I just saw this on my Facebook and thought that I would share it. It hit home for me. I know that when I say I need some "me time" it sounds like pure selfishness, but what I really mean is I need time to breath and think my own thoughts. Being a stay at home parent is very rewarding, that is true, but it also means that you give up a good part of yourself to be everything for your kids. So please read and pass on to the partners of any stay at home parents you know.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amanda-king/stay-at-home-parent_b_2558642.html
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Scented Paint
I haven't posted in a while because I've just been busy with life and trying to figure out how I want my blog to continue. Although it's great to have a place to put lots of personal things about me and my life, I think I'm going to gear it more towards parenting and my kids. That is what my life consists of right now and these type of blogs are where I find my inspiration at the moment.
I've discovered a new blog that contains many great ideas for kids called Growing a Jeweled Rose. One of the recent ideas I've found is for a scratch and sniff paint. Since I went grocery shopping on Friday, I decided I'd pick up the items needed to make this simple but fun paint.
All you need are three ingredients:
-Kool-Aid
-Cornstarch
-Water
You might not even need to go shopping if you already have these items in your home which is definitely a plus in my book!
My son and I picked out 4 different colors for our paint, Mixed Berry for blue, Cherry for red, Grape for purple, and Peach Mango for a yellowish orange color.
This is a super easy recipe to make. All you need to do is mix about half of the packet of Kool-Aid (depending on how strong you'd like the scent), a tablespoon (I used a heaping tablespoon so it'd be a little thicker) of cornstarch, and a quarter cup of water in a container that is acceptable for paint. The directions given on the website say you can use just the water and Kool-Aid and it will come out more like a water color paint. I was leery of the messiness of that possibility, hence the heaping tablespoon of corn starch.
Just a heads up that the more corn starch you use, the more often you will need to mix the paint up. I noticed that it settled quickly at the bottom of our containers.
My son had lots of fun with this paint, I'm pretty sure he painted for about an hour.
Enjoy!
I've discovered a new blog that contains many great ideas for kids called Growing a Jeweled Rose. One of the recent ideas I've found is for a scratch and sniff paint. Since I went grocery shopping on Friday, I decided I'd pick up the items needed to make this simple but fun paint.
All you need are three ingredients:
-Kool-Aid
-Cornstarch
-Water
You might not even need to go shopping if you already have these items in your home which is definitely a plus in my book!
My son and I picked out 4 different colors for our paint, Mixed Berry for blue, Cherry for red, Grape for purple, and Peach Mango for a yellowish orange color.
This is a super easy recipe to make. All you need to do is mix about half of the packet of Kool-Aid (depending on how strong you'd like the scent), a tablespoon (I used a heaping tablespoon so it'd be a little thicker) of cornstarch, and a quarter cup of water in a container that is acceptable for paint. The directions given on the website say you can use just the water and Kool-Aid and it will come out more like a water color paint. I was leery of the messiness of that possibility, hence the heaping tablespoon of corn starch.
Just a heads up that the more corn starch you use, the more often you will need to mix the paint up. I noticed that it settled quickly at the bottom of our containers.
My son had lots of fun with this paint, I'm pretty sure he painted for about an hour.
Enjoy!
Monday, November 18, 2013
Sunday Confessional:11/17/13
So I feel I must confess something. I am very guilty of letting my kids play by themselves while I clean. I would say ignore them, but it's not like I don't talk to them or pay attention to where they are, I just don't sit and play with them.
This whole playing with my kids thing is hard for me. When I stayed home with my son, I was able to give my attention to him often and teach him so much. Now that I have two kids and a bigger house, I haven't quite found that balance yet. Also I lack a lot more sleep this time so if I sit and just play, I start yawning and dreaming of sleeping, which I feel is just as bad as not playing with them.
Recently my mom sent me a link to a blog that I absolutely love now. This woman has so many great ideas to help you play with your kids and help them learn many different things.
It has inspired me to really put the effort into both of my kids. To play with both of them and try to teach them as much as possible. I feel that play brings so many opportunities for learning, it's something I can't skimp on. I wrote earlier in the week about how I had pulled my son from preschool so I am now his sole teacher again. I need to take that job seriously and get back on track.
Today we made apple pie play dough and I played with my son for a long time with it. Then I tried to play with my daughter, but she was exhausted and crabby so that didn't really work out for us.
Tomorrow is another day though and I will try again!
This whole playing with my kids thing is hard for me. When I stayed home with my son, I was able to give my attention to him often and teach him so much. Now that I have two kids and a bigger house, I haven't quite found that balance yet. Also I lack a lot more sleep this time so if I sit and just play, I start yawning and dreaming of sleeping, which I feel is just as bad as not playing with them.
Recently my mom sent me a link to a blog that I absolutely love now. This woman has so many great ideas to help you play with your kids and help them learn many different things.
It has inspired me to really put the effort into both of my kids. To play with both of them and try to teach them as much as possible. I feel that play brings so many opportunities for learning, it's something I can't skimp on. I wrote earlier in the week about how I had pulled my son from preschool so I am now his sole teacher again. I need to take that job seriously and get back on track.
Today we made apple pie play dough and I played with my son for a long time with it. Then I tried to play with my daughter, but she was exhausted and crabby so that didn't really work out for us.
Tomorrow is another day though and I will try again!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Oh The Way 3 Year Olds Play
I just have to share a funny coming from my 3 year old this morning.
He was sitting in his chair at the table working on eating some carrots as his little is crawling underneath him. He says,"I'm God and she is Moses." I asked what God tells Moses and he goes on telling me about how his teacher in preschool read them the story about Moses.
A little later he moved his chair away from the table, right in front of his sister, and looks down at her. He says in a deep voice,"Moses. Moooses. Moooooses. Moses."
I love this age when they re-enact things they've learned!
He was sitting in his chair at the table working on eating some carrots as his little is crawling underneath him. He says,"I'm God and she is Moses." I asked what God tells Moses and he goes on telling me about how his teacher in preschool read them the story about Moses.
A little later he moved his chair away from the table, right in front of his sister, and looks down at her. He says in a deep voice,"Moses. Moooses. Moooooses. Moses."
I love this age when they re-enact things they've learned!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Being a Parent is Hard
I'm sure anybody knows that being a parent is hard, dealing with kids that can be crazy or crabby, they don't want to listen, you always have to be the bad guy, you get the hint. Sometimes I forget about things that really are hard in parenting, the things that aren't day to day.
Yesterday was my son's last day of preschool and I felt awful for it. He enjoys going to preschool. He is one of those kids that enjoys learning, he is constantly taking in information and trying to figure out the world. He is getting to the point in his life where he likes having other kids around, he might even play with one! When he asks," what's in the morning?" and I tell him preschool, he gets excited.
The decision to pull him out of preschool was not an easy one to make. I've been thinking of the pros and cons since the moment we walked in the door at the first day and I was overwhelmed with what we experienced. How do you ever decide if you are being selfish, or truly doing what you feel is right for your child and your family?
On the way out the door, he asked, "Why can't I go to preschool anymore?" I quickly had to figure out a way to tell him that we just didn't like the school. I don't even remember what I said, because what do you say to that? He won't understand that we don't agree with many things that go on there, that I fear for his safety because I'm paranoid.
Now onto the daunting task of finding something else or trying to cope with nothing. I'm not trying to brag at all, but I know he'll be fine with learning things still, I have taught him so much more than anything he's ever learned at day care or preschool. I'm not worried about educating him while we figure this out (ok I lied, I am a little). I'm really just worried about missing that time alone with my daughter and that he won't have "friends" to play with.
There's so much that goes with one decision. I never knew that making decisions as a parent could be so hard.
Yesterday was my son's last day of preschool and I felt awful for it. He enjoys going to preschool. He is one of those kids that enjoys learning, he is constantly taking in information and trying to figure out the world. He is getting to the point in his life where he likes having other kids around, he might even play with one! When he asks," what's in the morning?" and I tell him preschool, he gets excited.
The decision to pull him out of preschool was not an easy one to make. I've been thinking of the pros and cons since the moment we walked in the door at the first day and I was overwhelmed with what we experienced. How do you ever decide if you are being selfish, or truly doing what you feel is right for your child and your family?
On the way out the door, he asked, "Why can't I go to preschool anymore?" I quickly had to figure out a way to tell him that we just didn't like the school. I don't even remember what I said, because what do you say to that? He won't understand that we don't agree with many things that go on there, that I fear for his safety because I'm paranoid.
Now onto the daunting task of finding something else or trying to cope with nothing. I'm not trying to brag at all, but I know he'll be fine with learning things still, I have taught him so much more than anything he's ever learned at day care or preschool. I'm not worried about educating him while we figure this out (ok I lied, I am a little). I'm really just worried about missing that time alone with my daughter and that he won't have "friends" to play with.
There's so much that goes with one decision. I never knew that making decisions as a parent could be so hard.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Sunday Confessional: 11/11/13
*I realize that it is no longer Sunday, but this is more fitting for today.*
I feel I must confess something: I never understood what being in the military meant....until I married someone who made the choice to join the Air Force. After finding out, I realized that I could never be so brave and take that plunge.
