Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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SeaStar
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Posted: Jan 01 2010 at 8:08pm | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

Time to brag on yourselves... don't be shy!
With all the New Years resolutions floating around, think back... what bad habit have you been able to say goodbye to?

For years and years I was a serious caffeine addict. Diet Mountain Dew by the case... It was a truly a bad thing.

Then when I was expecting my ds, it all had to stop abruptly. I didn't know how I would manage. What helped me was reading a story about an ER doctor who was also a Mormon- and so he was totally caffeine-free. That hugely impressed me. It made me realize: yes, life can be lived and long days and nights can be gotten through without caffeine. It *is* possible. If this man can do it, *I* can do it. It wasn't fun or easy, but I've been caffeine-free now for 7 years and counting.





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Paula in MN
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Posted: Jan 01 2010 at 9:02pm | IP Logged Quote Paula in MN

Smoking. 8 years and counting.

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LeeAnn
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Posted: Jan 01 2010 at 9:05pm | IP Logged Quote LeeAnn

The only one I can think of is swearing. It stopped when I realized mature people in polite company don't talk that way--and when I became a mommy. Mommies shouldn't talk that way either.

I gave up Diet Coke almost entirely...but I just transferred my habit to Crystal Light's iced tea mix (has some caffeine, less I hope) and coffee. I always hated coffee until last month. Something snapped and now I am a two-cup a morning person (Mystic Monk's Jingle Bell Java). But I am fine without it too...I think! ha ha

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Posted: Jan 01 2010 at 9:54pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

As a teen I stopped biting my nails.. wore nail polish.. layer upon layer so that I might pick/chew at the nail polish but not my nails.. and that is what helped me get past the unconscious part of the habit.

Then I'm not sure you can count going caffiene free.. since I was getting headaches from caffiene. I had a pretty good reason to avoid it and it was pretty immediate that if I drank it.. I'd be in pain.. pain is a great motivator.

But if anyone wants ideas for other things than drinks with caffiene.. I've been doing this for umm.. over 20 yrs now.

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Bridget
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 7:50am | IP Logged Quote Bridget

Raising my voice to my children. I have been working on it for years and this post made me realize that I can't remember the last time I raised my voice in anger or frustration.

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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 8:13am | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

Bridget wrote:
Raising my voice to my children. I have been working on it for years and this post made me realize that I can't remember the last time I raised my voice in anger or frustration.


Bridget-

What was your secret for success? I find that I am Queen of the Irritated Tone of Voice. I would *love* for that to go.

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Anne McD
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 8:53am | IP Logged Quote Anne McD

yes--please share!

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Bridget
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 9:09am | IP Logged Quote Bridget

Sheer will? Perseverance? Role models? Prayer?

Laura Berquist actually helped greatly. In one of her talks she mentioned that her older children can remember a yelling mom but her younger children do not and can hardly believe that she was one. She said it helped when she was schooling a child outside their family so there was 'company' at the house every day.

We all know what a jolt it is to see our bad habits reflected in our children. I made myself try to react the way I would want my children to react to each other or to their children one day.

There is much room for improvement in my reactions of course, but I just asked my oldest when he heard me yell or be impatient last and he said "I don't know, it sure wasn't at me." I'll have to quiz the other kids.

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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 11:52am | IP Logged Quote SeaStar

Paula in MN wrote:
Smoking. 8 years and counting.


That is awesome, Paula!

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LLMom
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 12:05pm | IP Logged Quote LLMom

I gave up soap operas years ago when I had 2 dc. They were so trashy that I didn't want my children to see them and it was a bit of an obsession for me. It was so the thing when I was in college and I was hooked for several years.   

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Angie Mc
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 12:24pm | IP Logged Quote Angie Mc

network television (~30 yrs)...TM alcohol (~25 yrs - abstained until recently)...caffeine (~20 yrs. - stomach troubles)...cussing (~17 years - little ears listening)...wheat (~15 yrs - can tolerate some but still strive for other whole grains)...losing my temper (~ 6 months - been working on it forever but circumstances and grace collided to rid me of hot-head triggers.)

Yep...I've had a lot of material to work with .

Love,

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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 1:28pm | IP Logged Quote Willa

Trashy romances -- 30 years ago.

Fiction-reading addiction that interfered with daily function -- 13-15 years ago -- it wasn't abrupt weaning so I don't exactly remember when I could say it was gone.

