Happy new year friends and family! What a whirlwind this last year has been, a controlled chaos really, at best. Reflecting on the last 12 months, our family has been constantly on the go:
February: Gigi returned to work full time
April: Cruz's 4th birthday and a trip to Disneyland
May: Gigi traveled to Vermont for cousin Jude's graduation
June: Randy completes Residency
July: Family vacation to Oahu and Maui
August: Randy's graduation party, Cruz starts preschool
October: Lucas' 1st birthday, Gigi completes the Nike Women's Half Marathon
December: Another trip to Disneyland and a busy holiday season
Whew! See what I mean? And those are just the highlights, that doesn't even cover our day trips, mini weekend vacations, other family events, visits from friends and relatives, other holiday festivities, etc. I am also happy to report that we made some progress on our family resolutions - you can read here if you want to see what they were. While 2012 was extremely busy, it was very fulfilling, productive, and chock full of happy memories; I wouldn't change a thing.
Looking forward to the Year of the Snake, I am taking a different approach as a wife, mother and as my own person. While most people decide they want to do more things, I am actually choosing to do less, in order to do more. I know, clear as mud, right? In other words, I am choosing a quality over quantity approach. I'd like to spend more time doing the things I already do so that I can improve them, rather than taking on new projects. By not adding more to my plate, I can focus my energy on what I'm already doing, and hopefully, excel at them. For example, instead of taking on a new volunteer project, I'd like to explore more volunteer opportunities for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which I just got involved in last year. Let's see how it goes - Randy is usually skeptical of my ability to NOT take on new projects, so these may be famous last words!
In any case, I am optimistic about the year ahead and I am grateful for what my family already has. Here's to a year of positivity, growth and of course, fun! Happy 2013!
Showing posts with label GOALS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GOALS. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Friday, August 3, 2012
A Marathon? Who, me?
Believe it or not, I have signed up for a half marathon! Yes, you read that right. I know, I know, I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, an athlete but it's something I have always wanted to do. Blame the bucket list. After years of hearing about Team in Training and their fundraising efforts for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I decided to make the leap. I figured that since Randy is done with residency and will have a more regular, predictable schedule, I can actually commit to something.
So here's the lowdown: I'll be walking 13.1 miles in the Big Sur Half Marathon on November 18, 2012. As a member of Team in Training (TNT)I also commit to raising $2500. I am equally terrified and excited by the whole thing. I have never trained for anything ever before (heck, I haven't even exercised regularly in over a year!) nor have I ever fundraised for any large dollar amount. And while this whole thing freaks me out a little bit, it also gives me a sense of purpose and challenge. What's life if you don't push yourself, right?
As part of my fundraising campaign, I've sent out about 125 emails and am working on sending out about 50 letters. Here's an excerpt from my donation request email:
I also have two personal reasons motivating me. First and foremost, I lost my own mother, Carina Calpe to lymphoma in February 2005. For those of you who knew her, she was a warm, vibrant, caring woman who loved to cook, dance and travel. She taught me at an early age to have compassion for others, and to always give to those less fortunate than myself. This is my way of honoring her and continuing her legacy of giving. Secondly, over the last 7 years, I have been focused on supporting my husband Randy as he completed medical school, and subsequently his Internal Medicine residency. During that time we were also blessed with the birth of our sons, Cruz (4 years old) and Lucas (10 months). Needless to say I haven’t had much “extra” time. Now that Randy is done, I can take a little time and do something for myself and not kid-related!
So far I've raised $350! I am so thankful that I have people in my life who believe in me and who are generous enough to donate to such a worthy cause. I am still not sure I can complete the marathon, but I am going to give it my all and do whatever it takes to get across that finish line. Follow my progress on my TNT webpage! Go TEAM!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
An A for Effort
Somehow, somewhere, the Parenting Gods were smiling down on us because we were fortunate enough to avoid the dreaded Terrible Twos with Cruz. He's just a few months shy of turning 4 and we have never had to deal with tantrums, kicking, screaming or public meltdowns (still knocking on wood). He has proven to be a level-headed kid that can be reasoned with, and will usually go along with whatever we say as long as he is provided an explanation. Despite his easy disposition, we knew it was still important to discipline him as he grew older.
