Search Results for: blog great expectations

Not So Great Expectations

Sometimes, parents get upset with their children for acting in a way that they think is inappropriate. I know I do. Today I had an experience that made me think that perhaps at least some of the time, the problem is not my child’s behavior but my own unrealistic expectations. It started out innocently enough. I was running errands and it was almost lunch time, so I mentioned a few places where we could go to eat and asked Dylan to choose one. He chose a little place called “The Chef’s Market”. At the time, it seemed like a great … Continue reading →

Setting Expectations for Dog Training

Do we expect too much from our dogs? Sometimes we think that dogs should jump to obey our orders, and many dog owners soon find out that perhaps we’re not viewing dogs and how we train them in the right way. Pet website ZooToo has an overview of how the dog training process works, explaining why many of us might be going about training in the wrong way. What’s always important to remember, especially when bringing a new dog home, is that there will be a honeymoon period but that period will end. New dogs, especially ones from shelters, brought … Continue reading →

The Expectations of Valentine’s Day

I don’t know if my husband and I are the only ones but despite being married nearly 20 years we don’t really go all out and celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s not that we don’t acknowledge the day because we do. After all, I did buy my husband a card and a box of chocolates that are in the shape of a heart but look like a baseball, one of his favorite sports. I received from my husband a poem he wrote all on his own and although it was beautiful, we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day in the sense that we … Continue reading →

Tips For Great Family Photos

The holidays are a wonderful time for taking pictures of your family. Groups of relatives gather for dinners, parties, caroling, cookie baking, and many other fun activities. Photographs provide depth and feeling to any family history archive, whether they are simply placed in albums or elaborately scrapbooked. Here are some tips for capturing your family’s magical holiday moments without devoting your entire holiday to taking pictures. After all, there are so many fun things going on that you do not want to be on the sidelines with a camera the whole time. Unless, of course, you get an amazing new … Continue reading →

100 Greatest Novels

I found a list of the 100 Greatest Novels and just had to share it here. I love to read. My plan is to read as many novels on this list as possible. Care to join me? 1. 1984 by George Orwell 2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 3. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 4. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 7. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky 8. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 9. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov … Continue reading →

Adoption Books with Great Art: You Are Special, You Were Chosen

You Are Special; You Were Chosen is a sweet little book which grew out of the bedtime story that the author’s father read to her each night. Its soft, detailed colored pencil/pastel illustrations definitely qualify it for my Adoption Books with Great Art series. The lovely pictures show diverse children and families, including siblings of different races, which I really appreciate, as that is something I have a hard time finding. Books featuring a multiracial classroom are becoming common, as are books featuring families of color—but multiracial families are still difficult to find. I almost bought a book the other … Continue reading →

Unrealistic Marriage Expectations

When we first get married, we have a certain set of expectations that come with us into the union. The bride has her set, the husband has his set, and the in-laws have theirs as well. Some of these expectations will be met, and many of them won’t. Let’s discuss some of these expectations. 1. The Myth: Many of us believe that temple marriage is the golden key to unlock all our marriage treasures and that nothing can befall us once we’ve been sealed. The Truth: the temple gives us the ability to be together forever, if we live righteously … Continue reading →

Saying “No” to Unreasonable Expectations

We do not have to do it all. There, I’ve said it again (I know for a fact that I have stated this mantra before). As single parents, we might be tempted to get roped in to trying to meet other’s unreasonable expectations—we are so determined to do a good job and juggle our responsibilities that it may not dawn on us that we are being asked to take on too much or expected to take on inappropriate problems, tasks, or situations. This is where we have to learn how to just say “No.” I know full well that it … Continue reading →

Are You Putting Pressure on Yourself with Deadlines and Expectations?

Single parenting can be tough enough–without our putting extra pressure on ourselves by setting unreasonable deadlines of having expectations that we can accomplish more than is reasonable. It might be easy to blame the “world” or our jobs or other outside influences when things get really stressful–but we might be bringing some of this stress on ourselves! This morning I was up early–let us just say it was still rather dark outside–and before I even turned on my computer to start working, I was fussing trying to get some packages wrapped. I kept thinking of the “deadline” of getting all … Continue reading →

November in the Adoption Blog: Month in Review

I began the blog on All Saints Day with a tribute to certain “Saints” in U.S. Adoption and Pioneers in International Adoption. Then I wrote a tribute to the founder of my daughter’s Korean adoption agency, who has lived an exciting and multifaceted life and is remarkable for his humble concern for children. In honor of National Adoption Month, I wrote two blogs on Top Ten Myths about Adoption. For Part One, click here. For Part Two, click here. Then I wrote a blog about events on National Adoption Day, Saturday November 17. These events included finalizations of thousands of … Continue reading →