Mom With A Pen » Lessons Learned

Putting On Kindness

Maniacal Mommy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:24:14 +0000

I would like to welcome Alicia as my guest today. I have been a fan of hers for years, way back to when MySpace was popular (ha ha!). I especially loved this piece on kindness. Too often the people I live with are wearing their “grumpy pants” rather than their “kindness boots.” It reminded me that setting a good example of treating others the way I want to be treated, well, it is a constant lesson. Demonstrating patience and kindness for those we cherish most is important, but it easily falls to the wayside with sibling rivalry and the antics of the witching hour. I am seldom the picture of patience or kindness when the boys decide that quiet reading before bedtime means “run through the house screaming and winding the toddler up”.

Mary…Mary…

Mom With A Pen — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:42:11 +0000

…quite contrary.

Every day seems like the same old day around here. I’m not complaining, but my ADD isn’t amused. It works to get the creative juices flowing though. So, today we started experimenting with growing fruits and veggies from root and seed. Our kitchen window gets pretty decent light and we are now using our ledge for more than the kids trying desperately to sit on it. As long as the cat doesn’t get mad, and knock things down, our experiments should keep the oldest child entertained for about 10 minutes in the morning. Maybe more if she wants to journal about how the green onions have sprouted and grown in 3 days! Which she has.

Protected: Suitable Bribes

Maniacal Mommy — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:18:47 +0000

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Rambunctious

Maniacal Mommy — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:54:23 +0000

I found myself having to take a drive on this blustery day. That is the way it goes. I make an appointment, and inclement weather follows. Overdue Pap smear finally going to get done? Hello, blizzard! So of course today was rainy and windy and downright chilly.

Offspring 1.0

Maniacal Mommy — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:32:28 +0000

Today my oldest, Tater, turns eight. Since I am around him all the time, I tend to take for granted the quirky excellence that is my son’s trademark. I see that he is getting taller, but it isn’t until he flips on the kitchen faucet that I realize just how tall! Or he will ask a random (yet intelligent) question that just leaves me stupefied that 1) he asked it and 2) how the heck am I going to answer that?

Picketting for Pretty

Mom With A Pen — Tue, 10 May 2011 01:48:09 +0000

Life has a funny way of saying, “Hey, what the heck. Are you an idiot?” And often, I’ll reply, “Yup;” sometimes when someone is looking… just to make them think twice about sitting next to me… because everyone needs their space. Yes, I’ve been walking in a daze. Let me add to that…for the past year and a half. Half exhausted from my non-sleeping one-year-old (and the whining and tantrums of the six-year-old); half carb-induced because I can’t seem to stop shoveling in chicken nachos. What is it with that stuff? Umm…yes, I’m eating a heap now.

I Could Have Been a Michael Jackson (The Mouse) Wannabe

Mom With A Pen — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:43:31 +0000

I am in need of Super-Duper-Massive-Strength Tylenol. I just opened the packet from Madison’s Open House and apparently I will need homeschooling this year. Our elementary school’s policy is that parents may visit at any time. I wonder if the 1st Grade teacher will be willing to give me a kid-sized desk and a paper name plate? Magnetic Poles…Sacagawea? Here I come!

Facebook 101

Mom With A Pen — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 08:19:30 +0000

I am a 30-something Facebook junkie. Next year I'll be a 40-year-old Facebook junkie. Better than a 40-year-old virgin. You'd think...but that might be an entire other blog post in itself. Just sayin'. The fact is, Mark Zuckerberg was on to something when he one-upped Myspace Tom -you know Myspace Tom, he's everybody's friend friend hoarder... A couple of years ago, like many others, I flew from the "kooky coop" for a bit of friendly banter with "real" people. Don't throw rotten tomatoes if I once called you my Myspace friend and now you are my IRL friend. Just ask yourself, "How long did that take? Was it really worth it?" Oh, and then don't delete me. Read more on Facebook 101...

I’m Not as Stupid as I Look

Mom With A Pen — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:40:53 +0000

There are things you should know when you have a baby, and then there are things you learn; sometimes those lines are blurred. Like way back when, when Madison was about 3 months. She cried every time I put her down and her nights and days were definitely confused. This went on for two more months. I was confused and utterly exhausted. I met an older gentleman who told me I should turn the baby upside down to reset its clock. I was skeptical but he assured me his Mother knew what she was talking about. Let’s just say, Madison loves to do cartwheels but isn’t in a hurry to get anywhere anytime soon. What can I say? You take desperate measures when you don’t know your name, your address and don’t remember what a zip code is. Just sayin’.

Gains & Losses

Maven Mom — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:27:23 +0000

Are you thinking you’ll be reading about my never ending battle of the bulge? The skirmishes of the Thunder Thighs versus the Ballooning Butt?

Sure, I could rail on and on about the roller coaster ride of weight loss and gain but which of us hasn’t been there before?