Huh. Somehow I seem to forget most days that anyone other than my kids exist on this planet.
I mean, I do talk to others about a variety of topics such as: who has pooped, barfed, done something utterly hilarious, who has snot, how my nipples are getting tougher while breast feeding, infant sleeping patterns, potty training and of course all the naughty things that are being learned.
Now, I share these things because you care. You want to hear about them. You want to receive 27 picture mail messages from me in one day of my baby smiling with food on her face. Of course in addition to me, you also want to get emails, texts and voicemails from the 3 year old. You love it when I call you and I put my kid on the line to say something cute and then spent the next 12 minutes coxing a mumble of some sort out of him. Yes. Of course you do.
Hi Honey! Welcome home, how was your day? WAIT! Before you can take a breath to begin and answer I have eight-hundred and seven things to tell you about my day with the children…
I am a really good friend. When you call and want to talk about your kid, I listen. I listen with great excitement because I know I’m gonna get my turn in just a second to tell you about mine. Seriously, lets just be honest.
Oh how harshly we judge “stage moms” uh, for the record, if I could get a reality show about life with my kids, just to show them off 24/7 I am pretty sure I would. You know you watch Jon and Kate +8 thinking, “whatever, my kids are funnier/smarter/cuter than that!”
My kids are the center of my universe, I am the center of theirs (a position I am choosing to relish while I have it). So for now it is us, our world where my 3 year old says, “We are awesome” and we sit starring googly-eyed at each other over PB&J and juice boxes.
I cannot decide if this makes me a really bad, self centered person or a great mom who loves and adores my children beyond measure.
I choose to say it makes me a great mom.
It makes you a great mom for doing the same.
And it makes us great friends for putting up with each other.
4thekids,
Amy
To all my non-mommy of little ones friends & family:
Please forgive me. I will return to normal one of these days.
Friday, April 24, 2009
What? There Are People in My Life Other Than My Kids???
I am a free spirit, growing in my creative desires. I write, read, sew, knit, craft and garden. I am striving to live a more natural life everyday for Mother Earth but mostly for the health and well being of my children. I am above all committed to my family, my hilarious husband and life partner of 15 years makes sure I laugh every day. We cloth diaper, babywear, share sleep, and generally live a child led existence. I am strongly against the idea that children must be socialized but believe vehemently in the idea that children need their parents close and always - until. Until they are ready to leave and explore. Lest you think my life is too tranquil and nothing but sitting and reading books while children play with handmade toys; I spend the better part of my days wiping noses and butts, cooking, cleaning, cooking and cleaning some more, figuring out where that (insert any bizarre item you can think of here) came from, and explaining why Mama needs a TO and nap. Above all, I am human. I fail myself and family everyday and every day I am committed to give tomorrow another shot. Because after all, tomorrow will provide another opportunity to smile and laugh!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
A Mothers Body
Where did I go? I was looking at some old pictures the other day and I felt lost in my own body. Where was I? Where is the nice hair, perky boobs, manicured nails, smooth legs, tan skin, clean clothes and lips smiling with lipstick?
I live in sweats, I wear no make-up most days, am lucky to brush my teeth most mornings. I typically have regurgitated breast milk on my shoulder and probably in my hair. My fingernails are done not according to the latest trend but based on the right length for excavating baby buggers, ear wax and whatever has ended up in the bellybutton. My bras are ugly because they just don’t make cute nursing ones (that are practical anyway…) and my hair lives in a ponytail because my son considers it a requirement for proper piggyback rides.
I am also pretty sure I smell funny most days.
What happened? Ah yes, I became Mama. So now…
my clothes are cotton so I can play on the floor and am soft to the touch for my baby. I forgo make-up and styled hair to spend more time cuddling in pj’s with warm, waking kids. I know where the most important toys are at all times, the number of poops for all kids for the last several days and can calculate Tylenol dosages at 3am. I can remember the phone numbers to my dearest friends, the pediatrician, poison control and the ssn’s of my entire family. I can lug more children and stuff than a pack mule. I can retrieve a popsicle, apply Neosporin and a Band-Aid all one-handed in seconds while holding a crying child in the other. I can conduct family business meetings while feeding the baby and playing hotwheels. My lips are bare of lipstick but can heal all boo-boos.
