"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired." Mother Theresa
It was one of those days when my husband left promising to return home a little early, and to bring with him a pizza.
I had started the day, even, in one of those relatively rare but still very real moods in which the best I was going to be able to do in my role as a stay at home mom would be to fake a smile and turn my back, when necessary, to count to ten.
It was on this particular day that the girls and I were heading to a distant store to pick out just the right gift for someone. My 3 year old, who is much less adept (thankfully) at reading my moods than her daddy is, was passing the time by speaking every thought that occurred to her. Right now, those thoughts revolved around the time of day.
"If you get up early enough, it is night," she announced. "Callie gets earbubble," (that would be "irritable") "right before her nap." "Daddy comes home when it gets dark." I answered yes to all of these things, only half listening.
Then, making conversation in the distracted way I do on days like this, I sputtered a question: "What is your favorite time of the day?" Silence.
"What did you ask me, mommy?"
So I repeated the question. "What is your favorite time of the day?"
Silence again. I looked in the rear view mirror. Her blank stare told me she thought my question was absurd. After a time, she answered: "This one."
Now Cassie does enjoy a good long car ride, so I asked her the question again as she was getting ready for bed that night: "Cassie, what is your favorite time of day?" The answer was the same: "This one."
This one. And so should it be for me. How I wish it were. How I wish I could recognize the peace and joy in every single moment with my kids. My daughter is better than me at something I long to be good at. It is what Richard Foster, author of Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home, calls the "Prayer of the Ordinary."
"We are Praying the Ordinary," he writes, "when we see God in the ordinary experiences of life. Can we find meaning in the crayon marks on the wall made by the kids? Are they somehow the finger of God writing on the wall of our hearts?" In the same chapter, he writes: "It is in the everyday and the commonplace that we learn patience, acceptance, and contentment."
That, I am sure, is true. Particularly that patience part. My fear is that, like everyone with adult children tells me, the time will go too quickly, I fear that I will wish for it back, even those mealtimes interrupted by the whisper "Mommy, I pooped." Even those whines for another Gogurt. Even the stray Legos I nail with my bare feet. I fear that I will soon pine for all the time I have ever wished away.
And yet, though I am infinitely conscious of trying to freeze those moments the good and the bad in my memory for some distant future, it is hard. It is hard to see those crayon marks on the wall as anything but crayon marks. Crayon marks that I will have to scrub.
I am experiencing a crayon mark of sorts right now. As I jot notes for this column at the kitchen table, my 3 year old is sitting on my lap, trying to push my pen along the page with her Three Little Pigs book. She has just dragged her grape lollipop through my hair and wiped her nose on my sleeve. "Mommy, make your pen go ALL the way along the page," she orders, scooting it along and making my thoughts an illegible mess of ink.
For a moment, I have an unbecoming and out of the blue urge to chuck her beloved book across the room. And it is precisely times like these when I need to indeed see the crayon marks as something left by the finger of God. To feel a sense of reverence for my every moment of my life as a mom. To once again find meaning and glory in the cherubic yet filthy face of my daughter.
But for this, I need some kind of tool, some trick for the heat of the moment. A trick to bring myself back in an instant to the kind of mother I long to be, the kind of mother I sometimes know myself to be, and the kind of mother I want my daughters to remember me to be.
At this moment, I have a little talk with myself. My daughter and I end up tucking our feet under a blanket on the couch and reading the very book that I wanted to hurl. And I enjoy it as I always do if can just sink into the moment and remember what a little miracle I have here on my lap.
Perhaps that tool, then, is surrender. Or maybe it is distraction. The same trick that all moms learn when their youngest is about 18 months old. When Cassie was that age, and she would get angry and frustrated, distraction worked wonders. When she was 2 and a half, distraction worked wonders on my own anger and frustration.
Perhaps that tool is compassion. Compassion for our children and a conscious understanding of what they must be feeling at certain times in their precious and sometimes bewildering lives. And compassion to ourselves, which we can show by not over scheduling our lives to the point where it is impossible to get down on the floor and play for 20 minutes, if that is what it takes. Or to call your own mommy just to chat for 20 minutes, if that is what it takes.
Perhaps that tool lies in the realization that our lives are long and full and that there will be plenty of time to do what we need to do when we no longer have little ones pulling on our pant legs.
Perhaps it is the tool of single tasking. So we do not feel distracted all the time. This is the tool that involves downshifting out of overdrive, because it is in overdrive that we talk too much, eat too much, think too much, and enjoy too little.
