Wisdom for Moms

"The phrase " working mother " is redundant."                                                                   
~Jane Sellman

Work from home #1

Sitting in a doctor's office waiting room, I filled out pages and pages of information.  To my surprise and pleasure, when it came to the employment area, "Full-time parent" was listed as one of the choices!

I just about fell out of my chair.  (which probably would have alarmed the doctor's office staff!)

I was so happy, I wanted to hug the man sitting next to me.  (Though by the sounds of his lung-crumbling cough, I don't think it would have been good for my health to have contact with him.)

At home moms (SAHM's) are a busy group.  We cook, clean, run around town, hold the family calendar and, as a financial advisor once told me, tend to manage the household finances.  Working moms often do all of the same only after they get home from an already busy day at work!

Regardless of whether a mom is at home or work outside of the home, money-earning and money-saving tips are always welcome.  (Provided they are good tips and not of the Invest-$10K-With-Us-And-We'll-Make-You-Rich-In-An-Hour kind of tip your Uncle Robbie can't stop talking about at family gatherings.)

I am picky.  I will not spend my time on anything that will earn me $0.05 per hour of survey-taking or anything that will suck up so much time, my kids will be neglected.

Here is a tip I found recently with a reputable organization:

Make Money Scanning Your Groceries!

I have signed up, and it was a breeze!

Making mom happy

What a great book!

Habit #2: Maintain Key Friendships

I know that I am a better mom because of the close friendships I have with other women.  These great women keep me grounded, they pass on lessons they have learned as moms, and they are compassionate, understanding listeners when I just need to vent.

What are your key friendships?

How do they help you as a mom?

How do you maintain these in the daily whirlwind that is mothering??

Organic on a budget?

I like buying organic.  I get the environmental part.   Really, I do.  I know it is healthier.  Pesticides, nutritional amount, etc.  I understand it all. 

It seems, however, that my checking acccunt does not agree. 

Organic food is expensive. 

So here's the rub:  I know its better.  But I simply cannot afford to go all organic. 

So here I am, feeding my kids food that's not organic thinking about all of the sprays and junk and possible outcomes with a smile plastered to my face as though everything were just fine.

Seriously, who can afford some of those prices? 

What is there to do?

Here's a little list a friend passed on to make it a little easier.  I keep it on my fridge to remember when I'm making my list. 

Top five big-bad-meanies when it comes to pesticides.  these guys soak up those chemicals like no tomorrow.  Definitely buy these organic if you can:
1) Celery
2) Peaches
3) Strawberries
4) Apples
5) Blueberries

The next five are not so bad.  These you can buy conventional and not worry:
1) Onions
2) Avocado
3) Sweet corn (yum!!)
4) Pineapple (super yum!!!)
5) Mangos  (um, maybe you like them)

Do you buy organic?

Wordless Wednesday

Passing the Love Around

A great big Thank you!!! to Pamela Zimmer for awarding me the Liebster Blog.  I am tickled that you thought of me, Pamela!

An award like this is meant to be passed on.  Here's how it works.

In case you are not aware, this award spotlights the up and coming blogs that have less than 200 followers.
By accepting this award, I get to:

1. Copy and paste the award on my blog.

2. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to me. (thanks again Pamela!….the link is at the top)

3. Reveal my top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

4. Hope that followers will spread the love to other bloggers.

Here are some notable mom blogs that you really should check out:

Karla Archer

The Smarty Pants Family

Nerdmama

Little Mommy, Big Appetite

Rebecca Kiel

Congratulations!!

Eye-Rolling

Babies are so innocent.  Even when they are crying, screaming, teething, keeping us up all night, they are not meaning anything by it.  They are just acting on how they are feeling with no thought of how it might be taxing us.

And even with the most colicky of babies, the moments when they are quiet and peaceful and snuggled in our arms, there is nothing so precious as that little baby breathing her baby breaths.

Then they grow.

And some things start to change.

I have read this stage of 5-7 years old is called a "mini adolescence".  Who knew that such a sweet little child would turn into an eye-rolling, arms-crossing, sass-giving person?  I certainly did not.

Who knew that it would get under my skin so?

I understand that around this age, kids are playing with how much power do they have in the world.  It is not meant to be manipulative.  Kids are never intentionally manipulative, they just want what they want and are learning how to get it.  And at this stage, this "mini adolescence", I believe they are trying to learn how to be assertive for what they want and more in control of their own lives.

Seriously, what parent wants to feel rejected like this?  No one wants to feel like they are infuriating to the people they love most.

But what is a mom to do? 

Sure, I can and I do set the boundary that we do not speak to our mothers in that tone.  This feedback is part of them learning what is acceptable when asserting themselves.  And I know they are not using that tone with teachers, by the way.  But if I get too barky, aren't I exhibiting the same behavior I don't want them to exhibit? 

I try to stay calm.  I try to breathe.  I try to model the kind of clear, collected but firm assertiveness I would like to see my children use.

"Try" being the key word here.

I tell myself "This is my training ground for real adolescence."

Then, when my mini-adolescent wants me to lie in bed at night and read a book, I jump at the chance.  I let go, for the moment, of all of the things I need to do and clean before I go to bed.  And I relish in the gift of us peacefully reconnecting...

...before another day of eye-rolling.


Have a great weekend!

Mom On the Edge