Yes, this is a checkpoint! A checkpoint whether you are successful or not on this very minute, on this very moment in your life.
But before evaluating yourself, THINK ABOUT THIS...
Many women feel they are left behind by the societal definition of success. The success that mothers achieve in the home which is not only considerable in itself but indispensable to the success of nations is completely undervalued if not completely ignored. There are also many examples of women who achieved so much in one field (career), and have miserable failures on the other (relationships).
The meaning of success will always have a different meaning to various of people. There is no true meaning only interpretation of our own definition. Indicators of being successful may be in the form of wealth, fame, or even power. These are worldly conformities of course, the one we were oriented to attain in order to be happy. A philosopher once said "... if we think that to have happiness in our lives is success, then we would be wrong. Since happiness and sorrow follows each other and comes by rotation..."
The very best indicator of our success lies in our HEART. The heart never lies. Even if the whole world envy us for having so much, but there is a vacuum in our heart, that makes everything meaningless. God judges the heart. You are a success if you live a life from your heart.
Have you ever ponder on what could have been if you chose a different option or walked a different path? Even if it seems pointless to think about it, we sometimes can't help but think of the possible events that might or might not change our present state. A student may say to himself, " I should have reviewed.." after flunking an exam, or " If I have only chosen a man with a decent job, I wouldn't be living the rest of my life as a dishwasher," an unhappy wife tells her friend. No matter how small or life changing it might have been, we all have bits and pieces of our past that we want to relive again. But the thing with these wishful thinking is that we know it can never be brought back again. Unless we have a time machine of course :) That is why TODAY is so precious. Which of the things in life should we value more in order to optimize our today's existence? I believe that to each is his own. But I will let ERMA BOMBECK answer this for me.
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER by Erma Bombeck (Written after she found out she was dying from cancer).
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have sat on the lawn! With my grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's"; more "I'm sorry's." But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it... Live it and never give it back.
STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!! Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what. Instead; let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with, and what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. I hope that you have a great day.
Sometimes we all get caught up with our busy lives that we tend to forget how beautiful life is. One of the best way to make a difference in someone else's life is bysmiling. When you smile, you give others a part of you that is positive and at the same time you are giving yourself the ability to conquer life's difficulties from within. It makes you feel good, makes feel others good & makes the world a better place to live in. Of course, we cannot force other people to smile back. But the seed of an act of kindness through smiling can make miracles and wonders. Smile everyday, even if your struggling, Smile in the midst of suffering, Smile when others say bad things about you or things are not going your way. It reflects the hope we have and the goodness that we know will come our way.
P.S.
i suggest for you to play this game which will give you tons of good laugh. GOOD DAY!!!
If you have just learned that your teen is having a baby, you are probably experiencing a wide range of emotions, from shock and disappointment to grief and worry about the future. And although some parents are embarrassed by their teen's pregnancy and worried about how family, friends, and neighbors will react, others are happy over the news of a soon-to-be grandchild - especially if the teen is older and in a mature relationship.
Whatever feelings you're experiencing, this is likely to be a difficult time for your family. The important thing to realize is that your teen needs you now more than ever. Being able to communicate with each other - especially when emotions are running high - is essential. Teens that are carrying a baby to term have special health concerns, and your child will have a healthier pregnancy - emotionally and physically - if she knows she doesn't have to go it alone.
So what can you do as the parent of a teen having a baby? Recognize your feelings and work through them so that you can accept and support her. Does that mean you don't have the right to feel disappointed and even angry? No. Such reactions are common. You might have a strong flood of emotions to deal with, especially at first. But the reality of the upcoming baby means that you'll have to get beyond your initial feelings for the sake of your teen and her child.
If you need help coping with your feelings about the situation, talk to someone you trust or seek professional counseling. A neutral third party can be a great resource at a time like this.
Although the rate for teen pregnancies have dipped since the early 1990s, the United States still has the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of teen pregnancy among other countries of similar status. So if you are parent of a teenager, what else can you do to help prevent your teenager from getting pregnant or getting someone pregnant?
Keep communication between you and your teen open so that talking about sex is easier to broach.
Be approachable so that if your teenager has questions about sex or relationships, you can be ready with answers.
Teach your family values and help your teen see how much they are worth. Explain that no one should be able to make him or her feel like they have to be sexually active.
