After Potty Training: "Going" on the Go (Folding, padded potty seat PR)

07/18/2011 by
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The folding, padded potty seat

As you may recall, I just recently finished a successful (and short) stint potty training my two-year old daughter back at the end of May.  She took to the task like a pro, which gave me the confidence *I* needed to take her out and about, and know we could minimize accidents.  However, my biggest hang-up had long been the dreaded public restroom.


Need I say more?  A curious toddler’s small hands simply can’t contain themselves in a new environment, and -well- the nastiness that you likely conjured up at the mere words “public restroom” are enough to send one sprinting for a can of Lysol, right?

The bulky “on the go”
potty seat — BOO!

Furthermore, any mother will attest to the amount of STUFF one must lug around, even with a potty-trained child: your own purse, a (former) diaper bag, and miscellaneous other bags, depending on the occasion and the circumstances.   For me, shopping entailed the addition of my bag full of reusable shopping bags AND my coupon binder bag.  Oh, plus one highly-active and surprisingly fast red-headed toddler.  Need I say my hands were already quite full?


So, to add ANOTHER bag to the mix seems rather silly.  However, when potty training commenced, we had only the regular (unfoldable) potty seat (see pic to your left), which I kept in a reusable shopping bag, along with a pack of sanitizing wipes.  To say this was a bit much is an understatement!  


But not bringing a potty seat was NOT an option.  We’d tried that ONCE on an early post-PT outing, and her tiny little boopah simply proved too small for the grown-up potty seat, even with me holding her hands for balance and support; therefore, she couldn’t get comfortable enough to go.  :o(


Enter: the FOLDABLE, padded potty seat!  I’d had my eye on this for a while, and had been unable to find anything comparable in the stores.  (The closest I’d found was a foldable, NON-padded plastic potty seat; but all the reviews I’d read suggested they were flimsy and a waste of money.)  By chance I saw it being featured one day on My Precious Kid‘s Facebook page, and decided it was time.  The more I saw it, the  more I was convinced this folding, padded potty seat was precisely the answer to my daughter’s potty prayers!  


When it arrived, I first marveled at the small size of the entire shipping package!  Upon opening it, I simply couldn’t contain my excitement — I eagerly opened it up, and showed my daughter her “new potty seat!”  We hadn’t anywhere to go that evening, but I insisted we go out.  Out we went, with our “new potty seat” in tow, which fit rather neatly in her (former) diaper bag.  (Big plus, right there!!)   Did I mention it comes with a washable bag?  It also holds a travel-size pack of wipes, too.  


Lo and behold, we hadn’t been at Tar-Zshay for more than a few minutes, when my daughter uttered those famous words “I go potty.”  


For the first time EVER, I eagerly dashed to the public restrooms -skipping almost- as I told my daughter how we were going to get to try out her new potty seat.  My excitement was contagious!  From the first time we used it, it has been a gem — it folds easily, it sets up easily, and with a row of toilet paper or a toilet seat cover between the “new potty seat” and the regular one, it offers this germ-a-phobe significant peace of mind!  And to be able to pack it all away in a tiny bag, which fits nicely in her (former) diaper bag is just icing on the potty-training cake!


We’ve had it for a little over a month, and I dare not leave home without it!  It certainly fits in just about every toilet we’ve used, save for the old rickety one at the Atlanta Zoo, but that’s a whole ‘nother ball of wax…  We had but one “accident” with the new potty seat, where I think I simply didn’t have it fitted properly inside the toilet seat.  No big deal though, since I was squatting right next to my daughter — she actually just giggled about getting her boopah a little wet.  


Her enthusiasm for the seat is still in tact, too.  Many times when we merely walk in to the public restrooms, she’ll grin and excitedly declare “new!  potty!  seat!” — as I breath a sigh of relief knowing my daughter has the comfort she needs to “go” on the go, while I have the peace of mind knowing that we CAN take extended excursions and she’ll be accommodated, just about anywhere we go.

My personal thanks to Kay Green, of My Precious Kid, for providing me with the opportunity to review this awesome product; as well as for her sage words of wisdom, with all things related to child safety and potty training!  (As well as my sincerest apologies for not posting this review ina much more timely manner!)  


The foldable potty seat is available here, for only $11.99, plus shipping.  Use the promo code 2SEPTEN for an 10% off!  (Also, you can enjoy free shipping for orders over $100, by entering promo code FREESHIP100.) While you’re there, check out the entire website, for a vast array of products devoted to child safety and wellness! 


