A Mom’s Job » Four Against Two

Cheerleading Jeers

A Mom's Job, Moments with Elle No Responses »

Jan 312013

She’s eight…Let’s not get sexy please.

Elle went to the annual cheer-leading clinic tonight. They have had this for years as a High School fund raiser and the girls have gone off and on. I have never yearned for my girls to be cheerleaders, but I know that it is a fun activity for the kids and let them attend the clinic when they want to.

I understand that cheer-leading is a sport. I admire the agility and dancing skills. I wish our local cheerleaders would cheer for the girls teams as well as for the boy teams. I feel that if they are to be respected as a sport more they need to be cheering all of the players, not just the boys. I say all of this to let you know where I am coming from.

Tonight the girls performed the cheer they learned and that they will be preforming next Tuesday at the JV boys basketball game. The cheer is pretty typical in that the girl are yelling,”Let’s go boys! Let’s go!” In my head I’m thinking really, can’t we cheer for the girls just once? I kept my mouth shut though, and watched my girl do her cheer.

Then they started their dance.

Song begins, I start filming…

Song hits the third word or so and the screen shot lowers to the floor. I look at the mom beside me and we both are like “Oh, no they didn’t”.

But they did. They played this song for kids pre-school through fifth grade. My little 8-year-old was dancing to

I’m feeling sexy and free…..

My kid has heard sexy before, she is far from in a bubble. However do not play music for her that celebrates being sexy. If an inappropriate songs hit the airways, I turn it off. If an inappropriate show comes on we turn it off. Some things are not for kids.

If I pay $20 for a cheer-leading clinic I am assuming that my daughter will have fun, get a shirt, maybe learn a cheer. I also assumed she would have appropriate music. I guess my assumptions were to much.

After the show, I found the adult in charge and told her that I did not appreciate the song choice. She did apologize and say that it wasn’t the original song they had planed to use, but the first song was to fast and they picked this one. I told her that my daughter would not be attending the performance if that was the song they would be dancing to. She assured me that it was not. I was still infuriated though.

I hope that other moms also made it known they were not happy, but I seem to becoming comfortable in being the mom who speaks up.

Elle had fun. She knows I didn’t like the song choice, but she knows its not her fault and she didn’t nothing wrong.

Errr.

Bonding With Baby Isn’t Always Immediate

A Mom's Job, Breastfeeding, Education, Family, Frustrated Mommy Moments, Health and Hygiene No Responses »

Jan 232013

I had an interesting conversation last week with a patient about how long it took her to really, really love her first child. When we spoke she had just had her third baby and was amazed with how in love she was already with her latest edition. She talked about how overwhelmed she had been with her first child. That it was too overwhelming to even keep track of the baby’s pees and poos. She admitted it took a while to fall in love with her first baby. She had not experienced Postpartum Depression, but she did have a delayed bonding. She was a healthy, everyday mom who admits she bonding didn’t happen instantly.

After having this conversation I returned home to read a touching piece on BlogHer written by my in-real-life friend @Firemom about post-partum depression. While not immediately bonding with your child doesn’t mean you will have PPD, we as nurses, do look at delayed bonding as a sign of possible PPD. I struggle with saying that last line as immediate bonding doesn’t happen for everyone, and that can be normal. This is a phenomenon that we don’t seem to talk about.

Most of us just assume that once your child is born from your body that you will look at him or her and fall, madly in love, enchanted even. While I don’t have actual numbers to share, I can tell you that as a nurse who has worked on the OB floor, that the delivery room is often not the place of falling in love. In fact, if I were a betting person, I don’t even think the hospital is the place where mama bear instincts and adoration kick in for most moms.

I do see it happen. Baby comes out, dad is crying, mom cries and holds her newborn with an amazed look in her eyes. I have to admit that with both my girls I was over the moon with them, immediately. I am not sharing that to show off or be condescending but because that when I noticed this did not happen for many moms, I realized that it was something that needed to be addressed, talked and written about to let moms know that it is okay, that it is normal.

I have had moms whisper to me things like, “I don’t think that child is mine.” ”She doesn’t seem like she came from me.” They are embarrassed, but reaching out to know if this is normal, wondering what is wrong with them. I’ve even had a few moms tell me that their first reaction of seeing their baby was something along the lines of “yuck”! Not everyone can get passed the body fluids and that is okay to.

There is nothing shameful about wondering how that child in the bassinet beside you is actually yours. There is nothing shameful about feeling like you are taking care of the neighbors kid. The key thing is to remember that by taking care of your child, you will bond and fall in love with him. Keep on holding, loving, nursing, feeding your baby. It may take hours, days or even months for some, but he will feel like yours someday.

If this sounds like your experience, you are normal, don’t be ashamed. Like most things in life, birth doesn’t happen like we think it will. We do want to watch for PPD though, so if you feel the following symptoms or see them in someone you know, it doesn’t hurt to seek medical attention. Mood swings, irritability, trouble sleeping, trouble caring for the baby, trouble completing everyday tasks, or thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby.

I have so much more to say, especially how I think the medical system impedes quicker bonding, but I think I might turn it into another post. This one, I want to keep simple.

(Disclaimer: This post is based on personal experience I have had working as a RN, IBCLC, not medical advice, please consult your doctor with questions or concerns.)

Changing Christmas Traditions

A Mom's Job, holidays 1 Response »

Dec 092012

I didn’t attempt our Advent Quilt this year. The last couple of years have been sketchy with it. The kids are older and an activity in a pocket just doesn’t have the same pizzazz it once had. I decided to go with the flow this year and not stuff the pockets of my beloved quilt. Elle mentioned it once, but the other kiddos haven’t asked.

We wrapped up a twenty-five Christmas books and gave them to my three-year-old niece to open one every day before Christmas. It was nice to pass them down, but I did keep a few and Enu and Elle even let me read them a couple the other night. We’ve watched a few Christmas movies and the kids to more of a role in decorating. Elle even decorated the banister all on her own!

I think the fact that I am more relieved than sad is tell-tale that we were ready for a change in the Christmas traditions. It was getting hard to keep them into the whole advent thing.

This year I let the kids invite a few friends over for a Christmas party. I told them that if they were good hostesses maybe this an annual thing. It went well. I have about twenty girls under the age of 13 at my house partying it up! There was music and dancing (I may or may not have danced the gangum style), way to much sugar and pizza to go around.

The girls worked together, cleaned and prepared the party scene. We still have clean up today and will see how that goes, but overall this may become a thing in our house.

I used some Pinterest inspiration and we decorated milk and cookie cups. Mine were plastic and not quite as fancy though!

