Mommy 101

Savannah and Mommy on Thanksgiving

I have been thinking a lot lately about certain characteristics that make up the average, every day, mom.  I would like to dedicate this post to my current curricular content.  We're not talking math, science, language arts or anything in that realm....we're talking Mommy 101, friends!  There are plenty of benchmarks and standards that must be met in a day when you're a full time mommy.  Some days can be longer than others, but the rewards are so great that it makes even the longest of days (when you get to just be with your kids) seem too good to be true! 

Preston--8 months old!

When learning "Mommy 101", at first you will fail quite a bit and sometimes you may feel inadequate!  Questions such as:  Am I doing enough?  Is this the right way to do a specific task?  What do I do when my child is sick?  Will my house ever be clean again?  Will I ever be able to use the bathroom by myself ever again?  Questions like these seem to always plague your mind when you're a mom.  I have found that on any given day, being a mom is one of the hardest jobs I have ever held down.  Also, some days I would like to go screaming from my house as soon as my husband steps foot through the door.  However, I have come up with a list that keeps me sane and I revert to this (and really should post it on the wall for all guests to read before they come into my house) when I feel stressed about every day life.

Cheese!!!  Savannah 2 years old

Lesson #1
This is a kid friendly zone!  Easy enough said and should be placed on my wall for all to read.  That's all it would need to say.  If you come into my house on any given day and it does NOT look like a torando just went through it, then one of two things have occurred: 

1. I have neglected/ignored my kids for the day and locked them in their rooms so they couldn't mess up what has been cleaned (aka:  when I can get them both to lay down at the same time for naptime) or...
2. My children are not at home and are safely with grandma and grandpa making their house a mess!  

These are the only two times my house is EVER clean or floor clear of clutter and #1 doesn't happen very often.  This (while I am typing) just happens to be one of those rare moments when they are both sleeping and you can tell how much cleaning is getting done now (but I have neglected my blog for too long and these lessons must be taught!).

I am so big....I can stand up all by myself now....watch this, mom!

Lesson #2
Old and used magazines are a mom's best friend!  Need a break....find a toy magazine and let you child take a marker after it.  Yes, even though Savannah is only two, I let her mark up any fun toy magazine (circling the ones she likes).  Now that the holidays have arrived we are getting tons of them--MOMS put these away for a rainy day!!  I have a whole drawer full of magazines for days when boredom has hit our house.  While looking at the toys-- sometimes she can be entertained for up to an hour!  Wow....what I can get done then!  I think I even was able to make a family meal the other night.

Look at me....I am standing up playing with my toy!

Lesson #3
The days of enjoying a cup coffee are over!  You know you're a mom when you go to take a sip of your coffee and it feels like someone has spiked it with ice cubes (I bet you thought I was going to write Vodka!  ha).  Yes, you have been a casualty of "take one drink and walk away from your cup never to return again until it's ice cold" syndrome or TODAWAFYCNTRAUIIC syndrome.  The microwave has been my friend the past two years.  I am not a doctor, but I have to think that reheating something that many times can't be good for you (not to mention that the coffee takes on a whole new favor...not a good one either).

Lesson #4
Having a bad day??? All you need is a smile!  Any mom can tell you, if they are having a bad day, all it takes is one smile from their child and all is right in the world again!  Preston and Savannah have those types of smiles!  Even at times when you think you want to pull your hair out, all they need to do is flash you one of those amazing grins and you forget why you were upset in the first place! 

A great example of this is EVERY day my daughter thinks she needs to go in the refrigerator.  We have talked about it, I have said, "NO, NO!" about a million times, yet she loves to get in there to see what she can find.  She's smart too (of course she is....but a different kind of smart, my friends, the SNEAKY kind of smart).  She only goes on her "refrigerator missions" when she knows I can't come right away.  This is usually when I am just sitting down to feed Preston and we're all snuggled in and cozy.  Then, I hear the door to the fridge swing open.  I usually just let her peruse and see what ensues, but one day I thought I would "surprise" her.  I quietly put Preston on the floor and I went to the kitchen.  Only to find Savannah with the syrup bottle up to her mouth taking swigs right from the bottle.  She was taking shots of that syrup like it was her job!  Then she looked up at me and she did it.....she gave me the biggest "I am going to be on such a sugar high in a couple of hours you won't be able to control me" smile.  I couldn't help myself...I busted out laughing.  It's amazing what a smile can do when you're in a "sticky" situation!        

Oh, the joys of parenting and being a mommy.  There are so many lessons I could teach today, but my time is up as one of my curriculum topics has arisen from his slumber.  Must go and play with him, feed him, and enjoy him while he's little and wants me around.  For I know, not too far off in the horizon, there will come a day when he will not want me hovering over him.  Until then, I will savor these days!

Now, go and enjoy your kids (or if they are old and out of the house) give them a call and then enjoy your quiet home!  Until next time, Mommy 101 is adjourned!