If I work 75 hour work weeks and come home and change out the locks on the broken doors and give haircuts and push myself until I can't possibly go any farther, is this strength? Is this determination? If I never settle for anything less than the best I can do and even then question the quality and whatever it is I am doing, is it having standards? And how exactly will all of it affect my boys? Will they be persevering and confident, or will they question themselves and never feel adequate?         I pray my boys know that I am in charge of what I make of my life. I work 75 hour weeks because I love what I do. I give haircuts and change out locks because it makes my children's lives better (which, in turn, makes my life better). I push myself and have high expectations of myself because I am confident and know I am capable of anything. If I don't know how to do it, I will learn how. I pray that my sweet children realize what an amazing gift this life is. I pray that they see that my "hardships" are blessings. I pray that I will never take for granted the opportunities I have to constantly become the person I want to be.          

And  for the record, I AM strong. I AM determined. I DO have high standards. Yo.

If I had more hours in the day, I would just fill them up and would still have a daily unfinished to do list. I need to take a breath. I simply don't have the time.

ridiculous things I have recently found myself saying

• don't put grapes in your bellybutton
• no, the toys do not belong in the toilet
• today was a short day. I only worked 11 hours
• no you cannot have a tattoo
• no, you didn't eat the dog