a poem

in winter
in a time not expected
in a difficult time
in a cold time
in the quiet
I found it
my peace & confidence
blooming despite the odds
radiant despite the opinions of others
there in all its majesty

etho

12/28/13

What in the Hell was I thinking?

So DAY 5 of No New Things

Ugg I just remembered I need to buy softball pictures of my 2 younger daughters this season?  If I buy them on disc I am good because the decision to do this was based on NO MORE STUFF in our life in our house or in the landfill.  BUT honestly I will loose that disc and never make copies to give to the grandparents!

I did decide media on CDS's, i tunes and TV shows on my Kindle Fire don't count and obviously neither does groceries, toiletries or undergarments (that include bathing suits - see I did think ahead a little).

But what else will I come across? I considered those last minute purchases for class shows form Target like the red shirt necessary for the class sing at Christmas and what about the container I had to buy last year to hold 100 homemade pumpkin muffins....? Ugg

Please watch this short AWESOME video to see where my craziness came from:

The Story of Stuff

Discrimination or National Pride?

Ok, I'm trying to be understanding, open minded and fair but I'm feeling completely pissed to the max about a few things. 

IF YOU FEEL DIFFERENTLY THAN ME PLEASE COMMENT AND SHOW ME YOUR PERSPECTIVE I am open and want to understand better.

Having said that preamble I will still appear to be prejudice.  Maybe  I am  but in denial?  Either way here goes...

FUCK PRESSING 1 FOR ENGLISH. 

Everything in America should automatically be in English. 

I feel its great and super supportive to offer people to hear or read things in other languages especially with certain products and marketing niches BUT ENGLISH SHOULD BE FIRST.

Seriously. I don't want you to ask me to press 1 for the language of the Country I am calling in . 

I have NEVER gone to France and expected ANYONE to speak English. I am pleasantly surprised and appreciative if they do but key word: I do not EXPECT it.

Nor do I call a Japanese business located IN JAPAN and EXPECT the option to hear things in English. If I do not speak Japanese then I should NOT purchase things from a Japanese company OR I should enlist the help f a friend who DOES speak Japanese.

This also leads me down the bumpy road of discussing people who do not speak English having the EXPECTATION when they drop their Kindergartner off at a FREE public school that the school is solely responsible for that child integrating AND learning English. 

Oh and THOSE people are MOST OFTEN the ones who GIVE NOTHING BACK to the school or community.

I of course do not speak for ALL people in this critical rant but a HUGE majority live near me and this is MY personal experience.

Ok, so there it is. Out there in its red white and blue - lets hear it.....

Contradictions

I am contradicting myself on a regular basis. Its usually because I hear some information that stirs up my passion about a particular subject and then I get a strong opinion and start shooting my mouth off with little or no verified facts.  Then I go get facts (after a few rants usually) and I then more often than not I have to retract or start spouting off the completely opposite view.

This is ignorant.


I know this is ignorant.



I try and try and try not to do this .... I try and try and try to take information I hear, read or see and then research and then develope my strong oppinion about it.  this works 1% of the time.

So if you know me you know that while I *mean well* I am *passionate about important topics of today* I am *intelligent* I can be *well spoken* I am *well read* I am *MOSTLY able to see my faults, apologize when necessary and humbly change my mind* I can often come off like a real ass.

I am a work in progress (some of you will catch that familiar phrase and understand me even more ;).

I am a Jew.

I am a mixture of white Irish, Scottish and Welsh.  Most white people I know have Irish in them because it seems to me the Irish will breed with anyone they deem hot in the sack.

I am dissatisfied with Judaism.  I am now following Jesus.  More on this later.