Next up in the series, I’ll discuss items I highly recommend for potty training, as well as items that aren’t essential, but can make life a whole lot easier.  If you have any items to suggest for this, feel free to contact me.  :o)




Keep on saving!  :o)

–Barbara
**This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click/purchase/sign up for this offer, I may receive a small amount of compensation for it.**
Follow Me on Pinterest

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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Ditching the Diapers: Potty Training in 3 (or 4) Days

06/29/2011 by
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Disclaimer: The following is my account of potty training my daughter, using a particular method*. I am not claiming to be an expert on the subject. However, in 30 years, I’ve 20 years experience with working with kids, including two degrees in education. I’ve taught in middle school and elementary schools, and just finished up my first year in preschool. Again, I am NOT an expert in the matter, but I do feel my combined education and experience makes my account worthwhile. :o)
 
ditching the diapers: potty trainingDuring the third full week in May, I undertook the daunting task of potty training my daughter, who was 26 months at the time. She was ready; she was more than ready, and I knew it. This just happened to be the first block of time where I could set aside to truly devote to the task. School had finished up the week before, and we had nothing critical that needed to be done. (Gym, schmym – we’re ditching diapers!!) So, I began hyping up going on the potty even more, leading up to that week.
 
She’d been sitting on the potty at night since January. But that’s all she had done: sit. So the potty was already a familiar entity for her. Plus, she frequently saw Mommy go potty, and -hee hee- taught her self how to “wipe”, as well.
 
I knew what I did and didn’t want to do with PT. For one, I did not want to use the “timer method” – I didn’t feel like that was a way to teach a child how to read their body’s signals. I also did NOT want to make the transition from diapers to training pants (like Pull-Ups) full time. That didn’t seem to make sense for us. I started making Carol work on pulling her pants on and off for over six months prior, so she’d already mastered that task. (This was easily accomplished during diaper changes. After the diaper was put on, I’d stand her up, with pants at her ankles, and have her pull them up. She still needs a little help getting them up in the back.) I knew I wanted to go straight from diapers to panties, with the exception of naps and nighttime. (I’ll touch more upon that later.)
 
We ceremoniously took a trip to Target and picked out a few packs of Big Girl Panties. She got to pick out one pack , with princesses on them, naturally; while I tossed in a few more packs that were more cost-efficient. All the while, I talked very upbeat but casually, about how big girls wear panties instead of diapers, sit on the potty, AND put their pee-pee and poo-poo in the potty, and NOT in a diaper. Further, we read plenty of “going potty” books in the weeks leading up to Operation: Ditching the Diapers. Finally, I deliberately opened the packs of panties in front of her, and gave her the “princess” cardboard insert that came with the one pack, and made sure she watched me fold the newly-washed panties, talking up how neat it is to have her very own big girl panties.
 
Day One
So Tuesday -Day One- arrived, and after breakfast, we ceremoniously went back up stairs to take off our jammies, and take off our verylastdiaper. (Yes, my child eats breakfast in her jammies… That’s blog entry for another day.) I pulled out the new panties from her dresser drawer, and told her how, from now on, she was not going to wear diapers, but wear panties like a big girl. I showed her the picture of the princess on the front, to which she cooly remarked, “oooh, nice” while patting the princess. I went on to explain that big girls keep their panties dry, so if she felt “the pee-pees”, to tell mommy and we’d go sit on the potty. (She wore just a t-shirt and panties, no pants, to minimize the time needed to sit on the potty.)
 
I’m not going to lie, within two hours of this, I was totally exhausted, and halfway convinced this method just wouldn’t work. (I’m going to chalk up most of the exhaustion to pregnancy.) But I knew I had to have faith in what I set out to do, and push forward. The key to this method of potty training is to stay right by your child’s side at all times. This way, you pick up on their cues, and therefore, teach the child their cues to go potty. With frequent reminders to “tell mommy if you feel the pee-pees”, we still had our share of accidents. The key was to rush her to the potty the second I saw her pause (to pee), if the first drop came out, or if those legs started to spread apart, I’d scoop her up and plop her on the potty. All with a casual reminder that “we sit on the potty to go pee pee!”
 
We had about half a dozen accidents within the first two hours, but only a few that were paper-towel-worthy; mostly, her panties got a little damp, and we simply had to change in to a new pair. I frequently had her feel the new, dry pair, and compare it to the damp pair we just took off. I’d say things like, “see, these panties are dry. Let’s keep our new panties dry. So you tell mommy if you feel the pee-pees.” Also, for intermittent reinforcement, I would “quiz” her to see if the panties were dry; if they were, we would enthusiastically celebrate. Sometimes that entailed doing the “Woo-Hoo! My Panties are STILL Dry” dance.
 
While I was getting lunch ready, I failed to keep a close of an eye on her, and that’s when her little table and chair in the kitchen got a downpour. She stood in her chair, just letting it gush out – all the while looking over at me, unable to articulate what she needed to do, so she just, well, showed me…
 
And then it all started to click.
 
She would not necessarily verbally state that she needed to go potty, but her body language was clear. She would “hold” herself; she’d knowingly pause whatever she was doing, becoming motionless. I cracked her code, and so did she! Before I put her down for her nap, not only did she pee on the potty, while keeping her panties dry, but she even pooped on the potty, too! I really saw the tide starting to turn, and almost hated to have to put her down for a nap. (Naps were necessary – if for no other reason, so I could have a little break during such an exhausting time!) I reluctantly put on her “night-night panties” (Pull-Ups), and she went down for a nap.
 
