As a stay at home mom, I am still navigating this life and each day I like to believe I get a little better at it than the day previous. In the 5 months since I have worked a normal 7-5 job I have gained a job that never stops, I do not "clock out" ever, I do not get a salary, I do not get overtime, I do not get a Christmastime bonus. Some people say "Oh you're just a stay at home mom!" Now if you want to see this lady get upset, and become 62 inches of pissed off then say that to me and watch me turn into more than JUST A MOM. Yes 5 months ago I traded in my work clothes for jeans, shorts, and t-shirts and of course flip flops but the work has increased by about 2 billion percent. I worked in the traditional sense when I was in high school and did not stop until, well 5 months ago...Before that I babysat for my neighbors kids who are family...I watched them grow just like my siblings and that is the amazing part, the babysitting gig taught me patience at an early age, to make the little ones I was watching a priority and I can say that in a round about way it has helped me in parenting. I was also/am also the oldest of 5 kids. The youngest being 16, and the other 17 and she is off to college in the fall, next my sister is engaged and 24, graduating college in June and going to marry an amazing man that I get to call brother...(Insert Tommy-boy joke-Brothers don't shake hands, brother's gotta HUG!) Then my other little brother who is going to be 31 next week, and then me...who is currently knocking on 33's door...so far no answer! Ha! All of these life experiences early on has taught me how to be a parent, a friend, a family member, a women, a wife, a good person. All of our "life things" help define us don't they? We can choose to learn and persevere, or not grow, remain stagnant and never progress...I choose to better MY life, MY CHILDREN'S LIFE...The life of a mommy never stops, this is true, as my dad said to me a few weeks ago...You will always worry about your children, even when they are grown and married and have their own children..The worry never goes away. I believe this to be true, I am very lucky that I have parents who have been my rock and have rescued me more times than I would care to admit, they are my friends, and my sounding board when I need them to be and they also still "Parent" me when I need it, they tell me when I make not so awesome choices, or they help me navigate parenting with sound advice from over 34 years of parenting. I need them every day still and I love them more now than I ever have, my mom was a stay at home mom when I was younger, then went back to work and my dad worked a lot. Come to think of it there were times when Dad would work several jobs just to make ends meet, and mom would work so hard, missing soccer games and baseball games due to work, etc..And then when mom and dad had my siblings we as a family helped one another out, I like to think I had a small amount in raising them and now my siblings are amazing teenagers and young adults! As a parent we give our best, the best we can and it is not iPads, iPhones, the latest video games...No it is love, support, teaching your children to be well rounded people who appreciate the beauty of life. My kids know what love is, because they see it, and feel it daily. My oldest in theory-Scarlett was born 1 minute before her twin brother, she is my old soul and always knows the right time, or when a person needs a sweet touch, a kiss on the cheek...She is my soft heart and I wish I could shelter her from everything because she is like me, she wears her beautiful little heart on her shoulder and is very sensitive, I still struggle with this daily, growing thicker skin and not letting everything get under my skin. Am I successful? Some days YES and some days NO, but I continue to try just the same and that is what life is all about, getting up and continuing on! At first when I was given the gift of being a stay at home mommy I was sad, I was feeling like that fish out of water for this was a new life I was not used to, add on top Jason was home from Korea after a year apart, and also moving to a new state and essentially starting from scratch. It was a time in my life that I was scared, nervous to a point but I dug my heels in and here I am 5 months later learning this life, this gift that has been given to me. Before this I worked full time and my kids spent literally 10 hours a day at daycare Monday through Friday, and by the time we got home it was dinner, bath and bed for them. I would see them in the morning and a few hours at night, the weekends were spent playing catch up and were BUSY to put it mildly because I was a single parent, I was mommy, daddy, cook, maid, etc...Jason was in Korea so I had to shoulder all of the additional duties if you will. I have amazing parents, an amazing mother in law and amazing neighbors who were my help when I needed it most. My kiddos saw the stressed out version, the edgy version, the version that was not always the best for them looking back. Things were at warp speed and I had 3 babies UNDER 3 to care for, I did it and we all as a team made it through, my faith and my kids were and still are my rock. These days I am much more relaxed, although Jason leaves in 2 weeks for a few months for school so that will be back to single parent duty, but I must do what I must right? I care for my trio, I am teaching them potty training, ALL 3 ALL at once-Jesus help me! It has been an "interesting" time, and so far it is not going as planned but determination is my middle name. We also do arts and crafts, and work on letters, and things that they would learn in a daycare/preschool setting. I teach the kids to cook with me, every Friday we make some sort of Gluten free cake or brownies, and they from time to time help me prepare dinners, lunches, etc...All 3 love it! We also have been quite busy with yard work, the front yard is coming along, although I am not sure my grass will grow sadly but I will continue to try...Next week the kids and I tackle the backyard which is a mess as well-they love picking out flowers, and bushes and learning how to dig, and plant things...Everything is a new learning tool for them! We also are very active in our new church here, it is called Shoreline church in Ft. Walton Beach and it is fantastic! It is very much a jeans and flip flops, come as you are type of church...Very