Relaxing weekend getaway
Peace
Relaxing weekend getaway
A Mountain Getaway
The Hubby continues to amaze me with his love for new adventures. This past weekend we went on a mountain getaway. We stayed at the Andon-Reid Bed & Breakfast Inn in Waynesville, NC. This place is a little piece of heaven. Check out the mountain view below:
The innkeeper, Mark and Kari, are gracious hosts. We were greeted like family home for a weekend visit. We were given a tour of the renovated home, which mixes modern conveniences like walk in showers with various antiques. Kari made sure we knew about local restaurants for dinner and made a reservation for us. We told them that we planned to ride the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad the next morning and Kari provided the best directions to get there (about 20-30 minutes away) and gave us an interesting history lesson as well. Breakfast was delicious and everything was made from scratch.
We had a wonderful weekend. The town of Waynesville is a quaint little country town and everyone we interacted with was friendly. The mountain air made for some relaxing sleep and Mark and Kari helped make the weekend memorable. We met some interesting couples at the inn. We even got an astrology lesson from one of the other guest as we sat around the fire pit one evening.
Hubby really outdid himself this time. I loved our weekend in the mountains. I hope to go back again.
If you are planning a trip to the mountains, take my advice and stay at the Andon-Reid Bed and Breakfast. You will be glad you did.
Parenting Sucks (Sometimes)!
Being a parent is ……
Laying awake listening for the door to open
Knowing you can’t truly rest until the other part of your heart returns
Being a parent is ……
Setting a curfew for your teenager
Knowing at some point that your child will test the limit and forget how to tell time
Being a parent is ……
Allowing your child to mess up
In the safe cocoon of your home
Hoping they learn how to be a responsible adult
By enforcing consequences for their actions
Being a parent is ……
Having faith in a higher being to protect your heart
And releasing the breath you didn’t know you were holding
When you hear, “Mom, I’m home.”
2014 Michelle Rayford
My Daughter Got Her Navel Pierced so Why Does My Stomach Hurt?
My daughter, Princess, got her navel pierced about a month ago. It’s taken this long to analyze my feelings about it. Was I surprised? Yes and no. She has been rambling about wanting to get one for some time.
Princess: “Mon, I think I want to get my navel pierced.”
Me: “Why?”
P: “I like them.”
M: (again) “Why?”
P: “I just do.”
Some variation of this conservation continued at random intervals for months. And then she turned 18. That means she didn’t need my permission to have it done. Then she came home with one.
My reaction was mixed. I believe in giving my girls the confidence to make decisions about their own bodies once they reach a certain age. They have to make decisions for themselves. It can be as simple as considering a new hair cut or the complex decision of whether or not to have sex. I tell them the decision is theirs. It is not left up to peer pressure or to win the affection of some boy. I want them to be comfortable in their own skins and learn to trust themselves.
I didn’t make a big deal about the piercing. I told Princess I didn’t like it but it was her body. I advised her to make sure to keep it clean.
The world kept spinning. But I can’t help but notice that my baby is growing up and inching closed to adulthood. She is becoming more and more independent. I am at times proud and terrified.
The other day Princess started a random conversation.
Princess: “Mom, would you be mad if I got a tattoo?”
Me: (deep breath)
Somebody pass me the antacid.
Mountain Getaway
Anniversary weekend with Hubby. 20 years in and he is still showing me new places.
Bank Fees – Theft or Maintenance
As soon as Princess got a job, I took her to open a checking and savings account. What a great way to teach money management, I thought.
Conversation yesterday:
Princess: “Mom, I was checking my account and they took $5 out my savings. Why did they take my money?”
Me: “I’ll check on it. Probably since you turned 18 they changed your type of account.”
Verifies what happened. Yep, the bank did in fact change her savings from a free account to charging a maintenance fee.
Me: (calls back to explain the way banking works.)
Princess: “But they are taking $5 a month. That’s 60 dollars a year. I work hard for that money.”
Me: “Yes, I know but that is their maintenance fee.”
Princess: “Maintenance for what? I didn’t ask them to do anything.”
Lesson learned.
Note: You know she closed that account, right? Princess is serious about her money.
Merry Christmas 2013
I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday with family and friends. Christmas is always special in my house because it is the Hubby and Princess’ birthday. That means birthday cake, ya’ll.
Merry Christmas!
Tranquility
Relaxing weekend.
Favorite Child – Do You Have One?
Today my daughter’s, Princess and Diva, had an argument over who was the favorite.
Princess: “I’m the favorite. Mom knows she likes me the best. ”
Diva: “No she doesn’t. I’m the favorite.”
Princess: “She’s known me longer. I have to be the favorite. It’s okay to admit it, Mom.”
Me: “I don’t have a favorite. I love you both the same.”
They went back to eating cereal and all was well for the moment. But I was left with a thought. Do you have a favorite Child and is it okay to every admit it?
I think as a parent you love your children equally. You just like different things about them.
As for the favorite argument, I think I am the only winner. They only have one mom. I know that I am their favorite.
Need to Get Away
Hope you are enjoying the Labor Day weekend.