Source: heygorg.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Plastic is better for large kid parties!

and played a great game that all ages seem to love:

Source: imacubmasterwhatnow.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

The party gave them some practice on hostessing skills and with basic social manners… things that are not stressed enough it seems. Now I’m off to give clean up commands!

Doggie Problems

A Mom's Job, Family 4 Responses »

Dec 052012

Her favorite place, beside me in my chair!

Our beloved Bella is 14 years old. I’ve mentioned her a few times before. Needless to say she is well-loved in our family. She was my first “baby”. She has watched my kids grow and the family expand. She gets dressed for Halloween every year (for about 30 seconds) and even had her own Christmas card last year (they were free!).

She is incontinent She whines all the time unless you are sitting with her or petting her. I cannot get anything done. The other day she fell asleep in my chair and I slowly got up trying not to disturb her. I even put a small pillow on her back to feel like my hand was still there. She woke up. Does this sound like something else? Yep. It sounds like an infant. A baby you cannot put down to go to the bathroom. Except it is my dog and I have to get things done!

I drugged her with melatonin the other day so she would fall asleep. I’m considering xanax….any suggestions? Hubby thinks it may be time to put her down, but I don’t think she is in pain or miserable I think she just has lost her mind and her elimination control :(

Any thoughts on my Baby Bella?

Mammogram Moments

A Mom's Job, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Health and Hygiene, Stuff No Responses »

Dec 042012

In the waiting room for my first Mammogram.

I got my first Mammogram not to long ago. A few years earlier than normally recommended thanks to my breast reduction surgery. I recently learned that after breast reduction it is common to have issues with scar tissue and other stuff can come up in years to follow. Hmmm. The surgeon never mentioned that piece of knowledge. I would have had it done anyway and have no regrets, but the thought of having lumps and bumps pop up the next few decades will not be an easy roller coaster to ride.

The cape they have you wear is quite fairy like and pink so you feel quite childish and in need of a wand. The room is dark, warm and hummmms.

The technician constantly apologizes for the discomfort…I can only imagine how many times a day she says her sorries.

So I got squished and it wasn’t bad. I have little feeling in my left breast, it feels like it’s asleep or numb and my right has diminished feeling as well, so I don’t feel like I a normal person. It was odd and awkward, but really peaceful and I got to see my breasts from the inside which is always fun. Well, fun for me.

Then I had the ultrasound. I almost feel asleep as the room was dark and the gel was warm. Again, not a bad thing. When they move the ultrasound pictures around it looks like a lunar surface…

Two procedures that are simple and not horrible, but lifesaving. So please. Go do it.

All light-hearted-ness aside. I know that when some of us get these procedures they are because you have found a lump and the stress is quite horrible. I wish no one had to get a mammogram. But we do. There are ways to get free ones if you cannot afford it, talk with your health care provider or call your local American Cancer Society.

Get the girls looked at.

Do it for you.

My First Act As President

A Mom's Job, Just Plain Funny Stuff, Moments with Elle, Moments with Enu No Responses »

Nov 192012

My top adviser…Eat your heart out Obama!

This back-to-college thing is whipping my blogging rear end. I find the time I used to blog, I am doing school work instead. This is a good thing technically because my nursing degree pays the bills, not the blogging thing. That all said. I do miss it, and will get back in the groove when I have the time.

Tonight Elle said something that I deemed blog worthy so I will share with you my loyal readers (hi mom!).

On the way home from karate tonight Enu and Elle were bugging me to stop at Arby’s and get them a drink and a snack. I said “no” of course, as mean moms do and they continued to beg.

Elle finally says, can you just get us water? I’m thirsty and water is free.

To which I used the powerful I told you so weapon reminding them that they are to bring water bottles to karate. I then tell them that Arby’s cannot give out water if you are not buying anything else. I do not know this for a fact, I am guessing. It seems like a good guess though that they would have this policy.

Feeling as if I had won I was happy for the silence until I hear Elle…” When you are President I want that to be the first law you make. Arby’s needs to give out free water even if you don’t buy anything.”

Right then and there I made my first campaign promise and probably my last!

My “MOM”ent

A Mom's Job, Moments With Meg, Reviews, Stuff No Responses »

Oct 232012

A memory that my dad still laughs about is one that makes Meg shake her head.

Meg was about three years old and we were re-siding our house. At this age Meg was quite the songstress and would sing often and perform for us with dance. One day I was in my room putting away laundry and Meg was singing in her room. When I was finished I walked into my singing darling’s room and saw her dancing. Naked. In front of her window. With a workman on a ladder putting up siding and laughing his head off.

Thankfully she has outgrown the naked dancing thing!

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Zarbee’s is giving me a Family Cough Kit and donating two Family Cough Kits to one of my local charities! Thanks guys.

Pretty Please Mr. Gates

A Mom's Job, Moments with Enu, Moments with Mita, Teendom No Responses »

Oct 222012

600 Bucks Please!

In the car yesterday the kids were talking about Bill Gates being one of the richest people on Earth. The topic of all the charity work that him and Melinda do world health and education came up. We talked about Malaria and new school designs.

I was so proud of the girls for knowing some philanthropic facts and current events. Then my pride changed to laughter with this exchange.

Enu says,”If I ever see him I’m going to ask him for $600.” (A funny number isn’t it? What could she want that is $600?)

Mita’s retort, ” Enu, you are not a cause.”

Love my kids and their snappy come backs!

I Loved Julia’s Breakdown

A Mom's Job, Adoption 4 Responses »

Oct 122012

Parenthood is my show. I DVR it and watch it during the day, sometimes a week late, but I still watch it and savor it. Not every story line is my favorite. The infant adoption one drove me batty and then this new story of Julia adopting an older child made me groan out loud. How are Hollywood writers going to portray this I thought.

The answer is: Not bad. I find it annoying that the 9 year old who suddenly appears has no family members to even speak of. What is the back ground story? His mom is in jail, where is dad? Does he have siblings?

A couple of weeks ago I was so pleased when Julia spent the entire work day in her car, just so Victor’s first day of school would go well. It was an out-of-the-box parenting technique that many experts would frown upon. We live in a society of pushing our kids to be “independent” and older adopted kids need us to be attached, even in the most inconvenient of times.

This week Julia really messed up at work. She had a melt-down in the kitchen making breakfast. I can so relate. I wanted to jump up and down and say “See, it’s not just me who goes a bit loopy!” While Julia’s job was high-powered and mine was not so much, I still quit my on-call job to focus on the kids’ needs. My anxiety was running high for a couple of years and I feel I am just now making my way back to a healthy balance.

