ma'am

I remember not long ago people addressing me as miss when they met me. Now a days its Ma'am every time, even without the children hanging off of my arms. And i wonder if my age is really showing that much; when looking at me can people tell I'm a mother, a wife, is there some instinctual voice that says hey this is a ma'am not a miss. My age doesn't bother me much I've had a very full 30 years; full of love, heartbreak, drama, and every other thing i could cram into that amount of time. At what age did all that catch up to me, at what age did i become ma'am worthy. I know i know its a respect thing and i should be grateful that people see me as respect worthy, but still every time i hear it it puzzles me. Makes me wonder what these people see when they look at me. Do they see the struggle to get to this point do they see the years of tears and smiles, or is it simpler than that. Looking in the mirror i can see the lines starting and for each line i can see the story behind it, whether its a laugh line or a frown line. But for all those story's i can still see me in there, and i don't think i am a ma'am yet. My children call me ma'am because that's what i taught them and its because i feel every child should learn that respect for their elders. To have someone my own age call me that is a little off putting.

football player

Daddy finally has a little football player like he wanted. Our two year old runs around the yard with him yelling hut hut and set hut and touchdown all well tackling daddy for the football. She has no fear as the ball hurtles toward her. She yells wee and throws up her arms ready, waiting for the ball to hit her. she runs none stop across the grass holding on tight not letting anyone have the ball then spikes it and jumps up and down. She may not be a son but i think this may be the best of both worlds for him. He can baby her like the other girls and take her to the game too. We always said we would either have a softball team or a boy but if having a girl who can get down and dirty like a boy can save ourselves some money, and me some stretch marks. Every daddy needs some one to play ball with in the back yard, someone to go fishing with, it doesn't always end up being a son, sometimes its a daughter. I have seem Daddy's play tea, nail salon, and do hair with their daughters its nice to see this little change. Hes happy to make his kids happy either way but i think he looks much cuter playing football then dressed up like a princess. 


Now, for the other news i haven't been posting much lately because I've been distracted. You see i am not just a mother of three but also of course a military wife. My husband is getting ready to move us all away to another country with him. That means lots of packing and three young kids on a 16 hour international flight. I'll try posting as many more times before we go as i can. I am sure there will lots of story's and funny events getting this done so i will be back to this soon with lots of new adventures. Remember to love your children for the little individuals they are.

Glue

Well you've heard the story of the Vaseline, but my two year old's antics don't stop there. You see I know most of the people at the ER by name.

At the beginning of this summer all three of my girls were playing with friends in my neighbors back yard.The day was running smooth, I really never say anything bad coming. But it came, it really came. I walked out back to check on the girls and tell them they only had a few more minutes to play. As I went to go inside i felt a small hand on my thigh. It was my two year old. She was staring up at me with something in her mouth with grass and dirt stuck to it. After closer examination i yelled for my husband to get outside quick. She was having trouble breathing and whatever was under the grass and dirt was her from opening her mouth. My husband arrived outside and after seeing his daughters condition immediately told me to get her things together to go to the ER. Well I was getting everything ready to leave for the hospital my husband pried what he could out of our daughters mouth. He handed the chunk of whatever to me as he carried her to the car.She wasn't crying at all just smiling now that she was able to breath easier. On the way there I cleared what grass and dirt I could away to find a tube of liquid nail with tiny teeth marks in it. My panic grew at this point.
At the ER they rushed her back and began examining her and calling poison control. My baby did not want any of this she was ready to play again.
By the end we found out that she was going to be just fine. Liquid nail is non-toxic, not that i recommend eating it ever. And that the caked on bits on her teeth, tongue, and lips would dissolve eventually. Thank god. It took over a week before all the glue was gone from her teeth and face.
Oh, the Joy and wonder of toddler hood.

