I used to think about this question all the time when I was younger. Except it wasn't so much about what I was going to be, but how I would handle the position.
"If I'm a teacher, I'm going to be relaxed. I'll let kids sleep. I'll be that cool teacher that all the kids like." or "If I'm a teacher, I'm going to be strict but for good reason. I'll never let kids sleep. They'll have to answer to me. Nobody will like me but the parents because their kids will get good grades." Basically, it was a mix of the teachers I liked for different reasons.
Turns out, I think of motherhood the same way.
"I want to be that mom that all my kids' friends love. They want to come over to our house for the cookies I make or the yard we have to run around in. Emma & Dean are content with the fact that I get along with their friends. And hopefully they will trust themselves more to let me in on their plans and resist the urge to hide secrets or lie to me."
But, I don't think I get to make the call on this one. It just happens. I'm learning that I'm just going to be the type of mom my kids need that day.
Most days, I'm more strict than I thought I'd be. I try hard to not make "empty threats". If I say "Don't climb on that or I'll take away your cartoons.", I mean it. If you climb on that, I'll take away your cartoons. The last thing I want my little ones to learn is that I don't really mean anything I say - threat or not.
Some days, I'm full of fun ideas, crafts, foods, and energy. On these days, there are no tears and no fits. We are relaxed. We have fun. We create together. We laugh & shop & play.
I'm discovering things about who I am. Being a mother has brought a change to the way I approach life. I find less of a need to impress others (why did I ever care in the first place?), and more of a desire to create the most comfortable HOME I can for my family.
And for now, we're doing well.
Let's see what today brings.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Been there. Done that.
I just haven't been feeling it lately.
I honestly feel I don't have a thing to say that might interest any one.
I've given up "the popular social networking site known as Bookface" for Lent. (Name that show.)
Ever since Ash Wednesday, I've not felt the urge to be on the computer. I've been doing things instead. I know, weird right?
I've been cleaning. My 40 bags plan is not going to equal 40, but I'm up to about 3-4 so far with more than half the rooms to go. It's been a gratifying experience. I recently read a quote from a blog I follow that said "Am I really going to miss that thing/shirt/sock/toy/book? What's the worst that could happen? I have to go spend $3 on it again?" And it got me thinking. I keep things "just in case". But when I need it, I can never find it because I have so much "just in case" crap around the house. So, I've been plastic-bagging it. I'm even going to try to make money off it in my garage sale. Take that, crap.
I've been cooking. Lots. Homemade oregano french bread, homemade corn bread, turkey chili, baby food, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate oatmeal cookies. Yum & yum & yum. Let's just say David has not gone hungry.
I've been couponing. Like a crazy person. That you could make fun of. Because of my coupon binder. That comes in the store with me. And rides around in my cart. Laugh all you want. Because I am saving LOADS of money. I usually see my total go down at least 40% with my coupons, and that's a low number. I've saved up to 97% on a bill once, and I bought 30 boxes of pasta that day. I will never pay a penny for toothpaste, deodorant, or dish soap again in my life. It's been awesome because the money we save has made it easier to buy the more expensive organic food I want to feed my family. I get the last laugh.
I've been yoga-ing. A co-worker talked me into taking a yoga class after work on an especially stressful day. I've never done yoga. I would not consider myself a flexible person. But I was very open-minded because of the wonderful things I have heard about it. I've always been curious and this was the perfect opportunity to try it out. I loved it. I really loved it. It's a beginners course that was relaxing and introduced basic poses and stretches. It was the most relaxing hour I have had to myself in a long, long time. I walked out immediately looking forward to the next weeks class. Once I learn the basics, I am strongly considering taking the next (less relaxing) level.
I've been sleeping. Last week, I was alseep before 9 pm two nights in a row. Every time I do that, I wake up and think "Why don't I do that more often?" Sleep is too important to put off for the internet, or tv, or the crossword. I consistently do all of the above. And I bet I'm not the only one. Go to bed at 9 tonight. You'll thank me in the morning. Promise.
I've been planning. We planted seeds in starter pots. It's our first time using the starters, and we're hopeful. We started a compost bin (great big checkmark on my to-do list) and are going to mix it with our garden soil. We don't have much yet, but it's nice to know it's started. Peppers, green beans, tomatoes, and herbs. I can't wait to pick all the fixins for a salad and eat it for dinner. These are the moments I'm the most proud of being a mama - when I have the chance to teach a 3-year old how plants start as seeds and grow into food for our bodies.