I consider it a fair trade. I’ll take my mama body any day.
4thekids,
Amy
I live in sweats, I wear no make-up most days, am lucky to brush my teeth most mornings. I typically have regurgitated breast milk on my shoulder and probably in my hair. My fingernails are done not according to the latest trend but based on the right length for excavating baby buggers, ear wax and whatever has ended up in the bellybutton. My bras are ugly because they just don’t make cute nursing ones (that are practical anyway…) and my hair lives in a ponytail because my son considers it a requirement for proper piggyback rides.
I am also pretty sure I smell funny most days.
What happened? Ah yes, I became Mama. So now…
my clothes are cotton so I can play on the floor and am soft to the touch for my baby. I forgo make-up and styled hair to spend more time cuddling in pj’s with warm, waking kids. I know where the most important toys are at all times, the number of poops for all kids for the last several days and can calculate Tylenol dosages at 3am. I can remember the phone numbers to my dearest friends, the pediatrician, poison control and the ssn’s of my entire family. I can lug more children and stuff than a pack mule. I can retrieve a popsicle, apply Neosporin and a Band-Aid all one-handed in seconds while holding a crying child in the other. I can conduct family business meetings while feeding the baby and playing hotwheels. My lips are bare of lipstick but can heal all boo-boos.
I consider it a fair trade. I’ll take my mama body any day.
4thekids,
Amy
I am a free spirit, growing in my creative desires. I write, read, sew, knit, craft and garden. I am striving to live a more natural life everyday for Mother Earth but mostly for the health and well being of my children. I am above all committed to my family, my hilarious husband and life partner of 15 years makes sure I laugh every day. We cloth diaper, babywear, share sleep, and generally live a child led existence. I am strongly against the idea that children must be socialized but believe vehemently in the idea that children need their parents close and always - until. Until they are ready to leave and explore. Lest you think my life is too tranquil and nothing but sitting and reading books while children play with handmade toys; I spend the better part of my days wiping noses and butts, cooking, cleaning, cooking and cleaning some more, figuring out where that (insert any bizarre item you can think of here) came from, and explaining why Mama needs a TO and nap. Above all, I am human. I fail myself and family everyday and every day I am committed to give tomorrow another shot. Because after all, tomorrow will provide another opportunity to smile and laugh!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
High Heels
High Heels. I. LOVE. THEM.
I think they are beautiful, fun and do something to a woman’s spirit that is undeniable. The higher the better I say, much to my chiropractors chagrin. I don’t get to wear them as often now that I am a stay at home mom and seem to lug a small country with me everywhere I go.
However, as much as I love high heels and think they are a wonderful gift from the universe, I have a huge problem where they are concerned. There is a place they simply do not belong, no I am not going to talk about Carrie Bradshaw at a baseball game, but rather the feet of little girls…
I am the mother of a girl and can appreciate the joy of dressing a daughter, the clothes and accessories are simply spectacular these days. But mothers we must be conscientious of the choices we are making for our daughters. The over sexualization of young girls is not a topic that is new to us, yet we tend to think it does not begin until the “tweens” at the earliest. This past week I saw a young girl who could not have been any older than seven, with her family, wearing at least two inch, probably closer to three inch high heeled boots. She could barley walk in them yet somehow was still managing to strut her stuff. I was saddened. She was so cute, so precious and was so concerned about how “hot” she looked. I am sure some of you have seen the baby high heels. They are essentially booties that look like high heels. WHY? Why would we want our babies dressed up like grown women? Why do we think toddler halter tops with “Hot Stuff” bedazzled on the front is cute? What is this telling our daughters about the value of their bodies? About what makes them special, memorable and important?