Shit balls kids are home gotta go cook dinner be back later.....

with love your totally imperfect Erika

Have a Fun NO IMPACT EARTH DAY

Click the link below and go to FUN STUFF

Find a better solution to more crap in your home and in our landfills to celebrate Earth Day

NATURES WAY EARTH DAY

TEN WAYS TO GREEN YOUR
PICNIC FOR THE PLANET

1. Choose a Location Near You 
   Hosting your own picnic? Choose a picnic site close to home, and walk or bike to your picnic location instead of driving. Look for a green space nearby — a local park, a sports field, a Conservancy preserve or a friend’s backyard!
2. Use Re-Usable or Compostable Serveware
   Instead of packing paper plates and disposable utensils, pack serveware that you can wash and use again and encourage your guests to do the same. If this won’t work, many brands are now offering compostable plates and silverware.
3. Bring Healthy Foods
   The lower a food is on the food chain, the lower its impact on the environment. For example, it takes about 634 gallons of water to make a hamburger. So, add more fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes to your picnic meal — those things are good for you and the planet!
4. Pack Local, In-Season Ingredients 
   Nothing ruins an eating-well high in the U.S. faster than seeing a sticker on your apple that says New Zealand (no offense, kiwis!).  Prevent the shipping-around-the-world blues by picking up your produce from a local farmer’s market.
5. Lose the Napkins
   No one wants to walk around with mustard on her face, but paper napkins aren’t the answer. Use the picnic as an opportunity to use that cute gingham handkerchief that came with your cowboy Halloween costume five years ago. Or, you know, any old cloth napkin will do.
6. Compost and Recycle Your Trash
   I bet someone at your picnic has a compost bin (Are you ready to give it a try? It’s easy!). Enlist that person to take home all the compostable scraps from the event, and another person to collect any recyclables.
7. Clean Your Picnic Site 
   A good picnicker is one that doesn’t leave trash at his picnic site. A great picnicker is one who picks up trash at this picnic site. Use the picnic as an opportunity to make your local green space just a little greener.
8. Enjoy Nature
   Once your meal is over, take some time to enjoy your natural setting. Take a hike, go bird-watching or just sit back and enjoy the sounds of nature. Have kids in tow? Try this Nature Treasure Hunt!
9. Use Electronics Wisely
   Picnic for the Planet is about reconnecting with nature, but whether it’s to play some picnic tunes or send us your picnic photos via Twitter (@allhandsonearth), Facebook or Flickr, we know that your electronic devices will make an appearance. Be sure to unplug your chargers when not in use to avoid “vampire power,” which accounts for about 10 percent of household energy usage.
10. Support Nature! 
    Help protect the places that you love to picnic by turning your Picnic for the Planet into a fundraiser for The Nature Conservancy. Simply set up your fundraising page, and tell your friends!

Save the Earth

How is it we can have a million and one crafts celebrating Earth Day that cause more and more junk in our lives and trash and require moms to purchase more craft supplies   ARG

Earth Day Craft EASY

The beauty of this project is that no two will ever be alike! Every child’s creation will be completely unique. You can use this delicate but pretty recycled-crayon craft to teach children that the earth is also delicate and we need to look after it.

Be sure to visit our Earth day crafts, printables, online games and Earth day ideas page for more environmentally friendly fun.

What you'll need:

• Crayons in blue and green, brown and white are optional
• Scissors
• Wax paper
• Paper towel
• Iron
• String

How to make it:

1. Lay a piece of wax paper out flat on the work surface.
2. Use a drinking cup or other stencil to draw a circle on the wax paper.
3. Parents should shave the crayons using the blade on a pair of scissors or the edge of a knife.
4. Have your child place the different colored crayon shavings within the circle however they like. Blue for water, green and brown for land, white for cloud formations.
5. Cut a piece of string about twelve-inches long. Double the string over and place the open ends together, lay them onto the crayon shavings. When the shavings melt in the following steps, the string will be melded into the cooled crayon to form your hanger.
6. Place another piece of wax paper on top of the crayon shavings being careful not to disturb the shavings.
7. Place a piece of paper towel on top of the wax paper.
8. With iron on low setting, a grown up can apply heat to melt the crayon shavings. Allow it to cool completely.
9. Once cooled, use scissors to trim the creation into a circle, trimming off any excess if necessary. Be very careful not to cut your string!
10. Carefully peel off one side of the wax paper, then the other.
11. Hang in a window.

