SuperMOM Chronicles

Bitten by the Bug - Suggestions?

2013-03-02T09:17:00.001-05:00

Looks like I've finally been bitten by the bug, whatever his name. Started yesterday with a little sore throat and ended with awful achy pain in both of my ears, fever, & a blazing sore throat. Woke up this morning & couldn't move...body is KILLING me! But I think I did pretty well this winter, since this is the first time I'm sick. Well back to sipping this NASTY TheraFlu, praying it does the trick. Any additional suggestions?

Marietta Mardi Gras Race!

2013-02-16T19:30:00.001-05:00

When I first moved to Atlanta standing 5'2", I was all of 115 pounds...youthful days long gone. *sigh* LOL Back then people would ask me if I ran track in high school because of my shape. My reply was always, "No," much to their disappointment. Instead, I was a proud band student all four years of high school. So, participation in sports never crossed my mind.

Those conversations took place almost 18 years ago and when I was about 25 pounds lighter. And like every woman in her 30's I felt the need to take on the daunting mission of losing weight. I never saw myself as a runner, but I started about 4 years ago after my doctor told me I had pre-hypertension. She said if I didn't want to be on meds the rest of my life, then I should start eating to live healthier & exercise more.

Of course it didn't happen overnight. Running was a gradual process. But I quickly learned that it was an instant stress reliever, which I needed badly. And now here I am running in races! It is such a fulfilling experience for me. And I LOVE IT! Last week I participated in the Marietta Mardi Gras 5K. My official time was 33:35, which I thought was pretty good after injuring my left fibula on Christmas Day when I fell down some stairs...in platform boots no less.

So here's to many more races to come in 2013!

Studying on a Rainy Sunday

2013-02-10T19:18:00.001-05:00

It's raining outside with a little thunder. I can hear the steady rain through the chimney chute. Perfect evening for studying. I noticed that even my son Zachary is using this quiet time to get in some studying. Why not? So I'm following his lead & reading a pretty cool book for a journalism class, Likable Social Media by Dave Kerpen. Highly recommend for anyone looking to expand the reach of their service, brand, or product through social media.

OUR POTUS & FLOTUS - REAL LOVE

2012-12-15T06:43:00.001-05:00

I'm up early right now at 6am on a Saturday morning, go figure. So I decide to take the time to checkout the latest issue of Essence Magazine (Jan. '13). As I flip to page 5, my breath is immediately taken away. The full page photo is of our President & First Lady and her arms are wrapped tightly & proudly around her man. This is true love in its simplest form. This is what I aspire to have again in my life!

My N.E. Heartbreak

2012-09-23T18:47:00.001-04:00

New Edition in Atlanta - AJC/Akili-Casundria Ramsess Photo

Every girl going through puberty has had the inevitable experience of having the biggest crush on the hottest boy band during her time. Of course during puberty,a girl’s hormones are raging to the point that they have no other choice but to scream when they have the chance to see their boy band perform in concert. I think it’s a funny way of purging their feelings for the guys they have professed to love forever.

Well my turn to purge and scream to the top of my lungs at the age of 10, quickly ended when I arrived to the concert.

For me, my boy band crush of the 80’s was New Edition. No one could tell me that I was not destined to marry either Ralph Tresvant or Ronnie Devoe someday. I recall getting my first album, the self-titled 1984 album “New Edition”, which I believe can still be found in my Mom’s house somewhere. I remember I would sit alone in our den, with my Dad’s huge headphones on my ears, listening to that album over & over again…daydreaming .

Me and my girl Latoya Harmon

If I recall correctly, that same year, my girlfriends and I found out that New Edition was coming to Birmingham, AL to perform in concert. While the other girls were able to get their tickets in advance, my Mom finally relented to let me go and gave me the money to buy my ticket on the day of the concert. I remember getting a brand new outfit, which included the freshest “LA Gear” jacket I’d ever had. I was excited and dying with anticipation to see MY guys live on stage.

When we arrived for the concert, I received the worst news ever…the concert was sold-out. As I’m sitting here typing this story, I can literally feel the pain I felt in my chest that day when I realized that I was the only one in my group of girlfriends who would not be attending the concert. I recall having to call my Mom through sobbing tears on a payphone, telling her the news and asking her to come pick me up. I was completely embarrassed and most of all DEVASTATED! Needless to say, I cried all the way home.

