The last day of August has arrived, much to the chagrin of my children (and me, honestly). While I welcome the days of structure and routine I know I will miss these fleeting opportunities to create sunshine memories. Soon I'll be replacing flip flops for Fall boots and swimsuits for sweatshirts. My lazy mornings sleeping in late and lounging in pajamas until just before the pool opens will mesh into alarm clocks and cajoling children awake, dressed and fed before my own eyes are fully ready to open.
Such is the way...the cycle of parenthood. And I'd be ok with it, I suppose since I have no choice otherwise, but darn it if that back to school supply list doesn't haunt me. Sure, sure. I know. I should have (and could have) ordered the School Kitz and made life so much easier. Trust me, had I known I would have.
I'd like to say that I refused to order the School Kitz in a nostalgic defiance to the modern process of gearing our children up for the coming school year, but truth be told I simply misplaced my order form and then put off addressing the email until it was too late to order.
So today, I embarked on a journey that rivals The Odyssey. Armed with the requested list of supplies, I sat my three children down and told them a tale of yore. A time when just a few days before school started, moms would take their children to the store and let their children pick out their favorite folder(s) and a few notebooks, maybe even a Trapper Keeper! When a box of pencils or your favorite pens and a ruler was all we needed. They looked at me with confusion glazing over their eyes.
Moments later I found myself in the crowded chaos otherwise known as Staples. There I stood among the masses of irritated parents and whiny, reluctant children (my own included). As I worked my way down the list of requested items, I felt my own aggravation creeping up under my skin. Not only because the store was poorly stocked, over crowded and understaffed but because the list of supplies, in my opinion, is borderline ridiculous.
Tell me again why I can only send my children in to school with poly-plastic folders that are color coordinated? Why am I supplying paper towels, wipes, tissues, etc.? What ever happened to the shoebox of old rusty scissors in the corner of the shelf that we walked over to when we needed to cut something? Why do they need 48 pre-sharpened Ticonderoga pencils? If my parents didn't need to supply the chalk, why do I need to supply the dry erase markers?
Anyone that knows me knows that I have the deepest respect for teachers and what they do for our children so the distaste I harbor for this Back To School Supply list nonsense is not directed toward them. In fact, I think in many ways it irks me because the list is clearly driven by a need to supply our children with the necessary tools to succeed. But I cannot rationalize how we are not properly funding even the best schools so that the teachers have these supplies on hand without requesting from each parent. I cannot functionally understand how our children simply must have plastic folders, 1 red 1 blue 1 yellow 1 green and 1 color of their choice. I gather it's an attempt to keep everyone organized and structured, but I can't help but wonder if it really helps ward off chaos and misplaced work any better than the unicorn folders of yester year.
After searching the aisles and racks of Staples and only crossing tragically few items from the list, we ventured to Target hoping for the best but clearly brow beaten. A colossal failure of an effort later, I have come to see the truth. The Back to School Supply list is nothing more than clever bootcamp-esque training for parents. If you were smart enough to order the School Kitz, you'll manage just fine through the brutal wake up alarms and school parking chaos that will ensue shortly. If, like me, you failed to order yours then batten down the hatches! It's that time of year again....prepare to look for the missing matching shoe EVERY MORNING even after you've given them the exact spot in the closet the pair should be placed. Get ready to argue over which cereal your son/daughter wants for breakfast and why they can/can't wear those pants on P.E. days. Prepare to dodge the obstacle course of parked cars and the eager beaver parent that wants to schedule the full year of playdates the 2nd day of school! Oh, and how can I forget...Get ready for the tears shed during homework and project time. It's always so embarrassing when my son has to calm me down over math homework (kidding....a little). Happy school year ahead, I think!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Light It Up Blue...
Before I had my children, even as a former educator, I don't think I was fully aware of the scope of autism in my life. Though there were students with autism in our school, I didn't work with them directly. No one in the family or in my circle of friends had a child with autism. I guess you could say my view was sheltered.
