The Writer Revived

Wordless Wednesday: Beach time

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Connected

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

So, in case you weren't aware, we recently went on vacation. It would be impossible NOT to be aware if you have visited my blog at all in the last three weeks. It's pretty much all I've talked about. I'm almost done; I promise.

We were staying on a tiny island on the Gulf of Mexico to celebrate our anniversary. We already knew from our experience over our wedding weekend that cell phone service was spotty at best on the island. What we weren't sure of was how well the resort's advertised free wi-fi service would function.

Now, it's no secret I spend a lot of time online. I packed my laptop for the trip expecting to have the opportunity to keep up with my blogging and social media. I have a smart phone, but prefer to use my computer for most things internet-related.

Hubby brought his own laptop. We're not big TV watchers these days. But we did also have my Nook Color and books/magazines to take along so we could get some reading in.

Our first night there, after SB had gone to bed, we were both sitting on the screened porch of our cottage listening to the ocean. Out came the laptops. And we discovered the wi-fi was going to be very unreliable. At best.

Sometimes we could connect. Sometimes we could not. Even when we were connected, the internet was ridiculously slow and would go in and out. It was pointless. I put my laptop away and grabbed a book.

For most of the trip, my laptop was in the room safe. I would get it out daily and try to connect. But if I couldn't, I didn't care. And that's what was funny. I rely every day on being online. One might think I would be stressed about not being able to do so. But I wasn't.

Hubby was. I was so amused by his frustration throughout the vacation over the inability to get online. As much as he likes to tease me about being obsessed with the internet, he has a habit of his own. Online news. Devours it. Day and night. He couldn't get his fix on his trip, and was not unlike an addict suffering from withdrawal.

The lack of internet access enable us to connect on our vacation. Which is, of course, the point. Now, neither hubby nor I allow online time to interfere with family time in our normal life. For both of us, the time spent on our computers is largely when SB is asleep. And, in my case, when she is in preschool or speech therapy.

I enjoyed the opportunity to disconnect. I didn't worry about what I might be missing, or whether or not I would be missed. Sadly, I was unable to get into the book I started. It just wasn't working for me. But I found plenty of opportunity on our trip to relax and unwind.

And have managed to make up for my time away from the internet since we returned home...

Travel troubles

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

So far the Ross family does not have the best of luck when it comes to traveling. After this happened last year, we were not too eager to get back on the road. But, we'd had a special anniversary trip planned for months. So we packed up the car.

Once again, the trip was fabulous. And the drive home was decidedly not.

We were preparing to depart Captiva around 9:30 AM. Hubby noted that one rear tire looked low. The tire gauge that used to be in my glove box had mysteriously disappeared. So we said we would stop at the first gas station we came to and check.

By the time we got to one, the tire was almost flat. Hubby had to change it right then and there. But first, of course, we had to unload the carefully packed car so he could get to all the stuff he needed. And then he had to figure out how to get the spare tire out from under the car. Which proved to be complicated.

All I can say is, thank goodness for our iPhones. Mine kept SB entertained while hubby used his to search for help. He called a local dealer for assistance with the spare tire. And located a service station on Sanibel that said they could repair the tire.

When we got there, however, it turned out they could not fix it. There was a large, construction grade staple in it, and they were afraid the tube would be punctured in two places. Hubby got back on his iPhone and located a place in Fort Meyers where we could go.

We headed over the causeway right as the sky opened up in a torrential, only-in-Florida-style rain. Which went on for the next few hours, making things that much more fun. Fortunately, the Firestone place in Fort Meyers could fix it, and fast.

Once the repairs were complete and the tire was back on my car, it was close to 1:00. We decided to go to a restaurant to eat before we hit the road. We went to a crab house next door to the Firestone and had a nice lunch. Then got back in the car and drove through major traffic in Fort Meyers to get to the Interstate.

It was 2:15 when we got on I-75. We had a seven hour drive ahead of us.

We were cruising along and making great time when we hit Orlando at rush hour. Yes, rush hour. If you have ever driven through the state of Florida, you know that is the LAST thing you want to do.

This was about the time SB decided she'd had enough. She had been so good up to that point, but she just couldn't take anymore. You know how when a young child is tired you have irrational conversations that go in circles and make you want to hit your head against the wall until you lose consciousness?

Yeah. And then she had a whinefest until she crashed. Slept for about an hour. By the time she woke up it was dark. That caused her to be disoriented, and she freaked out. Nothing we did could calm her.

I spent the remainder of the trip driving on the most dangerous stretch of Interstate in the country in the dark. And rain. Gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. Good times.