Tips:

• The finished project is very delicate. Use this opportunity to discuss how our Earth is delicate as well and we should treat it with respect by recycling, throwing away our trash (not littering!) and conserving energy by closing doors and turning off lights.
• If you prefer, you can leave one side of the wax paper on the project. This will help preserve it a little while longer and it will not be as vulnerable.
• Before making this project, have a suction cup hook already hanging in the window. That way you can immediately hang the project out of eager little hands that may accidentally break it!

I LOVE the website kaboose

DO YOUR FUCKING JOB

I realize getting paid minimum wage sucks and that many jobs that pay only minimum wage are tedious.

But when you applied did you tell them "oh by the way I will do the bare minimum and at times not even that because I am a lazy self absorbed asshole and I feel like I am justified to do this because I REALLY think I deserve MORE pay an hour (even though I have NEVER worked hard for it).

If you work at Mc Donalds get my fucking order right ok?  I order 3 fries for $3.00 and what ever else I order I am not able to handle it when I arrive home to starving children and a long day to dinner for SOME kids but not ALL the kids.... or fries for SOME of my kids but NOT ALL OF MY KIDS...I WANT ALL THE FRIES I ORDERED. INEED3. IORDERED3. GIVEME3.

If I go to Starbucks and order a tall non fat latte no foam THATSACTUALLYWHATIWANT. I want that latte to be made with non fat milk and a tall size and no foam because I want all the milk I paid for OK?

When I go to VONS I want you to be sure you look around after you bag my order and make sure you PUT EVERYTHING I bought IN my BAG! I need the toothpaste or toilet paper desperately and do not have the time or the energy to go back to this store tonight to retrieve what your missed and I don't want my kids using the washcloth or towel on the rack after they pee (and I can only pray they only use it once and then throw it in the laundry but I cant be sure....) its my business if I ran out of tp its your business to get the shit in my cart when I leave!

When I go to Einsteins Bagels and ask you ever so nicely "please cut the 6 bagels I cannot cut them myself, thank you so much".  And when I arrive home to 6 uncut bagels I want to fucking drive back to that fucking bagel store on Regents and run inside and shank you.

DOYOUFUCKINGJOB its not THAT hard.

DOIT

You are getting PAID if you CANT do your job for that pay QUIT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I mean really, this fucking city, state country, people what ever, you all suck. You generation F for fuckups DO your fucking job thats why you get paid at all.

Kids / Chores Responsibility

Someone please tell my daughters that:


1)  I am supposed to tell them how to do things correctly.


2) I am supposed to remind them to be responsible for themselves.


3) I am supposed to tell them to do a better job when i KNOW  they can. 


Please also tell them I do this because I AM A GOOD MOM not mean. That I am NOT supposed to be their friend but their guide, leader & mother. 

Oh one more thing could you please let them know that being part of a family means certain innate responsibilities towards the care and keeping of the family and home this is expressed in chores. This is not optional this is real life and when they grow up they will also have to clean their house, their kitchen, their bathroom (including the inside of the toilet) their own laundry, their car, their living room...well you get the idea. 


Any volunteers to do my communicating?


 Oh wait one more thing gratitude goes a long way.


PS this is my SHORT LIST

START AT THIS AGE FOLKS TRUST ME

Bad Mom

Why is it rationally, I KNOW I am a GOOD MOM.  But then something happens and emotionally I feel like a BAD MOM.

When a child does something normal like covet the possessions of others why cant I just use it as an opportunity for growth..and then LET IT GO....I mean I make it a grand lesson (with thanks from Professor Leslie Lewis) of learning how the other child would FEEL if they were to have their precious item taken. Lets say a generally kind and thoughtful 6 year old sees a toy she just has a HUGE impulse to take from a friends back pack and for what ever reason at that moment the nice child isn't able to resist the urge to take the toy even though her conscience is already nagging at her saying "this is probably bad and will lead to trouble" and she takes the toy.

