Boundaries..

Do you have clear boundaries for your kids? In my household, I am seriously having this problem (as I type).. My husband told me today that I need to be "more strict with our kids". He says I let them get away with alot, and wants me to discipline more. If u watch sports at all, you've seen some incredible plays, hits or shots that ended up not counting because they went out of bounds. Well, I guess if we don't have clear boundaries with our children, they may grow up not knowing how to score big in life. Today, alot of kids are out of control because mom/dad don't love them enough to tell them what is "out of bounds". Well, I guess that just like sports, we (as parents) need to establish clear boundaries & clear penalties when our children go "out of bounds". {which by the way, happens pretty much on a daily basis in my household}....
Just like anybody else, Angelice has her up & down dayz. Some days, she feels quite content to act like the great, big, caring, generous, comprehending sister she is. But there are days, I'll admit, when she is just plain tired of having to deal with a 2 yr old brother who wants 2 always have things his way or he's not happy & also, who is almost as big as she is (she's short).. That's when she'll lock herself in her room to read a book & not want 2 be bothered.
Angel still has alot to learn about boundaries & I guess I cant put it off much longer (in fact, I think I've waited 2 long) It's time for some changes around here. Wish me luck ...

build a strong family.

What's 1 of the best ways to build a strong family? You say "Respect each other?" Well, how about: "Honor your spouse and your children". How? According to an article I read, "Honor begins with a choice to place high value and importance on others...viewing them as priceless treasures. Furthermore, it goes on to state that parents who want to be honored by their children "must first honor them by treating their sons & daughters with the dignity & respect".
This week was a pretty tiring one for me (even though I took the week off for Eggie's recuperation). There is always more work @ home than @ the job. I felt like a single mom, sort of. Having to do it all pretty much on my own (the cleaning, the cooking, driving Angelice to school with Mr. Michief {my son} in tow. Eggie felt bad b/c he is always very much involved in all housework. In fact, we call him "MR. CLEAN". I have to say, it took me this long to realize how much my husband's help really means around here. We are a team. We are like milk & chocolate, I guess. And, I REALLY admire single moms who can do it all by themselves. I honestly sometimes felt like crying b/c I didnt get a chance to just sit & relax, you know. Always on my feet. Well, it got to the point where my feet started to hurt. Just like that. I seriously have to say : A BIG SHOUT-OUT 2 ALL U SINGLE MOMS OUT THERE! It's so sad to see on the news how some parents dishonor their sons & daughters by neglecting, belittling and or ridiculing them. We need to build our home on a foundation of honor! Honor your father & mother so that your kids will follow up on that as well.
Anyway, Eggie's older sis is visiting from NY. So forget it, yesterday I put together "una tremenda comida" just for them. I made my famous potato salad (which everyone absolutely can't get enuff of, for some reason), rice with gandules, cut-up pork chops in sauce, sweet potatoes & a mixture of other Puerto-Rican vegetables. Topped off with a drink of "Cola Champagne", which is a type of Puerto-Rican soda very high in sugar** Anyway, till next time........

eggie's surgery ...

Eggie is recuperating very well, thank God. He had endoscopic sinus surgery this morning & as a result, we are off work for a whole week. I havent been able to blog 2much since we had other appointments & stuff.
I will be back soon!

Xmas is over, now comes politics. politics...

