being a good mom

Misalignment

| Laura Lee Bonde

Last year was Carolyn’s first year in band, so this year, I have something to compare it to, and on Saturday, the comparison revealed where my heart was the year before.

About this time time last year, I “knew” I was going to start my own business someday but didn’t know when, and I remember the feeling I’d gotten when the color guards were out there waving their flags: how could I make something like that for them to make money off of! Well, that was last year, and my heart wasn’t in the right place. Continue reading →

The REAL Reward

| Laura Lee Bonde

Yesterday, work allowed me to come in late, so I would be able to go to Nathan’s school and watch him be rewarded for his excellence in writing, but little does he know, every time I go to support him, I receive the greatest reward of them all.

As the kids file into the cafeteria, those who are receiving an award usually scan the parents to see if they can find their family member. I always make sure I arrive early enough to be seated, so that when he walks through the door and looks amongst the parents, he’ll find me, and yesterday was no different.  Continue reading →

Our Game Nights

| Laura Lee Bonde

When I post about me and the kids having “Game Nights,” you have no idea how much fun they are, and it would be hard to describe each night in words because it’s just something where you really do need to “be there.” I’ll do my best to take you there now.

We sit around a table, so everyone’s face if visible. So much laughter may be found in facial expressions, in body movements, in hand gestures. It’s hilarious, but then, you add voices to that, and the laughter is unstoppable! But it wasn’t always like that.

For years, we’ve been having game nights. It all started when I would open my home to friends from Rock Recovery. We used to hang out at Denny’s, Miniature Golf, etc, but I missed my kids, so I decided to take our hang outs to my home. I learned so much.

The kids and I started having our own game nights. With the kids, there used to be arguing, bad attitudes, etc. Even though we encountered “moods,” we never stopped having them. Right now, the kids are the happiest they have ever been. Before a game night ends, we talk about having our next one.

141227_0002 (1)In this particular picture, we were playing Uno Dare. That’s where you either “draw two” or take the “dare”…hilarious. In this turn, Carolyn had to walk around the table with a card between her knees without letting it fall. It was so funny. She almost peed her pants. After she sat down, Kyle told her, “Oh, I added that part about it not being able to hit the ground. You could’ve let it fall.” Oh my gosh, we laughed so hard!

The other day, I picked up Katie from Sprouts and was headed to drop her off at the Thai place, where she holds a second job. She was telling me about a conversation she had with a coworker from Sprouts. She was telling him about our game nights and told the employee that it’s through those game nights where she has learned to love. Isn’t that amazing!!

God uses our “Game Night” to teach the kids (and me) lessons. He’s taught Katie how to love. Isn’t that beautiful!! My birthday is this month, and I’ve been thinking about just leaving my front door open for a day, and if anyone would like to come by and join us in a game, they could come by and say, “Hi!” I guess I will share my amazing kids for ONE day.