I guess you could say I was naive growing up. I come from a small town, not that many people are in the military and the only real affiliation our town has is the Army Guard, but it is a very small unit (or so it seems).
I didn't even think about the military until I was 13 and 9/11 happened. I remember in the few years after that tragic event, when Veteran's Day came around, there were pictures up on the screen at church of those serving overseas. Yes I thought it would be hard to be away for 12-15 (or more) months, but I never really thought about what they were doing or what the effects of being in the military were.
When my boyfriend at the time told me he wanted to join the Air Force and was going to go through a program called ROTC, I still had no idea what this truly meant. I just went with the flow of things because I didn't understand. When we got married a year later, I was enlightened a little bit more, but not to the full extent.
My husband finished his school and that was when reality sunk in. Since that time I have learned lots about what it means to be in the military. I know I still have lots to learn and experience, but for now this is what I've found.
To be in the military you must:
-Be brave, you never know the trials and tribulations you will face.
-Be willing to be selfless, everyone comes before you.
-Be willing to sacrifice so much.
-Be willing to miss birthdays, anniversaries, births, deaths, weddings, milestones in your loved ones' lives, and holidays.
-Be willing to fight a fight you may not believe in.
-Be willing to serve under someone you may not agree with.
-Be willing to fight for those that think what you are doing is wrong, when in reality you are fighting for them to have that exact opinion and be able to express it.
-Be willing to cast aside your own beliefs, morals, and feelings just so that you can get the job done, it is after all, what you chose to do.
-Be willing to spend sleepless nights away from your family, serving our country thousands of miles away, wishing you could hold your loved ones in your arms.
-Be willing to say "yes sir" or "yes ma'am" when all you want to really say is,"You couldn't pay me enough to do that."
-Be willing to wear the same uniform whether it is 120 degrees out or -20 degrees out.
-Be adaptable.
-Be willing to experience new places and new people because that is what your job has asked of you.
-Be willing to stand strong when all you want to do is go cry in the corner.
-Be willing to see things you never thought in your life that you'd see.
-Be willing to continue fighting when you've just watched your best friend, or your favorite leader die before your very eyes.
-Be willing to do the unthinkable and take another person's life without missing a beat.
-Be willing to say, "I'm not ok. I need help."
-Be willing to live among people that are cloaked in patriotism and show you and your family the true sense of the word "community."
And lastly,
-Be willing to give the ultimate sacrifice: your life. Because by taking that oath, you have agreed to fight for our freedom, no matter what the cost.
I could go on and on because being in the military means you are going to enter in a very different kind of world. It may not be easy all the time, it may not be fun, and it may cause you your life, but for those that chose to take that oath, I have the utmost respect. As I said before, I could never do it.
So thank you to all of those that have served (maybe even to the death) and are currently serving. YOU are true heroes in every sense of the word.
I feel I must confess something: I never understood what being in the military meant....until I married someone who made the choice to join the Air Force. After finding out, I realized that I could never be so brave and take that plunge.
I guess you could say I was naive growing up. I come from a small town, not that many people are in the military and the only real affiliation our town has is the Army Guard, but it is a very small unit (or so it seems).
I didn't even think about the military until I was 13 and 9/11 happened. I remember in the few years after that tragic event, when Veteran's Day came around, there were pictures up on the screen at church of those serving overseas. Yes I thought it would be hard to be away for 12-15 (or more) months, but I never really thought about what they were doing or what the effects of being in the military were.
When my boyfriend at the time told me he wanted to join the Air Force and was going to go through a program called ROTC, I still had no idea what this truly meant. I just went with the flow of things because I didn't understand. When we got married a year later, I was enlightened a little bit more, but not to the full extent.
My husband finished his school and that was when reality sunk in. Since that time I have learned lots about what it means to be in the military. I know I still have lots to learn and experience, but for now this is what I've found.
To be in the military you must:
-Be brave, you never know the trials and tribulations you will face.
-Be willing to be selfless, everyone comes before you.
-Be willing to sacrifice so much.
-Be willing to miss birthdays, anniversaries, births, deaths, weddings, milestones in your loved ones' lives, and holidays.
-Be willing to fight a fight you may not believe in.
-Be willing to serve under someone you may not agree with.
-Be willing to fight for those that think what you are doing is wrong, when in reality you are fighting for them to have that exact opinion and be able to express it.
-Be willing to cast aside your own beliefs, morals, and feelings just so that you can get the job done, it is after all, what you chose to do.
-Be willing to spend sleepless nights away from your family, serving our country thousands of miles away, wishing you could hold your loved ones in your arms.
-Be willing to say "yes sir" or "yes ma'am" when all you want to really say is,"You couldn't pay me enough to do that."
-Be willing to wear the same uniform whether it is 120 degrees out or -20 degrees out.
-Be adaptable.
-Be willing to experience new places and new people because that is what your job has asked of you.
-Be willing to stand strong when all you want to do is go cry in the corner.
-Be willing to see things you never thought in your life that you'd see.
-Be willing to continue fighting when you've just watched your best friend, or your favorite leader die before your very eyes.
-Be willing to do the unthinkable and take another person's life without missing a beat.
-Be willing to say, "I'm not ok. I need help."
-Be willing to live among people that are cloaked in patriotism and show you and your family the true sense of the word "community."
And lastly,
-Be willing to give the ultimate sacrifice: your life. Because by taking that oath, you have agreed to fight for our freedom, no matter what the cost.
I could go on and on because being in the military means you are going to enter in a very different kind of world. It may not be easy all the time, it may not be fun, and it may cause you your life, but for those that chose to take that oath, I have the utmost respect. As I said before, I could never do it.
So thank you to all of those that have served (maybe even to the death) and are currently serving. YOU are true heroes in every sense of the word.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Today was one of those days where I swear my kids were out to get me. They had to be plotting their moves in a way that they knew they would get to me.
It all started with child number one not taking a nap, that always makes for a pleasurable afternoon and evening of absolute insanity so he can keep himself awake. Now let's not leave it at just no nap, no let's wake child number two up from her nap after only an hour. She has also chosen recently to not sleep unless held and to never have me out of immediate eyesight without screaming bloody murder. Sleepiness just heightens said behaviors. Within five minutes both were laying on the floor crying.
Fast forward a little bit to me cleaning, I have a bucket of soapy water by my side scrubbing my walls. I can somewhat keep an eye on my roaming baby to make sure that she doesn't explore the bucket that is calling her name. She's a quick one though and after I looked away for ten seconds, I discover a bucket of warm soapy water soaking into my carpet and a wet child.
My instinct is to get our spot cleaner, because that will soak up the water easily. The only thing is that it is incredibly loud (I mean it leaves my ears ringing when I'm done.) so I had to put my daughter in her crib to keep her out of the way and out of the area of the intense sound. Commence screaming!
Upon inspection of the spot cleaner, there is already fluid in the collection area, yep, that fluid is what was sucked up off of the seats in my husband's truck from when my son threw up all over during a drive (thanks Chobani!), 2 months ago. Um ew! Someone (I won't name names but I'll tell you it wasn't me) forgot to clean it out afterwards like I had advised. Lovely.....
So the water is sucked up now, my ears are ringing, and my daughter is still screaming. Being the nice mother that I am, I went to get her only to discover that her screaming has resulted in her spitting up all down her shirt and onto her bed. Impromptu early bath
After feeding the screaming banshee, we head out to Culver's, because let's face it, at this point I deserve it! We get there only to find out that they are out of cheese curds, at 6:15 at night. I didn't even know that was a thing. I'm from WI, that's not even possible to run out of cheese curds. That left one little boy and one mommy very disappointed.
My darling son decides after we get back that he isn't going to finish his milk, but save it for the morning. It's not one of his usual cups, it is one of his sister's sippy cups minus the lid. I tell him to be careful.....just as his spills his milk onto the glass shelf in the refrigerator. Awesome! Let's not leave it at that though, it needs to get into the crevices where I don't think I can get to it, and it drips down to the next shelf. Surprise fridge cleaning! I had to take the vegetable drawer out to reach those spots and of course my daughter had to explore that, including sticking her fingers in the baking soda that is sitting in the drawer. I swear I can't get anything done without more messes or issues popping up.
Add all of that to my already sleep deprived state, and it just made for one interesting day. How do they even have time to plot this stuff out with each other? Especially when the baby can't leave my side?
It all started with child number one not taking a nap, that always makes for a pleasurable afternoon and evening of absolute insanity so he can keep himself awake. Now let's not leave it at just no nap, no let's wake child number two up from her nap after only an hour. She has also chosen recently to not sleep unless held and to never have me out of immediate eyesight without screaming bloody murder. Sleepiness just heightens said behaviors. Within five minutes both were laying on the floor crying.
Fast forward a little bit to me cleaning, I have a bucket of soapy water by my side scrubbing my walls. I can somewhat keep an eye on my roaming baby to make sure that she doesn't explore the bucket that is calling her name. She's a quick one though and after I looked away for ten seconds, I discover a bucket of warm soapy water soaking into my carpet and a wet child.
