I posted this on the Book of Faces today. I just felt like it bore repeating.
So I'm a football fan. Obvi. And I'm a Richard Sherman fan, particularly of his passion. Also, this should be obvious. I've reviewed a lot of articles and interviews this week, hoping that the guy I've been defending is who I thought he was. He is. And more. he's the guy who tells his teammate, "don't hit me, I'm going to tip it to you" for the interception. I can't wait for the Superbowl, if only to see him be the guy Peyton chooses to avoid. I love and respect Peyton Manning, and were it not for him playing my Seattle Seahawks, I'd root for him. But since I was a kid, choosing Seattle over the standard Minnesota or Denver (as a kid from Montana with no true local team), I cannot help but love Sherman's passion for life and the game. Add to that Russell Wilson and the rest of a scrappy Seahawks team and how can you NOT love them? I have cheered through bad calls, good calls, bad seasons and good seasons. I have identified with this team that fits no mold for so long that this season felt like finally coming home to win. No matter what happens in two weeks, my Seattle Seahawks, thank you. Thanks for giving me a team that is full of passion, pride, joy, leadership and fun all at the same time. Thanks for making my 8 year old girl ask for a cheerleading outfit for a team who lives more than 2000 miles away because of the sheer joy and fun given to her mother. Thank you for never forgetting that your fans are part of what makes you great and thank you for a beautiful, wonderful season of "OH MY GOD, DID YOU SEE THAT!?!?" I am proud to be part of that remote 12th man: those of us who wear the t-shirts, who show up to road games because you're playing near to our chosen home. I am proud to stand in the middle of Carolina Panther country and count myself as a Seahawks 12th man, despite my distance from my chosen team. Thank you for your heart, your grit and your gratitude for our support as fans. I cannot wait for this year's championship game. And no matter the outcome, I stand proudly as one of the many fans who are, forever, your 12th man.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Of course, at the turn of the year, everyone becomes introspective. I'm no different. We also become very expansive in our resolutions: I'll lose 10 pounds! I'll stop eating meat! I'm going to exercise every day! Blah blah blah.
I had a friend who one year made no resolutions, other than to do the resolutions of other people: she'd find out that someone else decided to recycle that year, so she'd recycle. Bob is losing weight? She'd resolve to lose weight, too. Mary is cutting out caffeine? Consider it done! It lasted about a week.
Which I find is about a week more than most of my resolutions.
I decided a long time ago no more resolutions. Which, I guess, is a bit of a resolution in itself. Instead I make birthday resolutions. I mean that's my new year, isn't it? My shot at another year around the sun. I mean the January 1 is convenient, and it's handy for remembering for everyone else, but I really like my birthday better.
Unfortunately, I'm as likely to give up on those resolutions as any others. It's sad, but true. I have crappy follow through. Get organized, eat healthy, go for a walk, clean the house more, it doesn't matter, I fail at all of them ultimately.
The one that I'm failing at the most, though is my interaction with my daughter. I had a moment of truth with her today. Pardon the language, but today I completely lost my shit. And I'd like to say it's the first time or a rarity, but it's not. I'm fairly ashamed to admit that I did that things parents shouldn't do: I got frustrated and took it out on her. I can describe the situation and talk about how it really was a result of some of her actions and choices, but really the action and choice that mattered this morning were mine. And I failed. Again.
It doesn't matter that she doesn't put my things away. What matters is how I handle it. I've spent the last couple of months really frustrated at her response to me when I ask her if she's responsible for something (a spilled cup, a lost item, etc). She responds in that high, defensive kid voice, "I didn't do it!!" Sometimes her response is before she even knows the whole question. Sometimes it's the "I didn't do it on purpose!!" when she is responsible, instead of a simple "oh, I'm sorry."
This morning I realized that I can't just tell her I hate that response and send her to bed when she does it (which I've done in the past, with some success). It's that I have to respond better when I'm angry or frustrated or tired. Her "I didn't do it!!" combination yell/whine are a direct, child's reflection of my frustrated, shouty morning meltdowns.
And it has to end. I'm looking in a mirror and seeing my own kid become the things I hate about myself. And I'm blaming her for it. And that is downright shitty of me to do.
So I guess that's my resolution: No more being shitty to my kid. No more blaming my kid for being shitty to me.
Attitude reflects leadership, Captain.
I had a friend who one year made no resolutions, other than to do the resolutions of other people: she'd find out that someone else decided to recycle that year, so she'd recycle. Bob is losing weight? She'd resolve to lose weight, too. Mary is cutting out caffeine? Consider it done! It lasted about a week.
Which I find is about a week more than most of my resolutions.
I decided a long time ago no more resolutions. Which, I guess, is a bit of a resolution in itself. Instead I make birthday resolutions. I mean that's my new year, isn't it? My shot at another year around the sun. I mean the January 1 is convenient, and it's handy for remembering for everyone else, but I really like my birthday better.
Unfortunately, I'm as likely to give up on those resolutions as any others. It's sad, but true. I have crappy follow through. Get organized, eat healthy, go for a walk, clean the house more, it doesn't matter, I fail at all of them ultimately.
The one that I'm failing at the most, though is my interaction with my daughter. I had a moment of truth with her today. Pardon the language, but today I completely lost my shit. And I'd like to say it's the first time or a rarity, but it's not. I'm fairly ashamed to admit that I did that things parents shouldn't do: I got frustrated and took it out on her. I can describe the situation and talk about how it really was a result of some of her actions and choices, but really the action and choice that mattered this morning were mine. And I failed. Again.
It doesn't matter that she doesn't put my things away. What matters is how I handle it. I've spent the last couple of months really frustrated at her response to me when I ask her if she's responsible for something (a spilled cup, a lost item, etc). She responds in that high, defensive kid voice, "I didn't do it!!" Sometimes her response is before she even knows the whole question. Sometimes it's the "I didn't do it on purpose!!" when she is responsible, instead of a simple "oh, I'm sorry."
This morning I realized that I can't just tell her I hate that response and send her to bed when she does it (which I've done in the past, with some success). It's that I have to respond better when I'm angry or frustrated or tired. Her "I didn't do it!!" combination yell/whine are a direct, child's reflection of my frustrated, shouty morning meltdowns.
And it has to end. I'm looking in a mirror and seeing my own kid become the things I hate about myself. And I'm blaming her for it. And that is downright shitty of me to do.
So I guess that's my resolution: No more being shitty to my kid. No more blaming my kid for being shitty to me.
Attitude reflects leadership, Captain.
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