I have been contemplating writing another blog for quite some time. It becomes a little more difficult as my interactions become less and less with complete strangers and more & more with people I know (as I don't get out of the house as often as I once did)... which means my blog topics would be real life real people who actually know me, thus making it a little hard to randomly blog about them. So, I will try to keep it real as best as possible without making my friends & family my target.
With that being said... my newest blog....
One of the things that I struggle with the most is being a working mom. I really like working and I really like being a mom, but the two together can be quite the stressor. I have thought & thought & can't really put my finger on what it is that really makes this combination killer, but trust me. It is.
I think the biggest thing about being a working mom is that you are just setting yourself up for disappointment in so many ways. There is never enough of you to go around, and the thinner that you are stretched, the easier your crazy button is triggered! :-)
I was thinking earlier about past 'disappointments' in my life. Most of these things only affected me, and most of these things weren't really that big of a deal. A bad date, a bad haircut, an hour stuck in traffic, a Chinese delivery man who was annoyingly late. All disappointing, yes, but they really don't hold a candle to the disappointment that a Working Mom sets herself up for.
I start my day by disappointing my son most days. Maybe that is the narcissistic mom in me - thinking that my son would rather spend the day with me rather than anyone else - but every morning as I make my way into the office, there is a nagging in the back of my head thinking, "Is what I am doing today really worth it vs. leaving JD behind in tears??"
Along the course of my day, there are so many things that cause true heartfelt disappointment in my life. Now, this is not to say that I do not enjoy myself & that I do not have major positive points throughout my day as well... I'm just trying to explain what it feels like to be a working mom... or maybe just a mom in general.
One thing that really disappoints me is when the people that I love are not as totally crazy about my son as I am. I mean, my son is the Bee's Knees. For real. :-) Now, I know that I love my son more than anyone else loves him. I know I have that "mother's love" that makes me hold his pedestal higher than anyone else sees him as, but still. Sometimes people that I know seem to forget that JD even exists. Isn't that annoying?? He is the A #1 thing in my life, and he has fallen off the radar of a lot of people, including people that I really love. I'm sure that I have probably committed similar offenses against my friends when I was younger & well... single, so I try not to hold it against them. But, other people that fall a little closer than the "friend" category... well, I expect these people to remember to make him a priority, and I find myself being disappointed when not everyone sees him as the natural wonder that he is.
On a lighter note, something else that is just plain disappointing as a mom is your body after children. I mean, honestly! What in the world?!?!? Why didn't someone warn me about this?? I remember a conversation that I had with a friend once about her preconceived notions about life after baby while she was pregnant. She told her aunt, "I'm just so amazed that your belly can stretch out so big during pregnancy and then after the baby is born, just suck down back to normal size." And her aunt laughed in response. :-) I wonder why.
I am 15 lbs lighter than the day that I got pregnant with JD, yet some of my old clothes still don't fit. Yes, they are too small. But, yet, I weigh 15 pounds less, so in all logical practicalities, one would think they would be too big. But no... they are too small. It's like that Yoplait commercial where the girl is in the cleaners and she's trying to tell ol' girl to take her pants in and ol' girl keeps saying "out" and the other girl keeps saying "No... in."
Only I guess it's really like the opposite of that. I guess I can blame part of that on my son and I can blame part of it on just getting old?
Something else that really bothers me about being a working mom is that there is never enough time in the day. I guess that really applies to all moms, though, "working" or not. I don't have enough time at work, and I don't have enough time at home. When one is going well, the other is not. It's a constant balancing act... a juggling routine with more & more balls thrown up in the air. Eventually, they will all come crashing down... unless I become a really good juggler.
Anyway, I know this blog is kind of depressing, but that is really just the mood I am in right now. Life lately has thrown us a few lemons, and we are in the midst of finding a really juicy lemonade recipe. :-)
Now, with all this said, I do love my son more than life itself, and I will pat myself on the back (because, heck, no one else is, lol!) and say that I am a damn good mom. And... even more than that, I have a dang wonderful son as well. :-)
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
I realized yesterday... I am a mom.
Now, I have been a mom for 14 months today, so you would think that I would have "realized" this before. I think I realized that I was definitely a mother after that first night bringing JD home when I was wondering when in the world would I ever have the chance to get another wink of sleep again, but for some reason, it hit me - I am totally a "mom."
I am no longer just Amy, a fun gal who likes to drink white zin, scour the mall for sales and spend her weekends sleeping in & going out to dinner with her hubby. I am now Mommy Amy... who never has time to drink white zin, rarely can ever make it to the mall, and now defines "sleeping in" as staying in bed until 7:30. Quiet dinners with my husband are also a thing of the past as if we bring JD, it is sure to be not at all quiet, and if we can actually persuade a babysitter to come to our house, 99% of the time, we are going to some type of event - not just a leisurely evening on the town.
My life. My, how it has changed.
What brought me to this realization is last night - I met someone new - now this person is not on my FB and has no knowledge of this blog, so I can feel free to type away! :-) She actually just got engaged to Jeremy's sort-of cousin and lives smack dab in New York City.
Anyway, the two of them came over to say hi while they were in town, and as Jeremy jabbered away to his cousin, I was making conversation with his new fiance. Great! Adult Conversation!!! One of my favorite things!!!
And, wouldn't you know it, the only thing that seemed to be consistently coming out of my mouth was baby. Blah blah Baby. Blah blah JD. Yada yada mom stuff. Yada yada parenting.
OMG, I was even annoyed at myself!!! It seemed that I could not hold a conversation without some way, shape or form relating whatever it was to JD. I think something just chemically happens to you when you are a mom that the #1 most exciting thing to you is talking about your child. I love JD so much & think that he is just the world's greatest little man. In my eyes, everything that he does is hysterical or adorably cute (yes, this is a mother's love talking). I just can't get enough of him.
Most days, I spend a lot of time talking about him... and last night I realized... I am "that mom" - you know the one... all of those single gals dread her because she seemingly can only talk about her children. So, to my non-mommy friends, let me apologize in advance. I'm sorry. I can't help it. I do realize that when I open my mouth to talk about something other than JD, that it doesn't always work out that way... and I'm working on fixing it.
Please be patient, though, because gosh, that little JD is just so darn cute. I mean, did I tell you what he just did today?????..... :-)
I am no longer just Amy, a fun gal who likes to drink white zin, scour the mall for sales and spend her weekends sleeping in & going out to dinner with her hubby. I am now Mommy Amy... who never has time to drink white zin, rarely can ever make it to the mall, and now defines "sleeping in" as staying in bed until 7:30. Quiet dinners with my husband are also a thing of the past as if we bring JD, it is sure to be not at all quiet, and if we can actually persuade a babysitter to come to our house, 99% of the time, we are going to some type of event - not just a leisurely evening on the town.
My life. My, how it has changed.
What brought me to this realization is last night - I met someone new - now this person is not on my FB and has no knowledge of this blog, so I can feel free to type away! :-) She actually just got engaged to Jeremy's sort-of cousin and lives smack dab in New York City.
Anyway, the two of them came over to say hi while they were in town, and as Jeremy jabbered away to his cousin, I was making conversation with his new fiance. Great! Adult Conversation!!! One of my favorite things!!!
And, wouldn't you know it, the only thing that seemed to be consistently coming out of my mouth was baby. Blah blah Baby. Blah blah JD. Yada yada mom stuff. Yada yada parenting.
OMG, I was even annoyed at myself!!! It seemed that I could not hold a conversation without some way, shape or form relating whatever it was to JD. I think something just chemically happens to you when you are a mom that the #1 most exciting thing to you is talking about your child. I love JD so much & think that he is just the world's greatest little man. In my eyes, everything that he does is hysterical or adorably cute (yes, this is a mother's love talking). I just can't get enough of him.
Most days, I spend a lot of time talking about him... and last night I realized... I am "that mom" - you know the one... all of those single gals dread her because she seemingly can only talk about her children. So, to my non-mommy friends, let me apologize in advance. I'm sorry. I can't help it. I do realize that when I open my mouth to talk about something other than JD, that it doesn't always work out that way... and I'm working on fixing it.
Please be patient, though, because gosh, that little JD is just so darn cute. I mean, did I tell you what he just did today?????..... :-)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Annoyances.
Sometimes, I happen to run across certain situations that just really manage to rub me the wrong way. Out of all of the situations that rub me the wrong way, it is very rare that I can really let loose & blog about one. Being that my blog is a public site, I am never quite sure who reads it, so I never want to offend someone who is unknowingly reading my blog and yada yada yada...
Anywho, one thing that REALLY annoys me is people who have blogs that really shouldn't have them. Now, I know there is at least one person out there who is thinking, "Wow, Amy, you have just really managed to describe yourself." Well, let me clarify that it's professional people who get paid to blog who have really sucky blogs that annoy me.
Allow me to exemplify my concerns:
(1) There is a blog on kmov.com called "The Mommy Diaries" that is written by one of their newscasters or employees or someone who is detailing her trials & tribulations as life as a mom. And, on top of that, she has a son who is just a few weeks older than JD, so she basically should be living my life. SO, one would think that I would have a tremendous interest in this blog.
However, this blog is quite possibly one of the worst blogs I have ever read in my entire life. Go check it out for your life. Seriously. I am not lying. Her son just turned a year old and she had a little blog about planning his first birthday bash. Now, I'm not one to pat myself on the back, but come on now. There are a TON of stories I could tell about planning JD's Spooktacular Boo-day Bash... from trying to get the invitations done, to "making" (and when I say making I really mean eating) numerous icing coated sugar cookies to my extended family's "help" with the bash (and when I say help I mean...well...ok.... that's one of those ix-nayed blog topics). But, anywho, you get my drift. There is a ton of material on planning a first birthday bash. It is a mommy's dream.
