The Somewhat Sane Mom

Make Extra Money from Home!

2013-05-21T16:49:00.003-04:00

There have been MANY times when I wanted to find a legit way to make extra money from home.

I already belong to a few sites where you can earn extra cash for things like going through them when online shopping. For example, Ebates is awesome! You can join and check it out for yourself. Use this email as a reference if you do: ktmanley04@aol.com

BUT...after reading about another site called Zip Nada Zilch on a blog that I follow, I realized that there are other ways to earn extra money. I dragged my feet for over a month when it came to signing up on this site. Then when I did, I realized how easy it was!

Here is all you do:

1. Follow my link to sign up. Make sure you sign up completely. Select the way you want to get paid, because yes, you will get paid! I chose PayPal because that is the easiest, fastest way.

2. Complete only ONE offer (The offers are simple! I did a free offer and as long as I remember to cancel within the time period, it doesn't cost me a penny.)

3. Once you complete only ONE offer, you can then use the referral link they gave you to refer other friends.

4. For each person you refer, you get $20 via PayPal.

It's as simple as that!!!! So easy and they pay you right away!

Of course, you are not going to be rolling in the dough. But it's extra money for groceries, a night out, or maybe a new outfit (for you, not the kids!!!).

You can get started right NOW by following this link!

Give Me 5 for Friday: Dear Teenage Me...

2013-05-17T14:37:00.002-04:00

There are so many sayings...

Hindsight is 20/20.

If I knew then what I know now.

I would go back and do it all again.

Really, how cool would it be? To know what you know now and to be able to go back and do it all again. Would you do it? Would you change anything?

Let me say right now that I enjoyed my teenage years. I liked high school. It wasn't some horrible experience at all. I had many friends then that I still keep in touch with today. I played sports. I got good grades. I really had a good run for those 4 years.

But there are some things that I might want to tweak a bit. There are many things that I wish I could have told my teenage self...that would have made those years all the better.

I decided to write a little letter to myself...in case time travel ever becomes possible. You never know.

So here are 5 things I would like to tell teenage me.

Dear Teenage Me,

First, don't cut bangs. Even if you think it might be a good idea...don't. Trust me on this one.

Second, embrace your hair. Use some product and try to find the right ones. Hair Gel is not a good option for you.

Third, I know it sucks wearing two to three sports bras when you play field hockey and lacrosse, but don't sweat it. It will get better. People won't always refer to you as "the girl with the curly hair and big boobs". In a few short years you will have a breast reduction...and even after you have children, you will still be in pretty good shape in that region. Everywhere else will be a hot mess, but the surgery will hold up well so take comfort in that one little fact.

Fourth, rock that vanity tag on your Saturn that says "IMKT" with pride. You will laugh about it for years and years.

Finally, if you don't quite trust a friend, follow your gut. Don't tell her shit that you don't want people to know. But if you do, make sure you also have some leverage...a little inside info, if you know what I mean.

PS. And one more thing...when you find a red sequined, turtleneck style prom dress, keep looking. It is not as fabulous as you think it is.

8 years ago today, I became a mom.

2013-05-09T10:01:00.003-04:00

It was a Monday. The day after Mother's Day. I had hoped she would arrive on Mother's Day...just because I thought it would be cool.

And I was huge. And I was anxious. And I wanted to get the show on the road.

I was scheduled to be induced that Monday (because again, I was HUGE...and the doctor ~~had me petrified~~ was concerned that I wouldn't be able to deliver such a large baby if we didn't induce).

It was a long day. Within hours I was 8 cm. My doctor was convinced it would be smooth sailing.

I never got past 8 cm. Her ~~giant~~ delicate little baby head was stuck.

Finally my doctor said, "Are you over this?"

After 15 hours, I was over it. So we threw in the towel...although I am not sure having a c-section is "throwing in the towel".

After about 30 minutes, we met our first born...our first daughter. (The first of 3 girls?! We NEVER would have expected that.)

She was perfect. I know parents say that...or have to say it. But she really was perfect. Her head was perfect, her skin was perfect. She was perfect.

That feels like so long ago...but also like it was just yesterday.

I have learned so much in these past 8 years.

I have learned to put someone's needs in front of my own. I have learned to be patient, when it seems like it is impossible. I have learned to let things go. I have learned that I don't know everything...and that it's okay to mess up sometimes. I have learned what is truly important in life. I have learned what it is like to love another human being more than words can describe.

I have learned what it means to be a mother.

And I'm still learning.

5/9/05

Give Me 5 for Friday: Carnivals are Pure Evil

2013-05-03T14:50:00.000-04:00

Unless you can sit in the beer tent all night, carnivals suck. There, I said it.

I'm not some party pooper who doesn't want my kids to have a good time. I LOVE when my kids are having fun.

I guess they had some fun at our church carnival this week...it was just hard to see the fun through the tears, tantrums, and dollar bills steadily leaving my wallet.

Here's the deal. When you take your kids to the carnival, you just have to be mentally prepared for torture. If you know it is going to take every ounce of your patience to get through it, maybe you can save up your strength through the day and be armed and ready to go.

Here are 5 reasons why carnivals are evil:

1. Height restrictions.
I understand that there have to be height restrictions for rides to keep kids safe. But it's super cool when the guy operating the ride has a homemade PVC pipe height limit thingamagiggy and they stand at the entrance of the line turning away kids that have already been waiting for a bit. It is even cooler when your 4 year old waits in the line for the only ride she has talked about going on and gets turned away at the gate because she didn't make the cut and then she sits on the ground and cries. SUPER AWESOME and SO FUN.

2. Rides that have been in use for about 30 years.
You know that some of those carnival rides are the same ones you rode when you were 12. Come on. Like the Zipper? That ride was making noises that came straight from the pits of hell. I was totally waiting for one of the cages to open and send kids plummeting 2 stories to the ground.

The Zipper, clearly the same ride in 2013 as the one at my 8th grade school carnival in 1992.

3. "Mom, you will have to go on this one with her."
Those are the words that I heard when my 4 year old was too short for the "Extreme". So of course I got on. Let me say, I am too old for that shit. Although I LOVE rides (the bigger, the better), I don't like rides that whip you in circles around rusted axles that make you feel like you most certainly will be thrown into the crowd of carnival-goers. I am TOO OLD for that shit. I know too much. I have seen the news. I could imagine the headlines...

"Ride Malfunctions and throws Mom and 3 young girls into crowd of carnival-goers. Many injured. Authorities say ride had not been inspected since 1986."

The "Extreme"...better known as The Sizzler back in my day.

4. "Reasonably" priced games and concessions.
Can you sense the sarcasm here?
Honestly, I didn't have a problem spending some money because it was a carnival for our church. My husband volunteered to work a night there and I made cookies for the bake sale. I know that the church depends on this carnival to raise money. I know that. But I dropped $40 in two nights on ride tickets, over $20 on food, and more spent on raffles and games. It's cool though. My kids will be eating hot dogs and ramen noodles all next week for dinner.

5. Not a crowd pleaser.
Although the kids had fun at certain times of the night...there were many times when one or more were unhappy. The big kids went on a ride, the 2 year old screamed. The big kids went on the fun house, the 4 year old made it halfway through and started crying at the bridge because she thought it was going to break (I don't blame her). She hauled ass all the way back to the entrance...which included going UP the slide and DOWN the rope wall. Pretty impressive. The older girls wanted snow cones, the 2 year old wanted funnel cake. It turns out, apparently she thought she was getting birthday cake...because when she saw the funnel cake, saying was disappointed would be an understatement.

