Tales of a Fourth Grade {CIRCUS!}

I'm re-entering the blog world to try and catch up with the rest of the universe that tweets, blogs, vlogs, whatever.  I said "try" so don't take me too seriously, meaning, I don't really know what I'm doing.  However, that being said, I know what has worked for me whether it is related to photography, family, cooking, child rearing ideas/theories, or the art of little girl hair or home studios.  Most of this was learned through trial and error, so in an effort to save others some time and trouble, I will attempt to put some of these things out there in blog space.  I definitely don't know everything and I've learned that the only constant is my need for flexibility.

Recently I've had a couple of things affecting the normal balance of my circus act.  Self-imposed things.  I am all about organizing and streamlining and making things work more efficiently. Sometimes we try new stuff and it bombs so we just let it die a natural death.  Take the
chores for instance.  Or tickets for good behavior.  Or the projector and huge projector screen I bought specifically for my new studio when we were building the house.  I've never used it.  Ever (the screen with projector).  My attempts at organizing lately were probably the result of
school starting and the rush that it always seems to be.  I must be organized or things just don't happen.  And photography.  My busy season has officially begun as fall is right around the corner, so I'm trying to get as organized as humanly possible.  I made binders for business and for home to help with that.  I printed out the cutest templates from Pinterest that were free after making a few changes to customize them to my needs.  For home it helps me be more on top of bills, things to sign, and also has info for reference.  Also has a cute babysitter page that I was probably the most excited about (to use it, that is!).  I used a combination of pages from Pinterest and www.sissyprint.blogspot.com.  I did a custom cover but really you can do whatever.  For my business, I'm using it to help me keep track of receipts, taxes, etc.  All the fun and important things that are more easily viewed against a lime green and pink chevron background.  Amazingly, that does really help.  Really.  Helps me want to look at the stuff I'd rather procrastinate.  So grab a binder while they're on sale and print up your binder pages!

The second thing that has rocked my balance lately is a book called "Boundaries With Kids", by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend.  It's from a Christian perspective but I do believe that the logic behind it would be appreciated by any audience.  And I say Christian perspective, but
I don't feel like it's a big influence.  Mostly the book is about teaching realistic perspectives to your kids and allowing natural consequences to take place instead of "saving" them from themselves, essentially.  I'm writing this like I totally do that, right?  Nope.  But I am stopping myself more from "saving" them.  My oldest left her homework at school the other day so we just read and practiced math, but as soon as she realized she left it there she was immediately overcome with anxiety.  If they don't bring their homework in completed the next day they get a folder mark (it's also what they get for misbehaving).  In her mind this would absolutely be the end of her life as she knows it, for this child has a spotless record.  And there is no Defensive Behavior class to clear it.  She would probably have to register as a "Folder Mark Criminal".  Damaged goods.  But instead of telling her I would save her and write her teacher a long note explaining how she left the homework there and we
spend hours upon hours on homework every night so I was actually glad it happened, I helped her grasp the inevitable consequence in her mind and start dealing with the feelings it brings.  We talked about how she will probably always remember that physical feeling of her heart dropping into her stomach and it would not happen again.  It's a mistake that she learns from and it's no big deal.  It's a reminder.  Just like speeding tickets...not easily forgotten and it has the amazing ability to cause your body to go into complete and total shock.  But it's what she learns to do with that shock that is important.  If I remain calm and don't put more shame or punishment on her for her mistake and just show her some sincere empathy and love, the natural consequence will be it's own punishment.  I'm not the bad guy anymore.  So there is still a since of grace with this thinking, but how easy it is to find this grace and empathy from deep within us depends on how emotionally involved (or provoked) we become with the situation.  My new "line" in my head for when we have a "situation" is
remain calm.  Yes, I need to help solve the problem and find the words to help them sift through all the stuff to get to the reality and figure out if someone is responsible or guilty or provoking, but I cannot become emotional.  She is a perfectionist like her mommy but she must learn to deal with mistakes that will come and things that are out of her control, which means accept and move on instead of trying to find ways to change the situation.

I still have a few times left (and I'm slowly creating more) for my Fall Mini Sessions on Saturday, October 18.  I have morning and late afternoon/early evening appointments in 20 minute blocks.  I know it's not humanly possibly to do a shoot for every single one of the clients I have that
want one for Christmas cards, gifts or just family pictures, so these Mini Sessions help me fit more in and because it's super efficient, it's at a discount.  If you're interested please contact me.  And if that day doesn't work, I'm also opening up a FEW times on September 21 in the late afternoon.  These Fall Mini Sessions are $150 for the session plus 5 digital images of your choice.  For $250 you get the session plus the entire set of digital negatives from that session on a cd.  20 minutes doesn't sound like much, but really clients have said that they've gotten all they need in that little block of time- family pictures (even with pets), individuals of kids, mom and dad together, siblings, some more
traditional shots and some candid shots.  We're shooting at Walker Ranch Park off West Avenue which has a variety of super duper cool natural backgrounds (think fields, windmills, BIG oak trees, a super cool bridge, thick greenery).  And I'll post about my Santa dates once I hear back from the North Pole and get a price :).  Text me, message me or email me if you want a quicker reply than a
phone call  although I will return those as well but it may take longer with my pack of girls always talking about something.  Never fails :).  I know, just say it.  Someday I'll miss it, right?

So there.  That's it.  A slice of my brain from this week with whipped cream and a cherry on top.