I have been reading the Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon since April. It seems like a long time, but it is 7 books and each book has about 700-900 pages; so with two kids, a hubby, a house and a life, that's the best I have done. I am more than half way through the final book - I know it doesn't end the way I want it to, but I am anxious to find out how it does end.
This is probably the best series I have read. It would be far too long a description to go over just what the books are about, but you can find out easily on line. There is, however, an element of time travel deeply involved in the books and I have pondered greatly this concept and how I might approach a similar situation.
I know it seems silly, but since beginning these books, they have taken over my thoughts, dreams and contemplations. If I were to travel back in time and knew I would arrive to a fairly specific time, what would I bring on my person? how would I dress? and would I try to disguise any modern day items that may be of use in this place?
I would obviously dress for the time period and wear lots of clothes (like Chandler on the 'Commando' episode of Friends) and maybe some waterproofing as well if I could easily disguise it. I would bring a few weapons appropriate for the time and ones I could hide in or under my clothes (a dagger or two). I would bring as much money as I could hide on my person for the time in my dress hems and secret pockets (common just a couple hundred years ago) and perhaps some valuable gems or something small to trade. Now the interesting part....would I bring some codes history texts, shorthand history cheat sheets and maybe some useful medicine (penicillin or other easily hidden types) and matches? I sure would get every vaccination available then some!
Like I said, I know it is silly, but fun to think about anyway - what do you all think? If you were to undertake such a journey, what would you bring and why?
Any you should check out these books if you have time...they are most likely at your local library (mine were) and they will get your brain moving! Let me know if you ever read any...
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Mother Knows Best
I have to say that I have never, ever read a parenting book and I think that it has been a blessing to myself and my kids. I guess I have never thought that I needed one. Some people swear by them....and it is not that I have never had 'problems' or 'concerns' about my children, I have just been able to navigate my way through these trials in another way; mostly by knowing what behavior I expect from my children and staying consistent in reinforcing that behavior. Truthfully, it hasn't been that hard...and if you know my adorable, loving, high-energy son, that's saying a lot.
I have sought advice from my mother-in-law. She provided so much guidance during newborn-hood and baby-hood. Through her knowledge of babies and children (she has 7 of them) I have had two children that slept through the night (at least 6 hours straight and not in my bedroom, thank God) from day 3 or 4 of life, had my babies on a 3 to 4 hour eating/nursing schedule from the day we came home from the hospital and can truthfully say that while my children have expressed their discontent with something, neither one of my kids has EVER had a temper tantrum. I am proud of these things.
Does this make me a good mom? Not by itself, of course, but it does help my sanity to focus on things that DO make me a good mom (like spending time with my kids in a positive and non-stressed way). Does it make me a better mom than others? No. The ways that I operated as a new mom worked for me for all the right reasons, but people that co-sleep with their kids, nurse on demand and turn the other cheek when their kids go off the deep end must find some value in those things or else they wouldn't enable them...I didn't find value in these things. My way was better for me, and it was easy.
So what value do these parenting books have? Well I guess they provide that guidance that is needed; like the help given to me by my mother-in-law. Maybe people think they will solve their parenting problems...although I am not sure they need a book to tell them that. Most people actually know the right thing to do but wont do it because it is too hard. I have to say that my ability to be a stay at home mom has aided in my job to shape my children the way I want to - I am not sure how working moms do it!!!
While I don't have all the answers, I do feel very proficient in my skills as a parent (so far). As my children grow older, I know I will see the world and the situations I find myself in differently and I pray that I will continue to have the positive resources I have now and also the strength of character to do what is right and not what is easy.
I have sought advice from my mother-in-law. She provided so much guidance during newborn-hood and baby-hood. Through her knowledge of babies and children (she has 7 of them) I have had two children that slept through the night (at least 6 hours straight and not in my bedroom, thank God) from day 3 or 4 of life, had my babies on a 3 to 4 hour eating/nursing schedule from the day we came home from the hospital and can truthfully say that while my children have expressed their discontent with something, neither one of my kids has EVER had a temper tantrum. I am proud of these things.
Does this make me a good mom? Not by itself, of course, but it does help my sanity to focus on things that DO make me a good mom (like spending time with my kids in a positive and non-stressed way). Does it make me a better mom than others? No. The ways that I operated as a new mom worked for me for all the right reasons, but people that co-sleep with their kids, nurse on demand and turn the other cheek when their kids go off the deep end must find some value in those things or else they wouldn't enable them...I didn't find value in these things. My way was better for me, and it was easy.
So what value do these parenting books have? Well I guess they provide that guidance that is needed; like the help given to me by my mother-in-law. Maybe people think they will solve their parenting problems...although I am not sure they need a book to tell them that. Most people actually know the right thing to do but wont do it because it is too hard. I have to say that my ability to be a stay at home mom has aided in my job to shape my children the way I want to - I am not sure how working moms do it!!!
While I don't have all the answers, I do feel very proficient in my skills as a parent (so far). As my children grow older, I know I will see the world and the situations I find myself in differently and I pray that I will continue to have the positive resources I have now and also the strength of character to do what is right and not what is easy.
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