I ran 7 miles on Saturday. (Collective cheer!) And then I came home and disrobed and stood in front of the mirror. (Collective sigh.) I stared head-on at my figure as the steam billowed from the shower. What a downer. I pulled and pushed at my body. I bent down and took notice of how things hang. I glared. It’s not pretty. And neither am I. Or at least, I feel far from it. I stepped on the scale. (Secondary sigh.) I’m pretty sure the current number represents one too many days of treating myself, or easing myself. It’s also [...]
Read More in body image, exercise, mind/body, Sarah Writes, three kidsFebruary 2010
February 28, 2010
No, I’m not pregnant
February 27, 2010
This is My Life: Short-Order Cook
“Mom, for breakfast can I have French toast, a sunny side up egg and a sunny side down egg?” I’d have included a photo here, but the meal was devoured before I could locate my camera.
Read More in home, Jen Writes, oldest childFebruary 25, 2010
This is my life: My boys, My heart
Little boys are little boys are little boys are…cute. Want-to-eat-you-up cute. Want-to-bury-you-in-the-couch-cushions cute. Want-to-make-a-fort-and-hide-in-it-with-you-forever cute. My boys are rough and tumble. My boys are sweet. My boys are unafraid and loud, quirky and energetic. They are all mine, and I am nothing but lucky. And when I think I’m missing out on something by being a mama of all boys, only boys, boys-all-the-time boys, not-a-pink-dress-in-sight boys, I can look at these photos and sweetly smile and say, “Yeah, this is my life. And it’s a great, great life.” Look at my little George Washington in the bottom right-hand corner. Oh [...]
Read More in boys, Sarah Writes, three kidsFebruary 24, 2010
Momento
My mama’s got an iPhone and loves to browse the App Store, otherwise known as the nifty little place where all things you can imagine are made possible for the iPhone. Games, Stock Tips, Calorie Counters, my handy dandy Google Reader. We send each other little tips on Apps we think are fun or cool or handy. The last App she recommended to me is called Momento. It’s like a daily journal where you can record little thoughts and pictures and choose to share them with others, if you like. I haven’t shared my scrambled words with anyone yet–nope, not [...]
Read More in Sarah WritesFebruary 23, 2010
Thank Yous
THANK YOU To the Cheerio fairy, who showed up on my deck a few weeks ago with a box for B’s upcoming school party. To the parents of B’s friend, who drive him to and from school more than I do. To the parents of S’s friend. (See above re: school.) To dear friends who came to dinner and brought with them not only a gorgeous and tasty salad but truth and honesty and humor and comfort that Sweetie and I are not alone in this parenting gig. To all of the people who are helping to show my children [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, three kidsFebruary 22, 2010
Take 7 Minutes Out of Your Day
February 20, 2010
Finally! We selected a winner!
Love it Up has come and gone. We had 37 entries to our love-letter challenge, and Sarah and I finally had a chance to sit down with our computers (albeit farther away from each other than usual–one of us is at Geege’s) and select a winner (thank the computer goddesses for iChat). We read about love of equipment, stuffed animals, family members … even states of consciousness. And we loved reading every single entry. It was difficult to choose a winner. I know, that’s so cliched! But it’s true, of course. We want to send all of you chocolate goodie [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, motherhoodFebruary 19, 2010
Consequences and Punishments
What are you doing? Nothing, he says. What’s in your mouth? Nothing, he says. Open it. (He opens it. Can’t see anything. Candy must be hidden inside his cheek.) Were you in the bathroom? No, he says. Were you in the pantry getting candy without asking? No, he says. Then what were you doing? I was walking around and reading, he says. (I have mandated an hour of peace in my house. The little boys are napping. It’s been a busy on-the-go morning and I’m reclining on the couch, laptop perched, dog’s head rested on my legs. I don’t want [...]
Read More in Sarah Writes, three kidsFebruary 17, 2010
This is my life: Food Before Blog
Although I am tinkering with about 12 different posts right now–both on-screen and in-mind–I thought I’d send out a little something to whet your whistle. Reason No. 29 why I haven’t written a new blog post in nearly a week: I went away for the weekend and left my kids in the hands of Fabulous-Babysitter-Kelsey and Rockin’-Mama-Geege. You want to know what else I left in their hands? Bio-hazardous waste masquerading as edibles in my refrigerator. In between thinking about, procrastinating, and actually DOING the packing for my weekend getaway, cleaning out the fridge was overlooked. Upon returning from the [...]
Read More in chores, Sarah Writes, three kidsFebruary 13, 2010
There’s Still Time!
