Being Controversial

It can be really hard to be open about some parenting/lifestyle decisions you make. Even if there is not a clear-cut, obvious "right" thing to do, very often people feel like there is. And they don't hesitate to tell you.

Will I defend my decisions? Absolutely. For most decisions, I have done research and come to the conclusion that my decision is the best. I like to really be informed before I make a decision, especially if I will be changing something I currently do. The reasons I made my decision may be different than the reasons you used to make the same decision. You may have come up with other reasons that are more important to you, and thus made a different decision. 

It shouldn't matter how I parent my child as long as he is not in danger and is healthy. We should be allowed to make informed decisions that other people might not make. I try, although I know I don't always succeed, to avoid telling people they should do something specific for their kid, especially if it is unsolicited (my primary exception being breastfeeding! All mothers should give it an educated try, because the odds are heavily in your favor that you'll succeed!)

I think the other problem with being "controversial" is that it's so easy to say things behind the anonymity/impersonality of the internet and Facebook. You can insult people much easier when you aren't doing it to their face to see their reaction. 

Confession time: what non-mainstream/"controversial" thing do you do? Mine would probably take up another separate post (or two...)

Productivity

Sometimes it's nice when I can get some things done, cleaned, and put away. Sometimes it's nice when I can sit down and play a game for twenty minutes. I like it best when Declan naps long enough for me to do both.

I have two tricks/methods I use to be productive: the first is temptation. Ok, maybe I can come up with a better name for it, but here's the general idea - I let myself  do whatever (read, play a game, check Facebook) for a couple of minutes, then I start working. I have specific tasks I need to accomplish, and the sooner I finish them, the sooner I can get back to "me-time," for which I have a whetted appetite. ("Whetted appetite?" Is that right?)

The second is timers. I set a timer for say, fifteen minutes, and clean for fifteen minutes. Then I take a break for fifteen minutes. Often, when I am cleaning, I will be right in the middle of something when the timer goes off, and since I'm not going to leave something undone (dishes excluded!), I usually get a little more than fifteen minutes' worth done.

Neither if these methods is revolutionary, I know, but I thought I'd share what works for me during  nap time. (Declan's nap time, not mine. The most I usually accomplish during my nap time is sleeping.)