My instinct is to get our spot cleaner, because that will soak up the water easily. The only thing is that it is incredibly loud (I mean it leaves my ears ringing when I'm done.) so I had to put my daughter in her crib to keep her out of the way and out of the area of the intense sound. Commence screaming!
Upon inspection of the spot cleaner, there is already fluid in the collection area, yep, that fluid is what was sucked up off of the seats in my husband's truck from when my son threw up all over during a drive (thanks Chobani!), 2 months ago. Um ew! Someone (I won't name names but I'll tell you it wasn't me) forgot to clean it out afterwards like I had advised. Lovely.....
So the water is sucked up now, my ears are ringing, and my daughter is still screaming. Being the nice mother that I am, I went to get her only to discover that her screaming has resulted in her spitting up all down her shirt and onto her bed. Impromptu early bath
After feeding the screaming banshee, we head out to Culver's, because let's face it, at this point I deserve it! We get there only to find out that they are out of cheese curds, at 6:15 at night. I didn't even know that was a thing. I'm from WI, that's not even possible to run out of cheese curds. That left one little boy and one mommy very disappointed.
My darling son decides after we get back that he isn't going to finish his milk, but save it for the morning. It's not one of his usual cups, it is one of his sister's sippy cups minus the lid. I tell him to be careful.....just as his spills his milk onto the glass shelf in the refrigerator. Awesome! Let's not leave it at that though, it needs to get into the crevices where I don't think I can get to it, and it drips down to the next shelf. Surprise fridge cleaning! I had to take the vegetable drawer out to reach those spots and of course my daughter had to explore that, including sticking her fingers in the baking soda that is sitting in the drawer. I swear I can't get anything done without more messes or issues popping up.
Add all of that to my already sleep deprived state, and it just made for one interesting day. How do they even have time to plot this stuff out with each other? Especially when the baby can't leave my side?
Monday, November 4, 2013
Atlas Blizzard October 2013
I realized while listening to the announcer on the radio talk about storm clean-up, that I should put this video on here to raise awareness for people other than those in my area.
Warning: This video shows graphic images of livestock, and by that I mean dead animals. It is a long clip (16 minutes) but it is worth every second to see what the people of SD and a little bit of WY went through in the first few days of October.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwM5qNKnqyE&feature=share
Warning: This video shows graphic images of livestock, and by that I mean dead animals. It is a long clip (16 minutes) but it is worth every second to see what the people of SD and a little bit of WY went through in the first few days of October.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwM5qNKnqyE&feature=share
 |
| The drift outside our house, in the middle of the street. |
 |
| The same drift after the storm stopped. |
 |
| The drift in front of one of our garage doors. |
 |
| The drift in front of our house after the storm stopped, it's almost to the top of the street sign. |
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Sunday Confessional: 11/03/13
I have a confession to make and yes it's a little late, but still very applicable. I decided this week that I HATE Halloween! Yep, I said it, I hate Halloween.
It all started with the pumpkin carving. I have carved pumpkins in the past, but I think I had forgotten how much work it can be and I was supposed to be carving two pumpkins. I guess that's what I get for asking my 3 year old if he wanted to paint them or carve them.
I picked the biggest knife I had to cut the top off and let me tell you, that was a bad choice. I thought for sure I was going to end up cutting my arm off or at least a finger. I got my knife stuck in the pumpkin multiple times.
Cleaning the goop out took equal amount of time and effort. My son decided he wasn't going to help after one attempted scoop while my daughter reveled in the seeds and insides. About halfway through this process when we quit Skype-ing with my husband, the kids decided they were done and went about destroying my house while I continued carving our jack o' lantern.
By the time I finally had all the insides cleaned out, I was sweating and my hand/arm hurt. I got out the little saw from the pumpkin carving kit and went at the pumpkin with no specific plans. Here were my son's demands:
- 9 eyes
-2 noses
-1 mouth
-9 teeth
That most definitely didn't happen as my son overestimates my pumpkin carving ability. I was able to accomplish something, but bent the saw in the process.
All in all, I think the whole process took a good two hours. However, the result was ok.
It all started with the pumpkin carving. I have carved pumpkins in the past, but I think I had forgotten how much work it can be and I was supposed to be carving two pumpkins. I guess that's what I get for asking my 3 year old if he wanted to paint them or carve them.
I picked the biggest knife I had to cut the top off and let me tell you, that was a bad choice. I thought for sure I was going to end up cutting my arm off or at least a finger. I got my knife stuck in the pumpkin multiple times.
Cleaning the goop out took equal amount of time and effort. My son decided he wasn't going to help after one attempted scoop while my daughter reveled in the seeds and insides. About halfway through this process when we quit Skype-ing with my husband, the kids decided they were done and went about destroying my house while I continued carving our jack o' lantern.
By the time I finally had all the insides cleaned out, I was sweating and my hand/arm hurt. I got out the little saw from the pumpkin carving kit and went at the pumpkin with no specific plans. Here were my son's demands:
- 9 eyes
-2 noses
-1 mouth
-9 teeth
That most definitely didn't happen as my son overestimates my pumpkin carving ability. I was able to accomplish something, but bent the saw in the process.
All in all, I think the whole process took a good two hours. However, the result was ok.
Now onto Halloween itself, worst idea ever! Two kids, cold and wind, walking. Need I say more? We were ok until about a half hour in and then my daughter decided she was done in the stroller so I had the pleasure of holding her, one hand pushing the stroller, and corralling my son among the throngs of kids and parents. The decision was made that we were done so we turned around to walk back home and my son exclaims that he is too cold to walk home. Now I have two crying kids (and I mean really crying), a stroller, and about 6 blocks to walk. Embarrassing is not even the correct word to describe this scene.
Later after everything settled down, I thought of last year's Halloween and I realized I hated last year's too. I had to go to work early and help take our kids trick or treating. That entailed walking to the place we were trick or treating, taking them all around to get their goodies, walking back, helping getting all of the kids out of their costumes and then doing my shift. Then I got to go home and do the same thing over again. I was pregnant at the time. When all was said and done, I was so sore and felt physically ill from the fatigue.
So there you have it! I hate Halloween and I have vowed to never take my children trick or treating by myself again. Not-going-to-happen!
Friday, November 1, 2013
"Dear Mom"
I saw this on Facebook and thought it was so fitting. I'm constantly beating myself up about being a "perfect mom" (or even a good mom).
Dear Mom,
I’ve seen you around. I’ve seen you screaming at your kids in public, I’ve seen you ignoring them at the playground, I’ve seen you unshowered and wearing last night’s pajama pants at preschool drop-off. I’ve seen you begging your children, bribing them, threatening them. I’ve seen you shouting back and forth with your husband, with your mom, with the police officer at the crosswalk.
I’ve seen you running around with your kids, getting dirty and occasionally swearing audibly when you bang a knee. I’ve seen you sharing a milkshake with a manic four year old. I’ve seen you wiping your kids’ boogers with your bare palm, and then smearing them on the back of your jeans. I’ve seen you carry your toddler flopped over the crook of your arm while chasing a runaway ball.
I’ve also seen you gritting your teeth while your kid screamed at you for making him practice piano, or soccer, or basket weaving, or whatever it was. I’ve seen you close your eyes and breathe slowly after finding a gallon of milk dumped into your trunk. I’ve seen you crying into the sink while you desperately scrub crayon off your best designer purse. I’ve seen you pacing in front of the house.
I’ve seen you at the hospital waiting room. I’ve seen you at the pharmacy counter. I’ve seen you looking tired, and frightened.
I’ve seen a lot of you, actually. I see you every single day.
I don’t know if you planned to be a parent or not. If you always knew from your earliest years that you wanted to bring children into the world, to tend to them, or if motherhood was thrust upon you unexpectedly. I don’t know if it meets your expectations, or if you spent your first days as a mom terrified that you would never feel what you imagined “motherly love” would feel like for your child. I don’t know if you struggled with infertility, or with pregnancy loss, or with a traumatic birth. I don’t know if you created your child with your body, or created your family by welcoming your child into it.
But I know a lot about you.
I know that you didn’t get everything that you wanted. I know that you got a wealth of things you never knew you wanted until they were there in front of you. I know that you don’t believe that you’re doing your best, that you think you can do better. I know you are doing better than you think.
I know that when you look at your child, your children, you see yourself. And I know that you don’t, that you see a stranger who can’t understand why the small details of childhood that were so important to you are a bother to this small person who resembles you.
I know that you want to throw a lamp at your teenager’s head sometimes. I know you want to toss your three year old out the window once in a while.
I know that some nights, once it’s finally quiet, you curl up in bed and cry. I know that sometimes, you don’t, even though your heart is breaking with exhaustion and the weight of crushed expectations.
I know that some days are so hard that all you want is for them to end, and then at bedtime your children hug you and kiss you and tell you how much they love you and want to be like you, and you wish the day could last forever.
But it never does. The day always ends, and the next day brings new challenges. Fevers, heartbreak, art projects, new friends, new pets, new fights. And every day you do what you need to do.