much my speed, the kids love it as do I, I am also involved in a wonderful women's bible study on Wednesday mornings and the trio comes along and they have daycare which is a huge PLUS for me. We also go on Sundays and the kids learn a memory verse, and bible songs which are adorable to hear them sing...It makes me happy that I am doing all I can to raise well rounded babies! Our days have been simple lately, Kellan has been having a hard time sleeping through the night and quite honestly as tired as I am I feel like he is a new born. He says there is a "ghost" in his room that stares at hime and scares him, is there really one? Who knows but one thing I do know is this...if this continues mommy will be a zombie/ghost with no sleep! Haha! He struggles with the dark, loud noises, and being "alone" and Jason and I are not sure why, other than perhaps he feels alone because up until we moved here he was in a bedroom with both of his sisters...We may do a test run this weekend and see if he sleeps better in their room and if so we will move him in for the time being...I just want him to feel safe and not scared, I have struggled with this in my heart recently because I see the tears in his eyes when we kiss him goodnight and it is literally a 45 minute ordeal, of kisses and hugs and prayers because my sweet boy is scared. Yesterday we were all tired and well...edgy so I buckled the trio into the triple stroller that is so heavy WITHOUT kids, and I swear has its own zipcode-Haha! Yet I digress...I walked them in this monster known as the triple stroller from hell and we walked nearly a mile each way to the park on base for some much needed outside time and fun in the sun. Of course the minute we got there none of them wanted to play but eventually they all ventured out and found their own little grooves, Scarlett tends to mother Violet and keeps an eye on her at all times and is even rather bossy with her telling her what to do! Haha! Kellan is more a loaner...(Insert movie saying-"I'm a loaner Dottie, a rebel!"Pee Wee Herman) Haha!!! He explores how things work, what is what, why things are the way that they are...It is rather interesting to watch, he will pick out every piece of equipment that is broken or not put together correctly, I think someday he will be an Engineer because his attention to detail is amazing. He can remember even the most small detail days later and inform you that you not only forgot but did it wrong! Last night he told me that I did not mop right, I said huh? He said that I usually start over on the other side and last night I started on the opposite side, he is so smart! All of my kids have their special gifts, Scarlett is sweet and mothering...Kellan is so locked in with the details of things yet has a kind heart as well and finally my Violet who I have nicknamed "The hippy" is very easy going and goes with the flow, her hair is always crazy and she always wants to be dressed in nothing but undies! I will close this novel all of my readers~Thank you for supporting me and my ramblings...Life is beautiful, Life is good, and don't let a moment of this beautiful life pass you by! XOXO~Love and light to all from Florida~
As a stay at home mom, I am still navigating this life and each day I like to believe I get a little better at it than the day previous. In the 5 months since I have worked a normal 7-5 job I have gained a job that never stops, I do not "clock out" ever, I do not get a salary, I do not get overtime, I do not get a Christmastime bonus. Some people say "Oh you're just a stay at home mom!" Now if you want to see this lady get upset, and become 62 inches of pissed off then say that to me and watch me turn into more than JUST A MOM. Yes 5 months ago I traded in my work clothes for jeans, shorts, and t-shirts and of course flip flops but the work has increased by about 2 billion percent. I worked in the traditional sense when I was in high school and did not stop until, well 5 months ago...Before that I babysat for my neighbors kids who are family...I watched them grow just like my siblings and that is the amazing part, the babysitting gig taught me patience at an early age, to make the little ones I was watching a priority and I can say that in a round about way it has helped me in parenting. I was also/am also the oldest of 5 kids. The youngest being 16, and the other 17 and she is off to college in the fall, next my sister is engaged and 24, graduating college in June and going to marry an amazing man that I get to call brother...(Insert Tommy-boy joke-Brothers don't shake hands, brother's gotta HUG!) Then my other little brother who is going to be 31 next week, and then me...who is currently knocking on 33's door...so far no answer! Ha! All of these life experiences early on has taught me how to be a parent, a friend, a family member, a women, a wife, a good person. All of our "life things" help define us don't they? We can choose to learn and persevere, or not grow, remain stagnant and never progress...I choose to better MY life, MY CHILDREN'S LIFE...The life of a mommy never stops, this is true, as my dad said to me a few weeks ago...You will always worry about your children, even when they are grown and married and have their own children..The worry never goes away. I believe this to be true, I am very lucky that I have parents who have been my rock and have rescued me more times than I would care to admit, they are my friends, and my sounding board when I need them to be and they also still "Parent" me when I need it, they tell me when I make not so awesome choices, or they help me navigate parenting with sound advice from over 34 years of parenting. I need them every day still and I love them more now than I ever have, my mom was a stay at home mom when I was younger, then went back to work and my dad worked a lot. Come to think of it there were times when Dad would work several jobs just to make ends meet, and mom would work so hard, missing soccer games and baseball games due to work, etc..And then when mom and dad had my siblings we as a family helped one another out, I like to think I had a small amount in raising them and now my siblings are amazing teenagers and young adults! As a parent we give our best, the best we can and it is not iPads, iPhones, the latest video games...No it is love, support, teaching your children to be well rounded people who appreciate the beauty of life. My