Well last night, I finally got my chance to see New Edition perform at Chastain Park Amphitheater. This time I had the opportunity to share the moment with two of my closest girlfriends. Unsurprisingly, the concert was sold-out. But this time I didn’t get turned away, because I made sure to purchase my ticket in advance. My girls and I had a FABULOUS time!!

Watch Out World! Zach Is On The Road!

2012-08-26T08:45:00.002-04:00

So, I finally took Zach to GA Driver Services to take the test to get his driver's permit. And as you can see he passed! He was SO excited! Especially since he passed on the first try. For a teenage boy, getting their driver's permit is like the first step towards freedom. Because at some point, it only leads to a boy's ultimate rite of passage...their driver's license.

And of course, we the parents (or legal guardians) are the chosen ones who have to bear the brunt of "teaching" them to drive. I remember having several heart attacks AND strokes teaching Xavier how to drive. You could not TELL me that there wasn't another set of brakes on the passenger side. LOL

Yes, I realize that there are driving courses teens can take which relieves the parents of the heart-racing task, but the fees are way TOO expensive for my pockets. I can't speak for everyone else, but I definitely can find other cool things to do with $375, i.e. several pairs of shoes. *wink*

With that said, Zach politely informed me that he was completely cool with starting his lessons in our subdivision, which I was surprised because most kids immediately aim for the public roads. That idea worked for me, since our neighborhood is relatively flat and clear of parked cars. LOL

It was a bit intimidating for him at first, because my car (an '05 Nissan Maxima), has a lot of kick in the engine. And Zach's size 14 shoe completely covers the gas pedal, making it slightly difficult for him to know how much pressure to place on the pedal. And of course, the opposite of that is getting comfortable with the brakes and the gradual slowing down process vs. the neck-snapping sudden stops.

I'm so thankful that Zach is the last child I have to teach. I don't think my heart condition would allow any more teen abuse. So here's to Zach taking his first step towards freedom!

P.S. - PRAY FOR ME! LOL

Xavier is College Bound!

2012-08-05T10:06:00.001-04:00

Xavier has left the building! Zach & I escorted him to the Greyhound bus station. He will be attending Savannah State University. His major is Civil Engineering Technology. Wishing him the best as he begins his new journey in life at the college level.

I'm a VERY PROUD SuperMOM right now!

Zach & Xavier @ Greyhound waiting bus

Xavier & Me before he boards his bus. *tear*

2012 McEachern H.S. Prom - Xavier & Mesha

2012-05-13T16:34:00.001-04:00

Xavier & his prom date, Mesha

Keeping My Son Busy...Golf Anyone?

2011-11-11T13:21:00.001-05:00

I haven't written a lot about my youngest son Zachary. He's really a low key kinda kid. I consider this to be a good thing, because that means that his issues or situations are far and few between. However, when those issues do arise he definitely makes up for the downtime. :-)

He's 15-years old and stands about 5'10 1/2, although he swears he's 6 feet. Oh, and his current shoe size is a 13. At the age of 15 this is ridiculous, because he still has more growing to do. We have this thing where I will put my hand up against his and I'm amazed every time at how HUGE his hands are. I never would have thought in a million years he would have grown to be so big and tall so soon!

The other morning he comes into my bathroom and stands next to me as we are both looking in the mirror and I swear he made me look like a little kid. We both looked at each other in the mirror and started laughing instantly. I'm like, "Dude, you've got to stop growing!" He said, "It's OK Ma, I still love you though."...as he leans down to kiss me on the forehead. (too sweet!)
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Late Night Jump Off

2011-11-09T18:53:00.001-05:00

I know I’ve been a little slack with my writing the past week or so, but I’m trying to get back on track. Of course, when I have crazy stories to share, I immediately find my way back to my blog. As I mentioned in a previous post Xavier was liberated when he finally got his car out of the shop.

A couple of days after he started driving to school, Xavier calls me before practice sounding very frustrated.

