Yankee Texan Mom – East Coaster turned Texan SAHM. My random thoughts on life including being a wife, mother and stepmother.

Advantages of Coloring Books

June 8, 2020 Jessica

The advantages of Coloring Books for Kids: It is always fun to color in pictures of your favorite cartoon characters. Why not make your own coloring pages and give it to your child? Coloring is a great activity to help you develop your imagination. If you don’t have the necessary supplies, then you can always purchase your coloring books online.

While doing online shopping, be sure to look for coloring books for kids. There are many different choices of books for kids that have the same characters as the ones you choose for your own pages.

You will find that when you get into the act of coloring, you and your child will become close with your favorite characters. Even if you don’t have the time or the extra motivation to do the coloring, you will still enjoy being together as you share in the excitement of creating your page. When your page looks just right, you will have a memory of a fun experience with your child.

Children who can color the pages really take pride in their work. This helps them build their confidence and skills in doing what is required of them at school.

There are so many choices when it comes to the kinds of coloring pages that you can create for your child. You can even use the coloring pages as a form of self-esteem building exercise that allows you to talk about what you are coloring with your child.

When your child sees that their coloring pages are different than others they have seen, they will start to feel proud of themselves. They will take pride in the things that they have created themselves.

Your child can create something on their computer screen that is unlike anything else. This allows them to express themselves through their creation.

The advantages of Coloring Books for Kids: If you have a busy schedule and can’t create coloring pages every day, you can always make them available for your child. You can schedule an appointment time that works best for both of you.

The time spent together will be enjoyed by all and will help you bond with your child. You will also be able to catch up on some of the reading books that you had read in the past.

When your child gets older, they can use their coloring pages as practice with their favorite cartoon characters. By letting them use their skills, they will be able to have their own room that they can call their own when they are done with the coloring.

The advantages of Coloring Books for Kids: As your child grows older, they will want to use their pages as a way to express how they feel about certain characters. These pages can be used as letters to other children.

The advantages of Coloring Books for Kids are endless. The money that you spend on books is well worth it.

How To Find My Little Pony Coloring Pages

June 2, 2019 Jessica

Want To Free My Little Pony Coloring Pages? Read This

Millions of children who love My Little Pony are eager to see Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and all their other little friends on their school bags, pencil holders, and various other stationery items. They also enjoy coloring pages that feature these popular characters. You could make your kids happy by offering them some My Little Pony coloring pages. You can rest assured they are going to be thrilled to receive such an amazing gift. Your kids will be busy for a while, and you’ll be free to do your own stuff without needing to keep an eye on them.

A basic Google search will provide you with a generous supply of My Little Pony coloring pages. There are lots of websites that offer such files for free download. Once you find the pages you want, you won’t need anything else than a printer and a good supply of ink to print them out and to start coloring them. If you don’t own a printer, you’ll need to make use of an online printing service. This is the most efficient and cost-effective way to have your pages printed out and delivered to your door.

If you want to be more organized, you can set up a Pinterest account and use it to bookmark all coloring pages you find. While you are at it, you can perform a search within Pinterest to see what you can find. The great thing about Pinterest is that it is more than a simple social network. It doubles as a visual search engine, so you can use it to find images of anything you can think about. As coloring pages suit image search better than anything else, you’ll surely find lots of cool ones to save for further download and print. Just make sure that you create enough Pinterest board to keep things organized. For instance, have one big board for My Little Pony, and create dedicated sections for each of the characters. Like this, you’ll be able to find and print out all pages featuring Twilight in one go, without having to waste time on separating them from all other pages you may have saved from the web.

This is the easiest way to gather an impressive supply of coloring pages without having to pay anything to download them. If you want, you can ask your kids to help you with the research work. They will surely be happy to search for such stuff, so you won’t need to do anything else than watch them doing the work.

How to Discover the Greatest Benefits of Free Printable Coloring Pages

December 22, 2016 Jessica

Lots of psychologists and therapists “prescribe” these to patients for numerous factors, and numerous occupational therapists recommend them! I will likewise let you know that I practice what I preach, when I was laid up in bed for 8 weeks after major surgical treatment, I devoured adult coloring books. They have so many usages and purposes that many are not conscious of, beyond the obvious results of appeal and satisfaction.

