!: Chinese New Year... It was a good day so....

I believe that means it's going to be a good year.

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Today is the Chinese Lunar New Year, the new moon is here and the opportunity to have a new beginning. As women, I believe we always like to have the chance to start over, leave the past behind us and move forward with new hope, courage and conviction that we can do something greater with our time on this Earth. Women who don't see that chance or possibility, well, all I can say is good luck... that's not much of an existence. I don't believe in being resigned to any situation or being a victim of your circumstances, you can choose to be master (mistress) of your destiny by appropriately enough... taking the bulls by the horn, this being Year of the Ox and all.

The ox is a strong, hardworking animal so according to Chinese predictions, that is what each individual will have to follow to make it through the year. I don't mind this so much since I tend to be a hard worker when I'm ready, and best believe I am ready. I am so focused on really putting in the work to advance myself and my son forward and I'm predicting that this year will be laying a lot of the ground work for that.

On another note, today I spent Chinese New Year's at my son's Montessori school and it was a great experience. I thought I was really going in there just to share some of our culture with the kids, but it actually was a cathartic moment for me. As I prepared a few Chinese (vegetarian of course) dishes for the class this morning, I was thinking about how my parents never participated in my education in this way. I came from the old school of teachers teach and parents parent and they do their jobs separately. They had no idea or desire to know what a PTA was. I was mostly expected to just go to school, listen to the teachers, hit the books and come back with good grades. Now as I parent, I get to be involved with my son's education and actually make contributions to his and the other kids in his class and it made me feel really good. Oh and I love, love, love my son's school. I am so glad I chose Montessori and I am so very glad I chose them. I love my son's transformation he's gone through in just 5 short months of starting school and how much knowledge he's gained. It really made me look at him and myself in a different light... like we are doing it. F a struggle, me and the lil man are accomplishing things and holding it down. I mean, I guess, not that I didn't think we would.... but it's great to be able to sit back and soak up what's going on around you and feel....accomplished instead of stressed. Again with the choices... Today I choose to see the good and not get overwhelmed with everything else.