There were so many times throughout the day I just wanted to cry. I'm pretty sure hubby did, too. We were both ready to throw our own tantrums. But we held it together. And we all got home safe and sound, albeit late. After a 12 hour day.

We will not be hitting the road again anytime soon.

Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

We are home and recovering from our anniversary trip. I'll tell you more about what we are recovering from on Friday. For now, hope you enjoy this video of the highlights from our trip:

My other writing

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

So, have you been checking me out on Moonfrye.com? If not, you've been missing out. I'm writing some good stuff over there! Head on over and read these posts from so far this year:

There's much more to come. I'm going to be a weekly contributor moving forward. Stay tuned!

A special date

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Five years ago today, hubby and I were married. We spent a wonderful weekend with a small group of close friends and family at a south Florida island resort. It was perfect. But don't take my word for it. Just look and see...

We have returned to the site of that wonderful beginning to celebrate our fifth anniversary. We are staying in the same seaside cottage where we spent our first night as husband and wife. And taking a wonderful walk down memory lane.

Happy Anniversary, my love. You are all I could ever want in a partner and more. Looking forward to all life has in store for us. Together.

Play

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

At three years old, SB and her peers still tend to engage in parallel play the majority of the time. Meaning they play in the same space with one another, not so much with each other.

When we have play dates, the guest(s) delight in the opportunity to play with new and different toys more than with the host(s). I can say, at least, that sharing is far less of an issue than it used to be.

When I go to pick SB up from preschool in the afternoons, her class is playing in the side playground, weather permitting. I will sit in my car for a few minutes and observe. Normally I see SB and her classmates engaging in parallel play. SB also seems fond of hanging out with her teachers.

She has had some trouble the past several weeks with pushing, hitting and other aggressive behaviors toward her peers. We haven't been able to figure out if it is due to her speech issues or simply normal for her age. Socialization is a key reason we placed her in preschool. And she has improved.

Last Friday I was thrilled to watch SB and two other girls actually playing WITH each other. And very nicely, I might add. It was such a relief to see her having fun and playing appropriately with her classmates. It gave me great joy.

Let's bowl!

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Since the beginning of the year, we have had a birthday party for a three year old every weekend but one. And more are on the way. Most of the kids are from SB's preschool class. She was only there two weeks before her own birthday, so I did not include any of the kids from her class. Oops.

Thinking about all these birthday parties made me realize I never shared any pics from SB's. You may recall last year's successful painting party. I wasn't sure how I was going to top that. I decided it would be fun to have a bowling party.

What was I thinking?

To be fair, all the kids had a blast. And I think the parents did, too. But it was FAR more chaotic and stressful than I had considered. We had 10 two to five years olds. I had forgotten how much waiting around is involved with bowling. Kids that age don't like to wait. Or take turns.

There were some tantrums early on. But we managed to regroup. Thankfully, there was food to keep the kids busy in between turns. And I handed out the goodie bags early so they had something to play with. For most of them it was their first time bowling, and the parents really enjoyed watching them experience it.

Everyone had a great time. I just never had the opportunity to stand back and watch that happening. For me, it was exhausting. For SB, it was a great day celebrating her birthday with her friends. And that is what matters.

A phone call

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

It's been just over three years since I voluntarily exited the workforce. To say I agonized over the decision to leave my career when SB was born would not even begin to cover it. Having grown up during the 70s and 80s, a SAHM was not something I had aspired to be.

I was deeply conflicted by my desire to stay home with her. But I went with my heart. The transition was far more difficult than I had anticipated. I have struggled, but I have never regretted my decision. I am grateful that I have the opportunity, that I even had a choice in the first place. It has been wonderful.

That said, as I have stated, I hope this year to begin a transition back to being a professional. My desire would be to be able to make enough working from home that I don't have to return to an office when SB enters school full time.

When my phone rang the other day, I looked at the incoming number and knew it was familiar. I just couldn't figure out why. I usually don't answer if I'm not sure who's calling, but I did this time.

It was an old boss. At first he made small talk, but I knew he had a purpose in calling. When I asked what it was, he told me about a project his team is working on. No one on the team has the skill set needed to complete the project. I do.

I also know the company, it's products and procedures. And most of the people on his team. He wanted me on the project, and had gotten permission from Human Resources to work with me on a temporary basis.

I had to pass. I don't have the time right now my old boss would need from me in order to complete the project. And he is not able to offer the kind of flexibility I would need. But damn, it felt good to be asked!