This is how the conversation went:

Love, Patience and Alzheimer's

2011-11-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

Today, I was watching the “Sex and the City” episode “An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)”. The scene where Steve takes his mother to the ER and discovers she unknowingly suffered a stroke which caused her to have significant memory loss, suddenly made me think of my paternal grandmother and grandfather.

My grandfather (known as Pa-Pa), was diagnosed with Alzheimer's before passing away in 2000 and now my Grandma suffers with the disease along with RA. At her request, she still lives in the same house that she and my grandfather shared for many years. My dad along with my aunt and uncle take care of her daily in shifts.

UPDATE…To Insure/Not to Insure…That Is the Question

2011-10-21T10:41:00.003-04:00

If you read my post, “To Insure/Not to Insure…That Is the Question”, a couple of weeks ago then you will be excited as I am once you read this update.

As I wrote before, I was not prepared to hear the news I received the day I called my car insurance company to add my 18-year old to my policy. The customer service rep, politely told me that my policy would increase from $1200 to $2700 for six months! As you can imagine, I nearly passed out!

Eating My Veggies!

2011-10-20T22:19:00.001-04:00

Eating my savory veggies at Gladys Knight's Chicken & Waffles
No I didn't drink ALL the lemonade. :-)

Are You Checking Your Kids’ Cellphones and Other Devices?

2011-10-19T16:53:00.000-04:00

On my way to work this morning, on the radio they were discussing a viral video of a young 14-year old girl, who I will not name. From what I gathered, the girl performed oral sex on a boy and the incident was recorded on a cellphone by a 2^nd male. The video was then forwarded to others and is now on You Tube and other websites.

This video sparked the conversation about kids forwarding sexually explicit photos and videos that they have on their cellphones, whether they recorded the incidents themselves or simply received them from someone else. In some states, they consider it child pornography, which some people do not agree with and think they are pushing it too far. I know of some cases, teenagers have been explelled and/or prosecuted for forwarding such material.

One debate that was discussed was whether parents monitor their kids’ electronic devices, i.e. cellphones, iPods, iPads, tablets, etc. If they ARE checking, how often? They also wondered if some parents thought monitoring their kids devices was violation of their “privacy”?

For me, as long as I am purchasing these items, paying the bills to use them, and they are a minor, then my kids have no rights to privacy. I was surprised to hear one parent state that she stopped checking her kid’s cellphone openly once they turned 16, but would only check it when they were asleep or not around (basically sneaking). This parent felt that if they did it in front of the teen then they would no longer openly discuss other things with them. Do you agree with that?

However, there were a few parents who stated that they not only let their children know they will be checking their devices periodically, but they also managed the passwords to their devices as well. These parents didn’t stop there. They also did the same with their child’s social media accounts too. We as parents have to take responsibility as to what our children are exposed to, whether it be through electronic devices, television, movies, the internet, whatever. We MUST be in tune with our children. That is our job as parents, if we really care and love our children. Of course, we can not manage every aspect, but we can try our best to do so. We can not let the world, media, social media raise our children.

Trust me, I do the same with mine. Tell me, what do you do to monitor your kids cellphones, etc.?

College Visit...Road Trip!!

2011-10-15T21:18:00.002-04:00

Today was a very long day. Arrived home from the game Friday night at 11:30 p.m., only to get up 3:30 a.m. Saturday to hit the road for a college visit in Tennessee. Xavier and his teammate (& bestfriend) Jelani were visiting Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN. It was the longest five-hour drive I've ever had to make with only 3.5 hours of sleep. Naturally, I was the only one awake while we were on the road. Ugh!

At any rate, Tusculum College is a small but nice school, with a gorgeous backdrop view of the Great Smokey Mountains. Unfortunately, they do not offer an engineering degree. It's also a far cry from the city life. So we will see. Of course, this is just the first college visit with more to come.

We finally arrived home around 6 p.m. and I bee-lined to my restroom to fill my bathtub with warm, bubbly water to relax and reflect on the days activities. Ahhh, nice!

Overall, our first official college visit was a nice experience. Cheers to new beginnings!

Oops, I Did It Again!

2011-10-11T12:49:00.002-04:00

Yes it’s true. I cut my hair. I simply felt it was necessary. I’m starting from scratch…again!

