hour and I have got to get out the door.  I've had my hair up, then down, then half up and half down.  I tried to put on make-up but it's been so long my eye shadow is too heavy and how was I suppose to know that was not for my eyebrows? Seriously, I've changed six times I still look like a very old very sad hooker.

I made the mistake of asking the boys, "How do I look?" to which they politely replied....You look beautiful Mom. Their wives will thank me.

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balance

play

noun  bal·ance \ˈba-lən(t)s\

Simple Definition of balance

• : the state of having your weight spread equally so that you do not fall
• : the ability to move or to remain in a position without losing control or falling
• : a state in which different things occur in equal or proper amounts or have an 
• equal or proper amount of importance

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

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Such a simple word - a simple definition (it even says so). The second line is my favorite. I think it is truly the definition of life.

To remain in a position without losing control or falling.

This is my goal. Whether that position is wife, mother, employee, daughter, or dog owner my goal is to remain engaged and balanced in that position without losing control or falling. I've come to appreciate not being in total control of a situation, being mindful of the space that I am in, and trying to be present enough to feel whatever the moment brings. 

But somehow the self doubt still creeps in that perhaps I am not doing all of that in the moment. That I have am falling short or losing it.  The goal seems so simple. As simple as the definition. Just stay balanced.

Yet it's not. Balance is not an easy pursuit however I feel the word is everywhere.  Is it the Universe sending me a message? Is it just a current Buzzword? Is it because I am searching so desperately for it?  Balance seems to be everywhere and nowhere all at the same time.

 Let me know what you think.....maybe we can find it together. Namaste.

The menu's are back! Just in time for school.

I can't believe that summer is almost over. This is our last week. Soccer is is full swing. Where does the time go? I know the boys are anxious to pack a lot into this week - so knowing dinner is already planned is a load off my mind.

Last Week of Summer Menu

click the link above

I think diapers were easier

No one tells you when you become a parent that the hardest part will not be 3 am feedings, projectile vomiting, or dirty diapers.  It won't even be keeping their fingers out of their mouth or repeating yourself 150 times.  And it certainly won't be strollers, pumpkin seats, or Baby Bjorn's.

When your once beautiful baby boy turns 13 years-old, you will long for the days when it was only dirty diapers, two naps, and feedings every three hours.  That bedtime routine of potty, brush teeth, read books. I'll take it!!

It just seems like there was a lot about parenting that "they" forgot to tell. I don't remember life before 5 really, nothing before Kindergarten so I kinda felt like I was flying blind for those years. But after 5 I though - Heck. Been there, Done that!  I got this.

I don't got this. I was never a 13 year-old boy.  I wasn't a darn good 13 year-old girl.  That was definitely a dark time for me; hormones, brooding, mood swings. Wait, maybe it's not so different? Anywho, when situations arise I try to remember what it was like when I was that age and how my parents handled things. Then I mix myself a stiff drink, call the psych hotline, and do the exact opposite of what my parents did.

My neighbor just had her tenth child. Wow. 10. Teenagers. Well, maybe it's easier to deal with when you are still changing diapers? Or easier not to deal with when you are changing diapers.
Que sera,sera.

Re-Posting - Check this out! Pass it along

Love Week At Mindvalley

Several years ago, we decided that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t just be a day for lovers – so we planned a takeover that resulted in Love Week – when everybody gets to experience some love and appreciation at the workplace. And because love and appreciation lead to happiness, it boosted our productivity dramatically.

So why shouldn’t all workplaces prioritise happiness? When you make love and care part of your company culture, you create an environment that encourages and enables employees to bond and connect with each other. Various studies have proven that friendships at work, on the contrary, boosts producvitity and company growth.

Love Week takes place the week before Valentine’s, for five days of amazing giving and receiving at the office. Each person plays a secret angel and “a human” to somebody. Before Love Week starts, everyone draws a name of someone to be secret angel to for Love Week, without revealing their identity.

Studies have shown that what correlates with happiness at work the most is the social support you receive. But it gets better. A further study finds that providing social support generates greater productivity in the long run.

Love Week is a culture that enables and encourages the act of receiving and giving social support and appreciation; it’s been the most engaging annual culture in Mindvalley that’s increased productivity and forged stronger friendships among employees in our company.

• A 2008 Gallup Consulting study concluded that employee engagement is a force that drives business outcomes, and engaged employees are more productive, profitable, customer-focused and safer.

• According to Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work, 95% of people who provide no social support at work have no work engagement. True work altruists [those] are about 10X as likely to be highly engaged.

• Tom Rath, the author of the best-selling Vital Friends: The People You Can’t Afford to Live Without, found that people who have a best friend at work are seven times as likely to be engaged in their job.

• Another study by Gallup Consulting discovered that 75% of participants who had a best friend at work planned to be with their companies for at least another year.

How Does Love Week Work?

• Everyone adds their names to a hat and then each person draws out a name (at random), regardless of gender or rank. The name you draw is your Human, which makes you their Secret Angel.

• Your duty as a Secret Angel is to show love and appreciation for your Human throughout Love Week in creative, mysterious and secretive ways (check out our tips below). You do this anonymously!

• Follow Mindvalley’s updates on our Facebook page and Instagram or Twitter feed at @mindvalley!

• Show the world how much love you are spreading. Share photos of your Love Week experience on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #SpreadLoveWeek.

• Remember that while you are a Secret Angel, someone else is also being a Secret Angel to you. So you too will be receiving love and appreciation from him or her all week long :-)

• Your identity as a Secret Angel should only be revealed to your Human after Love Week ends.

Suggestions And Tips For Your Love Week

• You don’t have to spend lavish amounts to show your Human love and appreciation! It’s always the thought and effort that count. Surprise them with their favourite coffee, decorate their desk,

• While you can be generous and spend on gifts, Love Week doesn’t require cash! Create a Spotify playlist, send them empowering quotes, set up a temporary Tumblr account dedicated to them or create a customised Pinterest board of their goals and interests.

• Collaborate with other Secret Angels! Send another person to serenade, give a quick massage, deliver a gift, or recite an embarrassing poem or on your behalf.

• Can’t get your entire company to participate in Love Week? Do it just within your department or with your team.

• Bring Love Week to your community, family or a society/club that you’re part of. Love Week isn’t just for companies and even be done virtually! Just get creative and innovate ;-)

• Turn Love Week into your own personal campaign! Perform random acts of kindness to a stranger, volunteer at a local community or even show the environment some love and plant a tree a day.

• Be your own Secret Angel and make Love Week a week of self-love and appreciation for yourself – head to the spa, take an hour off to golf or treat yourself to that must-have that you’ve been eyeing for a while now.

• Remember to share photos of your Love Week experience on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter all week long using the hashtag #SpreadLoveWeek.

• Check out Mindvalley’s Love Week album to see examples of what our Secret Angels were up to!