Where has the time gone?

Well it is official, I haven't written on this blog for 1 1/2 years and I have an official teenager. As I read back throughout the few post I noticed a pattern. Lack of time. In order remedy this I have become only a sub for coaching, I just finished doing the homeschooling conference and I will not do the planning committee again so that leaves me with my curriculum job 2 days a week and ESL classes for my commitment outside of my children.

With more time to observe my children I watched as L.S. hugged "Teddy" (a pet name she gave her oldest brother) on the couch. I don't know what was more sweet her smile as she cuddled on top of his growing teenage chest or his smile of ahhh as he looked down on his little sister. Then "Froggy" (a name little sister gave because her 9 year old brother would jump around a lot) wanted in on the hugging action. He climbed on top of the two and hugged them. Then Froggy saw he may be squishing L.S. he suggested that she layed on top of him and he got in the middle.

How did I get these children to have so much love for one another?

Was it really me, probably not but I did use a lot of the methods from the book Siblings without Rivalry. I read it twice and listened to it on tape one (yes tape, showing my age).

99% of the time I will not take a side. 1% of the time is for human error. I will help verbalize the problems the children are having with each other and I empathize for their situations but I do not pick who was right in the situation. This is not always an easy task when you see the child doing something wrong to the other child.

Computers Sucking our time away

I use to not be a big fan of computers. I remember when we first signed up to the Internet. Renaissance man and I were without kids and living it up in our new home when Renaissance man told me he wanted to put money into the Internet. I did not think it was all that necessary but if that's what he really wanted, who was I to say different. He got hooked right away and it took me about 14 more years to become sucked in. Just recently I have began facebook and I think it is a huge time sucking monster, but yet so enticing. I think I may have to quit.

The Internet is also so entertaining! I no longer look up in encyclopedia's what I want to know I go to Google. I have also taught the kids to do the same. Not only do you get great information you also get little videos. Mind you we have received our 2001 computer from a group called freecylcle and it works just fine, but imagine the possibilities of new fangled computers, just imagine the images you can get.... (hear the sound of far away music as I dream) wake up.

Recently I have been not exercising but sitting on the computer, what has become of me? I need to get out of this time sucking monster. It reminds me of the show "Larry Boy and the Bad Apple" which addresses temptation.

I think I will try limit my time just like I do with the kids as 5 year old D.Q. says "Mommy get off the computer it is evil."