Tag Archives: writing

So, I figured out that technology definitely doesn’t make the kid smarter…or anyone

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My kid is super smart. Most of her friends are smart. People with like minds tend to hang around one another. But why is it that with all of their smarts and all of this technology, they can just act so stupid at times?

Some of her friends literally don’t know how to load the dishwasher and they ask the meaning of things that I thought they should know in 1st grade. My daughter can’t get the simplest of ideas down like 3 to the 5th power (she always wants to multiply 3 and 5) yet she can do coding and Morse Code. I think that they don’t have much common sense nowadays, and I may not be an ivy league scholar like my brother, but I am smart both in common knowledge and book knowledge.

These kids have fancy calculators and fabulous tablets and laptops but when it comes down to it, 3 to the 5th power is still just that. There is no flashy way for them to answer that on a test. They still have to write it all by hand. As much as I love to type on here, and watch shows on my iPad and use my phone as a mini-pc, I like some of the old-fashioned ways of doing things. They aren’t even teaching them cursive in school anymore! So I guess their signature will be easy to forge if they can only print!

I still love receiving hand written thank you notes and writing them. I still love the feel of a book in my hand. I still love long conversations on the phone, catching up about so many things that cannot be said or understood properly in an email.  I love being able to blog on here, and correct things and edit with a touch of a button, don’t get me wrong. But as advanced as we get, there are so many ways that we can improve and getting back to basics is a good way to do that.

Take time out of today, or one day soon and write out your to-do-list. Read a book that is not on your device. Phone someone. Go for a walk and listen to the birds and the traffic and not your playlist.

Simply~

Dee

So, sometimes writing for writing’s sake is enough…

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Sometimes I don’t want to blog. I want to, but I feel that I have nothing significant to share, or the post may not be insightful to someone or it may not touch someone. Sometimes I read a blog later and think: Wow, that was some good writing and other times I wonder why I had the nerve to put that out there so that others could read it because it was mere drivel.

But what I have realized as someone has been writing in journals and diaries and notebooks since 4th grade that just plain old writing on a regular basis, just to get words down and out of my mind is what is important. It’s almost like I am Dumbledore and I need to release the information so that I can clear my brain and make room for more thoughts. Or, that the more that I get in the habit of writing, the more that it will become more of my daily life and the better my writing will get.

I have always wanted to write in some capacity. Be it as part of a job description an online magazine, back in the day for a newspaper, or even technical writing. The fact that I can write well is the reason that I made A’s in my Master’s program. Sometimes, I would be behind on my reading, but could still find a way to bs my way through an assignment because I could put pen to paper with no issue.

But, I haven’t truly pursued my dream as I had hoped to before becoming a mom. At one time, I was all about getting a poetry book published and still remember the name. I still have the children’s book in my head and wish I would have jumped on it back in 2006 because it would have really been relevant then and could still work now.

So, even though I have put those things on a very long back burner, blogging and even writing privately in my comfy chair into a writing prompt book is still writing. Hopefully, I will get the courage and make the time to try again to be published as I did in the early 2000’s. But until then, I will be thankful for the gift of WordPress and for the blessing of having people read my good, mediocre and even sometimes not blog worthy writing.

Have a good night and keep on writing!

Simply~

Dee

So, home schooling is a challenge, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world…

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Many people have opinions about home schooling that are less than, hmmmm, kind. My answer: It is none of their freaking business. I know my kid best. There are so many reasons that people do it nowadays, and again-it’s none of their freaking business. I sent my kid to a Christian school for kindergarten and she was chastised the whole year by her teacher. I didn’t learn how much so until after it was over, and I still hear about it years later.

My daughter’s problem, or actually it is not a problem, she is very intelligent. Not just book smarts either. She has “street smarts” or “common sense” to balance her smarts. She is good at cooking and building things and art and science, one of those people who is equally left and right-brained.  Some teachers do not value kids that are grade levels ahead, it is too much of a challenge. Since the private school would not work with her need for more work and public schools don’t offer many options, we did an online public school.

This way, she has standardized tests on file, school records that show what her grades are, etc. Basically, for me the structure and accountability are huge factors for why we home school this way. Some home school families even look down on us because they say: “Well if you are not sending your child to public school then why are you doing online public school?” Again, because of the aforementioned reasons. I also like the teacher support, online clubs and classes and field trips.

