"I'm So Cranky"

"I'm so cranky, You already know!"


After listening to this song, and a few others . . . motherhood is a joke!

Even though I am not his mother, Junior has me wrapped around his finger.



This song made me laugh.
It made me giggle, for real.
The first giggle out of me in over a week.

This week has been lousy. . . to say the least.
Oh wait, its only Monday. Lets scratch THIS week, and say last week.

Family party Sunday, and I spent the day melting down and threatening to pack my bags.
Why? Ha, who knows! My only reasonable explanation:
I started my period = Goodbye Sanity!



This video sums up the everyday struggle of being a "MOM" and staying home with children.
watching and listening to the other videos, also makes me realize I'm not alone.

And today, I am thankful for all of the other cranky mothers out there.

"I've been an Angel all year . . "

While driving home from picking a tree, last Friday night (yes, I know I am behind) Junior sings Santa Baby with me, while Daddy is in the backseat, holding the tree and laughing.

Is it bad, wrong, terrible, unacceptable, odd that I told my boyfriends 8 year old child (Junior) that I want a diamond ring, baby and new car for Christmas? . . . I don't think so!

I don't think it is odd/wrong/terrible/unacceptable for multiple reasons.
1. It is the truth
2. None of those things are inappropriate
3. Junior, Daddy and myself all laughed when Junior told Daddy what I am wishing for.


A few nights go by, and Junior says: "I really want a baby brother in her stocking too!"



Fast forward a few more days.
Daddy and I are sitting in the kitchen with my mother (who is DONE with her Christmas shopping) and he says to me, "I really need your Christmas wish list, can you remind me again about the things you wanted/need."

I gave him NO ideas during that conversation and I really don't like to have a wish list for him and Junior  when they go shopping for me. I want a gift that comes from the heart, and something that they pick to give me. (plus, its more of a challenge that way!)

Today, Daddy and I spent the morning together and he says: "I know you want that Secret Garden book, or whatever it is but I really need to know the name of it."

So I pull up the amazon site, and give him two ideas. Two things that I would like, but don't need.
1. Magic Garden coloring book
2. Family of 3 necklace

Doesn't mean that Santa needs to bring me those. But I do like both and that is all I really have for ideas.


But the most important text that I sent to Daddy today said:
Please, do not buy me another stuffed animal, slippers, bath robe or shoes.

What does your wish list look like? Do you and your significant other buy gifts for each other? We typically do, but this year we want to save for a bathtub & mattress (to finish our master bathroom, and sleep well)

Our Elf Might Have the Magic to Disappear!

This week I have seen multiple "status" updates on Facebook about the creepy Elf of the Shelf.

After posting about the return of our Elf, I have convinced myself that THIS is the last year for our Elf. For many reasons!


The Elf has been re-named "Tin-Tin" (a nickname Junior had as toddler)
He showed up Thanksgiving night. Arriving in an adorable mailbox (from the dollar store)
and he even was wearing the winter outfit (scarf and skates) that Junior left out for him.

The first night (Thursday) was great! Tin-Tin showed up in the mailbox, on Junior's desk, right next to his Christmas tree.

Then came Friday, I woke up to Junior in my face, bright and early, screaming "MY ELF IS HERE AND HE IS IN MY ROOM!". . . Daddy was lucky enough to be at work! That night,  we needed to find a way to move Tin-Tin to another location....That is when I became Anti-Elf! (the early morning wake up call didn't help!)

Daddy and I were talking bickering about who was going to SNEAK into Junior's  bedroom and re-locate Tin-Tin. At that point, Daddy looked at me and said "I am done with the sneaking around and playing games with this THING!"  Together, we moved the Elf, but he made me stand at Junior's bed, making sure he didn't wake up, while Daddy snuck over and moved the Elf downstairs to hang out in the enormous bag of wrapping paper!

It gets better . . . Not only did we need to find a new spot for him, but we also needed to respond to a letter (thanks to the 2nd grade teacher last year! the same one who brought in the Annalee Elf) After multiple failed attempts and faking creating our letter, Daddy  decided he would write (cursive) really small and on a ripped up piece of paper. So, that was the letter! (2 hours after our mini-debate!) I brought the letter downstairs, rolled it up and stuffed it into Tin-Tin's hands.

