Respect The Creative Process

It takes a lot of time, effort, blood, sweat and tears to create; whether it's writing, jewelry, painting, sketching, etc. Respect the creator, please.  You can use their creations as inspiration, but don't violate them by copying work. And be really careful with your inspirations. 

I've had someone plagiarize my writing and it thoroughly pissed me off. She blatantly did it and went on to try and publish it. There are no totally new ideas, just offshoots of old ones, but I would never copy someone's work. Not in writing. Not in my jewelry business. Never. I may make things in the style of someone, but I give credit where credit is due. 

That's why if I use repurposed items in my creations, I say so. If I use unconventional materials, it's stated. 

It's a matter of respect. I respect the creative friends I've made. I like being able to bounce ideas off each other and finding out how to do new things. I also know I have a set of skills that are uniquely mine; my creative friends do too. And there has to be a trust between creatives, a trust built on respect. 

Come to think of it, respect is something sorely lacking in the world today. There's no respect for life, for cultures, for differences. I've become disheartened with this crazy world. I don't know what the answer is, but I think we can start with respect. 

Thanks for reading. Blessings, love and peace. Respect each other. 

Not Everything Is Better In Stereo

A Letter To My Boys

Mother's Day 2016

It's Mother's Day again and so far, it's been a weekend to remember. First, I got to spend yesterday morning with my boys at a pancake breakfast and car show/farmer's market. That made my heart sing. Then, we spent the afternoon doing little things around the house. The younger two helped their dad with the yard work. The older one helped me with dishes and laundry. But what comes next will ASTOUND you! (Okay, not really, but hey, I had to try!)

Last night, everybody was exhausted. One of my boys passed out while reading, one was asleep by 8:15, and the other one was watching television with me. My husband had gone to bed early. 

At 9 o'clock, I was tucking in my kids when one decided he had to go to the restroom. That's pretty normal around here. Bedtime equals potty/need a drink/need cupcakes for the school district....you know this drill if you're a parent. 

As soon as I got everybody in bed, someone else needed to use the facilities. As they flushed, I heard "UH OH!" and walked in to see water rising to the topic the toilet bowl. DAMN! And no plunger in the house. Ours bit the dust last week. (I have a houseful of kids, it happens.) 

I tried a couple of tricks to get the problem solved, after I mopped the floor...with bleach...and tossed the mop...Nothing. I told my husband I was headed to the store to get a plunger. (Woke him up to tell him. You're welcome, honey!)

All the way there, I cursed under my breath. I had on my pjs and no makeup, and never even looked at my hair. Wally World, here I come! 

I arrived and went straight to the plumbing section where I found the grand-daddy of all plungers! This sucker was HUGE, with a bizarre-looking handle, a little snake thingy that helps move clogs out of the way, and a price of about fourteen bucks. I'm in! I grabbed it, turned to walk away, and stopped. I went back and got another, less scary plunger, just in case. Armed with my two plungers, I was ready to go!

The whole time I was in there, I kept thinking about how I'm in my pjs and I NEVER do that. It drives me batty when people do that! I looked for the shortest checkout line--yeah, I know, on a Saturday night at 10 o'clock, in Wally World. (No, I wasn't drunk!) My checker was a sweetheart and told me to "Have a happy Mother's...have a better night!"

I came home and got to work clearing the problem. Success!!

This morning, I got up and looked in the mirror. My pjs were on inside out. Inside out. In-side freaking out!  That explained the weird smiles and looks last night. It also explained why my pockets didn't work...DOH!

Happy Mother's Day! 

His Story Is His Business

This morning, I went to do some shopping. My children are outgrowing their clothes again, as children do. As I approached the store entrance, I saw a nice looking, clean cut young man standing outside. He was quietly asking a lady if she had any change she could spare. I handed him a dollar as I walked past. He thanked me profusely. 

