A Question...

I need your help on a question that I have been pondering for a few days.

We received a phone call Tuesday afternoon that Dh's grandfather passed away. When I told the kids they were understandably upset. I was presented with an unique circumstance. I never had to deal with death before the age of 13. My kids are 7-11. Two of my children are getting concerned about their own grandparents. See we(dh & I) have had 3 grandparents pass away in the past 6 weeks. So the kids are a little worried.

I explained that their grandparents were much younger than ours. That we were 25 years older that they are. But I wonder if I should explain something further. I know that there is not a perfect answer, but I would like to know what you think. Have you had to deal with this? If so how did you handle it? We will be going to the funeral next week. It will be a full military funeral. What should I do to prepare the kids for it?

Thank you.

Are You Worthy of Imitation?

I recently joined an online weight loss group, SparkPeople. One of things that you can sign up for is an email called Healthy Reflections. Well this morning I opened up my mailbox and I found this quote in it:

You must be careful how you walk and where you go, for there are those following you who will set their feet where yours are set.

- Robert E. Lee, Civil War General

Wow. What a powerful quote. It made me take a moment and think if I was worthy of imitation. I would like to say that I am.

I have been trying to get healthier. I am exercising daily, watching what I eat and I am drinking lots of water. They are helpful and supportive. They put up with me stopping all the time in the grocery store to read labels. LOL.

I am showing them that there is more to life than the tv or computer. They see me reading, baking or creating a new card for someone I love. They see me creating crafts that I love.

Am I worthy? I am not sure. But I am going to make sure that I am.

Are We a Contradiction?

A little background...
Last night Squirrel & I were in the grocery store. Squirrel had on her soccer uniform for pictures. An older lady stopped and asked her how soccer was. She asked where they play. We said across the street. The lady asked exactly where and I told her. I didn't feel entirely comfortable giving out the information. I am not exactly sure why. Am I over protective? I just worry about my kids' safety.

After that encounter I started to question whether or not I am sending the correct message to my children. I tell them not to talk to strangers, yet I was talking with this woman. I wondered if I was just being over protective of the kids that play soccer. I mean there are hundreds of kids that play soccer there every Saturday. However, you wouldn't know the fields are even there unless you happen to go through there when someone is there. Dh said that maybe she was just a grandmother who thought that her grandkids would like to play. I said that was a possibility. But how could I avoid that question without being rude?
I didn't want to seem rude or snobbish.

I worry about my kids wearing their jerseys when not at soccer. I worry about someone trying to look up their number and stuff. I know that this has happened. It just worries me. When I mentioned this to another parent they looked at me like I was insane. I really truly worry that someone will use their jersey as a conversation starter and the kids think that it is OK to talk with them. I guess it goes along the lines of why my mother never let us where our names on shirts or hats.


So my question is this..what would you of done? Am I too over protective my of kids?