Shannon Yee

It seems like people are often asking me for advice and I gladly oblige because I enjoy telling people my opinion as though it is fact. I am a first born and love to be the boss. Telling people what to do come very naturally for me. Unfortunately, I can appear to know what I’m talking about without actually be informed at all.

The most common reason I am asked for advice is dealing with raising kids. My friends who have children younger than my little toddler or those who are expecting a second child soon. Questions range from feeding, diapering, playing, etc. I do feel that I am fairly well-informed in all of these areas, but I am no expert (despite the way I may sound if you ask me to talk about any of these topics.) I recently gave faulty advice to my sister and am hoping that she didn’t take it.

Folks will also ask me for wisdom on exercising, esp. running. I enjoy running, but really don’t know much other than what I’ve learned works for me. Again, I pass off what works for me as expert experience and knowledge that others can and should take as pearls of great worth. I do read an occasional running magazine, so some information may be accurate, but there is no guarantee.

Basically, I just want to put out a warning to “Ask at your own risk” I am happy to indoctrinate anyone who asks with my philosophies and practical methods of childrearing, running, eating, and anything else, but the asker assumes all liability associated with following any of my suggestions, recommendations, or demands.

Per Sally’s assignment. What Shannon needs according to Google:

1. Shannon needs to learn how to soothe her moods with something other than food.

2. Shannon needs to be more vigorously investigated by the Irish Government.

3. Shannon needs her own show!

4. Shannon needs a good home!

5. Shannon needs information on responsible sexual behavior.

6. Shannon needs help.

7. Shannon needs the most work vocally. (Making the Band)

8. Shannon needs Sayid to believe in her. (Lost Season 2)

9. Shannon Elizabeth Needs To Get Naked In Film Real Soon.

10. Shannon Point needs to replace this vessel with one of similar characteristics, but with more free deck space and a higher speed capacity.

At our church, we’ve been having spiritual check-ups where each person at church has the opportunity to fill out a brief questionnaire with questions about spiritual health and then meet with our pastor for 15 minutes or so to get a prescription for growth or whatever is needed. So, I took full advantage of this and was challenged to make a plan for scripture memory for myself and my toddler to do together over the next 30 days. I found and ordered a set of verses designed for kids under 5 years old to use for memory (Foundation Verses from Desiring God). So, Eila and I are about to embark on an adventure of spending 5 minutes each day working on these verses. Today is our first day. She is already a little copycat, so I’m thinking that she’ll have the first verse memorized by tomorrow and be ready for the next one, while I’ll still be reading it and not have it down until next month. I guess I’m afraid that my two-year old will show me up in knowledge of the Bible. But, I guess that is a great thing and as I think about it, I can’t wait for that to happen. I’ll let you know how it all goes down. Hopefully, straight to the heart and mind to be used daily!

On this mostly typical day in Michigan, what I have seen includes:

Sunshine. Rain.

Firefox freeze up twice. Part of dinner burn once.

Thirty-five Arabic women trying to read the question: What did May get for her birthday? Three of them succeeding.

Thirty-five Arabic women trying to answer the question: What did May get for her birthday? Eighteen of them succeeding.

Eila sucking on her toes. Josiah sucking on Eila’s shoes.

Josiah licking a gate. Eila licking Josiah.

Josiah asleep in a shopping cart, falling over. Eila asleep on Josiah in the stroller.

Eila eating yogurt that she previously ate and spit back into her bowl. Josiah spitting out all of his rice cereal and not eating anything.

Eila sucking on a sprinkler that has been in the garden since last spring. Josiah sucking on my chin.

Josiah sleeping peacefully in his crib. Eila saying “stuck!” & laying next to Josiah who was screaming in his crib.

A knife falling on my finger and leaving only a papercut.

Fifteen emails. One instant message. Over twenty websites.

Hard, but necessary. I always like to be right and fight hard to prove that I am even when I really know that I’m not. I tend to believe the lie that if I’m wrong, I’m a failure and deserve to be punished or at the very least not to be loved.

I recently made one of my more obnoxious attempts to be right despite all evidence to the contrary. Eila, however, is just as determined as I am and proved me wrong. She was NOT ready to be done with her pacifier, despite my frustration with her having it. She simply could not adjust to all the changes that have occurred in the past few weeks – moving out of her crib, then into a twin bed and then no pacifier. Losing her pacifier was the straw that broke the camels back. Eila just went right over the edge into crazy, crazy toddler. She couldn’t cope and couldn’t or wouldn’t sleep without her pacifier, so instead she’d just cry. This constant screaming made me crazy as well and this is not a good combination. In the end, I had to apologize to Eila for trying to make her grow up too fast and depriving her of sleep and getting angry at her for not meeting my expectations and demands. Fortunately, she was all too glad to have her pacifier back that she quickly forgave me and said a heartfelt “Thank you” as she climbed under the covers and went straight to sleep.

Just think, if I weren’t so stupid and stubborn, we all could’ve slept lots more in the past two weeks and saved ourselves a lot of irritation! All in the name of being right…

One of my favorite indulgences is cheesecake. Brian made me a fabulous low-fat cheesecake, which is delicious and extremely satisfying. My other favorite sweet snack is chocolate chip cookies, especially with a little peanut butter swirl. For Lent, I gave up cookies and while this might not sound like a great sacrifice to some; for me, it’s a daily challenge. That is a good thing because the purpose of Lenten sacrifices is to remind us of all that Christ gave up for us and cause us to call on him in our need. Each night, I would normally treat myself to a cookie or three and thoroughly enjoy this little feast while watching a little TV, but now I am without my standard nighttime snack and have found myself reading the Bible or praying instead of munching on cookies. It’s a really cool thing.

