All Blog Posts Tagged 'daughters' - Mom Bloggers Club2016-12-09T16:40:26Zhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profiles/blog/feed?tag=daughters&xn_auth=noCelebrating My Growing Tweentag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2016-10-01:988554:BlogPost:17379242016-10-01T00:00:00.000ZKellihttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/Kelli947
<p>These past few years have been so fueled by angst, change and growing pains; that I haven’t embraced this age for the beauty that it is.  I’ve spent more time mourning the loss of the little-ness that is slowly disappearing than celebrating my growing tween.  In just over a month she turns 10, she hits double digits.  It doesn’t sound that old, I know.  But trust me, it’s significant.  The battles have begun over stealing my shoes, wearing lip gloss to school and shaving legs . . .  the list goes…</p>
<p>These past few years have been so fueled by angst, change and growing pains; that I haven’t embraced this age for the beauty that it is.  I’ve spent more time mourning the loss of the little-ness that is slowly disappearing than celebrating my growing tween.  In just over a month she turns 10, she hits double digits.  It doesn’t sound that old, I know.  But trust me, it’s significant.  The battles have begun over stealing my shoes, wearing lip gloss to school and shaving legs . . .  the list goes on.  Just as her baby teeth wiggle and fall away, so do the moments of her childhood.  More than half of her teeth are adult.  That hardly makes her mature, but like sand in an hourglass, it’s a visual reminder.</p>
<p>Today I’m <span><em>Celebrating my Growing Tween</em></span>.  I’m celebrating the amazing young lady she’s becoming and the changes that come with our bond.  She is slowly becoming less of my ankle biter side kick and more my lifelong companion.  One day she will be my adult daughter giving me advice.  I’m not going to say that I see the light at the end of the tunnel but I plan to enjoy it as much as I can.</p>
<p>We are starting to have more in common.  She digs better TV!  And books!  I no longer have to feign my excitement for crap kid TV.  She loves Shark Tank, Fixer Upper, Blackish, The Goldberg’s and Stranger Things.  She’s becoming less of someone I have to coddle and more of someone I take notice of.</p>
<p><a href="http://crazyeverafter.com/celebrating-my-growing-tween/" target="_blank">Read Full Post Here- - -</a></p>Fountain of Freedomtag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2016-03-01:988554:BlogPost:16918262016-03-01T15:26:07.000ZMamaMadHatterhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MamaMadHatter
<div align="left"><span><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/n0ZLLK3clS5h4PFGa97EAJdBCwmuzn2Cw2iXpggFkAPyIiL*kYMRH3otZBkjsNCk6p2LbIObt-bsOn4dnnPsmJn-4BnmXtZU/IMG_3219.JPG" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/n0ZLLK3clS5h4PFGa97EAJdBCwmuzn2Cw2iXpggFkAPyIiL*kYMRH3otZBkjsNCk6p2LbIObt-bsOn4dnnPsmJn-4BnmXtZU/IMG_3219.JPG?width=300" width="300"></img></a> Wildly flying down the street, wind in hair, wheels on fire, </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>I knew then that life wouldn't be easy</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>with you.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span> </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>Screeching to a sudden stop, tires…</span></div>
<div align="left"><span><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/n0ZLLK3clS5h4PFGa97EAJdBCwmuzn2Cw2iXpggFkAPyIiL*kYMRH3otZBkjsNCk6p2LbIObt-bsOn4dnnPsmJn-4BnmXtZU/IMG_3219.JPG" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/n0ZLLK3clS5h4PFGa97EAJdBCwmuzn2Cw2iXpggFkAPyIiL*kYMRH3otZBkjsNCk6p2LbIObt-bsOn4dnnPsmJn-4BnmXtZU/IMG_3219.JPG?width=300" width="300" class="align-full"/></a>Wildly flying down the street, wind in hair, wheels on fire, </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>I knew then that life wouldn't be easy</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>with you.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span> </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>Screeching to a sudden stop, tires smoking, mid- construction zone, doors flung wide open,</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>we laughed as we struggled to shove the heavy, awkward, orange rubber cones</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>into the white two-door three-cylinder compact car we’d dubbed "the snail. "</span></div>
<div align="left"><span> </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>Water rushing over the bras we left dangling on the fountain statue in the park</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>declaring our mark of freedom and feminism to the world, </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>Jumping the fence to skinny dip under the full moonlight,</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>holding our breath underwater,</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>until we felt our lungs would burst,</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>we waited for the security guard to pass by on his nightly check.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span><br/> <strong><span>You were the epitome of coolness,</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="left"><span>all that I wanted to emulate -</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>the girl who lived free,</span></div>
<div align="left"><span><span>like life wasn't full of unexpected surprises and bad news waiting around every bend.</span> </span></div>
<div align="left"><span><br/> <strong><span>And then you became a statistic.</span></strong></span></div>
<div align="left"><span>Teen pregnancy consumed you, swallowed you whole and spit you back out.  </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>Suddenly you were unrecognizable to me.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>Once brazen, emboldened by life</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>now you seemed humble, meek,</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>an evening shadow of the girl you used to be.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span> </span></div>
<div align="left"><span><span><strong>We parted ways,</strong> </span><br/> you to follow your soul towards the mountains<br/> while I drifted into a community of cult misfits</span></div>
<div align="left"><span>that would forever change my universe.</span></div>
<div align="left"><span> </span></div>
<div align="left"><strong><span>Much older now, two decades gone by,</span></strong></div>
<div align="left"><span>I have daughters of my own </span></div>
<div align="left"><span>and when I pass by that fountain we adorned with our fiery, unbridled youth, </span></div>
<div align="left"><strong><em><span><span>I smile and am thankful for those wild days</span><span>....</span></span></em></strong></div>
<div align="left"> </div>Stop dreaming of ball gowns and start dreaming of power suitstag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-09-15:988554:BlogPost:16422462015-09-15T10:29:21.000ZLauren Markmanhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LaurenMarkman
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Sometimes I ask my friends what they wanted to be when they grew up.  The answers are always beautiful, and I think that if we all followed our dreams, the world would be filled with more fire fighters, ballerinas and a variety of amazing circus acts (but thankfully, no clowns).…</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Sometimes I ask my friends what they wanted to be when they grew up.  The answers are always beautiful, and I think that if we all followed our dreams, the world would be filled with more fire fighters, ballerinas and a variety of amazing circus acts (but thankfully, no clowns).</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwG1wpsJ4xM/VWIe7x7c8XI/AAAAAAAAAyU/NdFKwf6KjqE/s1600/ballet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NwG1wpsJ4xM/VWIe7x7c8XI/AAAAAAAAAyU/NdFKwf6KjqE/s400/ballet.jpg" height="277" border="0" width="400"/></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">But we live in the real world, which needs accountants more than it needs cowboys and female CEOs more than princesses, which is why we need to work on changing our daughter's dreams.</span></div>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">The Family Wealth Advisers Council recently studied breadwinning women and found that the one trait they all had in common was that <a href="http://time.com/money/4017253/raising-daughters-working-women/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">they dreamed of having successful careers when they were young</a>.  The survey found that very few of the women included in the results dreamed about being the higher income earner in their families.  So even though these women dreamed of having successful careers, they still believed that a man would out earn them.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">This survey could have large implications on the future: We should encourage our daughters to think of themselves as successful CEOs instead of prom queens, and let them know that it's OK to dream about being a princess, but we should all strive to be the type of princess who can save herself.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">What did you want to be when you were young?  <a href="http://ididntlisten.blogspot.com/2015/09/stop-dreaming-of-ball-gowns-and-start.html" target="_blank">Tell me in the comments</a>.</span></p>When I grow up, I want to be a...tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-05-04:988554:BlogPost:15968242015-05-04T10:37:57.000ZLauren Markmanhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LaurenMarkman
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">My son is practicing for his graduation.  There are some songs and a skit that his class is doing, and part of the skit features the children saying what they want to be when they grow up.  This is particularly funny to me, as my son changes his mind constantly:</span><br></br> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br></br></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Monday: When I grow up, I want to be a…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">My son is practicing for his graduation.  There are some songs and a skit that his class is doing, and part of the skit features the children saying what they want to be when they grow up.  This is particularly funny to me, as my son changes his mind constantly:</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Monday: When I grow up, I want to be a scientist.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Tuesday: When I grow up, I want to be one of Mommy's coworkers (awwww!)</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Wednesday: When I grow up, I want to be a race car driver.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Thursday: When I grow up, I want to be a space explorer.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Friday: When I grow up, I want to be a policeman.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWI1MqNuFoE/VUYeRTvYSrI/AAAAAAAAAuc/VB5LAqxBufA/s1600/light.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pWI1MqNuFoE/VUYeRTvYSrI/AAAAAAAAAuc/VB5LAqxBufA/s1600/light.jpg" border="0" height="327" width="400"/></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I wonder how the practice in other households is going - if other children are giving different answers every few days or if they have settled on their go-to answer (at least for the purposes of the skit).  And after reading <a href="http://www.pwemag.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1679/Outdated_stereotypes__restricts_girls_92_futures.html" rel="nofollow">this study by the Institute of Engineering and Technology</a>, I wonder how those conversations are going for households with little girls.  According to that study, parents are not encouraging their daughters to pursue careers in engineering, despite an uptick in girls' preferences for science, technology, engineering and math subjects in school.  Instead, parents have reported that their daughters will probably pursue careers in education, healthcare or the arts.</span></div>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">My husband and I have really enjoyed adding a bit more <a href="http://ididntlisten.blogspot.com/2014/04/experimental-mommy.html">science</a>, <a href="http://ididntlisten.blogspot.com/2015/04/adding-up-little-things.html">math</a> and computing skills into our son's daily life.  And he has already astounded us with that little nudge. ( Watching him write addition problems on the bathtub walls with his bath crayons is both adorable and wonderful.)  But the more I've thought about my son's list of professions, the more I've realized that I know very little about what a career in engineering looks like.  So, that is something to add to my list of things we need to explore together.  I'd like to learn how to pique his interest in that, too. ( And does it involve Legos?  My son is very into Legos...)</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">All this nudging on our side isn't intended to be pressure.  Our job is to just expose our son to lots of different areas of the world and let him try something new.  In the meantime, as he practices for his graduation ceremony, I've reminded him that he doesn't have to pick a career now - there is plenty of time for him to decide.  For now, he just has to remember that he'll always be my son - even when he is all grown up.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br/></span> <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">What do you want to be when you grow up?  <a href="http://ididntlisten.blogspot.com/2015/05/when-i-grow-up-i-want-to-be-a.html" target="_blank">Tell me in the comments</a>.</span></p>What my pageant experiences will teach my daughterstag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-11-14:988554:BlogPost:15329272014-11-14T16:23:45.000ZDenise LaRosahttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/DeniseLaRosa