Tall girls rule

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

After a brief stint last year during which she was actually ON the height chart for her age, SB is back off. Way off. At her three year check up, she measured 40.5 inches tall and weighed 31 pounds. She grew four inches in the last year, and gained one pound.

She will likely be four feet tall or more by the time she begins Kindergarten. I distinctly remember my first day of elementary school. I refused to let my mom come in with me (a day she remembers well also). I knew where I was going, and I was going by myself.

I marched up the steps and into the school building without so much as a glance back at mom. Took a left and headed to my classroom. But a teacher stopped me in the hallway right before I got there. She told me I was going the wrong way, and began to walk me to the second grade classroom.

She did not believe me when I said it was my first day of Kindergarten. She thought I was lying because I was nervous about starting second grade. She took me to the principal's office. Which led to me crying and wanting my mommy.

I don't know how tall I was when I began Kindergarten. I do know when I reached the sixth grade I was 5'7". Today I stand 5'10" in my bare feet. Put me in some heels and I am well over 6'.

Being tall as a grown woman is awesome. Being tall as a young girl and teen is painfully awkward. I remember that all too well. Hopefully, I can help SB get through it, be comfortable in her skin and always stand tall with confidence.

This one's for the ladies

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Last year, there was a great deal of outrage over a Facebook "game" that had women posting status updates which made it seem they were pregnant and craving sweets. It was somehow supposed to raise breast cancern awareness, but rubbed many people the wrong way.

This year, I came across one of the most creative and unique breast cancer awareness campaigns I've ever seen. And in my humble opinion, it's quite effective. Ladies, this one is for you. Enjoy. And download Your Man Reminder today!

Ready to celebrate

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to Jessica Anne, who won the signed copy of Soleil Moon Frye's HAPPY CHAOS! Hope you enjoy it!

Two weeks from today, hubby and I will celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. We are traveling down to the South Florida island resort where we were married. With the String Bean in tow. And I'm OK with that.

One reason for this is that we don't have anyone who could stay with her while we are gone. But this will also likely be the only vacation we take this year. And I'm happy for it to be a family one.

We are staying in a seaside cottage, steps from the Gulf of Mexico and facing due west for optimal sunset viewing. The resort has a great pool and is very family friendly. It will be fun for all of us. I want to enjoy this trip with SB.

Of course, I'd also love to have some time alone with my husband. The resort provided me with a list of recommended babysitters. We'll have no reason to stray from the property. We can leave SB in our cottage with a capable, trustworthy adult and enjoy a night "out."

We'll eat dinner in the same restaurant where our wedding reception was held. Drink at the bar where we celebrated with family and friends that weekend. It will be a wonderful trip down memory lane, and I cannot wait.

Taking this trip with SB is, to me, the perfect way to celebrate the life we have built together the last five years. All the love, excitement and hope we felt on that day five years ago has come to fruition. We are a family, which is what we were looking forward to when this was taken:

Wordless Wednesday: Baby no more

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Resistance

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

For the first time, SB has begun to resist working on her speech. She's doing great in the therapy sessions. They are pushing her hard these days, and she's managing well. But, she no longer enjoys working at home on her sounds.

Each week, I am given a "homework" assignment, something I am to work with SB on at home in between her therapy sessions. Her SLPs always try to make it fun. And, until recently, she always enjoyed it and was eager to work with me.

Last week, she threw her homework in the trash. At the direction of her therapists, hubby and I have been focusing on her speech more. When we know she is capable of making a sound, we push her to do so. Now, she's pushing back. Refusing to even try.

I think part of the issue is that they are working on some harder things with her. It isn't easy. She's come a long way, but at only three years old, it's difficult for her to realize how much she has accomplished. And it's not as fun as it used to be.

Before, all SB knew was speech therapy. We called it "school," even though it really isn't. When she started preschool last month, we began to refer to that as "big girl school." She loves it there, and I think that is contributing to the problem.

Big girl school is fun. School is work. SB knows the difference, and prefers the former. Not surprising. Not at all abnormal. But I am going to need to find some ways to motivate her to keep on working. It's important, and a value she needs to learn.

Any ideas?

I'm a writer

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

We spent New Year's Eve at a neighbor's home. He hosted a family-friendly gathering. One of SB's favorite playmates was there, and we got to interact with adults. It was a great time.

There were a number of people I had never met, so inevitably I was asked the conversation starter question, "So what do you do?"

I was about to reply that I am a stay-at-home mom, but I stopped myself. I thought for a second, and then I said, "I'm a writer."