So bravo Parenthood. You may not have shown all the nitty-gritty that can happen with older child adoption, but you are showing a side of it that many don’t know of. Now please give us a back story that doesn’t vilify Victor’s first family, maybe even a visit with his mom?

And Julia, formally my least favorite character of the show, it will get better. You will find a job in time and be able to get your profession goals on track again. Right now, just love him. Love yourself. Just get through. It will be a roller-coaster.

#endchildmarriage

A Mom's Job, Education, Ethiopia, Family, My Soap Box No Responses »

Oct 112012

“If we succeed in empowering girls, we will succeed in everything else.”
–Desmond Tutu

Today is October 11th. In our family this means the day after Meg’s birthday, but it also means International Day of The Girl. This day was started by the United Nations and they picked this year’s theme of ending child marriages. To most of us the thought of child marriage is an abstract thought that causes us concern when it comes up, but one we mostly don’t dwell on. Let us use this day to gain knowledge on the subject, spread awareness and do our part to stop this insanity!

What can you do?

Watch this short video.

Check out GirlsNotBrides.org for more information and see the dozens of organizations that make up this campaign and learn about what is happening and how you can help. Money is always helpful for changing the world, but awareness and advocating within your own circle are powerful as well.
Share your new knowledge on Facebook and Twitter.
Talk about the issue with your kids. They are the future leaders after all.

I always find it helpful to personalize issues to help me see clearly how I feel about things. Mita, 12 years old, is in the sixth grade and is learning the violin and playing soccer. Enu, age 10, is an active Girl Scout who loves her media. Girls, much like Mita and Enu, are right now are in or awaiting a child marriages. In Ethiopia Twenty-four percent of girls under 15 are married off and forty-nine percent of girls ages 15-18 are married. It is feasible to say that the girls have friends and former classmates who right now might be married.

Something to think about. Pray about. Talk about. Tweet about. Post about. Let’s do something.

Trick Or Treat For UNICEF And Believe In Zero

A Mom's Job, Contests, Education, Family, holidays, Parenting No Responses »

Oct 012012

It’s October 1st. You know what that means - Pumpkins, candy, costumes, candy and UNICEF Trick or Treat time! Why not help children all over the world while building your memories with your kids by doing a few UNICEF activities? It is easy, fun and teaches your kids how to turn values into action.

I’m not having a party this year, with Meg’s 13th party extravaganza so close to Halloween, I’m not up for a party this year. Instead I ordered my Trick or Treat for UNICEF packet that comes with boxes, stickers and information easy for kids to digest and I will share these with friends and family. My kids will save change this month and I’ll give out the fun decorated boxes out to friends for their kids. This year they have color your own box contest as well as Frankenstein, princesses, witches and black cat boxes to collect coins in.

Where you can get your own packet: Trickortreatforunicef.org

Here is where you can donate if you have no time for parties and boxes or Text the word “TOT” to UNICEF (864233) to make a $10.00 donation to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF .

Here are some fun facts that you may be interested in:

*$0.90 of every Dollar donated goes to programs to help children. A great number for a charity!

* In its 62nd year the original Kids Helping Kids Campaign has raised over $167 million!

*$1 buys 24 protein bars for a starving child.

* 7 Cents buys a hydration packet for a dehydrated child.

Remember to tag your Halloween pics with #ToT4UNICEF and show off your boxes and awesome costumes.

I believe in Zero hungry kids, how about you?

Someday

A Mom's Job, Family, Parenting 1 Response »

Sep 082012

I love these Goobers…Even the one who won’t let me take her picture!

Someday I might miss shoes being left in the middle of the door way.

Someday I might miss dirty socks being stowed in my reusable grocery bags or behind the coach or in the yard.

Someday I might want to have a room to help clean up.

Someday I might have an extra $20 to go towards on ice cream or new shoes.

Someday I might miss having to turn off the lights in the hall and the bathroom and the den and the bedrooms.

Someday I will be able to take a shower or go to the bathroom without interruption.

Someday I will get all sappy over hamster escape stories and incontinent doggy memories.

However, today is not someday, so I wish these kids would stop driving me bonkers!

My Favorite New App

A Mom's Job, Education, Moments with Elle, Moments with Enu, Moments With Meg, Moments with Mita, Parenting, School Issues No Responses »

Aug 282012

I’ve shared my art photo books before here. I take pictures of the girls’ art and then make a book at the end of the school year. I have four school art books now and love them. I do have issues with remembering who did what sometimes, and there are times when things get mixed up or I am not certain on the year. Little details like that sometimes go amiss when you have four girls carrying home full folders everyday!

Today I found this app ARTkive, and I am in love! I have uploaded the girls’ names and current grades. I can easily add notes, like deciphering the picture or jotting down the story that accompanies the photo. You can add contacts to share artwork with loved ones if you wish or just store the pictures for yourself. I’m excited about being a bit more organized without a lot of work and wanted to share. Did I mention it was free? Yippee :)

Have you found any new apps that are helpful for life with the kiddos? Please share!

(Disclosure: I have not been asked to share about this app, I just wanted to tell you all about it!)

Go Away Fuzzy Head

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, Earth Friendly Ideas, Frustrated Mommy Moments, Health and Hygiene 2 Responses »

Aug 272012

I was a bit fuzzy-headed this past summer. Everything ran in together it seems, I never was able to catch up and I certainly didn’t get to play around with my camera. My one personal summer goal was a failure. I barely took pictures let alone learn how to use the thing more effectively!

I forgot my wallet when I went to the store…twice in four weeks. I think that was the kicker. How crazy is it to go shopping without your wallet? Something that happens once or twice in your lifetime, not twice in a month!

Fuzzy head had to go. I had a plan. I implemented that plan last week when the kids started school. I didn’t want to go withdrawal mommy crazy on them. I feel better. I’m not so fuzzy-headed. I actually only started part of my plan due to the fact I didn’t want to overwhelm myself and I was sick with a bad respiratory virus. Another clue that I am unwell. My Hubby and two kids caught a sore throat and when I catch it it ends up being a four-day illness where I am in bed or wish I was in bed.

My plan is not simple. It’s not even fun. But it is working:

No gluten. No sugar (real or fake). No caffeine. No Dairy.

I am surviving. I am making a lot more from scratch. I’ve probably saved $10 in fast food/Dr. Pepper. Watching my family eat lasagna was hard last night as lasagna is my favorite meal, but I did it. My plan is a six-week elimination diet and then re-introduce foods slowly into my life to see if I react to any of them badly. I don’t think I have any allergies, but I may be a bit sensitive to some foods I don’t realize and the elimination diet helps be figure it all out in a relative short period.

