Thursday, February 25, 2010

Update on Project 622

Working on Project 622 has been so much fun. I have had several people close to me that want to help in some way to accomplish completing my list. Kellie wants to train with me so we can run that mile (#42 Run a mile), Cynthia offered to give me a bike (#33 Buy a bike), Tony and Monique promised to buy my shoes and babysit for that date (#24 Buy new pair of black stilettos, #25 Dinner date to wear new shoes); I absolutely love the support I've received.

So far, I have put working out into my daily schedule so for 3 weeks I've been in yoga and cardio(#4 workout 4 times in a week). I started that book, The Measure of a Man, (#11), that is an incredible man Sidney Poitier. A great read, thanks Oprah Book Club! I haven't lost all the weight but I'm happy about the way I feel (#6 be happy if I don't).

This is an amazing adventure and its not over. I am looking forward to crossing more off the list but until then I feel fabulous.

Have you started your list? Figure out what you want and write it down.

Friday, February 5, 2010

No YELLING; I accept the challenge

I yell. Not often but I do yell at the kids on the rare occasion. I do not think of myself as a bad mom because I have resorted to raising my voice when my kids are out of hand. In fact, a couple of moms have shared yelling is a great pastime of motherhood and the children would be robbed of proper upbringing if it were removed. I assume screaming and cursing would be considered taboo however yelling as a means of coercing desired behaviors is acceptable.

In my week of "no yelling" I realized I raise my voice when I've lost patience. My patience threshold is something to be noted as I've been told; so those rare times patience is not my friend are the times that I did not spent enough quality time with my pillow, also known as exhaustion. So comes the challenge to get enough rest so that I don't introduce myself in the morning as "Grumpy Mommie".

Right, sleep. Okay so how do I get enough sleep. That is another story but it just so happened my nursing baby started sleeping through the night when I accepted this challenge. Three cheers for Amaya!

I decided that the technique of coercion is not my greatest joy in life and especially when it hurts those I'm supposed to protect. From what I can recall, I made it the one week challenge to not yell at my kids as suggested by Veronica Webb on her blogsite.

At the end of the week as I reflected on this challenge I realized that yelling is easy because we use it as a source of power. Yet, this power that we derive seems to be primarily used on children, our own children. Not the grocery store clerk that charged our ATM twice, the telemarketer that calls at the perfect time, driver that cuts you off at the stop sign, bank teller that won't reverse that fee.

Why is it acceptable to yell at our own children?

I want to find another form of communication with I speak with my children. Most importantly, I want children that respect me and love me as I do love them.

Give it a try, you might surprise yourself.

Love and Respect.