It’s no secret that I am a chronic “yes” girl. I can’t say no even when I am buried with projects, work, and family life. Another committee? Sure. Come in on my day off? Why not? Need parent volunteers? I’m your girl. There are times when I just want to say no, when I want to put the grading pen down, and when I just want to turn off my cell phone for the evening. I didn’t think I could until last night. read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Category: Parenting
Smiles, Tears, and Dirty Terry
As a parent, you will do just about anything to see your child smile. We sit through endless hours of dance lessons, cub scout meetings, soccer practices, and choir concerts. We pick out kid-friendly meals, buy over-priced Hollister shirts, and drive our kids to and from friends’ houses every weekend. It’s a small price to pay for the smiles that light up our kids’ faces. I always said that I would draw the line with pets, specifically reptiles. But, I’m a sucker for smiles and so I caved – resulting in Dirty Terry. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Parenting Hurts So Good
I always underestimated the challenges of parenting. I thought that the moans and groans of parents were highly exaggerated. The baby sleeps, eats, poops – end of story, right? Wrong. The baby grows up, gains independence and strength, and ultimately begins to talk, socialize, and test boundaries. Parenting is hard and even more so, parenting hurts. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
My Dog is a Tween
We all go through defiant phases in our lives – the terrible twos, the child/adolescent tween years, the roll-your-eyes-at-everything teen stage, and then adulthood, the stage with more categories I can name in one blog post. This week, I’ve realized that dogs go through many of these same phases and I’ve determined that my dog is officially a tween. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
I’m Late, I’m Late, For a Very Important Date
A few years back, I was reading through an interpersonal communications textbook and was shocked to learn that many psychologists claim that people who are chronically late are purposely late to gain attention. It was classified as a “diva” trait, to say the least. While I’m sure there is some “scientific study” that supports this theory, I don’t buy it. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Is Bigger Better? Not if You Give a Damn
My son is a huge fan of Legos and spends days on end building high-tech airplanes, robotic creatures, and sky scrapers. He never gets tired of building, but he gets frustrated when he struggles to top his previous creation with something bigger and better. Apparently, in his mind, bigger is better. The more extravagant the construction, the more pleased he is with himself. For example, today’s creation was a two-story Lego mansion equipped with a big screen TV. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Stinky Feet, Whining Kids and the Awkward Silence
The exciting portrayal of road trips is often misleading. In the movies, we see friends bond on that big open highway. We see families laughing, enthusiastic about spending 32 hours in the car together. This portrayal leads us to think that a road trip is a fun journey where everyone sings along to the radio, shares snacks, and engages in deep conversations until they reach their final destination. The Griswalds made it to Wally World in one piece, why can’t we? It’s unrealistic. At this point in my life, road trips involve stinky feet, whining kids, and awkward moments of silence. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Little Treasures for a Domesticated Moment
It is an understatement to say that I am not domesticated. I try – I really do, but the domesticated gene was never passed on, even though my mom tried her best. She sews; I don’t own a needle or thread. She irons her clothes after each load; I iron my crumpled piles five minutes before I need to wear the clothes. She scrubs her floors on her hands and knees; I cheat with a swiffer and an H20 mop. She cooks for fun; I cook only when I have to. Most of all, she does laundry every day while I do laundry once a week or once every two weeks when we have a panicked “where is my soccer uniform” moment. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com.
Look At This Photograph
Although my title indicates a possible reference to a Nickelback song, this post is about much more than music. It’s about the power of photos. Photos are keepsakes. My sister has more than 100 scrapbooks of photos in her house, chronicling her life, her children’s lives – and every person she has ever come into contact with. My photos, while valuable to me, sit in a big box in my basement, patiently waiting for my organized sister to take on the project. Photos tell a story. Photos bring back memories. Photos encourage us to reflect and think critically about life. Reflection and critical thinking are at the core of my English Composition class this semester, which is why the first assignment of the semester asks my students to choose a photograph and write a brief narrative story either detailing what is happening in the photo, a memory that it stirs, or a reflection triggered from the photo. I’m one of “those” teachers that strongly believes that if I’m going to ask my students do something, I should, too. So, my visual reflection assignment follows: Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
If the Shoe Fits
My work as a freelance writer gives me the opportunity to meet interesting and insightful people. Whether I am having a conversation with the average “Joe,” interviewing an event organizer, or talking with experts in various fields, the people become more than just sources – they become very human during an interview. Even though as a journalist my job is to stay objective, there is something personal about each interview I conduct. The information this person is sharing usually contains personal experiences, feelings, beliefs, and advice. Almost always after an interview, I reflect and compare my personal experiences and try and put myself in the subject’s shoes. Today, the shoes fit, but at the same time, the shoes made me uncomfortable – comparable to the perfect looking shoe in a narrow fit when I need wide-toed shoes. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 