Interestingly enough the child almost immediately feels guilty (this is a good thing) and turns the toy over to the teacher with out an explanation. So the impulse was too strong to resist yet the guilt was too strong to keep the toy and the self preservation and embarrassment prevents the child from fessing up to the teacher the details.

In comes GOOD MOM.  Mom speaks to teacher and is informed that the child gave the toy to the teacher but refused to explain where it came from.  Mom takes 30 seconds alone with child to ascertain the complete story and promptly takes child to the Vice Principal with whom she has the upmost respect for. VP handles it nicely talks about the pain it would cause the other child but also talks about giving the toy to the teacher was a right step in the process of making things right and telling truth to mom too was GOOD but lets say it now...stealing a toy from a classmate/friend is WRONG.

Mom takes child back to class and child immediately apologizes to classmate/friend.  The mom before leaving the child hugs her and tells her "I love you and while I am disappointed in the behavior I still feel you are a GOOD child and understand that urge to covet other peoples possessions. Lets work on ways to resist the impulse in the future like tugging your earlobe or stamping your feet a few times until the urge passes".

Child later that day suggests pretend pulling the bad idea in her head to do something "naughty" out of her ear next time. Cute. Mom feels like child gets message all is well. This is normal childhood shit.

Why do I feel like a BAD MOM.  Why do my emotions tell me "oh this incident means serious problems in the future" and "you should spend every minute of every day reviewing all parenting choices past and present to locate the BAD parenting and FIX it."

SHIT kids take things especially at the age of 6. The child had remorse and the mom handled it beautifully....but yet...I still feel like a BAD MOM. My head is NOT MY FRIEND.

The Mess ... Again

repost because I love this one:

The Mess

The mess in my house is NOT a means of defining me
The mess in my house is inevitable
The mess in my house comes back 1 hour after I clean
The mess in my house is every where
The mess in my house does not reflect poorly on my parenting

The mess in my house does NOT mean I am stupid
The mess in my house does NOT mean I am lame
The mess in my house does NOT mean I am lazy
The mess in my house does NOT mean I am piggish

The mess in my house is organic

The mess in my house is because my kids play
The mess in my house is because they play often
The mess in my house is because they eat
The mess in my house is because they are free with their fun and food
(snacks only, meals are at table)
The mess in my house is because I am busy with the girls too busy to clean everyday
The mess in my house is because I am busy caring for me everyday
The mess in my house is because I love my family too much to clean all the time
The mess in my house is because we are off on adventures to playgrounds,
Sea World, the Zoo, play dates, finding bugs, rainbow walks *, riding bikes, scooters and rollerblades (ok most of those are with dad)

The mess in my house is just a mess it comes and goes and when I look back on their childhoods I don't want to remember a clean house I want to remember the smiles, the "mommy you are the greatest" the smell of sun on their skin, the smell of them after a bath, the chatter at the dinner table the screams at the pool.

So, please come over, have fun with us, don't judge me because my house is messy be happy for me for letting go in fact maybe be inspired by my letting go too. Don't think bad thoughts about me and my mess because me and my mess are starting to get along and I don't want to mess that up.

Snuggles

Dearest Moms,


Snuggle as much as possible. Every time my girls ask me to read a book I try never to say no! I always ask them each and every day to come cuddle me for 10 minutes (hopefully longer).


I LOVE to lay and talk to London about her wishes for things like every piece of clothing she touches from Justice and I love to have my 11 year old tell me how she hates oil companies and how people are stupid and ruin our earth and how she will change that and how she tries to now by educating her friends and family...I love to ask my 5 year old about her day and what she dreams about and my awesome teenager is always eager to update me on her school schedule, social outings and friend gossip.


Recently my daughter scolded some acquaintances severely with regards to alcohol abuse and we are just SO DAMN PROUD OF HER!


