Why I am 'just' a mom (getting up on my soapbox)

Pardon my soapbox:

I was reading my friend Smart Mama's blog and she got me thinking about motherhood and being 'just' a stay at home mom (SAHM). I don't feel like it's a degrading thing, I don't feel like I've 'settled', and I definitely don't feel like I've done a disservice to myself or my children by not having a career. Being a SAHM is a choice I made- one that was more important to me then any other choice. It is also an important choice to my husband. Together when we got pregnant with our oldest child we decided that I would stay home to take care of our children. That it was more important then anything else. I feel that because we've stood by that decision that we've been incredibly blessed in numerous ways. (*Disclaimer- not saying that if you can't or don't SAH then you're not blessed- just that we have been).

I wasn't always planning on being a SAHM. When I was in college I was a biology major headed towards med school. My goal? To be a pediatric neurologist. The summer after my freshman year I took a job as a nanny for a family where the dad was a traveling juice salesman (not kidding) and was gone from Sunday night until Friday afternoons EVERY WEEK. Honestly I wondered if he was leading a double life. The Mom was getting her master's degree in counseling. She left for school at 6:30 in the morning and returned home about 7 in the evening. She had a full load of classes and had to put in X amount of hours a week doing counseling at their center. She'd come home, eat dinner and then kiss her kids goodnight (after I'd gotten them into bed and read stories ect).

They had twin boys that were 6 and a little girl who was 4. The kids were out of control. They couldn't keep a nanny for very long (because of the parents really) and they never saw their parents. When Mom and Dad were around (weekends) they indulged every whim because of the guilt associated with being gone all the time.

I only worked for them for 6 weeks. I wasn't ready to be a full time parent to three out of control children (and I wonder now if I'm up for that task daily) and the parent's were trying to parent me (I had a 10:00 curfew ect) and I didn't need a job like that.

But I'm glad I had it. It clarified to me the importance of Mom being home. I could teach those kids anything I wanted and they soaked it up. I didn't want my babysitter/daycare provider to have more influence than me in my children's lives. So I decided that summer that I could either be a fabulous doctor and not have children- or I could be a fabulous mom and not be a doctor- but that I couldn't do both. I've stood by that decision and it's the best one I've made.

Am I the perfect mom? No. Not even close. I'm striving to be a better mom on a daily basis- but I think that 'being' here is a good start. I plan to stay home and be a SAHM for the long term. I've made that choice. I'm glad that I had the choice to make. I realize that is a blessing and I'm grateful for that. I'm also grateful for a husband that sees the value in that.

*stepping off my soapbox*

Flame away.

Works for me Wednesday!!

It's Works for Me Wednesday! Today is a conglomeration of tips for dealing with migranes. Mostly because it's what I'm doing today. I had a headache most of the day yesterday- the dull aching though- not the infernal throbbing.... until this morning. Unfortunately staying in bed wasn't an option since Child #1 had to go to school- and I had to take her. So to school we went and then came home and took some drugs, and had a diet cherry vanilla dr. pepper and put Child #4 to bed and put on a movie for children #2 and 3. Then I laid back down. Dozed until they needed another movie, lather, rinse, repeat. Unfortunately they decided they needed lunch- which is why I'm up again. I'd forgotten about my Bath and Body Works Headache relief kit- which is what I'm trying now. It's peppermint cream for your temples and neck, and a lavandar essential oil eye mask. I'm rubbing the cream on and as soon as all children are once again napping I'll be using the eye mask. I hope it works- I really do. And if it does then I'll be happy dancing.. well, cleaning, but you know.

So-
drugs
caffinated beverage (seriously- check out that link)
sleep
more drugs
peppermint cream
eye mask

I hope it works for me!

It's here!!

My piano has arrived. I'm officially giddy.

Smell this Internet!

I walked outside today and was greeted with my favorite flower smell in the world... well- for the moment at least. This:


Seriously, can you smell the jasmine? It's what marks spring in Las Vegas. Well- that and 90 degree weather. I really wish you all had scratch and sniff screens so you could enjoy this with me. I have 4 of these bushes outside my front door- how lucky am I!?!