Again, friends, I am NOT a party pooper. I love rides. I love the boardwalk at the beach. We have taken the kids to Disney World 4 times. It is just my personal opinion that carnivals are evil.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Disclaimer: My kids are not some little spoiled brats that have tantrums in public when I don't indulge their every wish. Alrighty? So don't even go there. The carnival brings it out in them, I swear. That's why it's evil. Oh, and I am also just trying to vent and have a laugh about it.

10 Reasons Why I Want to Borrow a Newborn

2013-05-01T08:50:00.003-04:00

I mentioned this morning on my facebook page that I wanted to borrow a newborn for the day. I'm not going to go all crazy and like, keep it or anything. Because those things grow up super fast and the next thing you know they are throwing themselves on the floor of Target because they want a $34.99 Lalaloopsy doll (and spilling their Icee all over the doll aisle). So, I promise I'll give it back. TRUST ME.

But I need a fresh newborn...preferably under 1 month old.

Why? Why would I want this?

Well, I think most people decide they want another baby because they truly want more children. But every now and then people who are done, people who can't handle much more on their plate, have these smalls pangs of "I want a newborn again". They want a NEWBORN. Not a child. Just a newborn.

That's me. I don't want to do the whole thing again. I can't handle another mouth to feed or another mouth that whines.

I just want it for a day.

Here's why:

1. So I can sit and hold it, and smell it, and kiss it, and squeeze it's little legs all day...and that is all I will be expected to do.

2. I will be able to do #1 ALL day because people will offer to take my other kids. That's right. Offer to do it...like volunteer.

3. People will bring me meals. Just one day with a newborn will score me casseroles for a week.

4. People will also bring me treats...like fresh baked cakes and homemade cookies.

5. I will be able to eat all of it too because of course I will need to keep my energy up for the baby. If I even mention starting that post-baby diet, people will say "You are CRAZY. You have a newborn...Eat up!"

6. Being a hot mess will be acceptable. The house is a mess, bills are unpaid, and the kids clothes are all dirty. OF COURSE they are. I have a newborn.

7. People will volunteer to watch my other children. I know I said that in #2. But it deserves to be repeated.

8. Someone might offer to take some of this laundry off of my hands. I only have 87 loads to do. (And I am NOT exaggerating.)

9. Everyone will want to how I feel. Have you ever noticed that when you are pregnant or when you have just had a baby, everyone wants to know how your are feeling and doing? Then a few weeks after giving birth, it ends. Just like that.

10. People will volunteer to watch my other children. (I couldn't think of a 10th reason and I really think this could be the sole reason for wanting a newborn for the day anyway.)

So if you have a newborn that fits my requirements:

under 6 weeks of age
not too fussy
enjoys getting their legs and double chins pinched
still has that newborn smell

I would be happy to take the baby off of your hands for the day. You can retrieve your newborn around 8 pm, right after my kids have been returned all bathed and ready for bed and after I have polished off a delicious casserole and washed down my Percocet with a glass of Pinot Grigio.

I look forward to hearing from you.

True Friends Tell You It's Okay to Spend Your Kids' Savings.

2013-04-29T15:47:00.002-04:00

Lately I have been thinking about friendship. True friendship. I will be 35 in less than 2 months and I have many friends that I have known for well over half of my life. I have known my best friends for about 28 years. Crazy.

But what does it mean to be "friends" with someone? Sure, you can have many acquaintances that you see out and you shoot the shit with them, catching up and chatting. But friends, your TRUE bestest of the best friends, are usually few and far between.

I think that is because to be a true friend means many things.

Here is what I think it means:

Caring about someone and truly wanting the best for them. That means if they get a raise, a new house, or a great new job, you are so very happy for them. You are not jealous. Well, you can be a little jealous...but not in a spiteful way. More in like a "Damn, she has 5 1/2 bathrooms and we only have 1 with 3 girls and that's gonna be a nightmare" kind of way.

Being honest. Not brutally honest like, "Your ass looks so big in those pants". But honest like, "Shit, the cable got turned off this morning and I have no clue how I am going to pay for that" or "Maybe you did overreact a little...you spaz" or "Stop bringing me all of these sweets, you skinny be-otch".

Being each other's "people". Think about if something good, bad, horrible, funny, or wonderful happened. Who would you call? Who would you want to tell? Those are your people.

Knowing what is going on with each other. Not only knowing what is happening in each other's lives, but asking about it.

Offering support. Whether is be helping out with the kids or being an outlet and listening. Just being supportive is so important. True friends try to lighten each other's load.

Not judging. You can tell a true friend that you dipped in the kids' savings for vacay or that your 2 year old wore the same outfit all weekend and they will make you feel like it is perfectly acceptable. And they will mean it.

True friends stand the test of time and pick up right where they left off. They trust can each other, with secrets or a favorite pair of shoes. They can laugh with each other and cry with each other...and they can laugh at each other, but in that harmless way that only real friends can. They can pick up the phone and call at any time of the day or night. They can text each other pictures of a strange rash and ask for a totally unqualified diagnosis.

If you have true friends in your life, you are lucky. You are blessed.

There are so many times in life when you find out who your friends are...

Tracy Lawrence, "You Find Out Who Your Friends Are"

One of my favorite songs. And to my friends reading this...you know who you are.

Give Me 5 for Friday: A Girl and Her Band

2013-04-26T10:54:00.004-04:00

You all know I have 3 daughters. Two of them have longer hair and love, love, love hair accessories. The problem is that they always want to wear headbands...but at the end of the day, the headbands are either lost or shoved into their book bags.

Well, now I have a solution. Headbands from A Girl and Her Band!

For Give Me 5 for Friday, here are 5 things that I LOVE about these headbands:

1. They are ADORABLE!

My shipment of headbands!

2. There are SO MANY to choose from and you can even order customized headbands for sports teams, businesses, or promotions.

Images from www.agirlandherband.com

3. They stay put!
I received 4 headbands and a pack of hair ties. My girls were so excited to try them! My 7 year old wore her headband to softball last weekend...and it kept the hair out of her face and stayed in the whole time!

Here she is wearing the softball headband and a hair tie.

4. They make headbands for girls of ALL ages!

I also received a headband for myself and I love it. Trust me, I need it to keep my unruly, curly hair in check some days.

Pardon the extreme close-up of my head. But you get the idea...

5. This company is wonderful!

Each month, A Girl and Her Band chooses a different charity and donates a portion of their proceeds that month to the particular charity. The company is also committed to empowering girls and helping them become confident, creative individuals. Who wouldn't want to support a company like this?

So go check out A Girl and Her Band. If you have daughters or nieces or granddaughters, you are sure to find some adorable headbands for them...and a few for yourself too!

But WAIT RIGHT THERE!!!

You can enter below to win your own headbands and hair ties! The winner gets to choose 3 headbands and a 3 pack of hair ties from A Girl and Her Band. Enter right now...and the lucky winner will be announced next Friday! Good luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tween Years: Teeth, Mullets, and Regret

2013-04-24T14:43:00.000-04:00

My oldest daughter will be 8 in less than a month. I have to admit, I am scared.