Its really truly the best thing ever to assist these little beings in developing into intelligent, considerate, conscientious human beings responsible for their own actions and how they affect other people.


Its so amazing to remember they are not MINE they are just allowing me to guide them and keep them as safe as meant to be on their 

Back to School

Fuck me

If I would have known the logistics of having 4 kids to get ready for back to school I am unclear as to wether I would have had 4 kids...OF COURSE I wouldn't change anything now and I love and adore them so all you scoffers shut up thats not what I am saying.  Its just no one warned me or explained to me all the appointments and money you need to spend to have healthy, seemingly happy children of various ages!

Ok so in August we have 4 pediatrician well check up appointments and they are all AT LEAST 45 minutes because the doctor is never on  time and each kids has to be asked certain questions and do certain tests. I try and book all 3 young ones the same day in a row so I don't have to take out 3 days of doctor appointments just one day is ruined. So while we are there the girls are madly bored and of course misbehave making me appear to be the LAST adult on earth who should have bred 4 times!  We have THE BEST PEDIATRICIAN if you want contact info email me!

THEN I take the teenager to her appointment but this year she went on her own WHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!

Now we are at the dentist portion of August.  Again I insanely book all 4 girls same day so I only have one rotten day of whining and complaining.  Our dentist is awesome and she gets us in and out fast (possibly because she has 5 kids and can relate!).  Dr Dixon's office in Sorrento Valley we see Kim Sauer DDS.

Then 2 have to get ortho dontist appointments and of course they HAD to be at 2 different offices so thats 2 separate days of ortho appointments and trying to NOT take the other 2 little ones on either day posses a babysitting issue.

THEN all 4 have the eye doctor to see......you getting the idea? 4 more appointments.

DONT FORGET that every year at least 2 need papers filled out at the pediatrician and dentists office before school.....

One is entering middle school so I have to go to the school 2 times. Once to pick up papers and fill them out and another day to see school and get her schedule and picture taken.  One is headed to Kindergarten and so I have to enroll her one day and go back another day for Kinder orientation and classroom/teacher visit.  Thats 4 more days in August.

Now comes the expense:  new shoes 1 pair per girls $200+, socks  (haven't bought yet but I imagine for all 4 girls $100), panties ($7 a pair for some $10 a pair for some and $10 for 5 for little ones = $150)....1 new outfit for each girl ($200), 3 backpacks ($130) and 3 new lunch boxes ($60)...that doesn't include ANY school supplies which I will have to purchase after the first week of school.

OH and I left out a $30 co pay for EVERY doctor appointment....$400

TOTAL COST FOR BACK TO SCHOOL for 4 daughters - around $1200

Feel my pain yet?


Kids that made me a card yesterday cause I didn't feel good that calls me the best mom and made me look thin PRICELESS


Wouldn't change a thing I swear its pretty damn cool to see all I CAN do for them!


If you ask me "How many could should I have Erika?" I'd say 5!

Wow I learned how to help save the earth SO SIMPLY

HOLY CRAP

http://www.tappedthemovie.com/

So many of us WANT to do the right thing...eat healthier, 

save the earth, waste less, help others....I think a SMALL percent

of US do want to DO good but dont know how or when and feel over whelmed.

If thats you then start by watching TAPPED and NEVER BUY 

ANOTHER plastic disposable water bottle again. Its THAT SIMPLE!

  

Dear Pedestrians

....fuck off.

DO NOT WALK DOWN the middle of the DAMN driveway isle at the grocery store or mall do as you are supposed to and stay to the right!

AND If you are too STUPID or TOO LAZY to cross at the light or stop sign 50 feet further and you must cross the street randomly WAIT until I pass.  Don't you DARE walk out in the middle look at me and then expect me to stop for your fuggly ass.

I DONT CARE IF IN CALIFORNIA the "pedestrian has the right of way" that ONLY counts when you are at an intersection NOT RANDOM street crosses.

