Is it ok to discipline a total strangers child?

We were enjoying our day with family and friends, feeding the local ducks and riding bikes at the park.
Later at the Splash pad, a little girl in stripes came up and was clearly dumping a big gulp size cup full of water on my 3 year olds head. Watching and waiting for his reaction I was surprised he just brushed it off and went on trying to play. After the 3rd time of dumping the water over his head our friend’s daughter, T moved closer to scope out the situation. She stuck up for him, telling her to please stop. As she was mid-sentence the little girl in stripes took that full cup and hit both of T’s legs. T just looked up at me, as I started walking fast to get there. The little girl in stripes did not notice me coming up from behind to protect the kids. All while walking up there I searched for her mother. Nowhere to be seen. To me, a 5-6 year old girl shouldn’t be left alone especially if she is a bully. I walked up next her and touched her arm as not to frighten her, she looked at me as I was blurting out “that is not nice, there is no need to hit these kids.” She looked at me and told me she didn’t do it as all the others were shouting what she had done. I told her I watched it myself and that she was not allowed to do that again! She ran about 10 feet turned and stuck her tough out at me and kept running till I couldn’t see her anymore.
This left me questioning, is it ok to discipline total strangers kids? What if you don’t see their parents or the person responsible anywhere?
What would you do?

Sad days of lost childhood.

We had all of my nieces and nephews over for a slumber party. We hardly get to see them because our family is so spread out over the US. We have to cherish the time we have and not waste one minute on stupid electronic devices! I told them first thing as they started pulling out iPads, iPhones and Nintendo devices (I’m old school like that) that at my house these things were NOT allowed. They were to set them down and put their things in their rooms and return out side.

It was a hot but beautiful day. We had just returned from picking a friends bounce house/water slide. As It was being place on the trailer I thought. Maybe he will let us borrow it for a few hrs and then we could dry it out and return it to him that night. Yes!!! One super engaging thing to do and we can cool off while being active and having fun playing with all ages! While we were setting up for some pool time, I had to find the teens something to use as suits. I looked through all my “skinny” clothes and what do you know, they fit them like little models! Then…. I realized how fat I let myself get! Ugh! That is another story!

This was the moment I realized I need to put the phone down And soak up the memories. (No pun intended)
We played and played and actually all enjoyed the day. Even the Disneyland bummer (He stayed at his hotel because he didn’t want to walk around Disneyland) stayed out there the entire time! He shut it down! He even helped roll the bouncer up and put it away, anyone who has never tried it before… Consult a dr. I swear it is one of the hardest things we have ever done! So proud our little stud got it bagged and on the truck.

I walked in after cleaning up to see more little faces stuck to their phones and game devices. I just walked next to the couch and said. “You know the rules, we don’t come in until the sun goes down!”

We headed out into the sunset and I told them we were going to play Night Games!!! I was so excited, these are my fondest memories of growing up! Kids could be kids, run, play, laugh, socialize and build up not only athletics but most importantly self confidence, trust and self reliance as well! Where did the good days go where this was the norm to “What are night games?”

My heart sank, as I asked each one of the kids, not one knew what they were. Well, dang it they will be learning from one of the best! Me!

We started with Sardines. Sardines or Ghost in the Graveyard is basically the same thing. One player who is “it” hides while everyone counts. Then they are off looking for the Sardine (We figured this name was far less frightening than the other.) When you find the Sardine you hid with them, like Sardines in a can. Last person to find them is it.

I have tons more and I also don’t remember all of the ones we use to play, I wish I did. Those kids didn’t want to stop for one second! They wanted to keep going, let it be know I could do it until the sun came up. But alas we did have very small children who needed to sleep sometime.
I have some fun things planed for the next time they come to stay! No electronic devices, they can check it before bed.

How could people not want a big family? I love being around fun people, people I love, enjoy my time with, that love my children. It’s always a fun time getting everyone together! I can’t wait until next year!

What are some of the things you did as a child during summer? Most fondest memories?
So get out there and do some of those! And take a few pictures, but mostly get in there and enjoy it and soak up the memories!

Family Budget

I have been slacking on bills and my finances for almost 6 years!  I was never a rich little girl by any means, so I had to learn fast how to work and save.  I did pretty good at saving tips from my Cosmetology job, $20 or more were my life savers. I would pay the bills with my income, and then save everything else. I would also use my savings for going out, entertainment. I didn’t have a boatload of cash but I did have enough for spur of the moment concerts or just a random movie, girls night out.

