back to basics

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I've been spending a lot of one on one time with the kids at home because they have been taking turn in getting sick. Since the new school, it's been nonstop cycle of catching a new cold. We're all finally getting better and slowly getting back to our normal schedule. 

Shane doesn't cry and clings to me when I drop him at school anymore but Chloe still does and I have to peel her off me, one body part at a time. I think this new transition is harder for her as she's older plus, she's in a class of 20 kids vs. her previous school that only had 6 or 7 kids in the class. She's only 3 years old but we tend to expect her to be more mature for her age, which we admit and try to remind ourselves that it can be unfair at times. It's a very fine line. As I was walking toward the parking lot after dropping her off, I peeked into the window of her class room. Chloe was crying. My heart stopped. I thought she stopped crying as soon as I left, at least that's what the teachers' been telling me, but today for some reason, she was still crying sitting down by her self. Nobody, not even her teachers noticed that my little girl was crying…. I felt so bad and just wanted to run in and give her a hug. I think this explains a lot of her difficult behaviors for the last couple of  few weeks. She's a really a happy girl but having to get used to a new environment and not being able to completely verbalize her feelings is resulting in frustration and impatience.  

That said, she is getting spoiled though. The other day, she began to say that she was my boss and she owns everything, and that all of what we have belongs to her. That really got to me. I think we buy her too many things. Whatever she wants we get for her. This needs to stop. We've been mindlessly spending and spending. Then I began to think how an ungrateful toddler I am to my father God. How spoiled I AM. What I have and own are not mine. It is only by God's grace that I enjoy what I have. We are lucky to have our jobs. These days I was going overboard with my spending. I'm not really a big shopper when it comes to my stuff. I always buy discounted, off the sale racks and often make my own or alter what I already own rather than buy. But when it comes to kids and house decorating, I feel less guilty about spending the big bucks. I decided that all of this needs to stop and have jumped on our new era of frugality. We are fasting. Financially, that is. Andrew and I decided that we are not going to buy anything for a month except for groceries and gas. No eating out, no new toys, no craft projects, no clothes, no electronics, nothing. We are revaluing our needs and wants. 

One Response to “back to basics”

  1. amy Says:

    awww the image of chloe crying breaks my heart.  poor little girl.  i'm so thankful i dont do drop offs and austin has to be the one.  naomi goes through really rough patches where she's miserable when we drop her off too.  hope you guys get healthy soon!  we should hang out soon especially now that the weather is nice!  a financial fast sounds like a good idea. we totally take everything for granted as well.  good luck!!

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