Why I became a Realtor because I just wasn't cut out to be a Seamstress.... tales of a do it all mom.

So, that would be an awesome book title I thought to myself a few nights ago as it took me about an hour to sew a patch in Paxton's backpack with his name on it! I thought of the patches for his backpack lunch bag and several jackets he might wear this winter at the last minute and therefore the girl who made them for me did not have time to sew them in. I took sewing in seventh grade so why not? Right? I GOT THIS! 

As women and moms we are usually willing to and think that we are capable of doing EVERYTHING  that is needed. To work, to run our households, to pick up our children, to get them ready,to laundry ,dishes, cooking and everything else in between. We also feed animals mend boo-boos, look for solutions, fix problems, repair things- create things, shop for their needs, pay bills, make calls, straighten out problems- the list goes on and on. I'm sure we never feel inadequate when something doesn't turn out the way that we think it should we can't fit it into our schedule. Because we are SUPERMOM right??? 

Always busy always something to do always trying to remember the things we need to keep track of so we don't mess something up. I don't know how many times I felt guilty about things that I've forgotten or haven't done because I have so many other things I'm trying to remember. I'm sure I'm not the only mom who has forgotten a thing or two. I should feel great about the things that I am able to accomplish. Lower my own expectations of myself- take my time and cherish my blessings. 

 Yesterday was a great reminder of this. When you're responsible for living beings you take total responsibility when something goes wrong. Yesterday was a sad day at the Miller mini farm. It  was starting to storm last night so I told my son to stay inside when I went out to feed the animals. Good thing because when I went out past the goats and horse out to the chicken coop and I didn't see them fluttering around- my first thought was that they flew away and my second was that some animal had gotten a hold of them. In walking up to the chicken coop they were all dead inside. My heart sank aching for those chickens and my baby that I was going to have to tell all his chickens died. ( so far at 4 a crab and fish have been all he has lost)  I ran back as fast as I could up to the house but not to panic anyone but to grab my husband without my son knowing what was going on. 

Later that night we told Paxton about what happened the record-breaking like heat killed his chickens. He was devastated it was a very sad thing for a four-year-old. Toulage,  Lulu, Buttercup and Chip when no longer. I wondered how they made it through last summer and not this summer they had plenty of food water and shelter what went wrong? Was there something on the cantaloupe they ate? Did someone poison them? The more I researched and the more I read online last night I realized the one thing I can admit that we did last year that we didn't this year- freeze water bottles and put them in their water so that the water remains cool. In researching last night the hotter the water gets the less they drink and then stop drinking so much in extreme temperatures can cause sudden heatstroke. I would love to say it's a lesson learned however it cost four lives. As a mom that is super heartbreaking because I could've prevented it. 

Will I beat myself up over it probably for a little-  I'm only human. 

But just as I am a real estate agent because I'm good at it and passionate about helping others and I didn't choose to become a seamstress because I wasn't interested and I'm not good at it it doesn't fulfill me- my sew job that I should have given someone else to do was poor but adequate-

 I have to learn to give the jobs that I'm not very good at to others so that I don't lack in areas that are most important like taking care of living beings that I am responsible for. Did my chickens have food and water yes- but I failed to provide accurate Cool water in which to serve them best which resulted in their death. 

Prioritize was my lesson learned. Stay informed. Do everything you can to protect those you love. Be prepared. Just because you're providing something doesn't necessarily mean it's the right thing. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should take it all on or do it half-assed. 

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely. - Auguste Rodin

What are you good at? What you need to get better at? What things can you find that others are good at to use to your advantage to have more times for the things that you can do? What responsibilities can you delegate so it's not all on your plate that things go wrong more often because you're overloaded? Make a list today. No one can change you only you can change yourself. 

Start now. 