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/E6-J*b1OZQPHHi0x1KbU5s2vXtO399kN0q6OzLyjyUFHysKZf3Gusv3pZRprGsULfUQr0fMfU6-v56jN2fl-OfEtd879NxsO/pageant.jpg" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/E6-J*b1OZQPHHi0x1KbU5s2vXtO399kN0q6OzLyjyUFHysKZf3Gusv3pZRprGsULfUQr0fMfU6-v56jN2fl-OfEtd879NxsO/pageant.jpg?width=300" width="300"></img></a> I wasn't one of those Toddlers and Tiaras girls.  Instead, my pageant journey began at the ripe old age of 11.  There were sign-ups for the 1st annual (and what would be the last) Little Miss Greenbrier pageant and I was ready to literally dig my heels in the pageant scene.  <br></br><span><br></br><span>My mom played it cool.…</span></span></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/E6-J*b1OZQPHHi0x1KbU5s2vXtO399kN0q6OzLyjyUFHysKZf3Gusv3pZRprGsULfUQr0fMfU6-v56jN2fl-OfEtd879NxsO/pageant.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/E6-J*b1OZQPHHi0x1KbU5s2vXtO399kN0q6OzLyjyUFHysKZf3Gusv3pZRprGsULfUQr0fMfU6-v56jN2fl-OfEtd879NxsO/pageant.jpg?width=300" width="300"/></a> I wasn't one of those Toddlers and Tiaras girls.  Instead, my pageant journey began at the ripe old age of 11.  There were sign-ups for the 1st annual (and what would be the last) Little Miss Greenbrier pageant and I was ready to literally dig my heels in the pageant scene.  <br/><span><br/><span>My mom played it cool.  She totally let it be my decision.  Once she realized I was serious about it, she started teaching me what she knew from her own days in pageantry.  She taught me how to walk and pose.  We rehearsed the question/answer portion of the pageant, you know, the usual stuff.<br/><span><br/><span>I didn't become Little Miss Greenbrier.  In fact, I didn't even place, and that was ok by me.  After all, I got to strut around stage in a pretty gown and have my big brother escort me.  In my mind, I had won by having a fun experience.  <br/><span><br/><span>As I got older, I aspired to become a lot of things - a college student, teacher, journalist, singer, dancer and Miss Fireworks!  Miss Fireworks reigned supreme over the largest 4th of July celebration in the state of West Virginia and it was right in my hometown!  Who needed to become Miss America when she could be Miss Fireworks and in charge of things like leading the parade, setting off the first firework and picking up rubber duckies from the river in the Rubber Ducky race?!<br/><span><br/><span>My first year in the Miss Fireworks pageant landed me in 2nd place and Miss Congeniality, and I was estacic!  I had even screwed up the question, which was about my thoughts on then President Bill Clinton's impeachment.  I started spouting out an answer I had rehearsed (We got a list of questions ahead of time.)  and I totally forgot the rest.  After a moment of brief silence (which seemed like forever) and a few stumbles, I collected myself and kept it real by giving a genuine, non-rehearsed answer.  Lesson learned!<br/><span><br/><span>The next year was even more exciting.  I earned 1st place and couldn't have been happier!  I was much more relaxed this time around and continued to have fun with the dance routines and enjoyed hanging out with my friends.  For two years in a row, I got to enjoy most of the perks Miss Fireworks partakes in such as the parade and banquets.<br/><span><br/><span>Third time's a charm, right?  WRONG!  Everything was business as usual.  I picked my wardrobe, started rehearsals and other preparations for pageant day.  There was just one little difference.  I had been playing around with different hairstyles and decided to wear a curly weave this time around instead of sporting my own hair.  It was quite obvious that I was wearing a weave and therefore I thought no more of it.  <br/><span><br/><span>Pageant day arrived.  I got a strange vibe from the judges from the very beginning.  One judge said, "Nice hair." " Uh, thanks," I said, thinking that was a strange remark for a judge to make.  Another judge kept calling me, "Holly." " I'm Denise Lewis," I kept saying.  Then came time for the stage stuff.  It was so weird because the judges wouldn't even look at me. " What the heck is going on" I thought while donning a smile on my face.  Other than the weird behavior of the judges, I must say it was the absolute best pageant performance I had done up to that point, especially whenever it came to the question/answer segment.  I was asked, "What was the best advice you've ever been given and who gave it to you?"  My response was, "The best advice I've ever been given was given to me by my grandmother, Hattie Hopkins, and that is to put God first in everything you do and the rest will fall into place."  The crowd went wild.  More importantly, I felt humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to share something so important to me.<br/><span><br/><span>The big moment arrived!  Who was going to be Miss Fireworks 2000?!  3rd place was announced.  It wasn't me.  2nd place.  Not me.  1st place...NOT ME!  I scanned the crowd and it seemed like everyone, and I mean everyone was looking at me.  People were giving me a thumbs up; the contestant next to me grabbed my hand and said, "It's you." ..." And Miss Fireworks 2000 is......." NOT ME!!!!!!!  What?!  What happened?!<br/><span><br/><span>I totally fell apart.  Not just because I didn't win, but because I felt like it was a personal attack. " What did I do wrong?" " What did the judges not like about me?"  I later heard through the grapevine that I had been "disqualified" for wearing a weave.  So, you let me go through the entire pageant knowing I was disqualified AND I was "disqualified" for something that wasn't even a pageant rule?  Yeah, that all makes perfect sense.  <br/><span><span><br/><span>I went on to win a local pageant in the Miss America system, a pageant of much more prestige than Miss Fireworks, by pageant standards.  I became Miss Four Seasons and the pageant had two additional segments that Miss Fireworks lacked - talent and the dreaded swim suit competition.  The pageant took me on to Miss West Virginia where I earned a total of about $2,500 in scholarships for my academic achievements.  <br/><span><br/><span>My experience in the Miss America system put me on the fast track to doing pageant after pageant, with little success.  Finally, I retired my evening gowns and swimsuits because I had learned some valuable lessons, lessons that I vowed to impart upon my daughter(s) should I have any girls.<br/><span><br/><span>Well, God has blessed me with two daughters.  I will never "put" them in a pageant; it will be their choice.  If one or both of them choose to compete in pageants, I will make it my duty to share with them the invaluable lessons I learned about myself and life in general.  In fact, I promise to make these lessons a part of the fabric of their upbringing regardless of their decision to compete in pageants.  <br/><span><br/><span>1.  Never judge your worth by what other people think of you.<br/><span>2.  Beauty comes in all shades, shapes and sizes.<br/><span>3.  You are perfect just the way God made you.<br/><span>4.  It's not about winning "things," like titles and crowns; it's about winning hearts by being a genuinely nice person.<br/><span>5.  No matter what you accomplish in life, stay humble and always strive to be the best YOU that you can be.  <br/><span><br/><span>I look back at those pageant days and laugh at things that had once made me cry.  When you experience all that life has to offer - it's many ups and downs - experiences like pageants seem so small.  But I encourage you to reflect on all of those "small" things that were once big things in your life, and try to find the lessons buried beneath the memories.  Those lessons will be invaluable to your children!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>6 Tips For Mothers Of Teenage Girlstag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2013-11-25:988554:BlogPost:14682192013-11-25T17:54:31.000ZMarie Summershttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MarieSummers
<p>Years ago when my daughter was 10, I realized that my relationship with my daughter was much smoother and easier than that of the average or typical relationship.  Yes!  I said easier.  I have always been told, wait for it, things will change as soon as she’s a teenager.</p>
<p>Fast forward to age 14, the biggest challenge for myself was that she thought she was “ugly” because she has always been very tall for her age.  Those feelings quickly changed after she became more involved in sports.…</p>
<p>Years ago when my daughter was 10, I realized that my relationship with my daughter was much smoother and easier than that of the average or typical relationship.  Yes!  I said easier.  I have always been told, wait for it, things will change as soon as she’s a teenager.</p>
<p>Fast forward to age 14, the biggest challenge for myself was that she thought she was “ugly” because she has always been very tall for her age.  Those feelings quickly changed after she became more involved in sports.  Academically she has always excelled so there was never an issue there.  As for friends it was hard at first because she went from a Christian private schoo<a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/e3fQE5OJ*STvQfQqX006pIgKtICkFH5jx0AvCjgAcL9nD3Zj6rexhI5V9xHkLWJHr*gGNd4eOJoibB8nSLBOFeF4VtaAJnW2/MotherTeenDaughterAfricanAmerican.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/e3fQE5OJ*STvQfQqX006pIgKtICkFH5jx0AvCjgAcL9nD3Zj6rexhI5V9xHkLWJHr*gGNd4eOJoibB8nSLBOFeF4VtaAJnW2/MotherTeenDaughterAfricanAmerican.jpg?width=250" width="250"/></a>l to one of the top public academic schools.</p>
<p>Again that didn’t last long and she became well-known for her smiling face and warm heart.  My home became the home of 4 of friends until they all graduated.  My daughter being the youngest to graduate at 17 was the tutor for her friends.  She is my only child and my full time job.  I was active in all things that she was involved in and created a space for her to be an individual at the same time.</p>
<p>You may be wondering why am I telling you all of this, well I will detail key points that has kept my bond with my daughter so strong to this day at the age of 19.</p>
<p>1.  Show her you trust her, don’t just tell her</p>
<p>Believe it or not but you can have a bond so strong with your daughter that she doesn’t have to say anything for you know that there is something.  My daughter has been able to be on Facebook with her friends from school.  All I ask is that I have the password.  I never checked behind her but when she was being approached by a grown man she immediately told me and asked me if I saw his messages.  I said no, I hadn’t I never used her password.  I believe that level of trust that she realized I had for her made us closer.  Now she talks to me about everything and I mean everything.  Nothing is off limits, I allow her to approach me and talk.  I never try to force her, I have always told her when she is ready to talk I’m here no matter what.</p>
<p>2.  How to cope with PMS</p>
<p>This time of month is a good time to for me to show my daughter that I understand.  I don’t put any pressure on her about anything.  I guess this applies especially if your daughter has a terrible time.  I allow her to rest and be in own space.  She loves to read, so I go and get her a book or two.  We have an amazingly funny sense of humor so I pick my times to make her laugh.  I allow her to as she says “invade” my space.  I love it when at 17 she still wants to lay with me and be my little girl, so I welcome her.</p>
<p>3.  Teach her to speak up and be direct about what she wants.</p>
<p>Most people assume that only young ladies that have bad attitudes will speak up, but the truth is that all young ladies have the ability and as mothers we have to let them hear their voice.  When my daughter was about 16 I allowed her to have some input in making decisions about the things that involved us a family unit.  Why?  I have tried to the best of my ability to prepare her for a possible life without me because of my illness.  Honestly, nothing can prepare you for the loss of your mother, the truth is we all want to go before our babies but none of us do much in the way of teaching them early about how to truly be responsible for themselves in case the unthinkable happens.</p>
