The Elmo Wallpaper. Do you know this blog? Do you know this wonderful mom of three boys? Do you? Because she wrote last week what I wish I had been able to find four years ago. She wrote the best post about having a third baby that I have ever read. It is personal. It is comprehensive. It is practical. And it is touching. Most of all, it rings so so true in its honesty and wisdom and fact. Read it. Even if you want nothing to do with three children or already have five or are somewhere in between. [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, motherhood, three kidsMay 2010
May 29, 2010
What She Said
May 28, 2010
!!!
(Things that made me happy this week) • Giving in to popsicle demands to quiet the beasts at 5:57 am • Unearthing $10 and a Starbucks card from a pile of doodads teetering on my bookshelf I’m pretty sure the beverage I purchase with that gift card will warrant another !!! moment • Perfect Curls • An hour of peace, quiet and foot beautification. Taking the extra time to shave my legs for the occasion was a double bonus. • Handing Ethan a bowl of yogurt and watching him walk to the back stoop and enjoy it all alone. Because [...]
Read More in !!!, Sarah WritesMay 28, 2010
Six Word Friday
What I need to remember (everyday): When I go to sleep early I feel better in the morning. For more Six Word Fridays, visit our witty friend Melissa at Making Things Up. Thanks, Melissa!
Read More in Jen Writes, sleep, three kidsMay 24, 2010
We Didn’t Celebrate our Blogiversary (but we did put together a list of Blogs by Moms of Three–or more–Kids)
It’s not that we forgot that we’ve been blogging for a year (since March 13, 2009). It’s just that, well, it didn’t come up. Sarah and I so rarely see each other in person that we didn’t ever talk about what to do in celebration of US. But now, a few months past, we’ve decided to celebrate us by offering others a quick resource for blogs by moms of three (or more). That’s right. Introducing: MomMamaMommy! (Inspired by this.) We’ve said it before. Something changes when you have that third kid. It’s so difficult for us to put our fingers [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, motherhood, three kidsMay 20, 2010
The Top Ten Reasons I’m Done (so stop asking)
When CK said Hey, you guys want a day to catch up on Five for Ten stuff? I said, Hell, Yeah. And not only because I need a day off, but because Bad Mommy Moments is badass. Equal parts snark and sentiment, CK spins a tale like nobody’s business. Today she’s here to make you laugh. And me laugh…because I’m not sure if I am done. But after I read this, I concluded I was downright crazy for not getting on board with the Top Ten. Without further ado… The Top Ten Reasons I’m Done (so stop asking) I don’t [...]
Read More in guest post, Sarah Writes, three kidsMay 19, 2010
YES to YOU
YES to new friends. Connections and Voices YES to letting go and reaching out and diving in YES to pushing and stretching and finding your words and sharing them here with us I am in awe. I am absolutely amazed. I am dancing in my tragically unhip shoes over here, starting to get back a little bit of that spanky and delicious, and all because of you. YES, you. Out there. The ones who have come here to read and write for 10 days. How did you do it? Aren’t you tired? A little tired of Momalom? A little tired [...]
Read More in Sarah Writes, three kidsMay 18, 2010
A day of Yes
Yes I’ll make cinnamon-chip muffins Yes we have Daddy juice Yes you can wear shorts today Yes there are clean socks in the laundry basket in my room Yes you have PE today (so wear your sneakers, too) Yes I’ll pack yogurt in your lunch Yes I’ll pack a granola bar in your snack Yes it’s my turn to drive you to school today Yes you have to brush your teeth Yes I’m picking you up from school, too Yes your friend M can come over to play Yes I’ll make popcorn Yes you can jump on the (neighbor’s) trampoline [...]
Read More in home, Jen Writes, motherhood, oldest child, three kidsMay 17, 2010
Lust for Lust
I have it. Oh, how I have it. Lust for lust. The want…to want. I’m not talking about lust for a quiet home, an easy dinner, a book, a bath, a pedicure. I’m talking about pure, hot, pounding lust. The fire that starts in your chest, quickens your breath, and moves to your thighs–making every limb tingle, bringing every cell to life. I want that. I want it back. If I squint really hard I can see through the haze of these cluttered, chaotic days. An image of this girl in a bikini pops up. I know she’s not a [...]
Read More in Sarah Writes, sexMy favorite novel My cherished collection (one-and-two-thirds shelves of Stegner magic) Evidence of stalking (I told you it was lust) ****************
Read More in Jen Writes, three kidsMay 15, 2010
Accepting Memory
I am standing in the shower. A mosaic of pea green tile under my feet. The sun of a hot, Florida day streaming in through the glass-blocked window beside me. Water streams down upon a body I have worked hard to win back after birthing my first child. In a matter of minutes I am flooded with memories I would rather forget. Guilt, shame, and loss swell my heart and the bucket tips over. Tears pour from me nearly as fast as the water from the showerhead. I push back at the memories. I want to grab them with both [...]
Read More in Sarah WritesMay 14, 2010
I had this body
I had this body I had abs A navel pierced with a tiny silver ring I had an ass that didn’t move up and down when I ran (I had this body that ran) I had a waist that fit into skinny jeans and thighs that fit, too I had this body before I had children this body that has slipped away become something else after the third child or because I’m getting older I can’t say, really But I had this body and I wish I had appreciated it more when it was mine (mine alone) Because now it [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, mind/body, motherhood, three kidsMay 13, 2010
The !!! of My Life
I have written and rewritten my About page several times. For many months now it has stood mostly blank. I find it to be an incredibly difficult and daunting task. And this is just a blog. Not the dust jacket on a new novel. Not a bio in a magazine. Not a profile for Match.com. Just a blog. The irony of it all is that I am able to share intensely personal things in my posts, but when it comes to my About page, I clam up. I can’t figure out how to distill myself into one or two cute [...]