Post-nap, we continued to ride the train of potty training success! While she still wasn’t verbally expressing when she needed to go, her body language was loud and clear. She went through only one or two pairs of panties until bedtime, and I could really tell it was starting to sink in with her.
 
With each successful attempt to sit on the potty, we called a loved one: daddy at work, grandparents, etc. This proved to be enough of a reward for her. She also got to “watch the babies” on my iPhone. (She likes to watch videos of herself on my phone.) Occassionally, I would further supplement a successful trip and dry panties with an animal cracker, but I didn’t want her to become dependent on tangible rewards. Calls to loved ones, and plenty of praise and enthuiasm proved valuable!
 
Day Two
The next day started off much like the previous. Except for the pooping in the panties… While she was going pee-pee in the potty like a champ, she would not repeat yesterday’s performance of going poo-poo on the potty. The first time this happened, she paused, and I honestly just missed her cue. So, she didn’t get the message that she should also poop in the potty, just the same as she goes pee-pee. The next incident occurred when she hid behind a chair to poop. This told me she knew what she was supposed to do, but wasn’t ready to try it out on the potty.
 
It’s important to note that, with this method (or any potty-training method, IMHO), you do not scold a child for an accident. With positively stating my expectations, Carol learned what she was supposed to do. When I saw that glaring nugget poking out of the back of her pants, I would swiftly take her to sit on the potty, all the while reminding her that “poo-poo goes in the potty”, and “remember to tell Mommy if you feel the poo-poo or the pee-pee”. My phrases from the day before continued well in to Day Three.
 
Day Three
Thursday arrived, much like the day before. She kept her panties dry the entire day. But, she still wouldn’t poop in the potty. She didn’t have any accidents, she just didn’t have to go. (Side note: this method encourages a fiber-rich diet, starting a few days prior to starting, as well as encouraging the child to drink, drink, drink. The drinking was not a problem. But when you have a picky child, it’s difficult to get her to eat most meals, let alone a fiber-rich diet!)
 
Knowing that she was peeing in the potty without incident, I felt good. However, not knowing if she would poop in the potty made me a bit nervous. I was beginning to develop a motivational reward program in my head, involving charts, stickers, and other small tangible rewards. Keeping all this in mind, I reluctantly decided to extend the “method” to a fourth day, just to be cautious. Reluctant, as we were both going stir crazy, being at home for yet another day; but, I was committed to potty-training my daughter!
 
Day Four
Friday turned out to be a mixed blessing, much like the day before. She continued to excel at peeing in the potty. But she didn’t poop: not in her pants, not in the potty. Argh.
 
However, I determined that I had to just trust that she would get it, perhaps with the help of a rewards system, which I was fully ready and prepared to implement. As it turned out, she started pooping in the potty the following day. The first time she did so, Daddy was home too, so we just made such a fuss about going poo poo in the potty, I think that was all the motivation she required. For the next two weeks, she would applaud herself for pooping in the potty, usually with a hand clap and a ceremonious “yay, I did it!”
 
So, I can say now, a month later, that I have a successfully and fully potty-trained child. She truly knows when she has to go, and began verbally stating when she does shortly thereafter the training experience. I’ve learned to take her at her word, whether she says she does have to go, or if she claims she needn’t go at the moment. I do still encourage her to sit on the potty before we leave the house, and as soon as we get home. But, now that I have a really cool foldable potty seat, I’m not afraid to take her to (most) public restrooms. Almost. ;o)
 
In an upcoming post, I will share a list of items I highly recommend you have on hand before and during potty training. I certainly have learned along the way, and feel much more confident about Pting Baby Number Two; however, I know now how consuming this method is, and will likely need a caretaker for Carol during the duration of PTing the next child. I digress; that’s an obstacle I’ll face and accomplish in a little over two years.
 
I will leave you with these last words: this method worked for me and for my child. I’ve heard testimonials from several other mothers of their success in using this method for their children as well. However, it is not for everyone, especially if you haven’t the ability to carve out 3-5 days solely to devote to PTing. You cannot “work from home” on these days. Your child needs your full attention. Period. I highly recommend you do your own research, and find a method that will work for your family. :o)
 
* – I used a slightly modified version of the 3 Day Method. It’s a program that you can purchase online. It is my opinion that you should not have to pay for a method that can help a child learn a basic life skill. However, it is copyrighted material, and I cannot LEGALLY give it away. I suggest if you’d like to learn more about the 3 Day Method, you ask your friends if they’ve used it; perhaps they could loan you their copy (it comes as a PDF, too), so you can see if it might work for you and your child.
Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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The Coupon Fairy Cometh

02/26/2011 by
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Have you ever been walking through the store and found a coupon strategically placed right by its intended product?  Perhaps YOU have left a coupon for another unsuspecting shopper?  If so, welcome to the Coupon Fairy Club!
I’ve long been a coupon fairy, before I even knew what I was doing.  Countless times, I’ve looked through my stash, and realized I had plenty of good coupons that I simply wouldn’t get around to using.  Thus, instead of sticking them in the recycling (NEVER THE TRASH, please!), I always find it more helpful -dare I say altruistic?- to pass them on to someone else.  Mostly, this is done anonymously, as the coupons are simply left near the applicable items.