We want you to Love It Up! So, after you’re perfected that mushy love letter to your Sweetie (or to the chocolates, roses and conversation hearts), link up here. It’s easy, and you’ll be joining an already rich pool of entrants. (Take a read through! Leave a comment!) After Sarah returns from her Valentine weekend away, she and I will review all the entries over a box of chocolates. We’ll select a winner and send any remaining chocolates as first prize. (Just kidding; we’ll put together a Valentine’s Day-inspired bundle of goodies for the winner.) Entries must be linked up [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, three kidsFebruary 12, 2010
My 62-Year-Old Body
a poem from MomalomsMom: The I of me lives in thee. I am not you. You are where I live, How I move, What I can physically do. But not who I am. And yet, You often do define me. Because I let you. And that is the battle. Upon disrobing of a night I stand before my mirror And contemplate What the accumulation of my years has wrought. The flaccid skin And backfat, And varicose veins. The lumps and bumps and bruises and spots. And I am embarrassed And upset. But the I of me is still inside all [...]
Read More in body image, GG Writes, mind/bodyFebruary 11, 2010
I wish I had more for you, but this is all I got today
(i wish i had more for you but my brain can’t handle any more than this and i’m okay with that because as jen says “motherhood is hard, yo” and these words just have to be good enough for now) my brain is swirling whirling disappearing and coming back around to itself there are lists and tasks and chores and goals i have to do and meet and be the exhaustion is pushed away by caffeine and kid-chasing, but it’s still there and i get weary of worrying if i’m keeping perspective on life, my life, this life somewhere underneath [...]
Read More in motherhood, Sarah WritesFebruary 9, 2010
This is my life: Kitchen Help = Anemic Carrot
“Mama, Can I help you?” “Sure, honey, do you want to peel the carrot?” “OK!” And on that note, there’s still time to participate in Love it Up. Write a love letter. Make it racy. Passionate. Gooey. While your kids are making their Valentine’s for classmates this week, sit beside them and draft something LOVEly. Then, link it here!
Read More in Jen Writes, oldest childFebruary 8, 2010
A Letter To My Body In Its 40th Year
We are thrilled to welcome The Kitchen Witch to Momalom. Absolutely thrilled! On an ordinary day you can find her offering up tidbits about her girls, Mama, the Hubs, the Stepkid, and food of every flavor. Each day she spins a story and throws us a delectable recipe. I have been especially fond of SMAM, otherwise known as Shrink My Ass Month, which focuses on recipes that can lighten our load, so to speak. (Um, is she catering to me?) Today, however, the lovely TKW has abandoned recipes in favor of a letter. I say no more. Read and laugh, [...]
Read More in body image, guest post, health, mind/bodyFebruary 7, 2010
A Short Love Letter to My Sweetie
Dear Sweetie, Twelve years ago I chose you. Every day since I have chosen you. It is the easiest choice I have ever made. And I will make it again and again. All my love, Me
Read More in history aka before kids, Jen Writes, relationship, three kidsFebruary 6, 2010
There comes a time when the yelling has to stop
I rocked my 7-year-old boy in my arms, his long body hanging off mine, flowing onto the white down comforter and the well-worn green flannel sheets that wrapped the mattress of my own childhood bed. How can he be so big? It’s not fair that I can’t curl him into me anymore. I sat and held him while he sobbed. I felt the release of his cares and his worry–his constant awareness of the expectations he can never seem to meet. Our expectations. “The little boys take a lot of work, don’t they?” I asked. “Yeah,” he muttered. “It’s crazy [...]
Read More in oldest child, Sarah Writes, three kidsFebruary 3, 2010
Dear Pinot Noir
This is an anonymous contribution to Love It Up, a little blog challenge in honor of Valentine’s Day. I hope all of you will consider sharing a love letter with us and our community here. We also ask you to encourage your own readers to participate. We all need a little more joy in our lives, so let’s spread the love. Dear Pinot Noir, I love you. I love the pop of the cork, the burble you make as you fall into the glass, the warmth of that first sip down my dry and anxious throat. I love the way [...]
Read More in guest postFebruary 1, 2010
Now’s Your Chance to Love it Up
My discovery of a treasure trove of correspondence, much between me and Sarah (tidbits here and here), led one of our most supportive readers to suggest that we all could write more love letters. And, Amber, you are right. I’ve been thinking about your comment for just about three months now. Add to that the fact that things seem a little lonely—boring, even—around these parts lately. So Sarah and I thought it was time for another challenge, of sorts. And with Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, we decided this is the perfect time. Our latest endeavor is Love it [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, three kids