Catherine Bell's Blog-June 03, 2011 

    

Catherine Bell’s Blog: Learning to Slow Down and Observe
Thanks for welcoming our newest celebrity blogger, Catherine Bell! The actress — mom to son Ronan, 9 months, and daughter Gemma, 8, with husband Adam Beason — stars on Army Wives and can next be seen in the TV movie Last Man Standing, premiering on Lifetime June 6 at 8 p.m.

Bell, 42, can also be found online on Facebook and @reallycb on Twitter.  In her latest blog, the actress discusses a quote that inspired her to slow down, step back, and watch and learn from her kids.

Hello again! I’m so glad you guys enjoyed my first post. I’ve never really blogged before … it’s fun! So thanks for the warm welcome.

As I was preparing to leave my babies for a short work trip this weekend, I was thinking about the juggle of work and family (or LIFE and family for full-time moms — which IS a full time job!). People often ask me how I balance it all and you know … it’s a work in progress! Always.

My goal is to continually try to improve myself — as a mom, a wife, a friend, an actress … if we aren’t getting better, we eventually get worse! You can’t just coast or stay the same. So my goal is to try to improve that balancing act, as much as possible.

If I have a day or week that was super busy and I didn’t get enough family time in, I carve out a few hours or half day or full day or weekend (whatever the case may be) and I make a point of using my phone/computer less or not at all (!) and really giving my kids my undivided attention.

The principal at my daughter’s school recently reminded the parents of Winnie the Pooh’s wisdom: “Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing.” She reminded us to take time to do nothing this summer and to help our children learn how to do nothing — which allows all those brain cells we stir to settle like flakes in a snow globe. It gives us time to process and reflect and grow! I loved hearing that and have been really working on doing just that! I must say, it’s nice. 

In slowing down a bit, I’m constantly amazed at all the amazing things we can learn from our kids … if we take the time to look and watch and be willing to learn from an 8 year old or 9 month old or whatever the age may be!

Watching Ronan, I learn so much about being able to enjoy the simple things in life. Watching him scratch his fingernails on different textures and be truly immersed and fascinated by what he feels and hears! Wow. To be able to enjoy life and all the things in it like that is a beautiful thing. So I’m trying to do that more!

And watching Gemma with her little brother … that constantly blows me away. I feel so blessed! Her whole goal is to be the best big sister ever (we’ve told her from the start how much he needs that and it always amazes me how much kids will do something when they feel they are NEEDED for the task — big or small!).

The other day, she started crying because Ronan was fussing while she was holding him, so Adam picked him up. She thought it was because she was doing something wrong and she felt so bad that we might be disappointed in her. Of course, as soon as she told us we were able to clear it all up … but how amazing that she wants to do the right thing and help and contribute to our family. Kids are really remarkable!

Being a mom is my absolute most favorite thing I’ve ever done!!! It ain’t always easy, can be a challenge (!), requires you function on little or no sleep at times, immense patience and quite a bit of selflessness … but MAN it is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done!

I look forward to hearing about some of the amazing things you all have experienced too!

XOXO,

– Catherine Bell

http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/06/03/catherine-bells-blog-learning-to-slow-down-and-observe/