Yes, I am sad that she is growing up and I can't believe how fast time is flying. Yes, I know that the difficult teenage years lie ahead.

BUT...that's not why I am scared.

Listen, my daughter is still sweet and innocent. But she is getting to THAT age. The age that includes back talking and eye rolling. I'm not sure I can handle it.

It is easy to handle tantrums and meltdowns when kids are young and super cute...and when they still have their baby teeth. Then something happens. They get their permanent teeth that are way too big for their still small heads. They become awkward tweens. They start to choose their own clothes...those choices they will regret someday. They start to choose their own hairstyles...more choices, more regrets.

Maybe I sound harsh. But I have a reason.

This is me. Grade 4. 9 years old.

All I see here are teeth, a mullet, and choices I regret (and a strong resemblance to Richard Marx).

I am scared.

Give Me 5 for Friday: You had a baby. Now what?

2013-04-19T09:18:00.000-04:00

Consider this as a sort of "What to Expect When You are No Longer Expecting" kind of post. You know, like right after you have a baby and you are all like WTF is happening here?!

I know that I read a book during my first pregnancy called Your Pregnancy: Week by Week. I devoured that sucker. I read every chapter, every week. I looked ahead, although I tried not to. I reread it with baby #2. I didn't even touch it with my 3rd...but that's to be expected I guess.

I knew what was going on each week with the baby and also with my body. Admittedly, near the end of the pregnancies I was taken aback by a few unexpected little things. But all in all, I was prepared.

What I wasn't prepared for was what would become of my body right after I gave birth. I wish someone had really, truly prepared me for what I would face.

So if you are expecting your first child and you aren't sure how things will go down after the baby is born, I am here to help you. If you already have gone through this, I'm sure you can relate.

Here are 5 things to expect when you are no longer expecting...

1. Your stomach will look like a deflated balloon...like a wrinkly, unrecognizable mass of flesh. It will not resemble the round, smooth bump it was when you were carrying the baby and lathering it up with cocoa butter for 9 months. By the way, all that shit doesn't work. I feel those companies, such as Palmer's, are guilty of false advertising. All they are doing is selling a dream. A dream that will come crashing to the ground. That stuff might help a bit...but it sure as hell won't prevent stretch marks. They develop internally and they are also hereditary. Thank your DNA for stretch marks...
And if you don't have any, well lucky you. Have fun wearing your bikini all summer with a baby on your hip, you b*tch. Just kidding. Really, I am. Kind of...

2. You will try on your pre-pregnancy clothes WAY too soon. They won't fit. Don't sweat it. My doctor told me it takes at least 8 to 12 weeks for your uterus to go back to it's normal size. I have to wonder if she meant 8 to 12 years. That would be make more sense to me...
And with that being said, your pre-pregnancy clothes very well may not fit. Ever. I still have a pair of jeans from J. Crew in my basement that were my FAVORITE. I haven't worn them in over 8 years. Call me an eternal optimist.

3. TMI here. But you will bleed for weeks. That is the one thing I think many people are the most shocked by. It will go on and on and on. It's a bloodbath in the beginning. You just birthed a human. It will be okay. Unless it's really not okay, call your doctor if you are unsure. Don't go passing out on people.
Also if you have a c-section, you will have to measure your urine output. Really. You will have to use a large measuring cup thing that conveniently fits inside the toilet when you go to the bathroom. Then you will have to tell the nurse, like a good little girl, how much you went pee pee. It made me feel like I was potty training...myself.
Along those same lines, you will wear a pad the size of your sofa cushion. And the underwear the hospital gives you are super comfy and pure genius. They stretch to fit like 4 people. I don't know how they do it, but they are wonderful.

4. You might still look pregnant for a bit. It was such a hoot when I got a pedicure 3 weeks postpartum and the nice young lady sand blasting my hooves asked me when I was due.
Such a riot.

5. If you have a c-section, you will walk around like the Hunch Back of Notre Dame for several days and even up to a week. You will also want to dropkick people in the teeth if they make you laugh. Holding a pillow over your stomach helps when you have to laugh or cough and will reduce the sensation that you most definitely are ripping your abdominal region wide open.
As a side note, dancing at a wedding when you are less than 3 weeks postpartum should be done with extreme caution. Someone might come along and spin you around and unknowingly cause your few remaining sutures to pop out. An open bar will help ease the pain. Trust me on this one...

So what do you think? Are you prepared for all that comes after you give birth?

If not, just remember this: People are crazy enough to do it again and again...so it can't be all that bad. So what I'm saying is that it's bad (it really is), but not that bad. Not to scare you or anything...but really, it's bad.

Good luck with that.

Give the world your best anyway.

2013-04-16T09:57:00.002-04:00

Here we are again. Another senseless act of violence. More innocent lives lost. Lives changed forever. Another CHILD gone too soon.

Watching the coverage of the Boston Marathon yesterday was heart wrenching and terrifying. I will admit that it made me want to never leave my house again...to never let my children leave the house again.

Where are we safe? You can't go to a movie, the mall, school, or even to a wholesome event like a marathon. How can that be?

But we must go on. If we don't, they have won. The person or people that committed these heinous acts have won. We can't let that happen.

So we go on. We focus on the good. We focus on those who ran to help. We "look for the helpers..." as Mr. Rogers said his mother told him to do.

We keep those people who were affected by this terrible tragedy close to our hearts. We pray for them and ask God to give them strength at this time.

But we must not give up. We must not lose faith in the mankind. Because again, if we do, they have won.

We must look inside ourselves and dig down as deep at we can to do our best everyday. To try to make the world a better place for our children. Because I know that the world we are living in today is not what I want for my children.

We look towards the future and strive for better. Strive for peace and compassion and empathy. We give the world our best.

That's all we can do.

Give the world the best you have

and it may never be enough.

Give the world your best anyway.

~Mother Teresa

Give Me 5 for Friday: Writer's Block

2013-04-12T14:02:00.001-04:00

It's Friday. Last week I took off from my Give Me 5 for Friday post because it was my spring break. Honestly, I took off from writing anything on this blog all week.

I say it was because of spring break and I needed my own little "break". But truth is, I have writer's block.

Not to say that I don't have PLENTY of things to write about...because I do. I have 3 daughters and a home daycare that could provide writing material for days. I am thinking about going back to teaching (Really, more than thinking about it. I am going that route and hopefully we be teaching for the 2013-2014 school year). I have thoughts running through my head 24/7. Seriously...sometimes they wake me up at night.

But here's the thing...I still have writer's block. And I will tell you why...

1. I feel like I always have to be funny.
That was my whole shtick (is that a word?) with this blog. I wanted to write funny things and make people laugh. But I can't always be funny...especially when the kids are being difficult, when I am physically drained, or when I am overwhelmed. But...

2. I also can't always whine and complain here.
I have written several posts that discuss how hard parenting can be. I don't want that to become my thing either.

3. I don't want to offend people.
There are many things that I don't write about because I'm afraid to offend others. Yes, this is MY blog. MY place to write about whatever it is that I choose. But at what price? I am not willing to offend people. I am not going to call out certain groups of people or point fingers. I have lists of topics that I want to tackle...but I am too much of a wimp to go there.