Both Randy and I grew up in families where parents were the ultimate authorities. They were never questioned, talked back to or disrespected. Even when they were unreasonable or unfair, their word was the final say and there was nothing that could be done about it. Growing up I vowed to be more lenient and "cooler" than my parents. As we all know, hindsight is always 20/20. Even in my short 3 1/2 years as a parent, I already realize the value of being the authority in your child's life and demanding their obedience and respect. When they are toddlers, it provides structure for their developing minds and gives them a framework for their broadening worlds. As teenagers, it allows parents to keep a tight rein on hormonal adolescents who think they are invincible. That being said, I'm not aspiring to be the next Tiger Mother, but I do want my children to grow up being accountable for their actions and knowing that there are consequences their behavior choices.
I got a great tip from my friend Violeta, a child psychiatrist, who suggested using a behavior chart to begin teaching Cruz. I downloaded some blank templates to use for Cruz. There are 5 spaces to list out the child's daily tasks/expectations. Here are Cruz's tasks for this week:
1. Say "please" and "thank you"
2. Put away toys every night
3. No interrupting when other people are talking
4. Feed myself at dinner
5. Stay in my seat at dinner
At the end of each day, Randy or I review each of Cruz's tasks with him, and decide whether he accomplished them. For each successfully completed task, he gets a star. If he receives at least 3 stars (a majority) that day, he is awarded with a special sticker (these run the gamut of cars, trucks,and food - all of which he helped pick out).
This continues for the whole week, and at the end of the week, if Cruz accumulates at least 4 special stickers (again, a majority) he gets to choose a reward from the prize box!
We are only 4 days into our first behavior chart and we've already seen an improvement with Cruz. He knows that we'll be checking to see if he picked up his toys or stayed in his seat at dinner, and that's enough for him to make an effort so that he earns a star. Violeta mentioned that not all children respond well to the behavior chart because it's a delayed reward system, but luckily it has struck a chord with Cruz. I am so proud of my little guy and how hard he tries to do the right thing...I'm a lucky mommy!
Both Randy and I grew up in families where parents were the ultimate authorities. They were never questioned, talked back to or disrespected. Even when they were unreasonable or unfair, their word was the final say and there was nothing that could be done about it. Growing up I vowed to be more lenient and "cooler" than my parents. As we all know, hindsight is always 20/20. Even in my short 3 1/2 years as a parent, I already realize the value of being the authority in your child's life and demanding their obedience and respect. When they are toddlers, it provides structure for their developing minds and gives them a framework for their broadening worlds. As teenagers, it allows parents to keep a tight rein on hormonal adolescents who think they are invincible. That being said, I'm not aspiring to be the next Tiger Mother, but I do want my children to grow up being accountable for their actions and knowing that there are consequences their behavior choices.
I got a great tip from my friend Violeta, a child psychiatrist, who suggested using a behavior chart to begin teaching Cruz. I downloaded some blank templates to use for Cruz. There are 5 spaces to list out the child's daily tasks/expectations. Here are Cruz's tasks for this week:
1. Say "please" and "thank you"
2. Put away toys every night
3. No interrupting when other people are talking
4. Feed myself at dinner
5. Stay in my seat at dinner
At the end of each day, Randy or I review each of Cruz's tasks with him, and decide whether he accomplished them. For each successfully completed task, he gets a star. If he receives at least 3 stars (a majority) that day, he is awarded with a special sticker (these run the gamut of cars, trucks,and food - all of which he helped pick out).
This continues for the whole week, and at the end of the week, if Cruz accumulates at least 4 special stickers (again, a majority) he gets to choose a reward from the prize box!