Perhaps it is the tool of shifting our awareness. A conscious committing to memory of the ripe physical sensations of motherhood: The feel of your babys marvelous, heavy head on your chest. The smell of Cheerios on her breath. This is how we bring ourselves back, gently, to the gifts that are under our fingers and, oftentimes, directly underfoot.
Perhaps it is the tool of solitude. So that, by enjoying the pursuit of something, solo, we may return to them renewed and without resentment.
Perhaps it is the tool of being honest and talking it out with other moms. It helps me to remember that we are all in this together. Most days we are genuinely loving it. Some days we are genuinely faking it, just as generations of good moms before us have done.
There is a certain solace in this story told by my mother in law, whose three grown children would each describe an ideal, involved, committed, and very loving mother. There were days at home with her young children, she says, when her face hurt at the end of the day from smiling. A clear and present sign that her smile was, for hours at a time, forced. But her kids did not know. With grace, neither will mine. And tomorrow will be a different kind of a day, with new tools to look upon those crayon marks with the reverence they deserve.
Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com, where she hand picks online coupons and products, including coupons for children 's clothing and baby gear.
Thursday
Tuesday
Feeling Overwhelmed By Motherhood? Top Five Ways To Beat The Mommy Blues
What are the mommy blues? They can be described as the loss of
ability to cope with the repetitive routine and mundane course of daily
child rearing for a specifically isolated period of time. Most mothers will
experience at least some form of mommy blues before their child's
eighteenth birthday. You feel as if you can no longer handle the
fighting, the crying, the tantrums and overall lack of adult interaction. You
needn't feel ashamed for identifying with any of the above, this just
means that yu could benefit from a simple change in your daily routine
for awhile.
Here are 5 simple ways to avoid the mommy blues. You'll notice that all five of these involve taking time for yourself each and every day. "Mommy Time" could be something as simple as soaking in a hot bath first thing in the morning. Gather your favorite spa products such as those from
the earth mama angel baby line. Post a do not disturb sign on the door
and strictly prosecute any violations!!
Exercise can also calm you down and help you cope with stressful situations. You should include some form of slow paced exercise such as an early morning walk around the block or a 30 minute stretching video. The slow yet invigorating pace of the exercise will begin to release your feel good hormones thus lending a more relaxed tone to the rest of the day.
"Mommy Time" should encompass some sort of creative activity to remind you of your personal interests. If you enjoy photography why not start a scrapbook where you can catalog your photos as well as do some creative journaling. Your scrapbook does not have to be about kids and family but if you prefer it be , then you might consider some beautiful baby memory books that include spaces for journaling.
Your "Mommy Time" should be sure to contain at least some kind of daily
conversation with another adult beside your spouse. This would be a great
opportunity to call a girlfriend or out of town sibling for a brief
chat. Keep the conversation positive! Don't spoil your "You Time" by
discussing negative subjects that will probably leave you feeling
emotionally drained.
Finally, the most important step before beginning your new routine is
to get your husband on board. You will need his support to make sure
you are not disturbed while taking time for yourself. Surprisingly, most
husbands would like to see their wives relax a little more and are
willing to help make that happen.
Taking time for yourself should not be viewed as a selfish endeavor.
This will only leave you feeling more refreshed and ready to be a better
parent and wife. We all need that little something to look forward to
each day and this can only help us to enjoy life with our family all
the more.
Cinda Serafin is a contributing parenting resource writer for Brown Eyed Baby Boutique, an industry leader in the field of personalized baby gifts.
ability to cope with the repetitive routine and mundane course of daily
child rearing for a specifically isolated period of time. Most mothers will
experience at least some form of mommy blues before their child's
eighteenth birthday. You feel as if you can no longer handle the
fighting, the crying, the tantrums and overall lack of adult interaction. You
needn't feel ashamed for identifying with any of the above, this just
means that yu could benefit from a simple change in your daily routine
for awhile.
Here are 5 simple ways to avoid the mommy blues. You'll notice that all five of these involve taking time for yourself each and every day. "Mommy Time" could be something as simple as soaking in a hot bath first thing in the morning. Gather your favorite spa products such as those from
the earth mama angel baby line. Post a do not disturb sign on the door
and strictly prosecute any violations!!
Exercise can also calm you down and help you cope with stressful situations. You should include some form of slow paced exercise such as an early morning walk around the block or a 30 minute stretching video. The slow yet invigorating pace of the exercise will begin to release your feel good hormones thus lending a more relaxed tone to the rest of the day.