You take care of things, because that’s your job. You go to work, or you fill up the crock pot, or you climb into the garden, or strap the baby to your back and pull out the vacuum cleaner.
You drop everything you’re doing to moderate an argument over who’s turn it is to use a specific marker, or to kiss a boo-boo, or to have a conversation about what color lipstick Pinocchio’s mommy wears.
I know that you have tickle fights in blanket forts, and that you have the words to at least eight different picture books memorized. I’ve heard that you dance like a wild woman when it’s just you and them. That you have no shame about farting or belching in their presence, that you make up goofy songs about peas and potatoes and cheese.
I know that an hour past bedtime, you drop what you’re doing and trim the fingernail that your three year old insists is keeping her up. I know that you stop cleaning dishes because your kids insist you need to join their tea party. I know you fed your kids PBandJ for four days straight when you had the flu. I know that you eat leftover crusts over the sink while your kids watch Super Why.
I know you didn’t expect most of this. I know you didn’t anticipate loving somebody so intensely, or loathing your post-baby body so much, or being so tired, or being the mom you’ve turned out to be.
You thought you had it figured out. Or you were blind and terrified. You hired the perfect nanny. Or you quit your job and learned to assemble flat packed baby furniture. You get confused by the conflict of feeling like nothing has changed since you were free and unfettered by children, and looking back on the choices you made as though an impostor was wearing your skin.
You’re not a perfect mom. No matter how you try, no matter what you do. You will never be a perfect mom.
And maybe that haunts you. Or maybe you’ve made peace with it. Or maybe it was never a problem to begin with.
No matter how much you do, there is always more. No matter how little you do, when the day is over your children are still loved. They still smile at you, believing you have magical powers to fix almost anything. No matter what happened at work, or at school, or in play group, you have still done everything in your power to ensure that the next morning will dawn and your children will be as happy, healthy, and wise as could possibly be hoped.
There’s an old Yiddish saying, “There is one perfect child in the world, and every mother has it.”
Unfortunately, there are no perfect parents. Your kids will grow up determined to be different than you. They will grow up certain that they won’t make their kids take piano lessons, or they’ll be more lenient, or more strict, or have more kids, or have fewer, or have none at all.
No matter how far from perfect you are, you are better than you think.
Someday your kids will be running around like crazy people at synagogue and concuss themselves on the handicapped rail, and somebody will still walk up and tell you what a beautiful family you have. You’ll be at the park and your kids will be covered in mud and jam up to the elbows, smearing your car with that sugary cement, and a pregnant lady will stop and smile at you wistfully.
No matter how many doubts you might have, you never need doubt this one thing: You are definitely not perfect.
And that’s good. Because really, neither is your child. And that means nobody can care for them the way you can, with the wealth of your understanding and your experience. Nobody knows what your child’s squall means, or what their jokes mean, or why they are crying, better than you do.
And since no mother is perfect, chances are you are caught in a two billion way tie for Best Mom in the World.
Congratulations, Best Mom in the World. You’re not perfect.
You’re as good as anybody can get. -Lea Grover
Dear Mom,
I’ve seen you around. I’ve seen you screaming at your kids in public, I’ve seen you ignoring them at the playground, I’ve seen you unshowered and wearing last night’s pajama pants at preschool drop-off. I’ve seen you begging your children, bribing them, threatening them. I’ve seen you shouting back and forth with your husband, with your mom, with the police officer at the crosswalk.
I’ve seen you running around with your kids, getting dirty and occasionally swearing audibly when you bang a knee. I’ve seen you sharing a milkshake with a manic four year old. I’ve seen you wiping your kids’ boogers with your bare palm, and then smearing them on the back of your jeans. I’ve seen you carry your toddler flopped over the crook of your arm while chasing a runaway ball.
I’ve also seen you gritting your teeth while your kid screamed at you for making him practice piano, or soccer, or basket weaving, or whatever it was. I’ve seen you close your eyes and breathe slowly after finding a gallon of milk dumped into your trunk. I’ve seen you crying into the sink while you desperately scrub crayon off your best designer purse. I’ve seen you pacing in front of the house.
I’ve seen you at the hospital waiting room. I’ve seen you at the pharmacy counter. I’ve seen you looking tired, and frightened.
I’ve seen a lot of you, actually. I see you every single day.
I don’t know if you planned to be a parent or not. If you always knew from your earliest years that you wanted to bring children into the world, to tend to them, or if motherhood was thrust upon you unexpectedly. I don’t know if it meets your expectations, or if you spent your first days as a mom terrified that you would never feel what you imagined “motherly love” would feel like for your child. I don’t know if you struggled with infertility, or with pregnancy loss, or with a traumatic birth. I don’t know if you created your child with your body, or created your family by welcoming your child into it.
But I know a lot about you.
I know that you didn’t get everything that you wanted. I know that you got a wealth of things you never knew you wanted until they were there in front of you. I know that you don’t believe that you’re doing your best, that you think you can do better. I know you are doing better than you think.
I know that when you look at your child, your children, you see yourself. And I know that you don’t, that you see a stranger who can’t understand why the small details of childhood that were so important to you are a bother to this small person who resembles you.
I know that you want to throw a lamp at your teenager’s head sometimes. I know you want to toss your three year old out the window once in a while.
I know that some nights, once it’s finally quiet, you curl up in bed and cry. I know that sometimes, you don’t, even though your heart is breaking with exhaustion and the weight of crushed expectations.
I know that some days are so hard that all you want is for them to end, and then at bedtime your children hug you and kiss you and tell you how much they love you and want to be like you, and you wish the day could last forever.
But it never does. The day always ends, and the next day brings new challenges. Fevers, heartbreak, art projects, new friends, new pets, new fights. And every day you do what you need to do.
You take care of things, because that’s your job. You go to work, or you fill up the crock pot, or you climb into the garden, or strap the baby to your back and pull out the vacuum cleaner.
You drop everything you’re doing to moderate an argument over who’s turn it is to use a specific marker, or to kiss a boo-boo, or to have a conversation about what color lipstick Pinocchio’s mommy wears.
I know that you have tickle fights in blanket forts, and that you have the words to at least eight different picture books memorized. I’ve heard that you dance like a wild woman when it’s just you and them. That you have no shame about farting or belching in their presence, that you make up goofy songs about peas and potatoes and cheese.
I know that an hour past bedtime, you drop what you’re doing and trim the fingernail that your three year old insists is keeping her up. I know that you stop cleaning dishes because your kids insist you need to join their tea party. I know you fed your kids PBandJ for four days straight when you had the flu. I know that you eat leftover crusts over the sink while your kids watch Super Why.
I know you didn’t expect most of this. I know you didn’t anticipate loving somebody so intensely, or loathing your post-baby body so much, or being so tired, or being the mom you’ve turned out to be.
You thought you had it figured out. Or you were blind and terrified. You hired the perfect nanny. Or you quit your job and learned to assemble flat packed baby furniture. You get confused by the conflict of feeling like nothing has changed since you were free and unfettered by children, and looking back on the choices you made as though an impostor was wearing your skin.
You’re not a perfect mom. No matter how you try, no matter what you do. You will never be a perfect mom.
And maybe that haunts you. Or maybe you’ve made peace with it. Or maybe it was never a problem to begin with.
No matter how much you do, there is always more. No matter how little you do, when the day is over your children are still loved. They still smile at you, believing you have magical powers to fix almost anything. No matter what happened at work, or at school, or in play group, you have still done everything in your power to ensure that the next morning will dawn and your children will be as happy, healthy, and wise as could possibly be hoped.
There’s an old Yiddish saying, “There is one perfect child in the world, and every mother has it.”
Unfortunately, there are no perfect parents. Your kids will grow up determined to be different than you. They will grow up certain that they won’t make their kids take piano lessons, or they’ll be more lenient, or more strict, or have more kids, or have fewer, or have none at all.
No matter how far from perfect you are, you are better than you think.
Someday your kids will be running around like crazy people at synagogue and concuss themselves on the handicapped rail, and somebody will still walk up and tell you what a beautiful family you have. You’ll be at the park and your kids will be covered in mud and jam up to the elbows, smearing your car with that sugary cement, and a pregnant lady will stop and smile at you wistfully.
No matter how many doubts you might have, you never need doubt this one thing: You are definitely not perfect.
And that’s good. Because really, neither is your child. And that means nobody can care for them the way you can, with the wealth of your understanding and your experience. Nobody knows what your child’s squall means, or what their jokes mean, or why they are crying, better than you do.
And since no mother is perfect, chances are you are caught in a two billion way tie for Best Mom in the World.
Congratulations, Best Mom in the World. You’re not perfect.
You’re as good as anybody can get. -Lea Grover
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Being the Friend I'd Want To Be Friends With
You'd think with social media being such a focus in our live's these days, that staying connected with friends would be easy. I hate talking on the phone, plain and simple, so social media is a Godsend to me. I can talk to people and be in people's lives from afar without enduring the awkward pauses on the phone or having the recipient endure my screaming children. I have the freedom to reply when I can or even when I want.