Then, on February 14, 2007, my eyes opened. That was the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I was simultaneously elated to be bringing a child into this world and positively terrified that something may happen during my pregnancy or with my child. I am not a worry wort, but something about the delicate little being growing inside of me....I needed him/her to be safe, healthy, and perfect. I didn't want my child to have to suffer or struggle because of any physical, mental, emotional, learning disabilities. From that moment when I first "became" a mom, autism has worked its way into my life view.
Although my own children are not autistic, I can't help but feel like it's a part of our lives. Through our neighbor's son, classmates, teammates. A few months ago, I was given a great gift. While sitting watching my son play, I could clearly tell one of the boys in the group was not "normal." Let me stop here for a second and say that I cannot stand defining children as "normal" and "different" but for lack of a better description, I must here. He sat back quietly watching the group of kids play. When he chose to interact with the group of 5yr old boys, not always the most understanding of crowds, his social skill was awkward at best. He didn't quite know what to say or how to say it. He had a great vocabulary. He put his words together very well. But he barely made eye contact, he fidgeted in place twisting his hands back and forth.
I watched from the outside, praying that my son would be kind to this boy who was so clearly different than the rest of the group. I remember almost holding my breath waiting for that one second when they would find a way to play together. And then the strangest thing happened, they were all running around playing and laughing together. Yes, he hung back a little at times. And occasionally he would react to one of the boys and the way they were playing, but I didn't note it as that different from how my own child would react if he didn't like the way his sister was playing.
I guess I hadn't noticed how closely I had been watching this little boy when his mother, at that point a stranger to me, leaned in and said gently Timothy has autism. My first reaction was to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for staring at your child. I'm sorry he has autism. Just, I'm sorry...that for a brief fleeting second my heart reiterated that "Thank God my children are healthy" feeling. But, I didn't. She must have seen it in my face though. She very politely explained that she didn't treat her son's autism like a disease. That she and her husband don't treat it like a weakness or deficiency. She said her family had learned with time that her son's autism just changes the way they choose to live their life. She spoke freely about how she transitioned from being a career woman to a stay at home mom so she could create structure and routine for Timothy founded in compassion and understanding. She spoke of her daily life from watching her son thrive to preparing for the stares when a meltdown begins in public. She smiled as she watched Timothy play with this group of strangers. She told me how she'd brought him to this same play area every day at the same time for 6 months willing him to at least say hello to another child. I watched the pride in her face as she explained how different her son was from other "normal" kids. Not once did she talk about how difficult raising a child with autism must be. In fact, the only negative words from her were that she wished other people were more tolerant and understanding of Timothy and his needs. She had stories of parents taking their children by the shoulders and moving them away from him as if it's contagious. Of family and friends alike who have stopped going places with them because they can't deal with the stares from strangers if Timothy starts having a fit.
But still, through this clearly emotional and difficult conversation with a perfect stranger, Lisa smiled at her son. She kissed his cheek when he ran over to her. Encouraged him with her words that she quietly whispered into his ear. At that moment, I saw for the first time what loving someone with autism means. Her life as a mom was very different and yet strikingly similar to my own. She loves her child unconditionally and is guiding him to achieve the best that he can. She recognizes how difficult his being different is, not because he's different but because the world is trying to figure out how to accept different.
Lisa and I have kept in touch. Timothy and Matthew play once a month. They both love Ninja Turtles and Transformers. We've had playdates where you wouldn't even know he's autistic and we've had playdates where the meltdowns were so severe Lisa has carried her 60lb son to the car screaming. Never once has she thrown an apologetic look in my direction or me in hers. And as we wave to Timothy and tell him we will see him soon, I know these interactions are just as valuable to my son as they are hers. Unfortunately, Lisa's husband has taken a job on the West Coast and we will have to say goodbye to our friends but I'm thankful for the opportunity to know Timothy and his family. For the lessons he has taught Matthew and me. For the love, kindness and understanding being friends with this autistic child has welcomed into our lives. We will miss him dearly!
