Category: Random Musings

Posted on

Is It Thanksgiving Already?

 

Wow.  Where did the time go?  October, we barely knew you.  Now here comes November being pushy as usual and flaunting two holidays (Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving).  Okay.  Fine.  I’ll honor the traditions and celebrate the day of thanks with friends and family.  I’ll eat the turkey and listen to the same stories that get told around the table.  I’ll overlook that one cousin that gets on my nerves and I’ll hope no one notices that I haven’t lost any weight from last  year.  I’ll spend time with my large and loud extended family and I’ll miss not having my Hubby home for this holiday.

And even though life isn’t perfect, I’ll take comfort in knowing that I am blessed to have a family to visit and a meal to eat.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and may your family be safe.

Posted on

Single Parenting Ain’t for Suckers

 

 

I have a new-found respect for all the single parents out there.  I was already amazed at the job they do.  I was raised in a single parent home (my parents divorced when I was 13) so I am aware of what a thankless job it is to raise kids.  What brought about this new enlightenment?   I am now essentially a single parent myself.

Hubby has a job out-of-state.  For the last four months, I’ve been adjusting to not only a long distance relationship but being a solo parent.  Yes, hubby is in constant contact but it’s not the same as being here.  It’s not an ideal situation but one that many families face every day.

And you want to know the truth about single parenting.  It makes you tired.  Like all the time.  You have to do everything.  Everything?  Everything!  It ranges from the routine morning, school, work, homework, dinner act to the more mundane answering of every question.  No more passing off to the other parent.  (Go ask your Dad has lost its effectiveness.)

Here is my plan.   I’m going to take some vitamins, get some rest, and get back to parenting these kids.  To all my fellow single parents out there I say, “Hang in there.”

 

Posted on

Playing Favorites

Everyone has favorites.  Maybe a favorite color (purple) or a favorite food (lasagna).   You may even have a favorite person.  This person is typically considered your best friend.  But what about when it comes to family?  Should you have a favorite?  More specifically, should you have a favorite child and/or grandchild?

I hate to generalize, but I believe in most families with more than one child, there is a favorite.  Family dynamics may vary but everyone typically knows who this child is.  From the gist of this post, one can assume that the “favorite” child status is not me.  And I was cool with it.  I can accept a loved one shortcomings even if said shortcoming meant that I was considered the level-headed one that didn’t demand a lot of attention.

And then I had kids of my own.   I love my two girls in different ways but I love them the same.  Hubby and I are very sensitive about showing favoritism.  What we do for one child, we do for the other.

Other people, family members included, may not show the same restraint.  What to do about a grandparent that shows blatant favoritism toward the other grandchildren?   What do you do when your child has been hurt by the callous disregard from a grandparent?  Talking doesn’t help.  This person doesn’t think they did anything wrong.  My only recourse to protect my children is by keeping them away from their grandparent.  Somehow that doesn’t seem right either.

Playing favorites.  Everyone has them.  But in families, playing that game can only push people apart.

Posted on

For Him

I open my eyes to another new day

And remember all over again

That you are not here

My heart longs for you.

******

I go through the motions

Of living a life

Kids, work and bills

My mind stays on you.

******

I lay awake at night

Remembering your smile, your scent

Your presence

My hands want to hold you.

******

I am every woman

Strong enough on my own

But with you I feel invincible

My soul needs you.

(c) 2012 Michelle Rayford

Posted on

I Love Basketball – Olympic Style

Any reader of this blog knows that I love NBA basketball.  (The Lakers got Dwight Howard.  Not sure what to make of it.  More on thoughts on that later.)  The 2012 Olympics  were must see television for me for the chance to see our best athletes compete in track (women rule), gymnastics (Gabby Douglas), swimming (Michael Phelps), tennis (Serena Williams) and basketball.

Congratulations to both squads for bringing home the gold.

Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images
Posted on

I Know It’s Been a Minute………

I know, I know.  You may have noticed that I haven’t posted any new contact in a couple of weeks.  Like it tends to do, life got in the way.  I am going through some major transitions right now but I think I have a handle on things.  At least temporarily.  New posts will return next week to include my crisis in courage, a new parenting moment and musical look back.

Stay tuned.

Enjoy your weekend and take care.

Posted on

A Word About The Writer’s Life: Honoring Erica Kennedy

Sad news.  One of my favorite authors, Erica Kennedy,  has passed.  If you haven’t read any of her books (Bling and Feminista), you should.

A Word About The Writer’s Life: Honoring Erica Kennedy.

Posted on

Top 7 Reasons Why I Hate Meetings

I am a cubicle dweller.  It’s not so bad.  I have three and a half walls that define my space.  Sure, I have no privacy and can hear every conversation around me.  But I make the best of it.  I have decorated my nest with the necessary tools for motivation.  Pictures of my kids.

I’ve accepted my fate as an office drone.  Most days, it’s an okay existence.  Other days I am forced to attend the dreaded staff meeting.

Here are my 7  Reasons Why I Hate Staff Meetings:

  1. Being forced to sit through a two-hour meeting and only 10 minutes of the discussion affect my job.
  2. Thinking about the “To-Do List” that sits idling on my desk.
  3. That one co-worker that knows everything about every subject and has to expound on it for 20-30 minutes.
  4. Let’s face it, it’s hard to appear interested in any subject for longer than 20 minutes.
  5. Why are conference room chairs so hard?
  6. Nothing is every decided.  It is always assigned to someone to research.

And the number one, main reason I hate meeting………

  • 7.  Being forced to interact with ALL of my co-workers!  (I kid, I kid.  These are jokes people.)

Fellow cubicle dwellers, do you have any reasons to add?