I wouldn’t trade my post-baby body for my skinnier self. My girls are completely worth it. The hair was pretty cool though…
Flat stomach. Sleek thighs. Tight tush. Whether you’re a size 18 or size 2, you’ve probably looked in the mirror and desired to see these attributes. As women, we’re taught from an early age that beauty is defined by how you look in a pair of blue jeans, and that an extra squish should be taped down, bound up or just plain sucked out. We toss around phrases like “real women have curves” and “big is beautiful” but most of us don’t feel this way. We subconsciously suck in our post-baby pooch when someone else enters the room, and we thank the Lord for Spanx. We crave the feeling of being “thin,” all …
…I went on a date with a young man. One I’d met while we both worked at Sheplers, after I’d asked him to “clean my boots.” (Read the full story here.) He was charming, and funny, and handsome, and I fell head over western heel. Yesterday, that same young man had his attention on another girl at Sheplers. At 41 inches tall and 38 pounds, she consumes his whole heart. As he helped her buy her first pair of “real” boots, I couldn’t help but stare in wonder. Never in my wildest dreams did I see this in my future when I was 18 and flirting with a cute coworker. Never did I imagine that we’d be back here together, our little family of four. He stole my heart, and now she’s stolen …
Normally, I try and slip into another mother’s (or father’s) shoes before I give them the mental stink eye. Parenting is tough, and you just never know what someone else is going through. But there are a few occasions where I judge, and judge hard. Sometimes, parents make stupid decisions, or are just plain stupid in general. Like what I witnessed at the zoo a couple of days ago.
As I pushed my toddler in circles in her stroller, hoping to stave off the “I’m tired and overstimulated” tantrum that was building, I couldn’t help but count my blessings that I had come to the zoo with backup. My mother-in-law had taken my preschooler to the bathroom as we were making our way towards the exit. (And trying to get out through the gift shop without …
Somersaults aren’t the only thing she’s learned at dance class.
I tried something new at dance class tonight. I left. Usually, I’m chasing my 18 m/o around the studio while my 3 y/o attempts to follow the instructor’s directions. It’s chaos. So, I decided to take the toddler outside to run around while my big girl did her thing inside. I thought all was going well (no shouting, screaming, etc.) until the end of the class. That’s when I heard crying. Loud, soulful crying. It was my kid. Sigh. I hurried in to her, expecting to find her with a stubbed toe, rug-burned knee, or some other dance-class casualty. No. She was sitting in closing circle, crying her eyes out while the other girls looked on with uncertain expressions.
“What’s wrong?,” I coaxed. Had she suddenly remembered I’d …
My brother and I hang ornaments from a less-than-perfect tree. But that never mattered to me. It’s one time we actually got along when we were younger. 🙂
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, and still, Christmas has taken over. This is no surprise, as it’s crept earlier and earlier every year. But it bothers me, for several reasons. First of all, I love Thanksgiving, and feel that the Santa-shaped shadow is looming over this once-simple holiday. Yes, I know the stories I was told about Thanksgiving growing up (happy Pilgrims and Indians frolicking together) are way off base, but I enjoy the tone it has developed over the years. It’s all about being grateful, and expressing that gratitude to others. Ok, who am I kidding? I like the food, and maybe this is my main …
I do many, many things wrong as a mother. I lose my temper. I don’t always stick to consistent routines. I try to balance working from home with entertaining my kids, and it doesn’t always work. But I do three things consistently right. I make sure my girls eat a variety of healthy home-cooked foods. I pray openly and often in front of and with them. And I read and read and read whichever books they desire. So for all I do wrong, I can cling to these three things I do right.