However, on the rare occasions that I can hand a fellow shopper a coupon, it’s priceless!  I recall striking up a conversation with another new mom back when The Tot was still The Infant.  In the course of our conversation, the other mom asked for diaper recommendations.  Ever fulfilling my role as Atlanta’s Frugal Mom even before this very blog’s birth, I gave her my abbreviated diaper philosophy: buy whatever’s cheapest.  After all, they’re all going to be filled with the same stuff in the end, right?  (Yes, pun intended…)  As we quickly scanned the diaper shelves, I pulled out my (then smaller) coupon envelope, and handed her a $3.00 Huggies coupon I’d printed.  With the coupon, Huggies were cheaper than the store brand.  She was amazed, excited, and humbled all at once that I would fork over a high value coupon.  …and, thus, I experienced a whole new kind of coupon high.

I challenge you, my dear readers, to be a Coupon Fairy.  Or, if you already are, share your stories.  Just keep your eyes peeled for the Coupon Fairy, and enjoy her sweet treats!  :o)

P.S.  As I’m typing this, I can’t help but create a mental image of me with store-bought fairy wings strapped to my back, wand in hand, coupon binder in my cart, and possibly some kind of hat or tiara, tip-toeing through my favorite stores, and “tee-hee-hee”ing as I leave coveted coupons for unsuspecting shoppers.  ….and were I in the company of a few of my former college roomies -after a few libations gave us the courage and heightened our goofiness- I can totally see this scenario occurring.

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Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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Couponing Etiquette, Ethics, and Other Common Courtesies

02/03/2011 by
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Couponing Etiquette, Ethics, and Other Common Courtesies

Aside from (what should be) the obvious “rules” that come with couponing, there can be some gray areas out there.  Further, if you are a true couponer, you will find yourself in a situation where there is no one to police you and your coupons, only your conscience and moral compass to guide you.  Here, I’ve composed a few couponing tips, based on my personal experience, my observations of others, and anecdotal tales on the blogosphere.
  
  • Let the little guy go  If you’re in line, with your stack of coupons and full cart, shouldn’t it be second nature to let the person behind you, with only a scant few items, go before you?
  • Give fair warning!  Again, with full cart and you coupon stack, let the people behind you -or who may want to get behind you- know that you’ll likely take a while.  Yes, the full cart should be a dead give away, but  still…
  • Sometimes, just suck it up!  I implore you not to haggle or fuss over less than a dollar, especially when the line behind you continues to grow longer.  This is a tough one -trust me!- but sometimes we get so clouded with our desire to save every last penny, that we lose sight of what’s important.  IF you know your coupon is valid, and cannot get it to work -either because of a reluctant cashier, a fault with the register’s system, or whatnot- and a manager has to get involved, ask yourself if this is an item you absolutely MUST have at that very moment at the couponed price, or if you could 
    • a) purchase at another time and/or place, 
    • b) –gulp!– pay full price (seriously, it hurts to type that!), or 
    • c) not purchase the item at all.
  • Be nice to your cashier.  Again, you’d think this would be a given, but I’ve witnessed some nasty, nasty customers (couponers and non-couponers alike) lashing out at the cashiers, and 99% of the time things that were out their (the cashier’s) control.  We are all human.  As such, we are known to occasionally make mistakes.  I’ve very politely pointed out to cashiers when they were in the wrong, but always with a warm smile, and let them know it’s “ok”.  Nastiness only ensures nastiness in return — kindness, however, can invoke more kindness!
  • …and be nice to the store managers, too!  On the occasion when a manager must become involved with your transaction -either because of a dispute, for clarity, or to simply do an override- try to maintain your composure.  While the squeaky wheel may get the grease, store employees do and WILL remember you and your disposition. I’ve found that being pleasant to the employees makes them more likely to help me out in the future, whether the manager becomes involved or not.
  • Printable coupons have rules, too!  I’ve touched on this before, but it bears repeating: most printable coupons should only be PRINTED twice!  That’s the way “bricks” coupons from coupons.com are set up to work.  
  • Don’t be a copy cat.  EVER!  Further, it is completely unethical to COPY printable coupons.  Don’t be that one bad apple.  Manufactures set up a limited number of printable coupons, and if you’re making copies, you’re hurting much more than your guilty conscience.  Stores do NOT get reimbursed for fraudulent coupons, manufactures lose money on them, and with each fraudulent coupon that passes through,  the chances of stores accepting printables AND the chances of manufactures publishing printables decreases!
  • Check the date.  There can be some gray area if a coupon has just expired a few days ago.  Some stores will allow you to use a very recently expired coupon, at their discretion.  (Remember what I said earlier about being NICE to people?  This is when it can pay off!)  ..but, don’t try to pawn off that coupon from 2006.  To be honest, that’s just dumb!
  • READ the fine print.  If a coupon is meant for two items, don’t try to use it with just ONE item.  That’s unethical.  If a coupon is for a specific product by a company, don’t try to use it for a similar item, not specified on the coupon.  That’s unethical.  …on the flipside, sometimes coupons will have a PICTURE of one particular item in a product line, while the coupon is good for any or most items in that line…  Yet another reason why it pays to read.
The bottom line: if we are pleasant to those around us, and stay within the parameters of what’s right -even when there are questionable gray areas- karma will reward you.  Couponing shouldn’t be about making folks grumble when they see you coming, but about experiencing that wonderful coupon high.  Oh, and saving money.  :o)

