Post One: Discovering my Passion

Wikipedia describes Passion as a term applied to a very strong feeling. Passion is an intense compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something.

All of the big guys say you need to blog about what you're passionate about in order to make it big. Well, I've always wanted to blog, so now my journey is figuring out what my passion is, exactly. I have many hobbies: sewing, quilting, writing poetry, painting, redecorating, raising kids, so on and so forth. And I love to make my own- well, everything- at home. But there are already so many blogs out there! So much competition!

So here I am, my very own blog in front of me, and not sure what to fill it with...

While I contemplate what to write about with kids screaming in the background and I think of those mommy blogs who seem to make parenthood so simple, my husband walks through the door. He greets me with a smile and a kiss, the kids come running and toddling from around the house to swarm him as he swoops them up in furies of kisses, and it hits me: they are my passion. Everything I do is for them. Every thought and every action of every day somehow revolves around them and what's best for them.

I try to cloth diaper (as much as Soul Mate will allow), buy organic, make my own cleaning products, and I'm always researching more ways to go green to raise my family as healthy as possible. I even try to apply these at work, as much as health code regulation and employee cooperation will allow. 

But here is where it gets deep. I was carousing Facebook this morning, drinking my morning coffee, when I came across a link posted by a friend. The headline was "5 Pleasant Alternatives To Yelling" and I was intrigued because I do yell more than I like. I clicked on this link and it took me to a wonderful woman who is quite relate-able. 

It made me think. I love my family, they are my passion. I go to extreme lengths to ensure they are as healthy as possible. So why do I yell so much? And, more important, how can I stop yelling? Like The Orange Rhino, I get the "mom guilt" when I yell at my kids, they get sad faces and it breaks my heart. Even worse is when R says in her meek little voice "mommy don't yell at me" I'm not trying to be so loud and hurtful when I yell, I just get exhausted of my everyday words going unheard. But it still hurts little feelings. 

I am their Mama, their Rock, their blanket of security, I turn into a Lioness when someone hurts them, a nurse when they push each other fall down, and a chef when they are hungry, a seamstress when their clothes grow small, a hairdresser, and a monster truck race announcer. 

I now choose to be a no-yell Mama as well. I am joining with the Orange Rhino and her team of no-yell Mamas, and I am taking the challenge. Now, I'm no good at long term, so I'm starting with a week of No-yell parenting. Once I accomplish that, I will move to one month, 3 months, 6 months, and One year! I will use this blog to chrinical my journey of no-yell parenting, and will post at least on the goal dates of 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and one year, and hopefully I will have time in between as well. 

If you are interested in joining me, the Orange Rhino, and all of the other no-yell moms out there, you can do so by following this link..


Hope to hear from you soon!
-The Black Sheep Mom