Weekend Links {21}

EEEK! The last time I posted Weekend Links was JUNE!!!! What? That was 8 months ago! What is happening? I feel like I live in a time warp.

If you are new to The Scoop on Balance community, WELCOME! I’ve had many new people join my email list recently. I’m super picky about giving my email address away, so I don’t take this lightly. I’m actually one of those people in stores who tells the cashier, “I don’t give out my email address.” I sound so pretentious. But actually, it’s because I just purged my inbox of approximately 10,000 unwanted emails, and I’d prefer to try to maintain some order there.

And for you newbies, this is a good time to tell you, “Weekend Links” is a regular feature on this blog. And by “regular” I mean, “about every 8 months.” I’m all about consistency.

Also, you must know, I love hearing from you. So if you like something you’ve read or want to comment, you can do so right here on the blog. If you receive this by e-mail, you can just hit “reply.” I try to respond to all e-mails and comments. If I don’t, please don’t take it personally. I have these kids who need rides everywhere and always want to eat, so I’m a little distracted with all that…

By way of update, I’m knee-deep in writing a full-length Bible Study about balance called “The Scoop on Balance Bible Study.” (Titles are not my strong point.) I’m so excited about this. It is quite literally 20 years in the making and everything I know about living a well-balanced life. I asked a few women’s groups on Facebook which they would prefer: a “fill-in-the-blank” type workbook (where you sit down with a pen, look up your own scriptures, answer questions, etc) or a narrative book (where you curl up in bed and read without having to write things). It was pretty even, with a slightly higher desire for a workbook. So, I’m writing both! Then–this is the cool part–I’m going to lead the study on line! That means, I’ll show up each week to discuss the lesson, answer your questions, check in on you…all that. I don’t have a date on this yet, so stay tuned. I would love to have it ready in the Spring…but you see from my stellar intro that time often escapes me.

Let’s see, what else…I’m also trying forget or ignore the fact that this is my oldest daughter’s senior year of high school. I’m soaking up every last minute of her high school experience. In a few short months, she will be gone. And dude, next month she will be 18-years-old! I will have an adult child. Hold me. As I write, she’s on her way to Alabama with her dad and best friend for a weekend college visit. Are any of you from Birmingham? Please tell me all the good reasons I should let my baby live there without me.

Here she is with her best friend in my all-time favorite picture of them.

Oh, and she just cut off her waist-length hair. Adorable.

My son just finished his first season on the varsity bowling team. I’m not gonna lie: as I was adding 35 bowling practices and matches to my calendar in the Fall, I wanted to die. I’m not a big fan of bowling alleys in general. They are usually dark (because of all the wood paneling that’s still there from the 70s) and they smell of old smoke (because of all the wood paneling that’s still there from the 70s). But even in darkness and dank air, High School Bowling became my most favorite thing. First, because bowling kids are about the kindest kids on the planet–just what my son needed. And second, because my son’s coach is an outstanding human. And third, because my son was doing something he absolutely loves. If you are a parent, please, please, please don’t try to force your kid into a box of preconceived ideas about who he or she should be. If your son isn’t the soccer/football/basketball type, keep trying things until you find something he loves. It will build his confidence and give him something to look forward to…35 times over a 3 month period. Now that it’s over, I actually miss it. As I write, my son is waiting for his bowling coach to pick him up for a Saturday bowling league. Because this is what outstanding humans do for 15-year-old-outside-the-box kids.

My youngest daughter is a hoot. She loves people, talking, singing, and school, in that order. She has an insatiable desire to be around others and to talk to them or sing to them while she is with them. She literally talks from the moment she wakes up until the moment she falls asleep. I always chuckle when I see her teacher giving her little demerits for talking in class. Haha. Good luck with that. If this is the worst thing she does, she’ll be fine. She still loves being with me, too. I’m trying to enjoy this while it lasts, (middle school/puberty is right around the corner) even though the introvert in me often needs to hide in my locked bedroom from time to time to have short break from talking and singing. She is in the Performing Arts Club and just found out she landed the role of “Zappy,” in the Spring performance. Apparently, Zappy is the sidekick to the evil villain in the play. My daughter told me her character is supposed to be “sassy and giggly.” She was made for this. As I write, I’m simultaneously shushing her so I can write.

Here she is teaching a tumbling class to her American Girl dolls.

There’s lots more going on, but this is NOT why you showed up today. You are looking for those long-awaited Weekend Links! So, grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage and enjoy some good stuff other people wrote. You’ll notice all the links are directed at parents, except the first one. If you are not a parent, just read the first one five times.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Are You Addicted to Your Smart Phone?  By, Dr. Joseph Mercola

Remove the Smart Phone, Regain the Child, by John Rosemond

What You Need To Know About Parents of Kids with Mental Health Struggles, by Amy Fritz

Caught on Tape:  My Bad Mom Moment Revealed, by Laura Fleetwood

Walk Slowly, Mama, by Amanda Conquers (via For Every Mom)

Finally, if you have not yet read my e-book 25 Little Things You Can Do To Reach Your Fitness Goals, you can grab that here for only $5!!!