1. Did you have any idea that the “prescription” of adult coloring stems all the method back to the late and great psychologist Carl Jung? Well it did. He was always ahead of his time. Jung utilized it thinking it would help his client’s gain access to their subconscious and new self-knowledge. We my little pony coloring pages now understand that numerous psychologists recommend this to clients as an alternative to meditation, as a means of relaxation, and as a relaxing tool. It can assist the private focus on the act of coloring detailed pictures for hours on end, vs. concentrating on intrusive and troubling thoughts.

For lots of, boredom, absence of structure, and stress are the greatest triggers they have. The time and focus that adult coloring takes assists the private get rid of the focus from the negative concerns and routines, and focus them in a safe and productive method.

3. These activities can help significantly with individuals with PTSD, stress and anxiety, and stress issues, as they relax down our amygdala. This is the part of the brain that controls our battle or flight response, and keeps people in an increased state of concern, panic, and hyper-vigilance, when it is active. Coloring and concentrating on this harmless and relaxing activity can actually turn that reaction down, and let your brain have some much needed rest and relaxation. This can be an exceptionally efficient and welcome outlet for these people.

4. Coloring likewise brings us back to a simpler time. An activity that can invoke the much easier and better times of childhood. A time when we did not have as lots of responsibilities, and might just do something since we wanted too, for the pure pleasure of it. To be able to use this time and these feelings is extremely cathartic and enjoyable. It can take you out of your present tensions and concerns for even a couple of hours at a time, which can have an exceptionally recuperative result.

It utilizes locations of the brain that enhance focus and concentration. Our frontal lobes are responsible for these higher level activities and functions of the brain, and coloring detailed photos activates all those homes. Believe of considering intricate color schemes, and using the brain to balance and make the photo visually pleasing.

6. Coloring makes use of both hemispheres of the brain, right and left. When we are thinking of balance, color options, applying colored pencil to paper, we are working on issue solving and fine motor abilities. We have actually talked a terrific offer about where they would be suggested by psychologists, however this is where they can very helpful for occupational therapy. Picture all the locations of retraining of the brain and skills training that can be achieved with coloring significantly challenging styles. The individual can begin on much easier items, and work their method up.

Doing healing artwork can assist minimize feelings of stress and anxiety and unpleasantness associated with prolonged medical treatments. The focus we position on the task at hand, and on a things can change negative and unhelpful thoughts from entering our minds. The action of acting and doing vs. observing is a powerful deterrent to focusing on physical or emotional pain.

Adult coloring books plainly help serve numerous functions that are helpful. They can be so much more than the color by number that individuals might be believing they are. They can be focused, therapeutic, peaceful, calming, issue fixing, and organizational. As you can see, they are highly effective for many factors, and the concepts behind them have stood the test of time, even if they seem like they are only the latest trend. Try one out and you might simply amaze yourself. If not, a minimum of you have something pretty to hand on your fridge!

Lots of psychologists and therapists “prescribe” these to clients for various factors, and lots of occupational therapists recommend them! They have so numerous usages and functions that lots of are not mindful of, beyond the obvious outcomes of beauty and satisfaction. A time when we did not have as many duties, and might simply do something since we desired too, for the pure joy of it. Adult coloring books plainly help serve many functions that are helpful. As you can see, they are extremely effective for numerous reasons, and the ideas behind them have stood the test of time, even if they feel like they are only the most current trend.

Got Teenagers? Parenting 101 (from ages 11 through 17)

December 21, 2016 Jessica

Parenting a teenager can be one of the most frustrating times of a parent’s life. You wait up at night worried about who your daughter is hanging around with, if they will come home on time, and an assortment of other worries. You see changes in their appearance, attitude and demeanor, and wonder if this is my kid.

Yet parenting a teenager can also be one of the most rewarding times. You see your son growing into a mature responsible adult who is forming his own opinions and identity.

Let’s start with your worries. When your teen makes choices that are troubling to you, you’re not alone. Most teenagers at a certain age start experimenting and stretching the boundaries you set. All teenagers know right from wrong. What they sometimes don’t understand is the consequences of their choices and actions. Here is where you come in.
Keeping an open dialogue is the key. Once a teenager feels there is no use in talking to you because you will fly off the handle, give an unjust punishment, or simply give no explanation at all, you will lose the most valuable asset you have—the ability to communicate.

Teenagers want answers, so they are testing boundaries to see what works and what doesn’t work. Talk situations through fully so your teen can understand why they made a specific choice or why you are giving a specific boundary.