I am talking about all of this to say that we have one life to live and it is ours. We have our families, our reasons for doing things, choices and paths we have taken, and different ways of viewing things. For me, home schooling allows me to be in control of what she focuses on while doing the necessary work, in a stable and solid learning environment. I can brush over the basic ideals about Greek Gods, but will not waste a month on it. On the other hand, we can spend much more time on American History and do local field trips since D.C. is footsteps away.

I just wish that people would “do them”, and not feel that their way is the only way. I mean when it comes to “Do unto others” or other God’s commandments, of course we should do things God’s way. But when it comes to the way that we live our lives that in no way affects or hurts others, people need to basically keep their mouths shut. I don’t judge those who don’t home school and are wealthy stay at  home moms (I know many), so I don’t need to hear one more convo about how she needs to be around kids her age.

She acts, she sings, she dances, she takes art classes, she is in scouting, she bowls, she plays an instrument. I think she’s good. And, when she goes into the workplace, it is highly unlikely she will work in an environment where everyone that she works with and deals with is 22 years old. So, having friends of all ages and all walks of life is actually very valuable. I guess this post today is half explaining why we home school, half defending it, and complaining about those that have something to say about it.

I will step off of my soapbox now, and get back to my daughter’s Language Arts class. We just took a late lunch break and watched an American Girl craft video, one of the many reasons that I would not trade working from home and teaching from home. We go at our own pace and enjoy each other. Though there are good days and bad days with home learning, seeing my daughter learn in the way that she does best and spending the day with her is worth it all.

I hope that you all have a beautiful day and enjoy the life that you are blessed with in the way that makes you happy.

Simply~

Dee

So, August holds new challenges for me…

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I started on August 1st in a “secret” group on Facebook, 30 days 30 walks/runs starting August 1st. I also started a meet your goals challenge on Instagram that started the beginning of August. One of things that I wanted to do was take time to write more. I have not been doing as much as I have wanted since I started because I have been fighting these crazy allergies. But, I am glad that I have these plans to motivate me.

It is funny, the internet giveth, but it sure as heck taketh away at the same time. I love the cool party ideas we get online, the motivational aspects, and the connection with new friends that I would never know otherwise. But, with so many negative people like internet trolls, and people that have blogs dedicated to tearing celebrities down or people in general it gets to be a bit much.

I really try to focus on what it offers that will make my life richer and fuller. I love blogging and have tried it many times over the last 10 years. I am proud to say that I have written in this one a lot more than I have in others, but not as much as I would like. But with this IG challenge, it makes me feel more accountable. The same with exercise. I have exercised a lot more because I am being “judged” or noticed by 1000 other people and I want to finish it completely because my friend invited me to do it.

I also want to challenge myself as I did at the beginning of the year to more prayer and devotional time. That is more important than of the other challenges, but I feel I need to dig in more with it because I know that getting closer to God can help me in every area of my life. If I want to live a life that is beyond my dreams, taking the time to reach out to my Heavenly Father is definitely a step that I need to take.I want to take the step to have a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ, as well as receive my heart’s desires.

What challenges are you facing? Either self-imposed, or involuntary? Maybe if you let people know what you are going through, or connect with others with similar goals/issues/problems, then whatever you are facing will be easier to surpass or overcome.

Have a blessed night!

Simply~
Dee

So, with writing is it more quantity over quality or is quality what people even care about anymore?

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I can say that I really care about what I write.I also care about what other people write. I don’t always have fluffy and glittery writing grace my posts. As a matter of fact, I am just speaking from the heart and writing off of the cuff. Some people may consider my blog a hodge-podge of words that do not amount to anything, but maybe to another my words are an art form.

I write or type on here because I have something to say. I have so much to say that I could write all day long every day. But I don’t want to always share on here my point of view on major political or religious events, because Istep on some people’s toes already in my 3-D life. I certainly don’t want my viewpoints on here to do the same.