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Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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Lessons Learned and Reflections Made for 2010

12/31/2010 by
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Check out my Lessons Learned and Reflections Made for 2010, on my personal blog.   This is a yearly tradition I began about 7 years ago, and it’s sparked quite a few interesting discussions over time.


I’d love to hear y’alls thoughts, and any lessons or reflections you care to share for 2010.


Happy New Year’s y’all!  May 2011 hold wonder, excitement, and a few frugal lessons for you.  :o)
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Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
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Lessons Learned and Reflections Made for 2010

12/31/2010 by
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Lessons Learned and Reflections Made for 2010
2010 was a passionate year for me. Rather, it was a year in which I actively pursued my passions, or rekindled or maintained the things about which I have long been passionate. In February, armed with a stack of resumes and a fiery red-head’s legs loyally clamped to my hip, I set about to re-enter the workforce, pursuing an old flame of mine: working with the Little Ones. Through a long process, much hand-wringing, a few interviews here and there, and turning down job offers that simply were not right for myself or my family at the time, I found myself working at my old church. The church where my passion for the Little Ones all began. I have yet to be disappointed, and continue to marvel that I am -once again- getting paid to do something I love doing!
After much prodding by friends and family, I also found myself starting up a blog, so that I could share another of my passions: frugality. Thus, Atlanta’s Frugal Mom came to be. Though the blog is still very much still in it’s fledgling stages, it has become a small source of joy and inspiration.
I’ve also began a staunch passion to campaign against celebrating any further birthdays. Well, to be fair, I’ll take the birthday and any cake that may accompany it, but can I leave off the “one year older” thing? I digress; I won’t rehash previous thoughts here on turning 30…
Perhaps my greatest passion this year continues to be that of motherhood. Truly, it is a role I was born to take on! Hubs and I have been amazingly blessed with a sweet, curious, highly energetic daughter; an enigmatic blessing whose enormous proportion is not lost on us. The Tot continues to be a source of delight, giggles and smiles– even with the Twos making special early appearances here and there.
Passion aside, I think it’ time to alter my yearly tradition. It seems more appropriate to balance reflections of the past year, with dreams, hopes, and resolutions for the next year to come. Thus, without further adieu….
2010 Reflections
  1. There’s nothing like ten two-year-olds, in all their innocence, honesty, and spontaneity, to keep you grounded! Teaching preschool, while slightly taxing at times, has been an amazing experience for me thus far; I feel that this is what I’m meant to do at this point in my life.
  2. Blogging is addictive, rewarding, and can end up being as much, or as little, work as you want -or allow it- to be.
  3. Toddler hood is a true test of parents’ patience.
  4. Good things come to those who wait. There are certain things in life for which you simply cannot plan, no matter how much you try. Again, patience is a virtue.
  5. “Taking off” from the gym for a few weeks is a bad idea. A really, really bad idea.
  6. …but having childcare at the gym is a Godsend! (I hope the Kid Zone at the JCC is prepared for a romping-stomping-redheaded-tornado come January!)
  7. Quality over quantity – everytime!
  8. There are very few dishes in to which you cannot put spinach.
2011 Resolutions
  1. To live the next 365 days to their fullest, with my wonderfully amazing family along for the ride. (Sappy, I know; but I hope putting it in writing serves as a reminder to not waste a single day away.)
  2. The gym: hit it daily. Or at least drop a few pounds… Whatever.
  3. Get -and then maintain!- some sense of organization for the daily grind.
  4. Learn to sew.
  5. Drink more water. Drink less soda. This will greatly help with resolution #2. N’duh!
  6. Write more! To daughter, for personal reflection, and for the big, bad blogosphere to devour!
  7. Eat more chicken… Wait, that’s a Chik-fil-a ad. Nevermind. There is no number seven….
    I resolve only a handful of things for the year, but hope to attain these goals. What goals and aspirations do you have for the coming new year?
I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. May the final moments of 2010 prove well for you, and may you marvel daily at the wonders ahead for you in 2011.
P.S.  You’re very welcome to take a peek at Lessons Learned from years past.
Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
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Lessons Learned Archive