"Mommy Time" should encompass some sort of creative activity to remind you of your personal interests. If you enjoy photography why not start a scrapbook where you can catalog your photos as well as do some creative journaling. Your scrapbook does not have to be about kids and family but if you prefer it be , then you might consider some beautiful baby memory books that include spaces for journaling.
Your "Mommy Time" should be sure to contain at least some kind of daily
conversation with another adult beside your spouse. This would be a great
opportunity to call a girlfriend or out of town sibling for a brief
chat. Keep the conversation positive! Don't spoil your "You Time" by
discussing negative subjects that will probably leave you feeling
emotionally drained.
Finally, the most important step before beginning your new routine is
to get your husband on board. You will need his support to make sure
you are not disturbed while taking time for yourself. Surprisingly, most
husbands would like to see their wives relax a little more and are
willing to help make that happen.
Taking time for yourself should not be viewed as a selfish endeavor.
This will only leave you feeling more refreshed and ready to be a better
parent and wife. We all need that little something to look forward to
each day and this can only help us to enjoy life with our family all
the more.
Cinda Serafin is a contributing parenting resource writer for Brown Eyed Baby Boutique, an industry leader in the field of personalized baby gifts.
Sunday
Scabies Attack!
Scabies was something that I had never heard of until last year, and would have lived my life very happily, had I not been forced to deal with this unwanted, horrifying bug!
My daughter and I had been looking forward to a trip to San Diego for years. It was really my daughter’s dream to go to the San Diego Zoo to visit the pandas and swim with the dolphins at Sea World. That’s all she talked about. So when a special deal came up on Expedia, we took it! We were going to stay at one of the absolutely best hotels on the water in Coronado Beach for a great price and we were thrilled! The hotel was beautiful, with every amenity that you could imagine. We easily navigated the bus system and did everything on that trip that you could wish for. It was the perfect vacation… until we got home.
Well, actually a few weeks had gone by, when my daughter started itching. Her arms were red and covered with tiny red bumps that formed lines. I put some Bactine on her arms and figured we’d wait until the next day. During the night, I woke up with the most intense itching I had ever felt. I thought it was sympathy itching and tried my best to go back to sleep. Nothing worked. It became worse as the night progressed and I woke up tired and cranky.
My son came into my room that morning with the same symptoms. I began to worry. What on earth was going on here? Were we being invaded by fleas? I took the day off from work and we all went to the doctor’s office, where I heard the most horrifying news ever. It was scabies! What?? She calmly explained that scabies were mites that burrowed under your skin and laid eggs! They reproduced quickly and covered your whole body. A million questions went through my mind. How did we get them? I’m a cleanliness freak and if I do say so myself, I keep as germ-free an environment as I can. She asked if we had traveled in the past few weeks because they are often passed in beds. They are sometimes called bedbugs. “Oh, no,” I thought, “so much for the perfect vacation!”
Not to worry, she said, this prescription will get rid of them in no time. But, she warned, wash ALL the bedclothes and pillows every night, or they’ll come back. I freaked out! Bugs under my skin! No way could I cope! I didn’t know which was worse…the itching or the thought of bugs eating me alive!
But as parents, we do cope. I dutifully went to the drugstore and filled the prescriptions. We all covered our bodies that night from head to toe with this awful stuff, which burned and smelled terribly. When I read the possible side effects which ranged from nausea, vomiting, seizures to central nervous system damage, I had serious reservations, but felt that I had no choice. We tried to sleep but none of us could. The itching became unbearable and at night it intensified. My daughter had nightmares that bugs were crawling over her. And the sad truth was that she was right.
A few days went by, and still no relief. Besides the itching, there were other complications. We couldn’t have visitors, because scabies is contagious. Each night when I got home from work, I dutifully stripped the beds and brought everything, including the towels we had used, to the laundry-mat. Imagine washing everything on your bed, including mattress covers, pillows and comforters EVERY NIGHT! And then, doing it again the next night, and the next night, and the next night. It was costly, a lot of work, and not exactly my idea of a good time. I was feeling very sorry for myself, and my poor kids. I certainly didn’t want to try another dose of that medication.
