Category: Parenting

I Woke Up Today

9/3/2013

Sequoia High Sierra Camp - Waking up to beauty!

I woke up today.
Today is my birthday.
Today is another day with no mistakes...yet.
Today's mistakes will certainly lead to tomorrow's wisdom.
I hope I wake up tomorrow to apply one, and learn from the other...again.

Today, I appreciate breathing.
Breathing leads to laughing, and I absolutely LOVE laughing!
The laughter of my kids is the best.
When they make me laugh with an inside joke, I can't believe how lucky I was to wake up.

The sunshine, fog, heat, rain and snow are all welcome when I wake up.
I woke up to sun, then walked the dogs today.
I woke up, and was thankful for the amazing man who has been waking up by my side for 30 years.
Flaws and all, I'm glad he puts up with mine too.
I'm glad I know the difference between annoying flaws and downright dangerous ones, and hope the same for you!

I woke up today, and finished my 50th year of waking up.
Here's to year 51...may I wake up to greet every day of it.

Thanks for sharing the days with me, and here's to waking up tomorrow.
See you then.

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

10 Comments

Five Tips for Living the Mom Solopreneur Dream

8/22/2013

3 Comments

Ask any new mom who consciously made the choice to stay home and raise her own kids if she is 'living the dream,' and I guarantee her answer will be, "ABSOLUTELY.....except when I'm not."

Once the bills settle in from the change in lifestyle required for a one income household in the 21st century, this dream mom job might shift, and cause her to become a solo-entrepreneur to make ends meet.

I've been living that dream (that has sometimes felt like a nightmare when I've had only three hours sleep) for the past 10 years, and I have some tips for success I outline in my Yahoo! Voices article:

Prioritize throughout your day, and use the kids' needs to your advantage.

Let your goals evolve alongside your kids.

Organization is key...except when it's not.

Read on for a new definition of yourself.....

Are you a solopreneur mom? If so, or if you want to be, please share your ideas below!

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

3 Comments

What Do You Do with Your Freedom?

7/3/2013

1 Comment

In no other time in history, and in no other country but the United States have women enjoyed the same freedom as men. Only 39 years ago, women were finally given the right to secure credit in their own names without the signature or approval of their husbands. Couple that with our ability in 1920 to finally be counted as true citizens of this country who enjoy the right and responsibility of the vote, and we are poised to rule the world

Oh, wait...we already rule the world by creating and nurturing the next generation! :-)

Well, here is my article for Yahoo! describing what I choose to do with my freedom.

What about you?

What do you do with yours?

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

1 Comment

You

2/4/2013

6 Comments

Are you getting discouraged with your goal to lose weight or get healthy in 2013, just like every other year? Well, I have a secret that could just be the magic pill!

Ready?

This isn't a call to...follow this particular weight loss technique, and you, too, could look like me! If you looked like me, there would be two of us, and you would have to be the evil twin.

Find what is right for YOU!

How? Start by sitting down, taking a deep breath, and shutting up! That includes your thoughts, don't let them shout at you that you should be vacuuming, or fixing dinner, or writing that blogpost, or finding out what your silent toddler is up to...well, that one you better listen to. Go ahead, I'll wait.

When you sit and listen, you just might see where you need to put the most energy to make yourself a better version of yourself.

Is it what you eat?
Is it how fast you eat?
Is it how often you eat?
Is it your activity level? (or lack thereof)
Is it your activity frequency? (or lack thereof)
Is it your triggers to eat, like stress, boredom, TV watching, picking off the kids' plates, tasting while cooking?
Is it your late night snacking?
Is it that you DON'T eating breakfast?

I guarantee that if you sit quietly for a few minutes a day, and focus on just one change you want to make in your life, you will start acting toward that change. It takes 21 days of daily focus to change a habit. We have passed that date in the New Year, and will pass it again next month, and next year.

You might as well focus now for long term change, because no "diet" will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle once you lose weight. Only your daily focus will do that.

If, after listening quietly, you find that you are just fine the way you are, then Fantastic! I bet you have more to learn in life, because you are human, by the way, and that means decidedly not perfect. There must be something you need to do to improve upon that amazing package? Internal and external change have their roots in your mind and attitude every time.