<p>4.  Allow her to make mistakes.</p>
<p>No one knows everything, so making mistakes especially when she is young will teach to think twice before she does the same thing when she is older.  I never lecture my daughter, communicate with her and get her perceived perception of the situation.  She has told me that we have talked so much over the years that she refers back to those things to make her decisions a lot of times.  Know that the last thing she wants t do is disappoint you or get hurt.  Trying to stick to the old logic of well I’ll just scare her so she won’t do it, does not work on “our” girls today.  They have been exposed to far too much so therefore if you say don’t, it translates to her as, I should.  By allowing her to make her mistakes and realize them for they are will only make her a stronger and wiser as she becomes a woman.  Trust that all that you have taught her is still there readily available for download.</p>
<p>5.  The BIG talk.</p>
<p>I have never met a mother that is not afraid of talking to their daughter about sex.  Well as uncomfortable as you feel, you make your daughter just as uncomfortable.  So the best thing to do is to start the conversation as early as possible, like 5 years or older.  I have been talking to my daughter about her body and the male anatomy since she was 5.  I took full advantage of the fact that I home schooled her as well as sent her to school to benefit my parenting.  It was like health class 101 and beyond as she got older and her body changed.  By doing this the hormone changes was the most interesting because it gave me a chance to really get dept with her about why she feels the way she does and to let her know that it is normal and okay.  Also how important it is for her to take care of herself first, to love herself and that her body is her body.</p>
<p>6.  The importance of Self-esteem and Self-love</p>
<p>In this day and age the only way to get away from the media and stereotypes is to be, blind and deaf.  So that means that your daughter needs to know from you “mom” that she is beautiful just the way she is, she is a masterpiece.  That we are all created different, uniquely beautiful for a reason.  Helping her to build her self-esteem and self-love is extremely important to how she presents herself to the world.  It can make or break her in the way of limiting her abilities for fear of a false ideology of her body image that she has learned outside the home.  Be that voice, that role model that supports her being her!</p>
<p>I wrote this thinking about my relationship with my daughter and how we are right now today.  She is in college doing well and being such a responsible young lady.  I’m so very proud to be her mother.  I have since started to hold small seminars for mothers that have asked me questions about how I built the bond and have such a close “friendship” and still maintain the authority as her mother?  I simply say I’m her mother not her warden.  The truth is our babies are gifts to us to raise and nurture them to best of our ability.</p>
<p>The rules that applied to us still apply to daughters but to be successful you have to tweak them and bring them up to date.  As a child I was not exposed to the level of technology, violence in school and out, lack of empathy, lack of respect that is becoming common place today.  I never sugar coat the world to my daughter or lie to her about the world.  It’s impossible to keep your daughter from the terrible messages that sublimely sent out.  What you can do and have the power to do is allow her to see things as they are, to prepare her and guide her thinking before you send her free into the world.</p>
<p>Life lessons are learned today at such early ages that there is really no limit to the information that is available via the net, your best defense is to be there when it comes up and trust that she will bring it to you before anyone else.  </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>The Mid-Parenting Crisistag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-07-01:988554:BlogPost:12711092012-07-01T21:20:43.000ZBrandy Burkehttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/BrandyBurke
<p>I'm brainstorming here.  I'd like this to be well thought out resonating post of parenting rationalization but the truth is that I'm sitting at my desk shocked by interactions that have taken place between myself and my teenage daughter in the past week, things that have come out of nowhere.</p>
<p>I know that over the past year I've come to a sort of mid-life-crisis in parenting similar to that of the 40 year old man that is mid-life minus the new Porsche and Viagra.  My daughter is turning…</p>
<p>I'm brainstorming here.  I'd like this to be well thought out resonating post of parenting rationalization but the truth is that I'm sitting at my desk shocked by interactions that have taken place between myself and my teenage daughter in the past week, things that have come out of nowhere.</p>
<p>I know that over the past year I've come to a sort of mid-life-crisis in parenting similar to that of the 40 year old man that is mid-life minus the new Porsche and Viagra.  My daughter is turning 16 in a few weeks and with two years left before the world sees her as an adult (which is WTF for another time, because really calling them adults at 18 makes my brain asplode).  But in the past year while dealing with the thought of her spreading her wings I've realized that there was so much left to teach her, and so many things I did wrong over parenting that I wish I could delete.  While she turned out miraculously amazing, especially for being raised by a <a title="What I don&#x2019;t regret is&#xA0;you."  href="http://momwich.com/2011/11/09/what-i-dont-regret-was-you/">teenage mom</a>, I effed up on my part in more ways than I can count.  There just isn't enough time to correct those errors, not enough time to teach her to cook and mow the lawn and fix the car and change air filters and apply for jobs and interview and ... and I'm in a panic.  It's almost over and I didn't do these things.  So I'm scurrying to correct, show, train - all the while she's in a mid-teen-crisis of realizing that she's nearly 16 and old enough to make her own decisions.  She's ready to have her own ideas and do what she wants to do, she knows everything, I'm stupid.  Suddenly she feels as big as a bear, inferior, and full of teenage sarcasm and attitude.  The way she has spoken to me in the past week has caused me to show great restrain because if she were an adult, I might just lay her on her ass.</p>
<p>But she's my kid.  My baby.  The one that I have done everything that I can for, for almost 16 years, the one that I cried for,prayed for and worked for.</p>
<p>I have to remind myself of this because when I look at her with that teenage rage, I can't seem to find my baby anywhere in her face.</p>
<p>With this great combination of my mid-parenting crisis and her new found mid-teenage-crisis spinning in to a whirlwind of chaos and arguments and tears and disappointment our life has been turmoil the past year but man, it's been sheer hell for the past week.</p>
<p>A whole week.  A week out of being under the same roof, as mommy and daughter that we will never get back, because the days aren't stopping.</p>
<p>And I can't figure out where her anger is coming from, the same that I can't find the "soft side" of me that I've always had in parenting that would put an end to all of this, pull her into my lap and fix this, like I used to be able to.</p>
<p>For the first time in all of my parenting, I don't like being a mom right now.  It's harder than I thought, but at the very same time, I love being a mom and I wish it weren't almost over.</p>
<p>I'm a complete and total mess.</p>
<p>And in 4 more years, I'll have another 16 year old.  Someone hold me.</p>One For My Mothertag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-07-01:988554:BlogPost:12711592012-07-01T20:45:08.000ZBrandy Burkehttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/BrandyBurke
<p>I am not even sure what started the screaming match between my daughter and I, but all of a sudden our family dinner turned to tears and snot, grounding and a bunch of things being said – I don't know how it gets so out of control so quickly.  She's so sweet and little until she decides she's grown.</p>
<p>I don't understand how you can clearly hatefully disrespect someone and then be like “I didn't do anything wrong” - so while we were sitting there playing the blame game it occurred to me…</p>
<p>I am not even sure what started the screaming match between my daughter and I, but all of a sudden our family dinner turned to tears and snot, grounding and a bunch of things being said – I don't know how it gets so out of control so quickly.  She's so sweet and little until she decides she's grown.</p>
<p>I don't understand how you can clearly hatefully disrespect someone and then be like “I didn't do anything wrong” - so while we were sitting there playing the blame game it occurred to me that I just needed to call my momma.</p>
<p>So I grabbed my cell phone and ran to the master bathroom.  Perched on the side of the jacuzzi tub I listened as the phone rang twice before my <a title="Dad, What I meant to say was&#x2026;" href="http://momwich.net/?p=41" target="_blank">dad</a> answered. “ hi daddy, is mom there” I just barely managed to squeak out through sobs and tears.  He immediately gave mom the phone.  Mom pieced together what I was saying through more muffled sobs and squeaks and proceeded to explain to me that this is normal, I'm not failing horribly or ruining the relationship with my daughter, that it's okay for her to hate me...for now.  That while she's a teenager, everything is going to be my fault...it's a rite of passage in parenting.</p>
<p>And then through all the sobbing and hurt and hearing my mom comfort me on the other end of the line, 100+ miles away, I realized just how sorry I was for everything I had done to hurt her in my life.</p>
<p>I was sorry for knowing that she was weak with love for me, sorry for walking all over that love sometimes, sorry for yelling at her when some days she probably just needed a hug, and sorry for whining about what was for dinner when she'd been at work on her feet for 10 hours already that day.</p>
<p>I was sorry for threatening to run away when I was 4, and I regretted being angry at her sometimes when she wouldn't give in to my every request.  I was sorry for breaking her heart with life choices and sorry for filling her with worry some nights.</p>
<p>I was incredibly thankful for her dedication to our family and her persistent hard work, the way she protected me from some of the bad things going on during my childhood– so much in fact that I'm still learning some of those bad things today, but she made my world safe and I was oblivious.  I was thankful that when she recognized my postpartum depression after Grace, she watched the baby, took me to the doctor and then put me to bed.</p>
<p>I was sorry that she could nod with understanding when I went through my divorce but so incredibly grateful for her strength and support to get me through it.</p>
<p>I remember being so depressed through that divorce that I just wouldn't eat and how frustrated I was the day she forced potato soup down my throat while I was visiting.  But looking back, I am so damn appreciative that she still knew me so deep, and knew I needed her, and soup.</p>
<p>I appreciated her encouragement while I was healing from heart failure, her support when I wanted to up-root my children a hundred miles for a better life.  Sure, she'd miss me, but she was looking out for what was best for me.  Just like she always has.  Just like I do for Grace and for Gabby.</p>
<p>And now here she was on the other end of the line, getting in late, tired from 10 hours on her feet, needing to put dinner on the table for my dad, but taking an hour to support and encourage me through this year long parenting crisis – putting me first.</p>
<p>I started off that telephone conversation in the parenting pits but somewhere in that darkness, the light of my mom's wisdom made me realize that she's my role model in this parenting gig, and if I do things just half as good as she does, some day instead of hating me, my kid will blog about me too.</p>
<p>If I've never said it before mom, I'm so sorry for my teenage years, and so incredibly blessed that you are my momma.</p>Parenting Doesn't Always Feel Good...tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-07-01:988554:BlogPost:12709942012-07-01T01:49:31.000ZBrandy Burkehttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/BrandyBurke
<p>Both my girls have their fair share of anxiety - I can be credited for passing that down to them, I guess.  Neither one is worse than the other, and while their anxieties are similar, they're also pretty different and have to be handled differently.</p>
<p>Brooke is indecisive and has separational anxiety - she wants to spend the night with a friend, but then calls me at 10:30 not able to sleep, she invites friends over but decides later that she wishes they would leave.  She wants to go to…</p>
