Meltdowns of a Mommy

Finding myself within “The most wonderful time of the year” with toddlers is hard. While countless people over spend on themselves and loved ones in the spirit of giving and consumerism I wanted to find a balance. This is the first year my girls will be receiving gifts from Santa (the big guy and I had an agreement – until the girls understood the situation there was no reason for him to add us to his delivery schedule) and receiving a gift from us. Don’t get me wrong I love Christmas time and the decorations but growing up it was always about being together not the over load of gifts. I think each year my sisters and I got one main gift and then needs like socks, new pants, underwear etc. Believe it or not, I was happy and content. So that brings me to this year when the girls understand the receiving part of Christmas but are lacking on the giving ideas. I have talked a great deal with them about helping others, giving to those less fortunate and they love putting money in the bel...

Prior to having kids I vowed that if I had girls they would never be princess girls. You know the type, the ones enchanted by fairy tales of princesses, princes, and happily ever afters. I wanted my kids to have a realistic view of life and if girls be strong independent females. Well, as luck would have it, I have two princess girls. It was so easy for them to want the dresses, love the stories, and dream of princes. For a long time I let it get to me that I was allowing them to play in this world that is far from reality. I wanted to instill in them that a guy on a horse was never going to come along and save the day. That the world is not perfect and some time the prince is really just a jerk. Then it hit me, I was not against Disney, the stories, or the dresses. I was just already trying to toughen them up for their first heart break, the first time someone will think less of them because they are female and truth that not all endings are happy but that they all make you stronge...