April is Autism Awareness Month. While making donations to research the cause, cure, etc are a phenomenal way to support those families raising these unique little children, what many of them would appreciate even more is your constant understanding and compassion for their children. Before you judge that mom in the supermarket whose child is screaming or those parents who aren't "disciplining" their child who is not behaving appropriately in TGI Friday's, stop and be tolerant. Understand every situation and every person is different. Raise an awareness that each puzzle piece is different and that's what colors our world so beautiful.
Then, on February 14, 2007, my eyes opened. That was the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I was simultaneously elated to be bringing a child into this world and positively terrified that something may happen during my pregnancy or with my child. I am not a worry wort, but something about the delicate little being growing inside of me....I needed him/her to be safe, healthy, and perfect. I didn't want my child to have to suffer or struggle because of any physical, mental, emotional, learning disabilities. From that moment when I first "became" a mom, autism has worked its way into my life view.
Although my own children are not autistic, I can't help but feel like it's a part of our lives. Through our neighbor's son, classmates, teammates. A few months ago, I was given a great gift. While sitting watching my son play, I could clearly tell one of the boys in the group was not "normal." Let me stop here for a second and say that I cannot stand defining children as "normal" and "different" but for lack of a better description, I must here. He sat back quietly watching the group of kids play. When he chose to interact with the group of 5yr old boys, not always the most understanding of crowds, his social skill was awkward at best. He didn't quite know what to say or how to say it. He had a great vocabulary. He put his words together very well. But he barely made eye contact, he fidgeted in place twisting his hands back and forth.
I watched from the outside, praying that my son would be kind to this boy who was so clearly different than the rest of the group. I remember almost holding my breath waiting for that one second when they would find a way to play together. And then the strangest thing happened, they were all running around playing and laughing together. Yes, he hung back a little at times. And occasionally he would react to one of the boys and the way they were playing, but I didn't note it as that different from how my own child would react if he didn't like the way his sister was playing.
I guess I hadn't noticed how closely I had been watching this little boy when his mother, at that point a stranger to me, leaned in and said gently Timothy has autism. My first reaction was to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for staring at your child. I'm sorry he has autism. Just, I'm sorry...that for a brief fleeting second my heart reiterated that "Thank God my children are healthy" feeling. But, I didn't. She must have seen it in my face though. She very politely explained that she didn't treat her son's autism like a disease. That she and her husband don't treat it like a weakness or deficiency. She said her family had learned with time that her son's autism just changes the way they choose to live their life. She spoke freely about how she transitioned from being a career woman to a stay at home mom so she could create structure and routine for Timothy founded in compassion and understanding. She spoke of her daily life from watching her son thrive to preparing for the stares when a meltdown begins in public. She smiled as she watched Timothy play with this group of strangers. She told me how she'd brought him to this same play area every day at the same time for 6 months willing him to at least say hello to another child. I watched the pride in her face as she explained how different her son was from other "normal" kids. Not once did she talk about how difficult raising a child with autism must be. In fact, the only negative words from her were that she wished other people were more tolerant and understanding of Timothy and his needs. She had stories of parents taking their children by the shoulders and moving them away from him as if it's contagious. Of family and friends alike who have stopped going places with them because they can't deal with the stares from strangers if Timothy starts having a fit.
But still, through this clearly emotional and difficult conversation with a perfect stranger, Lisa smiled at her son. She kissed his cheek when he ran over to her. Encouraged him with her words that she quietly whispered into his ear. At that moment, I saw for the first time what loving someone with autism means. Her life as a mom was very different and yet strikingly similar to my own. She loves her child unconditionally and is guiding him to achieve the best that he can. She recognizes how difficult his being different is, not because he's different but because the world is trying to figure out how to accept different.
