Focus on the good

One of my favorite bosses was both book smart and life smart. He just thought differently than everyone else, and the way he thought was so simple and seemed like such common sense that it made you think- How have I never thought this way before and how is he the first person to manage people like this? He was the type of guy that made you work harder- harder for yourself and harder because you wanted to make him proud.

Do you know how he did it? He focused on your strengths. At the end of the day, he didn't slap me in the head with an old piece of bologna.... He didn't harp on what I wasn't...he focused on what I was and that was so empowering, friend. And prosperous too; it translated to better sales numbers, awards and more money.

It truly taught me a lot about life. I still use some of those principles in the great sport of Mom-ing. I focus on what I am good at. Sometimes I forget, so I try to remind myself of it every day.

I am awesome at starting a project. I'll spend the time, I will do the research, I will draw up a game plan. I will go above and beyond. I like to see a fast and furious change... I will be the first to arrive and the last to leave and I will stay up all night if I have to. I will figure out what is working...what isn't... and what to do next.

But slow moving projects that require patience? No thank you! Man oh man, I could never do speech therapy...especially Spectrumy Speech therapy (one of the many reasons Teacher Amy is a Super Hero in Heels) where you move in millimeter increments...and sometimes even take 2 steps forward and 4 to the side, one back flip and a do-si-do.....

Greyson used to say, "I want door open" almost perfectly, but lately, now that he is learning expressive colors, he has been replacing words or phrases he used to use correctly...with the word "purple"... The other day he stood at the back door, hanging on the door knob and telling me, "I want purr-pullll", " instead of "I want door open". And when he runs out of pretzels, he hands me his empty snack trap and sometimes says, "I want purrr-pullll." And tonight- He wanted to work his magic on my iphone aps- He points to my phone and says, you guessed it, "I want purrr-pulll."

Now, I get it- Purple is a pretty fun word to say...(I see you mouthing it right now). And it is kind of easier to use one single turn-key word, as opposed to learning to pronounce a bunch of other different ones...and the weird part?- despite the fact that he is using purple in place of other numerous nouns...I still know what he means each time because of the context, therefore, it is communication, possibly really stinkin' brilliant if you ask me. And so that my friend, is just another normal day in the language of Spectrumville for us. This is not the first quirky language kick we've been on and it certainly won't be our last. It makes me totally laugh, and it drives me totally CRAZY sometimes too!

My husband is awesome at slow moving projects. He is patient and not easily discouraged. He doesn't take it personally when things don't go the way they are intended to. We are a good Yin and Yang. We took the box that came included with our marriage, and we just threw it out --because we didn't fit in there. He does all the laundry and I pay the bills because it just works for us. It's what each one of us is good at.

Sometimes people ask me, "How do you have time to write?" And here's the secret...I make time to, because I love it...and because I make time for it, I skimp out on other areas of my life...

I focus on my good.

There is no magic secret way to be that Mom that does it all, because she just doesn't exist. I'm going to repeat that for emphasis... She doesn't exist.

I'll let you in on another little not a secret...

This guy knows my husband by name....he even knows what we order, and when we switch it up- it becomes a topic of conversation.

Yeah, I said it- we get take out...more than one night a week...probably more like 3 nights. I don't like cooking and I'm not good at it. I do what I can in the kitchen, but I don't beat myself up over it when I get take out or when the meal I made is burned, dry or disgusting.

I keep my house clean and together, but my car gets pretty scary...I'm waaay too emotional for my own good...I could go on and on with my sacrificial lambs, and they are a' plenty, but I try not to focus on those...I focus on what I am good at.

I am good at multi-tasking...

And Delegating! ( LOVE BUTTON)

I am good at remembering to photograph and document this lil' life of mine... If that's not something you are good at, that doesn't make me a better Mom than you...I bet you can whip my Purple in other aspects of life and parenting. And that's just fine by me.

Not just today, Friend. Always- Focus on your good.

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