So sit and listen at least once a day. Call it whatever you want...taking a breath...me time...meditation...finding your smile...calming down so you don't spew at someone...whatever! We all need a moment, and if that moment moves us forward toward our goals,

THAT'S THE POINT!

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

6 Comments

Einstein and Motherhood

1/28/2013

2 Comments

Sweeping and mopping the muddy paw prints and shoe prints for the second time today made me think of Einstein, and how his intellect, while vast, did not extend all the way to motherhood.

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

2 Comments

Yes

12/27/2012

10 Comments

I have learned quite a few things this year, and have learned to actually live many more that I already knew. Here goes...

Say "Yes" and allow your children to be children as often as possible, unless what they want will harm them or someone else. Sometimes saying "No" becomes a habit we need to break.
Children and adults are moved by and respond to compassionate reasoning over yelling every time, and can see in your eyes if your faking.
Those who don't respond right away, probably expect and are more familiar with the yelling, so they need the compassion even more.
Show those you love that they are loved whenever the opportunity arises, not because that might be your last chance to do so, but because you actually love them.
People actually get the opposite of what they want when they don't make their own educated decisions, and instead, follow blindly whatever group will lead them.
Those older than you almost always have a wisdom worth listening to if you just close your mouth and open your heart.
"Normal" people are just not eccentric enough to imagine and create the advancements the world has enjoyed. Thank goodness enough of those "eccentric" people have not been drugged normal yet so we can continue advancing as a civilization.
It's almost always NOT about you.
When it is about you, say and show you are sorry.
The focus of your daily attention is your current reality and the foundation of your future.
That future becomes your new reality much faster than you expect.
The focus of your daily attention is also your child's current reality, and becomes the foundation for the future reality of your grandchildren.
Making a child smile brings more light and warmth to life than anything else.
It is our choices, not our talents that show who we truly are. (Okay, I stole that one from Dumbledore, but it bears repeating daily!)
Having someone in your life who has been present throughout most of your history, and still likes you is an amazing gift.
Tomorrow is another day with no mistakes in it. (Okay, I stole that one from Miss Stacy, but I still have to go to sleep repeating it.)

I would greatly appreciate any other wisdom you can share as we say good bye to one year, and my learning continues in another.

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

10 Comments

Beauty, not Pretty

9/18/2012

4 Comments

They are the pretty ones. Their makeup is flawless, hair shiny and coiffed. Their look is arranged right down to the bulging biceps or slim waist.

They are admired by the masses, and the masses monitor themselves by the pretty mirror.

Son, I know you are attracted to pretty. We all are at first. True beauty, however, goes much deeper and reveals itself through many layers.

Beauty is created through depth of experience.

Beauty sometimes blossoms in the smallest, most fragile form, and may only reveal itself in that
fleeting, delightful moment.

A colorful display is not necessary to experience the deep sweetness of beauty. We may need to close our eyes sometimes to sense it.

Cactus Flowers in Firey Furnace, Arches National Park

However, when beauty unfolds in the harshest, most difficult conditions you know it has reached it's
truest depth and strength.

To find beauty, son, tend your own garden, and the beauty will find you.

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

4 Comments

Stand Alone

8/31/2012

4 Comments

For every unique, amazing child (and adult) who is bullied to follow the crowd...
Stand Alone!
It is worth it, in the end, to stand true and be you.

MommyLoves you!

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

4 Comments

Mindful Me

8/20/2012

4 Comments

Life-changing milestones just around the corner are making me more mindful of the time I have in front of me. The hourglass is running out, and if I live to 100, I'm half way there. Yes, I'm in my 50th year on this planet...if I lived on any others, I don't remember.

I also have a child just starting high school. Talk about a milestone...letting go. I feel very strongly the lyrical meaning of "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" by Sting. I am preparing to set him free, and it's scary and exciting all at the same time...just like when gave birth to him.

I now understand I must be more mindful of my actions, not just in parenting, but in everything I do.

I am one of those types who can get sucked into the black hole of links imbedded in everything I read online, so my day could easily pass by me faster than a toddler escaping his mother. Consequently, online is the one area I must fight to stay mindful every minute. To this end, I have started putting every little thing I need to accomplish each day on my calendar, and I adhere to my "social media posting/reading" time slot more strictly than any other. Because there are several wonderful writers whose posts I visit and comment often, I will need to make time to seek out, and read new writers weekly in order to expand my mental horizons with new information and opinions. I now know why posts and books are getting shorter and shorter - supply is following demand. I also use HootSuite to schedule regular postings to both Facebook and Twitter, and keep them scheduled at least 5 days in advance.