Saying no might have worked when a child was 5 or 6, but when a teenager is trying to figure out their identity, future, sexuality, and a number of other things, they need an educator—not a yes or no person. They deserve an explanation. They already have your trust, love and respect. Down deep whether they say it or not, they want boundaries, limits, and answers.

When things go wrong, never give up. As a man who deals with “at-risk” teenagers every day, my motto is “I don’t believe in bad kids, I believe in bad choices”. I also believe all kids are at-risk. If you are having a problem with your teenager, be pro-active in helping your son or daughter understand the consequences of their choices.

Larry Lawton is the President of Reality Check Program for families which provides assistance in reaching teens and young adults with a strong message about choices.

Article tags:teens, parenting, boundaries, teen limits, choices, reality checkprogram

Motherhood from the Inside | Yankee Texan Mom

December 6, 2016 Jessica

I read somewhere that if those of us who are parents were honest about how much work it is to be a parent, others would be less likely to have children. I’m inclined to think that might be true. Most of the time the conversations about parenthood focus on the joys, the moments that are priceless and the reasons why we should savor every moment. No one really ever talks about the dark side of being a parent. More to the point, no one talks about the dark side of being a SAHM.

I should start by saying that I do love my daughter more than words could ever say and that I do love being a mom and stepmom. I know how important this job is and I know that I am blessed. That doesn’t mean that there are not down sides to the job and that some days I have to remind myself that I am blessed.

Yesterday would be a prime example of a day when I needed reminding. I took Gwen to our town’s library for Preschool Story Time, then to McDonald’s for lunch and then we ran a few errands. Gwen did not want to leave the library when story time was over. She did not want to leave McDonald’s even though we had been there for nearly 90 minutes. As the icing on the cake, she was determined to touch everything on the shelves at Dollar General and respond as if I were speaking a foreign language. The last errand on the list was shelved until tomorrow.

By the time we were on our way home and she was fast asleep in her car seat, I was just thankful that she was sleeping. I was grateful for a few moments of peace. And when we reached our home, I transferred her to the bed and laid on the couch. I knew there were things that needed to be done. This blog needed my attention. Areas of my house needed my attention. Dinner needed to be started. I did NOT care. At that moment in time, I needed to lay on that couch, close my eyes and take a few minutes for Mommy.

The moments did not last long. It was not fifteen minutes before my husband was walking in the door from work. Sanity break over and time to start moving again. That is the part that no one tells you. Motherhood is basically an agreement to give a large amount of control of your life away. It may be given willingly and the blessings you receive in return are plentiful. Still, I do believe that every mom has those moments when they think that just five minutes alone would be a slice of heaven. These five minutes might be spent in the most mundane ways. Somehow taking a shower, using the bathroom in private and in peace, or reading a magazine article have become luxuries. So many details that I took for granted, first as a single woman and next as a married woman, cannot be taken for granted any longer.

The crazy part is not that I wish for the five minutes of peace. The crazy part is that when Gwen spends the night with her grandparents or goes to run errands with her Daddy, I am lost. Even on those days when she is testing out the boundaries of being three, she is my favorite person. Even on days fraught with her exertions of independence, she can bring a smile to my face like no one can. I imagine that is how every mother feels about their child. It is why we talk about the joys of parenthood and not the stress. In this case, the good does outweigh the rest.

Are They Worth Your Time? |

December 1, 2016 Jessica

Spend a little time online and you will notice that lots of companies want our opinions. If you were so inclined, you could spend a lot of hours in the day completing surveys. But, would you make enough money to make it worth your time? The answer, like so many others, is not black and white. There is some money to be made by completing surveys, but I wouldn’t plan on that being the sole source for your child’s college fund. However, you could have a nice nest egg for this year’s Christmas shopping. It also is like anything else. The more you put in, the more you get out.

There are multiple survey companies and each one does things a little differently. Some offer points, some offer cash and others offer entries to win items and/or cash. Look at each one to see what is offered and decide if it matches your needs. In the end, I have found that the best way to make a decision to to try out the different options. I have found some to be a good fit for me and others not to be. I also find that some weeks I have more time to complete surveys and other weeks I do not. The good news is that all of the sites offer free registration and none have any minimum participation requirements. I chose to sign up with multiple sites to be able to make comparisons. Here are the sites that I visit most frequently.

Toluna is one of my favorite surveys sites because you can also receive free full-size product samples. You’ll receive an email for each opportunity, but the number is not excessive. For each survey that you complete, you earn points. Points can be redeemed for cash via PayPal or for other prizes.