4. It's a great deal of work.
Finding the time to write something of substance and quality takes time. Time that I don't always have. I know...everyone's busy. But this blog is a side thing for me. I started it as an outlet and as a place to entertain others who might be going through the same thing. I don't have time when the kids are in school to write. I have kids with me ALL OF THE TIME. I'm lucky if I get a little quiet time during nap but even then I am sifting through the rubble that the morning left behind.

5. It's a great deal of work (did I say that already?).
Again, I started this blog almost 2 years ago (1 year and 9 months ago to be exact)....and it took ALL OF THAT TIME to gain close to 4000 followers on Facebook, about 1100 followers on Twitter (I am slacker there though...sorry!), and only slightly over 100 followers here specifically on the blog. I'm am so happy that I have gained a following and I am SO GRATFUL to every single person that reads this blog. But it takes time to get there and I am not even close to some of the big dogs. It's hard not to get discouraged. It is hard to not question... What I am even doing here???

So I have a little case of writer's block.

I can only hope that one of my kids does something really embarrassing this weekend so I can write about it. Fingers crossed.

Minivans, Meltdowns, & Merlot: A Book Review

2013-04-10T13:56:00.002-04:00

First, let's start with the title.

Carolyn Coppola had me at Minivans, Meltdowns & Merlot before I even cracked open the book.

Seriously, these three words could describe a day in my life quite adequately...with the exception of Merlot. I am not a huge fan. But we could replace that with Moscato or Miller Lite.

Anywho, Carolyn asked me if I would like a copy of her book and if I would write a review. I was SO HAPPY to do that! I wanted to read the book anyway so I was super excited.

Inside the front cover, Carolyn wrote a little note that said "I hope you find comic relief in my crazy stories..."

That is exactly what I found on the pages of this hilarious and honest book.

If you are a mom, you have to read it! It will make you laugh, it will make you shake your head because you have been there yourself, and it will make you want to go share a glass of wine with Carolyn and her friends.

I LOVED Carolyn's firm stance that her Envoy is, in fact, NOT a minivan...although on girl's night out she let the reference slide.

I laughed when she described her husband's, ummm, affinity for ponytails.

I laughed even harder when I read about her potty training adventures and what her dog Leo did when her daughter successfully pooped on the potty (it was disgusting and HILARIOUS at the same time).

I felt her pain when she talked about the "fun" things that come out of her childrens' mouths. Don't kids just say the darnedest things?

Her stories about her friends totally cracked me up...especially her friend with dance fever in her kitchen who was interrupted by the presence of law enforcement or her other friend's unpleasant encounter at an ob/GYN appointment.

After reading this book, I realized how great it is to have a support system of friends who are going through the same crap in life. Friends who are dealing with whining, tantrums, and being pulled in so many different directions every day. Friends who can sit with you on that rare child-free occasion and enjoy a stiff drink! Those people will stand the test of time...just like Carolyn and her friends have.

So if you are looking for a great read, Minivans, Meltdowns, & Merlot is the book for you.

Trust me, you won't be disappointed! I know I wasn't.

BUY A COPY HERE: (click on the book)

Or use one of the links to Amazon on this page to purchase Minivans, Meltdowns, & Merlot!

Happy reading!

Spring Break Wrap-up: Indoor Easter Egg Hunts, Glue Dots, and Zoos

2013-04-09T12:06:00.001-04:00

Last week was spring break for our family. The kids were off, my husband was off, and my daycare was closed.

Spring break always brings with it the relaxation of no working, no school prep, and no homework. But also the added pressure to do the 1 million projects around the house that are always breathing down my neck.

The week leading up to spring break goes something like this:
Next week, I am doing ALL 37 loads of laundry.
Next week, I am deep cleaning these bedrooms.
Next week, I am making an effort to exercise.
Next week, I am taking all of that stuff that has been in bags for months and dropping it off at Goodwill.
Next week, we are painting that kitchen ceiling.
Next week, we have to get that attic cleaned out.

And it is my intention to do it ALL.

Then things get in my way.

Let's start with Good Friday. It was a beautiful sunny day. The new neighbors across the street had some trees cut down and the first thing I noticed that morning was the shadow that the telephone poll cast on the side of the house. I took that as a good sign. A sign of what? I'm not sure. But I thought it was really cool.

Then I got absolutely NOTHING done that day...if you don't count breaking up fights and giving empty threats.

Saturday was more of the same nothing-getting-done song and dance...besides some Easter prep and a trip to Target resulting in me saying I WILL NEVER GO TO TARGET ON A SATURDAY AGAIN. (And by Easter prep I mean taste testing the Reese's peanut butter eggs.)

After 2 beautiful, sunny days...it was only natural that rain was forecast for Easter.

Every year, the kids in the family have an Easter Egg hunt at my in-laws' house. This year was no different...except it was moved indoors. I have NO IDEA how they did it, but they successfully hid over 80 eggs in the house. And the kids had a great time.

Then my mother-in-law, who is super crafty and creative, had a craft table set up on the porch for the kids to decorate big plastic Easter eggs. Think little plastic eyes, pipe cleaner, glittery stickers and foam pieces, and such. AWESOME. When my mother-in-law told said to take the whole bottle of wine with us for craft time, I knew we were in for a treat.

The highlight of this was my discovery of glue dots. They are awesome. (I immediately realize how pathetic I sound as I typed that. But that is the reality these days. I am excited over some damn glue dots.)

Fast forward 3 days and all that got done was some laundry and vacuuming. Not to mention me gorging myself daily on cake, strawberry and pretzel salad, ham, and deviled eggs.

Here's were things got exciting. Hold onto your hats...

For two days in a row we hit up two different zoos. I know. Rock stars.

The first zoo we visited with my friend (the skinny one who always sends sweets to daycare when I watch her daughter) was the Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, MD. Very cute for kids...minus the overzealous goats looking for hand outs. Actually they were pretty cute too. The kids LOVED it and we will be going back in the summer.

Note: I seriously thought that the movie We Bought a Zoo was filmed here. That's EXACTLY what it looked like. But it wasn't. I googled it.

The second one was our local zoo, the Brandywine Zoo. In all honesty, you can be in and out in 7 minutes flat. That how we roll here in Delaware.

This trip was with my oldest's girl scout troop and it began with a guided tour of the monkey house. Let me tell you now...I have NO IDEA how those girls stayed in that monkey house for 20 minutes without passing out. I couldn't even enter and my 4 year old began dry heaving almost immediately so we waited outside. That's how bad the smell was...

But the new tiger was out that day and he was putting on quite a show. The kids loved it. I didn't love the quick pit stop in the gift shop though. The girls wanted stuffed kittens (although my 4 year old is still harassing me for the real thing. We have a 15 year real thing that wouldn't be too pleased). I had planned on getting them happy meals for lunch as a "special treat" for me them. So I made them choose...and they chose the damn stuffed kittens. Didn't they know I wanted a cheeseburger? The nerve...

The rest of the break consisted of more laundry, some light (and I mean light) cleaning, a few play dates, an indoor pool birthday party, trips to the park, and TONS of arguing and whining.

But it was actually a great week.

And to top it all off, my neighbor bought me a 12 pack of Miller Lite...and my husband and I did get a few hours out one evening without the kids.

So as far as I'm concerned, that's another successful spring break in the books.

The only thing that could top it would be sitting on the beach in Mexico sipping a margarita. Or sitting in a Mexican restaurant sipping a margarita. Or hiding in my closet sipping a margarita.