The problem is, that even with this readily available means of communication, I still am a horrible friend. I lack the deep friendships I once had. I find myself yearning for simple companionship. Yes I have a wonderful husband who is my best friend, but I'm a stay at home mom and he works, so I need something during the day to fill up my friendship cup.
I've taken a step back and really thought about what kind of friend that I am or that I would want for myself. For a reason unbeknownst to me, I have a hard time making, and keeping for that matter, friends.
I would love to just put it out there and ask, why aren't we friends anymore? What about me turns you away? Alas, I fear that would be more damaging to my soul than helpful in this matter. That is where the question, what kind of friend could I be that I would want to be friends with, comes into play?
Maybe I come on too strong to people? Maybe I'm too needy? Maybe I'm not needy enough? Maybe I put my kids and husband first too much? Maybe I'm selfish? Maybe I'm too opinionated? Maybe I lack depth? Maybe I wall myself off? Maybe I'm judgmental? Maybe I'm condescending? Maybe I'm not interesting enough? Maybe I'm too conservative? The list could go on and on...
Here are the qualities I'd like to find in myself when it comes to friendship:
-Caring
-Understanding
-Good listener
-Humorous
-Non-judgmental
-Open
-Empathetic
-Godly
The time has come to help myself make friends by being a better friend. What qualities do you look for in a good friend?
The problem is, that even with this readily available means of communication, I still am a horrible friend. I lack the deep friendships I once had. I find myself yearning for simple companionship. Yes I have a wonderful husband who is my best friend, but I'm a stay at home mom and he works, so I need something during the day to fill up my friendship cup.
I've taken a step back and really thought about what kind of friend that I am or that I would want for myself. For a reason unbeknownst to me, I have a hard time making, and keeping for that matter, friends.
I would love to just put it out there and ask, why aren't we friends anymore? What about me turns you away? Alas, I fear that would be more damaging to my soul than helpful in this matter. That is where the question, what kind of friend could I be that I would want to be friends with, comes into play?
Maybe I come on too strong to people? Maybe I'm too needy? Maybe I'm not needy enough? Maybe I put my kids and husband first too much? Maybe I'm selfish? Maybe I'm too opinionated? Maybe I lack depth? Maybe I wall myself off? Maybe I'm judgmental? Maybe I'm condescending? Maybe I'm not interesting enough? Maybe I'm too conservative? The list could go on and on...
Here are the qualities I'd like to find in myself when it comes to friendship:
-Caring
-Understanding
-Good listener
-Humorous
-Non-judgmental
-Open
-Empathetic
-Godly
The time has come to help myself make friends by being a better friend. What qualities do you look for in a good friend?
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Mom Code Monday: Before I Was a Mom
I saw this on Facebook and thought I'd share because it's so true:
Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.
Before I was a Mom -
I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom -
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life
so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Sunday Confessional: 8/25/13
I first must confess that I have been lazy and haven't updated in a while mostly because I don't want to sit down and type something out.
The other thing I must confess is this:
I was just putting some pizza away from tonight and wrapping it in Cling Wrap. It reminded me how frustrating Cling Wrap is. I seriously hate it, yet continue to buy it. All it does is cling to itself. I even bought the Cling Wrap brand to make sure it would really cling. Wrong! It doesn't matter, the stuff only sticks to itself, not my pan.
I'm going to wrap everything in tin foil, that'll work better!
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Kidisms
Kids really do say the darnest things and their perception of things can create those phrases.
Today my almost three year old was on a roll. While in the tub, a Beauty and the Beast song came onto Pandora and he asked if it was something else. We told him that it was Beauty and the Beast, so he starts talking about it and says, "Booty and the Girls." I have no idea where the girls part came from but we decided it sounded like the porno version of Beauty and the Beast. Haha
While walking out of Target today he also announced that he wanted to go to Scheel's (which is in the same strip mall as our Target). When I asked him why he thought we needed to go to Scheel's he said something about needing to go to Scheel's so he could get a shield and be a knight. "I always want to be a knight."
Earlier in the week he was sitting and eating his snack while talking my ear off. He told me, "You putting the Mickey Mouse bandalaids in your bathroom is SO frustrating. It makes my tummy want to hurt."
I can't wait to hear what he says next!
Today my almost three year old was on a roll. While in the tub, a Beauty and the Beast song came onto Pandora and he asked if it was something else. We told him that it was Beauty and the Beast, so he starts talking about it and says, "Booty and the Girls." I have no idea where the girls part came from but we decided it sounded like the porno version of Beauty and the Beast. Haha
While walking out of Target today he also announced that he wanted to go to Scheel's (which is in the same strip mall as our Target). When I asked him why he thought we needed to go to Scheel's he said something about needing to go to Scheel's so he could get a shield and be a knight. "I always want to be a knight."
Earlier in the week he was sitting and eating his snack while talking my ear off. He told me, "You putting the Mickey Mouse bandalaids in your bathroom is SO frustrating. It makes my tummy want to hurt."
I can't wait to hear what he says next!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Thoughtlessness
Yesterday I was at Walmart and had to stop to let my son get off of the cart. The man pushing a cart behind me stopped as well (checking his list or something, I was trying not to look at him and seem like a weirdo) when another older man came up to him.
He shook his hand and asked him where he served. (I was listening at this point but still trying to not "pay attention" to them and focus on my son. I feel drawn to anything military since we started our life in the military world.) The younger guy answered,"Iraq." "Oh how was it over there, come back with any spooks?"
The younger guy just kind of mumbled something about nothing and it was ok over there. Then the older man walked away and the younger man started walking in front of us. I looked at him to try and figure out how the older man knew that he had served, and noticed the word Veteran on the back of his hat.
I was dumbfounded and a little sick to my stomach over what I heard. I almost said something to the younger man about how I was sorry and some people just don't understand common courtesy, but my mind is more outspoken than my mouth.
I couldn't get that picture out of my head all day though. Why would you think that it was ok to say that to someone? I know with him being older that obviously times were different growing up, but still. What if that man suffered some horrible mental and/or physical damage over in Iraq? What if he lost his best friend right before his eyes? What if he took fire himself and feared for his life? What if he took the life of another to protect himself and those serving next to him? What if that one comment is the thing that sends him over the edge of his PTSD? How could the older man be so thoughtless to ask such a question?
Please humanity, use your brain before you open your mouth because that one thing that you just said could make or break a person.
To the younger man that walked away after that encounter: I'm sorry that people are so thoughtless when it comes to something so personal. I'm sorry that you had to endure such an awkward conversation. I can't imagine what you went through over there, but thank you.
He shook his hand and asked him where he served. (I was listening at this point but still trying to not "pay attention" to them and focus on my son. I feel drawn to anything military since we started our life in the military world.) The younger guy answered,"Iraq." "Oh how was it over there, come back with any spooks?"
The younger guy just kind of mumbled something about nothing and it was ok over there. Then the older man walked away and the younger man started walking in front of us. I looked at him to try and figure out how the older man knew that he had served, and noticed the word Veteran on the back of his hat.
I was dumbfounded and a little sick to my stomach over what I heard. I almost said something to the younger man about how I was sorry and some people just don't understand common courtesy, but my mind is more outspoken than my mouth.
I couldn't get that picture out of my head all day though. Why would you think that it was ok to say that to someone? I know with him being older that obviously times were different growing up, but still. What if that man suffered some horrible mental and/or physical damage over in Iraq? What if he lost his best friend right before his eyes? What if he took fire himself and feared for his life? What if he took the life of another to protect himself and those serving next to him? What if that one comment is the thing that sends him over the edge of his PTSD? How could the older man be so thoughtless to ask such a question?
Please humanity, use your brain before you open your mouth because that one thing that you just said could make or break a person.
To the younger man that walked away after that encounter: I'm sorry that people are so thoughtless when it comes to something so personal. I'm sorry that you had to endure such an awkward conversation. I can't imagine what you went through over there, but thank you.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Sunday Confessional: 8/11/13
This makes me a horrible parent, but I canNOT stand crying for what seems to be no reason at all. It happens the most with babies . You know that time when you have fed the baby, changed them, burped them, cuddled them, and they are still crying? Let's be honest, they aren't even crying, but throwing a wicked fit! Yeah I don't do well with that.
I feel like punching a wall.
Then I feel awful for feeling that way after everything is calm.
True story....
I feel like punching a wall.
Then I feel awful for feeling that way after everything is calm.
True story....
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Whoopie Pies
What's not to love about whoopie pies? Soft chocolate cookies with creamy marshmallow frosting, yes please! This recipe looks way more complicated than it actually is, so don't be afraid to try it.
FOR CAKES
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder (I'm not going to lie, I have no idea what this is so I used the unsweetened Hershey version.)
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk (I never have buttermilk, I used a little over 3/4 cup milk and filled it to the one cup mark with white vinegar to crdle my own milk.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
FOR FILLING
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar
- 1 cup marshmallow cream such as Marshmallow Fluff
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
MAKE CAKES:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl until combined. Stir together buttermilk and vanilla in a small bowl.