I think what I am doing is like the Paleo diet I’ve heard so much about. The Hubby and kids are getting the same meals they usually eat, some a bit tweaked for me and other times I just eat something different. If it turns out I do have some foods I have to stay away from for sure, I’ll most likely pass it on into the family meals so I’m not constantly making different foods. The by-product is that we are all eating healthier which is great. I’m not calling this a diet as I don’t really want to model that for the girls, but just a change in eating habits to be healthier. Hopefully I’ll be a better mom with less fuzzy-head so they won’t care we are eating more veggies!

This week I go into my phase two mode of exercising at least 30 minutes a day and increasing the vitamin supplements suggested in The UltraMind Solution by Mark Hyman, MD. I’m not following his plan to the letter as I cannot buy everything organic or spend $300 a month on vitamins, but I’m doing pretty well.

The moral of my story is that I feel better, I have more energy, my clothes aren’t as tight (I don’t weigh myself in general so I don’t know weight loss) and I’m eating as much as I want. I have not yet been hungry and the only real cravings I’ve had were for chocolate (of course!) and they weren’t that bad as I have some real unsweetened chocolate recipes I’ve made.

My fuzzy head is going away and I hope it stays away!

(Disclosure: No one asks me to blog about this book and I bought it myself. If someone wants to pay me for doing this I’m open to that idea :)

A Family Growing Up

A Mom's Job, Family, Parenting, Seasons, Teendom No Responses »

Aug 222012

I no longer have to shop the toddler or little girl sections. I ignore the baby section on Pinterest for the most part and if I pin something there it’s for my work, not my home. The girls start going to bed at 9, not 7:30 (we stager bedtime for sanity). I didn’t have to buy water paints or play dough this year for school supplies. Only one gives me a full on the mouth kiss before she leave the house. The other three give me various styled hugs or cheek kisses. Only two would pose for first day of school photos. This is my last year of being an elementary school parent!

I do have two budding musicians in the family with Meg on her second year of the sax and Mita starting the violin this fall. (We are fortunate to have a strong school music program, a rarity anymore I know.) Those two are also on the soccer team and I am shopping for soccer balls and cleats this year. Enu is at the top of the intermediate school as a fifth grader and Elle wants to be in Karate. New things are being tried and they are challenging themselves wonderfully.

They are growing. I miss some things. I’m really liking other things. Things like Meg and Mita can walk to and from practice together and they both have study hall to get homework done there and not so much at home. They are all funny. Really funny little people with thoughts and ideas that they are open to sharing with us (still, hopefully always). We can discuss current events and a bit of politics with them and they are forming their own ideas.

Bittersweet my thoughts this morning. My growing family is amazing.

( Don’t forget to enter my Scholastic Book Giveaway!)

Meet The Teacher

A Mom's Job, Adoption, Family, Moments With Meg, Moments with Mita, School Issues No Responses »

Aug 152012

Love My Girls

Tonight was orientation for Mita and open house for Meg. They will both be in middle school with Meg being the big 7th grader and Mita the newbie 6th grader. I got a sitter for the other two as Hubby was working late and I couldn’t make those two sit through what I ~~had to sit through~~ was required of parents.

After the initial panic of trying to figure out how to open up lockers (right, left, right not right-right-right) we went to meet the teachers. I had met most of them when Meg went through, but wanted to do the same with Mita. The place was crowded and Mita really didn’t want go from class to class to class. She was fine with meeting them on the first day next Tuesday.

I told her I really wanted to meet them all so they would put the two of us together. She looked at me funny. I then told her, you know just in case one of them want to know if we are trying for a boy (see post from earlier this week). She actually smiled and shook her head, which for those of you with pre-teens know it is hard to get a glance let alone a smile out of them. I think my point got across that I wanted our mis-matchness to be known from the get go.

As they get older they have more teachers and I have less time to get to know them and participate in the classroom. I used to write letters at the beginning of the year to the teachers to introduce them a little bit better to my kids. I will do this with Enu and Elle, but it is not very practical with the older girls.

It’s hard letting the reigns loosen. It’s fun to watch them grow and try new things, it’s amazing getting to know them as them as individuals. I want to make things easier on them, so I go to meet the teacher nights. I hold back all I want to tell them, I try to be chill.

That’s me. Chillaxed and all…

Stupid Things People Say And Fair Pictures

A Mom's Job, Adoption, Family, Just Plain Funny Stuff, Moments with Elle, Moments with Enu, Moments With Meg, Moments with Mita 3 Responses »

Aug 142012

We all say dumb things sometimes, me especially. I am pretty forgiving and have a good sense of humor so don’t worry about offending me for the most part. Yesterday, however, the Avon lady at the fair said something so stupid that the kids insisted I blog about it. So, here it goes.

(Walking up to the Avon booth to look at the chapsticks with all four girls.)

Avon Lady: Wow, you have your hands full!

Me: Everyday

Avon Lady: Are you a daycare?

Me: No, they are all mine. (Really there are only four, and they were behaving so it’s not like we were a walking tornado of twenty kids in matching shirts.)

Avon Lady: Are you trying for a boy?

Me: No, we are done.

Walking away as fast as possible I ask the girls if we should try for a brother….they all started laughing and saying things like ” I can’t believe she said that.” “Blog about this mom” and then Enu of course ” I want a baby brother!”.

I was happy that no one was overly sensitive or mad, it just rolled off them and was a funny family moment. When I told Hubbylater, he told me I should have told her we were trying for a tan kid but kept getting black or white.

When telling people I have four girls I often hear the “trying for a boy” thing, but only when they cannot see the girls. I also hear the daycare thing, especially if there are cousins or friends with us making us a bigger group. I have never heard the two at the same time though when the kids are present and visible.

I just have to laugh.

Meg printed off her blog and made a pillow and a bag from old T shirts. Three blue ribbons!

Enu made a bag from a T shirt and made a poster about making Puppy Chow (Chex mix) snacks for the animal shelter. She also made a pillow. Three blue ribbons.

Elle made a bag and a pillow for two blue ribbons!

Mother Of The Year Award Is In Jepardy

A Mom's Job, Earth Friendly Ideas, Just Plain Funny Stuff, Moments With Meg 2 Responses »

Aug 112012

Yesterday I went to my neighbors garage sale hoping to find some good clothing finds for my older girls. I found several cute things for them including this shirt for Meg:

I thought she would like the recycle theme to it since she just completed her Girl Scout Silver award on recyling jeans. I’ve never bought the VS Pink for them before, but it was only $1 and brand new so what the hay.