"Elfing" night #2 was complete! And Junior  woke up extremely disappointed Saturday morning because Tin-Tin didn't answer all of his questions that were in the letter. (HUGE FAILURE!)

Saturday, Tin-Tin came back again. This time he was hiding out in the Christmas lights down stairs. No gifts, no letters, and a very irritated Daddy. I looked right at him and said, "This is the last year!" and we began a conversation about Junior and his beliefs.
Sunday night, Daddy and I were heading to get a midnight snack from the freezer, when I realized we still didn't hide the stupid Elf. So I grabbed him, threw him in the fridge and we went to bed. We both completely forgot that he was in there, until Junior went to pour himself some milk in his cereal. Opened the fridge door and let out a little "ah" . . . the Elf freaked him out a little bit!

Monday night, we were feeling the same way. Bored with this Elf thing, feeling like it could just disappear and we would be okay with it. I grabbed him out of the fridge, and threw him on our wreath on the door.

Enough is enough! . . . I am jealous of those parents without an Elf on the Shelf!



This morning, while waiting for the library to open, I read three more posts on Facebook about "elf" mischief and complaints! I'm proud of the mothers who choose not to get an elf. Just wish I had the strength to say no in the first place.

Another mother posted, her son's teacher has the elf in class. her son touched it to make it lose magic and disappear because it gives him nightmares.

Then, in response to one of the posts . . . a friend of a friend posted this blog: I Killed my Elf on the Shelf by Kasey Van Norman . . . After reading that post . . .


No more elf after this year! And, Tin-Tin will only be making appearances in our home (no gifts, no treats, no crazy elf-antics!) . . .

Sorry Junior,  but I have to say, that I agree with Daddy and a whole lot of other Mommies!!!

Elfy . . . Pronounced "EL-FEE"

Last year, Elfy twisted in the lights around the window

He also hung out in Junior's stocking!

(I think he also made his way into the doggy one at one point too!)

This year . . . who knows where he will end up hiding!
. . . . Yes, Elfy is just about to make his debut back in time for the real start of the Christmas season.

That's right folks, AFTER Thanksgiving!

We will not turn our Christmas lights on until November 28th!
We will not begin our hunt for a tree until the first week of December.
And Elfy will not make his appearance until . . . . Thanksgiving night!


However, we did get a head start on our Christmas shopping.
And Daddy brought our Target flyer with us. . . you know the fabulous TOY catalog.
We carefully went over the circled items together. Knowing Junior knows he wont get EVERYTHING that he circled.

Next week will be teacher conferences, and we know he has had an awesome beginning to the school year. So Daddy picked out this little token, Winter Outfit

This will be Elfy's new outfit I'm sure!

Junior also asked for this Aviator Set, which will be the outfit he arrives in Thanksgiving night

I wouldn't put it past Junior to combine the two outfits as well!

 

 

Cant wait to update with pictures of our creepy Elfy in his new attire!

 

 

Christmas Shopping. . . Yuck!

Being a Stay At Home "MOM" has its advantages. And definitely some disadvantages as well.

Shopping any day, during school & without children is definitely a HUGE bonus!
Especially when you have to buy those sneaky gifts that they MUST not know you bought.
*cough cough* stocking stuffers *cough cough*

This year Daddy decides that he will join me in shopping for Junior!
Definitely put a huge smile on my face.
1. Because he is helping
2. Because I think it is important for him to choose a gift for HIS son
3. Because he will understand the stress level of getting gifts that the child wants (not what HE wants, as an adult)


However, I have been selfish and wanted to make Christmas shopping into a date night.
You know, NO kids and checking out the sparkly stuff in the stores and walking through a mall with all of the stores decorated pretty . . . AFTER Thanksgiving.