I did my shopping, but my mind kept flashing to this young man. Somebody's child. I wondered what his story was.  Something about his eyes cried out to me when I handle him the dollar. He was in pain. He had a story. And I didn't need to know it. I just needed to act. 

I paid for my purchase, stopped at the fast food place in the store, and purchased breakfast with coffee to go. I walked out and he was still there. 

I said, "Son, come here please." 

"Yes, ma'am?"

I handed him the bag and said, "You look hungry. Here's breakfast and a coffee and sugar."

His eyes filled with tears as he thanked me. I asked if I could tell him something. 

He nodded. 

"I don't know your story and I really don't need to know it. I will listen if you choose to share it. But whatever you're going through, it will pass. I just wanted to let you know that someone cares. I have a friend who was homeless for several years. He's married, with children and has a successful career now.  You will be okay."

"Thank you," he said. "I needed to hear that."

I smiled and went on my way. And I prayed for this young man. 

I'm publishing this on my blog to ask you to pray for the lost, the broken, the forgotten. We may not know his story, but we don't have to. "There but for the grace of God..."

Thank you for reading. Have a blessed day. 

Free Range Kid--Take Two

One of my boys has been nominated for the safety patrol at school. He's so excited about it and I'm proud of him! He made me even more proud when he told me about an incident at school yesterday. 

He has this "friend" whose parents are those "free range" types. The kid is aggressive, disrespectful, rude and obnoxious. But it's okay because lavender oil will fix that (insert eye roll here). I'm not saying it won't help, or that there aren't alternative methods of treatment. But this kid is off the chain!

Yesterday, this kid told my son that they needed to have a battle to see who's the toughest. 

My kiddo said, "No. I don't want to battle you or need to battle you. I'm on the safety patrol and we don't do that."

Yay for my kiddo! And for little free range? Leave my boys alone. You're a cute child who cannot control your impulses through no fault of your own. Don't drag mine into it. 

Thanks for reading!

Confessions Of A Not-So-Perfect Mom

I want you to sit down. Are you sitting? Now, what I'm going to tell you might be a shock, so prepare yourself. 

I'm not perfect. I know, I know, you can't believe it! It can't be true! Surely, I jest. But no, I am really a very imperfect person and an even more imperfect mother. There it is. I said it. Well, technically, I wrote it, but...

I threaten to take things away from my kids for "the rest of your life" and to strip their rooms of everything but beds and clothes; and I don't do it! I know nobody else out there has EVER done that!

I also don't always explain everything in a calm, controlled voice. I yell. Loudly. And with gusto. I don't always give my children choices or explain my choices. I use the phrase "because I'm your mother and I SAID SO" a lot. 

I don't tell my children how I understand they're feeling overwhelmed or frustrated and blah, blah, blah. I do sometimes, but not every time. 

I do tell my children they're being brats when they're being, you know, brats. I don't let them use their ADHD as an excuse. I don't always ignore behavior because they're tired or cranky. 

You see, I'm human. And I get tired of dealing with things, just like everybody else. And I think it's just as important that they know I'm human. I screw up, I get angry, I lose my cool. I also admit when I'm wrong. 

This morning, my oldest who's in the middle of preteen angst was being mouthy--not typical for him. He got

yelled at after talking didn't work. I took him to school and felt like an utter bitch. He was sullen, I was ready to cry. Fun times in preteen land--not!  

For the next hour, I went through the scenario over and over. All of a sudden, I looked at the counter and saw his morning dose of medicine. Crap! I forgot to give it to him. I never do that! 

I grabbed the medicine, drove over to the school to see the nurse and explain what happened. She called him to the office. He came in, surprised to see me.  I explained what I did and that he was right when he told me that morning that it seemed like he forgot something. He laughed and said it was okay. 

Then, he took his medicine, walked me to the office door, pulled me closer like he wanted to say something, and kissed me on the cheek. "I love you, Mom."

Huh, not so perfect, but close enough, I guess. Thanks for reading!