It's Not the Facebook 25, but Close

It seems all I do these days is fill-out memes about myself. You would think I have nothing else to do. Instead, you should know that memes are a fantastic procrastination tactic. I can be filling out random stuff on Facebook or my blog all the while avoiding folding the laundry. I am quite the multitasker in that way.

Last week, Green Girl had this interview meme as her post. I was a little bit hesitant to participate since I was concerned about the depth of her questions or that she might want details as to what I'm not doing to be more green (eek). I wasn't wrong in my first assumption since she did ask me some pretty thought-provoking stuff. Luckily, she didn't ask how many papertowels I used this week (and I'm not telling).

If you need a great procrastination technique and want to participate, the rules are below. If not, skip over them and enjoy learning a little bit about me, myself, and I.

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Here are the "rules:"

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

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1.What childhood personality trait did you outgrow or give up since becoming an adult? Was there a reason for doing so?

I hate that this is the first question because I have gone over and over in my mind and cannot for the life of me come up with any trait I've given up. Instead, here's a few I listed and quickly realized are still a part of me.

Competitive- I am still VERY competitive, except now I avoid situations that may unnecessarily bring this trait to the surface (i.e. playing games of any kind).

Pessimistic- I get this from my dad.

Inability to apologize- I know, I should have outgrown this by now. I do know when I've been wrong, I just have a very difficult time admitting it because I'm also...

Perfectionist- Often to a fault. I dwindle on details instead of working for the bigger picture. However, once the details are perfect, so is the bigger picture.


2.Describe 3 daily rituals that you never miss taking part in.

Breakfast- It's the most important (and delicious) meal of the day. I've been known to skip lunch or have popcorn for dinner, but breakfast is never skipped. This is probably because growing up, it was a family requirement. Every morning at 7:30AM, my father would have breakfast on the table, and it wasn't just cereal. We'd have pancakes, waffles, eggs, or muffins. On days we did "just" have cereal or oatmeal, there'd be a bowl of fruit on the side. My dad makes wonderful breakfasts, and now so does my husband.

Taking a shower- Does that count? I mean, it's no longer a daily ritual of my husband's (and not because he's trying to be more green), so I think it should count. I also blowdry my hair. I have fine, thin hair so without a blow-out, I look pretty pinheaded.

Naptime- Not mine, but Linus's. I refuse to let him miss a nap. Naptime is as much for my sanity as it is for his mood.


3.Have you become the person you thought you'd grow up to become? What part of adulthood is markedly different from what you believed when you were young?

I have definitely become the person I thought I'd grow up to be. That's mainly due to knowing my abilities, knowing my limitations, and working hard to achieve my dreams. My parents encouraged me to reach for my highest potential, but they also helped me to understand that life is about choices, sacrifice, and balance.

One thing about adulthood that is so different than I ever imagined is the value of money. I used to think $100 was a whole lot of cash. Now, I can drop that in a half hour visit to Target and come home with nothing fun. Of course, this ignorant optimistic outlook on life is why I loved teaching 1st graders. They just know that if they had $100, they'd be rich.

On a more serious note, I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I knew I would put my career on hold in order to raise my family. I just never knew how much of a sacrifice that would really be. My mother made that sacrifice for my family and I never appreciated it fully. I do now, Mom.

4.Given no limitations, what would be your ultimate vacation?

Seeing as how I've never been out of North America (yet), I would definitely venture across the Atlantic. And, if I had to choose just one country to visit while over there, I would be in Greece. Every picture I've ever seen, every movie set in Greece, leads me to believe it is an incredibly beautiful place and one not to be missed.

5.Write your first sentence/paragraph for NPR's "This I believe."

I believe that a child's education doesn't end when school gets out. I believe that to truly be successfully educated, no matter what your path (public, private, homeschool, etc), a family needs to incorporate learning into everything and not rely entirely on formal education. Afterschool hours and weekends are a great time to continue a child's education through reading, visiting museums (historical, science, play, etc), talking, and grabbing those teachable moments (like the grocery store). That being said, I believe that public education (regardless of location) is still a quality choice. Our schools are NOT broken, just some of the families using them. I believe parents need to step up, take initiative for their child's education, and get actively involved in our public schools and the education of our children, ALL children.

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There you have it. Want to join in on this fun, task avoidance technique? Just comment and let me know you'd like to be interviewed. Just be sure you leave me a way to contact you (email if I don't already have it). You can even participate if you don't have a blog but are my Facebook friend. Who's in?

Even if you don't want to participate you can feel free to comment about anything else. Perhaps, you know a childhood trait I've outgrown.