My hair lost it’s natural kink. J Can you believe it? I bet you haven’t heard that one before. A woman cutting her hair off, near bald, because it’s not kinky enough. The last time I cut my hair this low, was in December 2009. Crazy right? Who cuts their hair that low at the beginning of winter? Only me.

I was very frustrated with the condition of my hair in the relaxed form. Like so many other women, I received my first relaxer when I was 14-years old. After so many years of relaxing, whenever I tried to “grow-out” my hair, I would always get this “weak spot” in the back of my head, where it would stop growing. It looked like my hair was breaking off in that one spot, which forced me to cut my hair shorter. My stylist at the time would always suggest that it was probably a “stress spot” and it would always do that.

If you recall, Chris Rock’s documentary “Good Hair” came out that year. The one thing that stuck with me was the scene where the scientist soaks the soda cans in the same chemical that hair relaxers are made with. I was shocked that the cans were dissolving. I was like, OMG!

So with that scene in mind along with my daily frustration of knowing my hair was not in it’s healthiest state, I cut it. Simple as that. I went to the barbershop after work where I take my boys and I sat in the chair and I told the guy to cut it. He was like “Are you sure?” I said, “Absolutely.” About 15 minutes later, I was nearly bald and I was happy. It was a fresh start for me.

The best part about my natural hair experience was that my hair never once had a “stress spot.”

Now almost 2 years later, I started trying the Dominican style “blow-outs”, which is straightening the hair with high-powered blow dryers, followed by flat-ironing. Well I only did it 2-3 times this year and it completely killed my natural curl pattern. Sadly I lost the “kinkiness” in my hair. My curls were gone. I was shocked, because I always thought that, as soon as water hit it, it would always snap right back into it’s natural curly state. Obviously, I was wrong.

So here I am, back to square one. Singing India.Arie’s song, “I Am Not My Hair.”

Ciao Bellas!

SuperMOM Body Cleanse Challenge

2011-10-10T12:08:00.001-04:00

I’m always one to challenge myself when it comes to exercising more, but I almost always fail when it comes to eating. One of my besties, Toya Harmon, a SuperMOM in her own right, came up with the idea to commit to a 14-day cleanse. Toya is always the person in my group of friends with “bright” ideas and I love her for it. LOL

The fruit/veggie “cleanse” consists of nothing but fruits and veggies. They can be cooked, but the preference is to eat them raw or in a smoothie...whichever you choose, just as long as you are only eating fruits and veggies and drinking plenty of water.

I must admit I was a little skeptical as to whether I would be able to maintain the commitment. Especially since I’m a self-professed foodie. Then I realized that I was starting on the wrong foot with negative thoughts of not being able to complete the task. So, I reminded myself that I have to think positive about it and just take it one day at a time. If I slip up, just start over with the next meal.

And then she said, “Why not invite others on your blog to join us?”

So here I am, inviting each of you to join us with the 14-day cleansing process. It’s a fantastic way to clean your body of any toxins that are hanging out in your body. First, we will need to weigh ourselves on the first day and the 14^th day – the last day of the challenge. This will allow us to see our progress. We will also try to commit to at least a 30-minute walk at least 3-4 times a week, as your schedule permits.

You are invited to visit the blog everyday to provide us with details on how it’s working out for you. It can be good, bad, or indifferent. All I encourage you to do is share your personal experience. You never know how your thoughts and ideas can help the next person.

Who says a SuperMOM can't be healthy and fine?

Friday Night Lights Baby!

2011-10-07T13:58:00.000-04:00

Most of you know that I’m a sports mom through and through. Football, basketball, golf, track you name it. But tonight it’s all about high school football. To be honest I love to see my son playing on the field. What Mom doesn't? Man, I’m going to miss it when he graduates.

Well, tonight McEachern plays their archrival Hillgrove. Last year McEachern beat Hillgrove 64-48. This year both teams are undefeated with 5-0 records.

I’m hoping for a repeat. And you better believe, I will NOT be leaving until the clock hits zero!!

Tomorrow will be Zach’s turn with his golf lessons at Fox Creek Golf in Smyrna. A SuperMOM’s job is never done!

