Allison_Seymour's Blog

 Some experts are urging caution, saying more research needs to be done before this claim can truly be made but it is very interesting still.

Hi everybody...this morning (5/16) we had a story about Portia DeRossi and Ellen DeGeneres getting married not that California has ruled the ban on same sex  marriage unconstitutional.  Anyway my brush with Portia DeRossi some seven years ago (while the actress was on Ally McBeal) was brought up on the show and I said I would blog about it.

I'm making good on that..sort of.  Let's just say she wasn't that nice to me after I complimented her on how cute her dogs were that she was carrying.  I was bothered by her diva attitude back then but these days it's taught me a greater lesson.

Sometimes you carry grudges against people who have NO IDEA that they have offended you.  She doesn't know me from a hole in the wall but I took it personally.  The lesson for me here...forgive, it much easier than carrying dislike in your heart.

I forgive you Portia and myself for holding a stupid grudge.

Don't know if this belongs in the "faith" but I do know I needed to remember mine to make it past something that happened yesterday to me...wanted to get your thoughts on it. 

I was with my 3 year old daughter in a small consignment shop looking around with all my girls.  Before going into the store I told them not to touch anything because the store is so small.  While I was looking around, just several feet away, I heard a music of one of those baby seats that you might sit a little baby in to keep them occupied, didn't think anything of it.  There was no rough play, no banging, no knocking around.  The next thing I heard was "don't do that!"  It was said very sharply and with no lead up...just the comment. 

This woman was addressing my daughter.

I asked her what had she done.  She said she didn't want my child playing too roughly with the toys (remember we are at a second hand store).  What really bothered me was that she didn't talk to me first and the way she talked to my little girl.  I think adults thing that they can talk to little ones however they see fit.  I believe that everyone should be treated with the proper amount of respect. 

I know parents who think their kids can do no wrong.  I am not one of those parents.  After the incident I assured Spencer she hadn't done anything wrong and that even adults can do childish things and act before they think.

Happy New Year Everyone!

I want to share a lesson I learned over the New Year with you all. 

I had the pleasure of travelling to see my best friend and her family over the holidays.  She and I have been best buddies since we were teenagers.  So I left Marc and the girls and headed west last week to catch up with my old friend and see her newborn son.  Here's my lesson learned...I missed my little family so much, I could hardly stand it in the end.  The whole experience taught me how much they are a part of everything I do now.  My husband said to me that the house was not the same without me and I appreciated that from him.  While I do think it's important to have our "alone" time, I now know that I can't stand to be away for more than a few days at most anymore. 

The experience taught me to really value everyday with the ones you love.  As we head into the new year I know I will make and break many resoultions.  Not this one though. 

If you had told me it would happen to me I wouldn't have believed you.  But, yesterday, my daughter Spencer (my three year old) had a full out temper tantrum right in the middle of a huge store.  I am talking about the works...screaming, crying (not hitting) OUT OF CONTROL!  There was nothing I could do to calm her down, so after about 15 good mintues, I left the store. Why did it take so long? She (nor any of my other kids) have EVER acted like that so I didn't know it would escalate and not end.  Even the exit was traumatic for all involved.  She was kicking and crying in my arms.  Of course folks are looking, shaking their heads.  All I could do was walk quickly to the exit.  Trying to get into the car took another 25 minutes and finally she started to calm down.  WHEW! 

I believe that I handled the situation the only way possible.  After she fell asleep and woke up, she was back to my sweet child again.  She even apologized (unprovoked) about her behavior and I hugged her and asked her what happened...she said she didn't know but that she wouldn't do it again and I was encouaged!

My question is this...parents out there, has this ever happened to you?  What did you do?

I am not sure if this blog goes under the "faith" category or not but this family moved me today and gave my faith a boost. 

Today the family who won a new car with the Easterns Holiday Car Giveaway was so beautiful.  The couple has been together since middle school.  They are both 31 now and share three children.  One of their kids has a genetic terminal illness called Trisomy-18.  They won the car for a variety of reasons, chief among them is the fact that they need  a reliable car to take their little girl almost two hours to Children's Hospital in DC.  What struck me the most is that they tell me they are so grateful for everyday they have their daughter with them.

We take so much for granted.  This family never complains and we are told they hate to ask for help from family and friends.  I wish the Absher family in LaPlata all the blessings in the world.  I'm leaving the office now to be with my own family and thank the Heavens that they are all healthy and happy.  Have a great weekend yourself. 

Mega-Store Lowes has a new feature in its catalog.  They look just like Christmas trees and are meant  to be decorated in bright shiny ornaments and lights just like the traditional Christmas trees but instead they are called "Family Trees."  Some Christians say the store is giving into pressure to be more secular.  This is not a new controversy but the topic  never ceases to surprise me. 

Do you think Lowes did the right thing?