Curriculum-buying/homeschool catalog perusing addiction -- I think I got that one under control about 5-7 years ago.

Excessive time on internet --"emerging" ability as they say in special needs jargon.   I've done much better this year -- with small interludes.

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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 1:43pm | IP Logged Quote Bookswithtea

Willa wrote:
Curriculum-buying/homeschool catalog perusing addiction -- I think I got that one under control about 5-7 years ago.


What's wrong with this???   

Just kidding. Actually, I'm in my second year of improving on this one. I wouldn't say I've kicked the habit, but I'm definitely better than I used to be.

I kicked soap operas the year I got married. I was an ABC diehard through most of my teen and college years.

More recently??? This last Advent I kicked the romantic comedy movie habit. Do you know how hard it is to find a fun romantic comedy that doesn't assume/portray premarital s*x??? I have a feeling my collection of movies is about to jump back to the 1950's.   

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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 1:51pm | IP Logged Quote LLMom

Willa wrote:


Curriculum-buying/homeschool catalog perusing addiction -- I think I got that one under control about 5-7 years ago.

Excessive time on internet --"emerging" ability as they say in special needs jargon.   I've done much better this year -- with small interludes.


Willa,

How did you kick these two things? I want to but have been unable to kick either of these habits.

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Christine
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 2:18pm | IP Logged Quote Christine

Television ~ I never watched it very much, but we haven't watched it, at all, for almost ten years.

Losing my temper ~ I'm still working on it, but I have been able to hold myself in check for at least 5 weeks. I found that apologizing, immediately after I said something, actually helped me to remain calmer and realize what I was saying. This quote from St. Francis de Sales has helped greatly, "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them — every day begin the task anew."
Frequent confession and the advice that I received helped me with the latter, too.

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Willa
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 3:07pm | IP Logged Quote Willa

LLMom wrote:
Willa wrote:


Curriculum-buying/homeschool catalog perusing addiction -- I think I got that one under control about 5-7 years ago.

Excessive time on internet --"emerging" ability as they say in special needs jargon.   I've done much better this year -- with small interludes.


Willa,

How did you kick these two things? I want to but have been unable to kick either of these habits.


Now that I think about it they probably both came from the same source -- always trying to find perfection rather than manage with what I was given.

I am not saying it very well here -- Kim of Starry Sky Ranch has discussed this a few times on her blog -- for example here

I finally started taking it more to heart.

Leonie always used to quote Marva Collins "Anything works if the teacher does," and that finally sunk in deep, too.... that what was lacking was not the perfect catalog or online resource or inspiration, but rather, my application to the job at hand.

Believe me, it has taken years to sink in and I still haven't thoroughly tamed the internet dragon -- as you can probably see from recent frequency of posting

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Nina Murphy
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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 6:18pm | IP Logged Quote Nina Murphy

[Quote: Willa

Now that I think about it they probably both came from the same source -- always trying to find perfection rather than manage with what I was given.



Leonie always used to quote Marva Collins "Anything works if the teacher does," and that finally sunk in deep, too.... that what was lacking was not the perfect catalog or online resource or inspiration, but rather, my application to the job at hand. [/QUOTE]

I know this is digressing from the main thread but, gotta say: I love this.

In many ways *I* have not "worked". (Not being overly-scrupulous; I am not saying it is my +fault+ per se, but recognizing the TRUTH of it....Wow:   motivating to look into what can be done to get things "working" and what defines "working".)


If you don't mind, I'm going to take this as my mantra for homeschooling this year. I believe this deeply. And what more responsibility it puts on the teacher being fit to the task, actually.



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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 6:24pm | IP Logged Quote Nina Murphy

I honestly hesitate to say bad habits I've kicked, lest I fall into any of them again. I have made improvements in certain areas (like not eating dessert) but I tend to ebb and flow, wax and wane, and change one addiction for another. I think I will always struggle with addiction to something. Sorry if i'm depressing. Just being totally BARE with y'all.   

Edited to add:

Wow I hope that doesn't sound like a cop-out or like I'm not giving God credit for all the way He has worked in me and in my life. In no way! He is awesome and I give Him all glory for anything good I've done or am in the process of doing!   I guess it IS a big thing to be pretty much free from craving sweets....gotta give the props!

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Posted: Jan 02 2010 at 6:30pm | IP Logged Quote mavmama

I quit smoking 22 years ago--cold turkey. If only I could quit cookies as easily.

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