This is my first attempt at an “I Did Something Right” post.

 One of the things that has always been important to me in my life is being on time. My mom was the “always late” mom (sorry mom) so I think it's one big reason why I have become the “always on time” mom. This is something I take great pride in. It makes me feel like I am being a good mother to my kids. Even on days when I feel like I’m not doing my best as a parent (we all have those days) I try to assure myself that if nothing else, when it comes to my children (and hopefully my other family and friends) I am dependable. When I am expected to be somewhere, to pick someone up from school, get to a Girl Scout meeting, a dance class, a birthday party, whatever, I am 99 % of the time prompt. And the same goes for pick up. : )

 I know that my daughters depend on my consistency and it’s gives me great pleasure and satisfaction in “being there” for my kids. It’s just one of my little parenting success stories.

 Now, for my next challenge; I will try to take this IDSR point and write an advice post. I hope that by sharing some of the routines we have in place in my home might help other family’s fine success too.  I’ll be sure to link to it when I write it. : )

Have you written your IDSR post yet???? I encourage you all to go for it!

EDITED TO SAY...I did it!! Look for my IDSR Advice post HERE! Let me know what you think.

A while back many of us played a blog tag game here at Minti. Well, I propose we start something like that again. This one is unique in that it's going to get all of us parents to reflect on what we do well as parents. HUH? Yes, you read it right. This exercise goes like this....

Step One-You must come up with SOMETHING YOU DO WELL AS A PARENT and write a blog post about it.. It could be anything at all but it's got to be something you're proud of. If you would, title the blog post "I Did Something Right!" or  IDSR so we can all find the posts that honor our hard work as parents!

Why all this patting of our own backs? It seems to me that many of us reach out to other parents when we are in need or frustrated or when we are feeling blue. And we all have those terrible days when we don't feel like very good parents at all. But that's not the case! Sure there is always room for improvement BUT the fact is, we all have parenting skills we are really good at. These are things that work well for our families and things we take pride in. SO, I think sharing with the world our parental successes is a good exercise all around!

Step Two- Once you've written your blog post,  if you can, and only if it will properly translate, turn it in into an ADVICE post to share with other Minti members. Even if it's something short and simple, it might help another parent in the future. Maybe there is a way you can give some helpful hints to other parents about what worked for you, or steps to take to conquer a particular issue. Write your advice to the best of your ability and be sure to tag it so others can find it when they are looking for answers about their parenting problems. Who knows, they way you do something right might help someone else find the right way as well! It's what the Minti spirit is about...sharing advice with one another.

Step Three -(And this will only be necessary to get the IDSR word out there) Be sure to keep the blog ball rolling and "tag" or encourage another member or two or three via email to play. But keep in mind you DO NOT have to be tagged to participate. ANYONE and EVRYONE is invited to join in, ANYTIME. No invite is needed. Eventually these type of postive blog posts will be all over our Minti blogs and the good vibes will be swirling all over the place! YAY!

So, what are you waiting for??? GET BLOGGING and celebrate yourselves!

Those of you who also write on external blogs (those outside of Minti), I hope that you will take this game with you. And be sure to invite your readers to participate in the advice writing part of it. It would be so great for the Minti community to gain more members and gather some new advice for the Minti library!

This post is from from my other blog here

Since my little sister is getting married in March and my step-brother is getting married in May there has been a lot of talk about weddings around here.

Today in the car, out of the blue my youngest daughter sighs, "I want to get married."
"You do?" I ask, "Well, you can get married when you grow up. Who do you want to marry?"
"Daddy" she replied dreamily.
"What else do you want to do when you grow up?" thinking this was a good time to sneak a peek into her head.
"Be a doctor" she says.
"Great," I say, "And anything else?"
"Ride my big bike" she says and rolls her eyes as if she's tired of me probing.
I summarize, "So, you want to marry Daddy, be a doctor and ride your big bike when you grow up."
Pause.
She sighs again and tilts her head against the car seat, "Daddy is sooooooo handsome."

And although I wholeheartedly agree, I'm now convinced she's seen one too many Princess movies.

Here's my little love BUG. She's adorable even when she's sick. We had a rough week last week. But out of it all came some really cute photos! That's a plus.

I shot this with my favorite toy, the Lensbaby 2.0. It's bliss.

 

the calling

This post is from from my other blog here

I was recently asked if I consider any of my blogs (and you know I have many) to be photoblogs. Ahem, well, I'm not exactly sure. I write a lot about photography and post photos too at Picture This so yes, I think I would say that makes it a photoblog. Or does it? I can't really say one way or another.

Does a true photoblog have to showcase only photographic images without words, explanations or "how-to" tips? I do have one of those photoblogs that floats around in the background behind my busier blogs; understated and pale due to my neglect and lack of blog traffic. I love it but I don't post to it much these days. It seems that I have gotten caught up by adding words to everything I do. I have a website that speaks to passers-by in a visual language but I do long to continue this non-verbal communication in other ways.

So, now this question I'm pondering has given me a little nudge. A reminder that I love images without words. I so enjoy observing a single photograph and allowing for my own translation of that image pour over me; to stir and be stirred, to share the way I see things, or to see another perspective, to have thoughts and feelings pulse through me from an intimate visual experience between myself and a photograph.

So why don't I just get over there and post more?

OK. I will.

(thanks sissy for the reminder)

I took the kids to Disneyland yesterday and I didn't forget the Minti cards. WeI were taking some funny photos--like this one--and people were staring at us and laughing. Of course I had my Minti shirt on too which made it pretty obvious where are heads were. It was fun chatting with people telling them about Minti.

I call this one MINTI MOUSE!

There will be more! I'll upload them to our new Flickr group and bring a link back here to share them with everyone.

This post is from from my other blog here

Wow.
My little ol' blog Mother May I was nominated by someone whom I greatly admire for "The Happiest Blog" at the Share the Love Blog Awards hosted by One Woman's World.

I am in the company of some incredible bloggers over there so I'm all a flutter with just seeing my blog listed with theirs. Sigh.

Go check it out and vote for your favs. I did.