12/31/2010 by
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Lessons learned from years past:
The Archive
The tradition began many years ago, back when I emailed them to friends and family. For this archive, I simply copied and pasted, deleting any phone numbers I had attached to my signature at the time, but preserved the names and quotations accompanying. At the very least, it was neat for me to see my evolution over time. :o)
2005 (must not have learned much in ’05?)
Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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Lessons Learned in 2006

12/31/2010 by
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Okay folks, it’s that time of the year again. For those new to my inner circle, I annually compile a list of important tidbits -life lessons, if you will- that I have picked up along the way each year. (And for those of you on MySpace, you will be receiving this through a bulletin as well… twice the joy, right?) I find this more enjoyable than making new year’s resolutions, since I marvel in seeing what others have learned during the year. So, I will list below what I’ve learned, and you are welcome to read, make your own list of things you’ve learned (and -my lord!- it certainly doesn’t need to be as long-winded as mine), and feel free to share with your friends and family. In years past, this has sparked some interesting discussions amongst my friends, some of whom have never met, except for being on the same “sent to” list on my emails.

Without further ado, here’s what I have learned in the year 2006:

  1. All children need to be hugged. Especially the ones you least want to hug. I think I post this one every year, but each year I find renewed purpose in stating this!
  2. I have some of the best damn colleagues around. I am truly blessed. Okay, more of a statement than a lesson, but…
  3. Buying a house is hard, but very rewarding work. Selling a house is a bitch. Anyone want to buy a lovely home in Lilburn??
  4. Weddings are a wonderful memory. Unfortunantly, the day is never long enough, no matter how late you and your guests stay up and party…
  5. Honeymoons are like a fairy tale. They must always end, but leave lasting impressions and spark fond feelings and memories.
  6. For Christmas this year, one of my students presented me with a tiny wrapped package with a big bow, and she was dying for me to open it. It turned out to be a little notepad shaped like a flower, with lots of glitter on it, hooked to a key chain. And she had already written her name on the inside of it. I later found out that she had not given any of her other teachers a gift, but she wanted me to have something, so she very likely looked around her room the day before the break, and found this little notepad -which still, by the way, had the pricetag on it. This is a child that I talk to like an adult, because even though she has some terrible emotional and behavioral problems, she is rather intelligent (IQ in the 130s), and I have shown her nothing but respect in the two years since I’ve known her. The teacher next door to me has spoken on my wonderful repoire with this little girl. I was almost in tears when I fully realized the significance of her tiny gift. Soooo…the lesson? Always treat people with respect, no matter what.
  7. There is nothing in the world as exhilarating as marrying your best friend, and knowing that the two of you were meant to be together. Again, I am truly blessed.
  8. I am dreadfully terrible about staying in touch with my friends. Luckily, through handy-dandy things like MySpaceLand, textmessaging, and good ol’ fashioned email, I am able to somewhat salvage my ability to stay in touch with you all. (And if I don’t, please know that you’re constantly on my mind!)
  9. I always think of the things I need to do at the most inconvenient times. That ever-growing to-do list just gets longer and longer while driving in the car, in the shower, or drifting off to sleep.
  10. Advisors can be your worst enemy. Particularly when they seem to be rather incompetent, and hand out their work to others. But ultimately passing your research project and obtaining your degree is perhaps the sweetest revenge. 😉

That’s it. I think I’m done for the year. It has been another life-changing, highly engaging year, and I look forward to what 2007 has in store for us all. I wish you all a safe, happy, healthy, and all-around wonderful new year. May you find countless moments to take your breath away.

Cheers!

Barbara Burns 

“Marge, it’s vallet.  Maybe for once, someone will call me ‘sir’ without adding, ‘you’re making a scene'”  – Homer Simpson

Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
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Lessons Learned in 2007

12/31/2010 by
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So as 2008 starts to rapidly roll forward, it is time that I get on in sharing my Lessons from 2007.  I encourage you all to share with me, and other friends and family, what you have learned the past twelve months as well.

1.  First, I must open with the chilling realization that no one is safe.  Period.  In recent headlines, the citizens of Georgia have see an apparently charismatic, lovely young lady go from missing to dead to tortured and decapitated by a crazy old man.  Then, on a more personal note, I watched as a young girl I went to high school was found lifeless at the bottom of a lake (pond?) where she was last seen jogging with her dog in Athens.  Details still unfolding.  And, still very tragically, I cannot forget or dismiss that a friend of mine lost her brother to the inexplicable tragedy at Virginia Tech.  She and her family are turning that mess into a forum for gun control reform, and rightly so.  The point of all this is that, within our cozy little worlds, we can be jolted into terror and tragedy unknown; whether it be to us personally, or to a loved one of someone we know.  Regardless, we must never -to paraphrase a country song,- “take one single breath for granted.”

