Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

It has been said that an integral part of a well rounded Leadership Education is the understanding of others and their faith base.

I have to say, that I am very grateful for the upbringing that my parents gave me in this regard.

My father was very mindful of the fact that if you couldn’t understand someone’s worldview ( which is tied greatly to their faith or lack thereof), then you couldn’t understand THEM.

He was always exposing us to different beliefs, different cultures and different ideas.  All while reinforcing our own.

I am extremely grateful for this legacy, and Hero Hubby and I have worked diligently to pass this trait on to our own children.

Diversity has gotten a really bad reputation and has been abused, no doubt about it.  However, it isn’t something to fear in its proper context, but rather, should be celebrated.

Humanity and its differences of faith, creed and culture are a tremendous blessing in this life…and ultimately enrich yours.

Let’s start with today, for instance.  Do you understand what it represents?

Yes, we make it about wearing green, leprechauns, pots of gold and good luck for all!

Next week, we are going to have a real treat, in that one of our faithful readers and fellow Leadership Education moms…

is going to give us a lesson in Sainthood, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations for Core and Love of Learning kids…

and reinforcing family traditions, memories and ties.

Following today’s brief history of St. Patrick…

we have a lovely giveaway.

It is almost surreal in its surrounding circumstances and how it came about!

I am humbled by Lisa’s endorsement and grateful for her generosity.

You should be grateful for mine.

I would like to keep the giveaway for myself…

but I already have one of my own.

And I try to aspire to my own form of sainthood by doing the right thing…

even when I don’t want to!

Lord knows…

if we’re going to continue to work in the trenches to produce what is good, true and right with all of these children…

we deserve to look cute doing it!

THAT’S my world view…

at least for today.

Saint Patrick was born to wealthy parents in Britain near the end of the Fourth Century.

He is believed to have died March 17, around 460 A.D.

His father was a Christian deacon.

At age 16, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders that were attacking his family estate.

He was taken to Ireland, where he lived in captivity for 6 years, working as a shepherd far removed from people.

It was during this time that he turned heavily to his faith and began to rely on it for his life circumstances.

When he was set free, he felt compelled to leave Ireland, and walked out of the country…literally!

He began a course of religious training, that lasted 15 years, was ordained as a priest, and returned to Ireland.

His purpose there was two-fold.

He was there to not only produce converts to Christianity, but to minister to and encourage Christians who already lived there.

He wanted to relate to the people that he was speaking to and living amongst, so he used Irish culture…

incorporating it into the principles that he wanted to teach.

For instance, he superimposed a sun, which was a powerful Irish symbol…

onto the Christian cross…

creating what is now known as the Celtic cross.

He did this so the symbol would seem more natural to the Irish people.

Our previously mentioned giveaway is even green, in honor of traditions tied to this day!

As always, leave a comment for a chance to win!

I stumbled across TommyMom by accident a few months ago and later realized that the person who had purchased my headband was also the author of this amazing and refreshing blog that I had already visited several times!

I love it when things like this happen!  One of my FAVORITE things about TommyMom is that it is uplifting, educational and thought provoking.

It is such a relief to be able to get on the internet these days and know that there are still sites to visit that aren’t filled with inappropriate garbage.  I love Teri’s outlook on life, and continue reading the blog for encouragement in my own life.

I am 29, married to my best friend and the mother of two precious and crazy little girls, Grace (3) and Lily (2).  I studied history and philosophy in college and value the importance of an education.  Having two daughters, I feel that one of the most important things I could teach them is the importance this principle.

I realize that traditional schooling is not for everyone, however, we can all continue to educate ourselves far past high school, college, and graduate school by making a choice to  stimulate our brain however we can.  One of the ways that I do this is by reading TommyMom.

In the “About” section Teri says something that always sticks out to me.  She says, “One of life’s greatest opportunities is to be mentored by the advice and life experiences of others.”

When I need down time from schooling I like to exercise my creative muscles which is why I started ModBaby.  My style is vintage-modern, and if I’m being honest, we can’t run out and spend whatever we want on all the cute baby items that I seem to find on a daily basis, so I make them!  I love detail and mixing and matching.

My girls get to pick what headbands they want me to make and I get to have an outlet from school, and being a wife and mom.  It keeps me in touch with who I am and reminds me that I still have my own identity outside of those two jobs.

Sometimes we start to lose ourselves because of all that we have going on.

I hope someone falls in love with their new headband! This one is sized for an adult.

Come visit my site anytime…

and I hope that you continue to read TommyMom for all the wonderful things it has to offer.

Thank you!

Lisa McIntyre