MyView is another site that I like. You earn points even if you do not qualify for the survey and that appeals to me. There’s not much worse that taking the time to answer the initial questions, be knocked out of the survey and receive nothing for your time. Points do not expire as long as you log in at least once every 90 days and can be redeemed for Prepaid Visa Cards. My email inbox has not been flooded and I’m on my way to a gift card.

Mindfield is a little more straightforward. Every survey is assigned a dollar amount that you receive if you complete the survey. Your account is credited once the survey has closed. If you don’t qualify for the survey, you are entered into their monthly drawing. Once your account balance reached $5, you can request payment.

Vindale Research is a little bit different than the other sites. There is a chance to earn more, but some offers require that you use your credit or debit card to sign up for free trials. This does put the burden on you to remember to cancel during the trial period. However, there are many offers that do not require a credit or debit card. Being a busy SAHM who sometimes becomes disorganized, I tend to select only those offers.

These are just a few of the sites available and the ones I have personally used. If there are others that you have used and would like to share your experience, please do!

A Showcase of History for Children |

November 11, 2016 Jessica

As I wrote in an earlier post, Genghis Khan: The Exhibition has come to the Irving Arts Center in Irving, Texas. Genghis Khan is a fascinating part of history and this exhibit is a treasure trove of education for our children. This exhibition gives children a chance to see history behind a man who truly is a legend. The exhibition started June 1 and runs through September 30. This gives us all plenty of time to get the kids together and head on over to Irving. It’s not often that an exhibition this large comes so close to home.

Special Events for Kids

Princess Mummy is one of the amazing pieces of history that you will see at Genghis Khan: The Exhibition now running in Irving, Texas.

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition features the largest collection of 13th century Mongolian artifacts ever gathered in a single showing. Of particular note, the exhibition features the recently uncovered mummy and tomb treasures of a Mongolian noble woman, nicknamed The Princess Giant because of her unusual height. And, for the kid in all of us, the interactive aspect of the exhibition leads visitors through a life-size ger (traditional nomadic dwelling); and allows visitors to shoot a model trebuchet, create a Mongolianstyle hat and use computer touch screens to live out the lives of characters from the 13th century. The Irving Arts Center also has the following kids activities scheduled during the exhibit.

Everyone Pays Kids Prices! Mondays, July 18, August 15 and Sept. 19 View Genghis Khan: The Exhibition for the special price of just $8 per person.
Family KhanDays: Saturdays, July 9, August 13, September 10 and September 24; Create Mongolian-themed art projects to share with friends and family. Suitable for children of all ages. All supplies provided.
Trebuchet Competition: Saturdays, July 9, August 20 and September 24, 10 AM to Noon | Registration / Competition Rules Coming Soon; Build a model trebuchet using plastic blocks and compete for fun prizes in a distance shooting match. Three age groups – elementary, middle school and high school / adult. Pre-registration is required.
Summer Camp: Secrets of the Silk Road: July 11-15 | 8 AM to 5 PM | Ages 6-12; Create Papier Mâché Mongolian masks; construct a ger and make your own felt; stylize your penmanship with Chinese brush painting and calligraphy; stretch out with yoga; and design stamps, mosiacs and mandalas.
Summer camp: History, Horses and Tribal Handicrafts: July 25-29 | 8 AM to 5 PM | Ages 6-12; Construct your own paper for cool new designs; choose colorful thread for fun weaving projects; paint real and imaginary animals inspired by the Mongolian beasts of burden (horses, camels, yaks and oxen); use recycled materials, fabric and found objects to design Mongolian-inspired costumes, headdresses and jewelry; and learn dance and battle strategy

The Need To Know Before You Go

We all know how important it is to plan ahead when taking the kids on an outing, so here’s a few pieces of information that will help. As stated above, this exhibit began on June 1 and will run through September 30. Exhibit hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1-8 p.m. Admission is timed and the last entry time is at 6:30 p.m. daily.

Tickets are $8 for children, groups and seniors (ages 55 years and above); and $12 for adults. Children under 2 years old are free. To purchase tickets contact the box office at (972) 252-2787 or visit www.KhanIrving.com. Strollers are permitted inside the exhibition.

It takes approximately 90 minutes to go through Genghis Khan: The Exhibition. There is a 5-minute film, 4 activity stations, interactive kiosks for character cards, and if scheduling allows, a live performance. There is limited outdoor space available for having lunch on the grounds. If you have large group, it is recommended that you call ahead.

