Mom..."I'm fat"

Ally said this to me last night and my heart broke. We talked about it for a bit and when I asked her why she thinks this she said she didn't know she just feels fat. (I have struggled with my weight my whole life but it is an internal battle that I just don't talk about.) I asked if someone said this to her and she said there is a little boy at school that calls her names, she said he doesn't call her fat but I just can't help but wonder...
How do I give my seven year old a healthy self image? She is at a point where she has a little "baby fat", and we have had a hard time finding things to fit, especially pants. When we have a hard time finding a pair to fit or that she grows out of we talk about growing and that she is going to grow taller and stretch and her body will take on lots of different shapes. We also talk about making healthy food choices and that it is ok to have a cookie we just can't eat ten at a time. I pray that I'm not the one making her feel this way when we have a hard time clothes shopping, that in my frustration to find clothes to fit I haven't said something that has damaged her self image. If there is anyone out there that can help, I'm looking for advice if you have it.

Return to blogging...

Maybe it is time to make a return to the land I seem to have abandoned in September. After school started there just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do anything but I guess four months later I feel like we are a little more settled. Another reason I seemed to abandon the blog was quite honestly due to facebook...Are you a member? Are you addicted? I seem to spend lots of time "stalking" people and updating what I'm doing. Which I guess it was what I used to here. So I do enjoy blogging and I think it will be fun for my girls someday to look back at the ramblings of their mother so I'm going to try to be a bit more consistent. More later, lots to update:)

School Days

School has started and at the very last minute we were informed that Ally and Lanie would be able to transfer back to Warner from Parma. Ally did K at Warner and was moved to Parma for first grade. We are delighted to be back at Warner and the kids have the best, most wonderful teachers. Lanie ended up with my cousin Melissa and Ally has Mrs. Valentine, whom everyone loves! So far school has gone very well. Lanie knows quite a few kids in her class including her cousins Madi and Caylee. Ally has been re-acquainted with friends from her first year at Warner and a couple friends from church.


It is hard to believe I sent my babies off to Kindergarten and second grade this year. I'm just trying to take it all in and enjoy it all. Activities are beginning and will fill our days to the max. Hopefully we'll be able to keep everything running smooth and we'll have an excellent school year.

Shoes, shoes, shoes

Spending money on shoes used to be so much more fun. Not that it isn't fun to buy shoes for the kids, it just used to be more fun to buy them for myself. New soccer cleats, new tap shoes, new tennis shoes, new dress shoes and a new pair of "cool" shoes...Oh, my!

Summer Cold

VBS was a fantastic week and I feel honored that I was able to be a part of it. I will post pictures this weekend but there were close to 300 kids in attendance,45 of them kindergartners that were able to head through my super messy craft station. Friday and Saturday were totally recovery days for me. I think that the long days actually wore me down and I have been suffering from a cold/sinus infection since Thursday night. Every time I get sick I think man I shouldn't let the kids drink after me but that rule usually lasts about a week and then we are all drinking out of the same cups again. I think Ally is going to be the next victim hit by this summer cold. More later...

VBS at Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church
Spring Arbor, MI
August 10 - 14
6:30 - 8:45
We would love to see you there! This year I am in charge of the crafts for the Kindergarten department so I doubt you'll see much of me this week! I'll post about it later~

Wednesday Tip of the Day

I work for a dentist, here are some tips to hopefully make your visits a little easier...
1. Be nice, especially to the front desk girls. Who do you think decides who gets to come at the best times of the day! Just kidding but seriously get in good with the girls at the front desk and they will take care of you. Treats help but mostly just being nice will go a long way.
2. Schedule appointments first thing in the morning or just after lunch. In my experience these are the times in the day the office is running on time and/or ahead of schedule.
3. Ask for a discount. You may just be surprised (especially if you are nice). If you pay cash ask if there is any courtesy when you pay in full we almost always give 10%, if not a bit more.
4. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There are lots of things in the dental world that gets said between the workers that sounds like another language. If you want to know what the Dr. and staff are talking about, just ask. Sometimes we get talking all technical and forget that patients don't know the difference between amalgam and composite. Earth speak: amalgam = silver filling, composite=white/tooth colored filling.
5. Be honest about what you can afford. If you don't have the money in your budget right then ask if you can work out a payment plan or if there is anything that can be done while you are saving up. Keep in mind if you have a cavity it isn't going to go away or heal itself. It will only get worse and more expensive!

Hope these little tips help, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.