Endless Pursuit for Mom of the Year

“I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.   ~ Anais Nin   ----------------------------   First and foremost, I love how you can time my blog posts right along with how busy my life might be at the time.  No posts, no time.  I definitely need to work on that because all work and no blogging makes for an unbalanced mommy.    So, it's New Year's Eve and in perfect mom of the year fashion, I thought maybe I should make some resolutions.  Therefore, I got out my trusty pen and a notepad and went straight to work.  Yep!  That's as far as I got.   Sure, I could put down to exercise more.  Drink less Starbucks.  Work less and play more.  I could do all of those things.  However, aren't resolutions, when intended to make us better, really just tiny boxes we try to fit ourselves into?  In my experience, no ...

Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you. ~ Madeline Bridge ----------------------------------- I received my Christmas gift early this year.  A gift so precious and kind that it made me wonder, have I really been holding the award I've been chasing the entire time?  Every student in daughter of the year #1's class got a dollar a few weeks ago.  The lesson was to talk about what you could buy with a dollar.  The students found that wasn't very much.  Then, they talked about what they could buy if the put all of their money together for a total of $21.00.  There was much more they could buy with that amount of money.  Then, their teacher explained to them they could buy a flock of chicks for a poor family with that money.  It was then discussed what these chicks could do for this family and that they could also have more chicks and give those away to another poor family.  It was the ultimate lesson in payin...

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.  ~ Kahlil Gibran ------------------------------------------ Well, here it comes folks. The blog that will either keep you reading or destroy whatever relationship we've been having.  Either way, what I write here is mine.  I made absolutely no claim at perfection, although you really should have known that already by the title of this blog.  While this was difficult to write and took quite a bit of reflection, again, it is truly my own.  After days of pondering and writing, daughter of the year #1 gave me a big sign tonight that I was finally ready to post this.  Dad of the year suffered a loss in his family recently and, in my mind, the worst kind.  The one that creeps up on you and surprises you with grief you didn't think you would have.  Or should I say, grief you didn't think you would need to work th...

I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist.   ~ Tammy Faye Bakker ------------------------------------------------------------ Ah, Black Friday shopping.  By now, I'm sure most everyone has read an article, seen a news story, possibly even watched a You Tube video that shows the insanity that consumes some shoppers on this day in the hunt for the really good bargain.  It's pure insanity at its best!  My family has been black Friday shopping for some time now.  I know we didn't always do it and I can't quite place when exactly it started.  We don't always go for a deal (sometimes we do).  We don't always sleep before we go (certainly didn't this year).  But most of all, we go for the entertainment value it brings.  We've been known to sing songs, show customers where to find the product they are looking for, hold a place in line while someone runs for that one item they forgot, even fake labor.  No, we didn't...

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~ Dr. Seuss --------------------------  I'm amazed by the lessons handed to us in everyday life.  I believe that most people walk through life completely unaware of these lessons.  Your eyes must be wide open.  Your ears must be ready to listen.  Sure, some lessons are hard.  Others, are simple.  After this week, I find myself more keenly aware to those who have either not heard or seen the lesson, or are simly just too stubborn to find the value.  I also believe I've found a connection between not learning the lesson and lacking in self-awareness.  Ah, that's awfully deep for this mom of the year, right? Daughter of the year #1 joined a Brownie Troop.  She's only had a few meetings, but already knows many of the girls.  She had a meeting last week and while I didn't stay for the meeting, I understand quite a t...

Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip.  ~ Will Rogers ------------------------------------------- I start many blog posts this way, but I'll say it again.  Those who know me best would know that I live life with few regrets.  I am who I am and I know that can't be changed.  I'm funny, a little bit crazy and, at times, a bit inappropriate (just ask my mother).  The biggest difference is that I know these things about myself.  As I said, I am who I am.   However, it never dawned on me that a simple t-shirt could embarrass daughter of the year #1 in such a big manner.  I bought the t-shirt above the minute it hit the racks where I work.  It went nicely in my closet with my "Sarcastic Comment Loading" t-shirt, which hangs by my  Wizard of Oz shirt that says "Did the Wizard ever get back to you about that brain?"  Folded near them is my "Motherhood is not for sissies" t-shirt, ...

Men are simple things. They can survive a whole weekend with only three things: beer, boxer shorts and batteries for the remote control. ~ Diana Jordan ----------------------------------------------------------- I've said it before and I'll say it again - men and women are just completely different creatures.  For instance, I had the day off work today.  I would have loved to spend it watching old episodes of Say Yes to the Dress, or the  mounds of things on our DVR or even, (gasp) a chick flick.  Instead, I spent the day going room by room, and cleaning our horrendously dirty house.  What would dad of the year have done?  Definitely DVR!  Now, I'm not complaining and I'm not faulting him for his choices.  There are days I do partake in the lesser of the domesticated duties and spend my afternoon with my feet on the coffee table watching a movie like Letters to Juliet and crying my eyes out.  Have I mentioned I'm a sucker for chick fli...

Three can keep a secret if two are dead. ~ Benjamin Franklin ------------------------------------ Secrets.  They are a funny thing sometimes.  Especially when a child has been asked to keep one and, before you know it, they are rattling it off in their complete, matter-of-fact way, as if to say, hey, it's no big deal.  Some of the conversations that make me tense up most are the ones that contain the words, I told my teacher today about that funny thing you did.  Eek, what had I done that was funny?  Maybe the bigger question is, what had I done that was appropriately funny.  Oh boy! Any attempt to protect the innocent in this post is impossible.  The story is simply just so hilarious, I had to write about it.  My apologies to grandpa of the year in advance.  We sure do love you! On the way home tonight, I took daughter of the year #1 to buy a birthday present for daughter of the year #2.  As we headed home, I realized my ca...

