Being Happy With Life

I was reading in Parenting magazine an article about being happy.  In this article they published a quote by Tania Paredes, a psychotherapist and couples counselor, which said, "Happiness is when you feel like the important parts of your life are where they need to be."  

Happiness doesn't depend on the amount of money you make, the house you live in, or the cars you drive.  If that were the case, I would be one very unhappy individual.  Instead, happiness is found in the little things.  When you ask your children what makes them happy, their answers can include their blanket, a cookie, a kiss, their bike or their favorite TV show.  They find joy in the little things that we adults tend to take for granted.  

Due to the hustle and bustle of life, days seem can seem to last forever.  But, before you know it those long days are over and another year has gone by.  Don't be left trying to figure out what you were doing while life passed by, enjoy as many moments as you can.  The things that make you happy can change many times over a lifetime, but enjoying every phase of life is essential.  

Harrison Ford said, "Being happy is something you have to learn. I often surprise myself by saying "Wow, this is it. I guess I'm happy. I got a home I love. A career that I love. I'm even feeling more and more at peace with myself." If there's something else to happiness, let me know. I'm ambitious for that, too."

Happiness is simple and it is contagious.  Life passes by too quickly; take time to slow down and find joy in the little things. Decide what the important parts of your life are and if they are where they need to be. If that doesn't seem to make you happy, then think like a child and remember those simple things you used to love that once made you happy.  

Mothers

To all women out there, Happy Belated Mothers Day!  Hopefully your Mothers Day was relaxing and full of fun surprises from your children, husband, friends, or whomever you associate with.  Sometimes we as mothers can feel alone in the world, but 82.5 million women in the world are mothers and 4 million women give birth each year.   

I was watching a golf tournament yesterday and each of the golfers had taken time to thank their mothers for all they did for them when they were growing up.  How many times do we stop and say thank you to those women in our lives who have helped us become the people we are today?  

Abraham Lincoln once said, "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother."  Mothers do so much for us and most of it goes unnoticed.  I once had a friend who said her husband came home and saw her scrubbing the baseboards.  He asked her what she was doing crawling all around the house.  He thought the baseboards just never got dirty, but to his amazement, his wife had been cleaning them all along.  

I was interested in what would define a mother.  The definition I found said, "A mother, mom, mum, momma or mama, is a woman who has conceived, given birth to, or raised a child in the role of a parent. Because of the complexity and differences of a mother's social, cultural, and religious definitions and roles, it is challenging to define a mother to suit a universally accepted definition. The male equivalent is a father." 

It doesn't seem hard to define a mother.  Whether or not we as women ever have children, we are all mothers in one way or another.  Oprah Winfrey said, "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."  

I hope that on Mothers Day, you took the time to thank your own mother for the time and effort she put into helping you become who you are.  You don't have to wait for Mothers Day to roll around each year to show your appreciation.  Thank the women in your life for what they have done for you.  

Summer Time Fun

I know it did snow just two days ago, but it should be time for summer.  Time to eat dinner outside, walk around in the cool grass barefoot, eat food without any utensils, and end the day with a party, just because all your neighbors are outside too.  These simple things is what makes summertime great.  

This summer is going to be different than any other summer for me.  I have a 18-month old little girl, who loves to be outside.  She doesn't care what she is doing, as long as she is out in the sunshine.  I am new at summertimes with kids, so I wondered if any of you had any fun ideas of what you do to pass the time outside in beautiful weather, as long as the weather starts cooperating.  I don't think building snowmen is a fun summer activity!  

One thing my daughter does love to do is blow bubbles.  Every once in a while she will blow and actually get a few bubble to come out, but mostly she just dips the bubble stick in and out of the bottle, laughing all the while.  For those of you with older kids who do like to blow bubbles, my neighbor taught me a fun new twist to bubble blowing, and a great way to reuse old water bottles that seem to collect on hot days.  To start you off, here is the activity I learned about that could occupy a few minutes or hours of a day.

What you need:

Empty water bottle

Old, thin rag

Rubber band

Container for dish soap

Dish soap

Directions:

Cut the bottom off of an empty water bottle.  Get an old rag, one that isn't too thick, and attach it to the bottom of the water bottle with a rubber band.  Get a container and put dish soap in the bottom, mixed with a little water to make it last longer.  Dip the water bottle in the dish soap and blow through the part of the water bottle you usually drink from.  (Be sure not to suck in, the bubbles will come out the top!)  The bubbles will come out the end with the rag attached to it and will actually make bubbles that are hooked together, like bubble snakes.  

My older nieces and nephews had a blast trying to make letters out of bubbles to spell their name on the grass.  Little children have a good time too because they can actually catch the bubbles without them popping and hold them in their hands. It is a fun way to blow bubbles in the summer time.  For pictures to guide you along the way, visit http://www.howdoesshe.com/making-bubbles.

Let me know if you try it and if your kids enjoy it, and if you have any other great ideas to help pass the summer days of being outside!