"Cool! What kind of writing do you do?"

I told him about this blog, my book, my work with The Mom Pledge and on Moonfrye.com.

In very short order, I had a number of people around me, truly interested. They asked a lot of questions and generally seemed impressed. It was the most positive response I have ever received from telling someone "in real life" that I blog. It felt great.

I am a mom, and I'm proud to be. I'm also very grateful I have been able to stay home with my daughter during these early years. It hasn't always been easy. It has been rewarding.

This year, however, I hope to begin a transition back to being a professional. Getting paid for the work I do, and having the opportunity to contribute to our family's income.

My name is Elizabeth, and I am a writer. Nice to meet you!

Don't forget to leave a comment on this post to be eligible to win a sign copy of Soleil Moon Frye's Happy Chaos! Deadline is Monday!

Wordless Wednesday: Wonder

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Ross' Rad Reads Award: Happy Chaos

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

It's been a while since I handed out one of my Ross' Rad Read Awards. Haven't been reading as much as I would like lately. But, after becoming a contributor at Moonfrye.com, I decided it was high time I read Soleil's "new" book (it came out in August).

What I enjoyed most about reading Happy Chaos was that is was like spending time with a good friend. Soleil's warm, personable style is inviting. Her open, honest manner is something I find very appealing. It made reading this book comfortable. And fun.

Soleil believes "happy chaos" is the sign of a family operating at its best, when parents accept that they'll make mistakes, that there will be messes, tears and skinned knees. I found myself nodding my head a lot as I was reading this book. I even took notes on a couple of her insights and suggestions. She offers both at the end of every chapter.

What surprised me most about the book was how much Soleil and I have in common. Our lives may be very different - she is a Hollywood celebrity and I am, well, not - but our philosophies on parenthood are completely in synch. We agree on so many key issues about how to raise our children.

And that probably shouldn't surprise me. Soleil is a mom, after all, trying to do the best she can each day to raise her girls. She has hopes and dreams for them. She has insecurities and fears. She has good days. And not so good. Just like the rest of us.

Overall, she has a beautiful serenity about her. She handles things with such grace and humility. She exposes her vulnerabilities to her readers, letting us know she really is just like us in so many ways.

My favorite story from the book involved her young daughter coming home in tears from ballet class after some of the other girls were mean to her. Soleil tried everything to help her feel better, to no avail. So she called her husband and put him on the phone with his daughter.

What he said to her was beautiful. And perfect. It fixed everything. And I wish I'd read the book before I dealt with this situation. I could have handled it so much better. I will definitely try to follow his lead in the future.

I highly recommend Happy Chaos. It's a great read. I'm giving it my award. AND, you could win a signed copy! All you have to do is leave a comment below. (Be sure you provide a valid email address.) The deadline is Monday, January 16, and I will announce the winner on Friday, January 20. Good luck!

Special note: Unfortunately, I have had to disable comments from mobile devices. Anytime someone leaves one, it deletes all other comments on my blog. No one has been able to help me with this issue, so I had to turn off mobile commenting as an option. I apologize for any inconvenience.

The Mom Pledge Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I've been enjoying visiting the participants in The Mom Pledge Community blog hop this month. Stop by and get to know them. And join in as well. The link is open through Sunday!

Participants must be:

Displaying the Pledge button prominently on their blog
Linked up on The Mom Pledge Community page
Following The Mom Pledge Blog

Wordless Wednesday: Encore Performance

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I must have lost my mind over the holidays, because I'm over at Moonfrye.com talking about poop! Please stop by and read...

I can

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. I've never known anyone to keep them beyond the month of January, for one thing. And really, much of what people "resolve" to do is pretty elementary: eat better, exercise more, get out of a job/relationship/situation that is bad for you...

I do believe in the power of positive thinking, however. And so, in that spirit, here are some things I believe I can achieve in 2012:

Sign with a literary agent
Be paid to write
Accept the changes to my face/body I cannot control
Improve my looks/health where I do have control
Strive to be the best wife, mom, friend, daughter, neighbor, person I can be each and every day.

It is hokey and completely overused, but it is also true. What you believe, you can achieve. Here's to a successful year for us all, whatever our goals...

Three

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Um, people? There's a three year old in my house. How is that possible? Seriously. Everyone told me the time would fly, but OMG!

I put this video together, a look at the last three years in pictures. You're going to want to watch full screen. And beware the cuteness!

The Top 5 posts of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

A lot of bloggers have been sharing lists of their favorite or most popular posts from the year. I liked the idea of taking a look back, for myself more than anything. It was fun to review my posts and see what all I have been writing about this year; it brought me a nice sense of accomplishment.

