October 13, 2005 12:28 PM
Where's Barbara?
Rachel wrote:
Hey, Barbara! Where are you? I miss your posts. Don't leave us hanging for too long. ;)
Thank God for Rachel and for all the moms who write me! I just this second replied to the last lingering email in my Inbox. And here's what else is happening with me:
I've been working hard to get through the stacks on my desk - all the impossible paperwork that comes with having a big, complicated family - something that the wise man forgot to write about in Proverbs 31 :)
Does this happen to you? When I am snowed under an avalanche of stupid things - wrong size screens delivered, need to call the insurance company to get preauthorization to have general anesthetic for Jesse and Daniel to get their stubborn baby teeth pulled to make room for the new (because they can't tolerate the dentist at all), the warranty on the broken DVD player, submit bills for eyesglasses, sign Maddy up with swim team, order Sophia's yearbook, and on and on - well, you all know what I mean, I'm sure.
You each have your own pile of stuff too.
Anyway. Once that pile reaches critical mass, I can no longer make any forward progress. I have three article assignments due this month. And a book due in February. And dearest to my heart, my blog. But I was feeling sapped by all these other things.
So, I decided to completely clear the decks. I've been up until 1 each night slogging through the paper sludge. Today I have only two more things to do and then I'm finished.
I'm also working with my blog guru on setting up Barbara's Picks - which will be pages of different categories of recommendations for toys, music, etc. My guru has suggested (just 10 minutes ago!) that I go beyond just a simple recommendation to give more insight into what the toy/music/book is all about - how to unlock its potential and maximize the impact for your children. I think that's a great idea!! This is one of the incredible benefits of my Montessori training and I can pass it on to you now.
But this will take time.
So I'm thinking that rather than waiting until I have the whole grand package, I may start with a few things and add to them as time allows. But you all have to remember to check every once in a while to see what's new.
Also, if you have recommendations, let me know and I'll see how they fly.
This is a very ambitious project for me, but I'm excited about it. In additon to making recommendations, I also am planning a line of products celebrating motherhood. Oh, and did I mention I have a book to write? It's tentatively titled Mother's Little Helpers and will be just a whole bunch of stories of little things I've learned along the way to becoming the mom God intended me to be (though I still have quite a way to go).
I want you to know that the recommendations I make will be linked to Amazon. which seems to have consistently the best prices and where I've been buying stuff from books to coffeemakers to lawn chairs for years. If you have not begun online shopping, it is a real blessing for busy moms as you lose the travel time and wanderingdaydreaming/impulse shopping time - although I sometimes find that necessary as a therapeutic activity :) - not to mention the money you save on gas.
Those are advantages to you - in addition to picking The Right Stuff, based on a Montessori megamom's 36 - count 'em - years of experience teaching and raising kids.
For me, the advantage is that I will make a small - very small - commission on each item purchased at amazon through this site. This will offset the cost of my blog and tech support so that my family won't be paying for my ministry (yikes! I don't like to use Christian jargon and ministry sounds presumptuous - I just don't know what else to call it).
But the greatest advantage is this: that I have a place to actually share the things I've learned in my own journey as a mother - things I believe can help each of you discover the joy in being a mom. Yes, there are frustrations and disappointments and lost jackets and crayons on the wall and trips to the emergency room and for mothers of boys the never-ending trail of sock balls. But there is so much joy!
As my daughter Maddy - the eternal optimist, whose hero is Doris Day - has taken to saying to me, "Are you pumped, Mom?"
Hey, my desk is clear, and my work is set before me. Yeah, I'm pumped!
Posted in Mothering | Permalink
Comments
very excited about the suggested toys & materials coming soon! thanks so much for being so passionate about sharing your God-given wisdom with other moms like me! You are a huge answer to prayer in my life as a young mom.
heavenly blessings to you, sarah
Posted by: sarah | October 13, 2005 5:43 PM
I like to procrastinate making phone calls, too. Office day, it'll come around again next week, right? :D
The new book sounds encouraging already! Maybe we can all help you get through. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: mrs.s. | October 13, 2005 8:54 PM
Missed you, Barbara!
Posted by: Holly | October 13, 2005 9:51 PM
Yay! So glad you are back! Just so you know...yeah, I'm pumped. ;)
Posted by: Rachel | October 13, 2005 10:11 PM
I wanted to say how helpful it was to see a picture of your shelves with the toys. My shelves are much more stuffed with things. Your set up is very inviting for young children.
Posted by: Angela | October 13, 2005 10:31 PM
What is it about guys and sock balls, anyway??
It's so funny that you wrote about your "stack"... I got to the same point this week and tomorrow my husband is going to take my little'un to visit Grandpa all day so that I can organize my life (or at least make a dent)! Bless him :)
Your new book sounds like it will be great! And you definitely DO have a ministry. As a visual artist myself, I know what you mean about it costing the family to run; I'm working on that too.
It was helpful in a previous blog where you explained in exactly what ways the Montessori games help to hone particular skills... I'm sure your "Barbara's Picks" will be well-received.
Allie
Posted by: Allie | October 14, 2005 11:33 AM
Another idea for keeping shelves uncluttered is to rotate activities - keep some put away and then when you bring them out the kids are more excited about them.
Also - very Montessori - if there is a piece missing to something, hide it away 'til you find it. You are subliminally reinforcing the idea of order in the environment. When we put out incomplete or broken toys, we are reinforcing disorder - even *gasp* chaos.
Thanks for all the encouragement about Barbara's Picks. I'm excited too - and jotting down notes about music and films that have been dear to us and have stood the test of time!
Lucky you, Allie! Now, just be sure you don't fritter your time away blogivanting (gallivanting around reading blogs. Your hubby's going to expect that stack of stuff to disappear :)
Posted by: barbaracurtis | October 14, 2005 12:46 PM