2.  Work is work.  It’s not supposed to be something we can effortlessly glide through, nor something which we can do without.  I find it oddly comforting and frustrating that my job has constantly thrown wrenches in my best laid plans for my students.  I have had to continuously be on my toes.  Perhaps it keeps me awake and alert.  Or perhaps it’s part of what draws me to the Mexican restaurant down the street each week for the chips, dip, delicious food, and the big mug of beer.

3.  Which leads me to the 3rd lesson: routine.  I love my and my husband’s routines.  We have our “date nights” that I greatly look forward to.  Okay, so I didn’t “learn” this in the past year; I’ve known this since we started dating.  However, my appreciation for these little things grows and grows with each little stressor in our lives.

4.  Finding your dream home is amazing.  Filling it with 30-years worth of furniture (thanks to your in-laws flying south) can be both humbling and overwhelming.  It is neat to know that we have certain pieces of furniture that Tim and his family used years and years ago, and to think of the history behind it.  It is sad, however, to think about WHY we have it, and why it’s not with his parents anymore.  The comfort lies in knowing that they will frequently be here to visit us, any future grandkids, and all their old stuff for MANY MANY years.

5.  God Bless Craig’s List!

6.  I miss my friends at Magill.  I knew before I left my last school that they were a special group of people with whom to work, and I knew finding another group that clicked like that would be extremely rare.  While I am reaching out and making strides at my current school, I still miss the personalities and the friendships I had there.  Leaving that school was one of the hardest things I had to do, but I simply knew I couldn’t commute for a solid hour each day.  Which leads wonderfully to …..

7.  Having a 13 minute commute kicks ass!  I still get up as early as I did last year, and still don’t get home most days until late (like last year).  But there is something wonderful about knowing that I am 6.9 miles away from work.  That is a luxury to which I have not been previously accustomed.

8.  I am perhaps unique and lucky to have such both wonderful in-laws and parents.  They are amazingly wonderful people, and I’m priveledged to get along with all of them, and have the utmost respect for them.  Even my dad is a good egg sometimes.  😉

9.  Some times those who least expect it have the strongest “Mom genes” (not to be confused with Mom Jeans).  I have watched a good friend of mine transform into a hopelessly devoted mother this year, through the pregnancy and the first few months with her son, whom I’m still DYING to meet!  Years ago, I recall her declaring that she’ll “deal with the kids when they’re old enough to talk and stuff”, and now she can’t wait for her 2nd.  😉  I have seen several wonderful women go through this in the past few years, and they have turned out to be amazing mothers, with beautiful children.

9.  I’ll be thankful come May that today wasn’t a “snow day”, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.

Okay, folks, that’s my two cents worth.  I look forward to hearing from you all about what 2007 held in store for you all.  Take care, and (better late than never) happy 2008!  🙂

 
Barbara Burns 

“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.”  – W.B. Yeats

“There is a brilliant child locked inside every student.”  – Marva Collins
Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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Lessons Learned in 2008

12/31/2010 by
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Believe it or not, I began this edition in July…  There were many little tidbits that I knew I wanted to capture before I forgot them!  So, here we go, Lessons Learned in 2008:

1)  I’ve worked with soo many kids over the years that never fit neatly into any one “label” or category.  He or she may display strong characteristic of this or that label or diagnosis, but doesn’t quite fit the full definitional criteria.  Therefore, I have learned that a label is just that: a label.  Instead of treating someone based on the label, it is better to treat the person with which we are working.  (Actually, I learned this MANY MANY years ago from my amazing mentor during my undergrad days.  It’s just been so greatly reinforced lately, that it’s worth adding to the Lessons List.)

2)  I believe my friend Lauren said this one best, if you ever want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans.  As much as I am a PLANNER, there are just so many things that are simply out of our control.  Therefore, you can make plans, but must be flexible and willing to roll with the changes. 

3)  Alaska is a BEAUTIFUL, beautiful place.  I truly hope that it remains the last frontier.  If you ever have the opportunity to see the land, DO IT!

4)  ***Males, you DON’T want to read this one.  Just skip straight to number five NOW!****  When you’re trying to have a baby, and you know it’s close to That Time of the Month, you dread having to go to the restroom, for fear of disappointment.  And even AFTER you’ve taken two pregnancy tests -confirming that you are indeed preggo- it’s hard to understand that you’re period isn’t coming, so you’ll still *expect* it when you go to the restroom for a few days.  That, too, will subside with time.

5)  If you ever want to go to the beach, but can’t get away, put on The Beach Boys.  They’re like a barbershop quartet, with guitars.  They will instantly take you to a warm place, with sand and a cold drink.  ;o)

6) If you ever meet a mother who says she had an easy pregancy, AND/OR retained her figure instantly, SLAP HER!  Consider it a personal favor for yours truly.

