Meltdowns of a Mommy

Skinny, fat, plus size, average, curvy, skinny fat. Body image, body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders. Yes, I know these are all hot tops and buzz words. Things people only like to talk to about with people like minded to themselves. Topics that make you point fingers, hide, and hate. Today my FB news feed featured a story about a non-airbrushed plus size model…..the comments from people was that she was not plus size enough, too skinny. Modeling standards are determined by the industry, not society. Why could these people have not supported this women instead of putting her down? A few weeks ago the story was about a women who was once a fitness competitor and was not happy so she stopped working out like crazy, ended her limited diet and has embraced her “true body”. Her comments were a mix of again she is not big enough and others relating to her and embracing her. Where do I fit within all of this…..and more importantly how to I raise and inspire my own girls? Well, her...

When I graduated college I went to work for the same company my father worked for. It was a large national company so, while living on two different sides of the US, I hardly ever ran into my father but I often ran into other employees he had worked with. These employees all had comments about how hard it was to work with and for my father and wondered what it was like to grow up with him. As they told their Joe Cipolla work stories I just smiled and said “It was just like that, but I was used to it.” You see, my father is not what you would call a warm and fuzzy guy. He does not soften or sweeten you up before telling you how it is. If you have a report card with 5 A’s and 1 B, he asks about the B and how you can improve it. He does not just give you credit for showing up, he wants you to take responsibility for your actions. Now, he also does not yell, like ever. He simply explains how disappointed in you he is which has an even bigger impact then yelling. Growing up in this...

People often ask me about the twin bond the girls have. Now, most of these questions center around them feeling each other’s emotions like a sixth sense or if they have developed their own language. Really! They can hardly wipe their own butt after going to the bathroom and you think they are developing their own language or a powerful extra twin sense? So, based on this line of questioning it is really simple to say “no” smile and go along my way. Now to be honest my girls have bonded with each other, as sisters, and have shared almost every life experience with each other out side of a few ER or Urgent Care visits. They spend all day, every day together and are simply best friends. I often wonder when this bond and sister love will vanish and they will simply want time alone or time with their “own” friends. I know the day will come…….it has to…….they are girls after all. But, until then I love that they have a friend to play with who just happens to like the same exact things...