Never Assume

Thank you for this reminder of the essential things ... Your text and your page are superb

Thank you, dear Lady. That means a lot! Hope you're having an amazing day!

Love the use of the paint splatters and the yellow and violet pops of colour - gorgeous. And such a great message too! Wonderful page!

@HeatherB Thank you ma'am! I'm trying to instill these characteristics into my children so I'm making them a book with my hopes. ^.^

Wise words. Well done.

Great advice - everybody needs to know this. Love your colors and the title work.

Serena this is beautiful... well scrapped and wow.. words are so true.. very poetic and words to live by... you are so right with the ugly words, the burning flower and the broken plate. To forgive yes, but forget? so very hard and generally never to overcome. Thank you for the reminders in this very beautiul page.

Thank you ladies! I'm glad it came through well.

@cfile With the way I grew up, I was on the bitter end of this scenario. It took me 36 years to finally start liking myself. I'm closer and closer to loving, but the healing process has been slow. In my house, I am an inappropriate mother. I let my kids cuss when they need to (i.e. slamming their fingers in doors or whatever.) but they know to only say it in the house, for ten years, it's worked.

However. The word "stupid" is a bad word in my house. And I do NOT tolerate ANY bashing, ANY negative talk towards their siblings and any self harming phrases like "I'm a bad daughter." or "I'm a loser." I know I can't prevent it all and I know they still say things when I am not around to hear, but I will prevent what I can so that my children have a chance to love themselves. Home is a safe place, a positive one.

Thank you for your sweet words and understanding.

@Serena oh what an absolutely wonderful gift you are giving your children. A gift of love and self worth. I do not see that as being inappropriate. I am glad you do not tolerat any bashing or negativity... some of the bullying that goes on in the schools today I believe is a reflection sometimes of what happens in the home. Absolutely true in all you wrote. You are a beautiful and wonderful person. I will keep you in my thoughts for continued healing. Hugs a bunch

@cfile Awwww maaaaaan. I said I wasn't going to cry today! LOL!! ::super hugs!::

Re: Inappropriate: I had finally pulled my health and sanity together to attend a school function for my middle daughter. We were sitting and doing crafts with the other mothers in the school and I felt out of place. (We moved here 6 years at that time but of course, all the moms have been here forever and know each other since they were in school, so it's not easy to break into a group like that. But I was trying.)

My daughter dropped the stapler on her foot and went "OH SHH.... stuff and things!!!" but that first few moments before she remembered she wasn't in home (and she was 6 at the time so I was proud she DID remember!) all the other mom's stared at her in horror until she corrected. She then apologized and said "Sorry, mom lets me cuss at home and I almost forgot."

Picked up the stapler and went about her wincing way. The mother's turned to me and I explained and was instantly chided. Was told it wasn't proper and that they would NEVER let their child do such things. They then started probing me about other factors of my child rearing, proceeded to tell me what was wrong with it and then when I insisted that it was fine and working for me, closed off and barely spoke to me after that.

I've been to a few other functions and I'm still "that mom" and end up leaning against a wall by myself wishing I could just disappear. So I'm a little wary when admitting things to people in case they judge. I feel safe here so I'm a lot more open than I am in real life, but I still wanted to make the disclaimer just in case.