What's in a name?

This posting is one in which I would like to express and air my discontent regarding an issue I seem to be facing and most certainly am having challenges with. What’s in a name? It amazes me how engrained society is with names and how it is assumed and expected the wife will take the husband’s last name. More women marry later and therefore are creating an individual identity for themselves with their maiden names in business and social networks. Before Jerry and I got married envelopes were addressed to Mr. Jerry Artache and Ms. Karen Kleinwort then when Jerry and I got married everyone, business associates, family and friends, who were told I kept my maiden name got all twisted and nervous about how to address envelopes and packages now. Nothing changes regarding mailings; the government now just sees us as one entity instead of two separate individuals. The government has no question as to how to address mailings to us but society in general goes into a frenzy of ‘what now!’ When packages, cards or letters arrive I am always surprised at how people jump into the peer pressure and general society rules when addressing these communications. So to set the record straight; if you would like to send something to us you can address it to one of the following – Mr. Jerry Artache and Ms. Karen Kleinwort; Mr. Artache and Ms. Kleinwort; or The Artache & Kleinwort Family. Whenever I see an envelope addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Artache or Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Artache the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I have to take some really deep breathes to let go of the feelings my identity is slipping away. My issue … most definitely it is my issue and is one I keep working on but my individual identity is really important to me so it is one which will most likely I will work on till my last breathe in this life journey. I know my husband takes issue when something gets mailed to ‘The Kleinwort Family’ which happens from company’s who are trying to get me to buy or try their baby products. Why? Because as the man of the house it has been engrained in him that his last name is the name of the house and so everyone should just already know that but company’s only know me as my name so they are therefore jumping to the conclusion that Kleinwort is my married name and therefore the name of the household. I do my best to intercept these types of mailings because I know and understand his feelings.

Now that we have a child with a hyphenated last name I am beginning to see the frenzy swirling out of control, hair loss is on a rise and all sorts of different labels being used. When it came to naming our son the first name was easy where we came into the challenge is what would his last name be? I kept my maiden name which was already adding confusion and we settled, Jerry conceded actually – thank you honey!, to have Caden use a hyphenated last name … Artache-Kleinwort. With this added to the mix people are extra confused regarding how to send mailings. So to make life simple and everyone happy just send things to “The Artache & Kleinwort Family”; want to send something just to Caden, address it to “Caden Artache-Kleinwort,” to me? “Karen Kleinwort,” Jerry? “Jerry Artache.” Does that make things simple? Or is it still confusing?

Alright enough purging, the questions of naming I believe really come down to labels and titles for us, so what is in a name? I personally believe names are so important because society in 1st world countries tie everything about us as individuals to these labels and until recently (in respect to the calendar year timeline being 2008) women had no rights and therefore their identity was tied to that of their husbands. But now in the 21st century is it really not too much of a stretch to believe more women will want to keep their individual identities. At what point or under what circumstances would it be for the husband to take the wife’s name? I would definitely be interested in hearing other people’s thoughts on this topic.

Thanks for listening. Until next time … embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

Daycare, Schedules, Nanny/Admin Support - is it all really necessary?

These last few days have been held in deep discussion with my husband with regard to seriously looking at hiring someone part-time to help me get things done. Not immediately mind you but beginning in July/August when I want to start getting myself back into the work routine.

Having a goal of 12 clients weekly by October 1 means I need to start marketing actively sometime in the next 4 - 6 weeks whcih means I need a bit more free time to look after myself and focus on work. I am just beginning to figure out what that weekly schedule looks like and I am very sure most of you who are mothers as well have gone through this mind blowing experience and have had to come to terms with the feelings of 'guilt' and the judgements of others who look to you and question is the 'nanny' support really necessary.

Needless to say many tears are being shed over this but the beauty of the situation is I am still present so if my son truly needs me for anything I am just a few steps away. My dogs can get the extra care and attention they need as well as part of the time I am addressing is being able to run with them daily and hit the gym three times a week.