But ol girl Mommy Diaries blog is like, "Oh wow, Jude is one. Planning his party has been so much fun. We had a joint bash with a friend of mine's son who is also one. Here is a picture." (end of entry)
Wow, thank you Mommy Diaries for wasting my time...and the news stations money while you're at it. That blog is horrible, and thank God it was so short that it was only less than 5 minutes of my life that I will never get back.
(2) So... this was a blog that was a "featured story" on one of the other local news sites - ksdk.com. One of the news anchors on there decided to live her life as if she were on food stamps - limiting herself to $28/week to spend on food. (That number may be off because I really don't think that a single person spending $28/week on food would be a HUGE stretch. Maybe I am wrong?)
Anyway, this blog was also very awful. For this week-long extravaganza, ol girl managed to enter 3 blog entries I think. The first was talking about how "Wow, good thing I can get my friends to buy me lunch & dinner. Since I didn't pay, I don't have to include that in my budget and the best part of all is that then I have leftovers!"
Um, girl. I'm kind of thinking that you're missing the point of your assignment here. I mean, hello. I highly doubt that all of the people on food stamps have friends who are willing to buy them multiple meals a day so that their budget stretches a little further.
Then, a couple days later, ol girl writes an entry about going grocery shopping. Said blog was about 3 paragraphs long and all the paragraphs sucks. Apparently she bought lots of peanut butter. And a few other things but I don't remember because the blog was so awful I have blocked it out of my memory.
OH, I lie. She also went to Soulard Farmer's Market. Bought tons of veggies for $6. Does the Farmer's market take food stamps in reality? Just asking.
Anyway, it was a very non-descript entry and overall really sucked. She again had some other news anchor buying her $5/morning coffee habit for her because she apparently was crabby without it. Again, missing the point, I think.
Then, she ties it all together with a high-power, grab-your-attention, 5 sentence blog about how "Whoa, relax everyone. This was just meant to bring awareness to the food stamp situation. blahdee freakin' blah."
Anyway, I ramble. My point is that both of these blogs are awful, and both of these people are paid to blog. Where is the justice in society?????
Anywho, one thing that REALLY annoys me is people who have blogs that really shouldn't have them. Now, I know there is at least one person out there who is thinking, "Wow, Amy, you have just really managed to describe yourself." Well, let me clarify that it's professional people who get paid to blog who have really sucky blogs that annoy me.
Allow me to exemplify my concerns:
(1) There is a blog on kmov.com called "The Mommy Diaries" that is written by one of their newscasters or employees or someone who is detailing her trials & tribulations as life as a mom. And, on top of that, she has a son who is just a few weeks older than JD, so she basically should be living my life. SO, one would think that I would have a tremendous interest in this blog.
However, this blog is quite possibly one of the worst blogs I have ever read in my entire life. Go check it out for your life. Seriously. I am not lying. Her son just turned a year old and she had a little blog about planning his first birthday bash. Now, I'm not one to pat myself on the back, but come on now. There are a TON of stories I could tell about planning JD's Spooktacular Boo-day Bash... from trying to get the invitations done, to "making" (and when I say making I really mean eating) numerous icing coated sugar cookies to my extended family's "help" with the bash (and when I say help I mean...well...ok.... that's one of those ix-nayed blog topics). But, anywho, you get my drift. There is a ton of material on planning a first birthday bash. It is a mommy's dream.
But ol girl Mommy Diaries blog is like, "Oh wow, Jude is one. Planning his party has been so much fun. We had a joint bash with a friend of mine's son who is also one. Here is a picture." (end of entry)
Wow, thank you Mommy Diaries for wasting my time...and the news stations money while you're at it. That blog is horrible, and thank God it was so short that it was only less than 5 minutes of my life that I will never get back.
(2) So... this was a blog that was a "featured story" on one of the other local news sites - ksdk.com. One of the news anchors on there decided to live her life as if she were on food stamps - limiting herself to $28/week to spend on food. (That number may be off because I really don't think that a single person spending $28/week on food would be a HUGE stretch. Maybe I am wrong?)
Anyway, this blog was also very awful. For this week-long extravaganza, ol girl managed to enter 3 blog entries I think. The first was talking about how "Wow, good thing I can get my friends to buy me lunch & dinner. Since I didn't pay, I don't have to include that in my budget and the best part of all is that then I have leftovers!"
Um, girl. I'm kind of thinking that you're missing the point of your assignment here. I mean, hello. I highly doubt that all of the people on food stamps have friends who are willing to buy them multiple meals a day so that their budget stretches a little further.
Then, a couple days later, ol girl writes an entry about going grocery shopping. Said blog was about 3 paragraphs long and all the paragraphs sucks. Apparently she bought lots of peanut butter. And a few other things but I don't remember because the blog was so awful I have blocked it out of my memory.
OH, I lie. She also went to Soulard Farmer's Market. Bought tons of veggies for $6. Does the Farmer's market take food stamps in reality? Just asking.
Anyway, it was a very non-descript entry and overall really sucked. She again had some other news anchor buying her $5/morning coffee habit for her because she apparently was crabby without it. Again, missing the point, I think.
Then, she ties it all together with a high-power, grab-your-attention, 5 sentence blog about how "Whoa, relax everyone. This was just meant to bring awareness to the food stamp situation. blahdee freakin' blah."
Anyway, I ramble. My point is that both of these blogs are awful, and both of these people are paid to blog. Where is the justice in society?????
Monday, October 26, 2009
Signs of the Times...
I was running some errands the other day, and my path happened to take me on a drive right past my old townhouse. Man, did I love that little place!! It got me thinking about times past, times changing, and the future times ahead of me.
I would have to say that living in that townhouse were some of the best days of my life. I don't think I've ever felt more alive than when I lived there. Living there, I think, was one of the most feel-good, liberating, world-by-the-tail things that I've ever done for myself. I owned it by myself, for myself, and loved all of the freedom that choice gave me.
Not that I didn't love all of the times in my life that I had lived with roommates (and roommies, I love each & every one of you with all my heart), but living alone was absolutely wonderful I thought. I could stay up as late as I wanted with all the lights and music on. I could come home on dark, rainy nights, pour myself a glass of wine and enjoy the quiet. I could vacuum my house at 11pm if I wanted to. I could wake up and turn on my radio without fear of waking anyone else up. I cleaned up after only myself. I had no one to tell where I was going & when I'd be back - no one to answer to when I stayed out too late or overslept by hours the next morning. My closet was ALL MINE, and my fridge was filled with only my favorites. My Tivo was set to only girly shows, and I could watch them at my discretion. Gosh, thinking back about that makes me wonder why I gave all that up.... :-)
Anyway, I know I wrote a blog the other day about how far women have come in the workplace but yet still wondering where it left us in the social place, and I've been thinking since then a lot about chivalry.
Chivalry. Now there is a word that is not used enough in our society!! I know some of you reading this may have the most wonderful husbands who open the door for you, plan romantic dates for you, schedule babysitters for your mom nights & hand over the credit card for your shopping sprees with a smile. If this situation is yours, then please, quit reading now!
I heard someone talking about chivalry a few days ago about how chivalry is not dead... it's just not required anymore. And that got me to thinking.... which eventually led to me writing! :-) I think chivalry not being required is not necessarily a bi-product of lazy men (although,let's face it ladies, a lot of men do fit that description!), I think that it might just be a bi-product of women who are competent and are very good at "doing it yourself."
One thing that I never thought that I wanted during my single girl days was to be taken care of. What did I need to be taken care of for? I was very capable of doing it all myself - I was living in my own little world with the world by the tail and did a fine job of keeping the boat a'rowing. I wanted someone who saw me as an equal, not as a dependent... someone who could rely on me just as much as I relied on him. I don't really think I'm alone in feeling that way... am I????
Now, as a mom who is stretched thin to say the least, I am left wondering why in the world I ever thought that!! :-) I am wishing I could re-turn the wheels and re-"train" my husband to think that I am not very good at all about doing it myself.
I mean, if I were a guy and knew that my wife could run out in the rain for groceries, then why would I do it for her? Would I open her car door for her when we went out together knowing that every day she does it for herself when she heads out to work? Would I plan a date for her knowing that she's always better at knowing what food she's in the mood for, and would I compliment her when I know that her facebook friends complement her pictures enough for weeks on end? Would I plan a special Mother's Day gift for her when I know that she always buys what she wants anyway? Would I take the car for an oil change when I know that she is very capable of driving to Valvoline on her own?
I could go on & on... really. I could.
As a mother of a son, how can I make sure that he will one day answer all of these questions with a yes, and as a wife of a husband who sometimes...err..."lacks" in the chivalry department, how can I get him to understand that yes, I can do it myself, but no, I don't always want to have to....
I would have to say that living in that townhouse were some of the best days of my life. I don't think I've ever felt more alive than when I lived there. Living there, I think, was one of the most feel-good, liberating, world-by-the-tail things that I've ever done for myself. I owned it by myself, for myself, and loved all of the freedom that choice gave me.
Not that I didn't love all of the times in my life that I had lived with roommates (and roommies, I love each & every one of you with all my heart), but living alone was absolutely wonderful I thought. I could stay up as late as I wanted with all the lights and music on. I could come home on dark, rainy nights, pour myself a glass of wine and enjoy the quiet. I could vacuum my house at 11pm if I wanted to. I could wake up and turn on my radio without fear of waking anyone else up. I cleaned up after only myself. I had no one to tell where I was going & when I'd be back - no one to answer to when I stayed out too late or overslept by hours the next morning. My closet was ALL MINE, and my fridge was filled with only my favorites. My Tivo was set to only girly shows, and I could watch them at my discretion. Gosh, thinking back about that makes me wonder why I gave all that up.... :-)
Anyway, I know I wrote a blog the other day about how far women have come in the workplace but yet still wondering where it left us in the social place, and I've been thinking since then a lot about chivalry.
