Random Thoughts

Yesterday, both of my football teams lost. First the Colts. But I still had hope because the Cowboys were playing at 3:30. Then the Cowboys lost. I know this may sound weird, but every team I root for on TV almost always loses. Craig and I have this joke, that I can't watch any important game, because if I do, my team will lose. And it is true. I could not watch the Super Bowl last year, as I was afraid the Colts would lose if I did. Now I know that I do not have the supreme power to make a team lose, but I swear to you as I am sitting here, next week, if I root for the Patriots, chances are, they are going to lose. It is the weirdest thing ever.

Sidney woke up and said her throat hurt. I gave her some medicine and she seems better. She does not want to go to the doctor though. And frankly, I don't either. Sitting in that doctor's office with all the germy toys, and germy, screaming kids. Ugh. I used to think that I would never be mom because kids annoyed me. They still do. But for some reason, you are only annoyed at other people's kids. My own kids are angels, and everyone else's kids wear me out. My own kids wear me out too, but I have infinitely more patience for them, than the rest of the world.

I hope that I am raising my kids right. Well, Garrett, it is too early to tell. Sidney definitely has her own opinions and is easily influenced at this age. Even at this age, I am amazed at how mean kids are. Sidney will sometimes say, X girl was mean to me today Mommy. Or she will say, I don't like X girl. It is sooo apparent in daycare already, who is the alpha female of the group and who rules the roost. There are some parents in her class, that in my opinion are WAY overinvolved. For instance the father or mother, whichever one drops off this one little girl, will stay in the class with her for over 30 minutes, and will also start bossing the other little kids around. I get Sidney situated, give her a kiss good bye, and am out the door in under 5 minutes. These particular parents also bully the teacher into giving this other little girl special attention. Sidney is kind of in the middle of the whole pecking order. She is not the most assertive, but she has friends, and is very social.

Sidney is super sensitive, which may be a hindrance. She can very easily pick up on any emotional undercurrent happening at the house, and out in public. I am super sensitive as well, and it has never helped me. Kids can pick up on who is sensitive and target them and pick on them. I was bullied all throughout school by this one particular little girl and her cronies. Thinking of it now, I was about 15 pounds heavier, and 6 inches taller. I should have just clocked her. I wish I would have. So, I think I kind of need to toughen Sidney up. I just tell her to be mean back to that little girl. The whole turn the other cheek thing does not work.

I am halfway through my book on Emotional Intelligence, and it is the best book that I have read in years. This book helps you recognize your own behaviors and WHY you act the way you do. The real eye opener yesterday was on marriages. All marriages start off great. But the reason that 67% of marriages end in divorce is not because of the issues themselves, but HOW each spouse communicates the issues to each other. There is the start of the misunderstandings, complaining, stonewalling, verbal attacks, disgust, and finally contempt that ruin marriages. Contempt is the final straw. I would recommand this book to anyone. I have a link to it off to the left.