by Vicki Burg | Mar 25, 2019 | Fertility, Health, Leadership, Parenting
Do you doubt yourself?
Maybe you are like I used to be…..
I don’t know enough
I am not smart enough
I don’t like talking in front of people
I need to be home with my family
What I have learned throughout the years is this is all
Bull
I have always
Known enough to help people
Been smart enough to share my passion
Been able to talk to people
You are smart enough and you add value to everyone you meet.
I just needed to understand that the number of people doesn’t change my message.
I finally believe
In myself
In my message
In my purpose
I can do anything I set my mind to.
Are you ready to retrain your brain and start believing in yourself?
I can help and I believe in you, even if you don’t believe in yourself.
by Vicki Burg | Mar 11, 2019 | Fertility, Health, Leadership, Parenting
Are you afraid of failing?
Are you afraid of actually succeeding?
Are you afraid of what people will think?
All of those are valid fears but unfortunately you are the only one holding you back.
Failure brings profound growth because your first attempt is rarely the best you have to offer.
Success is scary at first because you are getting out of your comfort zone but there isn’t any growth inside your comfort zone.
Other people’s opinions are none of your business. Stop caring what people will think.
Do you and do it with passion, conviction and then let your success continue to propel you forward, not other people’s opinions.
There isn’t a single successful person that got to where they are without fear.
The difference is, are you going to let fear stand in your way or are you going to let it propel you forward?
by Vicki Burg | Mar 8, 2019 | Health, Leadership, Parenting
As a small child it is the little things that made you happy.
Going to the park
As a small child, it is the little things that made you happy.
Going to the park
Playing at the beach
Skipping rocks
Going on a nature walk
Walking barefoot in the grass or in a cow pie (yes, we did this)
Throwing a snowball
Sledding
Playing on the swings
Spending time with friends and family
Watching a movie
Going fishing
It wasn’t about how long you spent doing these things or who you were with in particular, it was just the simplicity of having fun and enjoying the day. Doing something fun!
I remember doing special things with my parents, siblings, grandparents and neighbors throughout my childhood. We could be working in the garden or chopping wood in the neighbors pasture, it didn’t matter, we were together and we made it fun. Such simple things that didn’t cost a dime were so much fun. Yes, we worked hard most days but we also played just as hard.
What I have come to realize as I experience being a mother of 4 beautiful children is that it is a million little things that matter. It is the hugs, the smiles, the I am proud of you and most importantly the simple words I love you that make the biggest impact.
Do you appreciate the million little things?
The smiles, the giggles, and the time spent together with family and friends.
Do you recognize those little things?
In our busy lives we sometimes forget that we are not the only ones giving a million little things to everyone around us. If we look deeper and with more patience we can see the million little things others do for us as well.
The opportunity to comfort others during challenging times – a million little things.
The endless hours of giggles and chatting with a group of friends – a million little things.
There is nothing better than this because each moment is made up of a million little things!
I have come to realize that a million little things has turned into a million very important things that I never took the time to see.
If I started making a list, I am pretty sure I would never stop because I think the list becomes endless once you start. Bless others with a million little things, recognize and appreciate the million little things others do for you.
I hope you take the time to count your million little things!
by Vicki Burg | Jan 22, 2019 | Leadership, Parenting
What are you holding onto that isn’t serving you?
What is taking up space in your heart and in your life that it is time to let go of?
I have been cleaning & throwing things out both physically and emotionally.
Physically it has been every drawer, closet and cabinet in this house.
Emotionally it has been letting things go and being the best version of me that I can be right now. I am learning and growing every day! So, I stopped holding a grudge on myself for past mistakes.
Are you holding a grudge?
On yourself or on others? Or both?
Let it go.
Here is a funny item I found in my drawer.
An old pair of glasses. What the heck do I still have them for? I have no ideas?♀️. I cannot even see when I put them on.
I had Laser eye surgery more than 15 years ago. ?
With amazing success.
Now I wear reading glasses for on my computer because I turned 40 ? but these can be thrown!
Goodbye glasses ? ?
What are you getting rid of today?
Start somewhere with something, anything!!
by Vicki Burg | Dec 18, 2018 | Parenting
As I watch our 4 little miracles swim today on a fun Monday off from school the words I survived come to mind. The challenge of getting pregnant for my husband and I was huge. It involved lots of rounds of fertility medications and several rounds of in vitro fertilization. So when the kids were born we were absolutely thrilled but there was also a very high level of uncertainty that came along with their birth.
Am I going to be a good mom?
Am I going to be able to teach them all the things that they need to know and learn in their life.
As I watch them giggle, swim, and play together I realize we did a pretty good job.
We got through the middle of the night feedings, potty training, riding a bike without training wheels and thousands of other amazing milestones that we will cherish forever.
With all the milestones as a parent along comes many many challenges that a lot of people don’t talk about. What I love about the challenges is it offers growth for me personally, as a mother and growth for my kids.