Also, there is a Conquer Your Fears Sweepstakes running during the exhibit, so take a few moments to enter.

When We Had to Wait

August 8, 2016 Jessica

I usually post a picture for Flashback Friday, but you will have to use your imagination this week. The political and financial ills of our country have me thinking about when times were simpler. I’ve been thinking a lot about what has changed in my just my lifetime. Like so many others, I guess I have been trying to figure out what is “wrong” with the world today and why there seems to be so much turmoil. This post is not meant to be the answer to that question, but it may be a symptom.

The thought for this post started yesterday as I was making some Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup for my daughter. I always heat up the soup on the stove top. I may be wrong, but I think it tastes better. Of course, it would probably be even better if I made chicken noodle soup from scratch, but that doesn’t happen very often. Still, I won’t go as far as dumping the can into the microwave safe bowl and pressing start. I’m not some sort of elite mom who insists on everything being homemade, but I do have my quirky limits.

By now, you are wondering what is my point. Here it is. Maybe part of the problem is our instant food culture. I remember as a child, if my Mom took a night off from cooking we either ordered pizza or went out to eat at a restaurant. Now, if I want to take a night off from cooking, I have those options, but I also have hundreds of instant options right here in my kitchen. Think about it. How many things can you make in your kitchen in less time than it would take for the pizza delivery guy to ring the doorbell?

As much as I like all of this convenience, I am wondering if it is part of our problem. Our children are being brought up in a world where you don’t have to wait. And, in my opinion, waiting is part of the experience. Think about Thanksgiving. All of that preparation and the aromas wafting through your home are a part of the experience. Somehow that turkey tastes better because of the wait. If you made Thanksgiving dinner in the microwave, it just wouldn’t be as good.

Now, I am not suggesting that we all prepare Thanksgiving type meals on a daily basis. There isn’t enough time. But I do think we have to make time to prepare some meals and involve our children in the process. I like that Gwen helps to mix the batter for a cake, watches it go in the oven and has to wait for it to be done. I like that she watches as I prepare a meal and sees that we have to wait for the food to cook. She is learning through that process.

As a child, I was always jealous of other kids because their moms used Hamburger Helper and my mom didn’t. Once I was a single woman living on my own, I bought some and used it. I hated it. My mother’s creations were and still are so much better. My Mom cooked for us and I’d like to think I’m carrying on that tradition. I hope that our children carry it forward too. What do you think?

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition at the Irving Arts Center

August 6, 2016 Jessica

The residents of and visitors to North Texas have an exciting opportunity available to them these days. Genghis Khan: The Exhibition is on display at the Irving Arts Center from June 1 – . This marks the first time an exhibition of this scale has been on view at the Center and in the City of Irving. You may be wondering a few things about Genghis Khan and this exhibit.

What Was So Special About Genghis Khan?

Genghis Khan is a fascinating part of history and, as it turns out, you just might be related to him. Nearly .5 percent of the world’s male population can trace their heritage back to Genghis Khan’s family. That’s nearly 16 million men!

Genghis Khan was also an innovator. He is noted for his cultural influences on the world, his appreciation of the arts, and his creation of a stable government. Passports, international borders, the postal system, hamburgers and even pants can be traced back to his rule.

Of course, Genghis Khan is more known for his role as a conqueror. In just 25 years, the Mongolian Army conquered more lands and people during the Romans during their 400 year rule. He and his sons united smaller countries into larger ones and developed international borders for countries that still stand today. These include China, Korea and India. At one point their empire spanned between 11 and 12 million square miles, across Europe and Asia.

Most interesting to me is Genghis Khan’s burial place. It is one of the greatest archeological mysteries of our time. The warrior was placed in an unmarked grave in Mongolia. According to one imaginative account, 800 horseman trampled repeatedly over the burial site to obscure the location of the grave. The horseman were then killed by another set of soldiers so that they could not disclose the grave site.

Why Should I Go to this Exhibit?

The story of Genghis Khan the conqueror, the myth and the man is told through a stunning and highly interactive world-tour exhibition. Genghis Khan: The Exhibition follows the life of a poor, illiterate child as he becomes one of the world’s greatest conquerors and leaves a lasting imprint on modern-day culture. More than 200 artifacts including gold jewelry, weaponry, silk robes, currency, tomb treasures and more are displayed alongside video-screens, hands-on activity stations and role-playing kiosks to create an educational and historical experience for visitors of all ages.

