Grandma Understood ~ A Tribute to the Past
Grandma's hope for peace held a country together during World War II. But though we were the victor, World War II scarred the face of America. Deep lines carved by the pain of separation and fear's razor, lanced the hearts of women who left their children with grandma and went to work. America was at war. Women were needed to build the armaments: bullets, guns, trucks, tanks and planes...Everyone Understood. Then the war was finally over. Some dads didn't come back. Their widows kept on working. Somebody had to pay the bills. Life went on. The grandmas helped raise their fatherless children...Everyone Understood. The dads who survived the war came home to find prices high and housing hard to get. But mom was working and she could help out. Eventually dad found a job and mom only needed to work part-time. Sometimes the kids had to stay home alone because the grandmas found a job as well...Everyone Understood. A new generation grew up. Every family had a telephone, two cars and a mortgage payment. It took two incomes to support all the things the new generation needed to be happy. Mom put the kids in a day-care center. She called it pre-school...Everyone Understood. Career education filled the schools. Women became lawyers and loan agents and lots more. They traded aprons for white bow blouses and pots and pans for typewriters. Grandma got old and sick. She had to go to a nursing home...Everyone Understood. Then grandma died. Alone. With strangers. There was a funeral. Women looked at their mother. This is the way it ended for her. They looked for their children. One was working in a day-care; another away at college. They didn't have time to attend the funeral...Everyone Understood. Another generation grew up. Color televisions broadcast current events instantly, from all over the globe. Women not only reported the news,they made the news--and lots of money. They had careers instead of children...Everyone Understood. Then grandma had a dream. Women started tying bows on aprons again and raising their own children without day care. Some started homeschooling and gave up the second car. They unplugged their television set and mothers began nursing their babies...Nobody Understood ~ Except Grandma. This is a portion of something written at least 40 years ago and passed on to me when my kids were young.
The importance of Motherhood
Being a good mother is a choice that I make everyday. I cherish each one of my children because I choose to. I realize that I am one of the lucky ones. I have never lost a child, been hurt physically, or faced cancer. It really doesn't matter if my floors are not done, the laundry & dishes never end, that the children sometimes fight, or that I could use a new house. If I had to choose I would choose what I have ever so humble it may be because you see, I am raising a family, a unity in the darkness of this world, "maybe" a future leader. The way I handle motherhood, treat my children, and love my husband will be my legacy. What I say could very well bring forth a seed of Greatness in someones life. During this time, Moms need to embrace a glimpse, a spiritual vision of what their influence will be in the lives of their children and future generations of their family line. We need to remember that we live what we speak. If we say it's so hard, it will be. Every word we think or speak (even non-important ones) will either be a Blessing or a Curse. they will become us & our Gift to Others. If having it all means unhappiness, then I say forget the job. No one will ever love my children more then me, no job will ever remember me when I'm gone. When all is said & done, it won't really matter where I worked, if my house was spotless, or even if I lived life perfectly. Only those who knew me, whom I've loved, will really matter, because you see...they will live on with the memories we've shared & the seeds I have planted in them. May they be filled with Seeds of Greatness...
“Survivor” A TV Show Idea for the Next Series
Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 4 kids each for six weeks. Each kid will play two sports and either take music or dance classes. There is no fast food. Each man must take care of his 4 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money. In addition...each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week. Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment, and an appointment for a haircut. He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function. Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keep it presentable at all times. The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. <b>There is only one TV. Each father will be required to know all of the words to every stupid song that comes on TV and the name of each and every repulsive character on cartoons. The men must daily: shave their legs and underarms, and wear makeup which they will apply themselves either while driving or making four lunches. They must adorn themselves with jewelry, wear uncomfortable, yet stylish shoes, keep their nails polished and eyebrows groomed. During one of the six weeks, they will have to endure severe stomach cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but <b>must never complain</b> or slow down from other duties. They must attend weekly PTA meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting. He will need to pray with the children each night, bathe them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor. Also each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up. They must clean up after their sick children at 3:00 a.m. and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child and waiting on them hand and foot until they are better. Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas. The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moments notice. If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called Mother!