Dianne Bright: December 2011 Archives

BY DIANNE BRIGHT
Guest Author

Everyone sets those well-intentioned goals for the New Year. But why wait until then? The holidays are the perfect time to put those New Year's resolutions to good use. We should all aim to take better care of the environment, right? So let's get started (especially those of you who are like me and aren't quite done with your shopping yet).

Here are five ways to reduce, reuse or recycle this holiday season:

First, try to buy less. I mean, do you really need a gift for every person you've ever met? Why not stick to a list of your 10 closest family members and friends? You can give a cheerful hug to the rest of those fun-loving acquaintances! And when you wrap those gifts, try to reuse one of last year's gift bags that's still in great shape. Or use one that you've already received this year (as long as it's not going back to the same person).

Second, give stuff that grows. This includes flowers, fruits or vegetables. A neighbor recently gave me five pomegranates from her father-in-law's fruit tree. They are so beautiful and I can't wait to juice them. I've been giving people lemons from my own tree in a bag with a red ribbon. In my opinion, you can't beat organic, home-grown fruit!

Third, share some of your talents with those you love. It might sound cheese-ball, but think of Grandma getting a thoughtful missive or poem about the reasons you love her, placed in a reasonably priced frame. I'm pretty sure she'll be fine without another pair of pink slippers. Or if you're into music, sing a song for your special someone. Then give him or her a kiss along with a simple ornament containing a picture of the two of you.

Fourth, re-gift items you already own. Go through your closets and look for some well kept treasures you no longer want. I have a really nice red wine print that is in perfect condition. But guess what - I'm not in love with it anymore. The hand-me-down coffee prints from a good friend look much better on my red wall. So now I can gift that one to someone else.

Fifth, give practical gifts to those you love. It sometimes takes away the mystery or the romance, some would say. But I'm thrilled that my husband knows I'd like a new pair of boots, a running watch and a mini-notebook for my writing on the go. If he's gonna spend a few hundred bucks on me anyway, I'd rather get the things I really need. Wouldn't you as well? So go ahead and tell him or her what's on your list.

Reduce, reuse, recycle! It's the green thing to do this Christmas!

Join the conversation at blogs.inlandsocal.com/moms, PE.com or Momarama pages on Facebook. Or send an email to pe.momarama@yahoo.com

By DIANNE BRIGHT
GUEST AUTHOR

It's important to take time out for each of our kids. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to forget that a little bit of one-on-one time with our children really matters. And their time in the spotlight is significant as well.

Within the past few days, I've attended three award ceremonies, one for each of our kids. A balloon was given to our bounciest middle child. Our oldest kid got a candy cane full of Reese's Cups. And our little diva got a bouquet of salmon-colored carnations for her job well done.

For each assembly, my iPhone was jamming to catch pics and video clips. I was balancing my Starbucks cup and the treats for my kids, trying to catch my breath from my morning sprint, thinking "Was my van parked in the red?" You've been there before, right?

Occasionally, I ask myself, "Is it worth all the madness?" I mean, do you think they'd really care if I didn't make it to the assembly, just this once? And we all know the answer, right? Of course it matters! Because when your kid sees your beautiful smile staring over at them (even if they pretend like you're not there because they're playing the "too cool" routine), it makes him or her feel like a million dollars. They feel loved, cared for, valued and important!

And as I chat around with other moms lately, I'm more aware than ever that we're all running on fumes and caffeine. We can barely get our kids dropped off before the bell signals its louder-than-life announcement that we're late!

But even amidst the psychotic rat-race that we're all in, we must slow down to make our kids feel that they're calm in our embrace even in those stressful moments. It's worth the effort to park the car, run them to the gate, and to give them that big bear hug that reminds them we'll be there to pick them up at the end of the day.

They know we'll all sit down for a warm dinner (even if it's take-out; let's be honest, people) together. Even when I ask each of my kids the same questions for the hundredth time, like who they sat by at lunch and what game they played at recess, they know it's because I care about the details of their day. In short, they know that I love them.

And we as parents need those little smiles and hugs to keep us going as well. We get to replay those beautiful moments captured in mere minutes inside our hearts and on our smart phones throughout the day. They motivate us when we're dragging and find it difficult to picture the to-do list all checked off. Grabbing those special moments helps us to have perspective when we can't envision the end of the day arriving quickly enough.

But when life starts to feel too crowded for those precious moments, then it's time for us to cut out some of the other stuff from our busy schedules. If we don't make the time for our kids today, then no-one else will.

The truth is that they really want the winks, smiles, hugs, and words of affirmation from us more than from anyone else in the whole world. And not getting it will affect the way they view themselves and the world around them.

Even if you have a few shy kids who don't let you know how much they appreciate your attendance at their assemblies, your time volunteering in their classrooms, or your extra kisses before drop-offs, know this: It all matters! So don't give up, moms and dads, even if your energy level is so low that you can barely reach the coffee pot each morning.

You are making a difference in your kids' lives. You are doing an amazing job of shaping the next generation because of the sacrifices you're willing to make this season. Keeping it real. Share your thoughts here. We'd love to hear from you!