Lisa and I have kept in touch. Timothy and Matthew play once a month. They both love Ninja Turtles and Transformers. We've had playdates where you wouldn't even know he's autistic and we've had playdates where the meltdowns were so severe Lisa has carried her 60lb son to the car screaming. Never once has she thrown an apologetic look in my direction or me in hers. And as we wave to Timothy and tell him we will see him soon, I know these interactions are just as valuable to my son as they are hers. Unfortunately, Lisa's husband has taken a job on the West Coast and we will have to say goodbye to our friends but I'm thankful for the opportunity to know Timothy and his family. For the lessons he has taught Matthew and me. For the love, kindness and understanding being friends with this autistic child has welcomed into our lives. We will miss him dearly!
April is Autism Awareness Month. While making donations to research the cause, cure, etc are a phenomenal way to support those families raising these unique little children, what many of them would appreciate even more is your constant understanding and compassion for their children. Before you judge that mom in the supermarket whose child is screaming or those parents who aren't "disciplining" their child who is not behaving appropriately in TGI Friday's, stop and be tolerant. Understand every situation and every person is different. Raise an awareness that each puzzle piece is different and that's what colors our world so beautiful.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The Sandy Effect
I just realized that as I started to type this entry, I have deleted the same sentiment at least ten times because I hesitate to offend any one individually or the collective whole. While I do not intend to offend, I know that some will read this and perhaps take it as a criticism of their personal actions/lack thereof. I suppose I will let this leading paragraph serve as my public service announcement then that that was certainly not my intention.
And so begins my actual topic this evening. For anyone not living under a rock in the latter part of 2012, we are all aware of the disasters that terrified our country. Between Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy that forever changed our eastern coastline and reeked havoc on so many of our cherished childhood memories to the Sandy Hook Elementary horror that destroyed American parents' sense of safety for their youngest children's school days, we as a society have witnessed beyond words and comprehension a humbling devastation that left a deep hole in many of our hearts.
For many, in times such as these, an urge to save ourselves from total damnation as a society seems to develop. We open our doors, our hearts, our wallets in a kind offering of help. These same doors that months before we did not/could not open for friends, family or strangers alike. The same hearts we kept sheltered from outsiders. The same wallets we claimed were too thin to aid another.
This "pay it forward" mindset invades social news feeds, business advertisements, news and media. We call on others to engage in acts of kindness and giving in the hopes that one good deed will in turn result in another. And while the sentiment and outpouring of "society" is wonderful, it also makes me sad.
I find it sad that buying a cup of coffee for the car in line behind you, for sending bags of clothing to shelters, allowing the woman in back of you to check out of line first has become such uncommon acts of kindness that we give it a name and publicly call upon others to join in on the campaign.
I'm saddened by the realization that while we live among each other, often in closer proximity than ever before, we as a society have broken down. Miriam Webster defines society as "an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another."
I'm curious how many people engaged in this pay it forward phenomena prior to the 2012 disasters. I wonder why it wasn't newsworthy on a personal or national level before Sandy. Most strongly I wonder when helping our fellow community members became paying it forward versus just doing what every human being should.
Maybe it's the idea that these acts of kindness/cooperation as been given a "name" that irks me. Or maybe it's that for 8 months out of 2012 on 98% of the news and media streams we heard nothing about this whole pay it forward concept.
I do not want to believe our society is so broken we only help when we are reminded by tragedy that we can and should. I don't want these good deeds to be commercialized and tainted by popularity and recognition.
Is it that we ignore the good we see all around us until we know the world needs to see it or is it that we forget we are not alone living among many until horrific images and catastrophe strikes so close both physically and metaphorically to our hearts and home?
Are we so engrossed in our own worlds that we have forgotten to foster relationships with friends, family, community alike?
I have refused to engage in the pay it forward campaign of latter 2012/early 2013, or as i call it "The Sandy Effect," not because I don't feel the actions themselves are noteworthy. And not because I feel the intent behind these acts of kindness are motivated by false intentions, but because my opinion is and always will honestly be that I will continue to do what I have always done.