My mindfulness is also being applied to my writing. I have always been a "project" person - I get ideas, and if I don't write them down or record them on my iPhone while driving, they are lost forever...or until I happen to experience the same impetus to think of them again. This more than anything else has allowed me to get more writing done in a shorter amount of time! Since I am sort of a procrastinator...okay a lot of...even though I love to write, it is much easier to read. I can use a deadline as an excuses to lollygag all day, and power through my work at the last minute. With my new mindfulness that life is running out, I only allow myself this laziness occasionally, rather than weekly.

Back to my 14 year old...I only have 1460 days until he goes to college. Actually, I only have 12,030 HOURS of my son's time over the next four years until I let him loose on the world to make his own mark. (Yes, I'm also showing my OCD in having calculated this number four years in advance, considering extra time for weekends and holidays and only 6 hours during the school days, but if I'm confessing my procrastination, I might as well go all the way.) This number really made me sit up and say, "What?!" like I did when I heard Bill say what he did with Monica was not considered sex. I must have heard that wrong, I'm sorry, calculated that wrong...I don't understand...How could I only have mere hours left for my son to wake up every day to a breakfast I make, and go to sleep every night to my "L'amo"...? What about my youngest? He's turning 11 next month, and middle school goes by in a blink!

Hence, my mindfulness in everything I do. I won't overreact to this realization that I'm like Wile E. Coyote chasing after my Road Runner of a life. I won't wait outside the bathroom door while my oldest is inside taking a shower just to say, "I Love You" when he comes out - he told me that was creepy. I won't write for hours on end because I have so much to say, and so little time - my weak bladder muscles won't allow that.

I will simply be mindful of my thoughts and actions, and exercise my power of choice. I don't have time or energy to waste on petty thoughts, conversations and deeds. Life and love are too beautiful to cast a shadow on the world through my heedless actions.

How do you keep yourself mindful of all you want to accomplish and enjoy each day?

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Entrepreneur ~ Mom

@SayBumpandTweet
MommyLoves to Chat!
Everything MommyLoves
Say Bump and Take a Left

4 Comments

Idea Digestion - Calling All Moms (okay Dads Too)!

8/15/2012

6 Comments

I have an idea!

I know what you're saying..."So what else is new, Mary, you get ideas all the time. How do we know this one is any different than all those others written in your little notebook?!"

First of all, my notebook isn't so little. Secondly, I'm totally devouring and digesting this one until it becomes...no not that...a book full of Everything Mommy Loves.

I need your help, however. This idea isn't about me, it's about all other Mothers who can express themselves and Everything Mommy Loves in 140 characters or less.

If you are up to the challenge, and want your Mommy Love shouted out to the world, please visit MommyLoves140 and find out how you can contribute. (The title of the actual book will be much more glamorous and catch, I promise!) Pass this on to every Mom you know, and let's see how far around the world the Mommy Love spreads. Love is the universal language, after all...or is that music?

If we get enough Moms to participate and share meaningful, insightful, snarky, loving, sarcastic, nurturing, funny (you get the picture) messages about Everything MommyLoves in 140 characters or less, I will do all the work to publish the book created by all the amazing messages by amazing mothers, and all those contributing get their name/twitter/facebook/business name/website/etc. included! I will donate all profits to a children's charity, and would love some ideas on those you love! Just give me some suggestions, and together we can make a difference in a few more lives.

The page listed above says it all, and if you have any questions or comments you know where to find me, right?!

Mary Kathryn Johnson
Author ~ Mom ~ Entrepreneur

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Like Me
Read Me like a Book

6 Comments

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I Woke Up Today

Five Tips for Living the Mom Solopreneur Dream

What Do You Do with Your Freedom?

You

Einstein and Motherhood

Yes

Beauty, not Pretty

Beauty is created through depth of experience.

Stand Alone

Mindful Me

Idea Digestion - Calling All Moms (okay Dads Too)!

Author

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