- Beat together butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or 5 minutes with a handheld, then add egg, beating until combined well. Reduce speed to low and alternately mix in flour mixture and buttermilk in batches, beginning and ending with flour, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, and mixing until smooth.
- Spoon 1/4-cup mounds of batter about 2 inches apart onto 2 buttered large baking sheets. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until tops are puffed and cakes spring back when touched, 11 to 13 minutes. Transfer with a metal spatula to a rack to cool completely.
MAKE FILLING:
- Beat together butter, confectioners sugar, marshmallow, and vanilla in a bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes.
ASSEMBLE PIES:
- Spread a rounded tablespoon filling on flat sides of half of cakes and top with remaining cakes.
COOK'S NOTES:
- Cakes can be made 3 days ahead and kept, layered between sheets of wax paper, in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Filling can be made 4 hours ahead and kept, covered, at room temperature.
Original recipe from: http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/2000s/2003/01/whoopiepies
Monday, August 5, 2013
Mom Code Monday: Compassion in Illness
Normally I try to find the humor in parenting and that's what Mom Code is about, but this is not a fun Mom Code.
Mom Code states that when you encounter another mom/dad with a sick child, you support them any way you know how. You pray to whatever being you pray to, you send good thoughts, you send good vibes, you give encouraging words, you do whatever you believe in that will help that little being feel better and have the best outcome. When someone's child is sick or hurt, you put all of your differences and judging aside and you do what you can for them. There is nothing easy about being in a situation where you cannot make your child feel better and have to rely on medicine and faith to allow for a good outcome. You need to be willing to help the parent feel better about the situation.
Other ways you can help (these mostly apply to longer term issues, but of course you can do this for any time something comes up):
-Provide a lending ear and lots of understanding on your part.
-Provide a meal.
-Provide a service such as mowing, shoveling, doing the laundry, caring for pets, anything that you think may cause more stress or worry.
-Provide financially if applicable.
-Provide child care if there are other children in the family.
-Visits in the hospital if the establishment allows and the family consents.
-Offer to be a companion to ride along if the hospital is far away, just for company.
-Just be willing to be there for the person and willing to do anything they may need.
Mom Code states that when you encounter another mom/dad with a sick child, you support them any way you know how. You pray to whatever being you pray to, you send good thoughts, you send good vibes, you give encouraging words, you do whatever you believe in that will help that little being feel better and have the best outcome. When someone's child is sick or hurt, you put all of your differences and judging aside and you do what you can for them. There is nothing easy about being in a situation where you cannot make your child feel better and have to rely on medicine and faith to allow for a good outcome. You need to be willing to help the parent feel better about the situation.
Other ways you can help (these mostly apply to longer term issues, but of course you can do this for any time something comes up):
-Provide a lending ear and lots of understanding on your part.
-Provide a meal.
-Provide a service such as mowing, shoveling, doing the laundry, caring for pets, anything that you think may cause more stress or worry.
-Provide financially if applicable.
-Provide child care if there are other children in the family.
-Visits in the hospital if the establishment allows and the family consents.
-Offer to be a companion to ride along if the hospital is far away, just for company.
-Just be willing to be there for the person and willing to do anything they may need.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Sunday Confessional: 8/4/13
I must confess that every time I am able to accomplish something as a mom I feel like a million bucks.
Giving birth with no pain meds, "I am woman, hear me roar!"
Mowing the lawn with two small children, in the hot sun nonetheless, winning!
Making a meal, doing the dishes, and tending to the kids, I got that!
Sustaining my baby solely for five and a half months, oh yeah!
You only wish you were as cool as me. ;)
Giving birth with no pain meds, "I am woman, hear me roar!"
Mowing the lawn with two small children, in the hot sun nonetheless, winning!
Making a meal, doing the dishes, and tending to the kids, I got that!
Sustaining my baby solely for five and a half months, oh yeah!
You only wish you were as cool as me. ;)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Tomato-Basil-Cheddar Soup
Since I've been lucky enough to stay home with my kids, I've been making more of an effort to make meals for my family every night (or close), and meals that are healthy. I detest the fact that there is high fructose corn syrup in everything. I discovered that there was high fructose corn syrup in Campbell's tomato soup and have since quit using it. That was a good six or more months ago, so I've been looking for solutions of tasty tomato soup options ever since.
Ingredients:
2 28 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
1 yellow onion, chopped (Like always, I don't eat onions so I used a good dusting of onion powder instead)
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tsp olive oil
2 cups vegetable broth (I didn't even attempt to look for this in the store because I knew I wouldn't use it if I had leftovers. Instead I used 2 cups of chicken stock.)
1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup basil, chopped, loosely packed
2 tsp of oregano
1 tsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Over medium heat, add the olive oil to a large pot. Add the chopped onion and allow to cook until tender, about three to four minutes. (Because I didn't do the onion, I threw in the garlic and onion powder together and cooked for the garlic amount of time.) Add in chopped garlic and cook for an additional two minutes. Pour in the two cans of tomatoes (juice and all) and the vegetable stock. Stir in the basil, oregano, sugar, and salt and pepper. Place the lid back onto the pot and allow to simmer ten minutes. At the end, stir in the Greek yogurt and cheddar cheese until well blended. Use either an immersion blender or food processor to puree the soup if you prefer a smooth texture. Garnish with chopped basil and grated cheddar cheese if desired.
I'm not sure if it was the fact that my half cup of basil was not loosely packed or what, but when my husband taste tested this the first time, he said it wasn't super flavorful. After following the directions and ingredient list above, I added more salt, pepper, oregano, and dried basil to make it more flavorful. Pair this soup with homemade bread and some mozzarella cheese grilled up grilled cheese style, and yum! Excellent alternative to store bought soup and it wasn't even hard to make.
Recipe originally from: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/TOMATO-BASIL-AND-CHEDDAR-SOUP-51326821
Ingredients:
2 28 oz. cans of diced tomatoes
1 yellow onion, chopped (Like always, I don't eat onions so I used a good dusting of onion powder instead)
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tsp olive oil
2 cups vegetable broth (I didn't even attempt to look for this in the store because I knew I wouldn't use it if I had leftovers. Instead I used 2 cups of chicken stock.)
1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup basil, chopped, loosely packed
2 tsp of oregano
1 tsp sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Over medium heat, add the olive oil to a large pot. Add the chopped onion and allow to cook until tender, about three to four minutes. (Because I didn't do the onion, I threw in the garlic and onion powder together and cooked for the garlic amount of time.) Add in chopped garlic and cook for an additional two minutes. Pour in the two cans of tomatoes (juice and all) and the vegetable stock. Stir in the basil, oregano, sugar, and salt and pepper. Place the lid back onto the pot and allow to simmer ten minutes. At the end, stir in the Greek yogurt and cheddar cheese until well blended. Use either an immersion blender or food processor to puree the soup if you prefer a smooth texture. Garnish with chopped basil and grated cheddar cheese if desired.
I'm not sure if it was the fact that my half cup of basil was not loosely packed or what, but when my husband taste tested this the first time, he said it wasn't super flavorful. After following the directions and ingredient list above, I added more salt, pepper, oregano, and dried basil to make it more flavorful. Pair this soup with homemade bread and some mozzarella cheese grilled up grilled cheese style, and yum! Excellent alternative to store bought soup and it wasn't even hard to make.
Recipe originally from: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/TOMATO-BASIL-AND-CHEDDAR-SOUP-51326821
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Mom Code Monday: Bodily Fluids
*Since I was a day late on my Sunday post, I'm posting this today so as not to bombard people.
Not all aspects of parenthood are butterflies and unicorns, one such downer item would be bodily fluids. These nasty buggers are just part of your life while your child is young and cannot quite control their own functions.
For example, my 5 month old was sitting in her high chair yesterday, when she began to cry and scream. For my normally pretty docile child, that meant something was wrong. I went to pick her up and noticed a deep yellow-brown color on the front of her onesie. I automatically know what that color means; it means that there is poop coming out of her diaper.....again! It also means a bath and scrubbing out the outfit she was wearing because God forbid she only get it on the onesie. 40 minutes later, all was well with the world until she did the exact same thing 20 minutes later but to a lesser extent (no bathing necessary).
Bodily fluids you must endure as a parent:
-Fecal matter (Did I mention I had to scrub out the outfit by hand? Who doesn't love that? *insert gagging sound*)
-Urine (This is nowhere near as bad, but during potty training, there can be large amounts of it all over your house and you get to play the "how do I get this cleaned up?" game.)
-Drool
-Snot
-Spit up (You've gotta love that hot liquid running down any unexposed skin!)
-Vomit (I like to live in a dream world where my children never do this act, but then reality sets in and I have a mess to clean up.)
-Blood
-Any variation of the aforementioned fluids.
-Anything else you can think of that comes out of your child that you'd rather pull your fingernails out than touch or be near for any length of time.
Not only do you have to see such nastiness in person, but you also have to have the ability and materials to clean up the atrocity.
