Moody Moms...

Remember the commercial about moms needing Jiffy peanut butter? What if your kids are allergic to nuts? Then what do mom's need?
Candy? No - too much sugar. Bad for teeth
Chips? No - too much salt. Bad for heart
French Fries? No - too much grease. Just plain bad. Although quite tasty.
Fruits and vegetables? Well, good for the body - but does it quell the "I want ice cream please mom" begging?
Life has changed from the commercial. We've become quite a judgmental society.
"That mom is giving her kid too much candy...or ice cream...or sweets...or doing something she shouldn't to calm her kids down, etc."
When did we become so judgmental? And why?
How about some balance. And letting moms do what works best for them. Stop judging whether someone should be nursing instead of bottle feeding. Stop judging about what they are currently feeding the child (that child may have had nothing but fruits and veggies for the past week!).
And remember - it ain't easy. To be a parent requires more patience than we were given. And different expectations. That takes time. And sometimes, we lose them both.
I had quite a few "ideas" about parenting before I had children.
Then I had children.
And I feel badly for ever having even one of those "ideas"...ok, judgments.
I don't see my "# 1 Mom" trophy anywhere in this house. Maybe it got lost in the mail.

Meaning of LIfe

Has anyone figured out the meaning of life?
If you have, can you email me please?
.....
Somedays I wonder if it is to test our patience - our ability to handle multiple crises at once. Other days I wonder if it is to test our ability to enjoy the simple pleasures or unexpected downtime.
Today I wondered if it was to see the world through the eyes of children. The simplicity...the wonderfulness...the wonderfulness of simple things like reading a book with mom or dad, playing outside on the first warm spring day, seeing a horse gallop along, playing the piano, singing a song, learning something new for the first time or just getting or giving hugs.

The meaning of our lives changes so dramatically as we age.
Much of the magic disappears.
Maybe that is why Disney is so successful? All the adults want to relive the magic for awhile?
For me, my children are a constant reminder - slow down. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems. Take a moment. Breathe deep.
And enjoy the hugs you get from your kids. Those too will happen few and far between someday.

Summer Activities with Kids

Last year, a my friends and I started the Friday Afternoon Club. During the year, we meet on Fridays, as schedules allow. As the kids get older and are in different school systems, it is a great way to get together. For summer, we spice it up a bunch. Before summer officially starts, the FAC sets up a schedule of activities for each Friday, starting at 9:30 (not technically the afternoon but the time works best). We brainstorm activities at the end of the school year and develop the calendar. It is wonderful to have something planned that is flexible. On the first Friday, we make t-shirts - I embroider FAC on the shirt and the kids will decorate them. Many activities are free or low cost and it is a great way to spend time with friends without any hassle. We plan swim dates, park dates, a trip to the zoo and this year are adding a camping trip. I will blog about our activities this summer - read about it. Post your ideas. Share your tips for spending the summer with kids.

Family Fun Day

As my sister says, "every day is family fun day in Colorado".
I think she is right.
Yesterday - we went to D-Note for pizza (great place for kids - price is right too), then stopped by DSW on the way to Tangelwood Park...where the kids ate ice cream and played for hours.
Today we are going to have a picnic at the zoo, and maybe go downtown to ride the bus on te 16th street mall.
Why is "every day family fun day" in colorado?
Here are my top 10 reasons:
1) The weather is condusive to being outside almost all year round - no/low humidity and LOTS of sun
2) The culture supports family acitivities
3) The activities are condusive to families - the zoo allows you to bring in your own food and have a nice picnic
4) The work culture supports family activities. People work hard. The work gets done. But it is ok to be with your family - not frowned upon like some parts of the country
5) There is tons to do, inside and out
6) People are active. Running...skiiing...golfing...hiking...walking...biking...whatever
7)Lots of things are free - not cost prohibitive
8)We are trying to spend time together as a family
9)It's fun to be with the kids
10) Why not?

