How I Went from Very Shy to Less Shy

I have always been a very shy person. When I was younger, I can remember not doing a lot of things because I was too shy. I would cry if I had to open Christmas presents in front of anyone other than close family. I didn't learn how to skate because I was too shy to participate in the lessons. Granted, I may have lacked the encouragement that could have pushed me to do more at a younger age.

Despite that, one of the very first things that got me out of my shyness was being a good speller, and generally my teacher's favorite student. In third grade, I participated in the school spelling bee. Out of maybe 15 students, I came in fourth, unfortunately and did not receive anything tangible from the contest. I did, however, receive some confidence. In fourth grade, I remember my teacher approaching me and asked me to represent the class as an Associated Student Body Representative. This also gave me a bit of encouragement and inspired me to get over my shyness.

The biggest impact was in high school. Where normally, freshmen are discouraged and face traumatic experiences, I flourished. I was an active participant in Future Community and Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) and Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). I even ran for regional vice-president (due to personal reasons, did not finish the election) in FBLA and was the chapter Treasurer. These experiences allowed me to come out of my shell and, though I still have moments of shyness, I am much more confident in myself. In retrospect, I can take from this the ability to encourage and foster my son's self-confidence. If anyone has met him, you'd know he is the opposite of shy! :)

My husband and my son also continue to encourage, inspire and support my efforts. I am very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family in my life. I have a lot of endeavors and am still trying to find the perfect fit for myself. My interests have tended to stay around business, however, and I am focusing on business consulting while finishing my degree. Through education, intellectual opinions and work experience, I know I have a lot to offer.

Keeping Kids Entertained While Working at Home

Toddler –homeschooled under 8 or so
This is probably another topic I will add to as things come up. As a work at home parent of a toddler myself, I am constantly coming up with activities that I can do with my son and also allow myself to get work done.
My son is at the age where he likes to do things that Mommy and Daddy do. He tells us all the time he’s a big boy and getting bigger every day in hopes to be able to do the exact same things we do. I do a lot of reading, writing, emailing, typing and not a lot of talking on the phone. This makes it a little easier to do work with a little guy at home since as long as the noise-level isn’t ear-piercing or way too loud, it’s acceptable.
~Arts and Crafts~
Many articles for work at home parents give ideas and advice for arts and craft projects to keep their little ones busy while they work. The great thing about arts and crafts is that children are really only limited by their imagination, which at this age is pretty unlimited.
Keeping a supply of paper, construction paper, kid-friendly scissors (if your child is coordinated to handle them with your supervision), crayons, colored pencils, stencils, and other crafty items on hand in your office can help keep toddlers entertained. Also, mazes are a fantastic way for your child to develop hand-eye coordination, problem solving and small motor skills including helping with penmanship. What a great way to encourage education and learning, and keep them entertained while you work!
Here are some links where you can print free mazes and other craft idea pages: http://www.printactivities.com/Mazes.html
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/
~Assistant Helper~
No matter what I am doing: cooking, reading, writing/typing, crafting or working, I have a toddler who likes to help. Obviously there are things that he cannot help with in each category, but luckily there are many alternatives out there for him to do while I am completing those tasks. During crafting time, I need to have something similar to what I am doing that he can do. I want to encourage him to do and learn. Obviously there are some things he just cannot do yet. That’s where the compromise comes in.
Setting up a desk (you can get a cheap desk from IKEA or someplace similar that can be used for your assistant helper) can make them feel important and like they are really helping you. Having a age-appropriate computer can also be fun (I recommend Vtech Tote and Go Laptop –helped my son recognizing letters and numbers and even letter sounds by 18 months! Or another laptop computer for kids.) Also perhaps a play phone and papers they can write on/draw on.
You can even have them help with small tasks such as stapling papers, sorting papers or mail, or even cleaning and/or organizing.

Preschool, kindergartner
Having children that do go to school for a few hours a day can be both helpful and hectic. It does give you that few hours to get things done without having your little one there, but it also means you have to get your little one up and ready to go on someone else’s schedule (the school’s) and also pick them up.
This is where -scheduling your day can come in handy. Try to make all your important calls or duties that require uninterrupted time to be completed during the time the kids will be at school. All other tasks and assignments that can be completed, such as typing/writing, reading, planning, can be completed while the kids are home. While the kids are home, the art or helper activities/suggestions can come in handy.