We are only 4 days into our first behavior chart and we've already seen an improvement with Cruz. He knows that we'll be checking to see if he picked up his toys or stayed in his seat at dinner, and that's enough for him to make an effort so that he earns a star. Violeta mentioned that not all children respond well to the behavior chart because it's a delayed reward system, but luckily it has struck a chord with Cruz. I am so proud of my little guy and how hard he tries to do the right thing...I'm a lucky mommy!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Family Resolutions
I personally make New Year's resolutions every year, but this is the first year that Randy and I talked about setting some family goals. Despite having two kids and two full-time jobs plus lengthy commutes, we still wanted to have something to work towards that would keep our family going in a positive direction.
Here they are in no particular order:
1. Attend church at least twice a month. Both of us were raised in the Catholic church and attended mass on a regular basis with our parents. As adults (pre-children) we also attended weekly. However, two kids, medical residency and the aforementioned commutes, this practice has wound up on the back burner.
2. Take our children to at least 3 new places this year. There are no better life lessons than ones found in the real world and we are firm believers in exposing our children to as much as possible. I think it's so important to teach kids that there is a bigger world out there than the house they live in, their families, friends and their immediate community. I want my kids to grow up embracing diversity and appreciating all walks of life and I hope to instill this through travel and new experiences. I just ordered the book "100 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up" to keep us inspired!
3. "Parents only" time once a month. Commonly known as "date night" I thought it was important to put this one into writing. As all parents know, once children enter the picture, the relationship between spouses often gets overlooked. Add to that the myriad of external stressors such as work, friends, extended family, hobbies, and just plain old not-enough-hours-in-the-day, it's easy to see how marriages can become unglued. Randy and I realize we need to make a conscious effort to nurture our relationship by carving out this little bit of time for ourselves every month.
4. Volunteer as a family. One of my mom's legacies was her love of volunteering. It was an activity that she began with my sister and I from a young age and continued throughout her life. I will never forget the times we volunteered together and what it taught me about other people, my own life and my parents. Rather than constantly telling me I should be thankful for what I had, I realized that on my own as I helped her assemble grocery bags at a food locker where families would come to pick up food and supplies. Although Cruz will only be 4 years old this year, I believe it is never too early to learn gratitude or how to give to others. I am truly excited at the idea of being able to volunteer in some way as a family. For anyone who's interested, there is a great organization called Hands On Bay Area that has virtually every type of volunteering available, all you have to do is sign up and show up!
So there you have it, our 2012 family goals. Wish us luck and check back to see our progress!
Here they are in no particular order:
1. Attend church at least twice a month. Both of us were raised in the Catholic church and attended mass on a regular basis with our parents. As adults (pre-children) we also attended weekly. However, two kids, medical residency and the aforementioned commutes, this practice has wound up on the back burner.
2. Take our children to at least 3 new places this year. There are no better life lessons than ones found in the real world and we are firm believers in exposing our children to as much as possible. I think it's so important to teach kids that there is a bigger world out there than the house they live in, their families, friends and their immediate community. I want my kids to grow up embracing diversity and appreciating all walks of life and I hope to instill this through travel and new experiences. I just ordered the book "100 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up" to keep us inspired!
3. "Parents only" time once a month. Commonly known as "date night" I thought it was important to put this one into writing. As all parents know, once children enter the picture, the relationship between spouses often gets overlooked. Add to that the myriad of external stressors such as work, friends, extended family, hobbies, and just plain old not-enough-hours-in-the-day, it's easy to see how marriages can become unglued. Randy and I realize we need to make a conscious effort to nurture our relationship by carving out this little bit of time for ourselves every month.
4. Volunteer as a family. One of my mom's legacies was her love of volunteering. It was an activity that she began with my sister and I from a young age and continued throughout her life. I will never forget the times we volunteered together and what it taught me about other people, my own life and my parents. Rather than constantly telling me I should be thankful for what I had, I realized that on my own as I helped her assemble grocery bags at a food locker where families would come to pick up food and supplies. Although Cruz will only be 4 years old this year, I believe it is never too early to learn gratitude or how to give to others. I am truly excited at the idea of being able to volunteer in some way as a family. For anyone who's interested, there is a great organization called Hands On Bay Area that has virtually every type of volunteering available, all you have to do is sign up and show up!
So there you have it, our 2012 family goals. Wish us luck and check back to see our progress!
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