Go, go, go! No, not like the energizer bunny. Get out there in the world and know you aren't alone. If you don't work outside the house, you might feel a little trapped. Raising kids is tough and you need to commiserate with other parents - not just the spouse.Here are some suggestions to help you get out there and mix it up with kindred spirits! TIPS:
- Playdates - Aren't just for kids. And you can trade off running errands sometimes too.
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| TMNT! (circa 2004) |
- Classes - Gymboree, Tumble Bees, community center, the library, preschool, church. Do it for their social development and for your sanity.
- Malls, Parks, McDonald's, the POOL - all places where mommies gather. Just bring sanitizer.
- Grandma! - If you have nearby relatives, be thankful. Not all of us do and would kill to let Grandma babysit once in a while.
- Vacations - just planning a trip can be a stress reliever and it's something to look forward to. Go somewhere and get a break from the monotony. (more tips on planning & packing later)
Go outside - nature is refreshing. It renews mind and body, lowers blood pressure, and makes sick people heal faster (from Prevention, Jan 2013)
And a Gun pole (from SELF magazine) I was surprised by these results:
81% said they could use a gun to defend themselves or family if needed
72% said guns are good for self-defense
62% said recent violence has made them think about getting a gun or gun training (if you get a gun, you DEFEINITELY NEED gun training!
51% said guns are not dangerous to have in the house
Grammar - use your Word Processor's help, then use your best judgment. This is where I depend on CPs and editors.
commonly confused "G" words:
gray (American) / grey (British) - either is acceptable
gauntlet (a glove) / gantlet (a test of endurance or ability to bear pain)
BONUS - G compound words
G-string gearshift getup (n) get up (v)
get-together (n) giveaway goings-on
goodbye good night goodwill
goose bumps great-grandmother god-awful
Find more A to Z posts here, LOTS more!
I hate guns totally hate them. Big thing across the pond though I guess. Can't say i'll ever agree! Loving the words i'm learning every day!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we don't have the gun issue in Canada. Too many people are accidentally killed by them. If you're nervous, thinking someone just broke in, you might accidentally wound or kill your teenager who is sneaking back into the house. Fear can make one do stupid things.
ReplyDeleteI remember doing Gymboree with my three kids. But then the company started charging a ridiculous price (in Canada) and came up with new rules that prevented us from using the free drop in times. We quit using them after that, but before that, my kids and I used to love it.
So that's the difference between grey and gray. All this American/British English makes my head dizzy.
ReplyDeleteHappy A-Zing! :)
Love your compound g-words.... ha ha ha! This post has a lot going on!
ReplyDeleteI can't use my best judgment when it comes to grammar anymore. I don't trust it!
ReplyDeleteAnd I have no kids, but I've gone to music classes and gymboree sessions and playgrounds a plenty with my nieces and nephews.
I didn't do much of this w/ the boy before school started. Mostly the park and the library. I don't play well with others. :)
ReplyDeleteI like the results on the gun poll. I agree 100%.
Great post.
Heather
Love the little Ninja Turtles!
ReplyDeleteThe gun poll was a revelation. I don't own a gun but I've had training and not afraid to use one.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the suggestions. I never would have met my good friend if I hadn't gotten out there and taken my son to storytime.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy Monay!
I do work outside of the home, and since I don't have kids, my home is a sanctuary I tend to hide in.
ReplyDeleteI'm a supporter of our 2nd amendment but it saddens me to think more people will be buying guns because of these horrible tragedies, thanks in part to the NRA, which now wants guns in our schools. Interestingly, none of the teachers do. Hmm, so what does that tell you?
ReplyDeleteThose little Ninjas are too cute!
ReplyDeleteI never knew the reason for the two different spellings of grey/gray. Never dawned on me that one was UK English.
Happy Monday, Tara! :)
Tara,
ReplyDeleteThanks. There's a snippet here for everyone. god-awful is a word that always amuses me. Being Jamaican, I've aware of the differences in spelling between some words since we use British English.
Great G words and wonderful advice! I liked your gun pole. As grandparents we loved to babysit our grandkids. Now the oldest is almost 18 and the youngest is 14 but lives out of the area - so now we are waiting on great-grandkids.
ReplyDeleteI took shooting sports as my physical education credit in community college, and know how to handle a semi-automatic shotgun. I don't personally own guns, though I'd love to get back into shooting clay birds. Our shooting coach was a real hoot, and spent more time going over gun safety than on the actual shooting portion.
ReplyDeleteGoing outside is my sanctuary-- my favorite G word!
ReplyDeleteI like how each of your blog posts tackles several different things, all related to the appropriate letter, so succinctly. Good job!
ReplyDelete~ Rhonda Parrish
Happy G-Day!
ReplyDeleteI wondered about the gray/grey spelling...
Writer In Transit
On Guns:
ReplyDeleteI come from the country, and they're all for gun control. Of course, their idea of gun control is to use two hands (good advice, btw). But every kid in the country knows how to shoot a gun. Gun safety is taught as soon as it's conceivable to go shooting a bee bee gun.
I think gun education should be taught at an early age, because no matter what we do, there are guns everywhere now. Which means people need to know how to handle them as safely as possible.
Um, you do remember that some of your readers ARE grandmothers, right? And this one happens to be quite a good shot.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with what Rena said and those poll results aren't surprising to me, at all.
ReplyDeleteGuns are fine if people are trained...regardless of what the media and the "news" outlets tell you.
As always, great tips!
Great tips for today! I've learned that I really need to get out more for my sanity. I'm thankful we started the boy in preschool this year and he loves it. It saved me!
ReplyDeleteLoved the photo of the boys! A fun post.
ReplyDeleteWow, so many G words! I love it!!
ReplyDeletehow much fun it was to read your post. love all the info!
ReplyDeleteInteresting stats on the gun pole. I myself am a gun owner and feel a lot safer with my guns. I also keep them locked in a safe though. There's no reason to be careless with them.
ReplyDeleteGetting out is really important! I do a little bit, but not as much as I did in the past. Since winter may be over, I'll see about moving around a bit more (seven months is winter has been just too much).
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
gantlet (a test of endurance or ability to bear pain)
ReplyDeleteNew word for me. Cool :)
Great advice to all those stay at home moms and dads...
ReplyDeleteGetting out is always a good thing....
And thanks for the grammar tips.
I'm awful with grammar. I'm glad I have CPs who can help me fix those little things which drive them nuts. I have a tendency not to even see those grammar mistakes. Oops!
ReplyDeleteI agree that going outside on a beautiful day is a little reward that we should all try to make time for.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Yay! Seems Grandma was a popular G topic :) I visit mine once a week and am very thankful to have her in my life still.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite color is Grey, and that is my preferred spelling :)
Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink
Hi Tara ... Great picture of the little ones playing Gamma rays .. and GrandMas would be very useful wouldn't they ..
ReplyDelete... and you forgot Godmothers?!
I hate guns - so won't go there .. cheers Hilary
Go outside is a great way to deal with kids. We have spring fever right now so it's easy when the weather complies, but in a few months we'll be struggling to pry our kids away from TVs, iPads, and computers.
ReplyDelete