Well, that didn't happen. We ended up going shopping with our 9 month old great nephew.
(He was very well behaved!)  And we ended up going on a Monday, during the day, in the POURING rain!. . . . Not as "romantic" as I had hoped. But we did make the best of it!


Three great things that came out of this trip:
1. Daddy picked some really cool gifts for Junior
2. We spent time together with the baby, which I love watching him with the little man!
3. Daddy now understands why I go shopping during the week, during school and even in the rain!

(oh yeah, #4. Daddy also treated me to a lunch and helped with groceries since we were already out!)


I think know that I have an amazing boyfriend.
And Junior has an amazing daddy!

Gardening = Commitment

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow" ~ Audrey Hepburn

And with that said, gardening is my biggest hope in my life right now.
After the last year, the rough patches, and a difficulty believing in myself,
I have found that gardening is something that makes me proud!
(especially when all else fails)


When we moved into the new house, there was this lame "sunroom"
and I wasn't too sure about it. It was small, cold and seemed like a waste of space.
However, this "room" is one of my favorite places to be.

I've decorated the room with a Keurig machine, K-cups, mugs and a toaster on one long table.
And against the "windows" I have placed a table from my father's deceased mother (Grammy)
On that table, I have chosen sunflowers to be the quilted table runner.

I love the room. But what I love even more about that room, is what I do in there.
It has been taken over by seed packets, popsicle sticks for labeling, stray black markers and
of course, a HUGE variety of planters, pots and containers.

Now that yard sale season is over, I've begun a hobby in miniature/fairy gardening.
I want to grow my seeds in the sunroom, purchase plants from other greenhouses and begin this new hobby unlike most others. With this hobby, I am going to COMPLETE my projects!

We have completed one Gnome garden already! I cant wait to post pictures.

But so far, a lot of seeds are beginning to sprout and there is plenty of green coming from the ivy cuttings and the herbs I have brought inside.

Hoping for a success with these plants, that are always seeming to keep me busy :)

Water, Sunshine, Repeat!


(Maybe I was a plant in a previous life. I do love my showers & sunshine!!)

Clematis - an outdoor plant, but it was BEAUTIFUL this year!

Some of my beginner herbs! They are growing out of control

Parsley, front & center ;) With a few more pots in the back.

Everything about this room screams NATURAL, the wood on the wall, the dark green floor, and of course all of these plants. Like the succulent above :) Don't know the name for it, but it is constantly shooting off new pieces.

Halloween (a little late)

This year was a first for us.  .  .  .  . as we are still trying to make our own traditions and settle down into our new life as a family of three (full time).

We decided to give trick or treating a whirl and come up with a plan of some sort. So we started off by visiting aunts, uncles, 'grandparents', another aunt, and Junior suggested that he wanted to go "real trick or treating, like the kind where you go to someone's door and say 'trick or treat'"

So we did. We left my aunts house, hit a few houses in her neighborhood and he was thrilled! Daddy, not so much! But he let him do it anyway and watched us from in the car!

Our last stop was at a close family friends house. She gave Junior a couple of special Halloween sugar cookies, a Lego friends kit, some candy, and of course she shared her TV and frozen pizza with him as well.

Seriously, I love our extended family, and over generous friends. Nights like Halloween made me happy this year. Seeing that smile on our child's face, knowing that we did something with him that made him that happy. . . . Satisfaction!


(and as a side note, EVERYONE knew he was Clark Kent and loved his costume. . . felt good to take the credit for that too!)

Whoooooooooooo loves you?

Owl always love you!


Corny, yes! But everything Junior likes is owls, minions and gnomes. Okay, he is still sort of on an American Girl doll kick too!

But he really likes owls. And there are so many owls out now, its crazy! But everything with owls is more pink/purple than green/blue/yellow or orange.

I decided a few months ago that I was going to sew him a blanket. An owl blanket. This was NO easy task (and still isn't complete!)

I went on fabric.com and decided to order some adorable minky green fabric and some owl print cotton fabric. When they arrived, I couldn't wait to get started on a new snuggly blanket!

