As part of our version of the Happiness Project, we are trying to continue to “learn”  – anything we can. 

This article was written 2 years ago as I tried to learn to cook (or simply feed my child).   I still love the cookbook as a wonderful resource, and I am better at cooking and am still trying, but I have learned that it will never be my strength.  Tonight is pizza night. 

Ok, so I will never be able to call myself a chef, but I am trying to teach myself to cook.  Before my son was born almost 4 years ago, my diet consisted of Wendy’s burgers, ham and cheese sandwiches and the “special occasion dish” of chicken and rice.  I honestly had members of my family that expressed concern that my child would starve.  They had good reason to worry — I was worried as well.  But, my child is thriving, eats more than I do on most days, and we only have chicken and rice about once every 6 months.  

I am still working on this cooking thing — it is definitely trial and error, with lots of error.  But, I enjoy it and definitely feel a sense of accomplishment when, like last night, my little boy rubs his tummy and says yummm and my husband says, ”this was good” (this is the extent of his praise for food as he would just as soon have cereal as anything but eats my food to set a good example.)  

The biggest revelation for me was The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers cookbook.   What I needed most before I could even begin to cook, was a makeover of my pantry and refrigerator. I had no idea what was considered healthy, what was deadly, and what was somewhere in between.  Everytime I started to cook something, I had about 1 out of the 10 ingredients required (usually the chicken).  This book really helped me understand what to put in my cabinets and fridge and now I am ready for anything (well, not really, but I am trying to be positive. ) I still have nights where everything ends up in the trash instead of on the table, but at least I’m trying, right?

Posted under Happiness Project, Learning, Random Thoughts

On Tuesdays, we will write about “play” and how adults and children alike can have this in their lives.

I came across this and other pictures of Christopher Niemann’s New York-inspired lego creations today and just love them (click on the link to see more).  I will show these to my son when he gets home from school and see if we can play. 

Christopher Niemann also has a new children’s book that looks great — The Pet Dragon — A Story about Adventure, Friendship and a Chinese Characters !  What a fun gift book this would be.  

Posted under Books, Happiness Project, Kid Gifts, Play

On Mondays, we will write about the importance of “connection” in our lives and how we can establish and keep connections.

It was reported last month that 4 prominent men in the political field connect with each other daily on a morning phone call: George Stephanopolous, James Carville, Paul Begala and White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanual.  They are good friends and have done this for years.  While many conservative bloggers and commentators have derided these conversations as inappropriate “strategy sessions”, I am not interested in that aspect of the story.  

I am fascinated however by the fact that these friends talk virtually every day.  As I write often about the importance of connection, I was struck by how these men value their connection with each other.  To touch base with others who understand you and your circumstances and don’t just think they know you is critical to a sense of well being (happiness even ?).  This is why it seems that it was so important for President Obama to keep his Blackberry — to stay connected to those who knew him  before he was President and to maintain some form of normalcy.    

I think these stories are good reminders of the importance of connection.  I have always had a good relationship with my sister and after I moved to a different city from her 6 years ago (I am still not forgiven for this), the importance of staying connected took on new meaning for us.  She was a true lifeline for me as I was trying to figure out what to do with a newborn baby.  It wasn’t that she had the answers (she didn’t), but she knew me before I had my son and gave me the connection I needed to talk about fashion, entertainment, or just nothing. I used to call her everyday.  

As we have both changed and she has also had children (twins!), our time commitments have sometimes made our phone calls take a back seat to other things. This last month, I think we went almost two weeks without talking.  I was feeling disconnected and simply missing her.  After seeing the story about the Chief of Staff connecting every day with his friends, I decided surely my sister and I could connect more often.  So, we have reinstituted the “daily call.”  We’ll see how long it lasts, but just knowing we will try makes me happy.

Posted under Connecting, Happiness Project

On Mondays, we will write about the importance of “connection” in our lives and how we can establish and keep connections.

One of my favorite ways to connect with my son is through reading.  The physical act of sitting together or lying in bed to read automatically brings us closer.   In addition, the books and stories themselves will often bring you closer through their message or the shared experience of following the characters.  One of the best books I would read over and over again  to my son from 6 mos to about 4 years was “No Matter What”  by Debi Gliori.  

It is a book about the love between parent and child (or “Small and Large”) and is told in a simple, fun and peaceful way.  The reassurance that a child will be loved even when he acts inappropriately is a wonderful message and this author tells it in a way that made it great fun for us over and over again.  I still ask my son if he is feeling “grim and grumpy” and even if he is, he knows I still love him — no matter what.

Posted under Connecting, Happiness Project, Kid Gifts

On Thursdays, we will try to write about “purpose” — this can include things such as how to find your purpose; spiritual issues; or just anything we think relates to the search for “purpose” for our Happiness Project.

My son and I recently read the book “The Three Questions” by Jon Muth. 
It is a lovely, peaceful book about a boy searching for the answer to 3 questions: ”When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? ”  Questions we all struggle with at times. 

The little boy ultimately talks to the turtle, Leo (why are turtles always portrayed as wise?  I must investigate this).  The boy learns from Leo, and from his own actions, that now is the most important time, and the one you are with is the most important one, and the right thing to do is to do good for that one (written much more eloquently than I just did). 

