Endless Pursuit for Mom of the Year

Children are unpredictable.  You never know what inconsistency they're going to catch you in next.  ~ Franklin P. Jones -------------------------- Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!  We spent the day relaxing and making sure dad of the year got to do all of his favorite things.  That is, aside from a little shopping trip. Imagine my surprise when daughter of the year #1 sprung on me that she wanted to go shopping for bras.  I mean, I shouldn't be, but I guess that part of me that doesn't want her to grow up wishes she'd slow down just a little.  But I know I can't stop that speeding freight train!  She shares everything with her dad.  Not yet at that age where she is embarrassed by his jokes or how he dresses or how uncool he is because he won't let her go out with her friends to do things we know would only result in trouble.  So, he was fully aware she wanted to go shopping.  Now, I love this man with al...

When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~ Joyce Brothers -------------------------------------- This weekend, our family celebrated the wedding of nephew of the year #1.  We are so happy to have welcomed niece-in-law of the year to our family.  She fits right in amongst our crazy, loud, emotional, loving family.  All I can say is this sappy mom of the year had one heck of a time keeping a dry eye at this wedding.  Oy!  Dad of the year and I entered the weekend with a bit of bad news - learning our beloved family dog has cancer.  While this post is not going to be about the sadness we've gone back and forth with this weekend, it is about how this coming together with family could remind me that these bonds are ones I truly treasure.  They are the heart and soul of what is important to me.  For this family and this family only could make me laugh, cry, scream and love in a way that takes ...

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one. ~ Jill Churchill ------------------------------------- Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there.  I know, I'm late.  However, I am typing this in leopard print and my sandals with heels, so does that at least make me fashionably late?  Ugh, bad joke.   Last year, I wrote about lessons learned from my mom.  I love my mom with all of my being, however I know that I'm not much like her.  I look like her and I do have some of her mannerisms, but I definitely took after dad mostly.  So, there was a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor with that post.  This year, I'm going to go a bit of a different direction, so hang with me here.  The recent cover of Time magazine showing the mom with what appears to be a grown child on a stool so he can breast feed has blown up all over the blogosphere, particularly the ...

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...