However, I suck at sewing. That is not just my own personal opinion, I actually barely passed my "Home Economics" class in high school because I just couldn't sew :)

Guess who (with a little help from Daddy) was able to use the sewing machine and make a blanket? . . . That's right, ME!

We managed to get three out of four sides sewn. I really hope Junior loves it!



Except Daddy told me, "Do you ever feel like you overdo things? Like, become obsessed with owls like he does, and go crazy buying him things?"

Of course I blurted out, "I just want to make the damn kid happy, okay!?!" 

In my own words, I will spoil him if I want to. (Even if Daddy thinks I am going to 'ruin' the owl phase)

"Trinkets"

While researching the subject of gnome and fairy gardens with Junior, I explained that we needed to find "trinkets" to add to the garden once we get the plants in the bucket.

My boyfriend BUSTS out laughing when I said the word trinkets. Then it gets better, he sees that I put a post on craigslist, looking for "trinkets" and laughs more.

I am searching for little dollhouse pieces, anything miniature, bottle caps, thimbles, small things that could be turned into ANYTHING little for the gnomes or a fairy.

I didn't know the word would cause so much laughter!
But deep down, I loved all of the smiles we shared last night :)


Its the simple things in life!

Fall, September is coming to an end!

"Crunching Crinkling, Autumn Leaves, Spiraling Swirling, in the Breeze"

Yesterday afternoon, it was 80 degrees here in Massachusetts. A beautiful fall day, but much hotter than our average fall weather. I wrote the above poem on our outdoor chalk board, as we decorated the front porch!

We did our Sunday trip to the flea market. Bought an adorable antique sled (for decorating the porch in the winter). Then we headed in a different direction to pick some Apples.

I've been enjoying my Pumpkin coffee, watching the leaves change color and taking in the smell of crisp fall air. But I really wanted to do some apple picking and fall decorations yesterday.

This was the first week that I had done our football picks, on my own! I also have managed to get back into reading.

I've been using the internet for some help with great books to read. I use pinterest, amazon and our library's online catalog. I find a book I liked, search for similar books on amazon and pinterest, then I log on the library site and search for the book title. Once I find the title, I request for the library to hold the book for me. . . I receive a text when the book is available, pick it up during my errands and return home to enjoy a good book (with my pumpkin coffee, of course!)


I'm really hoping to figure out how to post pictures. I've been using my phone for photos a lot lately! Considering doing a 365 project! But that is a HUGE commitment for me.

Our chalkboard, mums, wagon & corn stalks!

(edit: added AFTER Halloween)

The colors changing :) LOVE!

Plenty of time, Not enough energy!

Today, 7:30am, 8 month old nephew arrives to be taken care of. 7:45, we are off to drop Junior off at school. 8:05, the baby and I are at Wal Mart, picking up prescriptions for Junior. The baby fell asleep once back in the car and I drove around until 9:00, dropping by the bank to deposit a check (which will disappear by tomorrow) Baby was picked up around 12:45 and I was exhausted. Not because the baby is a lot of work, but because I ran around this morning and didn't sleep last night.

The lack of sleep is kicking my ass more than any crying baby ever could!


However, today I don't want to be a stay at home mom (it changes daily). Then, I read this . . . The following is NOT written by me, but really made me realize that I am not alone!! (YAY!) My response to all of this, is written in pink

