Q of the Week : What are your Dreads and Delights this week?
All over the map
I had one of those nights last night, where you know you’re going to fall apart, and kind of want to because it’s like scratching an itch, and then when you do it’s rather hard to stop. Really hard, actually. You get caught off guard by the itensity of what you’ve been bottling up, and discover that what you’re crying the hardest about has nothing to do with what started the sob-fest in the first place. Ever been there? Yeah, you know what I mean. It was a rough night.
Is Parenting Feeling Hard? Maybe You're Thinking Too Much (Guest post by Gina Osher)
Reinventing Myself After Baby #2 (By Christina S.)
How I Went From Working Mom to Stay-At-Home Mom to Writer/Mom
I love the term “reinventing oneself.” It’s full of possibilities. It can mean a new wardrobe, a new haircut or something more profound, like a big life change.
For me, reinventing myself came out of necessity after I abruptly quit my corporate job when I was eight months pregnant with my second child. Burned out, exhausted, stressed and running myself into the ground, I decided to call it quits.
Letting go of mess ...
Recognizing Yourself
Whistling in the Dark, part II
I’ve been trying to write all week. It’s not been successful, and now is a bad time to write as the boys are ready to start the day (don’t ask!), but I’ll give it a shot. At least until they start killing each other.
I wasn’t quite ready for the new year, but I don’t really have any other options other than continuing to go about my daily business, ready or not. Homeschooling started off pretty well, meaning the boys were more than ready to start some work again, and are having a good time with it.
I came up with a few new tricks which seem good to add to the arsenal.
When the Tables Start to Turn (by Darah)
I promised to let you know how it went ...
Writer's Block (by Darah)
First Scenario
I’m driving in the car with several of the children and something they say or do is the impetus for an article idea. “What a great piece that would make —so darn funny and everyone can relate.” I mumble to myself psychotically, cracking up all alone.
In a mood
Q of the Week : How do you capture creative time?
An Open Letter to Myself Ten Years from Now (by Darah)
I know you are overwhelmed. Caring for five young children, maintaining the house, launching a new career, being a wife, friend, and daughter — all in a day’s work — is grueling. Your eyes are always bloodshot from the chronic sleep deprivation and the dark circles cannot be masked with any amount of concealer. Yet, believe me when I tell you this: you will yearn for these days ten years from now.
The Warrior Mom Gets Down and Dirty (by Darah)
But, it must get done. And, my motto has always been “if you’re going to do something, do it well … and take pleasure in it.”
Tranquility Can Be Found in the Oddest of Places - All You Need is to be in the Right State of Mind (by Darah)
Each year I get an MRI of the brain as a follow up to my surgery. I had this done the other night. I scheduled it for the end of the evening so I could first get everything done for all the little and big people in my life.
It was 8pm and I was waiting in the MRI Lounge enjoying a good read in a national magazine when they called me in. As usual, by this time of night, I was weary and drained from all that tending to five young children entails. Nonetheless, the technician started to prep me about taking off my jewelery, removing all metal objects, how to breathe, how to stay motionless, composed, etc.; I knew the drill. He was assessing my mental state to ensure that he wasn’t going have to sedate some frantic claustrophobic once shoved inside the tunnel for a solid hour.
Why I hate feeding my toddler (by Darah)
Let’s face it. Feeding toddlers is no fun. The parent must be completely “unplugged” as this is one stressful endeavor that demands our undivided attention.
My two year-old is too busy for food; sitting down to a proper meal is never on her agenda. If it were up to her, she’d happily spend the day grazing. Getting her through a “sit-down meal” is exhausting and oftentimes, I wonder if it’s more trouble than it’s worth!
This precocious active kid has bounds of energy whether she eats her “square meal” or not.
I know, I know, the rationale extends beyond the actual nutrition and eating habits- it’s the cultivation of manners, table etiquette, establishing rituals, etc, etc.
In spite of the above, the five reasons I dread feeding my beloved two year-old are:
Embrace the Chaos - Surrendering Lessons from a Type A in remission! (by Darah)
Evolution has since exerted its influence and old standards have been re-evaluated. With the entrance of each newborn child into the family commune, a little piece of my old self has been discarded. Thrust into this structure-less Type B system while maintaining composure is my perpetual quest — for if I don’t adapt, I will perish.
Five tips on how to surrender —
In the Zone
Recession-Lessons = Stronger Smarter Family (by Darah)
Nevertheless, our sulking time is long gone!
Being such “Seasoned Veteran Recession-ists,” our family’s coping methods have evolved over time; now they’ve become the quintessential Recession Survival Skills.
Here is a concise list of some “Recession-Lessons” learned that have unexpectedly enhanced our family life and continues to school our kids in business …