Archive for the ‘General’ Category
May 21 2010
1. It seems I’ve been PRE-nominated for a Parents Connect Best Parenting Blog award. If you could maybe spare a minute and click that link or the button in my sidebar to vote for me. You do have to sign up for their site and can then vote for as many people as you like, once a day. It would be very much appreciated.
2. I had a great time with Five for Ten. Thank you everyone who stopped by and commented, it was wonderful getting to meet you all. I’ve been taking a bit of a breather the remainder of the week and our regularly scheduled random postings will begin again on Monday.
3. Thanks to Amber at Making the Moments Count I won a copy of Aidan Donnelly Rowley’s novel, Life After Yes! Now I just hope I can find the time to read it.
May 04 2010
Yesterday was my 1 year blogiversary. 207 entries written thus far. I honestly never envisioned enduring for very long when I began this site on a whim last year. I just wanted something strictly for myself again, that I could maybe pass a few minutes with, along with some stress. It’s grown to be that and so much more.
Things I have learned this year in the blogosphere:
1. People like drama. No, really. Some people REALLY like drama. They feed off of it, poised at their keyboards for the next outrage. Which is alright, I guess, but it’s not me. I’m a lot more laid-back than I ever realized before.
2. There may be unforeseen rewards to starting a blog where the main focus is the crazy days as a mother, such as becoming a much more attentive parent. I notice things now that I wouldn’t have given a second thought to before. In fact, every day is blog fodder waiting to happen. Material can be found in the most obscure places, the best stories to tell sneak up on you when you least expect it.
3. It’s disturbing what some people search for on Google.
4. You will get jealous. You will be envious. You will wonder how that person has as many readers as they do and you don’t. You will wonder why you’re never on any “best of” lists. You will wonder if you’re doing it wrong. You will wonder if you’re not sharing enough. You will wonder if you’re sharing too much. You will wonder if it’s worth it. You will get mad and crazy and sad at your computer screen. It’s OK. It’s normal. You will breathe and hopefully it will pass.
5. You will appreciate and love those who stop by to read what you have to say, especially those who cheer you on or lend their support and comment. Thank you for making the past year so very worth it.
April 07 2010
When I began this blog almost a year ago, I set a few rules for myself. I would try to post at least 3 times a week. I wouldn’t post on weekends. I didn’t want this site to run my life, simply document it. I would also try to keep a certain amount of anonymity as a precaution. Keeping my name, as well as J’s, out of it I thought would be enough.
But why protect J and myself, but not my kids?
Truth be told, I’ve been increasingly uncomfortable as the number of visitors here has risen. That’s the point of a public website, though. I love it when people read. I love it when you comment. Those of you who share back with me are not the ones who make me nervous, but there are millions of other people out there. Especially since these moments that I decide to write about belong to my kids. This is just as much their site as it is mine, but they didn’t ask to be a part of it. If I’m going to base the majority of my posts around them, I should at least offer them the same courtesy and privacy I’ve given J and myself. If not more. That just makes sense. Not to mention sets my mind at ease.
With that said, from here on out my oldest son will be known as Jedi (Star Wars, obviously), my almost 4 year old is Buzz (as in Lightyear, from Toy Story), and my daughter is Abby (Cadabby, a nod to Sesame Street). I hope this doesn’t confuse anyone too much, including me.
March 18 2010
My dream house has a fenced in backyard where I can open the door and let the kids out to play without worry of them wandering off. There’s a swingset and sandbox and, in summer, a small inflatable pool. There might also be a dog. It would have a deck, complete with an outdoor dining area. I could try my hand at gardening in a small secluded patch of land safely off to the side of little running feet.
Inside, it would be spacious, but not enough to get lost in. It would have a separate playroom, so that toys wouldn’t be the first thing you trip over when you walk in.
There would be at least 3 bedrooms with an extra space for J’s office, because it’s just a given that the boys are destined to share. I would love more than one bathroom.
It would have a basement. If for no other reason than so I can feel safe during storms.
It would not have fake wood paneling.
Other desirable features of note: large windows and a place for a cushioned windowseat, a garden bathtub, two large trees to hang a hammock, a garage, lots of closet space, nice but non-nosy neighbors, cherry wood kitchen cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an open floor plan, a brick exterior. The list could go on.
When we don’t know what else to do on lazy days, we’ll drive around neighborhoods gazing at what could be. Over our many moves in the past, I’ve been able to narrow down my picture of our perfect house. Though our dream home is nothing without Abby’s infectious laugh and high-pitched demands, Buzz’s rambunctious energy and daredevil antics, or Jedi’s endless array of questions and bouncing off the walls. No matter how perfect, a house is not a home without the noise and chaos I’ve come to find comfort in. For them, I am thankful. I am home. A perfect, dream home. Wherever we are.
March 17 2010
Most of the keyword searches people find this site by are fairly benign and uninteresting. I prefer it this way. There was one time when I wrote about my son running around without any pants on and consequently garnered many “little boy nudist” searches that completely creeped me out.
Which, I probably just subjected myself to again. Only, gotcha! Haha! This post has nothing to do with nudists of any sort. Please go away, creepy pervert.
Most people actually come here looking for, of all things, “kid things”. I know, shocking. There was one search recently, however, that got my attention and I thought I’d address, as a favor to those who may happen to stumble by looking for the same advice. A sampling of “things kids do wrong”, per my 6 years of experience so far:
- pick their nose, then hand you the booger
- attempt swirling any number of body parts in the toilet
- stick small objects in electrical outlets
- slam doors when others are sleeping
- wipe their hands everywhere except on a napkin
- scream at the top of their lungs, right in your ear
- throw tantrums of epic proportions over something ridiculous like socks
- completely destroy a room 10 seconds after you’ve cleaned it
- pelt hard plastic toys at your head
- try to run off into oncoming traffic
If you have any to add, please feel free. All in the name of helpful research. For a true sappy disclaimer, however, I must admit that even though kids do some things wrong, they’re also lovely little beings that do many things right. Although, in all honesty, if you need to Google for examples then I would have to say you are the one doing it wrong.