1. The title "Stay Home" is a passive-aggressive term. There is nothing flattering, glamorous or remotely attractive about the word "stay." "Too Much Woman to Be Confined to a Cubicle Farm" works better. I swear, it doesn't matter how many times I get my nails done, hair cut/colored, buy a new outfit or attempt a brazillian wax . . . STILL not flattering to stay home!
2. Apparently, you are expected to be "at home" for some parts of the day; particularly those parts when children under the age of 12 are in your care.
3. Repairmen are not sexy in any way. Glad to know, I am NOT the only one disappointed by these creepy/dirty old repairmen. Why can't we have a sexy delivery guy, or someone gorgeous delivering appliances? Just doesn't happen!
4. Nothing very exciting happens. But you need to talk, so the best entertainment is gossip and backstabbing. It is unavoidable and addictive. Being home, I don't even know the latest gossip or backstabbing. I just bitch. And who wants to talk to someone that complains ALL the time. (apparently the only friends I have left!)
5. People will say, "Well, its not like you're working or anything" just moments before they a) sign you up for lame volunteer duties at your child's school, b) dump their own brats on your doorstep, or c) redirect all their home deliveries to your front door (even the fertilizer order). Everyone thinks I will be available at ALL times. Especially when they are in need. Ex: old boss to watch her son, family friend who needs a ride to the doctor and mother, who wants me to let my brothers dog outside because I am home (always!)
6. Cleaning the house is not a problem, keeping it clean is. If the house is as clean at the end of the day as it was when you started, you win. If your child doesn't come in with muddy feet, they are sure to fill the sink with dirty dishes or the laundry room with dirty clothes (every child wears more than one outfit a day)
7. You cannot be late for anything, or with anything. You have nothing else to do. And that is me judging myself! I need to be early or exactly on time for everything! Even picking the boy up from school, must be there 20 minutes early to get a parking spot!
8. Your perceived intelligence drops by at least 50 IQ points. You may have run the computer science department at MIT before you decided to stay at home, but two weeks into the new job and your kids will be asking Dad for help on the family computer. If you ask the 8 year old, I don't know ANYTHING because I don't have a job. Pretty sure that the boyfriends family feels the same way. EXCEPT, reality check . . . I graduated with an Associates in Early Childhood Education AND a Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. . . But I still know NOTHING. . .
9. You have no excuse for not exercising. Which also includes, no excuse for weight gain.
10. You have no excuse for not eating a healthy lunch. Because even when the fridge is empty, I can go to the grocery store and buy healthy food. (not really!)
11. You can be truly bored at the same time you are acknowledging that you could be exercising, cleaning the house or watching someone else's kids.
12. The minute you resign form your old position, they promote it to a higher level, increase the salary and bestow a fabulous new title on that bitch who took over from you. I'm not so sure about this one. I know one of my replacements is happy with her job, but she is actually getting paid . . when I wasn't!
13. Your husband either a) shirks all domestic duty, which makes you mad, or b) doesn't shirk any, making you feel guilty. Yay! Something new to fight about! My boyfriend has low expectations. He just wants his son safe & happy.
14. Your children expect you to be at their beck and call. Even in the middle of an emergency manicure, one is expected to drop everything and rush to the school over a perceived "sore stomach."
15. You now have time to launder the sheets. Even if family members are lined up to care for the child . . . some people forget they have a child to pick up! Then that said child, well he thinks you are the biggest piece of shit because YOU didn't show up to pick him up, obviously you were just sitting at home because you don't have a job or anything!
16. Even after 5 p.m., drinking with only children in the house is still considered to be "drinking alone." What, you had a hard day or something? Cant drink "alone" when you are home with the child, because who knows where you may have to bring that child!
17. Your children are no better behaved simply because you're the primary caregiver now. In fact, most often, they're worse. I have to disagree with this one! (so far!)
18. If you dress nicely, neighbours are suspicious. If you dress like a slob, you've let yourself go. If you dress too old, you're middle-aged before your time. If you dress too young, you're a slut.
19. Teachers expect you to be on top of the notes they send home. I couldn't agree with these last two more :( Unfortunately, this is the truth!
20. You're not supposed to be too tired for sex anymore. And if you are, all hell WILL break loose! 



This is what she said . . . (Where I found this information)

Arm Knitting

Last night I decided to try this "30 Minute Infinity Scarf"

Two hours and 30 minutes later.
Three times asking my boyfriend for help.
An 8 year old laughing at me, rewatch the Youtube video.



I made something that looks like a scarf. It is big, chunky and I like it.

Maybe the next one will look more like a scarf? Maybe there wont be a next one.

But, hey I finished a project (craft) and was proud of it!

Time Out for Parents!

Staying home all the time . . . SUCKS!

It is horrible when I drop the boy off at school, come home, do the chores, pick him up at school, and come home to finish dishes and laundry.