Bleach wipes/Lysol wipes will be your best friend. A bucket always comes in handy as well as soap, bleach, and rubber gloves. Paper towels will become your new best friend in the potty training stage. A tub. Nothing cleans your child up better then just putting them in the tub and hosing them off. If you have a detachable shower head, you are golden. If you freak out at smells, make sure you have a fan, an air freshener spray, and a face mask. If you have a weak stomach, make sure you have a garbage can or another bucket handy for yourself or you'll have a vicious cycle of cleaning and vomiting on your hands. (maybe literally)
Unfortunately in real life, you can't just do what Adam Sandler does in "Big Daddy" and just throw some newspaper on it, so put on your big girl panties and get the job done!
Last but not least, have a good sense of humor. The ridiculousness of a situation and overwhelming feeling of what do I do now can be overcome with a good laugh. While pregnant and working in a center, I had a child with a fountain of diarrhea. I'll leave it at that, your imagination can fill you in I'm sure. All I could do to handle the situation at first was laugh because of how absurd it all was. Don't be afraid to do the same, you have to make it through the mass of bodily fluids somehow!
Not all aspects of parenthood are butterflies and unicorns, one such downer item would be bodily fluids. These nasty buggers are just part of your life while your child is young and cannot quite control their own functions.
For example, my 5 month old was sitting in her high chair yesterday, when she began to cry and scream. For my normally pretty docile child, that meant something was wrong. I went to pick her up and noticed a deep yellow-brown color on the front of her onesie. I automatically know what that color means; it means that there is poop coming out of her diaper.....again! It also means a bath and scrubbing out the outfit she was wearing because God forbid she only get it on the onesie. 40 minutes later, all was well with the world until she did the exact same thing 20 minutes later but to a lesser extent (no bathing necessary).
Bodily fluids you must endure as a parent:
-Fecal matter (Did I mention I had to scrub out the outfit by hand? Who doesn't love that? *insert gagging sound*)
-Urine (This is nowhere near as bad, but during potty training, there can be large amounts of it all over your house and you get to play the "how do I get this cleaned up?" game.)
-Drool
-Snot
-Spit up (You've gotta love that hot liquid running down any unexposed skin!)
-Vomit (I like to live in a dream world where my children never do this act, but then reality sets in and I have a mess to clean up.)
-Blood
-Any variation of the aforementioned fluids.
-Anything else you can think of that comes out of your child that you'd rather pull your fingernails out than touch or be near for any length of time.
Not only do you have to see such nastiness in person, but you also have to have the ability and materials to clean up the atrocity.
Bleach wipes/Lysol wipes will be your best friend. A bucket always comes in handy as well as soap, bleach, and rubber gloves. Paper towels will become your new best friend in the potty training stage. A tub. Nothing cleans your child up better then just putting them in the tub and hosing them off. If you have a detachable shower head, you are golden. If you freak out at smells, make sure you have a fan, an air freshener spray, and a face mask. If you have a weak stomach, make sure you have a garbage can or another bucket handy for yourself or you'll have a vicious cycle of cleaning and vomiting on your hands. (maybe literally)
Unfortunately in real life, you can't just do what Adam Sandler does in "Big Daddy" and just throw some newspaper on it, so put on your big girl panties and get the job done!
Last but not least, have a good sense of humor. The ridiculousness of a situation and overwhelming feeling of what do I do now can be overcome with a good laugh. While pregnant and working in a center, I had a child with a fountain of diarrhea. I'll leave it at that, your imagination can fill you in I'm sure. All I could do to handle the situation at first was laugh because of how absurd it all was. Don't be afraid to do the same, you have to make it through the mass of bodily fluids somehow!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday Confessional: 7/28/13
I of course forgot to do Sunday Confessional until about 11 o'clock last night when my computer was already shut down for the night.
I have to confess that I may or may not have said something awful to my child in the last week. He was throwing a royal fit while walking home from the library (in front of everyone driving home for lunch). I got down near his ear and may or may not have told him that if he didn't stop throwing a fit and crying, I was going to leave him right there on the side walk for someone else to take.
I know I shouldn't empty-threaten my child or say those things to him in the first place, but he stopped crying. ;)
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Fish Food
Today I was reading The Pout Pout Fish In the Big Big Dark by Deborah Diesen to my kids. At then end of the book they've accomplished the task at hand by supporting and helping each other. It says,"The ocean is wide and the ocean is deep, but friends help friends, that's a promise we keep." Then finishes by saying they (the group of sea creatures) are bigger than the dark. As dumb as this may sound, it occurred to me that that is how we should be as a military family. We should work together to overcome our fears and support one another in our tasks. Together we can be bigger than the dark. We can support each other instead of drag each other down. We can battle the loneliness of the darkness. There are so many people in this world, but we can choose to help each other. No one knows what we go through as a military family except another member of the military.
Food for thought!
Food for thought!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
This is my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I decided I didn't want the tedious task of making all the cookies. Bars are way quicker of a process! We always used this recipe growing up and make I think a quadruple batch. I don't make quite that many, but normally make at least a double batch.
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix shortening, sugars, egg, and vanilla thoroughly. Stir dry ingredients together, blend in. Mix in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2" apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until delicately browned. (Cookies should still be soft.) Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet. (Makes 4 to 5 dozen 2" cookies)
 |
| Creamed "wet" ingredients |
Ingredients:
2/3 cup shortening (part butter or margarine)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional, I never use nuts)
 |
| Cookie dough right before going into the pan |
1 pkg. (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix shortening, sugars, egg, and vanilla thoroughly. Stir dry ingredients together, blend in. Mix in nuts and chocolate chips. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough about 2" apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until delicately browned. (Cookies should still be soft.) Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet. (Makes 4 to 5 dozen 2" cookies)
To make the bars I just greased a 9 x 13 -ish pan and patted the dough into it, then watched it until it became golden brown. It did get a little more brown that I wanted due to outside interruptions, but it still tasted good, and that's all that matters.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Mom Code Monday: Doctors
There is nothing worse than a sick child, except maybe having to take them to the doctor and dealing with a bad seed.
Doctors are necessary often with children, especially young children and the last thing you want to hear when you end up having to take a sick child to the doctor is that it's just a virus and you should let it run it's course. (as your child is screaming bloody murder in your ear, but that's normal so don't worry)
Sometimes I think that their PhD actually stands for, "probably high or drunk." Oh my child has a hundred and eight temperature because it's a virus, perfect! That ring rash on their skin is just an allergy, why didn't I think of that?! Their bone is sticking out of their arm? It's probably just a scratch.
You've got to love doctors that not only tell you there is nothing wrong with your child, but then make it seem like you're the worst mom ever. I've been told before, "sometimes babies cough," after my son had had a cough for 2 weeks. She was more concerned about checking out his anatomy and playing with him. "Is that your p****? Is that your p****? Yes it is, oh yes it is!" Who in their right mind does that? Of all the body parts you could pick, you pick his boy parts? Sicko!
I finally changed doctors from one I didn't approve of (he told me he wasn't going to check my sick child's ears because he was crying and didn't want to upset him more, even though I asked him to) and received a pretty darn good doctor in return. Then I had my daughter and he deployed, go figure.
Here's what I think makes a good doctor:
-They listen to you and I mean really listen and consider what you are saying.
-They don't take any little symptom lightly.
-Even if they think you're crazy, they reassure you nicely and don't make you feel like a fool.
-They're good with your child but not at all creepy.
-They have obvious knowledge of medicine.
-They show they care. (Our doctor who deployed even followed up with a personal phone call after I called the nurse's line.)
Don't be afraid to set some standards for the care of your child(ren) and not take "no" for an answer. We are our child's best advocate. Mom Code!
Doctors are necessary often with children, especially young children and the last thing you want to hear when you end up having to take a sick child to the doctor is that it's just a virus and you should let it run it's course. (as your child is screaming bloody murder in your ear, but that's normal so don't worry)
Sometimes I think that their PhD actually stands for, "probably high or drunk." Oh my child has a hundred and eight temperature because it's a virus, perfect! That ring rash on their skin is just an allergy, why didn't I think of that?! Their bone is sticking out of their arm? It's probably just a scratch.
You've got to love doctors that not only tell you there is nothing wrong with your child, but then make it seem like you're the worst mom ever. I've been told before, "sometimes babies cough," after my son had had a cough for 2 weeks. She was more concerned about checking out his anatomy and playing with him. "Is that your p****? Is that your p****? Yes it is, oh yes it is!" Who in their right mind does that? Of all the body parts you could pick, you pick his boy parts? Sicko!
I finally changed doctors from one I didn't approve of (he told me he wasn't going to check my sick child's ears because he was crying and didn't want to upset him more, even though I asked him to) and received a pretty darn good doctor in return. Then I had my daughter and he deployed, go figure.
Here's what I think makes a good doctor:
-They listen to you and I mean really listen and consider what you are saying.
-They don't take any little symptom lightly.
-Even if they think you're crazy, they reassure you nicely and don't make you feel like a fool.
-They're good with your child but not at all creepy.
-They have obvious knowledge of medicine.
-They show they care. (Our doctor who deployed even followed up with a personal phone call after I called the nurse's line.)