7) As an expectant mother, I cannot read enough about prenancy or babies.  I cannot help but stare in awe at babies I see.  I have even become more motherly towards our good ol’ dog, Payton.  And I thought that teaching was a lifestyle!  Hello motherhood!  :o)

8)  It’s okay to have one room in the house that you just never get as organized as you want it to be.  No matter how much it bugs you, sometimes you have to just LET IT GO.  (I know, this is information is shocking to many of you — it still shocks me.)

9)  There truly is NEVER enough time in the day, in the week, month, etc. to get everything done.  And that’s okay.  Just do what you can, prioritize when you need to, ask for help when needed, and just enjoy the time that you have. 

10) July 15th is a day I will never forget for as long as I live.  It’s the day I went in for my lasik surgery pre-op.  It’s also the very day I realized I wouldn’t be able to have the surgery for quite some time.  I had an even better medical condition coming my way.  That was the very day that I took The Test, and discovered that Tim and I were going to become parents.  …okay, no lesson there, just a day I now have ingrained in my mind permanently.  (Along with those precious ultrasounds during which we got to “meet” our little girl.  …words simply cannot describe seeing that little image moving around, knowing that she was growing in me!)  I intend to enjoy the ride.

11) My life will never be the same again.  And I am absolutely okay with that.  I actually look forward to it: the very highs and the very lows that encompass parenthood.  I am not niave enough to believe that this little girl will always be a joy, or even easy, but I greatly anticipate watching her grow and raising her to be a responsible, compassionate citizen.

12) Once you go touchscreen, you never want to go back, be it phone, navigation or -gasp!- computer!

13) Similar to my comments in #8: Although I still truly believe that teaching is a lifestyle (beyond “just” a job, or even a career), there comes a time when you have to step back and let some things go.  One simply cannot work 10-12 hours a day, every weekday, plus weekends, and feel balanced or whole.  You cannot let a job consume you.  Don’t get me wrong — I LOVE the actual teaching and working with my students.  But the paperwork, planning, and politics on top of that are for the birds!  Welcome to teaching in the NCLB era!

14)  I fully understand the expression “don’t wish your life away”.  As a planner, I have always anticipated the next big milestone, making such comments as “only xx more days until [insert any significant day/moment/event]”.  While it’s fine to keep your eyes set on upcoming events, you have to live your life each day, and not just try and build for what may come.  You never know what the next week, day, hour, or even minute can bring; and what you expected to happen can change on a dime.  Be prepared to roll with the punches, and be flexible with the moment.  So, do not wish your life away!  …anyone care to count the number of cliches loaded into this one??

15) Pregnancy and its impeding motherhood change your life drastically, and forever.  Aside from the physical signs (STRETCHING ligaments are a killer!!) and visual cues (I look like a tank these days!!), my way of looking at things has altered permanently.  For example, while at a restaurant or ANY dept. store, I now note the places whose facilities have a changing table.  I’ve always been a germaphobe and have always thougth about public places and how I would handle them when I have kids, but I now keenly note who has facilities that are “kid-friendly”.  I also now look at song lyrics, television, and movies drastically different.  I’ve always looked at the media and thought, would I want my children to be exposed to this?  (More often than not, the answer was an astounding “no”.)  However, now I look even closer and reflect on if I would want my DAUGHTER to be exposed to, or influenced by, the messages this song/episode/movie presents.  Again, mostly, the answer is “no”. 

…I wonder if my little girl will grow up to be opinionated at all???  ;o)

16) If you’re looking to “rest” during a break, never, NEVER do a complete, simultaneous overhaul of 2 bathrooms, particularly while pregnant!  It’s not fun to have to climb stairs EVERY time nature calls!  And you know it’s killing me to look at the “mess” accumulating in the meantime…

17) Life is never short of miracles; the last seven months have been proof of that.  However, while I am reflecting and lamenting on the joys of this last year, and the wonders that lie ahead for me and my family, I am reminded that life is absolutely precious and fleeting.  A family I’ve grown up with is currently struggling with an impending decision they must make in a few days.  I do not envy them.  I can only pray for them and keep them in my thoughts, and let them know that myself and my family are there for them, in whatever capacity they need. 

And with that, I close my thoughts for 2008.  I’m sure 2009 won’t be as long-winded, as I will likely have less time to sit, ponder, and type!  I can’t wait!  So, to all of you reading this, I wish you a very happy new year.  I hope 2009 holds wonderful excitement in store for each one of you.  You wouldn’t have received this message if you weren’t, in some way, an important person in my life.  If you wish to write back, sharing your “lessons”, I look forward to reading them.  If not, I won’t hold it against you …not too much!  ;o)  Happy 2009 everyone!

 
Barbara Burns 
“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.”  – W.B. Yeats
“There is a brilliant child locked inside every student.”  – Marva Collins
Keep on saving!  :o)
--Barbara
**Remember, y'all, this post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small amount of compensation when you purchase from my links, which I"ll totally blow on waffle fries and sweet tea, y'all!**

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