On My Mind Today

I have been thinking of my father quite a bit lately. I'm not sure why - perhaps it is because I am getting older. And as I age it may be that I understand him more than I did when I was a younger woman. When I started having children he shared something with me that I have held on to for all these year. It left an impression on me and I have thought about it a lot lately. I'm not sure where he found it, but I want to share it with all of you. A Parent's Favorite Child   Every parent has a favorite child. They cannot help it. They are only human.I have mine.   That child for whom I feel a special closeness. The one I reach out to in a rare moment. To share a love that no one else could possibly understand.   My favorite child is the one who was too sick to eat the ice cream at his birthday party, had measles at Christmas and wore leg braces to bed because she toed in. She was the fever in the middle of the night, the asthma attack, the child in ...

There are many parents who do an excellent job of giving the right mix of praise and constructive criticism to their children.   You can see it in their children who have a healthy self-esteem, the ability to move forward when they make a mistake, and good social skills. Then there are those who give too much praise – to the point of making their children believe that everything they do is right. We all know that is not possible, and only sets them up for disappointment when they do fail as they won’t know how to move forward from there. They also don’t know how to allow others to come first as they are used to being the center of attention. And there are those who only seem to tell their children what they do wrong. We all see it every day when we are out in public. The child who is being corrected for all they do and never receiving a word of praise. I can only imagine how heart breaking it is for them to always hear nothing but negative feedback from their parents. Eve...

Every summer each of our grandchildren get to have their own weekend with Grammie and Nanu. They feel special, and we get to spend time giving them individual attention which allows us to strengthen our bond. I have always said since each of them were born that I want to make sure they know who we are and that they are loved. Over the last three months they have all had their weekend. The girls were very specific with their requests. They both wanted to go to Hampton Beach and for a ride on the boat. We were fortunate that on both of the girls visits the weather was perfect for a trip to the beach. I had great fun standing in the water and watching them run in and out of the waves. The joy of seeing them have so much fun is very good for my soul, and it makes my heart smile. Nanu sits on the beach with his cigar and supervises. He might dip a toe into the water to test the temperature and occasionally take a picture or two. When we take them out for a boat r...

There is nothing better on a cool morning than a nice hot bowl of oatmeal. Even as a child I liked oatmeal - especially when it was topped with brown sugar or raisins. This recipe makes having "real" oatmeal easy since it is cooked overnight in a slow cooker. Great for all those busy working mothers who want to give their children a good start to their day. Overnight Oatmeal   Vegetable shortening. for the slow cooker 1 cup whole milk, plus more for serving 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup steel-cut oats 2 apples peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces 7 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces Toppings such as almonds, pecans, chocolate chips, maple syrup, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, dried cranberries, fresh berries or your child's favorite toppings, for serving   1. Generously grease a 5-6 quart slow cooker with the shortening.   2. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and 4 cups water. Gently st...

A large segment of the female population does not seem to exist when it comes to fashion. If you are young there are numerous items to choose from. So much that it is difficult to make a decision on what to purchase sometimes. However, if you are over the age of 50 it can be a monumental chore to find attractive and stylish clothing that fits well and is appropriate. Let's face it, our bodies change after 50, and clothing made for a youthful body doesn't fit well. Now I know there are many women in their 50's or older who think it's fine to wear what a younger woman would wear. I'm not one of them - just because you are in good physical condition it doesn't mean you should dress like a young woman. There does come a point where skin tight clothing, an abundance of cleavage and mini skirts do not look well no matter what shape you are in. What comes to my mind is what would my children think if they saw me in it? Just not appropriate after a certain age. We...

Mother's and daughters - there is a lifetime bond for most that is unbreakable. There will be times that they disagree, or may be angry with one another, but ultimately the deep connection is forever. No matter how old your daughter is, a mother cannot bear to see them with a broken heart. We feel their pain, and wish that we could bear it for them so they could move forward with their life. We don't want to see them suffer for even a moment. So as a mother, I have a message for the boys (or men) who are contemplating becoming involved with our daughters. I know there are no guarantees when it comes to relationships. However, if your only intention is to have a good time and go, then please pass on by. If you are not interested in a real relationship that may lead to commitment, then don't move in and play house. The longer you are around, the stronger the emotional attachment will be. Once that connection is made, when you leave, you will leave a path of emotional de...

What is Labor Day? While most of us are happy to get the day off or go to a parade or cookout, many of us don't know the history behind the holiday. On the first Monday of September, the United States celebrates Labor Day. Labor Day is the creation of the labor movement dedicated to the achievements of American workers. It is a national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day parade was held September 5th, 1882 in New York City to celebrate the strength of trade and labor organizations, and to host a festival for workers' families. There are conflicting theories as to who created the holiday. Some say that it was Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor, but others argue it was Matthew Maguire who proposed the holiday while serving as the secretary of the Central Labor Union of New York. The celebration became an unofficial annual affair in New Yor...

Not only are these great for dessert, but also as an after school treat for your kids. Sweetened with honey, they are a healthier choice than sugar filled desserts. Very easy to prepare and your kids will love them! Easy Chocolate Almond Butter Cups   1 cup smooth almond butter 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 tablespoon honey pinch of salt 1 cup dark chocolate chips, melted   1. Place almond butter, coconut, coconut oil, honey and salt in food processor and puree until smooth.   2. Add a spoonful of the mixture into 8-10 mini muffin tins then pour melted chocolate on top of each spoonful. (you don't need to grease the tins)   3. Place in freezer for 30 minutes, or until set.   4. Use a sharp knife to pop out each almond butter cup. Store in freezer and remove 5 minutes before eating to help soften the chocolate.