Anywhere sipping a margarita would do...

Those are the moments.

2013-03-28T14:05:00.001-04:00

Recently, I have read SO MANY awesome posts from people who have put my thoughts into just the right words. Two posts that I LOVE this week are one from The Actual Pastor and one from Bad Parenting Moments.

They so effectively shared the same general message. That message is that parents of young children KNOW that time flies. We KNOW that we should enjoy every second. But the cold hard truth is that we won't enjoy every moment. We just won't. I will not enjoy when the kids are fighting. I will not enjoy when my 2 year old has an epic tantrum in Target because I won't open a yogurt for her right then and there.

I LOVE all of my kids more than life itself. I chose to have 3 children and I have no regrets.

I can't get enough of my 2 year old right now. Her voice is the cutest little mousy voice ever and she is talking more and more every day. I LOVE IT!

But when she wakes up at 3 am and wants to eat a pack of Keebler Toast and Peanut Butter Crackers on the sofa, I don't love it. Not even close. And I HAVE to let her come downstairs and get a little snack on those 2 to 3 nights a week that she gets up and does that...because if I don't, she will wake the WHOLE HOUSE. And please...don't tell me what I should do. I am not afraid to say no. I say no all the time. I let her cry and I don't give in. But when it is 3 am and I have 2 other girls sound asleep, I can't risk it. So I say yes.

This leads me to another thing I KNOW. Having multiple children is very hard. I am not saying having one child is not, so please don't get your grannies in a bunch. I was the parent to an only child for over 3 years. I thought it was hard at times. But when she woke up in the middle of the night (which she rarely did), it was just her. There was no one else to wake or disturb. When she was sick, it lasted 2 days. We didn't have to worry about it going through all the kids and becoming the epic stomach bug that lasted 12 days.

When she was 15 months, my husband and I went to Mexico for a week. A WHOLE WEEK. Since we have had our second daughter, we have only had 2 nights aways as a couple. 2 nights in almost 5 years.

Going back to that whole We went to Mexico for a week thing. We did that. We really did that...it seems like a dream. But it was reality. We also took our daughter to Disney World for the first time 8 months later. See, we had money for 2 vacations. I still worked as a teacher and we had one child in daycare. We could splurge on ourselves and on her. Not that money wasn't tight at times. It was.

But with each child (YES, each child that I CHOSE to have and I wouldn't have it any other way), it became harder. Harder to make plans. Harder to go out to dinner. Harder to run errands. Harder to make the money stretch. With each child came maternity leaves, career changes, and thinner wallets.

It's all good. I wouldn't change a thing. Not a single thing.

That doesn't mean it's not HARD.

That doesn't mean that there aren't days when I want to sit and cry. Or days when I need a break more than words can express. Or days when the door breaks and it costs $200 for a new one...$200 we DON'T have and I don't know what to do. Or days when bills come in and I just put them to the side and pray they can wait until next month. Or days when I yell or tell the kids that they will have to live apart if they can't get along. Or days when I feel like I am failing.

But then there are those other days...or even just those moments. Those moments when the kids are so sweet and innocent. When they say, "You are the best mommy ever". Those moments when they share with each other or give an unprompted hug. When they come home from school excited about a new library book and read 100 pages in a single day with such pride...and you are so amazed that this child is learning so much and growing so quickly. Those moments when you hear them playing and they don't know you are listening and they say that they are each other's best friend. Those moments when you are all cuddled together on the sofa, watching a movie and you wouldn't want to be anywhere else on the planet.

Those are the moments that make it worth it.

Those are the moments when you know that you will gladly take all the good with the bad, all the smiles and the tears, and all the laughter and the tantrums.

Those are the moments when you can finally say to yourself...yes, time flies. I wish I could slow it down just a bit. Because I know someday I WILL, in fact, miss this.

Easter Ideas from Pinterest that I WON'T Be Trying

2013-03-26T14:05:00.001-04:00

I have a love/hate relationship with Pinterest. Many months ago, I wrote this post about it.

Now I have warmed up a bit and find it extremely useful. I also find it extremely stressful and it has made me feel like a failure on many, many occasions.

But I keep going back, searching for fun recipes and craft ideas for things that I will never make. I don't even bother checking out the clothes I will never wear or the home projects I will never complete. Recently I have found some great suggestions for Easter...many of which, as usual, I WON'T be trying.

Here are a few:

Monochromatic theme basket with painted Easter Eggs.

Sure, let me get out my paint set and reading glasses to paint some eggs with extreme care and attention to detail just to have my kids crack them open and throw the shells all over the floor.

Image from http://www.rd.com/advice/6-creative-easter-basket-ideas/

Beer themed basket.

Who would do this for a kid??? What kid wants Little Tree air fresheners and slim jims? That's just cruel.

Oh wait, I think this is a basket for the man in your life...

Image from http://hip2save.com/2010/03/22/follow-me-monday-creative-easter-basket-ideas/

Button themed Easter basket.

What the??? Fill a basket with eggs containing small items perfect for choking. Kids will have fun opening eggs and finding multicolor buttons inside! Just freshen up your CPR skills first.

By the way, I am sure that this basket isn't recommended for toddlers. But I don't know many kids who would be excited for a basket full of damn buttons.

Image from http://buttonsgaloreandmore.net/easter-basket-ideas/

A real live rabbit in the Easter Basket.

Hell NO. Unless I want to see this poor rabbit's head at my bedside next to my cold blooded killer of a cat, who will be waiting to be praised, no live rabbit for us this Easter.

Easter Egg Sensa-Dough.

No, no, no. Just NO. I have a hard enough time with Play-doh. There will be absolutely no Sensa-Dough, which apparently comes in all sorts of "amazing scents". Awesome. At least my carpet will smell good when the Sensa-Dough is ground into it for eternity.

Image from http://redtri.com/10-easter-basket-ideas/

Ok, this one I might have to do. I think I need this costume...and I KNOW I need the wine.

Image from http://www.sheknows.com/food-and-recipes/articles/955227/easter-basket-ideas-for-adults

Again, all images and ideas were found on the one and only site that inspires you to be creative while also making you want to crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your head, and pretend that you never saw a thing...Pinterest.
And you can feel like a failure too...by following me on Pinterest at http://pinterest.com/somewhatsanemom/

This "Bigger and Better" World We Are Living In

2013-03-19T13:46:00.001-04:00

Do you ever wish you were a parent 30 or 40 years ago? Times were so different then and sometimes I long for that.

Today it seems like there is a lot of pressure on parents. I don't mean the pressure that I have talked about
before with the judgy folks out there breathing down your necks with every parenting choice you make. But in other ways, there is this pressure.

I'll explain.

My husband is one of 5 children.  My best friend is one of 4. When they were little, they didn't go out to dinner much at all. My best friend would hide snacks in her room so her siblings wouldn't eat them. My mother in law cooked every night. There was no take out or splurging.

That was the norm. That was okay.  It was fine for the husband to work 2 or 3 jobs so the mother could stay home with the children. It was okay that the only vacation you took was at the beach a short 2 hour drive away. I only went to Disney World once as a child. I was in first grade. Besides that trip, all of our vacations were to the Delaware or Jersey shore (shout out to Rehoboth Beach and Wildwood, NJ! ) Even
at the beach, you cooked some meals. You packed lunch to take with you.