Don't be afraid to set some standards for the care of your child(ren) and not take "no" for an answer. We are our child's best advocate. Mom Code!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Sunday Confessional: 7/21/13
I have to confess that I'm going to eat my way into diabetes, I'm pretty sure of it. I cannot go a day without eating something sweet at least once, but lately it has to be twice a day. Call it a craving to help keep me awake or an addiction, but I need something to survive, preferably chocolate or even better ice cream.
I fail my daughter on a daily basis due to this addiction. Her tummy has a hard time tolerating dairy, like ice cream and apparently chocolate too. I try to limit myself for her sake, but it takes a lot of self control. I tried to give it all up for her to see what makes her spit up so much. I lasted a day and a half. I fail!
They say admitting it is the first step right??
I fail my daughter on a daily basis due to this addiction. Her tummy has a hard time tolerating dairy, like ice cream and apparently chocolate too. I try to limit myself for her sake, but it takes a lot of self control. I tried to give it all up for her to see what makes her spit up so much. I lasted a day and a half. I fail!
They say admitting it is the first step right??
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken and Rice
This recipe is pretty easy, but tasty at the same time so you can't go wrong!
Ingredients:
-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
-1 large onion, chopped (the original recipe says they used a Vidalia onion, I personally detest onions so I just dusted my chicken breasts with onion powder instead)
-1-8 ounce box Zatarain's Yellow Rice Mix, cooked according to the directions
-1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
-1-10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup (regular or fat free)
-1-15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
Directions:
Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. Scatter chopped onion over top.
Spoon cream soup over top of that.
Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. A few minutes before serving, add in rice, corn, and cheese. Stir to combine, serve hot.
When I made this recipe, I of course messed it up. I swear I mess something up every time I make a meal, especially if it's new to me. I couldn't find the right rice, so my husband found a bag of the same type of rice. I didn't even think about the size of it when I cooked it and then added it to the mixture. Well it was more than 8 ounces, I can tell you that much! I added it to the chicken and it was super dry. I ended up adding another can of soup and about 3 cups of water to make it a creamy consistency. I guess that's the beauty of cooking. Thank goodness it still tasted good! Learn from my mistake and make sure you check your ingredients and recipe before you start.
Recipe originally from: http://www.southernplate.com/2010/09/slow-cooker-cheesy-chicken-and-rice-the-downside-of-being-a-swan-princess.html
Ingredients:
-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
-1 large onion, chopped (the original recipe says they used a Vidalia onion, I personally detest onions so I just dusted my chicken breasts with onion powder instead)
-1-8 ounce box Zatarain's Yellow Rice Mix, cooked according to the directions
-1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
-1-10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup (regular or fat free)
-1-15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
Directions:
Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. Scatter chopped onion over top.
Spoon cream soup over top of that.
 |
| Apparently I salted and peppered my chicken as well! |
Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. A few minutes before serving, add in rice, corn, and cheese. Stir to combine, serve hot.
When I made this recipe, I of course messed it up. I swear I mess something up every time I make a meal, especially if it's new to me. I couldn't find the right rice, so my husband found a bag of the same type of rice. I didn't even think about the size of it when I cooked it and then added it to the mixture. Well it was more than 8 ounces, I can tell you that much! I added it to the chicken and it was super dry. I ended up adding another can of soup and about 3 cups of water to make it a creamy consistency. I guess that's the beauty of cooking. Thank goodness it still tasted good! Learn from my mistake and make sure you check your ingredients and recipe before you start.
Recipe originally from: http://www.southernplate.com/2010/09/slow-cooker-cheesy-chicken-and-rice-the-downside-of-being-a-swan-princess.html
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Mom Code Monday: The Bathroom
I missed Mom Code Monday last week for lack of content and then missed it yesterday because I was too busy to think it fully through. Today, it just fell into my lap.
Mom Code for the bathroom states that you go into the bathroom to do your business and get a few minutes of peace and quiet. The reality of being a mom in the bathroom is:
-Screaming
-Crying
-The presence of a child in the bathroom as you do your business.
-Banging on the door.
-The infamous fingers under the door or if you're my child, whatever he can find that fits under the door. i.e. a book, a toy, etc.
-Talking under the door. Apparently my son thinks that he needs to talk to me under the door to be heard.
-Mischief outside the bathroom. (I have to expand on this one. My child is infamous for doing something he shouldn't be doing, while I'm in the bathroom. Even if it is for 2 minutes, something always goes on. Today I went to the bathroom because I was at the point that I couldn't wait anymore. I came back out to my husband who came home for lunch, and son talking about something and "no." I asked what the "no" was about and my husband didn't know what my son was telling him or didn't want to hear it, whatever. I asked my son what was "no." He says, "well I'm sorry." "Sorry for what?" I notice the corn dog box in the garbage. We'd been talking about supper before I went to the bathroom and how my son wanted corn dogs, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn on the cob. He took it upon himself while I was in the bathroom to take the two corn dogs out of the box, stick them in the microwave to make them warm (his theory), and throw the box away. Thank goodness he hasn't quite figured out what buttons to press to actually turn it on. I couldn't help but just laugh and I said something along the lines of I swear I can't go to the bathroom without something happening and that is the honest to goodness truth!)
Not only do children feel the need to create havoc while you use the restroom, but also while you are getting ready for the day and showering. Expect the same type of behaviors as above as well as more mischief and them getting into everything in the bathroom while you get ready. Here is a prime example of what happens when I'm in the shower:
Upon questioning, I was told that he was having a marshmallow party. Sigh....
My favorite times of the week come on the weekend when I can take a shower without this kind of nonsense going on. So moms, when you get that time, revel in it because it is not every day that you can get peace and quiet in the bathroom without expecting something to be wrong when you get out. Live it up!
Mom Code for the bathroom states that you go into the bathroom to do your business and get a few minutes of peace and quiet. The reality of being a mom in the bathroom is:
-Screaming
-Crying
-The presence of a child in the bathroom as you do your business.
-Banging on the door.
-The infamous fingers under the door or if you're my child, whatever he can find that fits under the door. i.e. a book, a toy, etc.
-Talking under the door. Apparently my son thinks that he needs to talk to me under the door to be heard.
-Mischief outside the bathroom. (I have to expand on this one. My child is infamous for doing something he shouldn't be doing, while I'm in the bathroom. Even if it is for 2 minutes, something always goes on. Today I went to the bathroom because I was at the point that I couldn't wait anymore. I came back out to my husband who came home for lunch, and son talking about something and "no." I asked what the "no" was about and my husband didn't know what my son was telling him or didn't want to hear it, whatever. I asked my son what was "no." He says, "well I'm sorry." "Sorry for what?" I notice the corn dog box in the garbage. We'd been talking about supper before I went to the bathroom and how my son wanted corn dogs, mashed potatoes and gravy, and corn on the cob. He took it upon himself while I was in the bathroom to take the two corn dogs out of the box, stick them in the microwave to make them warm (his theory), and throw the box away. Thank goodness he hasn't quite figured out what buttons to press to actually turn it on. I couldn't help but just laugh and I said something along the lines of I swear I can't go to the bathroom without something happening and that is the honest to goodness truth!)
Not only do children feel the need to create havoc while you use the restroom, but also while you are getting ready for the day and showering. Expect the same type of behaviors as above as well as more mischief and them getting into everything in the bathroom while you get ready. Here is a prime example of what happens when I'm in the shower:
My favorite times of the week come on the weekend when I can take a shower without this kind of nonsense going on. So moms, when you get that time, revel in it because it is not every day that you can get peace and quiet in the bathroom without expecting something to be wrong when you get out. Live it up!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Confessional Sunday: 7/14/13
I have to admit something to the world, I love watching drama filled reality tv. I can't get enough of it and I don't know why. I don't enjoy that type of behavior in real life, but I can't look away when it's on tv.
Bravo is the perfect channel for such drama, but don't let other channel names trick you. TLC has some good shows on too!
Here's a list of some that I like:
All of the Real Housewives of...(but Miami or New York)
Breaking Amish
Sister Wives
(one of my new favorites) Pregnant & Dating
My Teen Is Pregnant and So Am I
Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2
16 & Pregnant
Interior Design with Jeff Lewis
The Little Couple
19 Kids and Counting
I will however not partake in watching Honey Boo Boo and some other completely crazy, dumb shows.
These shows and their drama help keep me grounded I think and realize that I never want my life to be like that! I sure do love watching them though!
Bravo is the perfect channel for such drama, but don't let other channel names trick you. TLC has some good shows on too!
Here's a list of some that I like:
All of the Real Housewives of...(but Miami or New York)
Breaking Amish
Sister Wives
(one of my new favorites) Pregnant & Dating
My Teen Is Pregnant and So Am I
Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2
16 & Pregnant
Interior Design with Jeff Lewis
The Little Couple
19 Kids and Counting
I will however not partake in watching Honey Boo Boo and some other completely crazy, dumb shows.
These shows and their drama help keep me grounded I think and realize that I never want my life to be like that! I sure do love watching them though!
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