Why I avoid cleaning the bathrooms

I have lived by check lists and usually cleaning the bathrooms is on that list. Well, it is still on the list, but from a different perspective. 

In my house daily, yes, daily there is cleaning to be done. You all know what I mean - the dogs come in from the house and you have to re-sweep the floors. Or, the water in the sink splashes and you have to re-mop the floors. Somedays I wish my prince would come rescue me out of my "Cinderella" life, especially because I would get those shoes and hopefully a housekeeper!  But, since that fairy tale is a fiction I decided for every chore on my "to-do" list I decided to add a choice. So, today I choose to celebrate my friend who finished her first half marathon, snuggle with my dogs, talk with my mother, and see my friend. I think instead of my "to do" list mentality I am making a "to be" daily agenda and for today top on the list is to be full of health and happiness. Well, now that I think about it my new list will include cleaning the bathrooms, but reframed in a way that I may actually get it done!

ChoreMonster is an effective tool to support children in developing executive function skills.

Just found a cool app that allows parents to engage with chore duties in a fun, techno-savvy, way.  Such a creative company and one I sure wish I had thought of to invent.

https://www.choremonster.com/press

Also, I enjoyed reading some of their blog posts on ways to calm childhood nightmares, innovative fall chore lists, and more; along with the post for parents and professionals.

http://blog.choremonster.com/

Single woman adoption and sexism - a no tolerance zone!

Parenting by any measure is a tough/life changing job. When adding adoption as a single gal to the mix most folks say, "Wow! You must really have energy!"  Or, "I could never do it."  I find such comments odd, yet not unusual. Folks do not regularly know what they can handle and I believe it is because they may not have planned well enough. Since I love by my Aunt Pat's motto, "Prior planning prevents a poor performance" I really do not feel unprepared to be a parent, however the universe beings a baby to me. 

Just recentlg another single, adoptive mother-to-be posted that she had gotten her first negative comment for wanting to adopt as a single gal. My response is below, 

"You are an amazing angel who is willing to share her home and her heart with another beautiful being to help them experience a lovely life, learn, laugh, grow, flourish, heal, and inspire. Frankly, I don't tolerate those who live by 1900 values where it was okay to be rude to women, take away their voice.  It is completely unacceptable and I immediately nip it in he bud because sexism (well, actually any -ism) is just utter ignorance and needs to be shaken up to be stopped!  

I must have done something backwards because I started with getting all the support I would need/want before even calling a home study agency. Then, I hired my attorney (kind of made me feel it was official and I had some backbone). Next, I asked a friend to do my home study, which didn't pan out so I called Connecting Hearts to do my study. Amy was great and helped share my story even invited me to a free "A Family of My Own" conference where I learned so much great stuff. Now, I am waiting to hear if the birth mother chose me as she's in with her counselor today. Basically, though this whole process when I felt worried or wondered about my abilities to "do it" all my support team stepped up and said, "You are a perfect mother."  Keep repeating that mantra to yourself and be the brave voice your child needs you toward the way for a better world."