I enjoy exercise. Most people who know me won’t be surprised at that claim. I really like doing workout videos and the stationary bike as well as lifting weights or attending an aerobics or yoga or dance class. I especially like running or walking or rollerblading or biking outside and with a friend. One of the things I like about exercise is the way that I feel after – not the tired, thirsty, sweaty part, but after the shower and rehydration. I like feeling like I’ve done something good for myself and had fun doing it; I feel like I can do anything and have the energy and stamina to achieve my goals. If I’ve spent that time with a friend, I feel productive and usually loved or cared for as well as hopefully good about sharing life and love with someone else. Probably my favorite part of exercise is the indulgence that I allow myself at the next meal. I really enjoy eating and when I’m exercising I have a better appetite and more fully appreciate and savor my meals (and desserts, occasionally).

My plan was to start running outside again on March 1st after a long hiatus (because of pregnancy & then a cold, snowy winter). Unfortunately, the cold, snowy winter hasn’t ended and seems to be picking up steam. So, I guess I’ll just have to wait. I will run with my kids in the double jogging stroller, so it need to be at least 45ºF before I feel that it’s not cruel and unusual punishment for them. Our first goal is to train for a 5K run in April. If we can get a good start soon, maybe I’ll even try to run the 10K…

I’ve always been able to discipline myself to exercise my body, if only I could stay in shape mentally and spiritually as well… I guess I should take the hint and go read a little to exercise my heart and mind.

I do a lot of reading on the computer (although not anywhere near as much as my husband!) and recently read a few articles that I found thought-provoking. One of them, No More Junk Toys: Rethinking Children’s Gifts, was about changing the culture of gift-giving in America and providing toys that are “timeless” and not morally objectionable in any way (ie. fair trade, etc.)

I found this article a little extreme, but with some valid points. We have so many toys in our house and almost all of them have been gifts. I love that our children have so much to play with and most of the toys are great. Yet, still I feel like I should be a more responsible consumer in regards to the companies and practices that we support – directly or indirectly. Usually, I feel like it’s a lost cause and decide that there’s no use even trying to only buy products and shop at places that have sound financial and moral business practices. Lately, I’ve been thinking about this more and more and want to do something, but now I’m at a loss for where to start. Maybe, I’ll take a trip down to my local fair trade store or look online for a list of companies that invest in or support practices that I am morally opposed to.

By following various links, Brian found out about a want-ad on Craig’s List for a nursing mother to provide milk for 7 adults. While I am an advocate of exclusive breastfeeding for babies and extended breastfeeding past the first year and I know and appreciate all of the health benefits of breastmilk, this strikes me as more than a bit strange. First, I have issues with the logistics of this request. For one woman to pump enough extra milk for 7 adults even to have just one glass a day is nuts – like feeding another growing baby. She’d have to eat and drink so much, she’d hardly have time to pump. Plus, building up an excess supply like that is time consuming. I also feel that excess milk would be much better used on newborns or premies who actually need the milk and not on adults whose digestive systems can handle other foods. I guess I just find these folks a little selfish and bizarre.

These are two ingredients that are necessary parts of life. They, unfortunately, seem to be lacking for the majority of the year in Michigan. Sometimes, like today, it is sunny, but *so cold* that you can’t stand to even go near a window to enjoy the sunshine. In the summer, it can get pretty warm, but that seems so far away right now.

Southern California had a nice mixture of these two to produce the perfect vacation environment! We were able to enjoy a perfect day at the zoo and then walking along the pier in San Diego. We hiked and did a little rock climbing and picnicked while dipping feet in a cool rock pool at Malibu Creek State Park. The Santa Monica Pier and promenade were so warm, we had to search for ice cream. We even wanted to get our feet wet in the cold ocean water (and had to go back almost every day). We went to playgrounds outside and rode swings, slides, a teeter-totters. We visited Griffith Observatory, the Aquarium of the Pacific, the La Brea Tar Pits, the Pasadena Children’s Museum. Of course, we also ate well and best of all enjoyed the company of some fabulous folks. This is what I like best in a vacation – touring, nice weather, and good times with loved ones!

I have been trying for some time to get my children on the same or at least somewhat overlapping nap schedule and today I have succeeded! It is wonderful to have a little time to myself during the day and do a few things on my ever-growing list. But, first I procrastinate by chattering on and on about how I have a few minutes of time while both of my beloved children nap… I suppose that having quiet might be something that others would try to escape or fill. I am not like those people. I enjoy not hearing anything at all – except right now the click-clack of the keys on the keyboard and the final spin of the washer with an occasional bang from the overalls in the dryer. However, when I’ve said my bit here, I’m going to go read a chapter or two and curl up with in the easy chair with no noise (I’m not even going to change the laundry!) Peacefulness is, of course, a gift from our great God and He has blessed my heart with peace even while Eila spent a good portion of the morning crying because she was hungry, but didn’t want to eat and Josiah fussed because he has a cold and is generally uncomfortable. So, I’m off to relish the peace and quiet in the house while it lasts.