<p>Both my girls have their fair share of anxiety - I can be credited for passing that down to them, I guess.  Neither one is worse than the other, and while their anxieties are similar, they're also pretty different and have to be handled differently.</p>
<p>Brooke is indecisive and has separational anxiety - she wants to spend the night with a friend, but then calls me at 10:30 not able to sleep, she invites friends over but decides later that she wishes they would leave.  She wants to go to Tulsa but she doesn't so "mom-just-make-the-decision-for-me-mmmkay?"</p>
<p>This week she went to Camp with her school for the week.  She was fretting about this far before time to leave, but stated that she wanted to go.  I paid the $250 fee.  I purchased and packed and prepped and prayed.</p>
<p>There is no contact with parents, no cell phones.</p>
<p>Yet the very first night, I get a saddy mouse phone call from her.  I tell her she's okay, and I weep a bit.  She's my baby, afterall.</p>
<p>The second day (today) she calls, I firmly tell her that she's okay and she needs to stay.  The camp director gets on the phone and attempts to convince me to pick her up.  I decline.  I request something similar to tough-love with an emphasis on the love part.  It sucks.</p>
<p>If every time she feels a little sad I rush to kiss away the tears, I've not taught my child how to deal with her emotions on her own.</p>
<p>If every time she decides she doesn't want to be somewhere, I rush to pick her up, I haven't taught her anything about making and standing behind her decisions.</p>
<p>If I allow her to be a distraction to others at camp, I've taught her that the world centers around her, and it's okay to make everything about yourself.</p>
<p>If I bail her out of every uncomfortable situation, what happens in the job interview, the meeting of the in-laws, etc?</p>
<p>So while I wanted to jump in the car and drive two hours to wrap that sweet girl in my arms and cuddle her and bring her home where she's safe and secure and comfortable, I didn't.</p>
<p>I parented.  And parenting doesn't always feel good.</p>
<p>(but if she calls me tomorrow, I'm so there).</p>My Husband is Bewitchedtag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2012-03-23:988554:BlogPost:12288562012-03-23T20:40:57.000ZAbby Billingshttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/AbbyBillings
<p>Check out my latest blog post: <a href="http://www.mommymomentswithabby.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-husband-has-been-bewitched.html" target="_blank">My Husband has been Bewitched</a></p>
<p>Check out my latest blog post: <a href="http://www.mommymomentswithabby.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-husband-has-been-bewitched.html" target="_blank">My Husband has been Bewitched</a></p>Screw You Mercury!tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2011-04-07:988554:BlogPost:8189122011-04-07T13:32:29.000ZNacia Karim Walshhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/NaciaKarimWalsh
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<p><br></br> <br></br> It seems like I'm on a roll this week.  First I was…</p>
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<p><br/> <br/> It seems like I'm on a roll this week.  First I was <a href="http://www.momsinboyland.com/2011/04/makin-news-monday-ambitious-29-year-old.html" target="_blank">feeling remorse</a> for wanting to chase after my dreams in fear that my children will resent me, or at the least give me sad eyes.  Now I'm being afflicted with another age old dilemma-- daughter <a href="http://www.momsinboyland.com/2011/04/screw-you-mercury.html" target="_blank">GUILT!</a></p>
<span class="post-comment-link" style="font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.momsinboyland.com/2011/04/screw-you-mercury.html"><br/></a> <a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.momsinboyland.com/2011/04/screw-you-mercury.html"></a></span>Dot Girl's First Period Kittag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2011-03-18:988554:BlogPost:7835282011-03-18T20:23:42.000ZAudreyvphttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/audreyvanpetegem
<p><a href="http://www.dotgirlproducts.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Dot Girl first period kit"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9954" height="121" src="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/dot-girl-logo.jpg" title="dot girl logo" width="125"></img></a> I have two little girls and I am dreading (I should say, embracing) the moment when they reach that time in their lives when they leave the innocence of childhood to enter the ever changing (I’m talking hormones) woes of womanhood.</p>
<p>Ah, puberty.  I remember the not-so-pleasant experience of getting my first period at school.  I think that I remember wearing white…</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" title="Dot Girl first period kit" href="http://www.dotgirlproducts.com/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9954" title="dot girl logo" src="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/dot-girl-logo.jpg" height="121" width="125"/></a>I have two little girls and I am dreading (I should say, embracing) the moment when they reach that time in their lives when they leave the innocence of childhood to enter the ever changing (I’m talking hormones) woes of womanhood.</p>
<p>Ah, puberty.  I remember the not-so-pleasant experience of getting my first period at school.  I think that I remember wearing white pants that day but I am sure that, in reliving my experience with friends over the years, I may have embellished the story a wee bit.  What I do remember clearly – like it happened yesterday – was how mortified I was at the thought that anyone would notice.  I hid myself in the bathroom for my entire French class, not sure what to do (this, of course, being before cell phones).  I waited for the bell to ring for the next class and snuck down to the office (we did not have a school nurse).  I was in tears and extremely embarrassed as I told the secretary that I just got my period.  She discreetly gave me a pad to use and sent me back to class.  I spent the rest of the day feeling uncomfortable and hoping that I did not smell or show.</p>
<p>Thankfully there is now a product available that can make a girl’s first period experience a positive first step into womanhood.  The <strong><a rel="nofollow" title="The Dot Girl First Period Kit" href="http://www.dotgirlproducts.com/" target="_blank">Dot Girl’s First Period Kit</a></strong> is a great tool to prepare young girls for the event of that first period and the kit also makes it also easier for moms (and dads) to talk to their daughters about menstruation.  The kits include everything your daughter needs to know about what to expect and when to expect it.  It gives us parents information that is presented in a very concise and informative way.</p>
<p><strong>The kit includes</strong> five feminine pads, five disposal bags, the Dot Girl Warm Pad (a reusable gel heating pad for soothing cramps)<a rel="nofollow" title="The Dot Girl First Period Kit" href="http://www.dotgirlproducts.com/Period-Kits-_c_1.html" target="_blank"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-9955" title="dot girl period kit" src="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/dot-girl-period-kit.jpg" height="271" width="350"/></a>, two hand wipes and the Dot Girl Period Answer Book which answers twenty common questions about menstruation.  The kit is designed to look like a cute cosmetic case, with all the essentials for when she gets her period.  It fits well in a purse, locker or backpack and, because it looks so discrete, your daughter would not feel embarrassed if anyone saw it.</p>
<p>Girls will typically get their periods between the ages of 10 and 14, with some exceptions earlier or later than these ages.  My oldest daughter is 7.  That is not so far off in the future and not too early to order a Dot Girls First Period Kit.  You can purchase them <a rel="nofollow" title="Dot Girl First Period Kit" href="http://www.dotgirlproducts.com/The-Dot-Girl-First-Period-Kit_p_33.html" target="_blank">here</a> with other helpful products.  There are also many other helpful tools and links on the Dot Girl website, such as the free downloadable “period calendar” as well as <a rel="nofollow" title="Dot Girl blog" href="http://www.dotgirlproducts.com/blog.asp" target="_blank">period stories from other girls</a>, FAQ’s and links to other websites that can answer most questions.</p>
<p>I know that all too soon the days of barbie dolls and tea parties will be gone, but I look forward to sharing every step of the way both my daughters journeys into womanhood.</p>
<div style="border: medium none; overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br/>Read more: <a style="color: #003399;" href="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/the-dot-girl-first-period-kit/#ixzz1Gz5qvzta">http://www.thesucculentwife.com/the-dot-girl-first-period-kit/#ixzz1Gz5qvzta</a></div>Virtuous Lip Gloss - Positive Words for the Lipstag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2011-02-23:988554:BlogPost:7497982011-02-23T17:24:30.000ZAudreyvphttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/audreyvanpetegem
<p>I could certainly relate to Sara Buntrock as she talked about her tween daughter when I met her this last January at a gift show.  Being a mother of a tween myself (any child between the age of 7 to 12 is considered one), I know that they start having very mature tastes at a very early age (thank you Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus and iCarly/Miranda Cosgrove).</p>
<p>Make-up is definitely one area that young girls love to explore.  Although I do not encourage my young daughters to wear makeup, I…</p>
<p>I could certainly relate to Sara Buntrock as she talked about her tween daughter when I met her this last January at a gift show.  Being a mother of a tween myself (any child between the age of 7 to 12 is considered one), I know that they start having very mature tastes at a very early age (thank you Hanna Montana/Miley Cyrus and iCarly/Miranda Cosgrove).</p>
<p>Make-up is definitely one area that young girls love to explore.  Although I do not encourage my young daughters to wear makeup, I feel that a little lip gloss is definitely ok.  And, so does Sara and her other mom pals, Amy and Molly, which is exactly why they started a company, called <a rel="nofollow" title="What's Your Virtue Lip Bliss" href="http://www.virthues.com/virthues/products" target="_blank"><strong>What’s Your Virtue?</strong></a>, that sells positive statement lip gloss geared towards tweens and teens (although I like them also).</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" title="What's Your Virtue Lip Bliss" href="http://whatsyourvirtue.com/products" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-9484" title="What's your virtue" src="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Whats-your-virtue.jpg" height="235" width="320"/></a>It all began when these three friends and their teen/tween daughters went on a mother/daughter shopping trip.  When they went into a store to look at the lip gloss selection, they were shocked at the explicit and overtly provocative names on many of the brands of lip gloss.  They did not think it was appropriate to have such messages (because messages they are) like “Easy Lover”, “Berry My Treasure” or “Misbehave”* in their daughter’s school bag, let alone on their lips!</p>
<p>Although the daughters came home with no lip gloss that day, the moms came home determined to make a difference.  Their belief was that beauty starts from within and when we teach our daughters to respect themselves and feel good about themselves, their beauty shines!  Any way that our daughters can get a positive message about themselves is important.  And why not start with a lip gloss name.</p>
<p>After years of research and perfecting the right formula for their lip gloss, LipBliss came to fruition.  Here is what to expect from What’s Your Virtue?  Lip Bliss™:</p>
<blockquote><p>Lip Bliss™ is an innovative lip gloss with an unparalleled hydrating formula which achieved the ideal blend of health-infusing moisture with the perfect degree of shine.  Lip Bliss™ bundles fortifying castor, cranberry, and safflower seed oils along with nourishing peppermint oil in order to smooth and nurture.  It promises radiant shine without stickiness while offering the purifying and protecting properties of anti-oxidants, green tea extracts, and moisturizing vitamin E.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Just think about your daughter’s friends asking them what color they are wearing and they say names like “Wisdom”, “Kindness” and “Generosity” rather than “Bing My Cherry”, “All Night Long” or “Super Orgasm”*.  That, and a fabulous lipgloss that is wonderful to wear and stays put.  This mom will have to get herself her own “Devotion”.</p>
<p>To see the whole line and/or to purchase Lip Bliss™ for $12.00 each, visit <a rel="nofollow" title="What's Your Virtue Lip Bliss" href="http://whatsyourvirtue.com/products" target="_blank">What’s Your Virtue?</a></p>