Dad gets to meet new customers, have a social life with his employees, and enjoy the life of commuting for work. (Okay, I may not be jealous about the last part)

But after Daddy spent 3 solid days on the couch this weekend, he definitely understood where I am coming from (boredom - depression - irritable - etc.) He just wanted to get in the car and go for a drive.

We have had multiple conversations about adults (me and daddy) needed time out sometimes. We just need to sit in a room with the door shut and RELAX. However, realistically this never happens.

I explained to Daddy that I want to take a non-credit course. So, I signed up for an Art class! A stress-relief, Zentangle class. Sounds interesting right? Well. . . I wont know for a few weeks. But I am extremely excited to try something new, and get out!

I've also been talking with a close friend of mine and we are going to begin a Girls Night. Dinner, Crafts, Movies, Chat. . Whatever. I couldn't be more excited for that either. Not only is it a night for me to get away, but also a night for the boys to spend together!

Feels to me like we are heading down the right path.

Halloween Costumes

About two months ago, Junior received this catalog (dragonflies) or something like that.
The catalog had about 100 different costumes in it. It is actually "Chasing Fireflies" Display of costumes here

In all of these costumes, I don't think we could find one that is actually in our budget.
I explained to him, that he needs to choose a costume early enough so we can begin putting it together. After the magazine made us look like World's Worst Parents . . . I sat down and began searching "pinterest.com" with him.

Two years ago, we made him a robot costume. It was ADORABLE, but not very practical for Trick Or Treating. Last year he was a minion, and was even more adorable. Those last two years combined, cost us less than $20 total (combined!)


This year, Junior wasn't even quite sure what he wanted to be. He mentioned Superman, which I think is cute. So he shows me the costume in the catalog. . . to my surprise he wanted The Ultimate Superman Costume. . . Ladies and Gentlemen . . . $88.00

So, we put this Superman idea up on Pinterest. After multiple giggles and a few "eh" comments, I think we may have found a costume. He may not look like the little boy on Steroids, but he will look like an adorable "Clark Kent: Superman"

We bought the "Superman" S tshirt @ Walmart $6.00
I found "the" glasses @ Garage Sale $1.00
He already has some button down dress shirts.
He already has some black or khaki dress pants.
And he has some adorable black dress shoes.

May I have your attention please . . . We just spent $7 on a costume and HE loves it! (The glasses were purchased, sanitized and scrubbed on Sunday . . . He has not put them down. Even wants to wear them to SCHOOL!)

Saving almost $80 on the costume wasn't even the best part. He can create the costume however he wants, with whatever he wants. We have even offered to get him a cool "guys" wig because his hair is very short. He said nope, I like my hair and my costume! (Proud Parenting Moment!)

Something other than Shopping

In a situation such as my own, this blended family if you wish to call it, I obviously have a psychiatrist. Let's call her Doc. Now that Junior is back to school, I have some extra free time on my hands. We don't want depression to creep back up on me (like it did last winter). I'm willing to make time for ME, but I don't know where to begin.

I thought about taking a class. Possibly a non-credit course. And started researching college courses in the area, and classes at our local trade school. Shit outta luck! There is a zentangle class, which seems cool . . . but hell, I can doodle, and draw on my own. Then I found an Overeaters Anonymous, which would be PERFECT, but it is only one night. So, lets go back to square one and begin planning again.

After getting a bachelors degree in college, I really don't want to go back and take real courses (expensive courses) because, lets face it . . I don't know who I want to be when I grow up. (Identity Crisis)

Looking at other options, Doc has suggested a yoga class, a writing course (perfect, if I could find one) and workshops for teaching.

While searching more online, I have found that Home Depot offers a free monthly "Do it herself" workshop. This month focuses on the entrance to your home. HELLO, that is just screaming for me to go and listen! Our front door is SCARY! (I will now need to upload a photo for proof)


My friends & family all have children of their own or went back to school to finish a degree they started 7 years ago when we graduated. And the other "family & friends", I just choose NOT to associate with (that's the truth!)


