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Last month, I was asked by the lovely Jill Asher (co-founder of Silicon Valley Moms Group) if I'd be interested in writing for an upcoming new sister site, for New Jersey mom bloggers.
"Hey, you know, I'm from Jersey!"
Well, yah...and DUH!
Today, I am thrilled to tell you that the site has officially launched and...GUESS WHAT...I even got to write the introduction:
My mom had double-knee replacement surgery, last year (yes, it's just as icky as it sounds) and her and dad have had one medical challenge after another, since then.
Life goes like that, sometimes - beautiful one minute, filled with suckage the rest.
It's okay, though. I sort of imagine life as a giant 50 foot female, all hopped up on too much caffeine and experiencing a bad hair day, and expect it will probably try to bite me in the ass, more than once.
Today, most especially, she is going to be a total BITCH!
Having been born, grown up and now raising a family of my own (and blogging about it) in New Jersey (what, you too...SHUT up!) I've pretty much heard it all. Still. You may be surprised to learn, however, just how difficult it can be, listening to jokes about why we're called "The Garden State" because, it's too hard to fit "Oil and Petro-Chemical Refinery State" on a license plate, etc...
[rolls eyes]
So, New Jersey has a lot of chemical companies; I get that. Hell, I used to work with a couple of them - way before children - forgive me, but the assumption that moving here would be less than desirable, by anyone who refuses to take a look-see beyond the Turnpike tolls, you know, upsets me.
Or, in more Jersey-type terms...it friggin' frosts my ass, people!
No, I am NOT a morning person but, as long as there's a cup of coffee handed to me within the first few minutes of entering the bathroom with the morning paper...I'm good.
Once I finally do regain the power of speech -- typically, this happens soon after taking a very hot shower -- and after ridding myself of stray facial hair and morning nose...I'm better.
Then, the kids wake up.
This is about the time when -- after careful consideration of the
vast amount of demands that will undoubtedly be put upon me physically,
mentally and/or emotionally that hasn't already been compromised from
the weekend before -- I seriously think about petitioning for a:
"National Go Back To Bed Day!"
Instead, I'm taking Her Bad Mother's Dare of Truthiness and revealing my true, unmade-up self to the world...on my blog...and, in the words of my 12-year-old daughter:
"EEP!"
Go ahead...click on that annoying "continue reading" thingy...I DARE YOU!
The kids and I left town, this weekend - yes, ALL of us and my husband DID know about it - because, well, you see, I haven't been feeling "quite right" lately.
No, I'm not sick.
[knocking on wood until knuckles bleed]
But, for reasons too long to go into, here (you're welcome) if you really want to know, I'm hashing it all out at The Imperfect Parent, today.
Anyhow, I've been at this mommy gig long enough to know that raising a family isn't always going to be all sunshine and rainbows - although, my kids really do make me smile and, more often than not, laugh SO hard, my face hurts - I've been hollering at the children way too much, lately, and by the time I woke up on Friday morning, I was ready to toss in the towel and called it a day.
So, I packed my bags and ran home to my mommy!
Continue reading "Whoever Says, You Can't Go Home, Never Had To Sleep With Me!" »
The key message for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2008 – “Be comfortable in your genes. Wear jeans that fit the TRUE you."
And it starts today!
This year, my daughters and I have made a commitment to do just that - hosting the I Am Beautiful blog Tour with Woody Winfree on Valentine's Day started us off on some pretty cool dialog - and with BlogHer launching the A Letter to my Body initiative, I can't help but get fired-up about discussing body image.
You see, we should ALL love our bodies!
[feels tap on shoulder]
"Uh, self? Can we talk?"
Continue reading "Body Image: A Conversation with Me, Myself and My OTHER Half." »
It started to snow, for all of 17 minutes, yesterday and even though they were happy (sort of) I can't tell you how difficult it was to chase the kids off the couch.
At least two of them, anyway!
I mean, as a parent, I can certainly understand the importance of helping my children direct their natural energy into a productive form of physical activity - seeing as I can't sit 5 minutes without tapping my foot or twirling my hair - but, there are people who STILL think that children today are becoming less and less active.
I am NOT one of those people!
[This entry is cross-posted with Moms Speak Up]
This is an emergency, people - quick, somebody call Ty Pennington - we seem to have a severe laundry backup!
Now, I'm NOT the type of person who likes to complain - heaven knows, my mommy ears are VERY tired already - but, our nearly new dryer broke two weeks ago and it's STILL not fixed DAMMIT!
Did I mention, we've got 6 people living in our house?
Last week, The Boy (he's 9) had a wicked stomach virus and threw up 11 times, on Thursday - I know, my 6-year-old was home sick with a fever and was good enough to count it for me - oh, and...DAMMIT...our nearly new dryer STILL doesn't work!?!?
Not for the lack of trying - we've got the service center on speed dial - but, it seems that reliable customer service is the last thing on Sears' mind.
The Boy (he's 9) had a friend sleepover on Friday and, after his mom dropped him off, I asked for his backpack, pointed out where he and The Boy would sleep (I mean, the couch IS right next to the front door) and then I knelt down real low (I could hear the poor kid's neck muscles straining) and went over our house rules.
"Basically, there aren't any."
What?
He's NOT my kid and it IS a sleepover - he WILL eventually go home and, you know, tell his mother - and it's NOT like I expected them to actually sleep, or anything.
But, he still seemed a little weary - I recognized the confused sort of...WUH-HUH?...way he shook his head, right away - so, I continued.
Continue reading "Being at the wrong place at the right time and Mini-sleepovers!" »
Oh, give me a break - as if a woman had any part in the Cowboy's losing yesterday's game - still, it's funny how some people CAN think these sort of things up!
Yes, I am a HUGE fan of football - though, Garth (not his real name) will tell you that salivating over all the cute quarterbacks traipsing around the field, lately and being easily amused by the butt-slapping does NOT constitute as good sportsmanship - but, I have to tell you, last night's game WAS one of the MOST difficult ones to watch.