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE you are ignorant people not paying attention to your environment because you are shallow and stupid and always thinking about yourself in your head.

I am from Philly near the tri-state area and I ~*~ WILL ~*~ run your ass down and make you scoot.

and one more thing PARENTS keep you damn kids to the side when you are walking down isles too and teach them not to dart out.  I wont hit them though I promise.

and JUST wait for my rant about the bad kids at the grocery store and the BAD adults.

PS Vanessa its ok to be  in a bad mood and if anyone takes it soooo personally it ruins their day then screw em they are so self centered to even think its all about them.

Read rEad reAd reaD - relax

I was angry the other day when I arrived home from my brainless part time job at a local grocery store (because I couldn't make the numbers for life insurance agent) and I was bombarded by a 5 year old asking for a popsicle AS I ENTER THE FRONT DOOR...the 7 year old is complaining to me I haven't bought her anything or given her any presents recently, my 11 year old simply wanted to show me something cool on youtube and my 17 yr old who knows she just started jabbering at me....my husband was upstairs it was 1pm and NO one had had lunch.....Needless to say I was pissed.

I start making lunch in my work uniform (not cute) and my husband comes downstairs and tells me he has heard that taking a minute or two for mediation can reset your bad mood......


MAYBE THAT WASNT THE BEST TIME FOR SUCH GOOD ADVICE.

I managed a sarcastic smile and said "thanks honey I bet thats true".

Even the best advice and the most correct advice can be received badly at times.


Please take a minute when you are NOT already pissed and click here HERE

To Shop or Not To Shop

Help.

I want cute expensive jeans and purses and shoes.

I also want to buy only recycled items to STOP this consumerism.


The Story of Stuff














ok so I shop at second hand stores and our family recycles all it can. I am PROUD to say that it takes 4 weeks to FILL my garbage can but only 1 week to fill our recycle bin.

We have taught the girls it is a mortal sin to litter and smoke.

But I want my house to look like the inside of a Pottery Barn Store and that shits hard to find used in decent condition.

We do have one big car (need to seat 6 and some friends) that uses WAY too much gas but the other car is small.

We get almost ALL the girls clothes hand-me-downs.  Shoes are pretty much the only thing we buy for them new that and bathing suits every summer.

We have a compost bin we try to use with worms in it eating our food scraps (no meat please).

We do not wrap birthday presents. We only reuse gift bags or paper in the house the girls decorate themselves.

We eat mostly organic non GMA foods.....
anything else you can suggest please (no room for a garden).

What do YOU DO?

I said NO

  Seriously. 


  A working mom is a f*cking saint but a SINGLE working mom is basically God on earth. Is that blasphemy? I am currently NEITHER (not a working mom or a single working mom) and not due to any of my choices.
  I tried working about 35 hours a week for 16 weeks...yup thats a mere 4 months people. The most important part of that is I have a saint husband so it wasn't that hard except when one of the kids would get sick.  I also noticed I cared less about what I fed them for dinner and more about getting some decent sleep to face the next day.
  More about that another day....this ranting post is to be start about the parents who are wusses.


YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!


You cannot say no, and when you try you only give in later which merely reinforces the bad behavior.


Moms: you NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH. If your child is  being a brat in public and you threaten to take away either tv or a after dinner treat THEN DO IT.  If you don't your rotten child will continue to disturb the rest of the world then grow up and be a criminal, shoot out an office of x - coworkers or steal cause they feel they deserve MORE.

I mean seriously AT WHAT POINT did us parents born 1965-1975 feel the need to swing the discipline pendulum SO far the other way? I get harsh spankings and shoving and slapping didnt really work all that great neither did the FINISH WHATS ON YOUR PLATE OR ELSE...nor did liver and mushrooms ever really go over well for me...but HEY nuggets and mac n cheese every night is too far! Asking your kid to do their homework begging them to eat? COME ON


WHY ARENT PEOPLES KIDS SAYING THANK YOU ALL THE TIME OR PLEASE AND WHY ARENT THEY LOOKING ME IN THE EYE when they talk to me? WHY doesn't your kids answer me when I say hello and why dont you make them when they don't?