One of the reasons I picked the posts I did was because I felt they give the reader a sense of who I am - and share important information about my family. If all you were to read were these five posts, I hope you would feel you had gotten to know a bit about me.

It was difficult to pick just five, however. But I decided 10 was too many. Time is not something many of us have much of. So here are just a few of my favorite posts from this blog this year, in chronological order:

Tradition - I wrote this back when I was regularly participating in my writing group's weekly meme. I realized in reviewing this year's posts that I miss it. I've been so busy since launching the Take the Pledge Campaign that I haven't had the opportunity to jump in. Perhaps a goal for the new year will be that I get back on that horse...

The places we'll go - Not only do I love this post, I love the moment it captures. It was one of those moments you simply can't plan. If you tried, it wouldn't end up nearly as well. But when something just happens, there's a magic to it. And those magical moments make the difficult ones far easier to deal with as a parent...

Able to exhale - This is a post I wrote while participating in The Platform Building Campaign this fall. It was a great way to get to know some new writers, and I enjoyed flexing my writing muscle by participating in this challenge...

Say what?! - The most popular post I have ever written on this blog. It captures a moment many of us would like to avoid if we have the opportunity. But it also shows me I am being the kind of parent I want to be. It makes me laugh. It makes me proud. It gives me strength to deal with more of these types of conversations...

A joy beyond measure - One of the things I blog about often is my daughter's struggle with speech. Search on my blog using "CAS," (Childhood Apraxia of Speech), and you can follow her journey. But this recent post shows how far we have come. It hasn't been easy for any of us, but we have much to celebrate...

So that's it. My year in review. It's been a good one. We are very blessed. But I'm not quite finished. I'm going to throw in a bonus post. Since social media has been such a significant part of my life this year, I want to share this post about the relationships I have developed.

THANK YOU for reading The Writing Revived this year, and for being my friend! All the best to you in 2012! I look forward to seeing what it brings us all...

Funky Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

It's time for the annual Elf Yourself fun! This year, the Ross family decided to get funky! Merry Christmas!

Death and childhood

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

On a recent family visit to our local library, hubby came across a copy of DVD for Charlotte's Web. It made both of us feel nostalgic. It has been years since we had seen the movie, so we wanted to check it out.

We weren't sure, however, if SB is old enough, or how she would react to it. My suspicion was that she would enjoy the talking animals and songs, and the climactic event would sail over her head.

We decided to get it. And SB did enjoy watching "the pig and the wider" (she's still working on S). But as the death scene approached, I began to get nervous.

As you may recall from this post, I believe in being honest and matter of fact with SB on a level she can understand. But I really wasn't sure how much she was capable of understanding on the topic of death.

When the time came, SB was concerned that Wilber was so upset and Charlotte was gone.

"Where wider go?"

"The spider died, sweetie."

"Died?"

"Yes. Charlotte laid her eggs, and then she died. That is how nature works sometimes."

SB basically shrugged and turned back to the movie. Since she asked no further questions and did not seem at all concerned, I left well enough alone. And was relieved to do so.

There will come a time I will have to talk to her about death. Most likely when we lose one of our pets. That is going to be hard. I don't look forward to it.

When a child learns about death, she loses part of her innocence. And I don't think any parent is in a hurry to have that happen.

Joy beyond measure

noreply@blogger.com (The Mom Pledge) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The other day I came across this video from last December:

And I was shocked. Absolutely floored. You see, I had forgotten one year ago at this time, SB WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK. Just shy of her second birthday, she had a vocabulary of no more than 10 words, and used sign language to communicate.

In the beginning of the video, she whines for "No," grunts for "Yes" and signs "Train" (out of the frame of the video) to let us know what she wanted. She had been in speech therapy for only a few months. It's been a year since this was filmed, and I have completely forgotten what things were like.

Today, she has so much to say her mouth can't keep up with her brain. She can be difficult to understand, and has a long way to go. But she is a nonstop talker. When I look at this video, I am blown away. I take it for granted that she can speak now.

I can't even express to you in words what I feel over watching this. Just... wow. It is truly amazing.

SB and her team of speech therapists have accomplished SO much! Wonderful Miss Natalie started us on our journey. Then the fabulous team of Miss Laurie and Miss Maria built on that foundation. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all they have done.

Last week, I proudly watched as SB participated in her preschool's Christmas pageant. The night before, she practiced at the dinner table:

And I cried.