a crazy mom

There may not be anything strange or extreme about me being a mom. After all, I am a middle aged woman. But sometimes being a mom is HARD.

Yep, big shocker. Being responsible for someone is really, really hard.
So let's discuss the pro's of being a mom.

1. Clean sweep: I get to sweep and sometimes I get to mop multiple times a day. Maybe it's just my monsters but they sure eat like wild animals. (I should probably not refer to them as monsters if I don't want them to act as such). Pro: I have clean floors, even if it's just for a minute. And sweeping burns calories.

2. Cardio: I don't get to sit down for long periods of time. Said monsters from above need supervision. If it's quiet, then I especially need to be alert; if it's loud, something is probably being broken or disassembled; if they are hungry, I have to feed them. And so on...But I burn many calories each day.

3. Dishes! Yes, who doesn't love to do dishes. Thanks heavens for a dishwasher. With 3 little rugrats, I'm doing dishes way more than seems reasonable. Add that up on my calorie burn for the day.

4. Stories! Not only do I get to read stories. I also get to hear some of the most amazing stories. Just in the 10 minutes of carpool I have learned some interesting things about my neighbors. But they also have awesome imaginations. For instance, did you know that Big Foot was spotted right by my house? Yep, so true and don't even get me started on the zombies. Pro: my kids are not boring. Plus, I get dirt on the neighbors!

5. Love, hate and everything in between. My kids are so good about saying I love you, especially when they want something. But sometimes they tell me they hate me. And that's when I know I was really a mom! A really, really, good mom!

6. Wounds. Now, this can go in many directions. I do get to kiss lots of boo boo's from active children. Thankfully, we've only had 1 broken bone! Lots of scrapes and bruises though. But I will tell you, stepping on a lego, matchbox car, t-rex, block, game piece, is by far the worst pain I have ever felt. I've never drawn blood but it feels like a knife has just serrated through my foot and twisted itself. Pro: hopping on one foot and holding back the cursing = calorie burn.

7. Keeping those reflexes sharp. Have you ever seen someone move as fast as a mother that see's her child in danger. I didn't think so. Example. Stupid shopping carts. One tiny buckle over the lap of my child doesn't hold them in place, they need a minimum of 5 point harness. Without fail, my child will climb out of said shopping cart and attempt to escape like a tiny little dare devil. And without fail they nearly fall head first out of the shopping cart. In which case my spidey  mom sense kicks in and I grab them with 1 hand by their leg. Pro: Nothing like a little adrenalin rush. And once again more calorie burn

8. Speed drills. I'm not talking about running here. I'm talking about going to the bathroom. You know what I mean. Even though, there might be times you want to lock yourself in and have just a moment. It's not going to happen and nothing takes away the mood like a small child's hand reaching under the door and the constant knocking and more than likely, crying that happens when you disappear from their sites. Pro: you guessed it...calorie burn.

9. Quiz time! Not only do kids ask why a lot, they also ask questions about things you may know nothing about. And you know when you have to answer a question about Pokemon you have to be real creative!!! Pro: keeping the brain in working condition.

10. Cheap entertainment! I can't even count the number of times I just sit back and watch the chaos and laugh. Or when your kids says something that really just hits a funny chord in you and you laugh. My kids are notorious for saying and doing  the craziest things. Pro: ab workout (aka calorie burn) and a good mood.

So, if you are considering having children, but you are scared. You probably should be. I know I have never regretted a day of being a mom. There definitely isn't much glamour to the business and don't get me started on the pay. But day in and day out I get to be with those I love and most of the time they love me too!

The girl next door!

I can tell you exactly where I was when I heard the news. I remember all the details of that moment. And that feeling of unbelief, followed by pure sadness.

I'm sure most of us have experienced something similar to this in life. I recall my mom telling me about where she was when she learned that JFK was shot and killed and detailing that day as if it had just happened. The same applies to September 11, 2001. While those events are significant, it's the things close to home that seem to resonate within the soul.

April 3, 2014

My children sat at the bar. My oldest was working on his math homework. I was on the phone with my husband as he drove home from work. I looked out the sliding glass door as my neighbor came across the backyard, dressed in his church attire. He knocked on the door and asked me if I’d heard about next door. I said no. His response, “be prepared for a bomb!” I hushed my husband and told him he had to hear this. “Katie and Taylor were driving home from their grandpas house, they were hit and both of them were killed.” All I could say was “no!”

But IT was real. I wandered out into the backyard holding the phone but just silence echoed on the other end. I had a million thoughts going through my brain. How do we tell the kids? Maybe they already heard. What do we do? And then I began to reflect on their family.

In the weeks before the accident I started noticing our next door neighbors more. I had a strong impression to be a better neighbor be a little more friendly, more outgoing and be a little more involved with them. And although I had good intentions, things just never seemed to fall into place the way I had planned.
Now, that impression I had feels like a bad tattoo and my desire to do more for my neighbors has increased because even though they may not have known it, they have done so much for me.

Taylor was always so nice, he waved at everyone. He would stop whatever he was doing to wave. It was something I looked forward to everyday as I pulled into my driveway.  In the morning as I would leave to take my oldest to school he would wait at the edge of my driveway and make sure that all the kids waiting at the bus stop were safe. As the weather got warmer I would often hear the sound of a basketball against the cement as Taylor practiced his shooting and dribbling. My boys would run outside and my 4 year old would say “I’m going to play with my friend, Taylor.” Twelve year old Taylor would smile and wave to me and say “they can stay out here, I’ll watch them.” I would even find him assisting my little four year old to make baskets.

Katie was 16. She was really pretty and popular. You could tell she was the life of the party. My boys loved having her babysit them. We often called her over last minute to sit with the kids. She was fun and ALWAYS smiling. She was the first non-family member that we allowed to watch our baby girl. My daughter was just 5 months at the time and as a 15 year old, Katie reassured me as we went out the door that everything would be fine.

Over a year has passed since I listened to the calming words of Katie tell me that everything would be fine but, over the last month, those words have carried me through many sleepless nights. And just like I could always depend on Taylor to wave as we drove by, there is no doubt that he is still watching over my kids.

I hope that others can depend on me to reassure them in times of need.
I hope I can be more like the girl next door!