I finally decided to do what I usually do and look for a natural cure. I’m into natural cures for everything, and they had always worked in the past so maybe that would be the answer this time too. Within minutes, I had researched the Internet for a natural scabies cure. I found a product which was a blend of potent botanicals used for decades to deal with scabies. It promised to give immediate relief and also to be perfectly safe, all of which sounded great to me. I called the company and spoke to a representative, who told me not to worry. She promised relief in a couple of days and promptly overnighted the product to us. She was absolutely right. The next day, we felt a little better and after a few days, the red marks covering our bodies diminished as the scabies bugs died off. Relief at last! Finally, after so much grief, the scabies were gone.
My daughter and I laugh now when we look at the pictures of our trip. It will no longer be remembered as our dream vacation to San Diego. Instead, it will be forever etched in our minds as the time we got attacked by the Scabies!
Scarlett Webb is a writer who loves to learn new things and share them with the world. Her children are a constant source of inspiration to her. Visit: for more information on scabies
My daughter and I had been looking forward to a trip to San Diego for years. It was really my daughter’s dream to go to the San Diego Zoo to visit the pandas and swim with the dolphins at Sea World. That’s all she talked about. So when a special deal came up on Expedia, we took it! We were going to stay at one of the absolutely best hotels on the water in Coronado Beach for a great price and we were thrilled! The hotel was beautiful, with every amenity that you could imagine. We easily navigated the bus system and did everything on that trip that you could wish for. It was the perfect vacation… until we got home.
Well, actually a few weeks had gone by, when my daughter started itching. Her arms were red and covered with tiny red bumps that formed lines. I put some Bactine on her arms and figured we’d wait until the next day. During the night, I woke up with the most intense itching I had ever felt. I thought it was sympathy itching and tried my best to go back to sleep. Nothing worked. It became worse as the night progressed and I woke up tired and cranky.
My son came into my room that morning with the same symptoms. I began to worry. What on earth was going on here? Were we being invaded by fleas? I took the day off from work and we all went to the doctor’s office, where I heard the most horrifying news ever. It was scabies! What?? She calmly explained that scabies were mites that burrowed under your skin and laid eggs! They reproduced quickly and covered your whole body. A million questions went through my mind. How did we get them? I’m a cleanliness freak and if I do say so myself, I keep as germ-free an environment as I can. She asked if we had traveled in the past few weeks because they are often passed in beds. They are sometimes called bedbugs. “Oh, no,” I thought, “so much for the perfect vacation!”
Not to worry, she said, this prescription will get rid of them in no time. But, she warned, wash ALL the bedclothes and pillows every night, or they’ll come back. I freaked out! Bugs under my skin! No way could I cope! I didn’t know which was worse…the itching or the thought of bugs eating me alive!
But as parents, we do cope. I dutifully went to the drugstore and filled the prescriptions. We all covered our bodies that night from head to toe with this awful stuff, which burned and smelled terribly. When I read the possible side effects which ranged from nausea, vomiting, seizures to central nervous system damage, I had serious reservations, but felt that I had no choice. We tried to sleep but none of us could. The itching became unbearable and at night it intensified. My daughter had nightmares that bugs were crawling over her. And the sad truth was that she was right.
A few days went by, and still no relief. Besides the itching, there were other complications. We couldn’t have visitors, because scabies is contagious. Each night when I got home from work, I dutifully stripped the beds and brought everything, including the towels we had used, to the laundry-mat. Imagine washing everything on your bed, including mattress covers, pillows and comforters EVERY NIGHT! And then, doing it again the next night, and the next night, and the next night. It was costly, a lot of work, and not exactly my idea of a good time. I was feeling very sorry for myself, and my poor kids. I certainly didn’t want to try another dose of that medication.
I finally decided to do what I usually do and look for a natural cure. I’m into natural cures for everything, and they had always worked in the past so maybe that would be the answer this time too. Within minutes, I had researched the Internet for a natural scabies cure. I found a product which was a blend of potent botanicals used for decades to deal with scabies. It promised to give immediate relief and also to be perfectly safe, all of which sounded great to me. I called the company and spoke to a representative, who told me not to worry. She promised relief in a couple of days and promptly overnighted the product to us. She was absolutely right. The next day, we felt a little better and after a few days, the red marks covering our bodies diminished as the scabies bugs died off. Relief at last! Finally, after so much grief, the scabies were gone.
My daughter and I laugh now when we look at the pictures of our trip. It will no longer be remembered as our dream vacation to San Diego. Instead, it will be forever etched in our minds as the time we got attacked by the Scabies!