What are your plans this weekend?

Almost forgot, GO INDIANS!!!

My Reflection

2011-10-06T08:11:00.001-04:00

I took this picture yesterday while I was waiting to pick up Xavier from practice. I'd taken about 10 pictures before I decided that this was the best one. As I kept looking through the photos, I noticed the increasing number of lines in my face and how worn I looked. The first thought that came to mind, was, "Lord I'm getting old...and it's showing!" Where is the so-called "fountain of youth" when you need it?

I try not to think about that kind of stuff, but I can't help it. As we age, many things about us change. And of course, the things we worry most about are the things that everyone else can see. I've read and I've been told numerous times that if you take care of yourself on the inside, it reflects on the outside. This can have a two-fold meaning. One way, is by what we eat and drink: good eating habits and lots of water promotes healthy skin and a healthy body. The other meaning is by taking care of ourselves emotionally and mentally will help us to live happier lives with a sound mind and a glowing spirit.

My mom taught me that one. *wink* So here's to taking better care of Mom! Daydreaming of a massage...

What do you see in your reflection?

Bittersweet Touchdown…Part II

2011-10-03T16:44:00.002-04:00

The summer of his junior year was the start of his personal life obstacles. During defensive camp, he experienced a concussion, while playing the defensive back position, which he missed 3 weeks of practice and cost him the opportunity to play in the annual Georgia Dome game.

Two games later, he experienced a bad ankle injury. Finally, the injury of all injuries occurred during the spring game. He broke his collarbone. Ugh! This injury caused him to miss ALL of the college summer camps we had planned for him to attend. Xavier was certainly overwhelmed with disappointment.

Bittersweet Touchdown…Part I

2011-10-02T10:43:00.003-04:00

Friday night was very emotional for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a moment in which I instantly burst into tears.And it wasn’t due to a sad occasion...well at least not completely. To be honest, it pains me to sit here and type it out for everyone to read, because the harsh reality of the emotions I experienced all come back to me.

Falling Off the Scale? Jump Back On!

2011-09-28T11:13:00.000-04:00

You know, I really miss those days when I never had to worry about my weight. Gone are the days, when I did not have to watch what passed my lips or being forced to squeeze exercise into my schedule. I hate that I have to count calories; worry about the clothes I can no longer wear because it might show my muffin top, cottage cheese on my thighs or the jiggle in my tummy section. For me it is a constant struggle because I want to maintain my fierce and fabulous appearance. Don’t you?

My girlfriends tell me, “Oh you look fine, what are you worried about?” Well let me tell ya, my lovely supportive girlfriends...I hate to say it but, you should thank your lucky stars you do not get to see me with my clothes off! LOL! Let’s face it, after we hit that wall of the big 3-0, our youthful clock gradually begins to slow down. Our metabolism actually comes to a halt and we find ourselves desparately looking for ways to jump-start Ole Bessie once again.

Juggling Family Life

2011-09-27T10:54:00.000-04:00

Juggling our family schedules can be a challenge at times. Everyday, I find myself wearing several hats. There's the Mom Duty hat in the morning, followed closely by the Fabulous Career hat, only to revert back to the Mom Duty hat at the end of the day, which may include carpooling my sons' friends.

It's amazing how your mind can keep up with each responsibility. I have noticed that as soon as I leave my job, my mind completely shuts down the concerns of work and I'm instantly thinking about what I have to do for the boys and my household.
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To Insure/Not To Insure...That Is the Question

2011-09-24T17:33:00.002-04:00

To all the Super Moms in the world, there are some things we just can't prepare ourselves for...

So Xavier, my 18-year-old, has been on my nerves about letting him "get the car". Of course, his definition of "get the car" means that I'm not riding along.

Fall Is Officially Here!

2011-09-23T14:31:00.000-04:00

When we think of the fall season, the first thing that comes to mind is that summer is sadly over. But of course, there are a lot of good things about the Fall season. In the south, we get a nice cooling off from the hot, steamy humidity. Along with the cooler weather, comes the turning of leaves, the smell of crisp chilled air, pumpkins, trick-or-treating for Halloween and hayrides.