What do you remember?

I'm having laser surgery tomorrow. It's a new treatment (don't know how new, but this derm. just recently got the "new laser"). I was kind of nervous about it - just unsure of what to expect. When I last went for my shots they said they were going to look into it with my insurance. Then they called and said its covered and I could have it done on Monday. I looked online and read success stories, saw some pictures. It doesn't seem to be that big of deal. Then I was watching Extreme Makeover and someone had laser surgery on some acne. It didn't look too bad. I will be very pleased when this all works out. They told me I'd have to have a series of treatments - twice a week for a while, but then the psoriasis usuallly goes into remission for 8 months or more.

I am excited about a Parenting Roundtable starting in March. I am excited about it, because it's not a class on time outs, spanking, grounded, etc. Its all about building relationship. Connections if you will. Influencing our children's relationship with us (parents), their relationship with God, and their relationships with others. I think that it will be good for me as well. I know that I could do a better job of building a better relationship with my kids. When my girls were born my hearts desire was that we would establish good, open, honest communication. I wanted to make sure that my girls could talk to me about anything. Whether it was good or bad. That they would know that mom would love them no matter what. And that I would not immediately just preach to them, but really listen. See past the action and to the root cause - why they acted that way. See past the desire to simply punish, but really connect on a different level. I don't think that I have effectivly done that. I still have that desire. I think that we do have a good start, but we're not there yet. The first session (I was previewing) was touching on the fact that key moments in our lives are based out of our relationships. Events/experiences happen, but it is the relationships involved that stick to us. He was laughing that people always come to counseling saying "i have this problem and i think i know how it all started - it all started with the way my dad or my mom always . . ." nobody ever says "i have this problem and i think i know how it started. it all started the day i got a used car. or the day i went to public school. or the day i didn't get on the team" those things can be big, but it is really the relationships involved in those situations that mattered. he also made me laugh when he said, "no one ever says - i remember when my life really turned around. i was on the wrong path and i really made a turn around when i was on phone deprivation for two weeks. that's what really changed my life. those two weeks without a phone". How true. Anyhow. Tuesdays nights at 7:00 pm. You're all welcome - whether you have little kids, big kids, teenagers, college, adults, or no kids (what a great start you'll have).