But today it is so different.

People have these big houses and upgrade when they have children. One bathroom is pretty much unheard of...but yes, we only have one bathroom right now. Oh, the horror! One bathroom and I have 3 daughters. Whatever will we do. We MUST move, of course. That's what we are told. But the funny thing is that the family who lived here first, the original owners, had 3 daughters and one bathroom. I am sure it was fine back then. Oh, but not today. We better get on that...start checking out something bigger and better.

It seems like everyone is always looking for bigger and better.

Get the brand spanking new, big ass SUV. Get the huge $3000 swing set. Take the kids on the vacation of a life time when they are only 4 years old. Better yet, take lavish vacations by yourself without the kids. Buy the 5+ bedroom house.   Send the kids to the best preschool. Who cares if you pay as much as you pay for your mortgage each month. Get your hair done every 6 weeks. God forbid those roots start showing. Wear the best clothes. Make sure your kids have the best clothes. Buy all new furniture.

Everything has to be just right.

If not, that's ashame. You must not be managing your money right. You must not make enough. Your husband must not make enough. What are you doing wrong?

It's really starting to get to me.

And maybe it's because I am in such a rut with this weather. Maybe it's because I am ready for spring. Maybe I need a little break. But nonetheless, it is getting to me.

I long for a simpler time. When kids wore hand me downs, when it was okay to not go on a vacation because money was tight, when it was okay to drive a car for 20+ years, when it was okay to have old furniture that you got second hand, and when everyone was just getting by and you made it work.

If this is what things are like today...in this "bigger and better" society that we are living in, I am fearful for what my children will face in another 20 or 30 years.

I truly am.

Give Me 5 for Friday: St. Patrick's Day Edition

2013-03-15T14:29:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again.

It's like the Olympics for Irish people, especially here in the United States. They train for it. They prepare. They anticipate. It's their favorite holiday. It's St. Patrick's Day.

How do I know how much the Irish love this holiday? Well, because I'm Irish. And I was raised by someone who has more Kelly green that the average bear, including jackets and shoes. She wears shamrock stickers on her face this time of year along with pins and shamrock earrings. She is my mother.

Since I am Irish and my husband is also Irish and many of my friends are Irish, I have a great deal of experience with this culture here in America. I know there are many, many stereotypes regarding the Irish. And I am here to tell you something....

They are true.

So if you are looking to celebrate this weekend in true, stereotypical Irish style, here are 5 things you can do:

1. Drink a Guinness.
Come on. It's St. Patrick's Day weekend. Even if you are not a dark beer kind of person, go ahead and enjoy at least one Guinness. Hell, from what I hear they even tell pregnant women to drink one a day.

If you really don't like Guinness, drink LOTS and LOTS of any other beer. Just drink beer. Got it?

2. Drink shots of Jameson until you are red-faced and tearing up while listening to "Oh Danny Boy".
That song will get you every time.
Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling...

3. Hang out with someone named "Sully" or "Mac".
My mom's maiden name is Sullivan...so I have known quite a few "Sullys".

4. Eat corned beef brisket until your fingers are swollen like sausages from all of the sodium.
Yum, I can't wait to have some this weekend. You can even cook it in Guinness than cross off both #1 and 4 from this list. Jackpot.

5. Go to a parade, eat Irish soda bread, drink some Bailey's in your coffee, or get in several alcohol-induced yet harmless arguments.
I put these all together because basically there are so many more stereotypical Irish things you could do than just 5. Why limit yourself? You can feel free to choose any or all of these.

After reading my list, I hope you are all well prepared to celebrate the St. Patrick's Day weekend. And the weekend starts....NOW.

Slainte!

Kelly's Kids Online Party and Giveaway!

2013-03-13T09:10:00.000-04:00

Are you all ready for spring? I know I am!

I have the perfect way to get ready for the warmer weather that is right around the corner (hopefully)! What is it, you ask?

One word: SHOP!!!!

Okay, okay so maybe you are not ready to shop for those skin baring ensembles for yourself just yet. I know I need a little more "prep" time. But you can shop for your kids. And my friend Amy and I have teamed up to offer you the cutest, most adorable clothes and accessories!

If you are like me, you might enjoy dressing your kids alike...

How cute!

With Kelly's Kids, you can "mix, match, & coordinate the whole family"!!! This year's spring collection is one of the cutest yet!

If you want to check out their products and/or place and order, follow these steps:

1. Go to www.kellyskids.com/amyharrington

2. Use party number 13978

3. Have fun shopping!

But that's not it! ANY person who places an order will automatically be entered to win a $25 credit towards their order.

PLUS...you can enter below to win a one piece bathing suit for your little one!!! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

All orders must be in by the end of the day on Friday, March 22nd. The winners of the $25 credit and bathing suit will be chosen on the 22nd. So stay tuned!

Enter here to win the bathing suit (again, no purchase necessary!):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!!!

Unique Natural Products Review and Giveaway!

2013-03-05T09:39:00.001-05:00

I don't do many reviews on this blog. The ones that I do are for products that I would use in my real life. And guess what, folks? Having 3 young children and a home daycare certainly requires the use of cleaning products!

And NATURAL, SAFE, and EFFECTIVE cleaning products are even better!

When I was contacted by Unique Natural Products, I immediately went to their website to check them out before I agreed to do a review. I wanted to make sure that their products were something that I would actually use. The more I read about these products, the more excited I became to try them out. So I agreed and waited for my shipment.

Some of the things that I loved about Unique Natural Products while checking out their site were:

They are inexpensive.
They are organic/green/safe.
There are a variety of products for all your home cleaning needs, such as stain remover, carpet cleaner, drain opener, and odor eater.
They are guaranteed or you get your money back!
The stain/odor remover can be used on anything that water won't damage.
The carpet cleaner can be used for small messes or for your entire carpet with a carpet cleaning machine.

First, let me say that the company was VERY generous with the samples they sent. Check it out!

The entire shipment!

Wine stain eater. Very useful...for wine stains and such. Not that I ever spill wine or anything...

The Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator. I need to buy stock in this product!

So one of the first things that I did was use the Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator on a sticky, random, questionable stain that was on one small area of my carpet. The directions say to saturate the area with stain remover, cover with a clean damp clean cotton cloth, and then let the product sit on the stain for 24 hours...but I am so impatient. I did the first 2 steps but checked the stain about 2 hours later. I was shocked at how quickly it started working!

Before

After only 2 hours!

I also noticed a sticky spot on my hardwood floor, probably from one of the kids spilling juice. I decided to wipe it up using the same Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator product since it says that it can be used on hardwood floors. I was so happy with how it cleaned the floor that I kept going and going. By the time I was done, my floors looked like new.

Well, look at that!!!

Then, just when I couldn't love these products any more...my 2 year old got the stomach bug and threw up on one of the sofa cushions. Woohoo.

I cleaned up the area with soap and warm water. THEN I saturated it with the Carpet Shampoo and Stain Remover (which can also be used on furniture). I covered the area with a clean white towel. And what do you know? The next morning it was clean and had NO ODOR whatsoever! Seriously!!

I highly recommend these products...especially if you are someone who is into all natural, green cleaning products.

If you think that Unique Natural Products sound right for you, go check them and out place an order. It is free shipping for orders over $50!

BUT WAIT!!!!!