<p>* All names listed are actual names of popular lip gloss from a variety of brands</p>
<div style="border: medium none; overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br/>Read more: <a style="color: #003399;" href="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/virtuous-lip-gloss-positive-words-for-the-lips/#ixzz1EnsMRBkP">http://www.thesucculentwife.com/virtuous-lip-gloss-positive-words-for-the-lips/#ixzz1EnsMRBkP</a></div>LittleMissMatched Socks - Solution for the Sock Lost in the Washtag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2011-01-28:988554:BlogPost:7037742011-01-28T17:08:29.000ZAudreyvphttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/audreyvanpetegem
Over the holidays my family went to Downtown Disney, a street of restaurants and shops that links Disneyland, the Disneyland Resort and California Adventure Park, to have lunch.  While we were walking around my daughters noticed a store, <a href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Little MisMatched">LittleMissMatched</a> that featured vibrant socks in the window and asked if they could go in.  Why not?  They can always use more socks, their sock drawer being…
Over the holidays my family went to Downtown Disney, a street of restaurants and shops that links Disneyland, the Disneyland Resort and California Adventure Park, to have lunch.  While we were walking around my daughters noticed a store, <a rel="nofollow" title="Little MisMatched" href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/" target="_blank">LittleMissMatched</a> that featured vibrant socks in the window and asked if they could go in.  Why not?  They can always use more socks, their sock drawer being filled with orphan, non-matching socks.  Much to my surprise (and delight!),  I found out that LittleMissMatched doesn’t match socks either!  All socks are sold in a pack of three <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/Catalog/girls-socks" target="_blank">non-matching socks</a>.  They are coordinated in either color or pattern, but not both, which makes them fun and creative to wear.  These socks are not just for girls, but also for boys, babies and women (sorry men).  Ankle, knee high, toes sock and more are all sold in three packs or gift packs of six, nine and twelve, perfect for birthday gifts.<br/>
<p><a rel="nofollow" title="LittleMissMatched" href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/" target="_blank"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8948" title="Little MisMatched Anklet Socks" src="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Little-MisMatched-Anklet-Socks.jpg" height="144" width="580"/></a></p>
<p>This unconventional way of selling socks is what made this brand explode.  The “nothing matches but anything goes” approach has worked well for the company which has expanded product lines to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/Catalog/girls_boots" target="_blank">flip flops, boot</a>s, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/Catalog/Winter_Wear" target="_blank">gloves and mittens, and scarves</a>.  Most recently, they have also launched a pajama line, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/Catalog/Bedroom" target="_blank">bedding</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/Catalog/furniture" target="_blank">bedroom furniture</a>.  They also have an apparel line specifically geared towards tweens, which coordinates in a very mismatched way.</p>
<p>This off-beat store has clearly become my daughters (and my) favorite store.  So, no longer do I spend the time putting matching socks together (not that I really did this anyway) or worry about that sock that disappears in the wash.  Thank you Little Mismatched for solving this age old problem.  Check out <a rel="nofollow" title="LittleMissMatched " href="http://www.littlemissmatched.com/" target="_blank">LittleMissMatched.com</a> for their online retail store.</p>
<div style="border: medium none; overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br/>Read more: <a style="color: #003399;" href="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/littlemissmatched-socks-solution-for-the-lost-sock-in-the-wash/#ixzz1CI0og2j7">http://www.thesucculentwife.com/littlemissmatched-socks-solution-for-the-lost-sock-in-the-wash/#ixzz1CI0og2j7</a></div>Mommy's Make-uptag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2011-01-28:988554:BlogPost:7377832011-01-28T15:30:00.000ZAnastasia Irvinehttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/AnastasiaIrvine
<div>When it comes to make-up I am no stranger.  I’d say I exercise a reasonable restraint in resisting daily usage, but at the same time I enjoy the perfecting powers of foundation and blush on my tired mommy complexion.  I never thought of my usage to be excessive or that it would have a negative influence on my daughters.  But when my toddler started running up to me freshly done up with the make-up she took from her teenage Aunts room asking if she was “pwetty” I couldn’t help but wonder….  Was…</div>
<div>When it comes to make-up I am no stranger.  I’d say I exercise a reasonable restraint in resisting daily usage, but at the same time I enjoy the perfecting powers of foundation and blush on my tired mommy complexion.  I never thought of my usage to be excessive or that it would have a negative influence on my daughters.  But when my toddler started running up to me freshly done up with the make-up she took from her teenage Aunts room asking if she was “pwetty” I couldn’t help but wonder….  Was my weakness for a flawless finish contributing to low self esteem?  Is the influence of her aunts and my love for make-up making her think that it’s what makes us pretty?  The question I now faced….In order to nurture a confident body image must I do away with the luxuries of modern make-up and thrust myself into hippy-like simplicity?</div>
<div>I think not…<br/><br/></div>
<div>I think the enhancing your natural feature is no crime.  I want confident daughters who know their beautiful naturally, but if they love the look of gloss or the way their eyes sparkle when accented with the right shade of shadow that’s okay too.  The truth is that in my world of leaky diapers and a permanent spit-up stain on my shoulder it is nice to know that my face is still rosy-cheeked and shimmery.  As a Mother of two little ones I think that finding the little things to offset the stress and lack of self pampering will do wonders for the soul, and in the grand scheme of things they need to know that a little pampering is something that everyone needs.</div>
<div>View full blog at <a target="_blank" href="http://caffeinatedcavegirl.blogspot.com">Caffeinated Cavegirl</a></div>
<div>Comments welcome!</div>Pretty by Katie Makkaitag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-11-09:988554:BlogPost:6347022010-11-09T00:00:59.000ZAudreyvphttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/audreyvanpetegem
<p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">You’ll Laugh.  You’ll Cry.  You’ll think about it.  And you will want to show your daughters.…</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 16px;">You’ll Laugh.  You’ll Cry.  You’ll think about it.  And you will want to show your daughters.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span class="vvqbox vvqyoutube" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; max-width: 100%; visibility: visible ! important; width: 425px; height: 344px;"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344" id="vvq-7391-youtube-1" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; max-width: 100%; visibility: visible;"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param></object>
</span></span></p>
<blockquote style="margin-top: 25px; margin-right: 25px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 25px; padding-top: 25px; padding-right: 25px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(254, 251, 235); font: normal normal normal 0.9em/normal Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.7em; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-xg-p: initial initial;"><p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;">The word pretty is unworthy of everything you will be, and no child of mine will be contained in five letters.  You will be pretty intelligent, pretty creative, pretty amazing, but you will never be merely “pretty.”  <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;">Katie Makkai</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;">Powerful stuff this poetry.</p>
<span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"/><br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"/>Read more: <a href="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/#ixzz14jj2DPxN" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none;">http://www.thesucculentwife.com/#ixzz14jj2DPxN</a></span>What *I* would teach at Cotilliontag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-10-15:988554:BlogPost:6120652010-10-15T21:57:24.000ZKristen Daukashttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/KristenDaukas
<p>I returned from a conference recently and was reminded of the moment back in May where I (apparently) lost my senses and agreed to let my 12<br></br> year old attend Cotillion classes.  <em>Truth be told, I think they <br></br>
were having a hard time filling the class, so they started calling down <br></br>
the list.  Our last name starts with "D".. we were doomed (no pun <br></br>
intended).</em> Anyhow.. there it sat on my desk.. almost as complete as<br></br>
a wedding invitation except this outfit would be a…</p>
<p>I returned from a conference recently and was reminded of the moment back in May where I (apparently) lost my senses and agreed to let my 12<br/>
year old attend Cotillion classes.  <em>Truth be told, I think they <br/>
were having a hard time filling the class, so they started calling down <br/>
the list.  Our last name starts with "D".. we were doomed (no pun <br/>
intended).</em> Anyhow.. there it sat on my desk.. almost as complete as<br/>
a wedding invitation except this outfit would be a Sunday dress and <br/>
white gloves.  <br/> <a href="http://fourhensandarooster.typepad.com/.a/6a0112791bf1a328a4013486469a86970c-pi" style="float: left;"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/1qkayWR8Bknke*meNQWuJecbLRXj9uGvrT22wV65oKyAdthRqhD80KUZ9UGlRe1PzAIpHbA82XotfCCFfVLpuWQF5FYPTnbj/cotillion.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"/></a></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Don't get me wrong.. I am ALL for a good dose of etiquette and it's always good to know that the salad fork is the itty, bitty one with 3 <br/>
prongs. ( kidding..geez).  What I <em>also</em> am is amazed that <br/>
things such as Cotillion and Debutante Balls are still around.  So it <br/>
got me to thinking of how we could take such a quaint little Southern <br/>
tradition like Cotillion and jazz it up a bit.  Make it a little more <br/>
refreshing and maybe a few more folks would want to participate, I <br/>
thought.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">So here it is.. a few points that I would teach at Cotillion.</span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/*vaxEFbaw3MYBO*ThfOb3W0kqq2TOAnMNGFhorg-fTW*PWwe311vLWmGpKF3T3f-5sV85OhMuSuQfhYXdceY35ku8cT0Jnlv/lbd.jpg" alt="" style="float: right; width: 160px; height: 214px;"/></p>
<p>For starters.. <span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: medium;"><strong>Clothing</strong></span>.. a Sunday dress and white gloves?  Really?  I realize that we don't get to church that often but if <br/>
wearing a dress were a requirement, we'd NEVER be there.  And white <br/>
gloves?  Even my mother, the queen of clean, would be hard pressed to <br/>
tell me where to find them.</p>
<p>How about this.. teach them how to buy and wear a couple of really nice, high quality pieces that are timeless.  It doesn't have to be a <br/>
dress (although what girl in her right mind doesn't have at least one <br/>
LBD <br/> hanging there ready to rescue the night?)  but it could be a
great blouse, slacks and solid pair of pumps.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Manners.</strong></span> I agree that our society has gotten pretty slack with the Mr's and Mrs's,<br/>
please and thank you's but not sure that I want my daughter to be <br/>
"only" addressed as Mrs. John F Whoever (disclaimer.. I did have to <br/>
explain to her that the women on the invitation were, in fact, her <br/>
friend's moms as they were all addressed that way).</p>
<p>I would much rather have her be taught how to eloquently (or not so eloquently) tell someone to mind their business when they've asked her <br/>
for the XXth time why she doesn't have a boyfriend, husband, job, baby,<br/>
triplets or whatever.  NUNJA!  Teach her to say (with a smile, natch) <br/>
"Bless your heart!  Why is it so important to you?"  as she gracefully <br/>
cuts her meat with the engraved steak knife.</p>