Scarlett Webb is a writer who loves to learn new things and share them with the world. Her children are a constant source of inspiration to her. Visit: for more information on scabies
Friday
"There's a Lollipop on Your Bottom" (and Other Terms of Endearment)
"I took care of Callie," my three-year-old announced.
Callie had been starting with that little whine that babies adopt to alert mothers and sisters that their new crawling tricks have them wedged behind the furniture. But the whining had stopped--rather suddenly, it seemed in retrospect.
"Thanks, Cassie. You are such a big help," I said, kissing the top of her head. "How did you manage that?"
"I got her a beer."
Sure enough, Callie was still wedged behind the table, but now she was happily gumming the cold smooth side of a Newcastle (unopened, fortunately enough.)
Because I hope that Cassie went for the beer in the fridge because she imagined how good it would feel on her teething sister's sore gums--and not because she deems it some sort of panacea, the whole thing got me laughing (after I took away the beer, of course.) Then it got me thinking about which of my friends would laugh about this story along with me. And which would sort of disapprove.
I guess that groups my mommy friends into two camps: one camp that can overhear me saying to my kids, "Please don't lick the carpet," and they don't say a word (or better yet, they laugh). And the other camp, which thinks that's pretty gross.
For me, if a toddler gets out of a car, and she has a lollipop stuck to her bottom, I know, instantly, that her mom is a friend. And the opposite is true, too. If you've got any number of kids under the age of four and your car doesn't occasionally stink, you probably make me a little nervous.
In all of our efforts to prove our own Supermom skills, let's remember that it's sometimes rather endearing when we're not. To remember that may be to regain a lot of energy and a lot of time.
Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com
Callie had been starting with that little whine that babies adopt to alert mothers and sisters that their new crawling tricks have them wedged behind the furniture. But the whining had stopped--rather suddenly, it seemed in retrospect.
"Thanks, Cassie. You are such a big help," I said, kissing the top of her head. "How did you manage that?"
"I got her a beer."
Sure enough, Callie was still wedged behind the table, but now she was happily gumming the cold smooth side of a Newcastle (unopened, fortunately enough.)
Because I hope that Cassie went for the beer in the fridge because she imagined how good it would feel on her teething sister's sore gums--and not because she deems it some sort of panacea, the whole thing got me laughing (after I took away the beer, of course.) Then it got me thinking about which of my friends would laugh about this story along with me. And which would sort of disapprove.
I guess that groups my mommy friends into two camps: one camp that can overhear me saying to my kids, "Please don't lick the carpet," and they don't say a word (or better yet, they laugh). And the other camp, which thinks that's pretty gross.
For me, if a toddler gets out of a car, and she has a lollipop stuck to her bottom, I know, instantly, that her mom is a friend. And the opposite is true, too. If you've got any number of kids under the age of four and your car doesn't occasionally stink, you probably make me a little nervous.
In all of our efforts to prove our own Supermom skills, let's remember that it's sometimes rather endearing when we're not. To remember that may be to regain a lot of energy and a lot of time.
Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com
Thursday
Tuesday
Can You Help?
Have you been wanting to brush up on your skills? How about learning to crochet? Did everyone love your Christmas gifts, but now they want to see what else you can do? Then open up your calendar and let's set a date for your private class. Classes are only $35 for two hours if you come to my studio in Highlands Ranch, or just $45 if I come to you. Check out some of the other options on my website and let's set a date!
I'd like to ask your help. I'm having some trouble fitting in my reguar two hour classes right now because I'm so busy with getting orders filled. So, I'm offering a special! I have several one-hour blocks open between other classses, and I'm scheduling "tune-up" sessions. These quick sessions are great for getting started on a project, getting some pointers on a new technique, and finishing up your first fabulous knitted garment. Pretty much anything you want to do in an hour is exactly what we'll do. For February, you can get a "tune-up" for just $15 - these are regularly $20! To schedule your "tune-up," call me at 303-345-7620 or send me an email. I'll be able to arrange a session to fit with your needs.
I'd like to ask your help. I'm having some trouble fitting in my reguar two hour classes right now because I'm so busy with getting orders filled. So, I'm offering a special! I have several one-hour blocks open between other classses, and I'm scheduling "tune-up" sessions. These quick sessions are great for getting started on a project, getting some pointers on a new technique, and finishing up your first fabulous knitted garment. Pretty much anything you want to do in an hour is exactly what we'll do. For February, you can get a "tune-up" for just $15 - these are regularly $20! To schedule your "tune-up," call me at 303-345-7620 or send me an email. I'll be able to arrange a session to fit with your needs.
