Talia Carbis

Thanks To You.

Well, as Luke so rightly twittered Friday was the last day of Februaruy, last day of the week, last day of the season, and the most rare day on the calender. And this means that it is time to thank my loyal commentors!!

Rachel from Rachel.

Karly from First Ourselves

Carmen from The Misadventures of Carmy

Jordan from Jordan the great, the rad and the ridiculous

Ms Mize from Random Thoughts of a Teacher

Bettina from Dances to the Beet of her own drum

Rhys from Rhysrodgers.com

Kim from Church

Bonnie from Simple Pleasures

Jess

Luke from It’s More Complicated then 42 (I know that’s not really it)

Kelley from Magneto Bold Too

Danielle from the Bipolar Diaries

Thank you everyone SO much, I really appreciate you stopping by! And thanks to everyone else who stops by my blog. I hope you like it!

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Are you listening to what you’re singing??

Last Sunday morning I was at church, singing away, when it struck me. “I have just sung nearly a whole song, and I didn’t listen to a word I just said!” I thought about the fact that we do this so much- we just sing along because we know a song, and we don’t ever think about the words we sing and what they mean.

This can often happen to us with songs on the radio, or on our iPod. We know the song because we’ve heard it a kazillion times, and we just… sing along. But sometimes the songs we’re singing are about being in bad relationships, or hating other people, or be depressed or whatever, when that’s not really what we are.

I think that it’s important that we think about the things that we’re saying, and if we don’t agree with something that we’re singing, then maybe we should think about NOT singing it. You know what they say- there’s power in the things we say. Words can bring life, or death, and we can bring those things on ourselves as well, not just others.

For me, at church, not thinking about what I’m singing is really regretfull thing. I am meant to be singing praises to my God, and I meant to mean them and be worshiping him, but really, I’m not. I am thinking about what the singers are wearing, or about the blog post I want to write (this blog post :-P), or about other random stuff that enters my mind.

Does this honour God? No. This is incredibly dishonourable to God, and I’m lucky he doesn’t spite me… (haha) But seriously, I have to be accountable for the things that I do and particularly say.

Protected: Up & Down & Back Again

Adventures of a Checkout Chick

Pauline came  throught my checkout today. When I was doing my prac in Prep earlier in the year she was a relief teacher, and sometimes P.E teacher, and so I worked with her a bit. She’s always so nice, and probably in a small majority of teachers that I actually talk to like a regular human being (that’s not entirely true, I talk to Tanya, and Chris… and a few other like that). I have connections with her through school, and then also through her son, Sam, who went to school with Luke. He’s now in the band The Scare. I hear they’re pretty good.

I always enjoy talking with Pauline, and am sad when she has to go. She’s such a genuinely nice person.

Another interesting guy came through my checkout. When I asked him how he was she said that he was good- always good. It’s never a bad, just some days are better then others. I said that was a good attitude, and then somehow we started chatting about the environment. About how the biodegradable bags he’s made out of recycled plastic aren’t selling, but the green bags we sell at Woolworths do, and they’re not all that good… except that they stop plastic use. He said that that WAS sad.

One thing that he said that stuck with me, was that maybe our reefs dying, and trees being cleared etc. is meant to be happening… that it’s… the circle of life, kind of thing. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but it’s interesting.

When I’m a mum…

Luke and I have been watching Gilmore Girls from start to finish. We’re up to the end of Season 5, nearly finished the whole set.

I was thinking about the relationship that Rory and Lorelei have, and how I could possibly cultivate a similar relationship with my children, when Luke and I have them.

Rory was an exceptionally good girl, and this helped their relationship a LOT. This is evident by the fact that now that Rory is making some more questionable decisions, the relationship between them is not so great. But I think that Lorelei’s initial behaviour with Rory would have been a huge influence on her ‘goodness’. In particular Lorelei’s reaction to things.

Largley due to Lorelei’s immaturity she would have never been much of a strict, punishing parent, and to be completely honest if it wasn’t a TV show, I don’t think it would have worked out for them. But back on subject: is there something to learn from not yelling at your kids when they do something wrong? Particularly if it were an accident. I know that it’s just a reaction to do that- you’re frustrated that the cup broke, now you have one less, you’re worried that someone might stand on the glass and cut themselves, you’re annoyed that your morning isn’t going to plan anymore. But, hang on, it’s just an accident…

I was thinking about when Rory was older, and Lorelei’s reaction to things, I think, is the reason for their good relationship. That, and open communication. I think that a parent explaining how they feel about a situation can be such a powerful thing. I remember once, when I was 11 or 12, and I was shopping for clothes with my mum. This was around the time when that ‘bad boy’ and ‘bad girl’ brand was in. I wanted a T-shirt that said “Bad Girl” on it, because it was hip and fashionable. My mum didn’t let me buy it, but instead of just saying no, she said to me, “Talia, I don’t want you to be a bad girl. You’re a beautiful, wonderful, good girl, and I wouldn’t want you to put something on yourself that’s not true. Do you want to be bad?” How the hell could I possible say ‘yes’ to that? She told me her reason, and for one reason or another, it stuck. Even to this day I am consious of what the t-shirts I have say.

I remember one time, when I was younger, my family was having lunch at the Love’s, friends of my parents. They’re youngest daughter dropped the plate she was carying to the dishwasher that had all the scraps on it. Instead of yelling or being upset, Cathy, her mum, just picked it up, asked her if she was okay, and asked her to get a cloth so they could clean it up. Together.     I stood there in awe. I thought it was wonderful. She had made a mistake, and her mum had just… helped her! I think that this is a great example of what we should try to be like as parents, realising that our kids are only kids, and that mistakes, and accidents happen. The important thing, I think, is that we talk to them afterwards about the mistake they’ve made and help them to not do it again.

I guess the question is, how do we help them not to do it again?