<p><a href="http://fourhensandarooster.typepad.com/.a/6a0112791bf1a328a40133f323281d970b-pi" style="float: right;"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/Z*UBe*MjbXSklv-tdhuh*bkotKDltIYxNWlYkZxmmMSkBk78xFVfC1L8r5kDsONxh-VSyBakQX5ziPH7erjJifHiQquIkOJy/shagcontest_girl.jpg" alt="" style="float: right; width: 290px; height: 218px;"/></a></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Next.. The <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>dancing</strong></span>.</span> I can count on one hand the number of times that I have been called <br/>
upon <br/> to do a waltz or a foxtrot.  If you
want to teach a dance that has more than a snowball's chance in hell of <br/>
ever being danced, why not the two-step, elecric slide or <a href="http://www.videodetective.com/titledetails.aspx?PublishedID=883" target="_blank" title="Shag The Movie">Shag?</a> I mean, this is the <br/>
South for heaven's sake.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: medium;"><strong><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: medium;"><strong><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: medium;"><strong>Relationships/Courting</strong></span>.. It is okay to call a boy if, and only if, it's a last resort and you <br/>
really have to.  At 11, why would you have to?  And why would he want you <br/>
to?  I realize they're all maturing faster than we did but still.  What <br/>
they need to be taught is how not to be a skank.  How to be strong and <br/>
that yes, it is really true, that "those" kind of girls are not the kind<br/>
you want to be.</p>
<p>Being the one in charge of the relationship isn't for every girl, but all girls need to be taught self respect and how to stay true to <br/>
themselves.  I think if there's one thing that hasn't changed, it's that.</p>
<p>So there you have it.. I obviously won't be called on anytime soon to take over the Catillion training but if they ever did.. that's the <br/>
lesson plan that I'd lay out..</p>
<p>Did I miss anything here that you would teach/?</p>
<p>Kristen</p>GirlMogul.com - Boosting Tween Girls' Self-Esteemtag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-10-11:988554:BlogPost:6072022010-10-11T21:37:05.000ZAudreyvphttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/audreyvanpetegem
Andrea Stein started Girl Mogul as a t-shirt company in 2007 when she realized that today’s girls needed an alternative to diva and princess tees.  The company’s popular blog has since grown to become an online community dedicated to encouraging tween girls’ (ages 9 to 12) success.  The site – and the community encourages our daughters to dream big and reach for the stars.<br />
<br />
As the parent of a now 13 year old daughter, I can tell you – from very recent experience – that the tween years can be…
Andrea Stein started Girl Mogul as a t-shirt company in 2007 when she realized that today’s girls needed an alternative to diva and princess tees.  The company’s popular blog has since grown to become an online community dedicated to encouraging tween girls’ (ages 9 to 12) success.  The site – and the community encourages our daughters to dream big and reach for the stars.<br />
<br />
As the parent of a now 13 year old daughter, I can tell you – from very recent experience – that the tween years can be challenging as this is when girls observe their sweet-baby-girl status being shunned in favor of more “grown up” expectations.  Girl Mogul provides role models to tweens, encouraging them to dream big, with consideration for the possibilities of becoming scientists, CEOs, world leaders, mothers… Because the ambition of becoming a princess or a diva is just so passé.<br />
<br />
The middle school years are critical period that will affect your daughter’s future – it’s at this age when girls start to lose interest in subjects like math and science, when they start playing “dumb” so as to not stand out from the crowd.  Research has also shown the things like eating disorders and body image problems are starting earlier and earlier.  Not to mention that puberty – welcomed by some and dreaded by others, begins.  In other words – you need to make sure your tween girl has excellent self-esteem and a solid sense of self before heading out into the teenage world (source).<br />
<br />
The Girl Power Club (it’s a free to join) gives its young members access to tips, tools and resources designed to boost a girl’s self-confidence and encourage her success.  The Back-to-School Survival Guide is a cute example of how the site “speaks” to tweens in a very relatable voice.  The information may seem basic to us adults, but the advice and tips will resonate a lot more when dispensed by a “peer” such as one of Girl Mogul’s characters.<br />
<br />
Confidence and self-esteem boosting tools such as GirlMogul.com are important for a whole other reason too: to make our daughters more resistant to bullying (a painful subject which we touched upon in a book review here).  It’s at this very delicate tween-hood transition point that girls can become vulnerable to bullying.  Any resources to help them gain confidence and assurance are welcome.<br />
<br />
Is it to late for the rest of us to become Girl Moguls too?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.thesucculentwife.com/#ixzz125VTFXvB">http://www.thesucculentwife.com/#ixzz125VTFXvB</a>Wordless (Wordful?)  Wednesdaytag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-04-08:988554:BlogPost:4285192010-04-08T03:36:49.000ZAngelia Simshttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/AngeliaSims
On my blog.<br/><br/><a href="http://youthinkyoucanblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/wordless-wednesday/">http://youthinkyoucanblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/wordless-wednesday/</a><br/>
On my blog.<br/><br/><a href="http://youthinkyoucanblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/wordless-wednesday/">http://youthinkyoucanblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/wordless-wednesday/</a><br/>No Really, My Daughter And I Did Got Along Great During Her Teen Yearstag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-03-04:988554:BlogPost:4014892010-03-04T00:40:21.000ZLaurie Gileshttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/LaurieGiles
<span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><br />
</span><p><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Several weeks ago a friend who is struggling to find a way to get along with her 14 year old daughter asked me how I coped with raising a teenager.  I told her that my daughter and I got along great during her teen years, and actually had fun together.  A look of shock mixed with disbelieve came over her face.  She asked, “So what is your secret?”  Having never given much thought to the subject, I decided to ask my daughter for…</span></p>
<span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><br />
</span><p><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN">Several weeks ago a friend who is struggling to find a way to get along with her 14 year old daughter asked me how I coped with raising a teenager.  I told her that my daughter and I got along great during her teen years, and actually had fun together.  A look of shock mixed with disbelieve came over her face.  She asked, “So what is your secret?”  Having never given much thought to the subject, I decided to ask my daughter for her thoughts.  We came up with three reasons why we got along even during the terrible teens;</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><b>Communication</b>- Widen the door of communication with your teenager.  Although there may be times when they are tell you things you don’t want to hear, listen anyway.  Encourage them to open up and talk.  Reassure your teen that they can talk to you about anything.  Your teen needs to feel comfortable talking to you.  Don’t trivialize their thoughts and emotions.  It is amazing how the most trivial issues become so major in the mind of a teenager.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><b>Mutual respect:</b> Expect respect from your teenager, and make sure you respect your teen.  Teens can be very private and secretive, it is important to respect their right to privacy.  Snooping around in their room, backpack or purse, may not lead you to find evidence of wrong doing; but it will absolutely lead to your child feeling violated and disrespected.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><b>Honesty:</b> Be as honest and truthful with your teen as possible.  I don’t mean that you need to share every detail of your life, but when you do share, share honestly.  No one is perfect; don’t lead your teen to believe that you were the perfect teenager.  Let them know you can empathize with them.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"> </span></p>ADHD, Mommy Specific!tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-03-01:988554:BlogPost:3989642010-03-01T05:10:01.000ZDeborah A Cruz-Beckhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/DeborahACruzBeck
<span style="font-weight: bold;">I am having a WTH is going on here day.  It has come to my attention,<br />
apparently when you have a moment..you realize a lot of not necessarily<br />
caring to know information, that I have developed a very peculiar way<br />
of cleaning my house.  Remember the good old day when you could spend<br />
all day cleaning out your closets?Ahh, and when it was done there was<br />
sense of accomplishment and pride?  Remember?  You remember....think<br />
hard.  Now, it has taken me a month to unpack from…</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">I am having a WTH is going on here day.  It has come to my attention,<br />
apparently when you have a moment..you realize a lot of not necessarily<br />
caring to know information, that I have developed a very peculiar way<br />
of cleaning my house.  Remember the good old day when you could spend<br />
all day cleaning out your closets?Ahh, and when it was done there was<br />
sense of accomplishment and pride?  Remember?  You remember....think<br />
hard.  Now, it has taken me a month to unpack from a relocation..a month<br />
and I am still unpacking.  It probably has something to do with what I<br />
have noticed myself doing.  Every time I say I am going to clean the<br />
house, I pick a room(say the bedroom), get started, decide to go to<br />
another room for whatever reason (lets say the kitchen to get some<br />
coffee),then I am cleaning the kitchen.  Next, I hit the bathroom to<br />
tinkle from my coffee and (you guessed) get sidetracked and start<br />
cleaning the bathroom.  Now, have I mentioned that I am moving on<br />
without completing a single room and seldom do I even realize what I am<br />
doing this until I wander back into the previous room and see my mess<br />
that I left behind (i.e mop laying out, vacuum in middle of room,<br />
clothes in washer that haven't made it to the dryer in three days, or<br />
perhaps, loaded dishwasher that I forgot to run until I run out of<br />
silverware and sippy cups!)You see my problem?  I am convinced I have<br />
some type of "used uterus" type specific form of ADHD!!!!  That has to<br />
be it, or I am completely and randomly insane. Anybody else experienced<br />
this?  If so, is there a group or a special kind of medication that I<br />
should be on to remedy this situation?  I am getting a little worried<br />
for myself:) I mean what if I get sidetracked by a phone call or a<br />
doorbell and forget where I put the kids?<br />
</span>Truthful Tuesday's 2/9/10tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-02-09:988554:BlogPost:3856562010-02-09T14:08:58.000ZDeborah A Cruz-Beckhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/DeborahACruzBeck
Good morning, my lovelies!  It is once again that time of the week.  The<br />
day that we can come to our safe haven and expunge all of the wreckage<br />
of the week from our souls!  Don't be afraid, we won't bite.  Just take<br />
your load and dump it here!  Happy Tuesday!  I'm sure tomorrow will be<br />
better!<br></br>
So, that being said, here are my 3 (yeah its been that kind of week)<br />
for the day; I wish so badly that my 2 year old could wipe her own<br />
little butt.  It's not that I don't like helping her out but this…
Good morning, my lovelies!  It is once again that time of the week.  The<br />
day that we can come to our safe haven and expunge all of the wreckage<br />
of the week from our souls!  Don't be afraid, we won't bite.  Just take<br />
your load and dump it here!  Happy Tuesday!  I'm sure tomorrow will be<br />
better!<br/>
So, that being said, here are my 3 (yeah its been that kind of week)<br />
for the day; I wish so badly that my 2 year old could wipe her own<br />
little butt.  It's not that I don't like helping her out but this week<br />
my back has decided to go out and it is rather impossible for me to<br />
bend over to her level to wipe her without doubling over in pain, which<br />
at any moment could become permanent form if the back decides to<br />
completely seize up.  It's like a really awful game of slots.  I am just<br />
praying for no whammies!<br/>
I am wishing I could grant my four year old's wish, to teach her a<br />
lesson.  Last night, she informs us that she wants to be an only<br />
child. Little too late for that one, we have 2 children.  I so want to<br />