Melted ice cream

My experience at Walmart yesterday was more than crazy.   I set out to have a successful price matching grocery shopping trip at Walmart yesterday to get ready for the week. Yes I'm one of those people. My son starts first day of kindergarten on Monday and I wanted to have all of the snacks and necessities to be prepared.  I had a huge list I also had my moms grocery list as well as some stuff I need for my business. That's already three transactions right there. All-in-one cart and definitely not as organized by the time I got to the register as when I started. Once in a while I think they definitely need bigger carts at Walmart. They have bigger carts at Home Depot why be discriminating at Walmart. Lol. 

Usually I despise shopping on a Sunday because of all the people that are there and They are normally out of stuff because their shipments coming on Monday and then I get frustrated! So I figured Saturday midmorning might be a good time. Boy was I wrong the place is crawling with people and the lines were long and atrocious. Not to mention I had ice cream in my cart. 

Don't get me wrong there are plenty of lanes open there were just a lot of people. I picked a lane that had three people in front of me. When I got in line I had an agent call on a listing that I had for details. As I was talking to him a clerk came over and asked me if I wanted to switch lanes. She took me down to 15 they said they just opened. There was one lady in front of me with very few groceries so I was happy. 

They had no dividers so I kind had to hold my stuff back so he didn't get confused and charge her for it. Remember I had three transactions! I got to the first transaction which was some ink and notecards that I could use as a business expense and pay with my business chargecard. Transaction smooth. 

As I pulled out the stuff for my mom's transaction and put it on the conveyor belt the gentleman was scanning her things- when I got to the fruit that she wanted he said "uh oh." 

Thought to myself uh oh what? Really? 

"Um ma'am our scale doesn't work for weighing the fruit." 

Definitely not what I want to do here in the middle of a transaction with a whole conveyor belt with all of my own groceries of fruits and vegetables needing to be weighed and two containers of ice cream sitting there melting.

 I had to to stop at my moms in San Tan Valley and drive to Florence where I live and guess what one minor detail I forgot to bring a cooler to keep the ice cream cold. Ah, that could be a problem when it is 104 outside. 

Yeah- I proceeded to tell the guy I wasn't getting back in a big long line and having melted ice cream and starting all over to purchase groceries, I am sure with a little irritation in my voice. 

I paid for what he rang up put the rest of the groceries from the conveyor belt back into my cart and found the manager. 

She proceeded to go to lane 15 and let the guy know that 15 was one of the ones on the alerts that they get a list saying it wasn't working. He looked at her like a deer in headlights. She seemed irritated that he opened that Register he seemed irritated that he didn't know. Communication is key people!

 There were lots of people behind me in line so they all had to get out and find new location. In the mist of all that I forgot to price match the stuff that my mom was getting that needed price matching is well. Total lost $2.58. 

The manager took me to another register where I proceeded to price match my own things and bring up the rest of my groceries- she flagged down a girl to go get new ice cream so that it was better and more frozen then what was already in my cart. Nice move. Go customer service! 

As we proceeded to get further into the transaction she realized that the debit card swiper on that particular system wasn't working. Ummm. are you kidding me? Somehow I'm being tested here. 

- i'm sure the lady thought wow is this lady going to explode or is she going to remain calm? I wasn't quite sure myself if I figured that out yet or not? Lol. I took a deep breath and dug through my purse and found a business checkbook with 1 check left.  Not that I wanted to pay for my groceries out of my business account- the last thing I wanted to do was put everything back in my cart and go to a new register for the forth time. So I made an exception. 

I said I would just pay with my business check and I can pay myself back when I get home- she looked relieved. 

She also said that I could go to customer service and get my $2.58 back from my moms transaction.  Another manager came over and authorized her to void and re-ring the transaction for my mom so that she could price match and give me the $2.58 back.  I proceeded to ask her how that would work and she told me, it seemed more complicated than it was worth and I thought it would take way too long. 

Mind you I just got new frozen ice cream-  however I was done. I just said you guys can keep your $2.58 and have a nice day.  She said are you sure? I said I hope your day gets better thanks- and walked away. 

I definitely could've blew my stack threw a fit got frustrated spoke to a manager complained complained complained. I chose right then and there to let it go.  I think that getting pissed would've taken a lot more of my energy than it was worth- and guess what shit happens! 

