Endless Pursuit for Mom of the Year

When I shop, the world gets better,  and the world is better, but then it's not,  and I need to do it again. (Confessions of a Shopaholic-the movie) ~ Sophie Kinsella --------------------------------------------- I love to shop.   I mean, I  love to shop.  I'm not sure I remember a time when I didn't love shopping.  No matter what place, what time, or what item, I wish I could shop every day.  It's probably better that I don't have that type of freedom or my bank account would be non-existent.   However, it's pretty tough to be the mom of two girls who don't so much like to shop.  I know, daughters of the year aren't that old yet, so you're probably thinking, give it time.  I would hope in time they would come out of it or I see lots of shopping by myself in my future.   This weekend, dad of the year decided to take me to one of my most favorite places to shop - Coach!  No, I do not have a closet fu...

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~ Clarence Budington Kelland ------------------- Daughter of the year #1 is an incredibly picky eater.  It drives me nuts!  I know this is really some sort of sick revenge from my mother as I, too, was a horribly picky eater.  I also accept full responsibility for her picky eating by not always forcing her to eat what we eat.  Most nights, I end up feeling like a short order cook.  I make our dinner and then determine if daughters of the year will eat that and sometimes, mostly when I'm really tired and not up for a fight, I will make something else for the girls.  Hey, I said I accept full responsibility, so don't bust my chops, OK? You would think with the way I dread dinnertime, I'd be much thinner than I am.  However, night after night I give in more than I should and make more than one meal.  Frankly, it's exhausting.  I also see how I am no...

Lent, which seems so long, is short at other men's tables.   ~ Italian Proverb ----------------------------------- I was raised Catholic.  Therefore, that meant church not only on Sundays but also holy days.  Easter was always the toughest and involved marathon church goings.  And that brings me to  Lent.  I hadn't really given up anything in a while.  Aside from that year I gave up swearing.  We can all guess how far I got in that sacrifice.  This year, I felt inspired through a co-worker to actually give something up, truly sacrifice, and stick to it.  After all, she not only gives up something new but also everything she has given up in the past.  Wow!  Seriously, I couldn't give up one little thing?  Eee-gads, what was I teaching my children?!?! So, I pondered.  I contemplated.  I decided.  I stuck to it.  I gave up something I felt would be a challenge for me - food!  Specifically, Panda E...

Today, watching television often means fighting,  violence and foul language -  and that's just deciding who gets to   hold the remote control. ~ Donna Gephart ------------------------------------------ I'm a reality TV junkie.  There!  I said it!  Now, you may commence with judging me.   As many of you may have heard, dad of the year is out of town.  You may also know I've been rather outspoken about what his absence means to me - ruling the remote.  In order to get you to fully understand, this means one week of no shows about alligator hunting, mining for gold, grown men converting mini-vans into rafts, or Larry the Cable guy.  Ok, that sentence may get me into a bit of trouble.  Sorry, honey!  Perhaps you're into gold, fish or other shows involving accents so thick subtitles are needed.  I happen to be into housewives, ballerinas, and wedding dresses - and yes, sometimes those shows need subtitles too.   To ea...