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SeaStar
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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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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Paula in MN
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Smoking. 8 years and counting.
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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LeeAnn
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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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my four children are 17, 15, 11 & 8 - all now attend public school - we read many 4Real recommended books at home
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JodieLyn
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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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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Bridget
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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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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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SeaStar
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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. |
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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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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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Anne McD
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yes--please share!
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Anne
Wife to Jon
Mommy to Alex 9
James 8
Katie 6
William 3 1/2
Benedict Joseph 1
and baby on the way! 10/14
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Bridget
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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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God Bless,
Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
Our Magnum Opus
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SeaStar
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Paula in MN wrote:
| Smoking. 8 years and counting. |
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That is awesome, Paula!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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LLMom
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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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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
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Angie Mc
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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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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Willa
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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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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
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Bookswithtea
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Willa wrote:
| Curriculum-buying/homeschool catalog perusing addiction -- I think I got that one under control about 5-7 years ago. |
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 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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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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LLMom
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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. |
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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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Lisa
For veteran & former homeschool moms
homeschooling ideas
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Christine
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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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Christine
Mommy to 4 girls, 5 boys, & 2 in God's care
Memories of a Catholic Wife and Mother
Pretty Lilla Rose
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Willa
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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. |
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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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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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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
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Nina Murphy
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[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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God bless,
~~Nina
mother of 9 on earth,
and 2 yet-to-be-met
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Nina Murphy
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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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God bless,
~~Nina
mother of 9 on earth,
and 2 yet-to-be-met
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mavmama
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I quit smoking 22 years ago--cold turkey. If only I could quit cookies as easily.
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Liz
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dd11, dd911, ds9, ds8
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Topic: What bad habit have you kicked?
