Meltdowns of a Mommy

Those who know me well know that I often avoid conversations about religion and know that my life and the choices I make should not be used as anyone’s moral compass. Despite these facts I am drawn to talk of both today. Brace yourself. Today is Ash Wednesday. To be honest the first time I received ashes was in 2006 even though I have been a Catholic my whole life. My relationship with the church is one that I would categorizes as on again, off again my whole life so please do not think that I am getting on an “I am more devout” then you rant. Ash Wednesday marks the being of Lent and the preparation for Easter, and to be honest my face book news feed marks it as well. This morning I was flooded with people sharing what they are giving up for Lent. The running list is looking a little like sweets, soda, caffeine, coffee, meat, fast food, extra flavor in my star bucks coffee….and on and on. So, when did Lent become a new diet trend? How much of a sacrifice is it really in these? I ...

Over the past few weeks I have been reflecting a great deal about this Christmas. This was the first real Christmas in our house with Santa and I have been wondering how it went. I have been thinking a great deal about the gifts the girls received and if they were on target or over board. Then I stopped being “Mommy” for a moment and actual considered the gift I was given by my husband. I then realized that I had been so wrapped up in seeing everything from the girls’ point of view that I completely missed how wonderful and perfect Jason’s gift to me was. Anyone who knows my husband and I know that we are very different from each other. When we first meet he was everything I never wanted and everything I really needed all in one. I was nothing like the usual girls he found interest in as well but somehow we connected. I joke that his world is “black and white” and mine is “grey”. We very rarely see eye to eye on current events, politics, and religion… you name it and we probably d...

There are two different kinds of twin parents. You may think that I am referring to natural vs. IVF, or same gender vs. mixed, or even c-section vs. vaginal birth but it is much simpler than that. I am talking about those who dress their kids alike vs. those who do not. Yes, I said it, the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about in front of us but is more than happy to address behind our backs. To be honest, I have been party to a few more of these conversations then I would have liked to have been because being the “twin mom” the singleton parents always have me weigh in. Now, to be fair I have to disclose a few things. First, growing up I always wanted a twin or at least a sister closer to my own age (my sisters are 6 and 8 years older than me) so I would try to get my friends and cousins to dress like me and say we were twins. Second, I grew up as the baby of 3 girls and was always being compared to my sisters and was always trying to set myself apart from them. Thir...

This is my daughter Kendal. She is my little elf with a heartwarming laugh. She has bright eyes and big dimples just like I do. She takes after me in another way too, but I will come to that in a moment. Over the past 24 hours I have found myself hugging her more, giving her extra kisses, and telling her I love her and that she is beautiful. I know many parents have been doing the same recently with their own children due to the recent devastating loses that occurred in CT last week. I cannot express enough how I am at a loss of words when it comes to that tragedy, but my extra hugs are not caused by it. In my life I have learned that you never know when it might be your plane that goes down, your car the meets the drunk driver, your school that becomes a target, your house, your job, your….   I cannot live my life in fear of things because while they are all horrible and can have a drastic permanent effect on your life you just never know. I choose to worry about the t...

The most interesting thing about parenting is that there are so many different ways to approach it. Different methods, ideas, standards and when you find the place that is just right you make your parenting home there and are on your way. Sounds like bliss right? It is nice until you meet others from different camps and there is judging on both sides because each person has their own views on the topic.   This is to be expected and as parents you just go with the flow. But, what happens when you don’t see eye to eye with your partner on parenting? What happens when the standards at home are not the same? Well, I have known that my husband and I see things differently from each other and parenting is no exception of that. While I do the reading and research he tends to follow my lead on a lot on things but on occasion he acts outside of his ranks and does it his own way. Understanding that my way might not always be the best either I come at these times with an open mind and let ...

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...