I get home and sort out the loot to the kids. I pick up said shirt and find this on the back:

Wonderful. I just encouraged my 12 year old to save water by jumping in the shower with someone. Perfect. Just what I was hoping to do as a mom.

We are thinking the front will make a fun pillow for her room…

Learning The Game Of Soccer

A Mom's Job, Moments With Meg, Moments with Mita, Sports 2 Responses »

Aug 092012

After a week of soccer camp Ella is officially retired she says :)

The girls have played soccer on and off for the past few years. Little short camps or indoor leagues, nothing to competitive. Now Meg and Mita are in a Junior High League with two games a week and at least three practices a week on top of the games. High commitment level. That is something I have avoided for the most part to keep our family schedule manageable and us eating most nights together as a family. I knew that once the girls got older that this plan would not work anymore and the time has come. I am happy that they are on the same team though, and the practice field is a few minutes away by foot so they can walk when it’s good weather.

So far I am impressed with the coach. She is young, but seems firm and has laid out her expectations early on. She will not tolerate absentees or tardiness and the kids have to do suicides if they break any rules or are late/absent. Suicides are a warm-up exercise that is not a lot of fun. Hubby remembers these from his days playing in high school. I skipped the whole extracurricular thing during my school career so I don’t know a lot of these little details. Not a lot of skin is permitted to be hanging out of the girls’ shirts and if they are having bad menstrual cramps they can take a blue day and have a light practice, but still practice. She has it all covered it seems. It is interesting to see the bar being raised with expectations and responsibilities. I’m hoping her rules make my job easier, so I am a less of a nag.

Now that we are a sporting family officially, I felt I should learn more about the game of soccer. I knew the basics, but must learn the nuances so I have a clue of what is going on. So off to Wikipedia I went to learn the history and rules & regs of soccer. Not to bad at all I must say, I knew more than I thought I had and am convinced that soccer is a great sport for my girls to plays…especially since I hate softball/baseball with a passion. Sorry, not flaming please I just don’t care for the slowness and the parental yelling that softball brings.

Do/Did your kids play soccer?Any tips for a newbee soccer mom?

My Breastfeeding Story

A Mom's Job, Breastfeeding, Health and Hygiene No Responses »

Aug 042012

I love my swollen nose in this picture!

I cannot remember deciding to breastfeeding my babies. I can remember in high school knowing I would breastfeed someday. I wasn’t from a breastfeeding family, I wasn’t around babies much and the babies I did babysit were formula fed. Breastfeeding wasn’t in my life, but I just knew it would be. I am in the minority I know. When talking with pregnant women I normally hear them say things like “I’m going to try to breastfeed.” or “I’m not breastfeeding”.

When pregnant with Meg, I read the books the magazines, I dreamed about nursing my baby. Then she was here, and quickly taken to the ICN for rapid breathing. I was able to hold her for about two minutes, then didn’t see her again for several hours. My epidural took forever to wear off and I couldn’t walk to see her. When I finally went to her they wer just about to give her a bottle since she was four hours old and a rather big baby (8 pounds 8 oz), but her blood sugars were holding steady. Then she nursed and nursed and nursed and all was well.

Until I couldn’t get her to latch later on. Hmmm, I thought, it is much easier to read about this stuff than to do it! We made it through the first few days. I was sore, but didn’t think about it much as I knew we would get the hang of it sometime. She grew and grew and was very big, passing her birth weight in about a week (babies lose a bit of weight the first few days, even formula fed ones, the goal for breastfed babies is to be up to birth weight by 2 weeks). I was sore. She was clicking a lot at the breast, on and off, on and off. This made her choke a bit. I took her to the doctor’s office because someone noticed that she was tongue-tied. The doctor told me that they didn’t clip tongues anymore and that it didn’t affect breastfeeding.

At my six-week checkup the doctor noticed that I had a sore on my nipple. He told me to use lanolin, no referral to get help, no suggestions. He didn’t tell me that I shouldn’t have such a sore six weeks post partum. We kept nursing.

We nursed for 15 months. One night Meg looked up at me while nursing and gave me a milky smile and never nursed again. She was done. I wasn’t ready, but Meg had moved on. She went on to have back to back ear infections that irritated me to no end since I hadn’t been the one to wean her!

Five years later here comes Elle. She was smaller than Meg, a mere 8 pounds, and severely tongue-tied. Her tongue formed a little heart when she tried to stick it out. We nursed, nursed nursed and she grew, grew, grew. I was very sore and torn up. We eventually found our happy place. I now know that she had figured out a way to latch that was unique but worked until she was about ten months old. She had so many teeth come in that she had to re-learn how to latch. At that time I was working in the Lactation Program and had learned that tongue-ties can effect breastfeeding. It can cause horrible, painful sores on mom and can lead to weight-gain issues with baby. Huh. Well my girls had no problems gaining, but mama was pretty sore!

At tens months of afe they were going to have to put Elle under general anesthesia to clip her tongue. I didn’t want to do that to her, so we worked things out and she kept on nursing and growing. I weaned her at two years, she would have kept going but I was done. It was a hard decision, one I did not take lightly, one that I second-guessed for a while, but our last nursing session was a wonderful one that I will always remember.

Today both Meg and Elle have their tongues tied still. They can sit still and get them clipped but have never had speech problems so we just left it the way it was. Elle’s has stretched a bit, but you can still see the heart! My girls are happy and healthy and I have always felt that breastfeeding them is one of my most proudest achievements. I grew two babies in my womb and out of my womb. Amazing.

I share this story not to say I suffered and it was worth it, but to tell others that sometimes you get bad advice. I was told that tongue-ties don’t affect breastfeeding and it obviously can. I had two different doctors see that I was having issues and neither one of them really cared. I wish I had realized that I could reach out to other doctor or call the lactation program, I wish I had been a bit more questioning. If I had not been so convinced that I was going to breastfeed, if I had any doubts about it, I most likely would have quit and missed out on an amazing experience.

In the past seven years a lot has changed locally. Babies are being evaluated when they are thought to be tongue-tied and tongues are being clipped in cases when they need to be. That makes me very happy. Having the correct information available on breastfeeding is so important for families.

Go Gabby Go!

A Mom's Job, Adoption, Sports No Responses »

Aug 032012

We were so excited to watch Gabby Douglas win the gold the other night for the gymnastics all-around. In fact the younger girls are watching it right now, as I had to send them to bed.