banish her from her little sister for 24 hours so that she knows how<br />
much she would truly miss her.  Of course, at the mere mention of<br />
grounding her away from her sister, she went into hysterics and said<br />
she only needed a couple hours!<br/>
OK, I have one more.  I wish that I could freaking find my back pain<br />
medicine amongst all the rubble that is my slowly but surely unpacked<br />
house.  You know the house I just packed up in January and moved 1/2 way<br />
across the country,only to have them inform us 7 days later that we<br />
would be returning home.  Not to be stuck on repeat but I am perfectly<br />
within my rights to be pissed at this situation. All 10 of the times I<br />
was searching for my meds in the past 3 days, I have wanted to kick<br />
somebody's teeth in.  I have yet to hurt anybody and the meds are still<br />
lost in space.  I know you are wondering, "Why doesn't she go see her<br />
Dr. and get more?"  The answer is simple,with the return home and the<br />
downsizing, we lost our insurance. So there you have it, the gift that<br />
just keeps on giving!!!  Hugs all around!!<br/><br/><br/>My first commercial and all I got was this sparkly new hairpin!tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-02-06:988554:BlogPost:3837602010-02-06T05:31:38.000ZDeborah A Cruz-Beckhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/DeborahACruzBeck
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://motherhoodthetruth.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-first-commercial-and-all-i-got-was.html"><br></br></a></h3>
<br />
<br />
My 4 year old daughter has wanted to be a "movie star" since she saw<br />
Eloise goes to Hollywood.  Not that I think she really knows what that<br />
means or what it entails but I have convinced myself that I will never<br />
be the shatterer of hopes and dreams when it comes to my girls.  If they<br />
want to do it or be it, I'm going to support it because we all…
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://motherhoodthetruth.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-first-commercial-and-all-i-got-was.html"><br/></a>
</h3>
<br />
<br />
My 4 year old daughter has wanted to be a "movie star" since she saw<br />
Eloise goes to Hollywood.  Not that I think she really knows what that<br />
means or what it entails but I have convinced myself that I will never<br />
be the shatterer of hopes and dreams when it comes to my girls.  If they<br />
want to do it or be it, I'm going to support it because we all need a<br />
cheerleader. To help her achieve this lofty, if not almost impossible<br />
goal, I submitted her photos to a prestigious modeling agency, they<br />
called us in, and then they agreed to represent my 4 year old. She is<br />
pretty cute, if I do say so myself:), and I figured what a better place<br />
to start than some print work.  Of course,fast forward a couple months<br />
later, she books her first job.  Its a commercial.  Amazing right?  No,<br />
well, it was to us.  She was excited, our friends were excited, our<br />
family was excited, myself, I was too exhausted from organizing an<br />
unexpected relocation to really comprehend how exciting it was.  It was<br />
to be a commercial for a local car dealership.  We were in set the<br />
mandatory 15 minutes early, of course we had been sitting outside in<br />
the car for a 1/2 hour before that but we couldn't come in, per<br />
instructions from our agency.  Apparently, its unprofessional. We walk in<br />
the door with our 4 outfits they asked me to bring, of course they left<br />
her in the faded jeans, ugg boots, and long sleeve t-shirt and navy<br />
polo she walked in with.  Oh, that is with the exception of removing the<br />
polo (which was the only cute part of the entire outfit because it was<br />
the riding to the shoot outfit..not the actual outfit for the shoot:) I<br />
was all very surreal, hair and make up on my 4 year old. She sat<br />
straight in the chair , jibber jabbing the make up artists head off.  We<br />
exchanged niceties and she told me how bright and beautiful my daughter<br />
was, something a mother can never hear too much of.  Then we began the<br />
actual shoot, or what I'd like to refer to as "the train wreck of<br />
2010".  My daughter was "the daughter", to the family in the commercial.<br />
There were like 10 adult actors and my 1 child, did I mention she had<br />
never even done a print booking.  Talk about putting all of your eggs in<br />
one basket.  Jeez.  It starts out the pretend Dad has to lift my little<br />
girl into the back of a pickup. Oh my, poor guy.  My daughter is very<br />
tall for her age, she is like 45 inches tall and around 53 lbs.  She is<br />
rock solid.  This guy was about 5'10" and having trouble lifting my<br />
child.  She was more than half his length and its awkward to lift a kid<br />
that tall, I should know.  I looked on with pity and horror as this man<br />
struggled. My daughter just sat there, like a deer in headlights, except<br />
for the occasional cheese she tossed in the general direction of myself<br />
or the camera ( which she was not suppose to be looking at because she<br />
was supposed to be looking at her damned fake parents!)But I stood<br />
there, silent watching it all happen because Mom's (like children) are<br />
on set to be seen and not heard.  I was there strictly for moral support<br />
and legal reasons. They eventually finish the 15 or so takes, my<br />
daughter is totally confused by the people moving their mouth feigning<br />
conversation with no actual sound coming out. It was all very<br />
overwhelming for her.  The bright lights,the strange man lifting her<br />
up..which by the way, every time he lifted her up, her shirt lifted up<br />
on her belly. She's 4, so she paid no attention, but the adults (not<br />
even the fake Mommy...oh, you so know she doesn't really have<br />
children)not one of them thought to pull her shirt down or tell her to<br />
do it.  It was very frustrating. This could go on for days and it felt<br />
like it did.  Let's just sum it up by saying she is 4!  She was tired ,<br />
she was hungry, and she was overwhelmed but she didn't have a meltdown,<br />
and she didn't cry, and she didn't act like a brat. She did everything<br />
they told her to do, to the best of her 4 year old ability.  That was a<br />
long day and there is so much more that I could tell you but then I'd<br />
have to kill you:) She did ,however, at the end of the day, as we were<br />
leaving the shoot look me in the eyes and say, "Awww, dang it Mommy. It<br />
was my first commercial and all I got was this sparkly new hairpin!"  I<br />
chuckled to myself, I guess that paycheck and all that excitement<br />
didn't count for much..because , in her mind, all she got out of the<br />
day was "that sparkly new hairpin".  I asked her if she wanted to still<br />
be a "Movie Star".  She said ,"Sure Momma.  I bet when I'm on Disney<br />
channel, they'll give me all kinds of sparkly(SPark-A-LEE) new<br />
hairpins!"LOL.  Keep on dreamin big, baby!  <br/>
Disclaimer: This is in no way, shape, or form a dig at the process or<br />
my agency, this was about the train wreck that I had to watch my kid be<br />
part of because of her inexperience.  It was like helplessly watching a<br />
car slide off into the ditch. Or watching your baby fall when learning<br />
to walk for the first time. It was inevitable, and you couldn't stop it,<br />
it was just the circumstances and our naivete.  We are looking forward<br />
to the next time, we're going to fishtail...on purpose!<br/><br/>Truthful/Tell all Tuesdaystag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-01-26:988554:BlogPost:3775812010-01-26T13:10:04.000ZDeborah A Cruz-Beckhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/DeborahACruzBeck
Ok, Ladies its Tuesday and ,as I said, today is the day we can all vent "anonymously" if preferred, and get everything off our minds..without judgement:)I will start the ball rolling:<br />
Is it wrong that sometimes I wish I was brave enough to dose my kids with ibuprofin, so they would go to sleep at a reasonable hour without me having to lay down with them?<br />
Sometimes, I really miss my life before I was married or had kids, so much so that I fantasize about who I used to be:)LOL<br />
OK, Ladies those…
Ok, Ladies its Tuesday and ,as I said, today is the day we can all vent "anonymously" if preferred, and get everything off our minds..without judgement:)I will start the ball rolling:<br />
Is it wrong that sometimes I wish I was brave enough to dose my kids with ibuprofin, so they would go to sleep at a reasonable hour without me having to lay down with them?<br />
Sometimes, I really miss my life before I was married or had kids, so much so that I fantasize about who I used to be:)LOL<br />
OK, Ladies those are my two for today.  Please share yours in the comment section.  Come one!  Come all!  Don't be shy, no one will judge you here.  No one thinking how you are not up to par or dropped the ball in Mommyland. Just pure support and sisterhood!.5 you never stood a chancetag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-01-20:988554:BlogPost:3742672010-01-20T06:22:11.000ZDeborah A Cruz-Beckhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/DeborahACruzBeck
Tonight, though I obviously have 107,000 things that I ought to be doing, I have baby on the brain.  I think it was the combo of visiting my friend and her new puppy( get your panties out of the bunch , I am not comparing your little miracles to tiny hairy beasts) and all this talk recently of whose pregnant and whose not.  Anyways, apparently , I am in that stage of Motherhood where I have 2 perfect daughters and I am undecided about a third.  OK, lets' be honest, brutally honest.  Let's just rip…
Tonight, though I obviously have 107,000 things that I ought to be doing, I have baby on the brain.  I think it was the combo of visiting my friend and her new puppy( get your panties out of the bunch , I am not comparing your little miracles to tiny hairy beasts) and all this talk recently of whose pregnant and whose not.  Anyways, apparently , I am in that stage of Motherhood where I have 2 perfect daughters and I am undecided about a third.  OK, lets' be honest, brutally honest.  Let's just rip it off like a band aid and put it out there. After all, you girls are my friends and you're not telling anyone, right?  I am in my mid thirties, two kids feel like 10, I am always tired.  In fact, there has not been a day in the past 5 years, that I have been not tired.  I am finally doing something proactive about getting back into shape and shedding these pounds that I put on with marriage.  Oh yeah, you know what I'm talking about.  People blame it on the babies but really, babies like the weight are just a symptom of our happiness.  Us women, at least me, I spent years trying to get in shape and look good for my man, whomever he was at the time.  And I'm no half asser, I got a full on eating disorder and everything (another blog entirely) but my point is that women go to extremes to look good. Then we get married, we get happy, we loosen the get ready ritual, and next thing you know the pants are a little snugger.  Then we get pregnant,and the poor baby gets the blame.  No, its not the baby its all that cuddling and canoodling instead of dancing in clubs,its all the fancy rich restaurant dates, its being comfortable in your own skin because you are unconditionally loved. What a sad state it is that we have to be threatened with the possibility of being an unloved cat woman to get our asses to the gym.  Anyways, I digress.  My point is I have finally figured this out and am actually working out and getting back in shape.  Do I really want to set the reset button?  On my body..here comes the weight, there's no escaping it with pregnancy.  There is 4 more years I have to stay out of the real world, that's more years of no sleep, walking around with spit up on me, someone at my knees calling incessantly. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,mommy........" It's all that and more that makes me want to take my "aw, baby" Debi..who appears in moments of insanity and hit her over the head with a skillet.  Sure, babies are cute, and they smell good, they have that delightful apple breath, they do somehow complete me:), and they are so helpless and beautiful and I won't lie, I would adore being the Mommy of a baby boy.  But lets be real, the Dr assures me that the chances of me having another girl are 75 % on the 3rd child, but promises me that I would have a boy on the fourth.  Is he insane?  Do I look like I could handle 4 kids?  Do I look like my IQ is below 70??  Are there actually any clothes left in my wardrobe that have not yet been spat, puked, pooped, and/or peed on?  Come on My mom had 6 children, and I love that woman.  But I am convinced of two facts 1) that all 6 were not intentional (whoops) and 2) that she must have been just the tiniest bit crazy to start with.  Furthermore, if she wasn't before she had us, she surely has been made so over the years, courtesy of us.  So, when my friends are having there 2ND babies and bring over these brand new shiny objects, I am attracted to the challenge. I hate the feeling of losing my babies as they evolve into toddlers, and then preschoolers.  I miss that adorable way they run to your arms and you can see that you are there everything.  I do.  I feed off of that shit.  But then I remember, 1 am, 3am, and 5 am feedings, I remember not being able to pee or shower by myself.  I remember the crazy smelling ability that I had during my pregnancies and the poor smelly kid that I taught and how every day for 3 months he made me vomit..just a little.  I remember feeling so enormous that I felt that I warranted my own solar system, and I especially remember going through my entire transition labor without an epidural!  Then I think, Yeah..maybe, for me today, I'll take my 2 perfect kids and not be greedy.2.5 is overrated anyway. LOL, I always wondered how they said 2.5 kids,I mean how can you measure kids in a half?  Now, in my great wisdom, I realize that 2.5 means Mommy has 2 and wants 3, Daddy says his vote's for the vasectomy, and the .5 is the middle. Poor .5, he didn't stand a chance. Bringing the feisty broad backtag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2010-01-12:988554:BlogPost:3700822010-01-12T00:13:02.000ZDeborah A Cruz-Beckhttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/DeborahACruzBeck