REMARKS FROM TEACHERS:


"Believe me, when they start making an appearance in my world, they do. And you are right, teachers are the new parents. We are also the nurses, councilors, therapists, whatever. Forget reading, writing and math, we have to teach them everything!!!"


"We are raising your kids because YOU aren't"

12 best & Worst

Twelve "worst" and "best" non-organic produce items

If you'd like to keep pesticides and their residues off of your dinner plate, your best bet is a diet based on organic foods. Of
course, that's easier said than done if you live in an area where organic food is hard to find or prohibitively expensive. In that
case, what's a concerned consumer to do? Well, you could serve antidotes for dessert... but we think this is better: a list of
the 12 least contaminated types of produce published by the Environmental Working Group.

According to the Environmental Working Group, when it comes
to conventionally-grown produce, these are the 12 cleanest
kinds you can buy:

Twelve "cleanest non-organic foods"

• Asparagus • Avocados • Bananas • Broccoli • Cauliflower • Corn (sweet) AVOID: Probably Genetically Modified • Kiwi • Mangos • Onions • Papaya • Pineapples • Peas (sweet)

We don't recommend basing your diet solely on this list, but it's a
good healthy start towards meals that won't kill your appetite.
Since the EWG reports that more than half of our total dietary
risk from pesticides comes from just 12 foods:

Tweleve "RISKIEST foods

• Apples • Bell Peppers • Celery • Cherries • Imported Grapes • Nectarines • Peaches • Pears • Potatoes • Red Raspberries • Spinach • Strawberries

avoiding these foods for the most part, substituting from the clean list above, and eating organic and/or homegrown produce whenever possible can substantially cut down on your exposure to pesticides. When choosing foods from the above list, however, keep in mind that corn and sweet potatoes are among
those foods most likely to have been genetically modified. When
it comes to these two types of produce, consumers concerned
about GM foods as well will definitely want to seek out organic
alternatives to assure themselves of further safety.

 

credit to: http://www.living-foods.com/articles/twelvelist.html

employee mother friend daughter and more

I am so happy to be working. It has been a while since I have been able or willing to post.  The girls all started school September and then I started my new job the first week of October.  I can hardly express in type how rewarding and how hard it is to be a working mom.

I love sales so thats what I am doing.

I love my children so I am mommy-ing too.

I still have to find time for friends and family which I thoroughly enjoy.

This is a problem when one considers I require a minimum 8 hours sleep EVERY night to function in a non abusive way towards others.

This leaves 16 hours left in the day to do it all.  8 of which are WORKING so that leaves 8 to get kids ready in the morning and pick them up at night and care for them at night.....well unless you take out commuting that takes away another 1 at least 30 minutes in the am and 30 in the pm.... that leaves 7 but the kids go to bed at 8pm so really you have only a couple hours after work before bed to do IT ALL....Get up at 6am make coffee get kids fed and take them to school.  Go to work at 8-9 am start the day....watch phone for any calls form various schools to be ready for emergencies and hope your boss has kids so he/she will have some understanding of such situations....work work work......go pick up kids....get home start homeowkr...make dinner.....bath them, clip nails, brush hair, brush teeth, floss...read to little ones...have sex go to sleep.

Notice there is NO time for reading or tv for the mom......oh and most days I forget to do one load of laundry so o Sundays I have 12 loads.

Being a stay at home mom was the best and I will forever be grateful to my awesome husband the only man who supported that for me.  He is a super worker, super dad and super husband. NO woman can be a some what sane stay at home mother if her husband doesn't understand the sheer insanity of not getting paid, never having completed a job (cleaning, feeding kids, dishes and laundry are never completed therefor you never really feel like you have accomplished anything real) and never getting more than 5 minute intervals to yourself.



AM I a bit frazzled?  Yes.  AM I HAPPY?  Yes.

more to come