As I watched it I wondered a few things. Is Gabby’s hair permanently straightened or does she iron it straight. I also wondered if she would be the first African-American to win the all-around gold. The commentators didn’t mention the fact that she was black. It didn’t bother me, it was actually refreshing that race wasn’t the topic of discussion, the sport was. Of course while watching I spent more time amazing and wowed by her skill and talent. She flies effortlessly. She is a super star.

Hitting the blogosphere early this morning (I actually have nowhere to go today!) the world is full of congrats for Gabby as it should be. A NPR blog caught my eye. Apparently there is an uproar in some of the black community that her hair isn’t as it should be. I think her hair looked great for an athlete who has to have it out-of-the-way. I would love it if she unleashed it and showed some beautiful curls after the olympics is over so my girls can see how awesome curls are. If she doesn’t, however, I will not think less of her. Reading the comments to said article some people were incredulous that people where talking hair. I wasn’t surprised. Hair is always discussed in the black community. Of course I am not really apart of that community, I’m more on the fringe trying to make it easier on Mita and Enu to be apart of that community while being raised in a primarily white family in a primarily white community.

There was also a few comments on the fact that race wasn’t being mentioned at all. Some were mad about it and some were happy. Others were wondering about what the big deal is. Here is the thing. When you are apart of a minority community, there is not only pride (just like in majority communities) there is as need to really represent, to make an impact to show how awesome your community is. This is not a bad thing, it just is. Personally I was happy that every other word wasn’t about Gabby being black, but I did make sure my kids knew of her achievement for the black community. It is important for all of our kids to know when history is being made. It is inspiring. It is history.

All of that to say, we are so pleased for Gabby Douglas and her family. She is talented. She is strong. She is beautiful and full of life with a smile that rocks the world. Whatever her hair style, whatever her race she is champion!

Childhood Moments

A Mom's Job, All you need is love!, Family, Moments with Elle, Parenting 1 Response »

Jul 292012

I had a flashback childhood moment last night. Elle crawled into bed with me (Hubby was away, so she knew her chances were good on staying) and I heard a sigh. A lovely sigh.

That sigh took me back to being a kid. When crawling into your parent’s bed was triumphant victory and the safest place in the world. I then had other flashback moments.

Pretending to be asleep in the car and having your dad carry you into the house.

Dad bringing home root beer and ice cream to make floats.

Laying over the register on a cold morning with a blanket over you to make a tent.

Talking into a fan to hear your voice change.

Hanging upside down off the couch and reading a book while the blood rushing to your head.

I wonder what my kids will remember? What are some of your favorite childhood moments?

Pinterest Quotes That Make Sense

A Mom's Job, Family, Stuff No Responses »

Jul 262012

Source: pinterest.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Yes, I am referring to Pinterest again. I do not spend all day on it I swear! SWEAR! The above quote seemed appropriate for the current climate of politics, guns and chicken nuggets.

My mind, heart and patience tend to become overtaxed when I hear of injustices, cruelty and just plain stupid-ass violence. As a general role I don’t talk big topics with those around me. I just need to live my life, be an example for my kids and let them know my values and the values I want them to have and demonstrate.

I don’t listen to loud unless it’s my radio. I will speak up when I have to. I will gladly converse with rationale people who don’t agree with me, but I will not yell or post every thought I have ever thought of to all around me.

That is all.

Back To School

A Mom's Job, Education, Family 1 Response »

Jun 252012

Maybe I’ll get a Hunger Games backpack!

I’ve been a bit listless lately. Busy with the kids as usual. Happy that I am working a bit. Still listless though. Feeling like I’m spinning my wheels a bit.

I am seriously contemplating going back to school and getting my four-year degree in Community Health. I currently am an RN with an associate degree and there is a big push for us to get our bachelor’s degree at work. I really don’t want a BS in nursing, but community health is really what I am interested in. Working with young families has shown me how important it is to have a community who cares about kids and parents.

So now my only obstacle is math. I need one more math class to get started on my journey. Does anyone want to take it for me? I dread math. On the other hand, how nice it will be to have a refresher course so I can actually help the kids with their homework!

I’ll go back part-time for sure, but I am very excited about this possible near future of mine. Any tips for returning back to class?

Book Review: Pictures Of Hollis Woods

A Mom's Job, Adoption, Moments with Mita, NaBloPoMo, Parenting, Reading Challenge 1 Response »

Jun 222012

Pictures of Hollis Woods is a Newberry Honor Book written by Patricia Reilly Giff. I found out about this book when Mita brought it to me to see how many stamps she would get for reading it. Remember I do summer stamps for the kids to earn media time and gift cards to keep them off the TV and to encourage some mind movements! She had gotten it at school. I hade no idea what it was about and asked her. She said it was good. That was about all the description I got from her, but taking her 12-year-old moodiness in stride I was just happy I didn’t get an eye roll!

So I read it. It only took an afternoon, but the book made an impact on me, like books about foster kids often do. A quick summary: Hollis Woods was abandoned an hour old in NYC and lived her life from foster home to foster home. She often ran away, she felt worthless, but her saving grace was her talent for art.

Seeing inside the mind of a child who has suffered from not having a family is tough. This may be a fictional story, but it could very well be a real one thousands of times over. Children without someone to love them often feel like they are nothing but trouble in the world. My heart breaks.

When we decided to adopt, I first called our local children’s services. I received bad information, and I have sometimes wondered if I had pushed harder or asked on another day how might our adoption journey would have been. Of course the past is the past and I’m in love with my family so it really doesn’t matter. Though I really want people to have good information when seeking adoption. Working through the foster system isn’t easy, but people do it. Kids do find homes, parents do find children.

A bit of a spoiler here in that Hollis does find a home. She learns that families are not perfect, so she doesn’t have to be perfect either. A sweet message.

I recommend this book for fourth grade and up. My goal is to ask Mita a bit more about the book. I’m not even sure if she sees a correlation between her and Hollis as they do have different stories. I do hope she gets the overriding message that the love of a family is deserved by everyone.

Baby Friendly Hospitals

A Mom's Job, Breastfeeding, NaBloPoMo 6 Responses »

Jun 192012

Elle eating her sleeve!

There is a lot of talk about the Baby Friendly initiative lately on the news, talk shows, Twitter and Facebook. While the term is becoming more common, many people aren’t quite sure of what it means in terms of hospitals and giving birth. Today a fellow LC and I talked breastfeeding with our fellow nurses and many of them were unfamiliar with the term as well.