I've been happy. Things are going well. I'm noticing a change in the way I am. And I like it.
I honestly feel I don't have a thing to say that might interest any one.
I've given up "the popular social networking site known as Bookface" for Lent. (Name that show.)
Ever since Ash Wednesday, I've not felt the urge to be on the computer. I've been doing things instead. I know, weird right?
I've been cleaning. My 40 bags plan is not going to equal 40, but I'm up to about 3-4 so far with more than half the rooms to go. It's been a gratifying experience. I recently read a quote from a blog I follow that said "Am I really going to miss that thing/shirt/sock/toy/book? What's the worst that could happen? I have to go spend $3 on it again?" And it got me thinking. I keep things "just in case". But when I need it, I can never find it because I have so much "just in case" crap around the house. So, I've been plastic-bagging it. I'm even going to try to make money off it in my garage sale. Take that, crap.
I've been cooking. Lots. Homemade oregano french bread, homemade corn bread, turkey chili, baby food, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate oatmeal cookies. Yum & yum & yum. Let's just say David has not gone hungry.
I've been couponing. Like a crazy person. That you could make fun of. Because of my coupon binder. That comes in the store with me. And rides around in my cart. Laugh all you want. Because I am saving LOADS of money. I usually see my total go down at least 40% with my coupons, and that's a low number. I've saved up to 97% on a bill once, and I bought 30 boxes of pasta that day. I will never pay a penny for toothpaste, deodorant, or dish soap again in my life. It's been awesome because the money we save has made it easier to buy the more expensive organic food I want to feed my family. I get the last laugh.
I've been yoga-ing. A co-worker talked me into taking a yoga class after work on an especially stressful day. I've never done yoga. I would not consider myself a flexible person. But I was very open-minded because of the wonderful things I have heard about it. I've always been curious and this was the perfect opportunity to try it out. I loved it. I really loved it. It's a beginners course that was relaxing and introduced basic poses and stretches. It was the most relaxing hour I have had to myself in a long, long time. I walked out immediately looking forward to the next weeks class. Once I learn the basics, I am strongly considering taking the next (less relaxing) level.
I've been sleeping. Last week, I was alseep before 9 pm two nights in a row. Every time I do that, I wake up and think "Why don't I do that more often?" Sleep is too important to put off for the internet, or tv, or the crossword. I consistently do all of the above. And I bet I'm not the only one. Go to bed at 9 tonight. You'll thank me in the morning. Promise.
I've been planning. We planted seeds in starter pots. It's our first time using the starters, and we're hopeful. We started a compost bin (great big checkmark on my to-do list) and are going to mix it with our garden soil. We don't have much yet, but it's nice to know it's started. Peppers, green beans, tomatoes, and herbs. I can't wait to pick all the fixins for a salad and eat it for dinner. These are the moments I'm the most proud of being a mama - when I have the chance to teach a 3-year old how plants start as seeds and grow into food for our bodies.
I've been happy. Things are going well. I'm noticing a change in the way I am. And I like it.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
'Tis the Season
To be completely fair, I am absolutely stealing this idea from another blog. (Clover Lane)
But it's such a great idea.
It's exactly what I've been searching for.
It's what this house needs.
It's what this mama's brain needs.
It's...
40 Bags in 40 Days.
During Lent (40 days) rid your house of 40 bags of stuff. Things you don't love, don't use, junk, accumulated stuff, clutter, garbage, toys, makeup, clothes, towels, rugs, lamps, etc, etc, etc, forever and ever and ever.
Make a list of the rooms/closets in your house.
Rid those rooms of junk, day by day.
As you dispose of the junk, also clean.
(Yep, I'm sneaking in some spring cleaning.)
By Easter, I'm hoping to have a clean, simplified, organized house.
I'm going to need some gloves for this one.
boy, oh (crazy) boy.
Emma: Easy. Great sleeper. Good eater. Easy-going. Smiley. Good learner. Good teacher. Good manners. (for the most part) Sometimes throws fits, but learns very quickly that it doesn't work. (except with softie Daddy.)
Dean: Moderate. Bad sleeper. Great eater. Easy-going until he's hungry. Cries. Does not create habits. Easily falls out of any routine in one day's time. Loud. Mischievous. Has dimples. Defiant. Selective hearing. Handsome.