Chivalry. Now there is a word that is not used enough in our society!! I know some of you reading this may have the most wonderful husbands who open the door for you, plan romantic dates for you, schedule babysitters for your mom nights & hand over the credit card for your shopping sprees with a smile. If this situation is yours, then please, quit reading now!
I heard someone talking about chivalry a few days ago about how chivalry is not dead... it's just not required anymore. And that got me to thinking.... which eventually led to me writing! :-) I think chivalry not being required is not necessarily a bi-product of lazy men (although,let's face it ladies, a lot of men do fit that description!), I think that it might just be a bi-product of women who are competent and are very good at "doing it yourself."
One thing that I never thought that I wanted during my single girl days was to be taken care of. What did I need to be taken care of for? I was very capable of doing it all myself - I was living in my own little world with the world by the tail and did a fine job of keeping the boat a'rowing. I wanted someone who saw me as an equal, not as a dependent... someone who could rely on me just as much as I relied on him. I don't really think I'm alone in feeling that way... am I????
Now, as a mom who is stretched thin to say the least, I am left wondering why in the world I ever thought that!! :-) I am wishing I could re-turn the wheels and re-"train" my husband to think that I am not very good at all about doing it myself.
I mean, if I were a guy and knew that my wife could run out in the rain for groceries, then why would I do it for her? Would I open her car door for her when we went out together knowing that every day she does it for herself when she heads out to work? Would I plan a date for her knowing that she's always better at knowing what food she's in the mood for, and would I compliment her when I know that her facebook friends complement her pictures enough for weeks on end? Would I plan a special Mother's Day gift for her when I know that she always buys what she wants anyway? Would I take the car for an oil change when I know that she is very capable of driving to Valvoline on her own?
I could go on & on... really. I could.
As a mother of a son, how can I make sure that he will one day answer all of these questions with a yes, and as a wife of a husband who sometimes...err..."lacks" in the chivalry department, how can I get him to understand that yes, I can do it myself, but no, I don't always want to have to....
Sunday, October 18, 2009
May the best hand win...
Sometimes I feel that parenting... and post-child marriage, I guess... is sort of like a poker game. You have to try to keep your cool and somehow manage to bluff your way into a winning game. It's give & take, always wondering what trick the other is going to pull out of their sleeve next.
Somehow, in my personal marriage game of hold 'em, my husband always seems to have the easy cards... he always manages to pull of that straight flush that gets him out of bedtime duty, bath duty, dinner duty, or early morning duty. I'm not quite sure how he works it, but time & time again, I am out-smarted into giving him the night off while I do it all.
Now, sure sometimes he does his "Man-work" days where he is out in the yard working or out in the garage tinkering around. During the "man days", it is strict instruction for me that he is doing his man labor, so by default, I am doing mommy labor all day.
Yes, he is working around the house, and I do realize that I need to keep my eye on the big picture here, but during these Man Days, I keep JD out of his hair so that he can catch up on his Honey Do list around the house. My, how great would that be if someone kept JD occupied all day long so I could do MY Honey-Do list, too. Mine seems to be growing in length as each day ticks by (and grows closer to JD's first birthday bash), but no one seems to be concerned with giving me some un-interrupted time to get things done. As a mom, I just need to multi-task and work it into my day. However, as a dad, he needs to escape from his son for hours of uninterrupted labor. How exactly did that happen??
Today is one of those Man Days... it sort of happened by accident that Jeremy pulled his ace out of the hole but he is crossing things off his list and I am inside with JD. Shortly after lunch, Jeremy comes in and asks, "Is there anything you need to get done today?"
Stunned at this question, I could rattle off a million things - 10 loads of laundry, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, dishes, laundry shopping & a trip to Wal-Mart, but instead I reply, "Um, a shower would be nice."
"You want to shower today???" My husband questions me as if I just asked for a $500 afternoon shopping spree.
"Yes, a shower." And, with that, I was off to the bathroom - one of those very nice closed-door type of showers that mothers get to experience very infrequently. However, tick, tick tick... can't dawdle too long, before I was back on duty for pre-naptime routine, and the Man Work resumes.
I start to get mad, but then I realize that my husband just does not get it, and it's not his fault. He has never tried to carry an overloaded laundry basket upstairs with an 11 month old child who "thinks" he knows how to climb the stairs. Or tried to unload the dishwasher with an 11 month old child who makes a bee line right for the sharpest knife in the dishwasher faster than mommy can grab it. Or tried to unload groceries with an 11 month old child who screams after every time the refrigerator door slams in his face, mad that he was not quick enough to get to play in the fridge today.
It is hard. I love it, but it is hard, and some appreciation would be nice. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that my husband is working around the house. But in this marriage world of give & take, it would be nice if I had a Woman Work day , too.
Somehow, in my personal marriage game of hold 'em, my husband always seems to have the easy cards... he always manages to pull of that straight flush that gets him out of bedtime duty, bath duty, dinner duty, or early morning duty. I'm not quite sure how he works it, but time & time again, I am out-smarted into giving him the night off while I do it all.
Now, sure sometimes he does his "Man-work" days where he is out in the yard working or out in the garage tinkering around. During the "man days", it is strict instruction for me that he is doing his man labor, so by default, I am doing mommy labor all day.
Yes, he is working around the house, and I do realize that I need to keep my eye on the big picture here, but during these Man Days, I keep JD out of his hair so that he can catch up on his Honey Do list around the house. My, how great would that be if someone kept JD occupied all day long so I could do MY Honey-Do list, too. Mine seems to be growing in length as each day ticks by (and grows closer to JD's first birthday bash), but no one seems to be concerned with giving me some un-interrupted time to get things done. As a mom, I just need to multi-task and work it into my day. However, as a dad, he needs to escape from his son for hours of uninterrupted labor. How exactly did that happen??
Today is one of those Man Days... it sort of happened by accident that Jeremy pulled his ace out of the hole but he is crossing things off his list and I am inside with JD. Shortly after lunch, Jeremy comes in and asks, "Is there anything you need to get done today?"
Stunned at this question, I could rattle off a million things - 10 loads of laundry, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, dishes, laundry shopping & a trip to Wal-Mart, but instead I reply, "Um, a shower would be nice."
"You want to shower today???" My husband questions me as if I just asked for a $500 afternoon shopping spree.
"Yes, a shower." And, with that, I was off to the bathroom - one of those very nice closed-door type of showers that mothers get to experience very infrequently. However, tick, tick tick... can't dawdle too long, before I was back on duty for pre-naptime routine, and the Man Work resumes.
I start to get mad, but then I realize that my husband just does not get it, and it's not his fault. He has never tried to carry an overloaded laundry basket upstairs with an 11 month old child who "thinks" he knows how to climb the stairs. Or tried to unload the dishwasher with an 11 month old child who makes a bee line right for the sharpest knife in the dishwasher faster than mommy can grab it. Or tried to unload groceries with an 11 month old child who screams after every time the refrigerator door slams in his face, mad that he was not quick enough to get to play in the fridge today.
It is hard. I love it, but it is hard, and some appreciation would be nice. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful that my husband is working around the house. But in this marriage world of give & take, it would be nice if I had a Woman Work day , too.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
When the sun goes down...
There is just something about going out of the house after dark that is just plain ol' exciting. Maybe the fact that I think this should be my clue to myself that I need some real excitement in my life, but with it getting dark so gosh darn early, I feel myself getting "excited" when I hop in my car after dark.... only to end up at Walmart or the grocery store.
I guess it's still a lingering train of thought from my single girl days... the days, or should I say nights, when anyone who was anyone didn't leave their house to start their night until at least 10pm. I'd spend all day lounging, all evening resting up, and all night out on the town living it up. Those were the glory days, I suppose. Now, this mom is lucky to still be awake at 10pm, but for some reason when I'm outside in the dark, I just get this tinge of something I can't explain.
I don't know what it is about the dark... it brings on that air of excitement and an element of mystery that makes me feel like I am about to do something really fun & special. Then, I realize that I have just arrived in the Dierberg's parking lot to run in for some milk, apple juice & a thing of butter... then turn around, hop back in my car & hurry to get in my comfy pajamas before I miss Glee or The Office.
Hello, old lady life, I have arrived.
I guess it's still a lingering train of thought from my single girl days... the days, or should I say nights, when anyone who was anyone didn't leave their house to start their night until at least 10pm. I'd spend all day lounging, all evening resting up, and all night out on the town living it up. Those were the glory days, I suppose. Now, this mom is lucky to still be awake at 10pm, but for some reason when I'm outside in the dark, I just get this tinge of something I can't explain.
I don't know what it is about the dark... it brings on that air of excitement and an element of mystery that makes me feel like I am about to do something really fun & special. Then, I realize that I have just arrived in the Dierberg's parking lot to run in for some milk, apple juice & a thing of butter... then turn around, hop back in my car & hurry to get in my comfy pajamas before I miss Glee or The Office.
Hello, old lady life, I have arrived.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sports and license plates
The other day I was driving and of course you all know that I LOVE license plates... Anyway, I was stopped at a red light behind a little black sedan with a plate that said NXT YER 1 with a Cubs plate hold around it. Although I'm not a baseball fan myself, I had to stop and laugh at this one. That's pretty clever, if I do say so myself. Although, nowadays, I'm thinking of adopting that same plate, only with an Illinois football ring around it instead...
But anyway, that brings me to another point... baseball. I know this is an unpopular viewpoint, but I would like to go out on a limb and say THANK GOD the hunt for Red October is over. I know, I know, boo, hiss, boo hiss. What a bad St. Louis-an I am.
I must admit that I was captivated by the final game in the 847 game season of our redbirds. I guess it was due to the fact that something was actually on the line - it was the make or break point for the Cards - do or die.