I am a Mommy, first and foremost.  It's a fact of my life.  I love it.  I chose it.  This is not something that I got trapped into, this was something that I intentionally chose, in fact, it was one of my loftiest aspirations.  I used to be a daughter and sister, then a wife, then a Mommy.  Somewhere in there, for a brief fleeting moment, I got to be "Debi".  I remember that girl, I liked her.  She was a lot like me but had absolutely no real ramifications for her behavior.  It was awesome.  It was pre…
I am a Mommy, first and foremost.  It's a fact of my life.  I love it.  I chose it.  This is not something that I got trapped into, this was something that I intentionally chose, in fact, it was one of my loftiest aspirations.  I used to be a daughter and sister, then a wife, then a Mommy.  Somewhere in there, for a brief fleeting moment, I got to be "Debi".  I remember that girl, I liked her.  She was a lot like me but had absolutely no real ramifications for her behavior.  It was awesome.  It was pre filter on the mouth and brain for child security reasons, yet, post the imposed filter of my personal freedoms by my Father:)It was wonderful; it was euphoric.  I was selfish, care free, and completely oblivious to the wants and needs of others.  I always did exactly what "I" wanted to do, with no care or concern for anyone else.  I know it sounds terribly vain and narcissistic, perhaps it was, but it was fabulous..for that time in my life...all 15 minutes of it.  These days, I am "Mommy", "Honey", "Mama" ,"You", "Mother", "Mrs. Beck" but hardly anyone ever calls me "Debi" anymore. I feel as if I have disappeared figuratively and literally.  But for someone who is invisible, I certainly do stay busy.  How can this be?  It is absolutely mind boggling to me but I am fairly certain that I am not alone in this situation.  Can I get an amen from my Mommies out there:) So, I go through life, these days, busier than ever before yet feeling like I really never accomplish anything in my days.  Every night, I am thoroughly exhausted ( believe me..just ask my husband)but usually can't sleep. Every morning, I am still tired because I was up the previous night until 2 am thinking of all the "Stuff" I have to do the next day.  No fair, right?  Last year, I made a conscious decision that 2009 was going to be the year of "Debi".  I had my mind made up, I was planning to plan to revive that feisty broad. It's pretty bad when you are telling your husband something about yourself before he met you and he is looking at you like you are full of shit because the "you" he knows, would never do something like that. I was determined, I was making a comeback in my own life.  That was my plan!  Then, real life and minutia got in my way.  So, around September ( my birthday to be exact) I put my foot down and started getting to it...for like the 100th time since I had realized that I wanted to change some things.  This time it was different though.  This time, I made real efforts.  I joined Weight Watchers ( yes, to my initial utter embarrassment.  I had so convinced myself that I was not "that" fat but I was, in fact, "that" fat and let me tell you..admitting it was the first real step towards fixing it !) ,  I started walking and working out and making a genuine effort..and didn't quit or make up excuses after I got bored with it.  This time I approached it like an adult.  I also joined some Mom's groups that stress being a woman and not just a "Mommy", I made new friends ( I had to we had just moved half way across the country from absolutely everyone we knew), I got a babysitter ( a first for my children aside from the very occasional grandparent) and I forced myself to go out without my children.  At my husbands insistence, I even made it out to a few MNO!  Life was turning around.  People were calling me "Deborah" , granted it wasn't Debi but hey, a more adult version of myself is a good thing, right?  Then the holiday's hit.  We traveled and it was one thing after another.  So, here we are at the beginning of 2010.  I am still forging on to revive myself.  I am the priority in my life now, well...I am one of the top 3, for sure.  I am a work in progress, but that is ok.  As long as I am on my own to do list, there is hope for "Debi" My point being, with a little real concerted effort, I am 25 lbs.  smaller than I was in September, I have made some wonderful new friends, and I am feeling more like the starring role in my own Cinderella story versus the cat that belonged to the ugly stepsisters.  I feel like by getting back to "Debi" and introducing that intelligent,beautiful, healthy, cultured, well read, strong woman to my girls that I am not only regaining my independence, my very existence... I am showing them ,by living example, that they are important and vital to their own life story. That no matter who they are, what they think, what they look like, what they choose to be or do in their lives, they must be present and they must be content with the versions of themselves who are present because they are imperative to their own happiness and nothing is more important than feeling like you matter and being fulfilled with who you are in your own life.  Who I am is a direct reflection on who my daughters will someday become.  I want them to know they can have the world and that they deserve it all and so does Mommy. The paddles are out, Clear.....<br />
<a href="http://motherhoodthetruth.blogspot.com">http://motherhoodthetruth.blogspot.com</a>Priceless!tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2009-05-04:988554:BlogPost:2273982009-05-04T20:40:51.000ZMichelle Teykehttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/MichelleTeyke
What I gave -<br />
<br />
Hannah Montana Concert Tickets for my daughter- $280<br />
Disney Weekend for my daughter- $1600<br />
Golf Lessons for my daughter - $600<br />
<br />
What I got in return -<br />
<br />
Speech Contest won by my daughter - PRICELESS!<br />
<br />
There are some golden moments that we mother's have that make it all worthwhile!<br />
For instance, I love watching my daughters ride off to school on their bikes in the morning.<br />
I love putting them to sleep at night and smelling their clean skin.<br />
When they are rocking on their Wii and…
What I gave -<br />
<br />
Hannah Montana Concert Tickets for my daughter- $280<br />
Disney Weekend for my daughter- $1600<br />
Golf Lessons for my daughter - $600<br />
<br />
What I got in return -<br />
<br />
Speech Contest won by my daughter - PRICELESS!<br />
<br />
There are some golden moments that we mother's have that make it all worthwhile!<br />
For instance, I love watching my daughters ride off to school on their bikes in the morning.<br />
I love putting them to sleep at night and smelling their clean skin.<br />
When they are rocking on their Wii and singing "Mississippi Queen" at the top of their lungs, it just puts a smile on my face.<br />
<br />
Well, this last week my daughter, Vivienne, who was painfully shy as a toddler, got up on stage at her elementary school and won the Tropicana Speech Contest!  I couldn't believe that this poised, beautiful young lady who had the audience hanging on her every word was that same shy girl.  When did this happen?  When did the furry little, silly little catapillar become this beautiful butterfly?  When I watched her deliver her speech, all I could think of was, on the day she was born, I wondered who this child would be, what she would be like and if we would be friends.  Luckily, we are the best of friends and really enjoy our life together.<br />
When we sit at the dinner table, our family is like a Saturday Night Live sketch at times, crazy, loud, incredibly funny and absurd all at once!  These are the moments that get us through all the hard times, when we think we are loosing our minds and wonder why we had children in the first place!!!<br />
<br />
My fellow mothers, let's hold on to these special moments and keep them safe so that when we need them, we can pull them out to help us remember why we give so much.  We really DO get so much in return, we just need to remind ourselves at times!Some Thing I'm Afraid Of...tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2008-06-28:988554:BlogPost:382682008-06-28T05:38:27.000ZSugar and Sproutshttp://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/SugarandSprouts
My daughter was due in mid February.  She was born two months early.  My intelligent mind tells me it wasn’t my fault – I did nothing to make this happen and today, she is healthy and strong.  My intelligent mind can reason.  My emotional heart can’t forgive.  I know it isn’t rational but there it is.<br />
<br />
I was not able to protect her when she needed it most.  So perhaps I may overindulge a bit now in my tendency to control her environment. ( I’m sorry but those grapes really, really DO need to be…
My daughter was due in mid February.  She was born two months early.  My intelligent mind tells me it wasn’t my fault – I did nothing to make this happen and today, she is healthy and strong.  My intelligent mind can reason.  My emotional heart can’t forgive.  I know it isn’t rational but there it is.<br />
<br />
I was not able to protect her when she needed it most.  So perhaps I may overindulge a bit now in my tendency to control her environment. ( I’m sorry but those grapes really, really DO need to be quartered – I don’t care if she is two.)<br />
<br />
Pre-baby I was pretty carefree and easy going.  I didn’t live in a sheltered bubble.<br />
<br />
But I have been told that many women who otherwise are pretty chill, get a bit, hmmmmmmm, zealous when it comes to protecting their new little one.  Especially when they have held them weighing in at only three-and-a-half pounds.<br />
<br />
My husband would say this should read “Some Things I’m Not Afraid Of”, meaning of course that I am the stereotypical hysterical mother.  Hysterical I am not.  Cautious, well, yeah, maybe.<br />
<br />
<i>I am afraid that if I lift my daughter up too high when the ceiling fan is on that I will lop off her head.<br />
<br />
I am afraid that she will eat too much toothpaste and grow a tooth in a weird place, like her jaw.<br />
<br />
I am afraid, as many mother’s are, that I will turn my back at exactly the wrong time and she will <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/sugarsprouts/5529596">climb</a>/run/grab something, anything she shouldn’t.<br />
<br />
I am afraid that she won’t potty train by three and be turned away from the pre-school room, possibly scarring her emotionally into adulthood.<br />
<br />
I’m afraid her hair won’t ever grow in at those little places on the sides that make her look like she has a Billy Ray Cyrus mullet.<br />
<br />
I am afraid she will grow up and move very far away.<br />
<br />
I am afraid I will warp her in some strange and unforeseen way if she ever discovers how crazy I really am.</i><br />
<br />
I guess as we all do, I will continue on, loving her and trying hard not to stifle her sense of adventure and joy.<br />
<br />
Today a cracker fell on the ground at the community pool.  She reached for it.  I felt myself begin to lunge.<br />
<br />
Then I stopped.  She ate it.  Five second rule wins.  Or is it ten…?<br />
<br />
<i>________________________ Art imitates life, and life imitates art.<br />
<br />
What I see every day influences what I create, so writing this blog and creating my designs are natural extensions of who I am.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in viewing my designs, primarily for kids but also some cool stuff for adults and also doggies (who we all know are integral parts of all families) check them out at:<br />
<a href="http://www.cafepress.com/sugarsprouts">http://www.cafepress.com/sugarsprouts</a><br />
<br />
See you around the mountains and canyons of northern AZ!<br />
<br />
<b>“If you don’t laugh at life, it sneaks up and bites you in the ass!”</b></i>