Dean crawls EVERYWHERE he shouldn't. He already does the whole "I'm-gonna-crawl-away-from-you-faster-because-you're-coming-after-me" thing. You know, when he's crawling towards the trash can, and you stand up and start chasing after him so he won't eat, well, trash...so he see's you coming, and crawls faster than you've ever seen him crawl to get to that darn can. That sneaky little guy. He crawls over to my silk curtains, sits his little body upright, and grabs/pulls/eats them. Then when I firmly & loudly say "No!", he looks at me like "Whah?" and then continues to pull down the metal rod above his tiny little head.
He also is re-lent-less. As in, I will steer him away from the computer cord 5,239 times in 3 minutes, and he'll still go after it. Not the greatest at listening, that boy. When I'm changing his diaper is also a challenging 10 minutes. I say 10 minutes, because that's how long it takes for me to properly change a diaper on a wiggly, busy, would-rather-be-crawling, little munchkin. And the cloth diapers are even more difficult.
On a positive note, I am happy he's crawling and not just a lump of baby laying on his boppy.
(He was a cute baby lump, though.)
Lord help me when he learns to walk.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Home, home on the range.
I'm a regular ol' frontier woman.
Sure, as I type, my tv is on, I just answered my cell phone, and I'm bloggin' away, but that still doesn't mean I haven't done some little-house-on-the-prairie-type things today.
I currently have homemade whole wheat dinner rolls rising to bake for dinner.
Deaners is struttin' the cloth diapers. Oh, and crawling....everywhere he shouldn't.
I cut his hair today too. I didn't want to pay some stranger $15 + tip to cut his tiny baby hairs, so I figured I'd give it a go. And I did alright. Not great, but decent enough with the resources I was given. Those resources being a squirmy EIGHT-MONTH old baby who would rather grab the scissors then let me snip his hair. A high chair that wasn't quite high enough for me to get a great view, but still a good seat. And banana-flavored puffs - the ultimate for him. He tries to eat all the puffs at once. Too cute, that kid.
I fed him homemade baby food! So far, he's only eaten it 2 days...but he gobbles.it.up.
Recipes include:
Bananas & Avocado
Apples & Bananas (Neeners as we like to call 'em)
Peas & Formula
Mixed Veggies
Sweet Potatoes & Organic Vanilla Yogurt
Feeding your baby organic, made-from-scratch, baby food is insanely gratifying to say the least. Yesterday, I blended the Neeners & Avocado and let him try it right off the spoon. Just, awesome.
And for the work of about an hour each, on two seperate nights, I have 4 BAGS full of baby food in the freezer. Besides cloth diapers, this is the second most economically sound decision a parent could make. (in my opinion) We will see the results immediately.
As for now, I think I'll go use my indoor plumbing and drink my filtered water. Yes, technology is convenient sometimes.
Sure, as I type, my tv is on, I just answered my cell phone, and I'm bloggin' away, but that still doesn't mean I haven't done some little-house-on-the-prairie-type things today.
I currently have homemade whole wheat dinner rolls rising to bake for dinner.
Deaners is struttin' the cloth diapers. Oh, and crawling....everywhere he shouldn't.
I cut his hair today too. I didn't want to pay some stranger $15 + tip to cut his tiny baby hairs, so I figured I'd give it a go. And I did alright. Not great, but decent enough with the resources I was given. Those resources being a squirmy EIGHT-MONTH old baby who would rather grab the scissors then let me snip his hair. A high chair that wasn't quite high enough for me to get a great view, but still a good seat. And banana-flavored puffs - the ultimate for him. He tries to eat all the puffs at once. Too cute, that kid.
I fed him homemade baby food! So far, he's only eaten it 2 days...but he gobbles.it.up.
Recipes include:
Bananas & Avocado
Apples & Bananas (Neeners as we like to call 'em)
Peas & Formula
Mixed Veggies
Sweet Potatoes & Organic Vanilla Yogurt
Feeding your baby organic, made-from-scratch, baby food is insanely gratifying to say the least. Yesterday, I blended the Neeners & Avocado and let him try it right off the spoon. Just, awesome.
And for the work of about an hour each, on two seperate nights, I have 4 BAGS full of baby food in the freezer. Besides cloth diapers, this is the second most economically sound decision a parent could make. (in my opinion) We will see the results immediately.
As for now, I think I'll go use my indoor plumbing and drink my filtered water. Yes, technology is convenient sometimes.
Monday, February 21, 2011
mushy rants.