Encourage safe and fun activities and sports. Show them their strengths and keep education a top priority.
Watch for warning signs of heavy relationships with the opposite sex. Also watch for signs of depression or a drop off in previously enjoyed activities. You may need to take further steps to help them avoid becoming sexually promiscuous.
Teach your teenager the problems associated with unsafe sex. Show him or the diseases that can result as well as the threat of unplanned pregnancy.
Know what your teenager is doing and where they like to hang out. Make your home an open place for your teenager’s friends and encourage fun activities at responsible and respected places.
Just a short time ago your teens biggest concerns might have been hanging out with her friends and wondering what clothes to wear. Now she's dealing with morning sickness and scheduling prenatal visits. Her world has been turned upside down.
Most unmarried teens don't plan on becoming pregnant, and they're often terrified when it happens. Many, particularly younger teens, keep the news of their pregnancies secret because they fear the anger and disappointment of their parents. Some might even deny to themselves that they are pregnant - which makes it even more important for parents to step in and find medical care for their teen as early in the pregnancy as possible. Younger teens' pregnancies, in particular, are considered high risk because their bodies haven't finished growing and are not yet fully mature.
Teen boys who are going to become fathers also need the involvement of their parents. Although some boys may welcome the chance to be involved with their children, others feel frightened and guilty and may need to be encouraged to face their responsibilities (the father is legally responsible for child support in every state). That doesn't mean, however, that you should pressure your teen son or daughter into an unwanted marriage. Offer advice, but remember that forcing your opinions on your teen or using threats is likely to backfire in the long run. There's no "one size fits all" solution here. Open communication between you and your teen will help as you consider the future.
teen pregnancy is a life-changing and scary event. If you're a pregnant teenager, you can help yourself and your baby by:
Taking your prenatal vitamins for your health and to prevent some birth defects
As much as I would like to give credit to the author, the next entry was only a forward message. Even if I do not know the author of this beautiful creation I commend him for making such a lovely tribute to his mother. And for my husband who took the time to share it with me knowing how important this is for me. Paintings of mother & child taken from LAURIE SNOW HEIN collection
Mother always lie……….
EIGHT LIES OF A MOTHER
1. This story begins when I was a child: I was born poor. Often we hadn’t enough to eat. Whenever we had some food, Mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was transferring her rice into my bowl, she would say "Eat this rice, son! I'm not hungry." This was Mother's First Lie.
2. As I grew, Mother gave up her spare time to fish in a river near our house; she hoped that from the fish she caught, she could gave me a little bit more nutritious food for my growth. Once she had caught just two fish, she would make fish soup. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat what was still left on the bone of the fish I had eaten; my heart was touched when I saw it. Once I gave the other fish to her on my chopstick but she immediately refused it and said,” Eat this fish, son! I don't really like fish.” This was Mother's Second Lie.
3. Then, in order to fund my education, Mother went to a Match Factory to bring home some used matchboxes which she filled with fresh matchsticks. This helped her get some money to cover our needs. One wintry night I awoke to find Mother filling the matchboxes by candlelight. So I said, "Mother, go to sleep; it's late: you can continue working tomorrow morning." Mother smiled and said "Go to sleep, son! I'm not tired." This was Mother's Third Lie.
4. When I had to sit my Final Examination, Mother accompanied me. After dawn, Mother waited for me for hours in the heat of the sun. When the bell rang, I ran to meet her. Mother embraced me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared in a thermos. The tea was not as strong as my Mother's love, Seeing Mother covered with perspiration; I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said "Drink, son! I'm not thirsty!” This was Mother's Fourth Lie.
5. After Father's death, Mother had to play the role of a single parent. She held on to her former job; she had to fund our needs alone. Our family's life was more complicated. We suffered from starvation. Seeing our family's condition worsening, my kind Uncle who lived near my house came to help us solve our problems big and small. Our other neighbors saw that we were poverty stricken so they often advised my mother to marry again. But Mother refused to remarry saying "I don't need love." This was Mother's Fifth Lie.
6. After I had finished my studies and gotten a job, it was time for my old Mother to retire but she carried on going to the market every morning just to sell a few vegetables. I kept sending her money but she was steadfast and even sent the money back to me. She said, "I have enough money." That was Mother's Sixth Lie.