We've been playing games with each other. We've been trying to see who can outsmart each other.  ~ Sugar Minott --------------------------------------------------- We play lots of games in our house.  Anything from Monopoly Jr to garbage, Uno and the Fancy Nancy Posh Bedroom game.  We love playing games.  Recently, daughter of the year #2 took to playing hide and seek.  I'm not sure when it started but I'm guessing it is something her sister taught her.  However, she is sneaky!  Her amazing stealth mode and knack for being very quiet (obviously taught well by her sister) created a tiny panic for this mom of the year.  It went like most other nights when we all get home from work/school/daycare.  Partially through preparing dinner, dad of the year realizes that he hasn't heard daughter of the year #2.  That most often equates to trouble, or coloring on the wall.  I didn't panic until I heard him call her name a bit mor...

The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears. ~ Unknown ------------------------------------------------------- Daughter of the year #1 came home tonight and we had the typical "how was your day?" conversation.  I got the usual response.  But, today is Wednesday.  Ever since our troubles with bullying, she has been seeing the school's family resource counselor once a week, just to talk about how to use words to cope with the mean people we encounter in our lives.  Therefore, I probed a bit more about her meeting with the counselor as she looks forward to her time with her.  I'd had a tough week, perhaps she could teach me a few things.  Little did I know.  "We read a book today, mom," she said.  "What book did you read?"  I asked.  "It was about a rainbow fish," she said.  Now, when daughter of the year #1 talks about a book, you rarely get the feel of what the book is actually about.  We've heard lots about...

I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said.  ~ Alan Greenspan ------------------------------------------------------ A ritual in our house is for me to ask daughter of the year #1 how her day went at school.  Some days I get a lengthy explanation.  Most days I get very little.  A few days I get invited to a pitty party.  Other days I get more detailed information.  Perhaps I am too used to getting little, if anything from her, which could be the single reason for this very big misunderstanding.   "What did you do in school today?" I ask, prepared to get the most common response, nothing.  "We read stories and did math," she responds.  Hey, an actual response. "Yeah," I say back, knowing I'm only half paying attention. "And, we talked about the BFD," she concludes.  I don't know about you, but the BFD means something very different in my mind.  I...

Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. ~ Robert Fulghum ----------------------------------------------- We're going through a phase.  As daughter of the year #2 grows closer to two, she spends more and more time exploring her precociousness.  She loves to sing, and play with Barbies, pull her sister's hair and most of all, draw and color.  Let's see...she has colored on the carpet, on our leather sofa, on daughter of the year #1's coloring contest sheet - just about anywhere she can.  I had to work today.  When I returned home, dad of the year encouraged me to check out the stairwell to our basement.  That's when I saw it.  Two pencils, laid nearly perfect on the stairs and a wonderful "picture" on our wall.  It was left in pristine condition until I arrived home.  I think the last person who drew on the wall also did so unde...

Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.  ~ Richard L. Evans -------------------------------------------------------- I love kids!  There is nothing more beautiful, loving and completely ready to soak up the world.  It's no secret that I love the funny things they say as they are trying to discover the world.  I feel like I should carry a notepad so I don't forget the spur-of-the-moment phrases that come out of their mouths.  Hey, I'm always looking for good material!  One of my life goals was to write a book.  I didn't think it would be a children's book, but I like to say that I happened to be, quite literally, in the right place at the right time.  It seems that was so long ago.  It was at a time there was no thought of a second daughter of the year.  We were simply basking in the glory of having survived the terrible twos.  I think the most exciting par...

Once you choose hope, anything's possible .  ~ Christopher Reeve ------------------------------------------------- I've been in what I refer to as a "funk."  It started about a week ago and hasn't left.  Each day seems to worsen.  Many times, I've felt I'm on a roller coaster where I'm in the final car and I can't see where we're going.  Is there a twist or a turn coming up?  I couldn't tell you.  Many thanks to those who have put up with me, especially dad of the year.  After all, we know he'd rather be subjected to rolling in a thorn bush naked and then forced to watch The Notebook over and over again than to deal with large amounts of estrogen.  Sorry, honey!  Today, I figured it out.  The funk is actually some strange form of grief.  According to Google, at about step number 4 of a 7 step process to be exact.  I swore I wouldn't get caught up in it.  I knew I couldn't identify with it in any way....

As a child, my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. ~ Buddy Hackett --------------------------------------------------------- I used to love cooking.  I would spend hours combing through cookbooks for new recipes.  Countless hours in the kitchen left me creating masterpiece meals.  I even fed the majority of my husband's co-workers on an ongoing basis.  I loved making people happy through food.  Hey, it's a family thing.  Then, something happened.  I had kids.   Now, before you judge me, eating healthy food is important.  However, there are days, when trying to please the pickiest of eaters like daughter of the year #1 seems simply unattainable.  I suppose this is the ultimate revenge from my mother.  She survived raising me, the second pickiest eater on the planet but, not without casting some sort of motherly hex to be sure I had a child just like me.  Blessing or a curse - I haven't decided yet. ...

When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.  ~ John M. Richardson Jr. ---------------------------------------------------------- There are three women in our household.  One is simply going through an emotional phase and another is going through terrible two's.  No, I'm not either one of those.  If you count the dog, dad of the year is simply outnumbered!  Our nights are often filled with no-no's, random screaming, incessant use of shirt tugging followed by "mom...mom...mom...mom", searching for homework and tripping on shoes left in the middle of the kitchen.  While it's hectic and loud, I can't imagine it any other way.  Ask dad of the year, and he'd simply like a little less emotion, or as he refers to it - estrogen.  I'm what some may refer to as a child of the 80's.  If growing up loving Madonna music, remembering the Challenger ...