A little bit about me.
I am working on, but used to be, an all-or-nothing kind of gal. As in, I wouldn't start a project unless I could really do it ALL right, have ALL the right tools, and focus on it and nothing else. This, of course, in unrealistic. Even when I didn't have kids, it was difficult to fully complete any project with these kind of parameters. The main issue with this all-or-nothing nonsense is that I would rarely start projects I wanted to do because of not being able to fully commit. A good example would be organic foods. I would rarely buy the organic beans because I wasn't buying the organic eggs. If I wasn't buying everything organic, I wouldn't buy even one item organic. A change in my thinking was necessary.
I've been making a real effort in changing my ways. Starting projects knowing that it might not be 100% perfect. Buying the organic milk and not the organic oranges. Hanging that picture frame, but not that one. Trying cloth diapers without buying the whole supply first. Learning & discovering what works first, before throwing all my time and money at it just to see it fail.
Which is why I recently researched organic foods and the importance of them in our family's diet. Turns out, they're pretty important. Keep in mind, I am one of those people that will say "I grew up drinking/eating/wearing/doing it this way, and I turned out fine." But, there is a reason organic is making a comeback, and it's time I find out why. When I googled the "most important foods to buy organic" I was not surprized, but motivated to find out more. I strongly encourage anyone questioning the organic lifestyle to do this.
One of the top seven items was baby food. BABY FOOD. I have a baby (duh.) And I feed him baby food. (double duh.) Darn it all. So, I'm starting a new project. I also am well aware that it may fail, that I may not have time to do it all the time, and that it may be way more work than anticipated. But, I'm gonna go for it. I'm going to make my own baby food.
It looks easy. I already have a glass blender to mush it up. I have ice cube trays to store it. And I have glass containers to thaw and serve. I just pick and choose what organic veggies and fruits I want to mix and mush together, and spoon them into baby d's cute, tiny, toothless mouth. And it's CHEAP! I will be saving a noticeable amount of money and reducing the waste that comes with store-bought baby food. No plastic containers (which I do recycle, but still). No foil wrapper to keep it from spoiling. No cardboard labels to toss in the trash. Just my same appliances and bowls that I will use over and over again.
This photo, copyright and courtesy of Nicole at Nicole Barczak Photography,
captures the beauty of homemade baby food in all its glorious (and healthy) real colors.
I'm pretty excited to see how this turns out. The only thing to do now is go buy the food.
Avacados (did you know they are a fruit?) and sweet potatoes, prepare to be mushed.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
my bucket list.
Back in December, David & I fulfilled pretty much the only thing on my bucket list.
See Garth Brooks perform live.
It was amazing and better than I imagined. (People say that, but they don't mean it. I really mean it.) During the drive to Nashville for the concert, we started a pretty heavy discussion about The Bucket List. What's on it? What qualifies? We decided there is a "Bucket List" which contains the most important things. Things that you would sincerely be upset with if you did not complete in your lifetime. Things that you just really, really feel the need to do. Then, there's the "That'd be pretty freakin' awesome, but it's not necessary List". This would be things that you would love to do, but wouldn't regret not doing. There's a big difference in these lists. Ever since the trip, I've been really trying to fill up my bucket. I only have on item, but I'm working on it. I don't want to fill it up just to have it full. I want true and honest bucket-list-worthy items.
See Garth Brooks perform live.
It was amazing and better than I imagined. (People say that, but they don't mean it. I really mean it.) During the drive to Nashville for the concert, we started a pretty heavy discussion about The Bucket List. What's on it? What qualifies? We decided there is a "Bucket List" which contains the most important things. Things that you would sincerely be upset with if you did not complete in your lifetime. Things that you just really, really feel the need to do. Then, there's the "That'd be pretty freakin' awesome, but it's not necessary List". This would be things that you would love to do, but wouldn't regret not doing. There's a big difference in these lists. Ever since the trip, I've been really trying to fill up my bucket. I only have on item, but I'm working on it. I don't want to fill it up just to have it full. I want true and honest bucket-list-worthy items.
lauren's bucket list:
#1. Learn how to play the guitar.
lauren's that-would-be-freakin'-awesome list:
#1. Get professional pictures taken. I'm talking hair stylist, make-up artist, wardrobe, manicurist, badass camera that would hide all flaws, professional studio, and big fan to blow my newly-styled hair around. This item is also closing in on the bucket list.
That's all I have for now.
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