We could probably debate specific clothing items all day, but I ask you above all to keep in mind what the clothing choices YOU make for your daughters tell them about their value and their bodies. Ask yourself, if you were wearing a similar item what would the message be? If the answer is a beautiful, sexual woman should a young girl be wearing it? I implore you to look beyond what is cute, trendy and worse yet - funny, and help your daughters create a self image that is reflective of their minds and spirits.
I personally love Doves Self Esteem Campaign and encourage you to check out the tools they offer for building positive self esteem in young girls.
http://www.dove.us/#/makeadifference/default.aspx
And moms, lets remember that in spite of our extra pounds, aging skin, cellulite (I could go on but will stop here…) our daughters love us. Let us love ourselves and remember that what we say aloud about our own bodies will set the pattern for how our daughters feel about theirs.
4thekids,
Amy
The author must confess to a small internal confliction with her own post, and professes her love for all things princess dress-up. Sorry.
I think they are beautiful, fun and do something to a woman’s spirit that is undeniable. The higher the better I say, much to my chiropractors chagrin. I don’t get to wear them as often now that I am a stay at home mom and seem to lug a small country with me everywhere I go.
However, as much as I love high heels and think they are a wonderful gift from the universe, I have a huge problem where they are concerned. There is a place they simply do not belong, no I am not going to talk about Carrie Bradshaw at a baseball game, but rather the feet of little girls…
I am the mother of a girl and can appreciate the joy of dressing a daughter, the clothes and accessories are simply spectacular these days. But mothers we must be conscientious of the choices we are making for our daughters. The over sexualization of young girls is not a topic that is new to us, yet we tend to think it does not begin until the “tweens” at the earliest. This past week I saw a young girl who could not have been any older than seven, with her family, wearing at least two inch, probably closer to three inch high heeled boots. She could barley walk in them yet somehow was still managing to strut her stuff. I was saddened. She was so cute, so precious and was so concerned about how “hot” she looked. I am sure some of you have seen the baby high heels. They are essentially booties that look like high heels. WHY? Why would we want our babies dressed up like grown women? Why do we think toddler halter tops with “Hot Stuff” bedazzled on the front is cute? What is this telling our daughters about the value of their bodies? About what makes them special, memorable and important?
We could probably debate specific clothing items all day, but I ask you above all to keep in mind what the clothing choices YOU make for your daughters tell them about their value and their bodies. Ask yourself, if you were wearing a similar item what would the message be? If the answer is a beautiful, sexual woman should a young girl be wearing it? I implore you to look beyond what is cute, trendy and worse yet - funny, and help your daughters create a self image that is reflective of their minds and spirits.
I personally love Doves Self Esteem Campaign and encourage you to check out the tools they offer for building positive self esteem in young girls.
http://www.dove.us/#/makeadifference/default.aspx
And moms, lets remember that in spite of our extra pounds, aging skin, cellulite (I could go on but will stop here…) our daughters love us. Let us love ourselves and remember that what we say aloud about our own bodies will set the pattern for how our daughters feel about theirs.
4thekids,
Amy
The author must confess to a small internal confliction with her own post, and professes her love for all things princess dress-up. Sorry.
I am a free spirit, growing in my creative desires. I write, read, sew, knit, craft and garden. I am striving to live a more natural life everyday for Mother Earth but mostly for the health and well being of my children. I am above all committed to my family, my hilarious husband and life partner of 15 years makes sure I laugh every day. We cloth diaper, babywear, share sleep, and generally live a child led existence. I am strongly against the idea that children must be socialized but believe vehemently in the idea that children need their parents close and always - until. Until they are ready to leave and explore. Lest you think my life is too tranquil and nothing but sitting and reading books while children play with handmade toys; I spend the better part of my days wiping noses and butts, cooking, cleaning, cooking and cleaning some more, figuring out where that (insert any bizarre item you can think of here) came from, and explaining why Mama needs a TO and nap. Above all, I am human. I fail myself and family everyday and every day I am committed to give tomorrow another shot. Because after all, tomorrow will provide another opportunity to smile and laugh!
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