Pondering from the Porcelain

I had an epiphany. Sitting on the toilet. Yes, I know this is graphic but that's where bright ideas come...there and the shower. Anyways, I was sitting on the toilet doing my thing, thinking about Miss Juliet's earlier diaper catastrophe when it hit me that all that I am is all thanks to my mother (and some dad of course).  Hang with me here. My ability to talk, walk and use the toilet are all thanks to the patient and helpful instruction of my mother. All of it. I suddenly had a greater appreciation for my mom. You know those moments you wished you would have realized sooner and thinking back to the unappreciative teen years you began to feel really bad, that's me there.

I just wanted to say thanks mom! To all mom's for that matter. You are appreciated and loved. I think Meg Meeker says it perfectly in her book "The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers". She states,

      " The truth is, you are worth more than you can imagine. I don't care if you you

feel like a lousy mom or you are fabulous. Whether you're a workaholic who feels like 

she never sees her kids or a stay-at-home mom who feels unappreciated, you are woefully

 misguided in your thinking...you are not a failure. But you feel like one. I can confidently

 say this because, as a pediatrician, my job is to watch you and keep your kids healthy.

 And when I see them, I see kids who love their moms. I see how your kids look at you,

 hang on to your knees, and hold your hand. I see you more akin to how they see you- as

 a woman who is needed, loved and cherished."

 

Motherhood is no easy job. I'm realizing that now. The tables have turned full circle and I am realizing the sacrifices my mom made. The dreams she had to put on hold, the parties she missed breast feeding in the back room, the outfits she burned after a diaper spillage, the frumpy mom look after those rough 3 night feedings and seeing people you haven't seen for a while in the store ("Really, I don't look like this, it's been a rough night" "Really sister, I couldn't tell by side pony and your boob still hanging out of your shirt"), answering the door and realizing you haven't pulled your shirt down or your not wearing pants (I cannot name the amount of times of done this one), forgetting to eat until 2pm, never enjoying a shower so much in my life (It's the one place that's quite and that I can be free of crotch and boob pads and the stench of milk). Side note, Husbands if you can give your wife anything in the day. Take the baby and allow her to take a long shower. It'll make her feel human again.

 

All this to say thank you mom's. You are needed! You are loved! You are appreciated! Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed...sometimes it just takes your kids 26 years and a baby of their own to get the picture. Love you mom!

 

 

 

My mom Lacy with her first grandchild, my daughter Juliet

Someone appreciates...

I woke up a few mornings back to find a few friends in the front yard. We have a family of turkeys that have been exploring the neighborhood. There are 10 babies and 3 mommas.

Our home was a previous foreclosure and the grass (what grass?) is dead. We look like the Mohave Desert at the end of the street. So, it was nice to find these little guys there one morning enjoying all the bugs and dry weeds :)

 

To be or not to be....that is the question.

There's always hard decisions to be made in motherhood. For example, this morning Miss Juliet was struggling to take her nap. As soon as she went down I realized her nails need to be cut. For all you mothers out there, you know the best time to cut your kids nails is when they are sleeping, but there is always the chance of stirring them from their slumber. Mmm...tough choice.

 Cut the kids nails with the potential issue of awaking the screaming beast from her slumber.

OR, opt out on the trim and let her sleep with the reality she may wake up looking like Scarface.

I chose option A and thank goodness she is still snoozing away!

Motherhood is sacrificial. During pregnancy your youth is sucked from your bones into your child's. During labor your disfigured. In the process of child rearing you pour your energy, resources and time into your child. If there is one thing that becomes self evident it is ones own selfish nature. I've  mopped myself off the floor several times in self pity. What about my career? I want a no-stop road trip again! Can I get just an HOUR of my OWN time? I want a shower! Will there every be silence again? I'd like to wear clothes without taking into consideration are they easy open! I want to spend time with adults at parties instead of nursing in the back room! On and On. BUT, even in these moments I'll hear her soft rustling, awakening from her nap and I'm all too happy to hold and feed her. She is near and dear to me, but motherhood does not come without it's challenges.

4 MUSTS TO BE A "COOL" MOM

I recently attended a play group with a group of women in my hometown. I abruptly realized I am NOT (I repeat) a cool mom. To be a cool mom you must do the following.

Cloth Diapers…and you can’t just do any ol’shanky diaper. It must be the best of the best. This weeks topic was Ragababes. From what I hear it is cult following. Mothers flood the Facebook site just to get their fingers on a used one at almost the same cost as the new. I change 10-12 diapers a day.  I’ll pass….for now.

The "IT" Bag: As I scan the room I see the Louis Vuitton of baby bags. There is Petunia Pickle Bottom, Ju-Ju-Be, OiOi...the list goes on. Then I scan over to my patchwork one. Buh-dum. It’s like that moment in grade school when you go to your first school dance and all your friend curl their hair and wear dresses and here you come in Reebok tennis shoes, tube socks and your favorite tweety bird shirt. That would be me only I’m 26 and still can’t escape it.

The Ride: This one came as a total surprise. I thought I had the best…well, at least the best from target (tar-shea) . Again, epic fail. You can’t just have a stroller. You need one that you can run with, has shock absorbers, a fancy brake system. Mmmm....Mine has wheels J

Formula: What are you thinking? Bad mom!! In this part of the world it a big no no! I personally breastfeed, but in cases like the wedding I attended last week I supplemented with formula. In this posse it's almost as bad as those parents who put soda in their kids sippy cups.

If motherhood wasn't so new and overwhelming in the first place add a few other moms and all their methods on child rearing and your bound to have your head reeling.

We'll see what I'm up against next week :) Cheerio!

 

Why GoodWordGoodWine?

My father once said to me "Emily, you're good at everything but you're not great at anything." After overcoming my initial shock and defeat I scraped together what confidence I had left off the floor I realized he was RIGHT! That was a humbling, but defining moment in my life.

I've always loved new experiences: people, places, foods, fades etc. I familiarize myself with everything. Let's take sports for example, I would try out a sport and become good, but never exceptionally great. Why? Maybe I'm mediocre. Or just bored.  I'm still trying to figure that one out.

So, I decided to start a blog, but what to write about with my unique lack of narrowed passion. Well, just that. I'll start a blog about EVERYTHING. Which goes against EVERYTHING I've ever learned. As a business major this goes against all business sense. In order to be successful one needs to find a niche market and stick with it. And there is no such thing as a niche in everything.

Maybe EVERYTHING is a little broad, but I do know a thing or two about me. Currently, I'm newly married, just bought my first home and just had a baby. These all came with their own unique challenges. Thus, I hope to somehow reach an audience that is in a similar phase of life as I am. Hopefully you can learn from me or I from you :)

A blog about EVERTHING is difficult to name. Yes, I could use my name. Blah! Boring! After a few days thought I decided on GoodWordGoodWine, which is a women's group I created a few years back. The purpose is to develop lasting relations with a small group of women (8-10). This group would serve as support during the many transitions in life such a marriage, moving, babies, jobs etc. It was also developed to strengthen these women emotionally, relationally, spiritually and physically. EUREKA! Everything I want for a blog.