The Baby-Friendly initiative was started by WHO (World Health Organization) and UNICEF and is becoming pretty popular in the US. Simply put it is an accreditation that is given to hospitals and birthing centers that meet certain requirements. Requirements such as skin-to-skin following birth (with well babies of course, and this is not forced on the mother, just normal hospital policy that it happens. Moms can refuse skin-to-skin), bathing and assessments of baby done in the room with parents so they can ask questions and learn basic infant care, breastfeeding education given to all staff (including doctors), no formula bags given out and a goal of having baby in room with mom 23 out of 24 hours. There are more things of course, but those are the highlights.

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and the CDC are behind hospitals attaining this certification and for a general change in practice as far as mom’s and babies. The hospital I work at is laying the foundations of obtaining certification as well.

So what is all the hullabaloo about, you may ask? Why are people fighting it? Change is hard and can be scary sometimes, we all know that. People are afraid they will be force-fed to breastfeed if they don’t want to. That is not what Baby Friendly is about. Baby Friendly hospitals do have better breast-feeding rates for sure and they are very encouraging with education and getting parents to be informed about what is best for their babies. Will you be forced to breastfeed, no. Will you have better information to make an informed decision, yes.

So why can the formula bags? Simple. Giving out free formula or “gift bags” has demonstrated itself in lower breastfeeding rates. I have heard so many arguments over why it is unjust to remove the bags, but I urge people to look at the bigger picture. No where else in hospitals*, NO WHERE, does marketing and business have direct power over the consumer than on the obstetrics unit. When a hospital allows a brand to give away promotional items that hospital is saying “We recommend this, it is good.” to the consumer. In reality the formula companies are giving the hospitals free formula, nipples and feeding supplies. The hospital and the local WIC normally choose the same brand of formula so the babies stay on the same stuff from hospital to home. WIC has contracts based on bidding systems. The lowest price is what they go for. So your free hospital bag of formula is the lowest bidder, not necessarily the best choice for your baby. That said, save for a few changes for allergies and digestive issues, most formula is all the same. What costs is the advertising, the product cost pennies an ounce. The formula companies are buying their way into homes through the hospital.

Some people still say “who cares, I like free stuff.” Well I like free stuff as well, but you have to go back to ethics. Does the Coronary Care Unit give out McDonald’s Coupons? No, they don’t want you eating fast food, and most of us don’t eat the salads when we go anyway! Does the stroke unit, give out literature about preventing strokes with cigarette ads on the top of the education papers? No. It would be contraindicated. Yet, formula companies have been allowed to market their sub-par product for decades. Formula-fed babies have higher rates of infections, bowel issues, obesity, allergies, auto-immune diseases and so on and so forth. I’m not saying that all formula-fed babies are sickly. I was formula fed and have been very healthy (though a few more IQ points may have been lovely to have;) I’m saying that statistically they have more medical problems.

If you have worked with me or know me on a personally level, you will know that I would never make anyone feel bad for giving their baby formula. It’s not about making people feel bad. It’s about getting the right information out there, and not letting big business and the formula lobby choose what your baby eats. The whole mommy-wars things is tiring and gets us no where. We are blaming each other, when if we worked together we would be so much healthier and stronger.

Baby Friendly hospitals are a great step in getting our birth experience. I wholeheartedly want our health care systems to be family oriented and less medical, unless medical is needed of course. When looking at our country and society as a whole, if we want healthier babies and higher breastfeeding rates, we need more than Baby Friendly though. We need our country to recognize how important young families are. How do we do this? Better maternity leave benefits, insurance companies paying for breastpumps, employers who have pump rooms for mom (bathrooms are not pump rooms) and don’t penalize or ridicule moms who pump milk for their babies. How do we pay for this you may ask? By breastfeeding. It save a lot of money. The AAP has estimated in the millions of dollars of financial savings if at least 75% of babies were breastfed for six months. MILLIONS of dollars. Less sick babies, less time off work, less visits to the doctor and emergency rooms.

My rant on Baby Friendly Hospitals is done for now. I almost hit 1000 words, oh my. I must go trim some stuff! Please ask me questions if you have them. Please don’t accuse me of being mean to formula feeding moms, because I am not ;)

*Edited post publishing from Health Care to Hosptials and power to direct power over the consumer. Thanks Robyn for pointing out my blunder.

I’m A Pool Rat (Translated: I Get To Read!)

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, It's all about me!, Summer Fun 1 Response »

Jun 142012

Growing up I thought all people who had summer pool passes were wealthy human beings. Now that I am an official grown up and have a pool pass I realize the error in my thinking! Wealthy I am not, though I have been very, very blessed and have the choice to be able to work on-call while Hubby brings home the bacon.

So I have a pool pass to our local pool. It’s old and not fancy, but it is clean and very close and the water is perfect. No chlorine problems that leave you smelly with green hair. The kids love it. Plus it is located by the schools so the kids can walk to various volleyball and basketball clinics from the pool or I can make the short drive without relocating everyone.

All four girls are great swimmers. We haven’t done swim lessons for two years now. This is the first year I haven’t brought a vest for Elle for when I thought she was getting tired. She hated it when I made her put it on, but she refused to get out of the deep end and would keep going off the board even though she was so worn out! This year, I have noticed she is exhausted when we get home and is sleeping very well, but she is holding her own while at the pool. A seven-year old fish.

We go to the pool a lot. I discovered a couple of years ago that the pool is a god-send for me. They swim, hang out with friends, get snacks at break time and then go back to swimming. I have two life guards to back me up on supervising (one made Enu write sentences last year for pushing someone into the pool. She was so mad and I was so impressed! I wasn’t doing the yelling and she realized that other adults won’t put up with any shenanigans either.) All of this means that I can read! Lots and lots of books get read in the summer at the pool.

While my prefered place to read would be in the shade of a tall, tall tree I am more than willing to read under an umbrella for short periods in the sun. Such sacrifice I know.

So what am I reading?

I just finished re-reading A Discovery of Witches in preparation for book number to coming out July 10th. So excited for the sequel! I want to see if Matthew gets all mid-evil and if a baby comes this book. I know, I know, it’s all about babies with me!

I also am reading Sara Gruen’s Riding Lessons, Flying Changes and Ape House. Gruen wrote Water For Elephants and I adored that book. Ape House was very good as well and though I am not a horse person, her horse ones were a good great. She knows the animal-human connection for sure!

Though I finished these before summer, they would be a great set of books for reading at the pool: If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Foreman. I found these books by participating in the BlogHer Book Club. Great reads! Good for older teens as well.

I loved I’ve Got Your Number by Sophia Kinsella! I’ve read some of her other books and found the characters to be a bit to shallow and immature, but she nailed it with this book and I really recommend it for a fun read.