Everyone Loves Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you are like me, you remember how much you loved visiting grandma's house as a kid. You loved it because you got spoiled there. She let you play any game you wanted, you got to be silly and goofy, and you could even have candy before dinner. Grandma let you do all of the things that your mom said no to. But there is another reason kids love going to grandma's house to visit: her chocolate chip cookies.
Chocolate cookies are loved by most people I know. And most of us discovered our love for them as small children in the comfort of grandma's kitchen. For some reason her cookies were always much better than mom's. Maybe it is because they were always hot and soft or because she probably let you eat as many as you wanted. Whatever the reason, one thing is sure. You loved, and maybe still do love, chocolate chip cookies.
Chocolate chip cookies are the perfect snack. You can eat them when they are warm and right out of the oven or you can save them for a few days and still enjoy them just as much. Some people even love to eat the dough of the chocolate chip cookies before they are baked. Not many other snacks can be eaten in so many fun ways. Perfect with a glass of milk, chocolate cookies can be enjoyed after school, just before bed, and during any season of the year. They are just as good when it is freezing cold outside as they are in the middle of summer.
Chocolate chip cookies are the most famous kind of cookies. Everyone has eaten one and most everyone loves them. You can find them in every grocery store and bakery you enter, and most every cook I know has a special recipe to make the perfect batch. Chocolate chip cookies are great because they are made with a few simple ingredients, most of which you have in the house all the time.
Making chocolate chip cookies is a perfect way to get children started working in a kitchen and learning to cook. All kids love to help mom with mixing and pouring the ingredients together, and there is nothing better to let kids experiment with than chocolate chip cookies. Kids can get involved and have a special job to do and they can see and taste the results of their hard work. Baking chocolate chip cookies is a great family building activity that can fill any Saturday afternoon with fun.
So the next time you remember how great grandma's chocolate chip cookies really were, get out your own secret recipe and get your whole family to make the special memory of making and baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie.
Rachael Cleipher has always loved chocolate chip cookies and has developed a secret recipe of her own. You can too by checking out www.chocolatechipcookieshub.info
Chocolate cookies are loved by most people I know. And most of us discovered our love for them as small children in the comfort of grandma's kitchen. For some reason her cookies were always much better than mom's. Maybe it is because they were always hot and soft or because she probably let you eat as many as you wanted. Whatever the reason, one thing is sure. You loved, and maybe still do love, chocolate chip cookies.
Chocolate chip cookies are the perfect snack. You can eat them when they are warm and right out of the oven or you can save them for a few days and still enjoy them just as much. Some people even love to eat the dough of the chocolate chip cookies before they are baked. Not many other snacks can be eaten in so many fun ways. Perfect with a glass of milk, chocolate cookies can be enjoyed after school, just before bed, and during any season of the year. They are just as good when it is freezing cold outside as they are in the middle of summer.
Chocolate chip cookies are the most famous kind of cookies. Everyone has eaten one and most everyone loves them. You can find them in every grocery store and bakery you enter, and most every cook I know has a special recipe to make the perfect batch. Chocolate chip cookies are great because they are made with a few simple ingredients, most of which you have in the house all the time.
Making chocolate chip cookies is a perfect way to get children started working in a kitchen and learning to cook. All kids love to help mom with mixing and pouring the ingredients together, and there is nothing better to let kids experiment with than chocolate chip cookies. Kids can get involved and have a special job to do and they can see and taste the results of their hard work. Baking chocolate chip cookies is a great family building activity that can fill any Saturday afternoon with fun.
So the next time you remember how great grandma's chocolate chip cookies really were, get out your own secret recipe and get your whole family to make the special memory of making and baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie.
Rachael Cleipher has always loved chocolate chip cookies and has developed a secret recipe of her own. You can too by checking out www.chocolatechipcookieshub.info
Friday
Wanna Trade Places?
Even immediately after my car accident, every single person who saw me was pleasantly shocked at how "great" I looked. Funny how much a little concealer and a new hair style can
make anyone look fabulous.
One of my physicians confidently told me "there's no 'look' for pain". This wise woman also said "you can't see muscular or neurological damage".
Going through physical and neurological (inner ear disorder) therapy for months, I was in awe by anyone with broken bones. I constantly saw quicker recoveries for people with pins in their legs.
I also often wished for a pain in my butt, because I was sick of it being in my back, shoulder, knee, and head. And now, I found out that I may have joint problems too...yipee.
