Positive Discipline (Oxymoron?)

Somehow in my mind this phrase has always seemed like an oxymoron...I remember the first time I saw it on some books in the book store.  At the time my son was only months old and not in need of discipline, so I was content to snicker and stick to my guns about spanking. 

As he got older, I found out that my son does not respond to spanking, he laughed at me when he was just younger than 2 years old.  It hasn't gotten any better, I feel like I have to hit him a lot and too hard to make a difference and then I feel like poop for it (even though I know I needed to correct that behavior).  

We have enlisted the help of "time out" on the naughty spot (a placemat that I take everywhere with me) and I think it is important to smack a hand or leg if he does something dangerous and you have to stop it ASAP (like about to touch the stove etc.). 

However, I think I need more tools in my tool box...so I googled the oxymoron "Positive Discipline"...what I found right off the bat is the website:  http://www.stophitting.com/   I do not think that I agree with all of the website, because they want legistaltion against spanking and I do not think that is a good idea - I think parents have their hands tied behind their backs enough as it is in raising their kids. 

Under the link of "Discipline at Home" I really liked what they had to say.  They give a really definition of warmth and structure...which even I had wrong in my head.  They have several exercises to discover how you are doing to meet your short term and long term goals.  There is even information that helps you discover your long term goals and define your short term goals. 
E.g. My short term goals right now are: 
-  to get him to poop in the potty
-  to get him to stop talking back
-  to get him to go pee on his own
-  to have him get dressed by himself...etc.

However my long term goals are more like:
-  for him to be honest
-  for him to be a problem solver
-  for him to be a hard worker/self starter
-  for him to be good at relationships
-  for him to be happy, healthy and well adjusted...etc.

When your son is only 3, these are not things that you think of on a daily basis.  So, it helped put things in perspective.  The website also gives ideas on specific ways that you can give your child warmth and structure, which I believe are also valid and helpful. 

What I was really looking for was a method of positive motivation...like a "gold star" chart or putting marbles in a jar for good behavior and taking them out for bad behavior etc. 

Still looking for that...write more when I figure that one out - Later!

Am I Worthy?

So, I am starting my own business...I have my EIN number, but haven't bought any machinery, taken in any work or made any money yet...but I am having my house cleaned...

I am trying so hard to come to terms with it...I feel lazy/spoiled/ecstatic/thrilled/distressed, but de-stressed...I broke my toe, so that makes it easier to justify...but then, why do I have to justify it? 

The crazy thing is in my younger years, I used to clean houses - I even had my own business for a while (although I never made any money) back in the day...so of all people why should I enjoy it???


I am no spring chicken...I have paid my dues, I made tough decisions and stuck to them, I have worked my butt off since I was 16yrs old (and before that at my house) - if I have the money and want to get my house cleaned shouldn't I get to without feeling like pooh about it?

I say NO to feeling bad about it...I am going to embrace it!  I am putting money back into the economy and providing jobs right?  I would rather spend my time cooking healthy food for my family, raising my son to be a productive member of society and being creative with quilting and writing...

I say YES to feeling much better about my house being cleaned even if I didn't do it...Whoooo hooo!!!

Roast Chuck in a Foil Bag

Yummy!!!   I am not sure if I put this recipe in here or not, but I am not going through 88 posts to figure it out : /

You get a 2 - 4lb hunk of Chuck Roast and Roast it!  Sorry no pics, but ran outta time last night...

2 - 4lb hunk of Chuck Roast                            1 jar sliced mushrooms, drained
1 medium onion, chopped                                1 tsp paprika                                                  
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted        1 tsp garlic salt                                                
1 foil oven bag                                                 1 tsp rosemary powder                                   
3/4 cup red cooking wine                                 1 tsp basil

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.  Chop onion and put in bottom of the bag
3.  Mix rosemary, garlic salt, basil and paprika well in a bowl and rub all over the chuck roast
4.  Put roast in the bag
5.  Spoon soup on top of the chuck roast
6.  Pour wine around the roast in the bag
7.  Twist bag shut at the top and poke small hole in to vent
8.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hr per lb or until meat thermometer reads 170degrees.  (When I did this...it took an extra 20min to get to 170 degrees, which is well and the way I like it).

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Broke My Toe!

Ugh!  You never realize how much you use your toes until you break one!  I was moving really fast the other day and caught a chair between my second and third toe...hurt like (you know what) and 3hrs at the emergency room later...it is fractured.  Luckily the Tylenol works really well.  It only hurts when I am on it for too long or if I move wrong (usually stupid movements that you wouldn't think would hurt) it is excruciating. 

I am blogging trying to keep busy and off my toe.  I knew it was broken from the second I did it and took my sock off.  My third toe was kinda hanging off to the side a little (which you really didn't notice unless you looked at my other foot).  It started to swell instantly and within 30min it was all black and blue.

Now, I have to go see a podiatrist to make sure that it is healing ok...it was the craziest thing.  Instead of taping the toe that I broke...they taped the two on the right together (my 4th toe and my pinky toe).  I know it was the right thing to do, because it feels soooo much better with them taped. 

Well, I will probably be bloggin' more now...I can't sew, can hardly drive and need to sit down and elevate it - ugh so boring!!!!!!!!!!!!