I will treat perfect strangers with respect. I will smile and say hello while looking them in the eye. I will say please, thank you and you're welcome. I will hold the door. I will offer the cashier my money when a fellow human being falls short when I'm able. I will make donations to charities where and when and in what means/methods we are able to.
I will do this without posting on social media. No news cameras will follow me as I do. And I'm ok with that because growing up we didn't call it paying it forward. We called it other things. Respect. Kindness. Compassion. Community. We didn't wait for there to be a need. We just did it. All the time.
While the outpouring of kindness is a positive result of the last several months, I fear once the new-ness of these tragedies fades, The Sandy Effect will subside. We as a collective whole will return to our own microcosms and forget to be active members of society. I beg everyone and anyone to fight against that. To not let the hurt that has invaded your hearts be your drive, but rather the love that is and always will be there. When camera crews leave and status updates return to the mundane antics of every day life, what will you be doing for society?
And so begins my actual topic this evening. For anyone not living under a rock in the latter part of 2012, we are all aware of the disasters that terrified our country. Between Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy that forever changed our eastern coastline and reeked havoc on so many of our cherished childhood memories to the Sandy Hook Elementary horror that destroyed American parents' sense of safety for their youngest children's school days, we as a society have witnessed beyond words and comprehension a humbling devastation that left a deep hole in many of our hearts.
For many, in times such as these, an urge to save ourselves from total damnation as a society seems to develop. We open our doors, our hearts, our wallets in a kind offering of help. These same doors that months before we did not/could not open for friends, family or strangers alike. The same hearts we kept sheltered from outsiders. The same wallets we claimed were too thin to aid another.
This "pay it forward" mindset invades social news feeds, business advertisements, news and media. We call on others to engage in acts of kindness and giving in the hopes that one good deed will in turn result in another. And while the sentiment and outpouring of "society" is wonderful, it also makes me sad.
I find it sad that buying a cup of coffee for the car in line behind you, for sending bags of clothing to shelters, allowing the woman in back of you to check out of line first has become such uncommon acts of kindness that we give it a name and publicly call upon others to join in on the campaign.
I'm saddened by the realization that while we live among each other, often in closer proximity than ever before, we as a society have broken down. Miriam Webster defines society as "an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another."
I'm curious how many people engaged in this pay it forward phenomena prior to the 2012 disasters. I wonder why it wasn't newsworthy on a personal or national level before Sandy. Most strongly I wonder when helping our fellow community members became paying it forward versus just doing what every human being should.
Maybe it's the idea that these acts of kindness/cooperation as been given a "name" that irks me. Or maybe it's that for 8 months out of 2012 on 98% of the news and media streams we heard nothing about this whole pay it forward concept.
I do not want to believe our society is so broken we only help when we are reminded by tragedy that we can and should. I don't want these good deeds to be commercialized and tainted by popularity and recognition.
Is it that we ignore the good we see all around us until we know the world needs to see it or is it that we forget we are not alone living among many until horrific images and catastrophe strikes so close both physically and metaphorically to our hearts and home?
Are we so engrossed in our own worlds that we have forgotten to foster relationships with friends, family, community alike?
I have refused to engage in the pay it forward campaign of latter 2012/early 2013, or as i call it "The Sandy Effect," not because I don't feel the actions themselves are noteworthy. And not because I feel the intent behind these acts of kindness are motivated by false intentions, but because my opinion is and always will honestly be that I will continue to do what I have always done.
I will treat perfect strangers with respect. I will smile and say hello while looking them in the eye. I will say please, thank you and you're welcome. I will hold the door. I will offer the cashier my money when a fellow human being falls short when I'm able. I will make donations to charities where and when and in what means/methods we are able to.
I will do this without posting on social media. No news cameras will follow me as I do. And I'm ok with that because growing up we didn't call it paying it forward. We called it other things. Respect. Kindness. Compassion. Community. We didn't wait for there to be a need. We just did it. All the time.