Also today child #3 is wearing panties. Real, potty training ultra thick panties. It's 10 am, she's been up since 6:30. Once in her panties and once in the potty. I'm feeling good about this. I really really am. My strategy? Otter Pops. She can eat as many as she wants- as long as she's sitting on the toilet when she does. I'm cutting them in half- but then she's getting liquid so she has more 'opportunities' and she's getting potty sitting practice. Best of both worlds. I tried doing the naked thing for about 5 minutes. But this is my OCD child who insists on being fully clothed- so I told her she could wear shorts as long as she uses the potty, but if she gets them wet then she'll have to go naked. Hopefully that'll work.

Mmm Mmm Monday!

A column! Everyone is doing it- so why not me right? Food is my thing. I enjoy making it- and eating it (have you seen my butt?) I like good food. Food that looks good and tastes good (and if it's good for you it's a bonus). So I'm going to be sharing a favorite recipe of mine (or my family's) with you each Monday. Mmm Mmm...Monday! I love trying new recipes as well. So if you want to share a recipe today let me know in the comments and I'll link you.


Today's treat?

Blueberry Banana Smoothie- the breakfast of champions!



1/2 cup of fat free yogurt
1/2 cup of milk
1 small banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 tsp of vanilla
Ice/water to consistency
dab of whipped cream


Blend all ingredients together until smooth, top with whipped cream.

I have this or a variation of this for breakfast daily. Fills me up until lunchtime. It is core if you are on Weight Watchers- or 4 points if you're doing flex. This recipe makes 4-5 cups (so twice the amount in the picture. So if you split it with someone (or half the recipe) then it's a great 2 point treat. YUM!

Alissa's Macaroni and cheese

Happies and Crappies

Happy- we bought a piano yesterday!! UNLV does a sale every year where they sell the pianos from the previous year from the music department so they can get new ones. They also have other used pianos for sale. The sale is sponsored by a music store here in town so if you decide (within the next 10 years) that you want to 'upgrade' they will take your full purchase price with your piano on trade towards another piano. Anyway, the piano is being delivered on Tuesday! YAY! I'll post pictures then.

Crappy- I was supposed to take dinner to someone in the ward on Friday and completely forgot. I feel so bad. I'm taking her dinner tonight.

Happy- Our yard will be started soon- then the girls can play in the back!


Crappy- we've all had the stomach flu. Well, all the girls. Steve started throwing up this morning about 2 am. I'm next- I know it.

Happy- I took all four girls to church by myself today. I survived, they survived. I don't know how single parents or parents who have spouses that travel a lot do it.

Crappy- Annika bit a kid at church today. I'm the mom of 'that kid'.

Happy- I spent an hour and deep cleaned the girls bathroom yesterday. It sparkles, it doesn't stink. YAY!

Happy- (I'm committing out loud) I'm starting to count Weight Watcher points again tomorrow. I'm going to do it. Remind me of that.

Crappy- I'm starting to count Weight Watcher points again tomorrow. It's so much work- but it's worth it right?

Happy- After taking dinner to this random person in the ward (church congregation) I'm struck with just how completely blessed my life is. Not just averagely blessed- but completely and totally in awe of the blessings that flow to my family.

Crappy- I can't believe the poverty that some people live in. It makes me sad to think about it.

Happy and crappy- This story

Happy- Ashley and I went on a mommy daughter date on Friday night. We went to a musical put on at the high school and then got a banana split.

Crappy- the only way to describe this rendition of Grease. Seriously- the.worst.production.ever. Sound system sucked, actors were eh, scenery ect was pathetic. I remember our musicals being a huge deal. Here? Not so much.

Happy- It was probably a good thing that we couldn't understand them. I'd forgotten how many drug references and sexual inuendos there are in that show. Probably not appropriate for a 7 year old.

Happy/crappy- my Grandma had triple bypass surgery, she's doing well though.

YAY!! I'm wireless!!

Whew! So I've had a laptop for a couple of weeks now. We waited for KB (our sucky builder) to come and set up the structural wiring network for our computers. They came- handed me a router and told me to call the Geek Squad to do it. Well, I'm cheap- and ticked- they told me that as part of the service that they'd set it up! But I'm also so frustrated with KB that I gave up. I finally just decided to try and set up our wireless router and get our network working that way. After spending hours on the phone today with Linksys they told me to try calling Sprint- my ISP. Ten minutes with Sprint and the problem was fixed. That got the Desktop going through the router to connect with the internet- but then the laptop would connect (according to the system) but IE wouldn't work. Sigh...

BUT- I'm not sure what I've done- but now it's working!! Finally! So now I can be wireless! YAY!