by Sarah | Nov 8, 2013 | All of Us, Crap, Random
This week has been an intense, crazy, world-shattering week.
My brain has been blown to bits. My concentration shattered.
Things I can’t discuss have turned everything upside down and sideways.
But in the turmoil have been moments of good that have helped me maintain balance.
An almost 3-hour lunch with a good friend.
A food fight with my kids over dinner.
The beautiful colors in the blanket of leaves covering my yard.
Hours on the phone with my best friend.
Playing Uno (Star Trek Uno, of course) with my kids.
A night out with good friends and more hugs than I even knew I needed.
Small moments of peace amidst the chaos that help me keep my balance.
Small moments of joy.
Sometimes it’s the small moments that get us through.
by Sarah | Nov 7, 2013 | All About Denver, All About Kennedy, All About Me, All About Molly, All of Us
Way back when this picture was taken I sure thought I was good at this. (Picture credit goes to my mom who had the fancy camera way back then…in FILM *Gasp*)
Back, 14 years ago, when Denver was only 2. When I only had the one. When my co-parent was my own parents. When the biggest problem I dealt with was chronic BM issues (yeah, he’ll kill me if he ever reads this). When he was cute and adorable and obedient and kind and polite.
When life was “easy”.
Now there are three.
There is school. Homework. Teachers. Doctors. Specialists. Special Medicines. Bills. Cleaning. THREE kids. Doctors. THREE kids. Quirks. Hospitals. Marriage. Home repairs. Car maintenance. Cleaning. THREE kids.
Oh, did I repeat myself once or twice? Yeah. I know.
I don’t want to use the term “bad mother”…because, you know…it’s such a debate trigger.
Sometimes, though. Sometimes I look at myself and I see that I’m not good at this.
I don’t have patience.
I don’t have answers.
I don’t do the things that you’re supposed to. I love to read to myself, but get bored reading to my kids (shameful, I know).
I don’t have patience.
I don’t check homework every day after school.
I always miss deadlines for snack week, permission slips, all those things.
I don’t have patience.
I don’t give my kids daily baths. Or every couple of days. (But in my defense, my baths were 1x/week)
I use the TV as a babysitter.
I’m online too much (I’m trying to do better…some days I do better than others).
I don’t have patience.
…..
Are we detecting a common theme?
Sometimes I wonder what part of my brain actually thought growing up that I would grow into this ‘perfect’ mom. I saw myself doing it all. Crafts, dinner, cleaning…the perfect little household.
My ‘perfect’ has redefined itself into something that feels far from perfect for me.
It’s a process.
I’m working on redefining myself as a mom.
To snap less. To breathe and have patience. To do more cleaning. More cooking. Making sure I’m more involved in what my kids are doing in school.
I want to feel like I’m good at being a mom. Like I DESERVE the title. EVERY day. Not just now & then.
by Sarah | Nov 6, 2013 | All of Us, Crap, Photography, Random
by Sarah | Nov 5, 2013 | All of Us, Crap, Random, Special Needs
*Otherwise titled “The post in which I piss people off.”
From the time our troubles started, from the time we first realized there was just something ‘off’ about Riley. From the day We realized Angel’s torticollis was more than just a lazy neck and a heavy head. From the day we realized Angel’s cough was going for a month and showed no signs of letting up. From the first time Angel intentionally injured herself. From the first toys Riley lined up. Every day, every night, every in between we are aware. We notice when Angel runs out of steam before she’s played for ten minutes. We notice when Riley is starting to retreat into her shell. When we’re in danger of a meltdown of epic proportions. In danger of a night of a screaming, pouting, angry Riley.
We notice it all.
We see it in the every day.
We see it in the little things.
Every action, every reaction.
It’s a part of our lives. It is our every day.
Then you come along and say “But she looks just fine to me.” Or “She doesn’t seem autistic.” And of course the “She doesn’t act sick.”
I know you mean well. Really, I do.
But I hate it when you say that.
It’s like you’re belittling our every day.
The hours at doctors and specialists. The hours calming and refocusing an over-stimulated child (longest meltdown stands at 36 hours). The hours a day hooked up to machines to live every day. The way I lay awake at night listening to labored breathing. Check temperatures every time we feel a little warm.
I know you don’t mean it this way. I know you just mean to say that despite their troubles they look healthy and happy. That unlike other children with special needs it’s not a visible/noticeable difference.
But I hate it.
Just say they’re beautiful. Say they have a great smile. They look like they’re having a blast.
Don’t contradict what we KNOW. Riley does have autism (no matter how mild). Angel does have CF, and right now she is sick (and we spend every day wondering just how badly it’s holding on).
It is our every day.
We try to live life beyond our labels – and we only succeed by accepting them and integrating what they mean into our lives.
*~*
*This post is a re-post from a couple of years ago. It’s still very relevant to us today.
by Sarah | Nov 4, 2013 | All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, All About Molly, Blogging Life, Indy Geek Girls
On almost any day of the week you can find the members of this family with their noses buried in a book.
Sure, the teen took a really, really long time to come around, but once he did he was unstoppable.
The girls read well above their comprehension level just to get words on the page.
So when I heard McDonald’s was replacing toys with books in their Happy Meals? I was pretty stoked. My girls will love getting books, and I love that McDonald’s is taking this step.
Included in our Happy Meals are these fun titles that involve teaching children about eating right when sometimes it’s not so easy to do:
But they aren’t stopping there, which is even better. Want to know why?
McDonald’s of Central Indiana is leading a “Give a Book, Get a Book” campaign.
All around Indy, from November 1st through the 14th, at Ronald McDonald Houses, local libraries, and Indy Reads there will be Book Donation sites set up.
In exchange for a donation of a new (or gently used) children’s book, you’ll get a “Be Our Guest” card good for a free Happy Meal!
And to top it all off, participating libraries will host a “Happy Meal Day” filled with kid’s activities and McDonald’s Happy Meal books!!
Since 2011 McDonald’s has been finding new ways to take action and fulfill their “Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices”. Each of the stories in these unique, limited edition books, is a fun and nutritional message that kids can understand.
Now onto the part I know you’ve been waiting for. My Giveaway! One lucky winner will get a week’s worth of Happy Meal Coupons, a $10 Amazon Gift Card, and a copy of a Happy Meal Book!
To make it easier, I whipped up a rafflecopter this time. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Sarah | Nov 3, 2013 | All About Indiana, Blogging Life, Photography, Scavenger Hunt Sunday
We went to ZooBoo this week…and I used it for all my pictures. Some might be a stretch, but ya know. 😉
All taken w/ Canon Rebel XS.
1. Dress Up
This little guy decided to be the most unique and elusive creature in the universe – a unigazelle.
This fancy-pants scoffed and said he was always dressed up.
2.Candy
Pink like cotton candy
I can’t be sure – but I don’t think he’s looking for candy.
3. Pumpkin
YAY! Elephants smashing pumpkins!
I really loved the way this pumpkin was decorated
4. Spooky
I think…think…these were supposed to be spooky.
Where this guy succeeded the way he skulked about and paced.
5. Orange
A peek of orange in the upper pumpkin.
Explanation not required.
Songography:
My Life Would Suck Without You by Kelly Clarkson:
Well, it stands to reason that my life would suck without them:
You can find more pictures over at my flickr account.
This week has been an intense, crazy, world-shattering week.