While the outpouring of kindness is a positive result of the last several months, I fear once the new-ness of these tragedies fades, The Sandy Effect will subside. We as a collective whole will return to our own microcosms and forget to be active members of society. I beg everyone and anyone to fight against that. To not let the hurt that has invaded your hearts be your drive, but rather the love that is and always will be there. When camera crews leave and status updates return to the mundane antics of every day life, what will you be doing for society?
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
We are not powerless...
Everywhere I turn the aftermath of Sandy is abundantly clear-news and weather broadcasts, Facebook newsfeeds, tragic images, long gas -rationed lines and horrific stories from dear friends and family. We are all disheartened. We are all weakened by the reality we are faced with now.
I want to share my experience from this morning as I stood in line at Dunkin Donuts for my tea. I watched in disgust as a woman, frazzled and clearly exhausted, turned to the PSE&G worker in front of me and snapped "maybe if you f*ckers would stop taking coffee breaks, my family would have power back!"
He responded, with the gentlest voice, and said "ma'am I understand your frustration. I'm out there in the freezing cold to get people's power back on. I just NEED a hot coffee."
To this she responded "screw your hot coffee! My family has no heat no hot water for a week and you people don't even care"
Everyone stood there! Maybe too shocked at what was happening or maybe too numb to react. The silence seemed to last an eternity, but eventually he looked around her to the cashier and said "this woman's coffee is on me."
He then turned to leave the line, paused and said, at her but also at all of us as if he needed to justify his being there, "Just so you know I haven't seen my wife or my baby boy for almost a week because my house has no power and no heat. She had to take him to her mom in PA." As I looked at him I could almost see his lip quiver and the tears well in his eyes.
I reached my hand out and asked him to wait. I asked the cashier to give him his money back and a bagel. I told him I pray he's back home with his family soon.
He bowed his head a bit and thanked me.
I replied by clapping my hands and thanking him! The line of people around me responded by doing the same and I was proud. Not that I bought this worthy man a coffee but that the people around me were acknowledging how much he's given this week.
I suppose it can't be easy being a symbol of what's wrong...just try to remember the power company workers are not the problem. The loss of power, while awful, isn't even the problem. The problem is how we treat the world and the people in it.
Yes. We've seen devastation. We have endured great loss. But truth be told, we a little stronger too. Our patience has been tried. Our ability to adapt and overcome has been pushed to limits unknown to many. We learn in times like these that it isn't electricity that powers the human race. It is, or at least it should be, compassion and understanding. Generosity-true generosity...not that which is done for recognition, reward, personal benefit. Sacrifice- which by definition is difficult!
After all if we cannot stand together in the face of tragedy, we have already perished.
May all those recovering and rebuilding know my thoughts and prayers are with you!
I want to share my experience from this morning as I stood in line at Dunkin Donuts for my tea. I watched in disgust as a woman, frazzled and clearly exhausted, turned to the PSE&G worker in front of me and snapped "maybe if you f*ckers would stop taking coffee breaks, my family would have power back!"
He responded, with the gentlest voice, and said "ma'am I understand your frustration. I'm out there in the freezing cold to get people's power back on. I just NEED a hot coffee."
To this she responded "screw your hot coffee! My family has no heat no hot water for a week and you people don't even care"
Everyone stood there! Maybe too shocked at what was happening or maybe too numb to react. The silence seemed to last an eternity, but eventually he looked around her to the cashier and said "this woman's coffee is on me."
He then turned to leave the line, paused and said, at her but also at all of us as if he needed to justify his being there, "Just so you know I haven't seen my wife or my baby boy for almost a week because my house has no power and no heat. She had to take him to her mom in PA." As I looked at him I could almost see his lip quiver and the tears well in his eyes.
I reached my hand out and asked him to wait. I asked the cashier to give him his money back and a bagel. I told him I pray he's back home with his family soon.
He bowed his head a bit and thanked me.
I replied by clapping my hands and thanking him! The line of people around me responded by doing the same and I was proud. Not that I bought this worthy man a coffee but that the people around me were acknowledging how much he's given this week.