Anyways, I took my compliments pleasantly, and politely reminded them NOT to judge a book by its cover, even good ones.
Whenever I tried to wean into work, the effort to make myself presentable for a couple of hours with a crowded room filled with people was extremely difficult. Walking through noisy crowds gave me motion sickness. Unfortunately, the compliments often turned into "you look and sound GREAT" with a huff and a puff.
So, my constant rebuttal was "Wanna trade places?" with a smirk. They rarely asked for details, and assumed my life was just fine.
Yeah, writing my book "Empowering Women to Power Network" was fulfilling one of my dreams, but promoting it is a whole job in and of itself...something I'm not fully able to handle right now.
Hey, and you're also right: I'm living my other dream of homsechooling my girls too (thanks for remembering).
Just so you know even up to this very day, my husband and I find new ways to vertigo-safety our house so I don't faint or pass-out when I'm home alone with the girls. Our four-year old knows how to call 911, report our address, and use a cell phone...just in case.
Do I want sympathy? No way!
My point: I don't wanna trade places with anyone.
So, I stopped asking that question when I realized I was just fueling sarcasm with more sarcasm. No doubt, I've always been a very sarcastic person, but to joke around may be fine...to pass judgment is not.
I don't give a darn what people may think, because I have enough to worry about. Can you imagine not sitting too long in a chair because of back pain, or not standing too long because of your knee? Pretty annoying, huh?
But, I'm grateful for these conditions.
Consider some of these women who are within my own sphere
of influence:
- Having clinical depression that she would cry all day and night, be insomniac, paranoid, and can not physically get out of bed for days at a time.
- Having a restraining order against her hope-to-be X-husband for herself and three children because he abused them. She lives in fear and worry for all their safety.
- Being 35 years old and experiencing a car accident that only broke her hips, and then the day she was supposed to come home she died. Survived by this tragedy are her husband and four children: the youngest is three and oldest 14 years old.
All of this happened during my recovery these past eight months.
Do I feel blessed? You betcha.
No matter what you may see or feel about another person, just think: "Would you wanna trade places with that person when you have NO idea what their situation really is right now!?"
My answer is "No Way", how 'bout you?
I didn't think so.
Ponn M. Sabra is a homeschool work at home mom of three with partial paralysis, best-selling author of "Empowering Women to Power Network", syndicated columnist, and writer. A home-based entrepreneur for 10 years, Ponn empowers women entrepreneurs to action at www.EmpowerWomenNow.com Logon for free tips, tools & resources today.
make anyone look fabulous.
One of my physicians confidently told me "there's no 'look' for pain". This wise woman also said "you can't see muscular or neurological damage".
Going through physical and neurological (inner ear disorder) therapy for months, I was in awe by anyone with broken bones. I constantly saw quicker recoveries for people with pins in their legs.
I also often wished for a pain in my butt, because I was sick of it being in my back, shoulder, knee, and head. And now, I found out that I may have joint problems too...yipee.
Anyways, I took my compliments pleasantly, and politely reminded them NOT to judge a book by its cover, even good ones.
Whenever I tried to wean into work, the effort to make myself presentable for a couple of hours with a crowded room filled with people was extremely difficult. Walking through noisy crowds gave me motion sickness. Unfortunately, the compliments often turned into "you look and sound GREAT" with a huff and a puff.
So, my constant rebuttal was "Wanna trade places?" with a smirk. They rarely asked for details, and assumed my life was just fine.
Yeah, writing my book "Empowering Women to Power Network" was fulfilling one of my dreams, but promoting it is a whole job in and of itself...something I'm not fully able to handle right now.
Hey, and you're also right: I'm living my other dream of homsechooling my girls too (thanks for remembering).
Just so you know even up to this very day, my husband and I find new ways to vertigo-safety our house so I don't faint or pass-out when I'm home alone with the girls. Our four-year old knows how to call 911, report our address, and use a cell phone...just in case.
Do I want sympathy? No way!
My point: I don't wanna trade places with anyone.
So, I stopped asking that question when I realized I was just fueling sarcasm with more sarcasm. No doubt, I've always been a very sarcastic person, but to joke around may be fine...to pass judgment is not.
I don't give a darn what people may think, because I have enough to worry about. Can you imagine not sitting too long in a chair because of back pain, or not standing too long because of your knee? Pretty annoying, huh?
But, I'm grateful for these conditions.
