I'm participating in Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. I chose the prompt Share one piece of advice from someone who knows stuff.
I'm a Registered Nurse and so in a typical working environment the majority of staff is female. This produces a lot of advice, some solicited and a lot of it unsolicited. However, one piece of unsolicited advice has stayed with me throughout the years.
I became friends with an LPN on our nursing unit. She and I hit it off and truely enjoyed working with one another. I just KNEW my night would be an easier night when she was on and if I could snag her on my assignment I would be almost giddy with joy. While working on this nursing unit I became engaged to my husband. This of course was cause for excitement....and cause for unsolicited advice. My friend and I were chatting about her kids (a teen, a tween and a toddler) one night and she looked at me and said "when you and the hubby decide to have kids put a pool in".
Me: Why? (besides the obvious of it gets hot here in NJ over the summer!)
Her: Because then your house will be the one that your kids and their friends will want to hang out at.
Me: But what if I don't want them all at my house. Maybe I'd rather them bother someone elses parents.
Her: If they all hang out at your house, you always know where they are, what they are up to, and who their friends are.
Me: huh
Her: trust me
Me: huh
So anyway, my kids are still on the younger side. I know where they are and who they are with. However, this piece of advice has stuck with me. We don't have a pool and no intentions of ever getting one though, that doesn't mean I still can't be the house to hang out at.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
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I think it's great advice, if not a pool then something to make your house the hang-out.
ReplyDeleteShe is right!! My kids aren't exactly old enough to go without me to someone else's house, but when they are older I plan to have their friends over to our house.
ReplyDeleteJust have to figure out how to entice them without a pool. Hmm.
I agree with the ladies, just finding out how you can make it a "hang-out" w/o the pool would be good!
ReplyDeleteWell, when one of us figures out how to be the cool hang out we'll have to share it!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from SITS and wishing you an awesome day!!!!
ReplyDeleteCute Blog!!!! :)
Never thought of it that way before...but I'm sure you can still be the place to hang out w/out the pool, lol!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! Wish I was able to install a pool. My oldest just turned 15. Uh Oh!
ReplyDeletebeing the place to hang is the only way to be -- we're in temporary housing right now and it is KILLING me to not be able to entertain more often. (especially with an 8 mo. old who is sleep-challenged.)
ReplyDeleteI agree with the nurses advice. Our house was the hang out place and I liked it because I knew exactly where my own kids were and what they were up too. This was only in the summer months however, when they could all play outside! In the winter time, they went to school to hang out.
ReplyDeleteI commented beneath you on SITS so Happy Saturday Sharefest!
ReplyDeleteWe put a pool in for the same reason as your friend. Plus, it is the great equalizer. Kids of very different ages can be in there together and have a blast.
I agree, this is awesome advice. I really hope to be that house if for no other reason then to repay the moms who were that house for me. My house was the place no one could ever come to and I don't want that for my kids, I want to be the house everyone is comfortable at and happy. Filled with food, and fun, and most importantly where it's safe.
ReplyDeleteThis is good advice. My parents always preferred us playing in our own yard and having friends over instead of us going to their homes. Although we did get a pool later, before that we had a roller coaster and a jeep that attracted friends over and made our house the place to be.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. (I did the post about advice too.)
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day for Writers Workshop...sorry I am a little behind.
ReplyDeleteHubby says no pool, but I am thinking pool table. I want to know what the heck is going on with the kiddos.
Holly @ 504 Main