This exhibition features the largest collection of 13th century Mongolian artifacts ever gathered in a single showing. Of particular note, the exhibition features the recently uncovered mummy and tomb treasures of a Mongolian noble woman, nicknamed The Princess Giant because of her unusual height. And, for the kid in all of us, the interactive aspect of the exhibition leads visitors through a life-size ger (traditional nomadic dwelling); and allows visitors to shoot a model trebuchet, create a Mongolianstyle hat and use computer touch screens to live out the lives of characters from the 13thcentury.

Genghis Khan: The Exhibition was produced by “Dino” Don Lessem, with curatorial consultation by leading Genghis Khan scholars Dr. William Fitzhugh of the Smithsonian Institution and Dr. Morris Rossabi of Columbia University. Lessem is an author, longtime science journalist and president of Exhibits Rex, Inc. The exhibition was developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Lenders include the National Museum of Mongolian History, the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, the National Library of Mongolia, the Military Museum of Mongolia, the Dornogobi Province Museum, and the Dornod Province Museum in Mongolia. Artifacts are also on loan from private collections including the Kooros and Gotuaco families, Natsag Gankhuyag and Francis Boyd.

Opportunities Like This Don’t Come Often

Exhibits such as this do not come to every city and town. The Irving Arts Center is privileged to have Genghis Khan: The Exhibition on site through September 30. There are multiple lectures, special discount days and event scheduled throughout the summer. Admission prices range from $5 – $12 depending on age and group size. The exhibit is open 7 days a week and parking is free. I know that I will be visiting this exhibit before it leaves and I hope that you will too. I am pleased to announce that Yankee Texan Mom will be hosting a ticket giveaway soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

Is Respect Earned or Deserved?

July 18, 2016 Jessica

Recently a Facebook friend posted a Status Shuffle comment that got me thinking. The post read as follows:

“People need to learn that in order to receive respect that they must learn how to give respect.”

My initial reaction was to “Like” her post and move on, but something in my gut wouldn’t let me just click and run. My next thought was to post my thoughts about her comment, but it didn’t seem fair to hijack her comment with my soapbox. So, here I am, 24 hours later and the thoughts are still running around my head. There is a complete “chicken and egg” argument going on for me and I still am not sure of the correct answer or that there is one.

I, like many others, have worked for that manager. That manager that believes that once the word “manager” becomes a part of his title, he deserves your undying respect and loyalty. If you’re truly unlucky, he doesn’t necessarily treat you with respect, but that’s not where his concern lies. Of course, I believe that that is not the correct way to inspire confidence, loyalty and hard work from your team. In those situations, I do think you have to earn your respect. Anything more than basic respect should not come with the title. And that is where my thoughts get going.

What is basic respect? Do you have to earn basic respect? Is basic respect something that each of us as human beings should give to others as a manner of living? If you’ve read any other of my posts, it will be no surprise that I believe that basic respect is a privilege that each of us should afford to each other as a way of living. Words like please, thank you, you are welcome, and yes sir/ma’am, should be a part of our repertoire without even thinking. The sad part is that they are not in too many cases and that is the beginning of the mushroom for me. We’ve taught our daughter to have manners, but that’s just the first step. She also sees us use our manners every day. My husband is a born and raised Texan, so it’s nearly second nature for him. On the other hand was raised in Massachusetts and it’s an effort sometimes. That effort normally pays off and becomes more like second nature every day.

So I’ve learned to be friendlier and to treat others as though I am happy to see them even if I am not. What I have not learned is how not to go around the bend when someone treats me with little or no respect. My other often said to kill someone with kindness, but she also knew how to fire back with her scorpion tail if she was pushed too far. I was blessed with her gift of sarcasm but not always with restraint, so you can imagine my dilemma. Recently I visited a local government office to pay a traffic ticket my husband had received. It’s something I’ve done before for me and for him, so I know the drill. I entered the office prepared not to be angry. I knew it was not the fault of the employee behind the counter that we had received a ticket. However, the woman on the other side of the glass seemed to feel that she was a part of the punishment process in Rockwall County, Texas and made no secret of that. I was treated poorly and could not get my simplest questions answered. I wanted to tell her what I thought and although I did not, I know my face said things that would make some folks blush. A week later, I still wish I had killed her with kindness. I think my reaction played into her expectations. She has a chip on her shoulder that she has earned and my attitude cemented it for her once again. Maybe next time I can do better.