Consider some of these women who are within my own sphere
of influence:
- Having clinical depression that she would cry all day and night, be insomniac, paranoid, and can not physically get out of bed for days at a time.
- Having a restraining order against her hope-to-be X-husband for herself and three children because he abused them. She lives in fear and worry for all their safety.
- Being 35 years old and experiencing a car accident that only broke her hips, and then the day she was supposed to come home she died. Survived by this tragedy are her husband and four children: the youngest is three and oldest 14 years old.
All of this happened during my recovery these past eight months.
Do I feel blessed? You betcha.
No matter what you may see or feel about another person, just think: "Would you wanna trade places with that person when you have NO idea what their situation really is right now!?"
My answer is "No Way", how 'bout you?
I didn't think so.
Ponn M. Sabra is a homeschool work at home mom of three with partial paralysis, best-selling author of "Empowering Women to Power Network", syndicated columnist, and writer. A home-based entrepreneur for 10 years, Ponn empowers women entrepreneurs to action at www.EmpowerWomenNow.com Logon for free tips, tools & resources today.
Mrs. Jekyll and Mommy Hyde
I emerged today from a brief shopping trip to our local discount store with my two youngest children. I don’t know if it was the crisp January breeze or the promise of that elusive sun beginning to peek out from some clouds, but it occurred to me how great the day had been. I realized that I had calmly managed to get all 3 children out to the car for the quarter-mile drive to the bus stop earlier this morning, serenely prepared a dish to deliver to our monthly recipe club, and patiently gotten through a store that normally reduces my children to little beggars and turns me into a raging monster.
These are the good days, the days when I can’t keep my hands away from my girls’ rosy cheeks or my boy’s close-cropped hair and I feel so proud and grateful to be their mother. I love these days. These are how my daydreams of motherhood looked. Once, during one of these cherished moments, I was driving to a park on a gorgeous day with my toddler in the back. I could not resist the urge to call my husband, who was at work, to let him know how much I appreciated his sacrifice to our family so that I had the freedom to stay at home with our children.
Regrettably, all too often, there is another kind of day: a day when I seem to wake up screaming and continue to be loud, irritable, impatient, and unsympathetic with my three cherubic little angels. In all fairness, children have their good days and bad as well, and though I must take responsibility for any inappropriate behavior or poor examples that I may exhibit, children certainly know how to push the limits of faith and goodwill.
While I would like to discover a potion that would enable me to be rid of Mommy Hyde forever, I would like to offer a toast to Mrs. Jekyll. May she always be able to awaken to the coaxing of her little ones at the crack of dawn with a smile on her face; may her endeavors to prepare an endless parade of breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner fill her with a bountiful joy; may the sight of a mountain of laundry inspire her to give thanks for her many blessings; and may she always remember the expressions on the faces of her progeny as they gaze at her with absolute trust and unconditional love.
Jennifer Tankersley is the creator of ListPlanIt.com where you can find 250 lists and planning pages including cleaning schedules, daily to do lists, grocery lists, and holiday/party planning to put your world in order.
These are the good days, the days when I can’t keep my hands away from my girls’ rosy cheeks or my boy’s close-cropped hair and I feel so proud and grateful to be their mother. I love these days. These are how my daydreams of motherhood looked. Once, during one of these cherished moments, I was driving to a park on a gorgeous day with my toddler in the back. I could not resist the urge to call my husband, who was at work, to let him know how much I appreciated his sacrifice to our family so that I had the freedom to stay at home with our children.
Regrettably, all too often, there is another kind of day: a day when I seem to wake up screaming and continue to be loud, irritable, impatient, and unsympathetic with my three cherubic little angels. In all fairness, children have their good days and bad as well, and though I must take responsibility for any inappropriate behavior or poor examples that I may exhibit, children certainly know how to push the limits of faith and goodwill.
While I would like to discover a potion that would enable me to be rid of Mommy Hyde forever, I would like to offer a toast to Mrs. Jekyll. May she always be able to awaken to the coaxing of her little ones at the crack of dawn with a smile on her face; may her endeavors to prepare an endless parade of breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner fill her with a bountiful joy; may the sight of a mountain of laundry inspire her to give thanks for her many blessings; and may she always remember the expressions on the faces of her progeny as they gaze at her with absolute trust and unconditional love.
Jennifer Tankersley is the creator of ListPlanIt.com where you can find 250 lists and planning pages including cleaning schedules, daily to do lists, grocery lists, and holiday/party planning to put your world in order.
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