Archives for November 2014

I was thinking about some of my family’s traditions from when I was a child. Then I was thinking about MY family’s traditions for my children.

Some are the same. Some are different. Some are very different. Some are comfortingly similar.

I remember when I was 13 we moved to Canada. I didn’t even know I was Canadian before we moved here.

That first Thanksgiving in October was so bizarre! Thanksgiving isn’t in October, it’s at the end of November. I’m not sure if any of my family really got into the celebration. It just didn’t feel right.

For the next several years we celebrated both the Canadian and American thanksgivings. We had turkey at both. And no one complained.

Slowly, the Canadian tradition became my own tradition. And slowly the american tradition faded. It just wasn’t practical. Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, a regular day up here in Canada. We have always had some turkey of some sort. But the traditional feast has faded into a memory. A pleasant one.

So too will the traditions my husband and I have set for our own family. Our children will grow up and decide on their own traditions to do with their own families. I’m sure they will keep some of ours and lose some too. And that’s OK.

Because traditions are really about memories. Making wonderful memories that live in our hearts and minds forever!

So, bring on the traditions! I love them; and there are many that would die off, if my children didn’t insist we continue them. So, if it makes them happy, I’m all for it!

Our first Christmas tradition every season is putting the kids’ hand prints on the tree skirt…so bring it on…and let the old and new memories flow freely and together! And let the smiles shine!

Do you ever get doing a bad habit and after awhile stop and analyze why you started doing it and what you need to stop.

Well, I did.

For the past month and a half or so I have been biting my nails.

As a child I was a nail biter. But I worked really hard to stop this. I mostly took up chewing massive amounts of gum. And I started chewing the caps on pens. I know, I know…terrible habit. I don’t chew pen caps anymore. Haven’t in years.

So, when I kept looking at my previously neatly kept nails and kept seeing short ugly chewed ones instead; I hated it.

I knew that if I wanted to stop chewing my nails I had better figure out what was causing me to do it. After a few days of making sure I was aware of when and why I was doing it, I had the answer.

I was chewing my nails instead of my inner lip. I have a habit of chewing the inside of my lip when I am thinking through a problem and trying to come up with a solution.

The problem is my problem has no solution. That means the nail biting has no end. That isn’t acceptable. So, instead of biting my nails I just chose to bite my lip instead.

The thing was now I was going through a LOT of chapstick.

So, instead I am working on letting this elusive solution go. I know there is no solution anyways and so letting it bother me is clearly only hurting me. So, now every time I think about possible solutions to this problem I just intentionally let it go. I intentionally put my mind to other things and other possible solutions to those issues and problems.

So, my lip is a bit chapped, but getting better everyday. You can’t really see it anyways because it’s on the inside edge! 🙂 and my nails are looking much better. Short still, but not chewed to the base.

I’m learning to let things go that I can’t fix. And spend my thinking time on more important and productive things…like how to get my “vibrating” (his teacher’s words, not mine) son some positive tools he can use to be better equipped to learn in an environment that is clearly not designed for him, but he must be in. 😉

Enough introspection! It is time for putting some of my creative tools for him into place. The tools I thought of when redirecting my unproductive thinking. And there will be no more nail biting. Now that I’ve figured out why I do it, it should be simple enough to fix…if I find myself reverting to that old bad habit again!

Almost 2 years ago my family changed dentists. This dentist came highly recommended. So I decided to give him a try.

I haven’t regretted it. My entire family now sees Dr Tang at Concept Dentistry.

Today I had a regular hygiene appointment. These have been getting a bit better each time. But they are still painful at certain points. I have some extremely sensitive teeth. The rest of them are just fine.

So, I am pleasantly surprised that this appointment went so well. Apparently my cordless toothbrush is doing its job well and is an investment I’m super glad I made!