I think that is the problem with baseball. There are SO MANY games that it is total overload - and who really cares if they lose to the Cubs the first 27 times they play them this year, I mean, we will play them again another 27 times before the season is up.
I know... unpopular viewpoint, but I am GLAD Red October is over - baseball is cozily behind us and now we can focus on the important things in life - football and Halloween. :-)
Anyway, as a sidenote, I saw another plate this morning "DR JJP DC." Now, does anyone besides me see a problem with this license plate??? Isn't this a little redundant??
This is one of the things that I find most annoying, and I don't know why. OK, Guy. We get it. You are a doctor. A doctor of chiropractic to be exact... yes siree, I do understand initials, however, I just don't quite understand why this particular Dr. DC feels it's a must to tell the little car behind him at a red light that YES, he is a doctor.... and why yes, he must tell me this twice within a matter of 7 characters.
Annoying.
Anyway, I'm sure that I've seen other interesting plates, however, my memory is continuing to fade as visions of pumpkins & birthday parties dance in my head. :-) Hope you all are enjoying this start to fall as much as I am!!
But anyway, that brings me to another point... baseball. I know this is an unpopular viewpoint, but I would like to go out on a limb and say THANK GOD the hunt for Red October is over. I know, I know, boo, hiss, boo hiss. What a bad St. Louis-an I am.
I must admit that I was captivated by the final game in the 847 game season of our redbirds. I guess it was due to the fact that something was actually on the line - it was the make or break point for the Cards - do or die.
I think that is the problem with baseball. There are SO MANY games that it is total overload - and who really cares if they lose to the Cubs the first 27 times they play them this year, I mean, we will play them again another 27 times before the season is up.
I know... unpopular viewpoint, but I am GLAD Red October is over - baseball is cozily behind us and now we can focus on the important things in life - football and Halloween. :-)
Anyway, as a sidenote, I saw another plate this morning "DR JJP DC." Now, does anyone besides me see a problem with this license plate??? Isn't this a little redundant??
This is one of the things that I find most annoying, and I don't know why. OK, Guy. We get it. You are a doctor. A doctor of chiropractic to be exact... yes siree, I do understand initials, however, I just don't quite understand why this particular Dr. DC feels it's a must to tell the little car behind him at a red light that YES, he is a doctor.... and why yes, he must tell me this twice within a matter of 7 characters.
Annoying.
Anyway, I'm sure that I've seen other interesting plates, however, my memory is continuing to fade as visions of pumpkins & birthday parties dance in my head. :-) Hope you all are enjoying this start to fall as much as I am!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Oprah update
Um...so.... I think I am on the verge of un-tivo-ing Oprah. I am so over this whole Oprah show thing, it's not even funny.
(OK, OK, so in all fairness, I would drop everything and leave in 5 minutes flat if I was given the opportunity, but that's my story & I'm sticking to it.)
So... late last night I get this email:
Hi Amy!
I'm so sorry it's so late -- I have a very last minute question for you if
you're available?
If you're around tonight, please call!
:)
And then, at 9:37pm, my friend Oprah producer Allyson emails me her phone number. :-) Aaaaaaaaaa (that's my impression of the sound of angels when the heavens open up.)
So, stupid stupid stupid me has managed to drop the ball once again. Yes, I was awake at 9:37pm last night, but do you think I checked my email??? No, why would one check her email while she was anxiously awaiting an email from the Oprah show??? That would make WAY too much sense.
Anywho, so I get this above email first thing this morning and at 7am sharp, I call ol' girl and leave here a friendly, fun, upbeat voicemail message.
And... do you think I get so much as an email back??? Ol girl can email me at 9:37 asking me to drop everything and call that night, but when I call her back, do I get so much as a flippin' pinky wave as a response?? No.
Ugh, it's getting annoying, this living on the edge of my seat waiting for "the call." Come on, O, I thought you'd do better than leaving a girl hanging like this!!!
Anyway, I previously thought this show was taping tomorrow due to some intense oprah.com research, but I think I was wrong... so... maybe I do have more time....
more time to sit....and wait.
I'll keep you posted!!!
(OK, OK, so in all fairness, I would drop everything and leave in 5 minutes flat if I was given the opportunity, but that's my story & I'm sticking to it.)
So... late last night I get this email:
| show details 9:37 PM (22 hours ago) |
I'm so sorry it's so late -- I have a very last minute question for you if
you're available?
If you're around tonight, please call!
:)
And then, at 9:37pm, my friend Oprah producer Allyson emails me her phone number. :-) Aaaaaaaaaa (that's my impression of the sound of angels when the heavens open up.)
So, stupid stupid stupid me has managed to drop the ball once again. Yes, I was awake at 9:37pm last night, but do you think I checked my email??? No, why would one check her email while she was anxiously awaiting an email from the Oprah show??? That would make WAY too much sense.
Anywho, so I get this above email first thing this morning and at 7am sharp, I call ol' girl and leave here a friendly, fun, upbeat voicemail message.
And... do you think I get so much as an email back??? Ol girl can email me at 9:37 asking me to drop everything and call that night, but when I call her back, do I get so much as a flippin' pinky wave as a response?? No.
Ugh, it's getting annoying, this living on the edge of my seat waiting for "the call." Come on, O, I thought you'd do better than leaving a girl hanging like this!!!
Anyway, I previously thought this show was taping tomorrow due to some intense oprah.com research, but I think I was wrong... so... maybe I do have more time....
more time to sit....and wait.
I'll keep you posted!!!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
OPRAH!!!!
Some of you may know this already, but I am on the brink of one of the most exciting things that have ever happened to me in my entire life. No, I'm not moving, I'm not pregnant again, and I certainly have not won the lottery.
However, I have recently made contact with Oprah's staff, and I am flippin' out excited about it!!
"How did this all start?" you may be thinking to yourself. Well. One of my mom's friends got to go on the Oprah show a few months ago and sit in the first few rows of the audience because she had written in on oprah.com about an upcoming show topic. The producers emailed her, a love was formed, and before you knew it, she was headed to beautiful Chicago, Illinois to a taping at Harpo studios.
So, taking a page from her book, I decided to do the same thing. I wrote in on a show topic about post-baby marriages and keeping the love alive in your marriage, and a few days later, I get an email in my gmail asking me for my picture if I was interested in appearing on the show in the first few rows of the audience.
A skeptic at heart, I tried to contain my excitement as I searched for a picture that looked like something Queen O herself would like to have in her audience. I ended up picking a picture of me from a wedding we went to a couple months ago where I was wearing a bright colored dress, reasoning that the produers could infer from wearing bright colors, that I also had a bright personality. A stretch for logic but my mind was spinning in all directions.
I sent that in on a Thursday and for the remainder of the day and the next day, I checked my email like a madwoman, but no response. A girl on the verge of O can only be so patient!!!
Saturday rolls around and I was busy, busy, busy with my little monkey man, and for some reason, I thought to myself that Oprah's producers don't work weekends, so I checked my gmail at approximately 11:40am, and then I did not recheck again until about 7:30pm.
Man, oh man, did I drop the ball on that one! Oprah's producer Allyson emailed me at 11:42am (gasp!) asking if there was a time that day (Saturday) that I would be available to talk to her on the phone.
Crap, crap, double crap. Here I am, 7:30pm, just getting this email and feeling like a total loser... like some high school athlete who missed what could've been the winning shot with the final seconds ticking off the clock. I hurriedly shot off an email to her that OF COURSE I would be available to talk to her any time at all (heck, even 3am if that's what I needed to do), and to please, please call because I would LOVE to go to the show.
So...Sunday ticks by with about 137,584 log-ins to my gmail.... nothing.
Monday comes and goes without so much as a reply to my email.
I am hopeful for Tueday, but if today ends without a reply, I am feeling that I did indeed miss the boat. As much as I am kicking myself for not checking my email with ocd-intensity, it will be OK for the following reasons:
(a) as most of you moms know anyway, it would be really hard to just up & leave in a moment's notice and expect Jeremy to do what I do (I don't know why this is so hard, but it's just one of those things that is difficult as a mom)
(b) as soon as Jeremy learned that I would have to mention him in my questions at the show, he became not so fond of my going (which, I would go anyway, tough cookies for him, but it could cause post-oprah-show tension in theory)
(c) In a most surprising move, my mom is at the lake and said she wouldn't come home to go to the show with me (what?!?!?!?) and my sister's husband is out of town, so it is unlikely that she could go to the show with me (?!?!??!?!?!?!), and those are by far, the two biggest Oprah lovers that I know, and it would be hard to find someone else who could drop everything to go, and plus, it wouldn't feel right if I couldn't take one of them. They just may hate me forever.
So, like I said I am still hopeful. I still think it could happen. And boy, oh boy would I be doing cartwheels around my living room if it did. But for right now, I am trying to keep my cool and wish my way onto Oprah's show. :-)
However, I have recently made contact with Oprah's staff, and I am flippin' out excited about it!!
"How did this all start?" you may be thinking to yourself. Well. One of my mom's friends got to go on the Oprah show a few months ago and sit in the first few rows of the audience because she had written in on oprah.com about an upcoming show topic. The producers emailed her, a love was formed, and before you knew it, she was headed to beautiful Chicago, Illinois to a taping at Harpo studios.
So, taking a page from her book, I decided to do the same thing. I wrote in on a show topic about post-baby marriages and keeping the love alive in your marriage, and a few days later, I get an email in my gmail asking me for my picture if I was interested in appearing on the show in the first few rows of the audience.
A skeptic at heart, I tried to contain my excitement as I searched for a picture that looked like something Queen O herself would like to have in her audience. I ended up picking a picture of me from a wedding we went to a couple months ago where I was wearing a bright colored dress, reasoning that the produers could infer from wearing bright colors, that I also had a bright personality. A stretch for logic but my mind was spinning in all directions.