I’ll keep reading and recommending books, because it’s summer! Yeah summer :) Now please do three things for me. 1) Support your local pool if you have one, they are a dying institution. 2) Read a book this summer! 3) Go to this post and leave a comment and BlogHer will dontate money so others can read books as well!

Heart Racing Backyard Experiences

A Mom's Job, Adoption, Education, Entertainment, Family, NaBloPoMo, Parenting No Responses »

Jun 082012

What a big ship you have!

Years ago …decades really, my brother and I lived on a small island. It was surrounded by sharks and was a very dangerous place to live. We were very brave though and survived. Once I got older I would race cheetahs and beat them to my front door, but only barely. I remember feeling the heart palpitations as I ran.

The island was our sectional couch of course and the cheetahs were in my head, but they were so very real. Just like Laura Ingalls joining me for walks while I explained what cars and airplanes were to her or the submarines that we sunk in the cow troughs in the fields. Very real at the time.

When was the last time I pretended with such intensity that my heart raced? I cannot remember and that makes me sad. While I still get into great books and my imagination can run wild, it doesn’t have that same intensity of pretending as a child.

I adore watching my kids play make-believe and pretend. While the fuddy-duddy in me hates the mess that making a huge, room sized tent out of sheets and blankets can be, I love watching them build it, and then play for hours.

Elle and one of my nephews are the best at pretending together. They are so much a like that their thoughts flow very naturally. They hike, swim, make guns and forts. They have code names like Sharks Blood and are government spies. They are seven. How long will it last?

Meg still has some pretending in her, especially when playing with the little ones. She is almost thirteen and I know her and a friend play Harry Potter still at times. Those days are numbered though. I feel it in my bones.

Mita and Enu have a hard time pretending. I have noticed that children from developing countries are not encouraged to pretend. Everything is very black and white. Instead of writing prompts to encourage a young author, they are assigned already written pieces to be copied by hand. There are no blocks and building toys for the most part. The building of a big tower and watching it crash down did not happen for them, so cause and effect wasn’t learned at an early age either.

I understand all of this, but I do yearn that they do get some more play in before the adult world creeps in on them. They have blossomed a lot. When they first got home they wouldn’t color unless they had someone tell them what colors to use or they saw an example. They would then try so hard to duplicate the example perfectly and end up getting mad and throwing it away. Free drawing was out of the question back then for sure. I try to stimulate stories like “What would it be like if Bella (our dog) rode the school bus today?” or other activities like making up songs to stimulate some imagination. They say that our brains are hardwired in the first three years of life and then have a pruning and re-wiring around 10-12. I hope some of the re-wiring includes imagination and pretend play with my two girls who missed out the first time around.

I think I’ll ask my mom to tell me about some pretend games I used to play with my brother. I ‘m sure I’ve forgotten some of them and it would be fun to reminisce. Like the time I pushed him to the sharks…a timeless memory that he needs to be reminded of!

Culture Torture

A Mom's Job, Education, Entertainment, NaBloPoMo, Parenting No Responses »

Jun 062012

Love Summer Feet!

We live in a small, small town. Not even a town, it is technically a village. I’ve struggled with living her at times, especially after we adopted two daughters from Ethiopia. Diversity isn’t everyday around here, and cultural activities have to be sought out.

That said, our little village has grown a lot in culture and activities from when I grew up here. We have a recreation association that has fun, inexpensive local activities for kids, adults and families. We also have an association that puts on outdoor concerts in the summer for free. We did not have these growing up, or I was not aware of them if we did.

Last night the first summer concert was the Kent State Steel Drum Band. I so wanted to go and Hubby was working late. I love the drums. Meg plays the sax and Mita is starting on the violin next school year. Hubby and I are musically challenged, but we do enjoy it and hope the kids play instruments at least in the middle school to gain some music knowledge and appreciation.

The kids complained, the older ones trying to get to stay home alone (a new developement in our house) and the younger ones were just pouty. I not only dragged my four girls, I brought a neighbor girl with me. I didn’t push my luck by suggesting a walk, so I loaded them all up in my car and drove the three minutes to our Village Hall.

You would have thought I was making them wash the kitchen floor with a toothbrush the complaining I heard! As the music started playing the kids’ faces were stoic, like I was poking them with needles for information they weren’t going to give. Then they laid on the blankets, one started reading her book, two quietly wrestled while the other two laid on their fists.

Slowly but surely they loosened up a bit. When the calypso music started I saw some shoulder movement. After feeding them brownies I was also allowed to dance a bit on the blanket. Then we started doing the swim dance, while throwing some peace signs. It was lovely.

At intermission, we left as I wasn’t going to push my luck. We had fun, though they may never admit it.

Next month…woodwinds :)

Songs For My Girls

A Mom's Job, Stuff 3 Responses »

Jun 052012

While participating in the BlogHer Book Club for the book, Where She Went, there was a discussion about music in our lives. One of the comments mentioned “My Life’s Soundtrack” and I found that intriguing. I had never heard of that before and wanted to explore a bit and find my life’s soundtrack. Of course, then I got distracted and didn’t think about it much after that. I’m worse than the kids really! I did think about the songs I treasure about the girls though, so here they are.

When Meg was little, the song I Hope You Dance sung by LeAnn Womack was huge. It became my wish for her as she grew up. I dreamt of her becoming a wise, yet playful woman who took risks and lived an exciting life. So far she is holding up to those wishes.

I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’
Don’t let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

When Elle came along it took a while to identify a song for her, but soon Faith Hill’s FireFlies hung in my heart for her. Ella means

“Fireflies”

Before you met me i was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me i traveled ’round the world
I slept in castles and fell in love
Because i was taught to dream
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture tinkerbell
They were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But i could always tell[chorus]
I believe in fairytales and dreamers dreams like bed sheet sails
And i believe in peter pan and miracles
And anything i can to get by
And fireflies Before i grew up i saw you on a cloud
I could bless myself in your name and pat you on your wings
Before i grew up i heard you whisper so loud
“life is hard, and so is love, child, believe in all these things”
I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture tinkerbell
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But i could always tell[chorus]Before you met me i was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
Before you knew me i traveled ’round the world
And i slept in castles and fell in love
Because i was taught to dream

Mita’s song took even longer, but I found it not to long ago - My Wish sung by Rascal Flatts:

“My Wish”

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you’re faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin’ till you find the window,
If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God’s grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Then there is Enu. I have yet to find a song for her and I feel bad about that. Why do I feel bad you ask? Because I am a mom and my default is always guilt. I am sure there is a song for her though. Maybe it hasn’t been written yet, or maybe she will write it herself, but I will keep listening for my little goose and find the soundtrack of her for my heart.

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