The Windmill Project Midwest Area Newsletter
November 12, 2001

Hey… Have You Heard?
Our local Windmill Project welcomed 5 new families so far this summer and fall.

Congratulations to the Lanoue family on the birth of their son Tanner!

Winter is coming. It's time once again to get those winter survival car kits ready to go. There should be one kit in every vehicle you use. The American Red Cross of St. Paul has a starter kit available for $7.00 each with the proceeds benefiting community programs of the American Red Cross. For more information visit their website at www.arcstp.org or call 651-290-8580.

Life Lessons
I have always known guilt in life, and parental guilt is like no other. I have had times or situations where I've felt I've done a good job or handled something well. But most of the time I feel that I'm missing the mark, never giving enough time to the children or letting my frustrations get the better of me until I say something in anger rather than out of love.

Recently, I have come to realize that if we can admit to ourselves that our best would be better if circumstances were better, we are then able to let go of some of the guilt. Do the best job you can with the circumstances life has given you, and allow yourself to believe that is enough. Apologize for what you have control over and learn to accept there are things no one on earth has control over.

Days Like Ours
Toddlers are well known for their desire to "help" or "do it myself".  If you can set them up to succeed and then give them space to attempt certain tasks, like choosing their own clothing and dressing themselves, the morning routine may be smoother for the whole family.  One thing we have always done in Emily's room is to buy a pressure mounted shower curtain rod (about $9.00 at most department stores) and place it about 3-4 feet high in her closet. This allows her to reach all of her clothes now and can be easily removed later. Another family I know placed inexpensive plastic milk crates on the floor of the closet. On each crate was a picture of pants, or a shirt, socks, shoes, or underwear.  The appropriate clothes were placed in the crates. The boys knew that each morning they were to select one item from each crate. All of their clothes were primary colored sweat suits or t-shirts and jeans so they always succeeded in choosing an outfit mom and dad wanted to be seen in public with!

Someone Once Said…
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2 inches in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else. The small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."

"Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

                                                                                                              -author unknown

Calendar of Events
Our local retreat was held in Morris on November 10. We only had 5 families attend, but a good time was had by all. I take full blame for the low attendance. Next November's retreat will be planned for the Saturday after deer hunting and before Thanksgiving! My sincerest apologies to everyone who missed this event because of my error in planning. We cancelled two of the speakers and plan to re-book them for another retreat. Our special thanks to Barb Friederichs (speaker) and her husband Bob (lifeguard) for the wonderful job they did!

The Windmill Project's Regional Retreat is tentatively scheduled for March 22-23, 2002. Please watch your mailbox for further information.

Local Events:
· Parents Only dinner and discussion group - Saturday, January 19, 2002.
· Winter Retreat - Saturday, February 16, 2002.
Details and registration forms will be mailed at a later date.

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