I sent that in on a Thursday and for the remainder of the day and the next day, I checked my email like a madwoman, but no response. A girl on the verge of O can only be so patient!!!
Saturday rolls around and I was busy, busy, busy with my little monkey man, and for some reason, I thought to myself that Oprah's producers don't work weekends, so I checked my gmail at approximately 11:40am, and then I did not recheck again until about 7:30pm.
Man, oh man, did I drop the ball on that one! Oprah's producer Allyson emailed me at 11:42am (gasp!) asking if there was a time that day (Saturday) that I would be available to talk to her on the phone.
Crap, crap, double crap. Here I am, 7:30pm, just getting this email and feeling like a total loser... like some high school athlete who missed what could've been the winning shot with the final seconds ticking off the clock. I hurriedly shot off an email to her that OF COURSE I would be available to talk to her any time at all (heck, even 3am if that's what I needed to do), and to please, please call because I would LOVE to go to the show.
So...Sunday ticks by with about 137,584 log-ins to my gmail.... nothing.
Monday comes and goes without so much as a reply to my email.
I am hopeful for Tueday, but if today ends without a reply, I am feeling that I did indeed miss the boat. As much as I am kicking myself for not checking my email with ocd-intensity, it will be OK for the following reasons:
(a) as most of you moms know anyway, it would be really hard to just up & leave in a moment's notice and expect Jeremy to do what I do (I don't know why this is so hard, but it's just one of those things that is difficult as a mom)
(b) as soon as Jeremy learned that I would have to mention him in my questions at the show, he became not so fond of my going (which, I would go anyway, tough cookies for him, but it could cause post-oprah-show tension in theory)
(c) In a most surprising move, my mom is at the lake and said she wouldn't come home to go to the show with me (what?!?!?!?) and my sister's husband is out of town, so it is unlikely that she could go to the show with me (?!?!??!?!?!?!), and those are by far, the two biggest Oprah lovers that I know, and it would be hard to find someone else who could drop everything to go, and plus, it wouldn't feel right if I couldn't take one of them. They just may hate me forever.
So, like I said I am still hopeful. I still think it could happen. And boy, oh boy would I be doing cartwheels around my living room if it did. But for right now, I am trying to keep my cool and wish my way onto Oprah's show. :-)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
When do you know???
My little boy is 11 months old day. 11. Months. Old. Wow.
Lately I have found myself watching his adorable little baby self crawl around my floors and cruise around my cabinets and just sitting, wondering, thinking... "How in the world did my baby get so gosh darn big???"
It seems like the months have flown by, and it seems like just yesterday that I was holding my little newborn bundle in my arms thinking, hoping & wishing that I could maintain my sanity for just a few more months... and once I made it to that point - the point that all new moms wish for... the point where you can put your little one down and they will actually sleep the whole night through. If I could do THAT, then I would be OK.
Well, here I am. I have made it. My little man keeps his midnight calls to a minimum and as of late, his 5am wake-up cries have been waning as well. This is the sweet spot, where I am getting to know my son as a little person, not just as a baby that needs to be cared for, but actually as a little guy with his own personality... someone that adds so much delight to my day.
So, why in the world am I thinking that I want another baby??? Now, logistically speaking, I don't think this can happen now. I firmly believe that we should sell our home before having another child, but still.... that doesn't help me when I see these adorably cute little teensy tiny babies all over the place.
So, how do you know exactly? How do you know for sure?? Well, I guess Baby #1 I didn't exactly know for sure prior to his conception, and that has worked out OK, but still. I have heard that the jump from 1 to 2 is a big one. So... when to say when, I guess that is the question.
I'm not going to lie... I do enjoy this sweet spot right now, and I don't think I'm ready to be preggo tomorrow. I am enjoying being a normal sized mom, not a preggo-sized one. I enjoy being able to drink, and I especially enjoy knowing that no where in my near future is a crying baby who wants to see me frequently during the wee early morning hours.
Anyway, like I said, logistically, I know that now is not the time. Sanity wise, I don't think that now is the time. However, I guess I'm wondering, fellow bloggers, how did you decide and were you ready?
Lately I have found myself watching his adorable little baby self crawl around my floors and cruise around my cabinets and just sitting, wondering, thinking... "How in the world did my baby get so gosh darn big???"
It seems like the months have flown by, and it seems like just yesterday that I was holding my little newborn bundle in my arms thinking, hoping & wishing that I could maintain my sanity for just a few more months... and once I made it to that point - the point that all new moms wish for... the point where you can put your little one down and they will actually sleep the whole night through. If I could do THAT, then I would be OK.
Well, here I am. I have made it. My little man keeps his midnight calls to a minimum and as of late, his 5am wake-up cries have been waning as well. This is the sweet spot, where I am getting to know my son as a little person, not just as a baby that needs to be cared for, but actually as a little guy with his own personality... someone that adds so much delight to my day.
So, why in the world am I thinking that I want another baby??? Now, logistically speaking, I don't think this can happen now. I firmly believe that we should sell our home before having another child, but still.... that doesn't help me when I see these adorably cute little teensy tiny babies all over the place.
So, how do you know exactly? How do you know for sure?? Well, I guess Baby #1 I didn't exactly know for sure prior to his conception, and that has worked out OK, but still. I have heard that the jump from 1 to 2 is a big one. So... when to say when, I guess that is the question.
I'm not going to lie... I do enjoy this sweet spot right now, and I don't think I'm ready to be preggo tomorrow. I am enjoying being a normal sized mom, not a preggo-sized one. I enjoy being able to drink, and I especially enjoy knowing that no where in my near future is a crying baby who wants to see me frequently during the wee early morning hours.
Anyway, like I said, logistically, I know that now is not the time. Sanity wise, I don't think that now is the time. However, I guess I'm wondering, fellow bloggers, how did you decide and were you ready?
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Need to vent...
Just this past weekend, I had the opportunity to go see my good friend Jill and her precious little newly born baby girl. OMG, I *loved* her, and it really made me want to start to have another one... but then I quickly snapped back to my senses as Jill started to talk about their first 2 nights at home. I thought back to my first few weeks at home and aside from all the blissful love that you feel for your little one, the other part of being at home with a newborn is nothing short of pure misery.
Thinking & reflecting back to how I have survived almost a whole YEAR with my little man got me to thinking about the demands on our generation's wonder woman. I have always been very pro-women's right and women's lib and all of that, but I really started to wonder where that all has gotten us.
Yes, women are more integral in the workplace environment, and yes, an increasing number of women no longer see a glass ceiling. We women can fulfill our dreams, not matter what the goal. There are no limits to our talents... but also there are no limits to our demands.
However, I think a very underestimated bi-product of this era is the realization that in order to be successful in today's world, you must be a true wonder woman.
I recently told my husband that I pretty much feel like I suck at all parts of my life. I am not at work enough to be really good at my job, yet I am not at home enough to be really effective at home either. When I am at home, I want to focus on being a mom, however, part of being a 'mom' is being a homemaker... and I don't have enough energy in my day to focus there.
I don't have enough leisure time to classify myself as a 'good friend', yet my friends are a dangling lifeline to my prior life filled with fun & sanity. I get one night to myself a week and have to pick between exercising or escaping with a friend. And, when I do get that night to myself, the one thing that I truly want is just quiet.
My day starts with a crying baby, endures through a nagging workday, relishes in those 2 hours each day post-work that I get to spend with my son while he is actually awake, and then abruptly ends when I fall asleep on the couch by 8:30. I don't know where the 'me' is in my life... but I feel confident that I will re-discover that aspect someday, as I try to grow more efficient in my quest to be everything to everyone.
By doing everything, I really feel like I'm doing nothing. Throughout my life, I have been a 100% person, trying to put full effort into whatever I do, however, by trying to throw being a mom into the balancing act, the time & effort required by such a large task (and I do LOVE being a mom) will totally negate all time previously plotted for me, my friends & my house and will wear deeply on the amount of time & energy I have available for a workday. Trying to squeeze all of these back in the juggling routine has ended with me flat on my ass surrounded by a bunch of bouncing balls.
I don't know... it seems that working moms and non-working moms sort of fall into an "us vs. them" mentality. Us working moms think about how nice it would be to be able to be at home and FINALLY have the time to get everything done that has been neglected for months (as if staying at home is some sort of vacation, which believe me, I know is not the case)... and I know a good amount of stay-at-home moms who are jealous that we working moms get to have adult conversation every day and also have the opportunity to make a quick run to Target sans kiddos on our lunch break.
I guess each generation has their issues. Each woman has her own struggles. I know this woman does.
Thinking back about 'progress' makes me just wonder what we have done to ourselves... now our place is not in the home, but it's still not at work. We're expected to be a main income contributor, but be the main home provider as well. We are the manager of our home, and turn around to be the manager of our work. And no matter what the demand, I know in my life, it seems like the only person I can ever make happy is my son... and that's probably only because he doesn't have a clue about what's going on, lol! :-)
Today's woman has just squeezed in another main course into her meal.... and when you eat that much, there's usually no time for dessert. I don't know... I just needed to vent. Sometimes I feel that there is so much going on in my life, that I actually start to become invisible and the only thing that matters is the fruit of my labor... it can be really frustrating, and I hope all of my faithful little blog followers don't feel the same...
*HUGS* Amy
Thinking & reflecting back to how I have survived almost a whole YEAR with my little man got me to thinking about the demands on our generation's wonder woman. I have always been very pro-women's right and women's lib and all of that, but I really started to wonder where that all has gotten us.
Yes, women are more integral in the workplace environment, and yes, an increasing number of women no longer see a glass ceiling. We women can fulfill our dreams, not matter what the goal. There are no limits to our talents... but also there are no limits to our demands.
However, I think a very underestimated bi-product of this era is the realization that in order to be successful in today's world, you must be a true wonder woman.