You can also enter to win an awesome giveaway of Unique Natural Products RIGHT HERE!!! Yep, that's right. You can enter to win the Pet Odor & Stain Eliminator, Super Digest-It Drain Opener, Unique Complete, Carpet Shampoo, and the Wine Stain Eater!!!!

Enter now! The giveaway ends on Sunday, March 10th! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just call my 2 year old "Rembrandt"

2013-03-03T10:35:00.002-05:00

I don't want to brag or anything, but my 2 year old LOVES to color. She is so creative. I really think she is the next Picasso, or Rembrandt, or Monet.

She loves to color in coloring books...with pen. And on her hands with marker.

And on folders with marker.

One of her favorite canvases is the sofa cushion. With a thick, permanent black marker.

And on the wall behind her bed. She is a creative genius.

I personally love the splashes of color she added to my bedroom door.

Look at how she spiced up our "rustic" (a.k.a. horribly scratched but not going anywhere until I close my daycare) dining room table.

And personally I think these leggings were kind of boring as a solid pink color. The lines of permanent ink that won't come out with even 4 washes and every stain remover possible gives these pants just the right "je ne sais quoi".

I'm guessing after seeing all of her work samples, people will be contacting me to hire her for various creative endeavors. If interested, please see the contact info tab at the top of this page.

There's No Secret To Being a Good Parent

2013-02-27T14:30:00.001-05:00

For the love of Dora and Boots...there is no secret formula to being a good parent.

I am so over some of the bullshit I read about certain topics. Honestly. There is no one way to guarantee you are being a good parent. From issues such as breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding to vaccinating, I am over it.

I truly feel bad for people having babies these days. Although my baby just turned two last month, I didn't feel that much pressure over the years concerning decisions that I made as a mother. These days I feel like there is SO MUCH damn pressure.

When I had my oldest daughter almost 8 years ago, I was the first of my friends to take that leap. No one judged me...or it seemed like no one did. I didn't read much beyond the Your Pregnancy: Week by Week book and a little What To Expect When You're Expecting. I was clueless and it turns out that the babysitting I had done for years didn't really help much. You see, babysitting is NOTHING like parenting.

I had my daughter...and I bottle fed. GASP! You know what? I did feel bad at first. But the reason that I felt bad was not for what you may think. I felt bad because I had NO CLUE that my milk would come in and that breast feeding would be an option. I had no clue because I had had a breast reduction when I was 20 years old and was told that I probably wouldn't be able to breast feed. I was fine with that...because I was 20 and I didn't care at that point. I wanted the procedure done. It was necessary. And I don't regret it.

It wasn't until I had my 3rd and final baby that I actually pumped and bottle fed her breast milk. After about 12 weeks, I couldn't keep up with her demand so I added more formula and slowing stopped pumping. I pumped with her because she was a winter baby and I got all wrapped up in her getting the antibodies and not being sick. But you know what? My other two daughters didn't get a drop of breast milk (I know...gasp again!), and they are very healthy. Always have been.

Also, ALL of my children have been fully vaccinated. This is a choice we made. Yes, there are times when I spread them out a bit...split up a few here and there. Again, another choice.

My children also ALL slept in cribs. I didn't necessarily let them cry it out when they were babies. But I did get them on a nice schedule so they would sleep a good 11 hours in their cribs at night and take naps in there as well. I didn't let them cry for hours. I reassured them. I was consistent. It worked for US. Again, another choice for us as a family.

Now that my kids are a little older and out of cribs, they do come wandering in at night. Some mornings we wake to find 2 adults and 3 children crammed into our queen size bed. (I am waiting for the opportunity to get a new king size mattress to review on this blog. If anyone can help with that...I would appreciate it.)

But all of these parenting choices are what work for us...they don't make us any better OR any less of a parent.

If you have a baby and you breast feed, GOOD FOR YOU. If you bottle feed, GREAT. If you cosleep, AWESOME. If you put your baby to sleep in a crib, WONDERFUL. If you vaccinate, RIGHT ON. If not, THAT'S COOL. If you circumcise, TERRIFIC. If not, NEATO. If you put your baby in daycare, FABULOUS. If you stay home with your child, FANTASTIC. If you make your own baby food, YOU ROCK. If you use store bought food, YOU STILL ROCK.

I simply can't read another judgy article or comment on this here Internets. I just might lose it.

More than I already have.

So calm down people. We are all doing the best we can as parents. There is no right way to do this. If there was, I would write a book and make millions. I wouldn't just be here on my blog typing away like a crazy person for hundreds.

End rant.

Have a great day.

"Mommyblogger" Myths Debunked

2013-02-25T13:39:00.000-05:00

I read this post by Mary McCarthy from Pajamas and Coffee about why she hates mommybloggers. At first I saw the title and thought...WHAT?!!! Damn, hate is a strong word. But I read it. And I got what she's saying.

I also believe that there are a few myths when it comes to women who have blogs and also happen to be moms.

"Mommyblogger":
Let me start with the whole "mommyblogger" term. Yes, it can be super annoying to be put in that category. I am a mom and I have a blog. I write about my kids. That is true. But I also write about wanting to lose weight, my clothes, my childhood, my interests, and lies I still tell my dad. Every post is NOT strictly about being a mom. I guess maybe the term "Parenting and Lifestyle Blogger" would be suitable. Or how about about just plain old "blogger"? That works for me. When I was teaching and then had my children, people didn't go from calling me a teacher to a mommy teacher or a teaching mom. Why to we do it with bloggers? Why do we have this label?
However, I must add that the majority of my posts do tend to discuss topics related to my kids and being a parent. That's just where I am in my life right now so it only makes sense to write about those topics.

Fake ass b*tches:
I totally get how Mary thinks that bloggers can create this whole "persona" on their blog...and then in real life they are a big b*tch. You never know. I mean, haven't you seen the episode of Good Luck Charlie where Amy writes a blog and invents a whole extra child named Skippy, strictly to have more writing material. Oh no, only me? Gosh, I really do love that show. But I can assure all of you that don't know me in real life, what you see is what you get with me.

Show me the ~~lack of~~ money:
I don't know many mommybloggers who are making a mint off of this gig. For real, yo. Yes, maybe we get some ads placed on our blogs here and there. We may get free products to review. But to make money, real legit money like it's a job, it takes time, hard work, more time, more hard work for NO pay...and it very well may never happen. I am still waiting for my ship to come in.

Blogging is a Job:
I can only say that I WISH blogging was my job. I truly do. But it's not. Blogging is not how I pay my bills. Blogging is not a 9 to 5. It is something I do at night when the kids are asleep...or during nap time (like right now). This is true for most bloggers that I "know".

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours:
Mary mentioned that most mommybloggers have found their niche and their audience so they write all of their posts in the same style. Then their loyal followers read and share, share, share. It is like write, rinse, share, repeat. And I must say that this is true at times. I have so many bloggers that I LOVE to read. I trust their taste...so when they share something, I head over and read it. Sometimes I also love that post. Other times I am left thinking Hmmm, that wasn't really share-worthy but that's the drill. You are a virtual friend of the blogger, you share their shit. No matter what. It's nice that people do that for each other. But there are times when I think people are getting exposure when it wasn't deserved. I guess it's all who you know. Personally, I can tell you that I will share something if I read it and LOVED it. That's about it. I don't expect anything in return, at all. I think this is mostly true for others who are plugging away in this blogging biz.

