Do you Like my Hat?

So the first week of plan whatever-it-is-I'm-calling-it went really well. As long as I've got my head covered and glasses on, I don't pull. It's awesome. I do have to say the ensemble does get a little old, so I'm going to have to get creative. Transition times are my downfall; getting up in the morning, after working out, after a shower, before going to bed, etc.., I've decided I need to keep a hat and glasses next to the bed for the mornings, and gloves are better at night. It's just remembering that's the problem. All in all, a great first week. Now I just have to keep it up for...oh, six months...a year maybe...no problem!

Here's last week in pictures:

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Greatest Tragedy

"One of the greatest tragedies we witness almost daily is the tragedy of (men) of high aim and low achievement. Their motives are noble. Their proclaimed ambition is praiseworthy. Their capacity is great. But their discipline is weak. They succumb to indolence. Appetite robs them of will."

Gordon B. Hinckley

Indolence: Disinclined to exert oneself; habitually lazy. Inactivity resulting from a dislike of work.

Thursday

By the time this post posts, I imagine I will be thankful:

That the musical is over. It's been a great summer, but it will be nice to have my evenings back.

For the computer. After having gone four days without, I am sure I will have a long list of things I want to do when I get back on.

For a clean house. I am really, really hoping that I will be grateful for a clean house on Thursday, because that will mean I have one. And it is time for me to have a really, really clean house.

For my Bug and the Mister. That's a pretty safe guess.

For this picture:

I love how a split second can make the difference between an awesome picture
and...well...this.

Hope you have a list of "gratefuls" today!


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To scarf or not to scarf...THAT is the question

Fall is almost here. That means it is time to instigate my brilliant pull-free plan. I have been experimenting here and there with different aspects. This is going to be hard. I bought a new pair of glasses, since the Bug thought it would be funny to incapacitate my last pair. I don't love them, but it's hard to justify spending more than $9.99 on a pair of eye glasses without a prescription, so I'll take what I can get.

Meh

Here's the thing. I'm planning on wearing a hat or a scarf on my head every day so that I can't pull without consciously taking it off (and getting conscious is one of my main goals here). Around the house that's no problem, aside from it getting really old and dull and wanting to let my beautiful hair down every once in awhile, but I've run into a problem. Sometimes I have to leave my house. When I do, off comes the scarf because I feel silly. When I come home, I do not remember to immediately put the scarf back on and this is my downfall. So I'm wondering what to do. Do I have the guts to don a scarf in public? I'm not a huge fan of lying or bending the truth, but I don't think it is appropriate to explain to every person that gives me a funny look that I have a tendency to pull out my hair.

If I saw someone wearing a scarf over their hair around town I would think that they were either trying to hide something or trying to work a new style that wasn't...working. Actually, in all honesty, I would probably think: 'oh, cute! I should do that.' But I worry that other people would look at me and think differently. The last thing I want is to draw attention to myself. And yet, I think it would help me. I just wish I didn't care so much about what other people think; feel the need to explain myself, you know? Any thoughts?

I feel like I am getting to a good place with my Trichotillomania. I don't like it, of course I don't like it. I hate it, and I hate myself when I don't want to pull out my hair and my body just does it anyway. But I am not ashamed. It is not something I feel like I have to hide, and that is refreshing. Like I said, it's not exactly something to be shouted from the rooftops, but my value is not decreased because I struggle with this.


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A Break

I am taking a break from the computer. I need to refocus, and probably realize that I am way over-dependent on this thinking box of mine. What's that? How will you survive an entire week without an SBB fix? Oh, don't you worry your pretty little face. I am so thoughtful that I have gone ahead and prepared a post or two to keep you going. I know, I'm nice like that. Okay, so enough with the sarcasm. I hate sarcasm. Seriously now, I will be back next week. Hopefully my cup will be so full that I will have oodles of inspiring things to write about. Until then.


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Not So Natural

Here's a tidbit from the book 'Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child' I have been reading.

"The concept of emotion coaching is a simple one that's based on common sense and rooted in our deepest feelings of love and empathy for our children. Unfortunately, however, emotion coaching doesn't come naturally to all parents simply because they love their children. Nor does it automatically flow out of a parent's conscious decision to take a warm and positive approach to dealing with a child. Rather, Emotion Coaching is an art that requires emotional awareness and a specific set of listening and problem-solving behaviors...The path to becoming a better parent--like most every road to personal growth and mastery--begins with self-examination."

What? We have to work to be good parents? Oh shoot, I'm in trouble.

I was so sure when I was young and unmarried and planning my future family that I would be the world's best mom. I would be loving and understanding and have oodles of patience and no temper. While these are all wonderful things they are not, necessarily, true. Of me, I mean. I do hope to get there--plan to, in fact, but the illusion that because I wanted it so badly I could be that way naturally, without effort, has indeed come tumbling down. Like the book says--it takes effort. It takes awareness and hard work to change and lots and lots of opportunities to do so. I can see myself growing already in the short time I've been a parent. She can be taught!

I have also found that a good dose of time on one's knees (we're talking prayer, people) can go a lot farther than the 'philosophies of men'. They have their place, don't get me wrong--why do you think I'm reading this book? I'm just saying; if you need some direction regarding parenting, the ultimate Father may have some good ideas. Just sayin'.

Now if only I can be better at following my own advice.



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Thankful Wednesday?

I know, I know, I'm throwing everything off. I'm only suppose to be thankful on Thursdays because, well, Thankful Thursday sounds better than Thankful Wednesday. Plus Thanksgiving, the most thankful day of the year, is always on a Thursday. So it just makes sense. Well, I'm thankful today. Deal with it.

And here is what I am thankful for:

A cuddly Bug. Isaac gives the best hugs in the world. I'm serious. I'm talking the throw your arms around the neck and squeeze like crazy hugs. It makes every dirty diaper and temper tantrum instantly worth it.

September! I'm kind of not ready for summer to be over, but I realized today that I am actually looking forward to fall leaves, snuggly sweaters, and deeper, richer colors. I was born in September; that makes it a good month. I met the Mr. in September...I think...or at least almost September. September is the time to can peaches--yum. September is the month we found out the Bug was a bug and not a buggette. All good things. What a fine month September is!

The Mr. I bought him a Reese's at the grocery store today to thank him for something. He loves Reese's. Only I can't remember what it is I have to thank him for, I only know that there most certainly is a reason. Oh well, I'll just have to thank him for something like being the world's greatest dad and taking such good care of the Bug, or being an awesome, understanding husband and having so much patience with me, or for working so hard every day so that we can have a beautiful house and food and even dog food for a dog that he doesn't even like and 9-volt batteries.

The internet. I kind of hate it too, because it's really easy for me to waste ridiculous amounts of time on it, but today it really came in handy. I went here and read a talk on an issue I was having. What a blessing to have so many inspiring words at my fingertips.

I am grateful for other things, too, but no one wants to read a forever long blog post. I certainly don't. Go find something to be grateful for.




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