I recently told my husband that I pretty much feel like I suck at all parts of my life. I am not at work enough to be really good at my job, yet I am not at home enough to be really effective at home either. When I am at home, I want to focus on being a mom, however, part of being a 'mom' is being a homemaker... and I don't have enough energy in my day to focus there.
I don't have enough leisure time to classify myself as a 'good friend', yet my friends are a dangling lifeline to my prior life filled with fun & sanity. I get one night to myself a week and have to pick between exercising or escaping with a friend. And, when I do get that night to myself, the one thing that I truly want is just quiet.
My day starts with a crying baby, endures through a nagging workday, relishes in those 2 hours each day post-work that I get to spend with my son while he is actually awake, and then abruptly ends when I fall asleep on the couch by 8:30. I don't know where the 'me' is in my life... but I feel confident that I will re-discover that aspect someday, as I try to grow more efficient in my quest to be everything to everyone.
By doing everything, I really feel like I'm doing nothing. Throughout my life, I have been a 100% person, trying to put full effort into whatever I do, however, by trying to throw being a mom into the balancing act, the time & effort required by such a large task (and I do LOVE being a mom) will totally negate all time previously plotted for me, my friends & my house and will wear deeply on the amount of time & energy I have available for a workday. Trying to squeeze all of these back in the juggling routine has ended with me flat on my ass surrounded by a bunch of bouncing balls.
I don't know... it seems that working moms and non-working moms sort of fall into an "us vs. them" mentality. Us working moms think about how nice it would be to be able to be at home and FINALLY have the time to get everything done that has been neglected for months (as if staying at home is some sort of vacation, which believe me, I know is not the case)... and I know a good amount of stay-at-home moms who are jealous that we working moms get to have adult conversation every day and also have the opportunity to make a quick run to Target sans kiddos on our lunch break.
I guess each generation has their issues. Each woman has her own struggles. I know this woman does.
Thinking back about 'progress' makes me just wonder what we have done to ourselves... now our place is not in the home, but it's still not at work. We're expected to be a main income contributor, but be the main home provider as well. We are the manager of our home, and turn around to be the manager of our work. And no matter what the demand, I know in my life, it seems like the only person I can ever make happy is my son... and that's probably only because he doesn't have a clue about what's going on, lol! :-)
Today's woman has just squeezed in another main course into her meal.... and when you eat that much, there's usually no time for dessert. I don't know... I just needed to vent. Sometimes I feel that there is so much going on in my life, that I actually start to become invisible and the only thing that matters is the fruit of my labor... it can be really frustrating, and I hope all of my faithful little blog followers don't feel the same...
*HUGS* Amy
Friday, September 11, 2009
10 years already?!?!?
This weekend is my 10 year high school reunion, and although I can't really believe that it's been 10 WHOLE YEARS, I guess I really can believe it because high school seems LIGHT YEARS away. I mean, I can 'remember' high school of course, but really it all kind of just seems like a blur - with just little snippets of the highlights sticking out. I don't really remember day-to-day high school life, and that makes me kind of sad, but I guess I will get my chance to re-live it for a night this weekend! :-)
What DOESN'T seem like 10 years ago is the start of my college career at U of I... moving into the dorms and meeting all the girls, including one of my best friends Michelle... sauntering over to the guys' side and meeting all of them as well. Where would my life be without Chris & Ed??? :-) It blows my mind that that has also been 10 years ago. I mean, wow!
Anyway, I could type and type recalling my memories of days gone by, but I think I'll focus this blog in a little bit about the actual reunion itself. Initially speaking, I was of course going to go to the reunion... I mean, why wouldn't I? But upon further thinking, I realized (a) I can hang out with my current-life high school friends for free without spending 70 bucks to do so and (b) I already keep in contact with my true friends from high school (well the majority of them at least!).... and for all of the others, I have lovely facebook to give me up-to-the-minute-updates with what they are doing with their lives now, so.... it kind of takes the allure away of wondering who is married, who has kids, who gained weight, who has totally changed, etc. etc.
I guess when it comes right down to it, I think people as a whole either go to their reunions to (a) see or (b) be seen... and I guess I'd have to say the former appeals to me a little more right now, so I have coughed up my money, signed Jeremy and I both up for a night of fun, and will be partying like it's 1999 this weekend. I think when it comes right down to it, I am curious to see how people look, yes, but I am really curious to meet my high school classmates as adults now, instead of little teeny boppers, and see how the dynamic with our class has changed as a whole.
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have some stories afterward, but for now, I'll just stick with my own story - and that story is that I am looking forward to the reunion this weekend!!!
What DOESN'T seem like 10 years ago is the start of my college career at U of I... moving into the dorms and meeting all the girls, including one of my best friends Michelle... sauntering over to the guys' side and meeting all of them as well. Where would my life be without Chris & Ed??? :-) It blows my mind that that has also been 10 years ago. I mean, wow!
Anyway, I could type and type recalling my memories of days gone by, but I think I'll focus this blog in a little bit about the actual reunion itself. Initially speaking, I was of course going to go to the reunion... I mean, why wouldn't I? But upon further thinking, I realized (a) I can hang out with my current-life high school friends for free without spending 70 bucks to do so and (b) I already keep in contact with my true friends from high school (well the majority of them at least!).... and for all of the others, I have lovely facebook to give me up-to-the-minute-updates with what they are doing with their lives now, so.... it kind of takes the allure away of wondering who is married, who has kids, who gained weight, who has totally changed, etc. etc.
I guess when it comes right down to it, I think people as a whole either go to their reunions to (a) see or (b) be seen... and I guess I'd have to say the former appeals to me a little more right now, so I have coughed up my money, signed Jeremy and I both up for a night of fun, and will be partying like it's 1999 this weekend. I think when it comes right down to it, I am curious to see how people look, yes, but I am really curious to meet my high school classmates as adults now, instead of little teeny boppers, and see how the dynamic with our class has changed as a whole.
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have some stories afterward, but for now, I'll just stick with my own story - and that story is that I am looking forward to the reunion this weekend!!!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Wally World
Growing up, I remember Wal-Mart was like my favorite store.... strange fact, but true, but we are talking middle school here people! Maybe because I had no real other options or maybe it was just a function of where I grew up, but I never quite thought of Wal-Mart as the place where ghetto, white trash people shop.
I guess maybe I learned that in college. I took a brief hiatus from my WM days starting senior year of high school, and then throughout college I shopped at Meijer (love, Love, LOVE that place!), and then for some reason after all those years without it, I decided to look up my ol' love Wally World and give it another try.
Now, I know. Normal people shop at Target. Crazy ghetto white trash people shop at Wal Mart. It's just like some sort of unspoken rule.
However, in my recent quest for saving money, I have compared prices between Target & Wal Mart and man, oh man, I found some big differences! Hence, I decided to suck it up and make WM my staple store.
(As a sidenote, I guess that means that by default, I am now ghetto white trash, lol. Oh well!)
Anyway, somehow I managed to find myself at Wal Mart 2 days this weekend - 2 days in a row!! And each day I saw some very bizarre happenings...
(1) Friday as I was walking into Wal-Mart, there was some random girl like sitting on the curb right outside the store talking on her cell phone obviously VERY upset and obviously crying. It was pretty strange... this girl was very WT and somehow she thought that it would be a good idea to spill her life's sorrows on the curb there at Wal Mart.
I made a brief trip around the store (obviously a little too brief as I had to go back again today), and on my way out, the cops had apparently been called and were trying to calm this girl, who was growing more & more agitated as each minute ticked by. I did not slow my step to watch this trainwreck taking place (as many, many others did), but from where I overheard I guess this girl was upset because some guy was no longer letting her live with him????
I really don't know, but I highly doubt that the front step of wal mart is the place to air your grievances.
(2) So, today, I re-pull up into my friendly neighborhood WM parking lot and park 2 spaces away from some old man who was just sitting there, chilling in his pick up truck smoking a cigarette. I initially glanced at him, thinking it was strange, but didn't think that much of it, and grabbed JD from the back seat to enter the store.
Another brief trip around the store, and I return to my car only to find ol' boy still sitting there just chillin' in the parking lot as if it were some sort of hot spot. At this point, I started to get creeped out, especially since his truck was behind me as I was buckling JD in. But, at this point, ol' boy decides the he actually needs to bump the tunes a little louder. He was playing old folk music SUPER loud, just hanging out in his truck with the door open, just a'puffin' away. Very strange indeed.
But, I am glad to say that he did not sneak up behind me and try to steal my purse or something.
Anyway, the moral of the story is that I am wondering if the 5 or 10 bucks I save each trip is really worth exposing JD to the lunacy that is Wal-Mart. I mean, really. I will have to think long & hard before my next trip for sure.
I guess maybe I learned that in college. I took a brief hiatus from my WM days starting senior year of high school, and then throughout college I shopped at Meijer (love, Love, LOVE that place!), and then for some reason after all those years without it, I decided to look up my ol' love Wally World and give it another try.
Now, I know. Normal people shop at Target. Crazy ghetto white trash people shop at Wal Mart. It's just like some sort of unspoken rule.
However, in my recent quest for saving money, I have compared prices between Target & Wal Mart and man, oh man, I found some big differences! Hence, I decided to suck it up and make WM my staple store.
(As a sidenote, I guess that means that by default, I am now ghetto white trash, lol. Oh well!)
Anyway, somehow I managed to find myself at Wal Mart 2 days this weekend - 2 days in a row!! And each day I saw some very bizarre happenings...
(1) Friday as I was walking into Wal-Mart, there was some random girl like sitting on the curb right outside the store talking on her cell phone obviously VERY upset and obviously crying. It was pretty strange... this girl was very WT and somehow she thought that it would be a good idea to spill her life's sorrows on the curb there at Wal Mart.