In closing, I really enjoyed reading Mary's post. It was great food for thought. I highly suggest you read it, especially if you are a mom...and you have a blog.

I also highly suggest that we see women who blog for what they are. Many are, in fact, moms. Many have life experiences that they want to share with others, whether it be about parenting, struggles with depression or addiction, fertility issues, illness, or loss. Many just want to share a laugh. Many are educated women who have friends and interests outside of their children.

They are not women who sit in their jammies all day (well, maybe sometimes), drinking wine, and complaining about their children. Yes, they may enjoy wine. Yes, they may complain and use their blog as an outlet. But don't let that define us. Let that just be a little part of who we are. And let us try our best to use our voice to make others smile, to help them feel that they are not alone, and to make even the slightest difference in this crazy world.

Give Me 5 for Friday: 5 "Lies" I Still Tell My Dad

2013-02-22T14:20:00.001-05:00

When I say "lie", I don't mean a flat out lie. Maybe I mean more of an omission of the truth.

You see, my dad is one of those "What he doesn't know won't hurt him...and it also is a hell of a lot easier on everyone else" kind of person. Mostly, it's easier on my mom because she is the one who lives with him and has to listen to his constant questions and deal with his tendency to overreact to things. He can be difficult. He can also be hilarious and very kind. And he can be difficult. Did I already say that?

So at the age of 34, I still keep some things from him. It's just so much easier for everyone involved.

Here are 5 "lies" (again, maybe more like omissions of the truth) that I still tell my dad:

1. I have a fat savings account equal to 6 months salary.
Hold on a sec while I catch my breath from hysterical laughter...
You see, my dad is pretty conservative with his money so he expects everyone else to be too. If he knew we didn't have the big old savings security blanket, he would not be very happy.

2. I am so happy with my career choice of leaving the teaching profession temporarily to have a home daycare.
My dad was not really in support of that decision. You see, like I mentioned, he is conservative with money. He would much rather I still be teaching and contributing to my pension and other retirement funds. And it's not like I am unhappy with my decision, though I do question it often...but he will never know that. It is easier this way.

3. This here blog.
He doesn't really know about this blog...although I have never actually kept it from him. It's just simpler to not mention it because he would have a million questions. He probably doesn't even know what a blog is. Then he would want my mom to help him look it up. Then he would read stuff...and just not get it.

4. That time I was at the beach and had to go to the ER by ambulance because I might have been "roofied".
Uhhhh, yeah...about that. Those ER copays were expensive and I was only 21 (maybe I was 22). And I had to make it NOT my own fault. So that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

5. That time I had "heat exhaustion" in high school.
Again, I was young. I played field hockey and we really DID have double sessions in the summer heat that day. It had nothing to do with the 3 screwdrivers that I had as a lightweight who didn't know what she was doing. I think "heat exhaustion" was an easier pill for all of us to swallow. Am I right?

So here I am. 34, almost 35 years old and I still have these little omissions of the truth that I will continue to stand by. And he doesn't read this blog, so I'm all good. Right?

Don't you think of telling him either. Because I will delete and deny, deny, deny.

Toddlers Confuse Me

2013-02-20T18:44:00.003-05:00

There are certain things about kids...toddlers in particular, that I will NEVER understand. I alluded to one of them earlier today on my facebook page.

First, why on God's green Earth would a child NOT want their diaper changed? Why do they run away and scream and fight it? Even when you have them pinned down, they squirm and wiggle and almost get crap all over their leg and foot. I just DON'T GET THAT. If you shit yourself, wouldn't you want to have someone clean you up? Especially if you were incapable of doing it yourself. Geez.

Also, why do they resist a freakin' nap??? There are some days when I have to pin my 2 year old down with my left arm and act like I am sleeping myself in order to get her to succumb to a nap. I would LOVE if someone said to me, right after they prepared, served, and cleaned up my lunch (that I so rudely refused to eat), "It's time for a nap!" Oh, how I would love that.

And speaking of lunch, isn't is awesome when you prepare a meal and your toddler eats NOTHING? It makes me feel so appreciated. Then to add insult to injury, sometimes they throw it on the floor. Fabulous. I don't get that one bit. It's flat out bad manners.

Really, that is what it comes down to I think. Toddlers just have bad manners. You can teach them to say please and thank you. But you can bet your ass that the next time you are at Trader Joe's and the kind cashier gives them a balloon, instead of saying "Thank you" they will growl at them. Then as you are walking to your car, when not a single soul is within earshot, they will say "Thank you" like a precious little angel.

I'll just never understand how the mind of a toddler works sometimes. And maybe that's a good thing. I would hate to know what my 2 year old really thought about the dinner I made tonight...

I Want to be a SAHM

2013-02-19T13:37:00.003-05:00

I have said it before and I'll say it again...I want to be a Stay At Home Mom.

Please, if you are a SAHM, do not feel like I am saying I want this because I think it's easy. People don't say, "I want to be a doctor because that looks like it would be a piece of cake". I KNOW that it is not easy. You don't have to tell me all of the negative aspects of staying home with your children. Trust me.

But...I will say it again. I want to be a SAHM. I would LOVE that.

Right now, I have a home daycare. I type this while sitting in my dining room. 5 children are napping less than 10 feet away from me. I just got a glass of ice water and had to gingerly take ice out of my freezer, as to not wake the little ones. Then I sat down at my table in almost slow motion so I wouldn't make a peep.

This most likely will be my last year as a daycare provider. I am planning on returning to teaching next year (fingers crossed!). People tell me that I will love going back to teaching. They say that I will have a whole new appreciation for it. And I very well might. I look forward to a planning time and lunch break, even if teachers do have to scarf their food down in under 25 minutes. I look forward to having coworkers.

But I have been there and done that. I taught for 8 years prior to having the home daycare. I taught until my oldest was 4 and my middle daughter was 1. I know the whole song and dance of being a mom who works out of the home. I am prepared to do that dance again.

However, this does not change the fact that I would LOVE to be a SAHM for a few years.

Why? Well, I'll tell you.

I want to volunteer to help in my daughters' classes. I want to go on field trips. I want to schedule a doctor appointment at 10 am on a Monday morning. I want to clean my house while my older 2 children are at school. I want to give my 2 year old some one on one attention. I want to grocery shop on a weekday morning. I want to sit in car line. I want to be able to drop off my daughter's lunch when she has forgot it in the morning. I want to be able to go pick up a child at school when the nurse calls and says that they don't feel well.

I don't want to have heart palpitations every time a kid gets a fever on a Sunday and I have no clue what I should do because I would either have to inconvenience 5 other families from my home daycare or call out sick if I am teaching. I don't want to text my husband with things I need him to pick up on the way home from work because I am stuck in my house. I don't want to feel sad that my daughter was sick on a 3 day weekend and now I have no other weekdays off for over a month.

And these are just a few reasons. I know, I know...I sound like a whiny baby. But you know what? This is what I am feeling today and this is my blog. So there you have it.

Again, if you are a SAHM...please don't take this the wrong way. I know you don't have it easier.

Take it as a compliment. I want to do what you do. So feel lucky for a second. Look around and say, "Hey, maybe this gig isn't so bad".

Then get back to changing diapers, cleaning up messes, running errands...and all of the other glamorous crap that goes with the job :)