kids know what love is, because they see it, and feel it daily. My oldest in theory-Scarlett was born 1 minute before her twin brother, she is my old soul and always knows the right time, or when a person needs a sweet touch, a kiss on the cheek...She is my soft heart and I wish I could shelter her from everything because she is like me, she wears her beautiful little heart on her shoulder and is very sensitive, I still struggle with this daily, growing thicker skin and not letting everything get under my skin. Am I successful? Some days YES and some days NO, but I continue to try just the same and that is what life is all about, getting up and continuing on! At first when I was given the gift of being a stay at home mommy I was sad, I was feeling like that fish out of water for this was a new life I was not used to, add on top Jason was home from Korea after a year apart, and also moving to a new state and essentially starting from scratch. It was a time in my life that I was scared, nervous to a point but I dug my heels in and here I am 5 months later learning this life, this gift that has been given to me. Before this I worked full time and my kids spent literally 10 hours a day at daycare Monday through Friday, and by the time we got home it was dinner, bath and bed for them. I would see them in the morning and a few hours at night, the weekends were spent playing catch up and were BUSY to put it mildly because I was a single parent, I was mommy, daddy, cook, maid, etc...Jason was in Korea so I had to shoulder all of the additional duties if you will. I have amazing parents, an amazing mother in law and amazing neighbors who were my help when I needed it most. My kiddos saw the stressed out version, the edgy version, the version that was not always the best for them looking back. Things were at warp speed and I had 3 babies UNDER 3 to care for, I did it and we all as a team made it through, my faith and my kids were and still are my rock. These days I am much more relaxed, although Jason leaves in 2 weeks for a few months for school so that will be back to single parent duty, but I must do what I must right? I care for my trio, I am teaching them potty training, ALL 3 ALL at once-Jesus help me! It has been an "interesting" time, and so far it is not going as planned but determination is my middle name. We also do arts and crafts, and work on letters, and things that they would learn in a daycare/preschool setting. I teach the kids to cook with me, every Friday we make some sort of Gluten free cake or brownies, and they from time to time help me prepare dinners, lunches, etc...All 3 love it! We also have been quite busy with yard work, the front yard is coming along, although I am not sure my grass will grow sadly but I will continue to try...Next week the kids and I tackle the backyard which is a mess as well-they love picking out flowers, and bushes and learning how to dig, and plant things...Everything is a new learning tool for them! We also are very active in our new church here, it is called Shoreline church in Ft. Walton Beach and it is fantastic! It is very much a jeans and flip flops, come as you are type of church...Very much my speed, the kids love it as do I, I am also involved in a wonderful women's bible study on Wednesday mornings and the trio comes along and they have daycare which is a huge PLUS for me. We also go on Sundays and the kids learn a memory verse, and bible songs which are adorable to hear them sing...It makes me happy that I am doing all I can to raise well rounded babies! Our days have been simple lately, Kellan has been having a hard time sleeping through the night and quite honestly as tired as I am I feel like he is a new born. He says there is a "ghost" in his room that stares at hime and scares him, is there really one? Who knows but one thing I do know is this...if this continues mommy will be a zombie/ghost with no sleep! Haha! He struggles with the dark, loud noises, and being "alone" and Jason and I are not sure why, other than perhaps he feels alone because up until we moved here he was in a bedroom with both of his sisters...We may do a test run this weekend and see if he sleeps better in their room and if so we will move him in for the time being...I just want him to feel safe and not scared, I have struggled with this in my heart recently because I see the tears in his eyes when we kiss him goodnight and it is literally a 45 minute ordeal, of kisses and hugs and prayers because my sweet boy is scared. Yesterday we were all tired and well...edgy so I buckled the trio into the triple stroller that is so heavy WITHOUT kids, and I swear has its own zipcode-Haha! Yet I digress...I walked them in this monster known as the triple stroller from hell and we walked nearly a mile each way to the park on base for some much needed outside time and fun in the sun. Of course the minute we got there none of them wanted to play but eventually they all ventured out and found their own little grooves, Scarlett tends to mother Violet and keeps an eye on her at all times and is even rather bossy with her telling her what to do! Haha! Kellan is more a loaner...(Insert movie saying-"I'm a loaner Dottie, a rebel!"Pee Wee Herman) Haha!!! He explores how things work, what is what, why things are the way that they are...It is rather interesting to watch, he will pick out every piece of equipment that is broken or not put together correctly, I think someday he will be an Engineer because his attention to detail is amazing. He can remember even the most small detail days later and inform you that you not only forgot but did it wrong! Last night he told me that I did not mop right, I said huh? He said that I usually start over on the other side and last night I started on the opposite side, he is so smart! All of my kids have their special gifts, Scarlett is sweet and mothering...Kellan is so locked in with the details of things yet has a kind heart as well and finally my Violet who I have nicknamed "The hippy" is very easy going and goes with the flow, her hair is always crazy and she always wants to be dressed in nothing but undies! I will close this novel all of my readers~Thank you for supporting me and my ramblings...Life is beautiful, Life is good, and don't let a moment of this beautiful life pass you by! XOXO~Love and light to all from Florida~
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