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MOM NOTES
Happy 2008
Welcome to the New Year!
Often we think the beginning of the New Year is a time to
embrace new ideas, to clean and start fresh with new methods
or better equipment. However, sometimes new is not always
better. Do we really need microwaves, and are they really
the healthiest way to prepare our food? Couldn’t we get
better acquainted with our children if we stood at the
kitchen sink and washed dishes with them rather than simply
loading the dishwasher? Just the simple act of making
something clean while playing with glistening soap bubbles
makes me think warm, family thoughts. And wouldn’t a little
exercise do us some good? Instead of sitting on the couch
punching buttons, would it be so bad if we had to get up to
change that channel.
Email is one of those inventions that I am not always sure
is a good thing. I don’t know about you, but I get some
email that I wish I could “return unopened.” For example, I
am a happily married woman, and I don’t need to meet hot
single girls. Our home is financed on a great loan, so I am
not interested in knowing if I have been pre-approved for a
mortgage. A seminar on Federal Government contracting is
just not on the radar for me. I am not looking to make any
foreign investments with individuals I have never met. And,
excuse me if I do not forward your cute little message to 20
other unsuspecting people in the next 10 minutes. I will
just have to hope my luck does not run out because I broke
the chain. Also, if you have a heartwarming story, please
print it out and put it in my bathroom. With four children,
the only time I have for recreational reading is the time I
spend in the bathroom.
I do have to admit that email is a very important tool in my
day-to-day work. I use it to complete numerous tasks that
would otherwise take me much more time. For me, time is a
resource that is very limited. For the time savings, I am
grudgingly thankful for email.
As I sit at my computer to efficiently get my work done,
emails stream in, begging to be read and answered, many of
them the unwanted and unasked for kind. They knock at my
“door” and whine for my attention. Then, just as I am
frustrated with the steady stream competing for my limited
time, I see a new email from my daughter. The message says
she’s sending me a great picture of the newest member of our
family, my grandson, Marcos. I gladly open this email and
enjoy seeing little Marcos snuggled on his sister Maranda’s
shoulder as he celebrates his 8-week birthday.
At that moment I think, “Thank goodness for email.” In a
split second I can treasure a memory that, a few years ago,
would have taken weeks to enjoy. Isn’t progress wonderful?
‘Til February, Happy Parenting!
Brenda Hyde
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