But to be completely honest, if I am writing from my own mind, and I am being a purist by saying what I truly feel then I should not care if I offend. I don’t think that any of us should do our writing, art, music or anything to please others. Don’t we spend so much of our time people pleasing in many other ways, so why worry about being judged by people who can’t even see us in person?

I think that I am going to try to not let worries about other people get in my way when I write from now on. Of course I will not write to incite or offend like some do in order to make a splash or to make a name for myself. I will do what I do in my real life but perhaps be a bit more honest, while at the same time being a little less offensive. Don’t get me wrong, I am super kind, but if people push me too much, I am brutally honest and I think I will leave the brutal off and keep the honesty.

I just hope that you all will stick with me through this process as I navigate my life as a single mom and as a wanna be writer. I like all people, want people to like me. I also want people to relate to what I have to say. But, writing to gain acceptance and a form of “love” from others is not going to churn out quality writing. But if quality is not your thing, and numbers mean everything to you, then go for it. Just don’t expect me to read it:) And, in all that you do, just be true to yourself. There is no other way to be that gives real satisfaction.

Simply~

Dee

So, I have been gone forever from here and I should be ashamed!!!

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So, there has been a play that my kid was in that took up all of our time. She is filming an independent film this weekend, she is in another play this summer, we have had weddings, and guests galore for 2 months! How have you guys been? I have been doing my part-time office manager job from home, and shuttling kids around and just living life.

Something amazing! I have lost 20 lbs from April 20th up until June 7th. I eat 5 times a day, and drink 100 oz of water a day and workout 3 days a week. I really need to up my working out game to 5 days a week, but we have been swamped! We had 21 nights and 22 days of guests.

So, I am back. A lot has happened in the world.  A lot of protests against police, too much lienency towards Iran, a cool and courageous go rode a bikecopter to deliver letters to the sorry senators, a crazy jealous stage mom trying to sabotage myself and my kid, planning for my kids next birthday which is going to be huge, (6 mos away) and we went to Disney!

There is no real excuse for me not being on here, except being so preoccupied with everything and not focusing enough time on my interests. Do you ever find yourself doing things for everyone else, but not spending much time on yourself because you are too spent at the end of the day? I am so bad about not taking even 30 minutes a day to pray or write, or just be still. I’m not really complaining though because I love this time of my life with my daughter. When she is grown, I will have all of the time in the world to be alone with my thoughts, my writing, and my books.

Good night, and enjoy every moment of life with the people who you love because life is fleeting.

Simply~

Dee:)

What a wonderful day: Blogging, warm food and chilling in the bed…

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I love a snowstorm. I love the silence that it brings outside. Very few people are out on their patios. Most people run to their cars at an Olympians pace, not taking time to marvel at the beauty of it all. I stand out in it in pure awe. Every time. I love the way it crunches under my feet. I love how the D.C. area goes into a milk, bread, TP panic because we are not fiscally prepared to handle real weather woes. I love the annoying parents who complain that their kids will miss a day of school, the lives of their kids be damned, they just don’t want for their kids to be at home. I especially love troop meetings being canceled and play rehearsals (this pertains to us specifically).

In a nutshell, I lie around in half-dream state thinking of what should be done, what I could be doing and how many calories I need to burn. But, I eat my sweet potato fries with mustard as if I am bikini ready. When in all reality, I am more Eskimo jacket ready:). I like, strike that, love how January and February forces me to slow the heck down. We still have classes and play dates, and rehearsals, and engagements and work. But, they occur on a more irregular schedule.

All of this sounds silly coming from someone who checks in all over the place from VA to GA on social media. I rarely slow down. This is God’s way of making me chill out, reboot, and prioritize. I am usually hyper in thought and in action and it is very hard for me to sit down and focus. I am similar to my favorite line from You Got Mail, “She makes coffee nervous”. That is me, or not far off. But thank God I am not annoying like the character that Tom Hanks is speaking of-Parker Posey. She almost annoys me as much as Sarah Silverman, almost. But I don’t think anyone can be that aggravating.

Anyway, now to catch up on my devotional. And read my Bible. And to keep up the job search. Perhaps after a nice little evening snooze :).

Simply~

Dee

P.S. Prayers go out to the homeless animals and people that have had to endure these negative temperatures. I hope that they make it through all of this weather…