Usual Objects in Unusual Places

There's a toy in my toilet, dear mommy, dear mommy,
There's a toy in my toilet, dear mommy, there is.
Then fix it dear daddy, dear daddy, dear daddy
Then fix it dear daddy, dear daddy fix it.
With what, dear mommy, dear mommy, dear mommy
With what, dear mommy, dear mommy, with what.
Take it apart, dear daddy, dear daddy, dear daddy
Take it apart, dear daddy, dear daddy, take it apart.
I did, dear mommy, dear mommy, dear mommy,
I did, dear mommy, dear mommy, I did.
Is it stuck, dear daddy, dear daddy, dear daddy
Is it stuck, dear daddy, dear daddy is it stuck
yes it is, dear mommy, dear mommy, dear mommy
Yes it is, dear mommy, dear mommy it is
Then buy a new one, dear daddy, dear daddy, dear daddy
Then buy a new one, dear daddy, dear daddy, buy a new one
Stephen should pay, dear mommy, dear mommy, dear mommy
Stephen should pay, dear mommy, dear mommy, he should
Put it on his tab, dear daddy, dear daddy, dear daddy,
Put it on his tab, dear daddy, because there'll be more...

Mid Life Crisis

Is 36 too young for a mid life crisis?
36? I hope that doesn't mean I am meeting my maker at 72.
But I did it. Look!
I played for 15 years before going to college. Then I had college. No pianos in the dorms.
Then I got married.
No pianos for newlyweds.
But after 16 years together, and 11 years of marriage, we did it! My husband was WONDERFUL and soooooooo ENCOURAGING.
Forrunately he thinks I play ok and loves hearing me. He just doesn't know how bad I am. That's ok.
Fortunately for me. my husband is sharing this midlife crisis.
Of course, he will probably ask for a Porsche mext week...

Being a Princess...

Do you girls love to watch princess stories?
Do they dream of being a princess?
Do they dress up (and change) all day long?
Mine do. They LOVE dress up. Dresses that TWIRL are the best.
But what is it about being a princess? When I ask my daughters, it is about being pretty. About the dress. About the prince. About the fairytale.
Obviously this worried me.
So I pressed further.
Do you feel pretty?
Yes.
Do you feel as pretty as a princess?
Yes.
Why?
Because of the dress?
Are princesses nice?
Yes.
Are pretty princesses nice?
Yes.
What is the princess is mean? Is she pretty?
No.
So you have to be nice to be a princess?
Yes.
Do you want to marry a prince?
Yes. Like you and daddy.
Phew.

children with allergies

Another nut allergy in our house.
My second child - Ashley - is - at the very least - allergic to peanut butter. I waited until her THREE year appoint - a year after the "advised time" to try nuts. I waited because my first child is allergic to ALL nuts. Well, she had a minor reaction to peanut butter at the doctor's office. Nothing a little benadryl couldn't cure.
Time to get tested.
But I am amazed at having 2 kids with nut allergies.
And then there is the king. The boy. Number 3. Only 16 months but the doctor said "with him - just go straight to the allergist."
Guess we won't be doing any "at home" experiments.
Thankfully, the schools are WONDERFUL. And, the older they get, the better children get at understanding what they can and cannot eat.
My 5 year is better. Not great. But better.
Time to teach the 3 year old.

Jury Duty in Colorado

The last time I was called to serve on jury duty, I had just graduated college.
That was 14 years ago.
The process is a little different here in Colorado.
very friendly. Very kind people working in the court system.
So I sit here, waiting for my name to be called.
Waiting...
Waiting...
But that's ok.
It is an exciting process and I am actually happy to serve on a jury.
Of course, that is barring the $150 in daycare I would have to spend each day to serve.
No reimbursement for that, unless you are in EXTREME hardship.
The longest trial is 4 days.
$600 in daycare seems extreme to me.
But still, happy to do it.
The reimbursement would be nice though.