So it's a fact after all. That email wasn't true. I received an email the other day from a good friend of mine in Chicago {we've known each other for 27 years now} and this email was about.. yes, you guessed. A potential presidential candidate by the name of Barack Obama whom alot of people think that because he has a weird name, he must be Muslim or whatever. Well, this is what politics is about: defaming one another & trying to be on top, of course. But, once I saw this article, http://www.newsweek.com/id/91424 I put all my doubts to the side. Truth be told, I will need to follow the primaries closely & put more thought into this crucial decision of whom to vote for. (whether I like politics or not). People @ work all have interesting differing opinions. I know which ones are Obama fans or Hillary fans. I won't know who to vote for till I pay attention to those boring, long debates where they all make funny faces & pretend to care about what the other is saying. Fact is, I just want a president who will be able to run the country the way it needs to be run! We want LOVE not WAR. We want PEACE & I want it this year not in 4 more years and 10,000 dead soldiers later.
Anyway, thank God it's Friday. This week marked the official end of Christmas for us. The tree was put back in the attic, the icicle lights & all our Xmas stuff from inside & outside the house has been put away as of today. Which, in just 10 short months, will be coming out again. (We always decorate on Thanksgiving, after dinner). Out here, Christmas season isnt over till the day after "Three Kings Day" which we just observed this past Sunday the 6th. And yes, before you ask or wonder, the kids DID receive more gifts that day (toys, of course). And not to mention, we had a "Three Kings Party" in my community as well. I mean, hey, when u live in a community full of Ricans & latinos, it's all about PARTAYZ! Live music (Merengue & Salsa), lechón, arroz-con-gandules, guineitos,chicken, etc. etc.. flan, pudín. (all of it was free, as usual). The best part was, the atmosphere. It was the best place to be on such a special day with your family. It felt like being back @ the island (Puerto Rico). For real, I'm not kidding. I was wishing some of my family could've been there w/us just enjoying it all & dancing & not worrying about a thing!............. But, with all the new toys, bicycles (or in my case, scooter), and high-tech gadgets that were found under the Xmas tree, now comes the hard part.... the assembly! Do you read the instruction manual? Or, are you like my husband who will try to get it all done w/o the help of the manuals. It usually goes like this: "OK, this goes here, that goes there. What's THIS for?" and then, my favorite "Aida, can u check the manual & see what this is for?" HA! Is that all I'm good for around here?" Just kidding. But there's one area in our life that we cant afford to wing. OUR FAMILY. We all do the best we can, but sometimes we need help from the experts. No matter how many kids you have or how much experience we have or if we've gone thru it already. And that's where my aunt comes in. She raised me well & so what that she lives all the way up North in Chicago. I call her "almost" on a daily basis. Just to talk or even for yummy recipes but especially for home remedies when one of us is sick & what-not. But, just to conclude my post for today (which I'm surprised is rather long): Patience is all it takes sometimes.

Love & Marriage in the New Year ..

Want a better marriage in the New Year? (Not that mine isn't great).
Co-workers have asked me (since my husband & I are now going on 13 yrs) how we've done it. Just how? Well, I won't lie. We've gotten on each others' nerves sometimes. But,here's a suggestion: Say this little phrase to your spouse, "I'm really glad I married you." Those simple words will let your mate know that you still value & cherish them. If they're feeling insecure or undesirable(I kind of did during both pregnancies), it will give them confidence in your love. And, if you & your spouse are in a "rough patch", give it a try anyway. Just say it. You can say it over candlelight @ a nice dinner,{even over a quick lunch @ your local Subway} or even in the mini on the way to the grocery store, etc.. My point is, the place isn't important, but the words are!
On a totally different note, this year has already seen some major accomplishments one of which I HAVE to mention: my son did #2 in my toilet! Why is it such a big deal you ask? Well, for some strange reason he's only been doing #1 in the toilet, but wouldn't do the other. But today he really surprised me! Let's pray he keeps it up cause I really want to put him in the Pre-K this coming school year ....

HAPPY 2008!

What are your goals for 2008? This is the time of year when many people start thinking about self-improvement goals and ending bad habits. But why not do something different? This year, instead of making a list of things you want to change about yourself, think of a few goals that will help others. Like, reading nightly for @ least 15 mins to your young kids (even if they already know how to read), babysitting for a single mom, (even if just once a month) or cooking dinner for an elderly neighbor, etc.. Dont get me wrong, improving yourself is great .... but impacting the lives of others is even better! The other day, my husband told me something that stayed in my mind & warmed my heart. (I just honestly never thought of myself that way!). He notices that I give "my food" to others, even if there's just a bit left. Rather than cooking more, I just have any good ol' thing I could find. He told me "Aida, tu eres una Santa, always giving your food to others" (spanish, for "Aida, you are a saint"..) I've been raised to always give food (even when visit comes unexpectedly) even from the little bit you may have. (I sometimes wait till we have hardly nothing before I go to Walmart).
But anyway, may this year warm your hearts as well as give you health & happiness.....