The mound of paperwork on my desk is what is driving these conversations ... oh yes ... so is the mound of laundry, the paw prints on the floor, and the many other household chores which normally would have been addressed.

So, I will keep you all posted as to how this schedule and admin/nanny support challenge is going.

Until next time ... embrace your inner wisdom!

Namaste,
Karen

Schedule? Routine? Still working on it!

So it has been way too busy for me to keep to my previous success of posting weekly let alone my new goal of posting twice a week on the LWL blog here. My parents were in town for two weeks and we then went out of town camping for four days. My hope is that now I will be able to keep to a better schedule – that is if Caden is cooperative. Today we are beginning the ground work for a napping schedule. My goal is to have him napping from 9:30 – 11:30 and then again from 1:30 – 3:30 daily with a bedtime of 8pm. I will keep you posted how that goes. Let see what else was on my list to be accomplishing over the last few weeks that I have been absent … hmmm … well I’ve been reading for pleasure and started the first of the two books for my class and I definitely enjoyed having my parents here for the two weeks. I have also been doing some sort of exercise but definitely has not been 5 days of the week but more like 3 days a week average which still is okay not great but okay. Alright, Caden is now up to having the baby monitor tapped out for the number of lights so I must cut this short so I can go and attend to him. Until next time … embrace your inner wisdom.
Namaste,
Karen

Cinco de Mayo ... New Moon ... 71F ... all causes for celebration!

So it's been a while ... okay longer than a while but I am finally getting back into the swing of things. Let's see what's happened since the 18th of January. Oh yes ... my son was born on April 9, 2008 at 6:43am weighing in at 6lbs 3.3oz and 19" long. So the last month has been a blur but one of the commitments I kept to myself was to post a blog posting on the Ladies Who Launch website weekly for the months of March and April and I did just that! I am very excited that I joined FaceBook as well. So it is finally getting warmer in Wilsonville OR … finally! The 71 degrees F is definitely more my style of spring weather not the hail or 40 degrees we have been getting lately. It is a great day to set new goals and aspirations as well with the power of the new moon today. I realize it has been 10 days or 4 days past my ‘due’ date of posting weekly but hey this is a new month and I did only commit to posting a weekly blog until the end of April – which I might add and give myself a pat on the back for completely. So let see what my new aspirations are until the next new moon on June 3, 2008 …
1) I am going to post twice weekly a blog posting on the LWL network
2) I am going to post once weekly on Tito’s Wisdom blog on blog spot
3) I am going to walk with Caden and my two pups 5 days a week
4) I am going to work out with weights 3 days a week
5) I am going to go on one hike with my husband, son and pups
6) I am going to post and email invites for the marketing/advertisement for the Seraphim Sphere to begin in August 1, 2008
7) I am going to have coffee with girl friends twice a week
8) I am going to get my hair cut
9) I am going to get a manicure and pedicure at least once
10) I am going to write the first week’s meditation and outline for the Seraphim Sphere gathering
Alright, I think 10 things on my goal list is enough but let’s see about what is it I would like to manifest for myself during this same period of time …
1) I am receiving full payment for work completed from a company with outstanding contract invoices
2) I am receiving full payment for current work being completed in a timely manner
3) I am loosing 10 lbs of pregnancy weight by walking, running, doing weights, meditating, and doing yoga.
4) I am absolutely going to enjoy 100% of my time with my parents visiting for two week starting tomorrow May 6th
5) I am going to make one new friend
6) I am going to plan and set a vacation trip to England with my husband in for this July
7) I am going to establish a regular sleeping and eating pattern for my son
8) I am going to begin attracting my 12 weekly clients
9) I am going to read the two books for my class being held June 5 – 8th, 2008
10) I am going to read for pleasure and make time to meditate daily
There, I am now complete and I am really excited about completing these goals and aspirations. Thanks for reading and until next time … embrace your inner wisdom!
Nameste,
Karen