Archive - 2012

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Tampax Cowboy!
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Bubble Wrapped
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Interview Your Child For Posterity
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Positively Positive…mostly
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I’m Not A Drama Mama

Tampax Cowboy!

Yesterday {on my Yummy Mummy Club blog} I wrote about backpacks. Specifically, tips to ensure your child’s spine doesn’t warp under the weight of all the crap they carry around. Plus, I’m giving away a fun Back-to-School-Prize-Pack…just because. As I was writing I had this backpack flashback: I used to teach second grade at a private school. For the sake of time {and the fact that a locker room filled with seven-year-olds is sheer chaos} the children changed out of their uniforms into their gym shorts in the classroom. One afternoon as I sat at my desk “marking papers” (aka…checking my email) while the class changed, I heard a small voice say, “What is this?” as he investigated a mystery item discovered at the bottom of his backpack. “I don’t know what it is,” he said to his friend, “but I can do this with it!” He then held an unwrapped tampon firmly by the string and circled it overhead like a cowboy with a lasso. “Yee-haw!” he exclaimed enthusiastically. I suggested he toss that little doggie in the trash and promptly shooed him off to gym class. When his mother picked him up after school I asked if she[…]

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Bubble Wrapped

I’m concerned that since my daughter requires a lot of my attention due to medical and developmental issues, that my son pays a price. Though so far he’s yet to be jealous of his younger sister, and in fact he plays a monumental role in nurturing her.   I couldn’t be the parent I am without him and his “lion heart.”   And so I hold onto him, with all my heart. And my two arms, wrapped tightly around him.   Some might say that because my youngest child has special needs and has had her share of medical emergencies, that over-protecting my older child is a natural response.   I suspect that I’d be just as controlling despite the trauma and trying times with our daughter. I’m a worry-wart by nature and a controlling Capricorn to boot. My poor, poor children…    If I don’t learn to let go and allow my kids a little independence, I WILL become the mother from Robert Munsch’s “Love you forever,” breaking and entering into their homes nightly to cuddle them without their (or their spouse’s) permission. That won’t go over well, I’m sure of it.    I recently discovered “Bubble Wrap Kids” on the Slice Network. I watched the first episode and verbally tsk-tsked the[…]

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Interview Your Child For Posterity

Age 5 “What Are They Thinking?”   I originally interviewed my son three years ago. I asked him the same questions last year and again today. I plan to do it every year or so (with Avery too, once she’s able) for a sweet look back at what my kids were thinking once upon a time…   1. What is something mom always says to you? 2009 – “Be careful!” (So true. I’m obsessive actually. Poor boy’s gonna have issues) 2011- “Stranger Danger!” (Oh dear, clearly I am an over-protective control freak!) 2012 – “This laundry isn’t dirty!” (Why do they put perfectly clean clothes into their laundry hampers? Oh yes, to drive their control freak mother insane.)   2. What makes mom happy? 2009 – When I help my sister. (Aww.) 2011 – When I take care of Avery because if I didn’t, your life would be way harder (I am so lucky to be this boy’s mum.) 2012 – Clean rooms. (True. A messy room does a cranky mother make.)   3. What makes mom sad? 2009 – When babies cry. (Not true. As long as it’s someone else’s…I’m fine.) 2011 – If I get hurt or if[…]

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Positively Positive…mostly

  Are you a glass half-empty or a glass half-full kind of person? My glass virtually spills over in the stellar family and friend department. Professional opportunities are plentiful and generally I want for nothing. Life is pretty damn good. So how pessimism, fear and negativity have crept into my thoughts is beyond me. I’ve been told that the trauma associated with parenting a child with medical issues takes a toll. I’ve also heard that switching from working outside the home, to working in the more solitary environment of home can change ones mindset. I also know that living more online can influence your perspective. Whatever the reason, I’ve noticed a few more glass half-empty days lately. And I don’t like it one bit. This chick likes her glass filled right up to the brim thank you very much. *clink* Maybe I’m one of those needies who craves drama? Perhaps I even create it for my own personal amusement. Didn’t Oprah do a show on that very topic? My nickname is “Fun Thornbury” for heaven’s sake but I haven’t exactly been living up to my name. I’ve decided that ziplining and hiking with the kids and Games Night and simple[…]

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I’m Not A Drama Mama

You’d think a forty-two year old wife, mother of two, loyal friend and over-all wise (some days) woman would have it all figured out by now. Apparently not.  Which path to take? One that is familiar, but littered with the heavy expectations of others? Or another path, perhaps parallel or possibly divergent. It’s hard to know which way to go, but acknowledging that a new course is necessary is a damn good step. Don’t you just hate these cryptic posts?  You’re like, “What the hell is she going on about now?”  All the whiny sh*t people write, dancing around the issue, but never saying what they mean. It’s annoying. Just come out and state your dilemma! But what if they can’t? What if they aren’t sure how to go about it all. What if they are holding back in order to spare feelings? What if they… okay fine, I’m talking about me here. I’m not one to air my dirty laundry. Perhaps a lightly soiled garment, but never a muddy mess. And so I pause and reflect. Aaaaaaaand, reflection done. It’s time to make a few changes.  Tasks left unfinished, strained relationships left unresolved, commitments left unattended-to, promises left unfulfilled, drama and self-doubt[…]

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