I suppose it can't be easy being a symbol of what's wrong...just try to remember the power company workers are not the problem. The loss of power, while awful, isn't even the problem. The problem is how we treat the world and the people in it.
Yes. We've seen devastation. We have endured great loss. But truth be told, we a little stronger too. Our patience has been tried. Our ability to adapt and overcome has been pushed to limits unknown to many. We learn in times like these that it isn't electricity that powers the human race. It is, or at least it should be, compassion and understanding. Generosity-true generosity...not that which is done for recognition, reward, personal benefit. Sacrifice- which by definition is difficult!
After all if we cannot stand together in the face of tragedy, we have already perished.
May all those recovering and rebuilding know my thoughts and prayers are with you!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Sometimes We All Need a Little Pick-Me-Up
Today Hartley House Candle Company introduces the first in its All Natural Aromatherapy line! These candles are made from 100% certified organic, GMO free soy wax, soy based dye for color shading and essential oils for scent that have been certified organic-free from all carriers and diluents. They have been harvested from the freshest materials within clean distilleries.
These candles offer the same luxurious scent as Hartley House Candle Company's other line but with added therapeutic qualities and commitment to green living.
Our first release is a Hartley House blended oil, Grapefruit & Bergamot. I have chosen these complimentary oils for the first release for many reasons. Grapefruit essential oil is a refreshing scent that evokes warm feelings and lifts a sour mood and Bergamot is an uplifting, confidence building scent. Grapefruit oil is also reported to aid in weight loss, curbing your desire to eat to suppress emotions. Blended together these citrus based oils will lift depression caused by unreleased tension and fatigue and help ease those bottled up negative emotions leaving you feeling refreshed, slightly energized and ready to face your day with confidence. For added ambiance and therapeutic qualities, these candles can be made with untreated wooden wicks :) To order, please visit Hartley House Candle Company at Facebook or my Etsy shop, Hartley House Candle Company on Etsy.
After the week we have faced here in the Northeast, we could all use a little pick-me-up! For me, watching the super storm and its aftermath unfold while friends and family were already dealing with their own personal tragedies has been emotionally draining. It is difficult to not feel powerless (no pun intended fur the millions left without power) in times like these.
So I light this candle in the face of the storm, both Sandy and everyone's inner storm, and I say let it lift our spirits above us and help guide us to brighter days.
I would also like to remind everyone to please contribute to the disaster relief and recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy. There are many large charities, like The American Red Cross, and hundreds of collections/donations/shelter spots popping up across the tri state area.
Our Cities are in ruin, but we will rise up Jersey strong.
Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~
May you find a sense of peace this week. God Bless!
These candles offer the same luxurious scent as Hartley House Candle Company's other line but with added therapeutic qualities and commitment to green living.
Our first release is a Hartley House blended oil, Grapefruit & Bergamot. I have chosen these complimentary oils for the first release for many reasons. Grapefruit essential oil is a refreshing scent that evokes warm feelings and lifts a sour mood and Bergamot is an uplifting, confidence building scent. Grapefruit oil is also reported to aid in weight loss, curbing your desire to eat to suppress emotions. Blended together these citrus based oils will lift depression caused by unreleased tension and fatigue and help ease those bottled up negative emotions leaving you feeling refreshed, slightly energized and ready to face your day with confidence. For added ambiance and therapeutic qualities, these candles can be made with untreated wooden wicks :) To order, please visit Hartley House Candle Company at Facebook or my Etsy shop, Hartley House Candle Company on Etsy.
After the week we have faced here in the Northeast, we could all use a little pick-me-up! For me, watching the super storm and its aftermath unfold while friends and family were already dealing with their own personal tragedies has been emotionally draining. It is difficult to not feel powerless (no pun intended fur the millions left without power) in times like these.
So I light this candle in the face of the storm, both Sandy and everyone's inner storm, and I say let it lift our spirits above us and help guide us to brighter days.
