Lessons Learned

Making the transition from full time working mother to full time stay-at-home mother of four has been a wild and wonderful ride. I am so thankful to have this opportunity to be home with my amazing children. One of the greatest challenges I am facing, which, I think is a challenge for every parent, is to find a balance between time with them and time for myself. I know I am a better mommy (and friend and wife, etc.) when I have breaks and time alone. When I am in the midst of the storm that four children under 8 can be, I long for a quiet moment in which I can catch my breath or even think, but when I get an opportunity for some mommy time, I miss them the minute I pull the car out of the driveway. I feel incomplete when we are apart. Time is passing so quickly, and I don't want to miss a thing. I have to keep trying for that balance.

One lesson I have learned is that a two year old is like a heat-seeking missile - within ten seconds of finding myself without company in the bathroom, there are little footsteps rapidly approaching, followed by a quickly opening door, and then several requests uttered in unison.

So, my days of quietly soaking in the bathtub with a book and a glass of wine have been replaced by being made into "mommy soup" with pretend food floating all around me, and I am enjoying it immensely.

Pirates and Princesses

My niece and nephew recently celebrated their birthdays.
They are now three and five. As usual, my incredibly creative sister made it a terrifically fun day! With twinkling lights, bubbles, a treasure hunt and over twenty pirates and princesses, everyone had a wonderful time!












One of the highlights was the chance to have a "temporary " skull and crossbones tattoo. My three-year-old, who lives life to the fullest, had to have four tattoos. And two weeks later, there they remain. Interesting , in combination with her still-chubby baby face and her little dresses.

This same little three-year-old, has, for the last several weeks been shortening all of the words she says. For example, chocolate milk has become "choc," pick me up is now, "pick," and so on. So you can see that it was inevitable that she tell the stranger at the grocery store that those things on her arm are her "tats."