Seeing beyond the action

I've been reading the book, "The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog". I know that many adoptive parents have read this. It is a great source of insight into the mind and brain of a child who has been traumatized. It is helping me to understand the changes that had to occur in my child's mind in order for her to cope with events in her life.
I have read many books that are great resources of insight and knowledge. I realize that I need to be able to read these books and apply their wisdom to my situation. The problem for me is that when I set these books down and am faced with a disciplinary problem or what would seem to be an act of defiance, I tend to resort back to my standard way of dealing with things--not that there's anything wrong with my standard way, if the child has not endured traumatic events.
So, I am going to challenge myself to ponder what this author has to say on a daily basis and strive to see the pain in my child's actions and respond with compassion and not frustration.

Painting, Take 2

So...my last post was a little silly. I don't really talk to my laundry and it doesn't talk to me. :) It was just a fun way to say that there is always something that needs to be done--whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mother-the chores are neverending and sometimes overwhelming.

Here's something a little more exciting! The painting of my kids is closer to being done!!!! I will present you with the most awesome-est painting of Diborah, Kayla and Derek!!! My friend, Kelly's, paintings are becoming more and more popular, so I'm very excited that I have asked her to paint my children!! Someday, she'll be famous and I will own her best painting EVER!!! :)

She will be taking a break to work on another painting and then will start on Nathan, Faven and Emma. If you can imagine it....they will be on a separate paper to the left of Derek, Kayla and Diborah. The other half of the tree will be in that painting. LOVE IT!! Kelly even painted the kids' names in the bark!! It's not obvious in the picture I posted but will be fun to find once I receive the actual painting! I'm super excited about this purchase as these are the most beautiful people I know!!!

Home Alone and Voices in the Dungeon

Each morning is a whirlwind. Must get Derek to school extra early for required before school workout. Must get 3 girls up, dressed, do hair, feed breakfast, make lunch and pack it, fill water bottles, get backpacks, hugs and kisses, then out the door. Nathan appears, sits, eats breakfast, chats, says good bye and leaves.
Ah, alone at last. Get my hot cup of coffee, sit in my favorite chair and re-lax! Yes, mothers who stay at home get to rest and relax while their children are in school. Ha! I wish!
You see, it's not long after I sit down with my cup of joe that I hear a voice coming from the dungeon. The voice says, "Hello...." I ignore it. Again, "Hello!" It's getting louder!!
The dungeon is the room in the basement that is the farthest away from the upstairs as you can get. I also call it my laundry room. The voice I hear is the voice of the dirty laundry....always there, always demanding my attention!
I say to my laundry....."Oh, I'll get a job and somebody else will have to wash your dirty fabric!!!" My laundry chuckles mockingly.....because it knows that ultimately the responsibility will fall on me. I know it too. And so the dance continues.
I got a job. It's a job with the school district that will allow me to drop off my kiddos at school and pick them up after school. I will come home, get them started on homework, sit down to rest, and hear that laundry in the dungeon mocking, mocking, mocking!!! Ugh! And I'll get to it.....right after supper!! *sigh*