Give me some Merry

You know I've been a mother for 1/3 of my life, yes i know I'm old. But the point I'm trying to make is people assume things about me. You see now-a-days when i speak with another adult who doesn't have children i don't think they get me, or my humor. I'm not a stupid person, housewife was not my only option just the one i chose. My children have taught me that simpler is better, and that laughter is the greatest thing there is. Of course i tend to laugh at people when they get to serious about themselves. I wish only that people would stop trying so hard to be the smartest, or the most world impacting, and toke a look around. Look around and laugh, enjoy the small pleasures, be merry. I think once a day you should be subjected to a horrible knock knock joke; one so horrible it makes absolutely no sense. You'll laugh too, you'll have to because it will be just that silly a thing. You may not laugh right away but one day it will get you and you'll see what i see. Even that can be beautiful. Because someone wanted to hear you laugh so badly they stuck with it. I enjoy little things like that, but that does not mean i can't grasp the intense political, philosophical conversations that are being held. I'd just rather smile. I'd rather be merry.

Vaseline

Alright, I'm not sure what to write about tonight but am feeling the need to write. I guess I'll share some of the silly story's from my girls.

Tonight I'll tell you about the Vaseline. Yes, I said Vaseline.

My two year old was having a rough day, she was not agreeable at all from the time she woke up that morning. She had bit her sister, trashed the living room and pulled the cat across the room by his tail. I had had enough I was desperate to get something down around the house. So i put her in her room with the gate up in the door frame. I had gotten, or at least thought I had gotten, anything that could be messed up or harmful out. I went back down stairs and started picking up the living room and cleaning the kitchen. I could hear my baby laughing and playing; everything seemed fine, and calm. I had even sent her older sisters out to play. When she became very quiet for more then a few minutes I started getting a bit nervous. My mother sense was tingling,(its a bit faulty at times, or it would have tingled sooner). I marched upstairs to check and to my horror all was not so fine. I had Left the Vaseline on the dresser and she had climbed up and gotten it. Apparently she was very concerned with her skins dryness, because she had striped down naked, (no diaper either), and coated herself hair to toes in a thick slimy layer of the stuff. To top of her adventure baby wash didn't work and I was out of Dawn. I had to bring her to my friends house ask for dawn and help holding her as I washed her. Its now a funny memory but at the time had me crying, and embarrassed. My sweet little girl stayed happy the whole time though slipping out of my fingers and trying to streak away. In the end it took twelve baths over five days to get it all out of her hair, using Dawn of course. it reminded me of those Dawn commercials where they wash the seagulls. Ah childhood, always so much fun.

Mothers are women too

When we first become mothers we swear we'll be the hot mom, we'll take time to just be a women. But the older our kids get the more we lose site of that women, we lose ourselves in the role of mother, taxi, cook. Doing our hair goes from salons, dyes, multiple brushes and product to a quick hair tie. The all functional ponytail or bun. Then theres our make up routine that goes from hours of skin care lotions, scrubs, creams, and unlimited time of perfecting; to if we're lucky some lotion and lip gloss, maybe even Little powder to cover our age. We forget to shave our legs or maybe just rush through so quickly we miss spots. Shavings very hard when you have children rushing into the bathroom to tattle on each other barely noticing your trying to shower. But all that aside we are still women; we need sometimes to hear we're beautiful more often then other women. We need pampering at times to remind us that we are still the women we once were that she didn't disappear for good.Don't pass us off as just moms, we are more, so much more. We have a beauty that goes beyond physical. We are fierce and passionate in all that we do. We are strong and nurturing, we are what a women is meant to be; everything. We make ourselves into everything for those we love, which takes outrages amounts of strength at times but we do it without being asked. We don't ask for much in return, but just because we don't ask doesn't mean you shouldn't give it.

Lend a Hand

On the craziest of days what makes you smile?

Is it your two year old laugh? A certain person? Does your partner make you smile when they walk through the door? Do you have a pet or a friend who can always make you feel loved?

I don't always have the best of days, some days just make me feel like I'm out of control, stuck in the deep end unable to even yell for help. But there are things that light up those dark places, people who can see me struggling to stay afloat and are there in an instant to rescue me.Those people are my world my loves; God sent even.
Mothers, I think are very strong. We have a strength we gain when we become mothers, but we are made even stronger by our support system. The People around use who help us, who listen to us, and who are there just giving us love. A mother who feels loved can give so much more love in return to her family. There are so many mothers around us everyday, why not give them some support, lend a hand to a mother not just your own. You never know how much a small act of kindness can lighten her load.You may not see the result of what you've done, but her children and family will. Your show of love and compassion will be past on to them. Spread the love that's the point isn't it. Mothers need love too, so if you see one of us struggling then lend a hand show us you care.