Hi everyone. I’m joining the Wednesday HodgePodge once again. Here goes.
1. It’s National Read A Book Day…whatcha’ reading? What’s a book you want to read?
Honestly, I’m not currently reading any book. That is, I’m paging through a few, among them a positive body image workbook and Find Your Path by Carrie Underwood. And of course a ton of journaling books. I can’t remember the last book I actually read. I thought I wanted to read Cathy Glass’ latest foster care memoir, only to find out it’s her penultimate book. That’s truly sad, as I love the author. It immediately caused me so much disappointment I don’t think I want to read this book after all.
2. Which is better…having high expectations or low expectations? Explain why.
I am probably in the minority here, but I think having low expectations is better. Still better yet is having no expectations at all, but to let things unfold as they will. I grew up with parents who put a lot of pressure on me under the guise of high expectations and this – among many other things – led to some emotional scars. I also feel that, if we have high expectations of others in life in general – so people other than those lower on the social ladder than us (like children) -, we often come across as demanding and critical.
3. Serenity is ________________________.
A feeling of calm and being in the present.
4. What’s the most interesting thing in your purse or pocket right now?
Uhm, I don’t have a purse and rarely have anything in my pockets.
5. What helps you calm down?
Ideally, lying under my weighted blanket with my stuffed lemur’s tail over me, my essential oil diffuser on and a calming Spotify playlist like this one playing on my music pillow. Or just lying under my weighted blanket, if my phone needs charging and I don’t have any essential oil blend in my diffuser at the moment.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I have some awesome news: I have a moving date!!! On September 18, I will be moving to the new care home. I still know next to nothing about it, but I’ll follow my advice on question #2 and just let things unfold as they will.
A Multitude of Musings 
I’ve heard that those weighted blankets are truly calming. My problem is that I’m hot natured so I can’t imagine covering up when it is 95 degrees outside – even inside with the air on. I answered the question about expectations very similarly to you. I think I expected too much out of our kids when they were growing up.
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Yes, weighted blankets are great, but you do need to get a quality brand if you’re going to sleep under it because otherwise it might suffocate you. I can’t really relate to feeling hot easily, though maybe that’s an issue of me not being aware of it, as I do tend to sweat a lot at night during summer. Re the expectations thing, at least you have that insight now. My parents seriously claim they never had any expectations for me.
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Although I lean towards having high expectations, I definitely agree with you about the danger of a judgmental attitude! High expectations should always be accompanied by hope and encouragement, especially with children. My daughter has a weighted blanket and loves it but I’m not sure I’d like it – perhaps if it was one of the very thin ones, like a lightweight weighted blanket, if that makes sense! LOL Congrats on the moving date – I hope you’ll be very happy as you settle into the new place!
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Thanks so much f or your kind comment. I’m so happy your daughter loves her weighted blanket. Re expectations, the main problem with my parents was they just set the bar without ever teaching me the skills necessary to meet it.
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I hope the move to the new home meets all your expectations.
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Thank you. I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high as that’d set me up for disappointment.
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Yes it’s better to have low expectations
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I enjoyed your answes. Yay on the moving date.
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Thanks so very much! I’m so happy to have a moving date indeed.
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