Unnecessary, Really Unnecessary

Dominique Thoughts alpha thursday, mama kat's writers workshop

Photo by Flickr

This week the prompt of if I were a hoarder got me thinking. I personally am trying to declutter as  as much as I can this year.  Many of you may know that I do have a passion for cooking and baking.

I only started really cooking and baking after Doggie boy was born and since them have collected many different cooking and baking equipments and gadgets.

After clearing up  and repacking all my stuff  I realized that I really have too many cutters in my house. Can you believe that I have the whole set of Hello Kitty, Thomas the Train, Winnie the pooh and a whole box of unopened Wilton animal sandwich cutters at home.  They do look cute and can make really lovely cookies or shaped sandwiches but with nearly 50  over different pieces I really feel that I have an excess of cookie/sandwich cutters and shouldn’t be adding to my collection with impulse buys.

I really don’t need so many different shaped cutters and should be able make lovely looking pieces from my existing collection.

What do you hoard?

Writer’s Workshop- Ready, Steady, Teach

Dominique Thoughts alpha thursday, mama kat's writers workshop

Doggie Boy and Tiger Girl

Even though I’m a teacher I find that I have learned a lot from my own kids. Every day I am reminded of the little things and am grateful that I’m learning from as much from them as they are from me.

Here is what they have taught me.

1. It doesn’t have to be perfect as long as it is fun.
   Sometimes we can plan and prepare until it stresses you up. It’s much better just to go with the flow and enjoy the process.
2. Don’t leave everything  to the last minute.
   Prepare in advance and have everything ready on standby if you need to leave the house at a certain time. There is bound to be something that you will have to attend to at the last minute and you may forget to do or take something which is important.
3. Patience is an Art
   It’s  can be exasperating at time and something that I’m getting better at time. It’s hard to be impatient with a kid who is still learning.
4. Put on a Smile
   It’s no point being grumpy and frustrated. Smile and everything will get better. It’s hard not to smile when your baby is smiling back at you.
5. Playtime is important
   Everyone needs time to play. It’s extremely important for young kids as well as adults as a means of building up creativity and also a time to  tune out during the day.
6. Communicate Effectively
   It’s important to get your point across especially to a child who may not have prior associations to what you are talking about. You have to be extremely clear and use age appropriate words and examples.
7. Enjoy the moment
   It’s no point fretting  and getting worried. Savor the moments you have with your children.
8. Be Yourself
   It’s no point bothering too much what other people think. Putting on a false front or behaving unnaturally is tiring and hard to keep up with. It’s always much better to be yourself .
9. Forgive and Forget
   Kids can be angry with you at one moment and at the next moment come to you for hugs and kisses. They forgive very easily and forget all the sad/angry moments which they have had. It’s something which I should do too more often.
10. Don’t be afraid to experiment
    My boys are apt at finding alternative usage to their toys and things at home. It’s great to think out of the box and I should do that more often too.

What has your child/children taught you?