7. I continued my part-time studies for my Master's Degree. Funded by the American Corporation for which I worked, I succeeded in my studies.
With a big jump in my salary, I decided to bring Mother to enjoy life in America but Mother didn't want to bother her son; she said to me "I'm not used to high living." That was Mother's Seventh Lie
8. In her old age, Mother was attacked by cancer and had to be hospitalized. Now living far across the ocean, I went home to visit Mother who was bedridden after an operation. Mother tried to smile but I was heartbroken because she was so thin and feeble but Mother said, "Don't cry, son! I'm not in pain." That was Mother's Eighth Lie.
Telling me this eighth lie, she died.
YES, MOTHER WAS AN ANGEL!
M - O - T - H - E - R
" M"is for the million things she gave me, " O"means only that she's growing old, "T"is for the tears she shed to save me, "H"is for her heart of gold,
"E"is for her eyes with love-light shining in them,
"R"means right, and right she'll always be, Put them all together,
they spell
"MOTHER"--
a word that means the world to me.
For those of you who are lucky to be still blessed with your Mom's presence on Earth, this story is beautiful. For those who aren't so blessed, this is even more beautiful.
An article on single Mom that caught my eye & should be read by the world. A life encompassing unconditional love towards her children & herself.
I became a single mother when my kids were 2 and 4 years old. The details of how it happened are irrelevant. It was 16 years ago. Suggestions made by therapists to seek out other single mothers for support were useless and unhelpful. There is nothing more ridiculous than expecting another single mother to be able to support and help you when you are also a single mother. Lots of advice is given to single moms. We are the 3 legged dogs of the world. We are the outcasts and the stigmatized. We are treated differently at work by our bosses and by our married friends once we become single again. We are raising our kids to the best of our ability. Doctors, teachers, school psychologists are judgmental and unaware of the level of strength and courage that it takes to survive as a single mother. There is no commonality between the single mom and the single dad. I'm sorry. Many will disagree with what I say, but this is not only my experience but the experience of several people I have known and countless clients I have worked with. The single mother is always seen as wrong, she can never be right, she can never do enough, she can never do it the best way as many married women can.
A single mother leaning on a single mother is like a blind person leading a blind person across the street. Both will get hit by cars. I learned in my friendships with other single moms that it was every woman for herself. " Be strong or be gone". The issue for us is always money. We never have enough of it. We need to make the household income while holding the household together. Single moms are in competition with each other for who has the worst deal. Who got screwed over in their child support and divorces more? Who has it harder? The friendships are never real, they are for survival purposes only.
All along the way we hear married women moaning about their burdens and responsibilities and we are silent. We quietly carry 4 times the burden that they do and yet we reach out and support them emotionally and in every way we can. We listen to their marital problems and are secretly thankful that we aren't married anymore. We pity them even though they think they are in the envious position, they are not. We have overcome so much by living as a single mom. We have learned how to manage in the world when we were never taught how to. Our married friends aren't forced to deal with cars and money and household repairs the way that we are. That is the only common link that we single moms have with each other. We learn the hard way how to manage a career the way a man does. We don't know the rules, we never learned them as young girls. We only know how to be supportive to others and nurturing and kind. These qualities don't help us in the workplace. Bosses feel threatened by our Independence and our lack of need for a spouse. We are secretly punished for our strength at work.
Single mothers cannot unite. It is impossible. Our children always come first. Their childcare is always an issue. We never have enough money to pay for all the help that we need and we cannot get the help we need from friends or family. Being a single mother is the most isolating and challenging event a human being can experience, because we are responsible not only for ourselves but for our children as well. We never look good in the eyes of others. We are always cutting corners to make things work. We can never give our kids all that we wanted to give them and we have never been enough or given enough to those who need us.
If you are a single mom and are reading this I want to say to you, you are the strongest person in your world.You are enough and you have done more than enough. Stop trying to be perfect and stop trying to be the kind of mother that you thought you would be. It's impossible. If married mothers struggle, and they do, then your struggles are much much greater. Give yourself some credit for your immeasurable courage. Acknowledge your strength everyday. Look out for yourself and your children and stop taking care of others.
If you are reading this and you know a single mother, share this with her. If you are not a single mother and you are reading this I hope it has made you more aware and able to see the single mothers you know in a different light.