I made a brief trip around the store (obviously a little too brief as I had to go back again today), and on my way out, the cops had apparently been called and were trying to calm this girl, who was growing more & more agitated as each minute ticked by. I did not slow my step to watch this trainwreck taking place (as many, many others did), but from where I overheard I guess this girl was upset because some guy was no longer letting her live with him????
I really don't know, but I highly doubt that the front step of wal mart is the place to air your grievances.
(2) So, today, I re-pull up into my friendly neighborhood WM parking lot and park 2 spaces away from some old man who was just sitting there, chilling in his pick up truck smoking a cigarette. I initially glanced at him, thinking it was strange, but didn't think that much of it, and grabbed JD from the back seat to enter the store.
Another brief trip around the store, and I return to my car only to find ol' boy still sitting there just chillin' in the parking lot as if it were some sort of hot spot. At this point, I started to get creeped out, especially since his truck was behind me as I was buckling JD in. But, at this point, ol' boy decides the he actually needs to bump the tunes a little louder. He was playing old folk music SUPER loud, just hanging out in his truck with the door open, just a'puffin' away. Very strange indeed.
But, I am glad to say that he did not sneak up behind me and try to steal my purse or something.
Anyway, the moral of the story is that I am wondering if the 5 or 10 bucks I save each trip is really worth exposing JD to the lunacy that is Wal-Mart. I mean, really. I will have to think long & hard before my next trip for sure.
Friday, September 4, 2009
I'm back!!!
Hey all of my faithful blog followers, I'm back! I have been super busy and the things that have been going on in my life haven't been things that I feel like blogging, but alas, I have stumbled upon something that has gotten my goat and I feel like flappin' my lips about it.
The Presidential School Speech
I am SURE you have heard about this. If not, hop on ksdk.com or cnn.com and you can read all about the "uproar" that has been created from President Obama planning to address our nation's children in an upcoming 'pep talk' of sorts.
OF COURSE, everyone is all CRAZY about this... saying that they are 'scared' of what he will say and that he will use this platform to create a 'cult' that will encourage his 'socialist' ideas.
Oh. Puh-leeze!!!!!
This is the PRESIDENT of our country. The same man who the majority of American voters decided to vote into office to guide our country over the next 4 years... one of the most influential people in our country and certainly in a prestigious position that a good number of children aspire to reach.
Who better to encourage them to work hard and stay in school than the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I mean, honestly!!!! It is just absurd to think that there are people out there who honestly believe that he is crafting this speech for the purposes of political propoganda.
He is NOT the first President to address our nation's children. This is not a new trend of 'liberal propoganda.' The last address to our nation's schools was actually by George Sr. in 1991... but... oh right... THAT was OK.
I just find it seriously annoying that people are so hyped up being anti-Obama that they oppose to anything within a 10 mile radius of his reach... not EVERYTHING that he does has to be so awful.
Allow the man to encourage your children. Kids are kids. I honestly hope that the majority of middle-schoolers and younger do not have a clue about what is going on in this nation's political realm and they do not know that Obama is 'some crazy radical liberal.' The only know this. He is their country's PRESIDENT. And, no matter what your beliefs, that is a position of respect, of honor, and of integrity, and it would be nice if people would put politics aside, and muster up enough respect for the President of their country to allow him to nationally address our school children without such political backlash.
Alright, soapbox over. Good night!!!
The Presidential School Speech
I am SURE you have heard about this. If not, hop on ksdk.com or cnn.com and you can read all about the "uproar" that has been created from President Obama planning to address our nation's children in an upcoming 'pep talk' of sorts.
OF COURSE, everyone is all CRAZY about this... saying that they are 'scared' of what he will say and that he will use this platform to create a 'cult' that will encourage his 'socialist' ideas.
Oh. Puh-leeze!!!!!
This is the PRESIDENT of our country. The same man who the majority of American voters decided to vote into office to guide our country over the next 4 years... one of the most influential people in our country and certainly in a prestigious position that a good number of children aspire to reach.
Who better to encourage them to work hard and stay in school than the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. I mean, honestly!!!! It is just absurd to think that there are people out there who honestly believe that he is crafting this speech for the purposes of political propoganda.
He is NOT the first President to address our nation's children. This is not a new trend of 'liberal propoganda.' The last address to our nation's schools was actually by George Sr. in 1991... but... oh right... THAT was OK.
I just find it seriously annoying that people are so hyped up being anti-Obama that they oppose to anything within a 10 mile radius of his reach... not EVERYTHING that he does has to be so awful.
Allow the man to encourage your children. Kids are kids. I honestly hope that the majority of middle-schoolers and younger do not have a clue about what is going on in this nation's political realm and they do not know that Obama is 'some crazy radical liberal.' The only know this. He is their country's PRESIDENT. And, no matter what your beliefs, that is a position of respect, of honor, and of integrity, and it would be nice if people would put politics aside, and muster up enough respect for the President of their country to allow him to nationally address our school children without such political backlash.
Alright, soapbox over. Good night!!!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Hmph.
I could write a very good blog right now, but sometimes I feel it may be better to keep my mouth shut. Sometimes things get under a girl's skin, and today is one of those days, but I am going to roll with the punches instead of venting. Hope everyone has a good day!!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A quick vent!
Sometimes I wonder to myself why I am so stressed out, but then I remember all of the jobs that I fill:
- a loving wife to my husband
- a loving mother to my son
- a diligent employee to my boss
- an easy-going co-worker to my colleagues
- a not-too-demanding boss to my assistant
- an on-time parent to my babysitter
- a cool, calm, collected taxi cab to my son
- a feeding hand to my dogs
- a phone call to my sister
- an available dinner date to my friends
- a dutiful daughter to my parents
- a happily married woman to my in-laws
- an appointment scheduler to the whole family
- a financial wizard to my checkbook
- a filing queen to all my bills
- a maid to my home
- a never-fast-enough-finisher to all my laundry
- a rare walk to my dogs
- a happy playmate to my son
- a fun babysitter to my niece & nephew
- a concerned ear to my friends
- an evening snuggle mate to my husband
- an energetic participant in my work-out routine
- a healthy eater to my body
- a master chef to my family
- a Mommy & me Friday Funday to my son
- a recently re-invented property manager to my tenants
- a kept home to my neighbors
- a loving, encouraging, available listener to my husband & son
- an incredible balancing act for my family
And the list goes on & on & on & on & on & on.... Why in today's world is the mother expected to be 50% of the income, but 95% of the home life and still expected to keep her life de-stressed and keep her sanity in check?
After writing all of these, I realize why I am so stressed 90% of the time. But, this is my life, and of course, I wouldn't have it any other way. :-)
- a loving wife to my husband
- a loving mother to my son
- a diligent employee to my boss
- an easy-going co-worker to my colleagues
- a not-too-demanding boss to my assistant
- an on-time parent to my babysitter
- a cool, calm, collected taxi cab to my son
- a feeding hand to my dogs
- a phone call to my sister
- an available dinner date to my friends
- a dutiful daughter to my parents
- a happily married woman to my in-laws
- an appointment scheduler to the whole family
- a financial wizard to my checkbook
- a filing queen to all my bills
- a maid to my home
- a never-fast-enough-finisher to all my laundry
- a rare walk to my dogs
- a happy playmate to my son
- a fun babysitter to my niece & nephew
- a concerned ear to my friends
- an evening snuggle mate to my husband
- an energetic participant in my work-out routine
- a healthy eater to my body
- a master chef to my family
- a Mommy & me Friday Funday to my son
- a recently re-invented property manager to my tenants
- a kept home to my neighbors
- a loving, encouraging, available listener to my husband & son
- an incredible balancing act for my family
And the list goes on & on & on & on & on & on.... Why in today's world is the mother expected to be 50% of the income, but 95% of the home life and still expected to keep her life de-stressed and keep her sanity in check?
After writing all of these, I realize why I am so stressed 90% of the time. But, this is my life, and of course, I wouldn't have it any other way. :-)
My favorite Month - July!!!
This past weekend, we kicked my friend July off to a fantastic start! We spent the weekend down at Table Rock Lake, and had a REALLY REALLY good time. The weather cooperated with us for the most part, and we were able to get in a lot of water time, so that is always a good thing.
However, I would like to say this about Table Rock Lake for all those who are so inclined to visit throughout the remainder of the summer.... this year, something very strange and very disturbing happened. The fish bit us!!!! Multiple times!!!!!! Now, coming from a girl who has visited this lake at least once every summer throughout her natural lifetime, I can say with 100% certainty that this was completely unexpected and completely bizarre. I mean, seriously, here you were just a floating along in the water and the next thing you know, peck, peck, peck!!!
I mean, Jeremy's got me so hopped up on River Monsters & other miscellaneous "dangers of the deep" shows that I was completely & utterly terrified. Not that the nibbles hurt so much, it was more just the thought that at that very moment, some unidentified lake creature was trying to make you it's next meal.... you had no idea if it was a blue gill the size of your hand or a giant, man-eating catfish the size of your body. Creepy!!
So, I thought I'd issue this little PSA to beware. This happened every day that we were down there, multiple times a day, to multiple people. Completely nuts.
Also, on a sidenote, JD had his first day at his new sitter this past Thursday and although it was nervewracking as all get out, he did GREAT. He didn't cry, he actually took a nap at the sitter's house, and he came home with a little note that listed out the times his diaper was changed, what he did that day, when he ate & a funny little story about him laughing at something that was totally a JD story, so I know she didn't pull it out of thin air. So, hopefully this good trend continues.
On another sidenote, one of my 2 college sitters has not called me back after a week & a half since my last message to her. WTF is up with that? She had babysat for us 3 times, and every single time JD was almost in bed when she came over, if he wasn't asleep already. We basically paid her $8/hr to sit around and surf the net. I am very befuddled as to why she would not return my phone call. Initial thoughts were vacation?, cell phone outage?, in the hospital? but now have turned to the bitter truth... I guess she doesn't want to babysit for us anymore. :( Sad!!
Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekends! Back to the grind this week!! :-)
However, I would like to say this about Table Rock Lake for all those who are so inclined to visit throughout the remainder of the summer.... this year, something very strange and very disturbing happened. The fish bit us!!!! Multiple times!!!!!! Now, coming from a girl who has visited this lake at least once every summer throughout her natural lifetime, I can say with 100% certainty that this was completely unexpected and completely bizarre. I mean, seriously, here you were just a floating along in the water and the next thing you know, peck, peck, peck!!!
I mean, Jeremy's got me so hopped up on River Monsters & other miscellaneous "dangers of the deep" shows that I was completely & utterly terrified. Not that the nibbles hurt so much, it was more just the thought that at that very moment, some unidentified lake creature was trying to make you it's next meal.... you had no idea if it was a blue gill the size of your hand or a giant, man-eating catfish the size of your body. Creepy!!
So, I thought I'd issue this little PSA to beware. This happened every day that we were down there, multiple times a day, to multiple people. Completely nuts.
Also, on a sidenote, JD had his first day at his new sitter this past Thursday and although it was nervewracking as all get out, he did GREAT. He didn't cry, he actually took a nap at the sitter's house, and he came home with a little note that listed out the times his diaper was changed, what he did that day, when he ate & a funny little story about him laughing at something that was totally a JD story, so I know she didn't pull it out of thin air. So, hopefully this good trend continues.
On another sidenote, one of my 2 college sitters has not called me back after a week & a half since my last message to her. WTF is up with that? She had babysat for us 3 times, and every single time JD was almost in bed when she came over, if he wasn't asleep already. We basically paid her $8/hr to sit around and surf the net. I am very befuddled as to why she would not return my phone call. Initial thoughts were vacation?, cell phone outage?, in the hospital? but now have turned to the bitter truth... I guess she doesn't want to babysit for us anymore. :( Sad!!
Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekends! Back to the grind this week!! :-)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
On the road again...
I spend an absolutely insane amount of time in the car each day. Between driving to & from work, driving to & from my sitter's and driving to & from my work appointments, I have a great deal of windshield time each day. I may not be a "car" person but I am a real "license plate" person, and I've seen some really great & really awful ones as of late. For those of you who are stuck behind a desk, or better yet, stuck at home with your kiddos, allow yourself to live vicariously through me.
One of my favorites - WINE ME 3. This is a kind of license plate that I might get for myself. I am not an alcohol afficienado, but I do like my wine! Anyone who wines me is A-OK in my book!
My least favorite - IM FIT 3. I mean, honestly. So, you have declared yourself to be "fit", but do we really need to advertise that for all to see on your license plates?? Wouldn't everyone else already notice that as soon as you stepped out of your sporty ride??? And as for as me, I pulled up behind this car on a 1-lane road, but I was tailgating like crazy so that I could cruise up and see how "fit" the driver of this vehicle really was. And, I must admit that I was curious if it was a male or a female driver. Finally, I was able to kind of pass them while they were in a turn lane at a stop light, and it was a girl, and yes, she did like thin, but no, she did not look all that. Girl, next renewal, check into generic plates, please.
The Amy plate - Y M I L8 - You guessed it! Why am I late??? This seems to be the story of my life lately. I guess one reason that I'm going to be late today is that I'm blogging about license plates instead of getting ready for work. Another reason could be that I am yet again babysitter-less today because my new girl doesn't start until tomorrow. But, no matter what the situation, it is rare that I am anywhere close to on time. It just doesn't happen. At least if I had this on my license plates, people would know that I'm always late and they wouldn't need to take it personally.
OK, these are the only 3 that I can remember right now. I have seen a lot of other good ones, but being that JD has once again taken a liking to waking up screaming at all hours of the night, my memory is suffering and they're not coming back to me right now. Hope you enjoyed these!! :-)
One of my favorites - WINE ME 3. This is a kind of license plate that I might get for myself. I am not an alcohol afficienado, but I do like my wine! Anyone who wines me is A-OK in my book!
My least favorite - IM FIT 3. I mean, honestly. So, you have declared yourself to be "fit", but do we really need to advertise that for all to see on your license plates?? Wouldn't everyone else already notice that as soon as you stepped out of your sporty ride??? And as for as me, I pulled up behind this car on a 1-lane road, but I was tailgating like crazy so that I could cruise up and see how "fit" the driver of this vehicle really was. And, I must admit that I was curious if it was a male or a female driver. Finally, I was able to kind of pass them while they were in a turn lane at a stop light, and it was a girl, and yes, she did like thin, but no, she did not look all that. Girl, next renewal, check into generic plates, please.
The Amy plate - Y M I L8 - You guessed it! Why am I late??? This seems to be the story of my life lately. I guess one reason that I'm going to be late today is that I'm blogging about license plates instead of getting ready for work. Another reason could be that I am yet again babysitter-less today because my new girl doesn't start until tomorrow. But, no matter what the situation, it is rare that I am anywhere close to on time. It just doesn't happen. At least if I had this on my license plates, people would know that I'm always late and they wouldn't need to take it personally.
OK, these are the only 3 that I can remember right now. I have seen a lot of other good ones, but being that JD has once again taken a liking to waking up screaming at all hours of the night, my memory is suffering and they're not coming back to me right now. Hope you enjoyed these!! :-)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Happy Birthday, JD!
Well, Happy 8 month birthday, that is! I cannot believe my little-bitty baby is 8 months old today!! Look at how old he looks in his most recent pictures... and how BIG he is!! I am so happy that we are at this stage - it is definitely MUCH preferred to the newborn stage - but gosh, my little guy is getting SO big, SO fast. I remember thinking that if we could just make it to 4 months with our sanity, we'd be OK. Now, we've doubled that and while the presence of my sanity is questionable, we've made it... and have the beginnings of a very handsome little guy, if I do say so myself.
While I meant this photo montage to go from youngest to oldest, this website wouldn't cooperate so here is my little man... from most recent to when he was just a kicking bundle of acid reflux in his mommy's belly. :-)
While I meant this photo montage to go from youngest to oldest, this website wouldn't cooperate so here is my little man... from most recent to when he was just a kicking bundle of acid reflux in his mommy's belly. :-)
Friday, June 26, 2009
I went out last night.... one thing started leading to another...
Last night, I was lucky enough to meet one of my friends out for dinner... not only did I get to meet her for dinner, but Jeremy got home from work early and so I left early and was able to go to Once Upon a Child, and Toys R Us as well (exciting I know). We had dinner at Houlihan's and then once dinner was over we decided to move to the bar there to have a few drinks being that I don't get to see my friends nearly enough.
It was not a late night. I was home by 10:30. My kitchen, freshly cleaned from the day before, was a mess. There were crumbs on the floor, baby food containers still left out from JD's dinner, and a Taco Bell cup working on a nice water ring on my dining room table. Ugh. Annoyance. But, I did get to go out so that is the price I pay, I guess.
JD started to wake up about 4:30 this morning and anyone who knows my husband knows it was not him who was getting up with the baby. It seems that this ALWAYS happens... anytime I am not there to do the bedtime routine and put JD down, he always seems to wake up disturbingly early. I mean, 4:30.... really?????
I used to think that I always happened to choose that one night where the stars become mis-aligned that makes my son's night sleep skimpy as best to be the one night that is "my night"... my big, exciting, look-forward-to-it night out (which still means I'm home by 11 at the latest, but still, it's a night out nonetheless).
However, now I am coming to the conclusion that the stars aren't misaligned, but it's actually my son who just does not sleep as well when I am not the one who puts him down. Wonderful. So, any time I get my big night out, it means that I will come home and pay the price at home with a son who starts crying to see me at 4 in the morning.
So, a night out, it's really a double-edged sword. Yes, very fun. Yes, very good time. Yes, much needed break from mom-life which allows me to catch a glimpse of my prior life. However, it also means that I will also be the following combination the next day: tired, crabby & hungover, emphasis on tired.
I really have finally figured out that I need to sharpen my negotation skills so that when I negotiate "my night" with Jeremy that it also includes "my morning" the morning after that allows me to sleep in until at least 6:00. A girl can dream, can't she???
It was not a late night. I was home by 10:30. My kitchen, freshly cleaned from the day before, was a mess. There were crumbs on the floor, baby food containers still left out from JD's dinner, and a Taco Bell cup working on a nice water ring on my dining room table. Ugh. Annoyance. But, I did get to go out so that is the price I pay, I guess.
JD started to wake up about 4:30 this morning and anyone who knows my husband knows it was not him who was getting up with the baby. It seems that this ALWAYS happens... anytime I am not there to do the bedtime routine and put JD down, he always seems to wake up disturbingly early. I mean, 4:30.... really?????
I used to think that I always happened to choose that one night where the stars become mis-aligned that makes my son's night sleep skimpy as best to be the one night that is "my night"... my big, exciting, look-forward-to-it night out (which still means I'm home by 11 at the latest, but still, it's a night out nonetheless).
However, now I am coming to the conclusion that the stars aren't misaligned, but it's actually my son who just does not sleep as well when I am not the one who puts him down. Wonderful. So, any time I get my big night out, it means that I will come home and pay the price at home with a son who starts crying to see me at 4 in the morning.
So, a night out, it's really a double-edged sword. Yes, very fun. Yes, very good time. Yes, much needed break from mom-life which allows me to catch a glimpse of my prior life. However, it also means that I will also be the following combination the next day: tired, crabby & hungover, emphasis on tired.
I really have finally figured out that I need to sharpen my negotation skills so that when I negotiate "my night" with Jeremy that it also includes "my morning" the morning after that allows me to sleep in until at least 6:00. A girl can dream, can't she???
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