I hate the way I can’t see my family
and you make me feel alone. 
I hate you so much it makes me cry, 
it makes me fear the unknown. 

I hate you, I hate the way you’re making me think.
I hate you for letting me see. 
I hate it took you showing up to reshape my faith,
even more because I’ve watched all the dvd’s.

I hate you for still being here, 
and I promise to keep washing my hands
But really I hate not hating you. 
You’ve taught me to be more grateful. 
I’m blessed in many ways
And I’m understanding why
It’s God’s lessons that I should apply.  

This poem is inspired by the movie 10 Things I Hate About You.

Are you tired? Tired of planning every minute of every day. Tired of coming up with activities to keep the littles busy. Tired of planning all the meals, that more than likely no one will eat after you spent so forever in the kitchen.

I know I don’t have kids but remember…I was a kid myself. I also work with kids. I try to give the best advice and believe it or not…I get asked a ton of questions about kids. The most asked question is…how do I play with my child? I say…you were a child once, if you could go back what is it that you would like to do? Do that and you are sure to have fun.

As kids…what is the one thing they hate. RULES. What is one thing they want. TO GROW UP. As adults…what do we want…to be a kid again.

My advice. STOP! Don’t be a parent. For one day…be a kid again and let the kid(s) be the grown ups. Let them be little creators. They get to make all the rules…come up with all the activities…even pick our your outfit for the day and plan all the meals. I promise…your kid(s) will love it. They get to be the boss for a day, and you may even learn a thing or two you didn’t realize about your kid(s).

Fun Fact: My brothers and I would go stay with our grandparents every New Years when we were young. My grandmother would take us shopping and lets us buy whatever we wanted for the party. She would even let us use all her fancy platters to set out all the food. We made menus…decorated the table…took their orders and served them the food. It was some of my favorite memories I have with them.

Who knows…this could become a new tradition for your family.

Happy Quarantining! Stay Safe! Stay Home!

Leave me comments and let me know how your littles boss you for a day.

I have compiled a list of 8 tips to help dads to understand their daughters a little bit more.

1. We cry for no reason. We sometimes can just get emotional out of the blue for no reason, and we just know that we need to cry. Crying can make us feel better. It’s like crying gets out emotions we aren’t able to explain or understand ourselves. So when your daughter is crying and you ask “why” and she responds with, “I don’t know.” More than likely she is telling you the truth. We can’t always explain why we are upset.

2. Shoes! Shoes! and more Shoes! I am shoe girl myself and we have a certain pair of shoes that go with certain outfits. We can’t just wear the same tennis shoes with every pair of yoga pants. They have to match duh! And the same goes for heels, boots, sandals, ect. We have certain shoes that go with high waisted jeans, boot cut jeans, skinny jeans, cropped pants, shorts, skirts, even swim suits. We need at least two pair of shoes for every one outfit. I mean, it all depends on our mood for the day. Ha!

3. A bad hair day can result in a bad mood all day. How we feel we look are the results of our moods for the day. We will also change our hair a lot. You do know that there are four seasons in a year. Brighter in the spring. Shorter for the summer. Darker for fall and longer in the winter. Or maybe we just broke up with our boyfriend…definitely time for a new do.

4. Boyfriends. We are going to have them. So just get use to the idea. The more you are willing to discuss the idea of our interest in boys, the more open we will tell you about our crushes.

5. Fine. This word can drive a knife into any relationship. Daddy’s, when you hear this for your little girl, it can simply mean…I’m not ready to talk about it. Don’t get mad, just say ok. Try to lighten the conversation, and come back to this topic in which she said, “fine” at a another time. Sometimes we just need to process and feel the situation.

6. Dating. Yes, the day will come when we start dating. Please don’t make jokes about what you are going to do when he shows up. We are just as nervous about the date as you are. We are the ones who had to muster up the courage to ask you if we could go on a date. When he shows up, you say…”what’s your name?, my daughter is my world, she will be returned safely and at a decent hour.” If he hurts her, by all means unleash daddy mode on him!

7. Hormones. The dreaded shark days. We will be moody and unsure of what is happening at first. Be patient. We are also learning all the new changes in our bodies. We will be moody, happy one second and sad the next. We may cry for no reason, revert back to #1. We can logically know what bothers us is stupid, but we can’t control our stupid hormones and how they make us feel.

8. Growing and changing. As life flies by and we are older in a blink of an eye. We realize how hard it is for you to see your baby girl grow up. Just know… We will always be your LITTLE GIRL!

Things to consider.
1. Don’t criticize her for being upset. Try to give her some space, to process what she is feeling. The more you show you care, the more she will tell you.
2. Don’t make her feel bad for liking boys or wanting a boyfriend. Be open with her about boys. Show her how boys should treat her.

If stars are stars
You’d be so proud

Sam is greatest part of you
He loves hard and wears his heart on his sleeve
He followed your path and became a nurse
He is a daddy to a daughter and she’s four months old 
He is engaged and you’d love his future wife

If stars are stars
You’d be so proud

Matt is medley of you and daddy
He loves like you and works hard like him
He is the most patient and does more others than himself
He is a daddy to a son and he’s almost three 
He is married and you’d love his wife 

If stars are stars
You’d be so proud

I am the greatest part of daddy 
I have the exterior of a lion and a heart of a teddy bear
I am the most stubborn and a true daddy’s girl 
I am a dog mom and he’s already eight
I am single and you live with the creator…help your daughter out

I look up, I can’t see you
When you look down, can you see me

If stars are stars
You’d be so proud

I am also guilty of making one unattainable goal and quitting before I really give myself a chance to change. So this year I am trying something a little different. I am making a menu of goals. Why a menu? Because a menu makes me think of food and we all like to eat. It’s a lot more appetizing. It’s waking up each day and taking a bite out of life to make myself better.

Below is my Life’s Menu

Starters – Small changes that I would like to become part of my life, not just for a year.

A Feather – It’s my lifestyle change word. Yes, I know that sounds weird, but I got this idea from a radio show I listen to daily. I chose this word because when a feather is dropped it floats in the wind. And who controls the wind, God. I hope to me more like a feather and go where God leads me.

The Flexible Combo – My first sport as a child was gymnastics. I have loved it every since. Getting older means getting stiffer. I just want to be able to do the splits again. Haha!

Thankful – I want to learn to be more thankful for the things I already have. I get so focused on the things that are going wrong that I miss the good that is already happening in my life.

Menu – Big changes that I want to start this year and continue for life.

Monthly Projects – I want to do offer my readings more content. Giving them projects can help with better life skills. Get ready Daddy!

The Smile – I am sure some of you notice that I don’t show my teeth in my pics. I don’t like them so I hope to be able to change that soon.

Paid Sponsorships – I love to write and blog but I would also like to get paid to do it. Let’s see how many I can get this year and keep it going.

Desserts – Fun trips that I would like to do yearly

2nd Annual Girls Trip – I had my first girls trip ever last year. It was great and a much needed trip. I hope to be able to continue that every year.

1st Annual Sisters Trip – I four brothers. Weird because, I have only talked about two. Family update coming soon! That being said I am so lucky to have four sister in laws that I truly adore. I hope to be able to plan a trip with them all this summer. They just aren’t aware of it yet!

Beach Get Away – The beach is my favorite place in the world. I love the sand, the ocean, and the big waves. I could sit there forever, stare into the sky where it meets the ocean and get lost in my own world.

I hope to be able to take small bites out of my new 2020 Menu. I have small starters, a few bigger dreams and some fun dessert get aways. Take a look at your life. What’s on your 2020 Menu?