School aged
This is to some the excellent time for work. You have most of 8 hours or so, depending on the school district system, in order to do your work. This can be even more convenient if your child/ren ride the bus. You can plan your work and set your hours when the kids will be at school.

Things I have learned this weekend, and today...

I am rational sometimes, which leads me to becoming irrational

I have super amazing friends who are supportive and understanding

I am stronger than I think I am

My husband is really understanding and helpful (though I have concluded that a while ago)

The advice I received today was the same advice my husband gave me this weekend.. but it was different coming from someone else

My child needs to learn how to leave places, even if he's having fun, without making a huge ordeal of it

How to leave Crystal's without getting lost and going through the entire development

Stress lingers, even if you get rid of the stressor

I still like the word amygdala, which I learned in Psych 101 and had resurface this weekend during a conversation with my husband about the gut wrenching turmoil that is caused by emotions

I will not let people stop me from enjoying the things I like to do, anymore

YAY! It's finally here!!! UPDATED

Tomorrow is my sister's baby shower. I am SO EXCITED!! I have been since I started planning it!!!
Today I am making the cake/cupcakes. Her nursery theme is camo, so we are incorporating that into the baby shower (my cousin Holly is helping me) :) We have games planned with prizes and we're having it at the best pizza place ever in the world. :)

Here is the cake process:


Baking:


Cupcakes:







This will be my first time EVER working with fondant. I will update as I go.

Fondant:




Finished product for the cake (I cut out little flowers for the cupcakes):

IO IO..

Maybe I should have stuck with my original plan for the PhD. I seem to most enjoy organizing, planning, efficiency and motivational strategies. While I can satisfy these interests with projects at home, like my sister's shower, husband's fun committee and the structure I am trying to enforce on a mommy group, I would like to eventually do it not just as a hobby. Granted, I love being involved in philanthropic events and volunteering. I wouldn't mind doing things full time for volunteer organizations. Those are my current thoughts.

Loving the new place :)

So it's been a few months since we moved. We LOVE this area up here!!! Awesome schools close by (minor obstacle we have to face in order to get him into the one we want him to go to), our neighbors are amazing on both sides of the house (hopefully once they build behind and in front of us, if they ever do, they are equally as awesome). Getting involved in several really awesome mommy groups up here (thank you Alicia for encouraging me to join the Kent one.. it also gave me the courage to try out a few more, which I love all of them!!!) In fact, tomorrow I have a craft project that I am bringing to do with the moms and kids at the Puyallup Public Library and also plan on discussing with the organizer a food drive idea I have for the group.

This weekend is my sister's baby shower. Super excited because I am planning it. I have everything ready, with help from my super amazing cousin Holly. It's going to rock!! :)

I've been definitely staying busy with implementing my cleaning schedule that I had at the old house in Ridgefield, working with Sevren on projects and reading/spelling, a few things I am doing for Sayoji at work for his fun committee and now the activities I'm helping with for the meetup group. Good stuff. I like staying busy :)

Silly, I know..

but I was watching a catch-up episode of Glee. And it got me to thinking (Born This Way was the episode). Although this is something I think about often, what would my life be like.. and how would I be, if the things that happened to be never happened. I mean, yes, there are certain aspects of myself that I was born with. The emotional issues, I know are from experiences that could have been prevented in some extent. Of course, car accidents are not something that can be foreseen, as are other things that happened. Hmm.. this is sounding more and more like a poor poor pitiful me post. Not where I was intending this.

This was probably a bad time to start my detox -> new eating habits. I am definitely hormonal. Tuesday is going to be such a fun day. It's the day my period is expected, I have to take Sevren to his 4 year check up and get shots, and then I have to take his paperwork with updated shot record to the preschool/pre-k place. Hoping it won't take very long to get through that. Ugh! :) Yeah.. I'm definitely hormonal and tired and thinking I might add a bath to my evening before bed. :)