Gettin' Through It

Today has been a frustrating so far...bills, angry babies, working boyfriends, not enough sleep. This is what is getting me through it.

Hang in there
-Kate

Use Your Voice!

Tomorrow during Senate the One-Fund for Karl Rove will be up for review. This is a chance to stop the One-Fund. I encourage all of you, whether you support it or not, to contact your senators and let them know how you feel. I have discovered that lots of students on campus are not being contacted by their senators and as frustrating as that is, we can do something about it. We can contact them ourselves. So below is the current list of senators and the areas they represent. If you are in an area with more than one senator and are unsure of who represents your floor, I would contact all of them via email and let them know how you'd like them to vote. They are YOUR REPRESENTATIVES and in order for them to represent you, they need to know how you would vote. Should they be the ones contacting you first? Hell yes, but if they don't you need to take the initiative. Contact your senators!

Determined as ever.
-Kate

Senator	Area/Org.
Brian Fritsch	Scott
Alexander McNeil	Scott
Zachary Muench	Scott
Logan Soich	Scott
Alexandra Haen	TAJ
Tyler Hopewell	TAJ
Jennifer Keller	TAJ
McKala Kiessling	TAJ
Andrew Miller	TAJ
McKenzie Trelka	TAJ
Andrew Carballo	Quad
Shanalijah Hernandez	Quad
Ryan Riebe	Quad
Kamelle Van Der Leest	Quad
Diakeishaye Murphy-Gunnels	Alpha Chi Omega
Hannah Erdman	Alpha Delta Pi
Amy Lindsey	Kappa Delta
Nick From	Phi Delta Theta
Adam Orth	Phi Kappa Pi
Austin Oliver	Sigma Chi
Matt Koch	Theta Chi
Rebecca Ramage	Theta Sigma Tau
Alexander Hagen	Off Campus/Commuter

Breaking Bad....Habits

Sorry if the "breaking bad" caught your attention...this has nothing to do with the chemistry teacher turned meth maker. Once again, my apologies. What I do want to discuss today is breaking bad habits. As a parent we are our children's first teachers and often the biggest and most prevalent role models in their lives. Thus, our actions, especially when they are babies and young kids, pack a lot of punch.

A realization that I have had recently is that I might have already passed some bad habits on to Alex. It's not anything major or permanent, but in an attempt to soothe his every cry I have start both Alex and I on a dangerous road.

Now no mother wants to hear her child cry, and it is instinctual within us to want to soothe or fix or remedy whatever situation or circumstance might be bringing tears to their eyes. The only problem is that as our babies grow, they are going to encounter situations that cannot be helped and frustrations that cannot be fixed. They need to learn how to be patient and calm as well as how to deal with life's little obstacles. Thus by picking up Alex every time he fusses or popping a NUK in his mouth whenever he whines I am stomping out these chances he has to learn how to deal. I am a firm believer that a child or baby, no matter how small, is intelligent and can understand things on some level. He may not be able to verbalize his thoughts and feelings in words yet, but I do believe that pausing and giving Alex a chance to fuss for a minute and work things out on his own is beneficial.

I'm not advocating for mothers to let their children scream for endless stretches, but just pause and step back and observe your child. I have found myself surprised at how often Alex calms himself down after a minute of fussing. He's a smarty-pants even now and is learning how to fix his own problems because let's face it, no matter how badly we want to squelch every possible problem for our child, they need to learn how to do it for themselves because we can't and won't always be there for them.

So my goals lately have been to try and get Alex (and more importantly, myself) off some of the bad habits we've developed such as picking him up the minute he fusses, giving in to the ear-piercing screams and shrieks, and scooping him up as soon as he makes a peep at night. I think that Alex will learn a little patience and self-soothing and I'll get a little more sleep and eventually a more independent child.

Here's to hoping,
Kate

Well Let's Pack It Up! We're Moving Out!

Well the time is fast approaching for Andy and Alex and I to move out! In case anyone doesn't know, we are currently living the dream out in my parent's basement. (I always feel a little cliche when I tell people that part). However--we have found an apartment, have signed the lease, and are slated to move in on the 1st of August! We are more than thrilled, and impatient little me has wanted to start packing for weeks. I am happy to allow myself the privilege of beginning to pack things up! Unfortunately I have the classic case of overpacking.

When I pack for a weekend visit I usually begin with an overstuffed duffel. Then after going through the bag and packed outfits at least twice and taking out the three extra T-shirts (just in case) and the extra pair of jeans and sweats (you never know!) I can usually manage to zipper my bag shut.

I have discovered that this problem extends beyond mere weekend trips. It has followed me to college where each year I sit down and think about what I really need in my dorm room and end up leaving half a car load behind. Somehow, though, I still manage to have a closet overstuffed with clothes that I only wear once (if at all) and bins underneath my bed full of games and craft supplies that I was sure I would have a use for.

Our apartment is a small one with only one closet and I am more than a little fearful that we will have the place filled to the brim before we are even halfway done emptying the truck. So not only am I packing but I am also repacking and eliminating. And for every two boxes that I am taking with us, there is one box that I am leaving behind for my parent's attic.

And lord knows that even after all that, we'll still have too much stuff. (Talk about a first-world problem).