Endless Pursuit for Mom of the Year

The first sign of maturity is the discovery that the volume knob also turns to the left.  ~ Jerry M. Wright -------------------------------------- I awoke this morning with the realization I have less than 30 days in my 30's.  I won't lead you to believe it was a profound experience.  No, I wasn't sobbing in my bed over my lost youth.  I did, however, spend a little time pondering where (ahem, in my youth) I thought I would be at this point in life.  After making a list of items for a co-worker to accomplish before her "big" birthday, I decided to do the same.  So, here goes, 15 things I will attempt to accomplish or do more of in the last few days in my 30's.   1.  Wear a suit.  I am not sure why, but I always thought I would have a job where I wore a suit to work every day.  I am so glad I don't have that type of job, but I do own a suit.  I should break that out soon.   2.  Make a difference i...

Anyone who believes the competitive spirit in America is dead has never been in a supermarket when the cashier opens another checkout line. ~Ann Landers -------------------------------- First, I would be remiss if I did not at least mention my very long hiatus.  Last June, I decided to take a writer's workshop that then led me to believe I could finally write that book I have always dreamt about.  So, I committed.  I wrote an outline.  I carved out time.  I set deadlines.  I even told myself I would keep up with the blogging in the meantime.  After all, it would be inspiration.  Some real, I am woman hear me roar shit.   So, here I sit, 3-and-a-half months after setting all those deadlines, with very few of them met.  I went through a spurt of beating myself up, but in the end, it's MY book and I'll finish it when I finish it!  Instead of saying I have failed, I'm just going to tell everyone I have really been...

An apology is the superglue of life.  It can repair just about anything.   ~ Lynn Johnston ----------------------------------------- It all happened over a Starbucks strawberries and creme frappuccino.  The moment I realized, I am a  distracted parent.  I never, ever intended to be.  But, I clearly am.  Always leaving my smart gadget within reach.  Reading emails at all hours of the day.  Responding even while on vacation.  Always work-work-working.  I wasn't always this way and I'm not sure I even know when it started.  What I do know is that it is part of my work ethic.  Try as I may, I've never been able to curb it.  That is until the reality of what this is doing to my kids set in.   Daughter of the year #2 really wanted her sister to go with us to take her to daycare.  So we all piled into my car to accommodate her request.   As we pulled up to daycare, a work issue came to...

Newlyweds become oldyweds and oldyweds are the reason that families work. ~Author Unknown -------------------------------------------- Today, we celebrate two wonderful things, my parents 50th wedding anniversary and my niece, G-money's, 16th birthday.  I'm pondering if I should have waited to compose this message, because there will be many memories from this weekend, but decided to go ahead.  Where do I start? It all began with nutmeg.  I've heard the story many times.  My great-aunt sent my mother to the store for nutmeg, knowing it was hard to find and that hopefully my mother would ask the cute boy who worked there where to find it.  I can't quite remember but I think there were several trips for nutmeg that summer and the rest was history.  Unbelievably, my mother returned home to South Dakota.  They continued to correspond through letters.  Sorry, the thought of my father sending letters, well, he must have been in love! ...

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. ~ Author Unknown ----------------------------------------- A few months ago, my mentor in parenting, or dad as I call him, celebrated a big birthday.  I won't mention the number here because, to me, he doesn't seem to be that age.  However, when I was little, I remember thinking that age was like having one foot in the grave.  I see the error of my ways now.  We all think a little stupid when we're young, right? While I promised this post months ago, it just never happened.  Growing up knowing that plans could change on a dime when it came to my father, I have a feeling he will clearly understand my predicament.  Sorry dad, life just simply got in the way.   Nearly every day, something comes out of my mouth that makes me realize I am so much more like my dad than my mom.  I look like her, but I'm dad through and through.  I remember watching him as a kid, clean sha...

Patience: A minor form of despair disguised as a virtue.   ~ Ambrose Bierce --------------------------------- There she stands.  Hip popped, foot tapping.  As if I'd kept her waiting all her massive lifetime of three years.  Angry that I locked the door and kept her out.  Furious that I took a moment to put myself first.  Leaving me with a realization that, her future at four remains yet to be seen.   What caused this sudden onset of dismay?  What could cause this otherwise sweet girl to bang on a door like a tyrant?  What could have pushed her to the brink of nearly tearing off a door knob?  The bathroom my friends, the bathroom.   You see, it's been a good nine years since I have had a moment of privacy in the bathroom.  Now, I'm not talking about actual bathroom time.  Well, at least not all the time.   It would be nice to get ready in the morning, brush my teeth, even remove my contact...

  I love being married.  It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.    ~Rita Rudner   ------------------------------------   This weekend, my nephew, I'll call him Q, is getting married.  I still can't believe it.  Not overly interested in dating all growing up, we were shocked when we heard about his lovely fiance, let's call her B.  They are like peanut butter and jelly, wine and cheese, a hamburger patty and a bun, Simon and Garfunkel - better together than they are apart.  I truly believe everyone should have the pleasure of finding that one person you are meant to spend a lifetime with and enjoy every minute of it.  In honor of their wedding, I'm going to bring out somewhat of an oldie, but a goodie.  My advice, written in a previous blog post, on marriage.  Don't worry, I made edits so it's like it's all shiny and new again!  This wa...

The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.   ~ John Vance Cheney ------------------------------ Like many parents, I sat for days and watched the news with information littering the screen about the Boston Marathon bombing.  I felt numb.  By numb, I don’t mean in a way that makes me have no feelings, no thoughts, no irrational fears, nor emotions.  However, I do fear this numbness is a kind of desensitization, and the thought of that scares me a little.  In my opinion, we’ve seen too much tragedy in my lifetime including Oklahoma City, 9/11, Newtown, the Boston Marathon and countless more.  All things I never feared whatsoever as a child.  Then again, I walked to and from school at the age of 9.  Cell phones didn’t exist.  I grew up thinking nothing could be worse than the Challenger explosion and hijacking airplanes in foreign countries.  All things that I knew deep down would never touch me ...