There are so many life lessons I cannot teach them, they have to learn on their own and I just have to be there to love them and support them no matter what happens.
The “I survive” idea comes into play when you realize that they are happy, educated and fun little people that soon, honestly before we know it, will leave our house and venture out into the world. We will not be their guiding force anymore but their sidekick.
I survived the late nights, I survived babies pooping up their backs. I survived their first illness, their first major injury even though I was scared out of my mind, and their first surgery. But did I enjoy the ride? I can honestly say, yes I did. I am enjoying every stage with our kids.
As they continue to get older I get filled with more and more excitement as they experience different milestones and learn more life lessons. We have worked so hard to protect them, keep them safe and teach them all they need to know that now we get to see how well they learned some of those life lessons.
Parenting is a blessing, it is challenging and amazing all at the same time. I just hope you are cherishing the experience as much as we are.
by Vicki Burg | Sep 1, 2018 | Parenting
It is such a debilitating thing. I seem to struggle with knowing whether these situations are presenting themselves so I can learn not to be afraid of it or if it is trying to teach me to be more careful.
This weekend we were camping and the kids were biking around camp and play at the park together. We camp a lot and usually have a lot of kids with us. Our entire groups usually consists of 4-15 kids. It has taken me a lot of time to get even a little bit comfortable with the kids going off biking or to the park with a big group of kids and no adult. I felt like I was the only crazy parent worrying about the safety of my kids, including my husband thinking I am crazy. I just really think they should be with adults for several reasons. Kids almost always go a little farther than where they are supposed to and try to push the limits, it is completely natural. I really do want my kids to be independent children that understand safety but are also able to be kids and have fun. I have been dealing with this same issue year after year. I have honestly started dreading some camping trips. So, this weekend I decided to give the kids a little more space and to hover less. Ahhh, that is hard. They know the rules, stay together, don’t talk to strangers and come get us if you need help. We had been watching them bike and go to the park all day. They would bike by and I would count my kids. Yup, got them all. If they were gone a little too long, I went for a walk and found them in deep discussion of their next plan. They were having fun which is what is important, right? Well, all of a sudden two of the kids comes back with $5.00 in their hand. Now, these two boys are fully aware of strangers, taking things from strangers and talking to strangers. They are 12 and 11 years old. One of course was my son. He knew immediately he had done something wrong. We started asking questions as to where the money came from. We come to find out that an adult ( 2 to be exact) paid one of the kids $5.00 to drive through a mud puddle. So, not only did they stop and talk to strangers, they did what they asked them to do and got close enough to willingly take the money. I was so smoking mad at this point. We have drilled this stuff into our kids heads and I really started to question my parenting at this point. I have talked, we have read books, we have watched videos and they have heard it in school. What am I missing that my 12 year old doesn’t understand how dangerous this situation was. So, our son is grounded and very quiet. He knows I was upset. I talked to him briefly to explain his punishment but I was honestly too upset to even help him to understand. The questions running through my head is ok, now they cannot bike at all without us, but them that also means no park without us, no quick bathroom trip without us, nothing, nada, zippo, zilch. Do I really want to do this to my kids? Hell yes is what I said. I have to keep them safe.
Before bed I sat all the kids down and explained the situation and what happened. I told they that there are going to be some new rules when we are camping. I helped them to understand why I was so upset. I could have vomited because I was so upset and worried and the kids knew that. I just want them to stay safe. So, I told the kids exactly that. I told them how much they mean to us and how we could never go on without them. I reminded them that people that steal little kids don’t give them back. I explained in more detail what happens to most kids that are abducted and that they don’t usually live to tell about it. My words were harsh and they were scary but they were filled with love and worry. My kids understood at that moment but now what? Do I put them in a bubble and never let them out of my sight? I would love to but I don’t think is the ultimate plan. So, in the morning the kids want to go biking and to the park. I was hard core, only with an adult! There was a lot of complaining but I didn’t care. As the morning went on, these events just kept playing in my head. How do I teach them to be safe instead of teaching them to be afraid. So with a very heavy heart and a spinning head, I told my oldest he could bike with his siblings if they stayed together. I reminded them of the rules and they understood.
Later that morning, I got a little alone time with our 12 year old. I asked him a little bit about the situation. He said that they thought at first that they would just laugh if they drove through the mud puddle. Our son and this other boy were not prepared for these people to come over by them. Our son said he started to get a little worried and stayed back farther than the other boy. Ok, so he felt the gut instinct that something wasn’t right and he partially listened to it. Now I get to help him understand how to listen to that feeling more and to trust that feeling. You gut is your compass. If you are not comfortable with a decision, don’t make it. If the action doesn’t seem safe or doesn’t make you comfortable don’t do it. I am looking forward to learning from this experience and helping my kids to learn from it, even though I just want to lock them up so I can keep them safe.