I would also like to remind everyone to please contribute to the disaster relief and recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy. There are many large charities, like The American Red Cross, and hundreds of collections/donations/shelter spots popping up across the tri state area.
Our Cities are in ruin, but we will rise up Jersey strong.
Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~
May you find a sense of peace this week. God Bless!
Friday, October 5, 2012
The Party Line?
It’s officially that time of the year. You know the time when every social and media network is spewing the nauseating half truths of every politician and the quote-unquote public interest groups this side of the Atlantic Ocean. I cannot turn the television on without at least five commercials from one party or the other berating the other candidate’s ethics, morals, political decisions, etc. Who hasn’t paid their taxes? Who may not be a natural born citizen?
And just when I am so numbed by these inanities, I turn to Facebook for more light-hearted social niceties only to find, amidst Pinterest pins and picture postings, that my friends have engaged in the same word-driven warfare against their friends and rivals alike and I’m disheartened.
Don’t get me wrong. It is not that I don’t care about the state of our country. I have more than half my life to live still and three wonderfully amazing children to raise and provide prosperous futures for. So why the disheartened feeling at this time of the year? Why get agitated at the television commercials and media postings? Why nearly vomit at the news headlines and social media feeds?
Because I am smart enough to know that the American public knows just enough to be dangerous. That regardless of Republican or Democrat, Red or Blue, liberal or conservative there is an unfortunate reality that Americans like me will face come Election Day. Most of America will vote based on the half truths they’ve heard or read and believe to be accurate. Most of America will vote based on the party line they tote regardless of whether that decision is in their own or their country’s best interest currently. And, most of America will be disappointed in the subsequent years, whether “their” candidate won or lost, because they will most definitely be confronted with the one truth that will always remain constant; promises were made-promises were broken. Sometimes these broken promises are not the sole fault of one man or woman, but we will still harness our disappointment towards his/her “success” in office and come next election day use this as the ammunition we fire at the future potential President.
At dinner with friends recently, I was tempted to join in on the Romney versus Obama discussion, but refused to get sucked into the political debating. Truth be told, I am sure of only one thing. I do not have the answers for what our country needs and I’d rather not engage in a tug of war down the party line. I’d rather leave my political stance to myself. So instead I made light of the conversation, turned to my girlfriend and said “Speaking of party lines, the kids’ birthday party is going to be at Fairfield Farms again this year.”
We began our idle chitchat about the decorations and how much fun the kids all had playing in the hay and picking pumpkins. I clamored away on my choice between gingham plaid tablecloths or burlap and the benefits to each in creating the perfect tablescape. I vented over how difficult it was to find the right glassware at reasonable prices. I was quite content with this new conversation, as was my girlfriend, however I could not help but notice her husband’s sneer at my change of topic. Like many, his political opinions were ripe for the picking and he was eager to engage in the banter. I found myself angered more and more by each comment he made in his discussion with my husband, most of them the same narrow-mindedness that turns my stomach as I listen to the political ads, etc. erupting at every turn. I half-heartedly made my way through the rest of the evening thoroughly saddened that a simple evening with friends, as rare as they are these days with most of us more than preoccupied with family time, was burdened with such heaviness. I would much rather have argued over who had the better charades partner than political leadership choices. I’m exhausted by all this election who-ha nonsense. I am no more ready today than I will be on Election Day regardless of how much more “information” I am fed. In an unfortunate time where we are constantly connected to our phones, iPads/iPods, etc., where work consumes the majority of our lives and social interaction becomes increasingly difficult to plan because of everyone’s busy schedules, it would have been nice if the adults could have put away not only their electronics but also their politics. Maybe I have it wrong, but I so much more enjoy a good game night than a political party debate. I think it brings us closer (even if I am extremely competitive- yes I admit it) and reminds us of the value of friendship. Friendships are after all what get us through the difficult times…
<insert shameless plug...one of my next posts will be all about Matthew & Meghan's adorable party!>
<insert shameless plug...one of my next posts will be all about Matthew & Meghan's adorable party!>
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)