After getting married I found the joys of two pay checks, among other things.  We had nearly 2,000 extra after bills were paid.  I literally didn’t know what to do with myself.  So naturally we went test driving the newest model that we were both eyeing.  A Mobster car, Chrysler 300.  We even took the new car over the weekend to see if we loved it! {Best dealership ever} We talked about it and decided that we were going to just save up our money until we found the right fit for us.

Little did we know not even a few months later My husband got a job offer of his dreams in his hometown. We talked, he talked, he tried to get me excited to move there… didn’t work. But I being a good wife couldn’t beat down his dreams.. but maybe I should have, with a big fat baseball bat. Finding somewhere to live here that wasn’t creepy was difficult and we literally only had a few days to find something, anything! We found a cute house that worked out for us for FREE {yes my husband is that good!} They let us move in for a little while till they could get the place sold. It was a huge blessing in disguise.

I left to visit my Parents after we got some of our stuff unpacked. I got sick, deathly ill, I couldn’t even make it off the couch.  I couldn’t  drive 3 hours home.  After almost a month of waiting , and pampering, I finally went to the Dr.  and the first thing out of her mouth, “Congratulations, you are pregnant!”  I started to cry, I wanted kids, but we just moved.  I wanted to wait a year before I even thought about having a baby.  We were on Birth Control so we could be settled and I could be working somewhere I loved. I was in the middle of setting up my final class to become a Redken Color Expert Educator and be able to fly around the world teaching everyone their wonderful color products, I was so excited!  Anyone who knows Cosmetology knows it is a hard thing to just uproot and start over again.  How was I going to work if I was this sick, how was I going to finish my training in NY? I had no friends and family support around me. I can say I got a little depressed… just a lot maybe.

So long story short, hard pregnancy, hard to work around husbands Dream Jobs hours left me jobless.  I have been trying to earn money here and there. Odd jobs, cutting, coloring, waxing family and friends hair.  Small towns, are covered in hair stylist.  Not an easy road to go down when you are new and know no one!  Plans are still to hopefully get a cute shop set up in the basement and everyone will just fight over who gets to see me. I am so much fun you know. And maybe I’ll be the most famous Hair Stylist this place has ever seen, in like EVER! {excuse me, I needed an ego boost!}

On to the new realization, we are a one income family with random income at random times. I needed to stop the dreaming of the salon days and extra money and get to work on what we need to do here and now! We have 2 little humans, 2 fur babies and one giant baby and one me… so I have a lot of work ahead.
I made a financial sheet, Family Budget Sheet to start doing our finances again. For some reason I’m better than “The Man”… my man.

We have a “Date night” and sit down and go over everything together, maybe get some yummy dirty drinks and then get to work. It only takes a few min. and Wala you can finish it off with a movie or just sleep. I like sleep!

I am sharing my printable I made for my family {minus our family name, add your own} I have an LDS one for keeping track of our tithing. And for my non-LDS friends, make the tithing out to me.. Just a thought.  I couldn’t leave you all out so I made one for you too!

Family {LDS} Budget Printable

Family Budget Printable

Let me know if you have any suggestions and how they work for you!  I love sharing things that help make life less chaotic, enjoy!

 

Starting Over.

I am so humbled and so excited to be able to for the first time in my life.. to BLOG openly (as openly as I feel) about my life. To introduce myself to some people who do not know me. My name is Wynter. I was stalked and raped when I was just 11 years old. It happened in my own home, while my family was sleeping. I’ll spare you details, for it is not fun. Years went by so fast and in such a blur. I was on 48 Hours. I was still in shock and being able to function perfectly was not at all easy. I don’t like having pity parties, although I seem to have those a lot more than I would like to admit. Life was horrible in my childhood after this, everything else spiraled out of control for not only me, but also my family. You mention it, I am almost 100% sure I know the feeling. Thoughts of suicide started right after the bullying. Bulimia, anorexia over exercising, self harm..
One of my best friends spread rumors while I was whisked away in hiding for a few weeks. They were trying to find that sick predator who did this. They finally did, we have been fighting a battle for to long. I received the remarkable heavenly sent news that he was now there for LIFE! Not only will he never be able to come after me again, nor my family. He can never ever be around another child! I feel like I was victorious in my, almost life long battle against evil! Good, light and Happiness will always win dark and evil!
I’d love to meet new people who are experiencing similar things or have questions, please talk freely. The best way to win this war an Child abuse is to be a voice and have the knowledge of what is happening and how you, yourself can stand up, move on and grow forth your light! Thank you friends! Life is tough, but it really does get better. After the darkest storms come the most beautiful rainbows!
This photo was taken only a few min. After I heard the verdict! Can you tell I didn’t care that the hair ties were out and the mirror was streaked? Nothing was ruining my day!!!