My son ( 6 years old) really enjoyed the story and seemed to understand the basic message.  The illustrations are lovely as well. It is definitely a book we could read again and again. I especially love it when I read a book that reminds me stop and appreciate my son as we read it.  This is one of those books.

Posted under Happiness Project, Purpose

Although I enjoy writing about what will make us happy and what are useful things to work towards, I also agree with the  idea put forth in this article on Zen Habits – “stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.”  

I think many of us felt that this holiday season as we spent a little less and enjoyed our time with family. Happiness is now.

Posted under Happiness Project

As part of our version of the Happiness Project, we are trying to continue to “learn” — anything.  This week , Jen learns she just might be “hip.”  Stay tuned for future technology adventures. 

“You had me at scrolling.” ~Steve Jobs on the iPhone

I’m in love with my iPhone.  I am not a gadget person.  I’m not a hipster.  I am a mom of two and seriously afraid of being a shlumpadinka, both in appearance and in mindset.  I am also an underbuyer.  So is my husband.  And somehow we waited in line for 5 hours to get iPhones.  I thought we’d enjoy the gadget-y-ness for a few days and then be mad we spent so much money for a phone (a key element of being an underbuyer).  Not so.  It has changed my life.  If feel more connected, organized, productive and sane because of it.  Because all of that, and because its cool, I even feel a little less shlump!

This is not an ad for Apple products, but the iPhone is perfect for a mom.  I can stay connected through email without having to sit down!  I can stay informed and read the NY Times any time I have a spare 5 minutes (waiting in line, waiting to pick up my daughter, NOT waiting for a light to turn green), and I don’t have to buy a paper or sit down!   I can map my route after I’m in the car and realize I forgot to map it! I can Facebook, craigslist, eBay and track my fitness when I get a spare second!  And best of all, I can take pictures of the kids and email them, in the moment, to Daddy.   He loves this when he travels.  He feels connected to our routine and our daily joys even when he isn’t in person.

It isn’t a replacement for actual time with people we love, but this thing helps make things less hectic and fills the gaps that are there when being in person isn’t possible.  I’ve also realized how fantastic it is to have access to a little package of “me” in my pocket at all times.  My email, my hobbies, my favorite newspaper.  A little dose of world news in the midst of a kid-centered routine is probably what moms of the 50s were looking for when they took a swig in the middle of the day.  I can get a quick fix and get right back to sweeping the floor, refereeing the fight or cuddling with my kids and a book with a clearer head.

Posted under Connecting, Happiness Project, Learning, Tech, Uncategorized

Every Thursday, we will write about “purpose” — this can include things such as how to find your purpose; spiritual issues; or just anything we think relates to the search for “purpose”  for our Happiness Project.

We are thinking of getting a dog for Christmas (we are asking Santa for one, so we’ll see).  We are taking all the necessary steps to make sure it would feel safe during such a busy time and we are all staying home for days after he or she arrives.  Sometimes I think I am crazy.  Why do we want to get a dog that will add so much extra work for each of us; will introduce us again to the pooping and peeing we have really not had to talk about too much in the last few years, and whose schedule we will have to accommodate each time we leave?

I always come back to one answer: love.   I  want my son to have a dog to love.

We recently learned that the dog we had many years ago, but had to give up to a wonderful family due to various personal reasons, passed away this week.  She was a sweet dog that we loved a lot, and I can feel that even more now that I know she is gone.  Even though we had to give her up, it always helped knowing where she was and how she was doing.  We will miss her.

I don’t know much about what our higher purpose is and I certainly don’t have many answers on this, but I do know that a large part of it is to love and be loved.  And that’s what we will have with a new dog.

Posted under Happiness Project, Purpose

Have you seen the latest study on happiness? Well, in case you missed it, here’s a link to the NY Times article discussing it. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts — do you agree?  Do your neighbors affect your happiness?

Posted under Connecting, Happiness Project

As part of my version of my Happiness Project, I am trying to continue to “learn”.  I get really excited when I learn something new, in the same way my son gets excited when he learns a new joke — and gets it!  So, every Friday, we will discuss how learning can affect our lives. 

I stayed home all week with my son who ran a fever, but had few other symptoms.  We played cards, laughed, worked on puzzles (he made them, I had to put them together), read books and watched television.  I was able to do a few things I “needed” to do, but not a lot. At times I was frustrated; at times I was in bliss being with my little boy again.  It is a rare day when we get to be together, just us, all day. 

This morning his temperature was back to normal and he seemed to feel better, so he went to school.  I was actually a little sad — it felt a little like when he first went to kindergarten last year.  I was reminded this week of the special times we had when he was home so much more.  I miss those times and cherished this week with him (although at times i was  tempted to pretend his temperature was within normal limits and send him to school anyway). 

If you had asked me at the beginning of the week whether I would want Kei to stay home all week with me, I would have definitely said no. I thought I had too much to do.  

How little did I know.   This week I learned that sometimes life works in mysterious ways and gives you just what you need even if you don’t know you need it — that I know for sure (thanks Oprah).

Posted under Happiness Project, Learning