Redefining "Mommy"

When all our kids entered school, it became a season of "re-defining Mommy." And that's what I did. I had to figure out what I'd liked and hated about my past jobs and had to create a career that was meaningful, flexible, something I'd enjoy doing and something that would pay!

Just the other day one of my friends said, "I'm still wondering what I'll be when I grow up," when referring to this change of season where she is now a mom to three school-aged children. Another mom friend is thinking about moving out of her teaching profession (after a decade) and into a different occupation altogether.

What is this all about? Does becoming a mother really do this to you?

The short answer is yes.

Your priorities change (along with your body and perhaps shoe size.) And if you are like many of my friends, you didn't put your lucrative career on hold to child rear, just to pick it up again when you were good and ready. You probably kissed it goodbye, embraced motherhood and could never imagine a day when you weren't hauling a child on your hip or cutting up someone else's meat.

And then they grow and go to school...now what?!

Oh a lot of searching, researching, reading, praying...

This new career path would have to offer me what I needed the most: to keep my priorities, my priorities. My top 3? Faith, marriage and family. Here are the questions I asked myself about my next job choices:

• If the kids are sick, can I stay home without losing pay?
• If the kids have a concert/field trip/class event, can I be there?
• If Husband has a meeting/trip, can my schedule be adjusted to comply with his?
• How much do we actually need me to make?
• What kind of benefits do I need?
• Can I be disciplined enough to: be my own boss; work from home; juggle multiple client deadlines?

I took the plunge and I'm into all sorts of crazy right now (but it's good crazy!) and will share more as my work evolves.

But the bottom line is this career of mine has given me a great deal of flexibility, something that you can't always put a price tag on.

What season of motherhood are you in right now? How have you redefined your life/career/choices?
  

A Struggle For All Of Us?

*I originally wrote this post months ago, and yet I still struggle with the same issue, what's your take on this? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I don't like challenges. Okay, except when they include things like raising the bar on my blog, whether that be in regards to design (which I have been known to change often) or content (being real in my writing without compromising my family's welfare.)

I was challenged the other day about forgiveness, or more accurately, lack of forgiveness. Ouch. Tough topic. It's amazing our capacity as humans to justify our actions. How we can judge others and not see our own inequities.

Past hurts, ongoing hurts, all bring us to this place, a place that if labelled, could be called "a safer place." In reality, it's a hardening of our hearts and the start of that ugly root of bitterness.

Is it fair for me to say we all tussle with forgiveness? I think so.

This is not a post about how to resolve this, because I don't have the answers. It is however, a reminder that forgiving another person is a universal struggle no matter where you are in your life. And not forgiving, albeit human, is not righteous.

And All Through The House...

For the last hour, our three kids have been; shooting each other with Nerf guns, running up and down the stairs and building tents in the basement. I told Husband that even though the noise level rivals that of a rock concert, I'm so glad they still play together at times.

Meanwhile, our English Mastiff, Juno, continues to crash despite the clamor, probably since she recently had surgery.

I chuckle when I tell friends and family what our dog got for Christmas, "Juno got a hysterectomy!"

Last week we had two Christmas concerts to attend. Many of you know that I don't post our kids' photos for privacy reasons, but our seven-year-old is here, and let's be honest, trying to find her would be like trying to find Waldo. And I like this photo because it's amazing how first-graders have a hard time staying in one position.

We are hanging out in jammies today, recovering from all the festivities, food and fanfare of the holidays and looking forward to visiting the stores this week to buy more "stuff," for ourselves, this time.

Happy holidays and see you next year! :)

A Re-Purposed Christmas

There's so many wonderful things about Christmas, but I have to say that this season is a great reason to let your creativity take off!

My favorite thing to do is to reuse things we have, like those peanut butter jars and fill them with home baked cookies to give as gifts. I hot glued the material and ribbon on the top and glued on this adorable label I downloaded from a blog I found last year (but unfortunately don't remember what blog it was!)

One of my friends is starting a new business and reusing materials to make these gorgeous head ties.

I love these 'Scrabble coasters' I pinned on Pinterest.

Here's another Pinterest idea that I copied for our youngest's teacher.

Hope you're inspired to make your gift-giving efforts special this year! Have a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and safe New Year!

Sweet (Treats) Christmas Traditions

There are some traditions that should never be broken come 'h--- or highwater,' as they say. And even though my schedule is kinda crazy, I refuse to give up the tradition of baking cookies with my kids. I want them to always remember our times together covered in flour and munching on the best Christmas cookie recipe I found from Alton Brown, years ago.

We also make Peanut Butter Blossoms (a Midwest tradition) and Orange Sable cookies (from Martha Stewart) which are very much like shortbread cookies (the adults love them too!)

But why stop there, last year I made these cuties for school.

What are you baking for the holidays? Got a cookie recipe to share?

Tis The Season...To Decorate

As I attacked the enormous loads of laundry today, I found myself humming Christmas songs, because tis the season, right?

The decorating has begun...

The tree has been trimmed...

I think Juno, our English Mastiff is ready...she looks excited for Christmas, right?

Our kids even helped my mom decorate her tree when we were there for Thanksgiving...

Hope you are all enjoying this special time of year. :)