Search Results for: blog parental challenge 5 198 cryptic messages

Affordable Ways to Combat the Winter Blues

So much for my New Year’s resolution. I’ve been consuming carbs at a frightening pace while battling severe allergies. Truthfully, I doubt the two are correlated.  Rather, I am blaming the wicked winter weather.   I’d bet a hundred bucks I wouldn’t be tempted to gorge on donuts, French toast and cinnamon buns if I were basking on a beach right now… in a bikini. Winter is brutal here in the Upper Midwest, which is why so many people suffer with seasonal doldrums.  The winter blues can strike family members of all ages, including children.  Consequently, it’s a good idea to … Continue reading →

Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution

Happy New Year! You know it’s going to be quite a year when you wake up on January 1st to your 8-year-old whispering in your ear:  “Mommy, what’s your New Year’s revolution?” I wish I could’ve come up with some incredible intention that would result in earth-shattering changes, but alas, I doubt vowing to lose 15 pounds is going to do much to bring about world peace or alleviate the financial crisis. Still, the start of the New Year is an excellent time to discuss the meaning of resolutions with your children. It’s even better when they initiate the conversation. … Continue reading →

Turning the Corner in 2013

I’d love a life makeover in 2013. Where do I sign-up for that? Actually, I’d settle for a personal chef, chauffeur and housekeeper, paid for by an anonymous donor. Then again, what busy parent wouldn’t treasure professional help to get through the chaos of everyday life? Unless some miracle takes place between now and the stroke of midnight I will likely be tackling the same chores I do every.single.day. throughout 2013. That’s the cold slap of reality. Fortunately, I’m not letting it get me down.  Rather, I am planning to turn the corner in 2013 and help myself lighten the … Continue reading →

Making Summer Memories

Time is ticking for work-at-home moms, who desperately try to generate an income in the hours that their children are in school. In a few short days, summer vacation will be here and routines and schedules will be replaced with utter chaos. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a little… or not. In any event, as we kick-off the Memorial Day weekend, I thought it would be apropos to remind overworked and underappreciated parents that your kid’s childhood is disappearing right before your eyes. Soon that chubby baby will be a terrible two-year-old, who morphs into a sassy six-year-old, and then … Continue reading →

Caring for a Co-Parent

It’s one thing to care for a child day in and day out, but imagine enduring a tragic turn of events that requires that you also tend to the needs of a dying spouse. For Carole Falconbridge, honoring her wedding vows, to have and to hold in sickness and in health to death do her part, from her beloved husband Dean, became even more challenging when the man she adored was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. But that was only half of her daily heart break. According to the 33-year-old wife and mother, the task that crippled her with … Continue reading →

Counting Down to the Worst Day of the Year

For many people Tax Day is the worst day of the year. However, if you are a parent I would bet my return that you are dreading March 13th more than you are April 18, 2011. I’ve whined about it before and I’ll complain again now: I despise Daylight Saving Time. Springing ahead is a nightmare for parents with young children (falling back I love) who are used to a routine… especially a sound bedtime routine that has the kiddos hitting the hay at 7: 30 p.m. and waking up at 6:30 a.m…. ahem!… my 6-year-old. Daylight saving time is … Continue reading →

Repetition

Wash, dry, fold. Wash, dry, fold. Shop, cook, clean. Shop, cook, clean. Put toys away, vacuum, dust. Put toys away, vacuum, dust. It’s this monotony of motherhood that drives most to the brink of… well; you fill in the blank because to some, the endless repetition of parenthood is not as hard to swallow as it is for others. I tend to place myself in the latter group, namely because I waited so late in life to get married and start a family. By the time I gave birth to my daughter I was well aware of what I was … Continue reading →

What’s Your Breaking Point?

Yesterday in the check-out line at Target I stood behind a mother and her tweenage son during what could only be described as an extremely tense moment. From what I gathered the son wanted to leave Target and meet his friends at the mall’s food court. Unfortunately for the kid, his mother had other plans for him. Long story short the son began throwing a temper tantrum as we slowly crept closer to the cashier. He started with a barrage of insults. First, loudly accusing his mother of being addicted to cigarettes, caffeine, and her Blackberry, then he tried grabbing … Continue reading →

Perception is Reality

I am the world’s biggest complainer. Just kidding. Sort of. Ok, not really. Well, maybe… but at least I am not in denial. Actually, I willingly admit to my fault and actively work to eliminate complaints from my conversations. But, it hasn’t always been this way. I’ve been a complainer since I was a teenager, but interestingly, I didn’t realize the extent of my bad habit until I became a parent. How many times have you done this: You and the rest of your clan gear up for a weekend getaway to the beach? Overall, the trip is pretty darn … Continue reading →

Parental Challenge #5,198: Cryptic Messages

What I’ve learned as a parent: I suck at beating the clock and apparently my decoding skills need major work too. Who knew that 21 hours of labor would be the easy part of parenting? I’ve been unscrambling my daughter’s cryptic messages for a few years now. “Mommy, I am so cold!” she used to say to me while wrapping her arms around her torso. My first reaction: Look at the thermostat to see if it was set too low, then grab a sweater for her, or in some cases, feel her head to make sure her shivering wasn’t the … Continue reading →