So what do "Stay at home Moms" do? Even though I don't have a child of my own, my routine looks a little something like this:

5:45am - Wake up with Dad and try to pull the covers back over my head while he gets ready
6:45am - My alarm goes off, and I jump in the shower (after scrolling through facebook)
7:05am - Wake up Junior and pull his sheets/blankets off of him (while still getting dressed myself)
7:10am- Breakfast for Junior, as well as making his lunch at the same time
7:30am - Still putting myself together, making sure that lunch and last nights homework are packed
7:40am - Running out the door to get Junior to school on time
8:00am - Drop off at school
8:15am- Arrive home from dropping off, and begin doing chores. (dishes, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.)
9:45-10:45am - Usually about the time that I am done getting everything done, depends on day!
11:00am-2:00pm- A huge block of free time that I don't know what to do with myself (I usually end up on pinterest, facebook and this blog)
2:30pm - Pick up the boy from school (3 days a week)
3:00pm - Snack & Homework with Junior
4:00pm - Trying to find an activity for him to keep busy until Dad gets home (usually lego building, chores, playing up in his room, playing with the neighbor boys, etc.)
5:00pm - Start preparing dinner, catching up on afternoon dishes and making sure the house is tidy
6:00pm - Dad has arrived home from work (usually) and started cooking dinner
7:00pm - Dinner time . . . sometimes earlier (if I try to cook) and sometimes later (if he is home late)
8:00pm - Bedtime for Junior


So that is just an AVERAGE day, nevermind the nights he goes to see his mother. Or the nights that we have an appointment for his counseling. HUGE curveball.


What can I do to fill in the spare time? Two days a week, I am alone from 11am-6pm and have no idea what to do. I want to try writing, sewing, gardening. . . SOMETHING! The only thing that keeps me busy and distracted is shopping. Which, I can only go shopping SO much.

Help!

"How do you make a baby?"

As I mentioned in my introduction, Junior is very curios. Dad finds it hilarious when his son asks questions, that are way more difficult to answer! The other day, Dad and I were having a conversation. We want to get married, have a child together and live happily ever after.  As I said out loud: "How much longer do I need to wait, to have a baby?"

Junior: Exactly how do you make a baby?
Me: I'm not really sure, I have never had one of my own. (my face was turning one million shades of red from embarrassment) You should probably ask your mom. (the only answer I could get out of my mouth)
Junior: Well, does Dad suck on your boobs or something?
Me:  No, only babies suck on their moms boobs for food, after they are born.
Junior: Oh, well then HOW do you make a baby?
Me: Trust me buddy, you really don't want to know. You will be embarrassed and grossed out.

Junior left the room, went up to his dad and began asking questions. I finally let out a quiet sigh of relief and giggled to myself.


Later that night, I explained to Dad that Junior asked if babies are made by the Daddy sucking on the Mommy's boobs. And we both let out some laughter.

Oh, I am really not ready to explain this.

History & Introduction

Kids today have changed. . . . A lot!

Over the past year, my boyfriend and I have been raising his eight year old son. When I say his, I use that term loosely. Because back in 2012, we gained emergency custody of "Junior" and I became a "Mama" overnight.

My blog is going to have a very strong focus on conversations between me and the ever so curious Junior. Mostly because, I have NO idea how to answer his questions, even after becoming a preschool teacher. 8 years old is not in my area of interest . . . at all!

For a brief history of my family, I had known my current boyfriend for about fifteen years. (wow, I feel super old) And he had a son with a previous fling, producing this adorable little Junior. My boyfriend, lets call him Dad, and I had kissed in my parents garage when I was 17. Then we were just friends for about 5 years (of torture and crushes). Finally, I admitted that I kind of liked him and we started the kissing and such, all over again 3 and a half years ago.

Here we are today, the three of us . . . in a cozy home that Dad has rebuilt, to our liking. Junior is now 8 years old and Mama (me) is home all day, everyday taking care of him and our home.


And so begin the ramblings of an ex-preschool teacher. . . now turned Stay at home Mom!


(Let's just say, I never thought I would miss my classroom. . . but I do now!)