So next time you think you're going to get frustrated over some matter that's small or menial in the long run just ask yourself is it really worth it, or will it be better to just chalk it up to a crappy experience and move on??? You can chose. 

James 1:19. This you know my beloved, but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. 

Speak to your Kids

I just go back from a stellar Unleash the Power Within Seminar hosted by Tony Robbins. What an Amazing Guy using the Amazing gifts God has given him. Before I left my son asked me why I was going and had to be gone for 4 days. I explained to him that I was leaving to come back a better mother, wife, daughter (relationships) and business person. He said ok, cried a little...I promised my little guy a gift if he would let mommy go and explore her potential. The first day I was gone he talked to me about 4 times, the second day 2, the 3rd day 1 of which he said " Can you talk to dad now" I know that he can survive without me, but I sure did miss him while I was away. Coming home with my new found attitude, after delving into my limiting beliefs and what over the years has cause me not only these false beliefs about myself but a lot of why I do what I do and how I can chose to change that. It was an amazing adventure and I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to go. I can't even describe all the emotions and discoveries I made. Each individual who attends I am sure brings something back to their normal life that is individual to them. It is up to each individual to CHOOSE to incorporate it into their life. When I got back my son was already asleep. Upon waking, as he remembered mommy was bring a gift- he sprung into my bedroom and the first thing out of his mouth was not "mommy I missed you, mommy I am glad you are home" but like most little kids it was "where is my gift?" LOL! He definitely wasn't going to let that memory escape him. Since I had only seen the inside of an airport, cab, hotel and convention center, I settled for the toy southwest airplane at the airport gift shop, he was pleased! He said, "Oh thank you mommy." The first day back I had a fully loaded schedule and didn't get the amount of time with my son as I would have liked to upon coming back. He said "that is okay mommy, we can spend time together tomorrow." - after a little bit of whine. I was truly grateful for his little positive reinforcement. Then yesterday as we spent most of the day together, he continually asked for more and more things as we went different places. He asked for every toy, grocery, sweet, snack and thing you could possibly imagine. Mommy wasn't about to buy him everything he "needed" just because she was gone for 4 days. So repeatedly I told him NO, he didn't need a certain thing, NO he didn't need sweets today, NO he could wait until his birthday in September and I reminded him I brought him a gift. Throwing a little attitude in the car he shouted, "I thought you said you were coming back a better mommy?" Whoaa... that got me. I had to ask what his idea of a good mommy was? He thought for a moment and stumble with his words. I said, "do you think being a good mommy means I give you everything you want?" He replied "yes." In this come to Jesus moment I was having I had to think quick as to how to respond lovingly yet with a lesson about how life is not about getting everything you want. Sometimes it is about the stuff you don't get that allows to shape you into the person you are, the circumstances that happen to you that change your life, to become better at something, to change, to realize your gratitude for the things you do have. I stopped and asked him to tell me 3 things he was grateful for right now. (this is a practice we do every night before bed as a family but we only each say 1 thing for the day.) He says to me, "Mom, we say that at night, it isn't nighttime." I answered back and told him that he should be grateful for what he has throughout the whole day, if he is constantly thinking and appreciating throughout the day, his day would be more enriched with what is going on in his life. He said, " my animals, that I get to play, and spending time with me." That last one really made me, as a mom, feel better about the situation and his selfishness of this day. You see it isn't about what we get or what we have or how much money we make. Some people make all the money in the world and are still unhappy, miserable or not satisfied. It is about what we already have, the relationships we make and the story we build every day that we should be most happy about. When we die we cannot take our money or possessions with us. What would everyone say about you if you died tomorrow? What would your kids say? "Mommy bought me a lot of stuff? or my mommy taught me to be kind, patient, loving and grateful, just as she was." Be an example to your children, your family and friends, because when you die what you did and what you said and the memories you made is what they will remember. Chose to have them remember the good. One of my favorites: Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.