Read More in Sarah Writes, three kidsMay 12, 2010
Happiness is
Happiness is three slippery bodies just out of the tub holding out their towels and asking for a “Daddy warm-up” Happiness is my Sweetie’s eyes deep brown and kind always smiling with soft lines around them like the Lucinda Williams song Happiness is this family that is ours only ours always ours because we took the leap that led us here ***************** Wednesday and Thursday are all about Happiness. Sarah and I are so happy to have you along on this amazing adventure. Link away…and we’ll get busy reading.
Read More in Jen Writes, motherhood, relationship, three kidsMay 11, 2010
Courage is
Courage is taking a leap into love commitment Motherhood Courage is forgiving freely and forgetting moving forward Courage is starting each day fresh without the weight of yesterday’s failures or hurdles or burdens Courage is being the best woman I can be the best partner I can be the best Mother I can be and not apologizing for not being better ******* Are you new here? Do you need some more information about all these goings-on? Check out the sidebar. Everything you need to know is over there! Also, please bear with us as we catch up from yesterday on [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, motherhood, three kidsMay 10, 2010
The Sidelines
The sun beats down on me as I sit on the sidelines. The vastness of the bright green playing field is filled in with players wearing blue and white jerseys, three stripes down the side of their shorts and across the tops of their socks. The ball pops here and there, in and out of bounds, over heads, into goals, and through the breeze that pushes tears around my face. I pull my hat further down and shift in the taupe spectator chair. I swirl the ice in my coffee and kick off my shoes. I have shut down. My [...]
Read More in motherhood, oldest child, Sarah Writes, three kidsMay 9, 2010
The Evidence of Mothers–a post by our Mom
In a new Mother’s Day tradition, today’s post–like last year’s Mother’s Day post–is written by Momalom’s mom, aka GG or Geege. She’ll no doubt be checking comments, so let her know what you think. And, thanks, Mom, for gracing our space with your wisdom once more. The Evidence of Mothers One of my best friends’ 37-year-old son recently made her a grandmother for the first time. When I saw Chris last week, she grabbed me and gave me a shake, demanding to know why I had never told her what being a grandparent is like, how wonderful it is Of [...]
Read More in birthday, GG, GG Writes, guest post, motherhoodMay 8, 2010
Popsicles and the parade that wasn’t: Revisited
As we’re gearing up for Five for Ten, I’ve decided to repost some oldies this week. Need a refresher on Five for Ten? Just go hang out in the sidebar over there. You can find the rules and our topics and even link up! I’ll see you back here on the 10th! ********** The Three Popsicle Day (originally published May 23, 2009) We don’t go on too many weekend family outings, because on the days that I am home, J works (and vice versa). So this morning, when I was standing in the center of our little town at 9:56 [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, motherhood, repost, three kidsMay 6, 2010
Discovering the Park: Revisited
As we’re gearing up for Five for Ten, I’ve decided to repost some oldies this week. Need a refresher on Five for Ten? Just go hang out in the sidebar over there. You can find the rules and our topics and even link up! I’ll see you back here on the 10th! ********** Mysteries Unearthed (Originally published August 9, 2009) Friday I took my kids to the park. It was 3 in the afternoon. The baby had woken from her nap. Quiet time was over. We were at loose ends. So I strapped the girls into the bike trailer, B [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, motherhood, oldest child, repost, three kidsMay 4, 2010
He’s 6 now, and still my first: Revisited
As we’re gearing up for Five for Ten, I’ve decided to repost some oldies this week. Need a refresher on Five for Ten? Just go hang out in the sidebar over there. You can find the rules and our topics and even link up! I’ll see you back here on the 10th! ********** The First Child (originally posted August 28, 2009) The first child is always first. Always. And it makes me kind of crazy. Because the second child is now the middle child. And the third child has to just cope with everything that the first child needs. And [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, middle child, oldest child, repost, three kids, youngest childMay 3, 2010
Moving into Motherhood: Revisited
As we’re gearing up for Five for Ten, we’ve decided to repost some oldies this week. Need a refresher on Five for Ten? Just go hang out in the sidebar over there. You can find the rules and our topics and even link up! We’ll see you back here on the 10th, all fresh and new! ****************** Newly Mothering (originally posted on August 5, 2009) Yup, I’m on Facebook. Who isn’t? It’s kind of like Twitter…and sex…I go through phases. This week I am happy to announce that I’ve reconnected with an old high school friend. We’ve been Facebook “friends” [...]
Read More in motherhood, Sarah WritesMay 2, 2010
Sleepless: Revisited
As we’re gearing up for Five for Ten, I’ve decided to repost some oldies this week. Need a refresher on Five for Ten? Just go hang out in the sidebar over there. You can find the rules and our topics and even link up! I’ll see you back here on the 10th! *********** How many nights can I go without real sleep? (originally posted on April 12, 2009) J is upstairs putting the big kids to bed. Em is lying on the couch beside me, playing. I am as tired as I ever have been. Too tired to be writing [...]
Read More in Jen Writes, repost, sleep, three kidsMay 1, 2010
Five for Ten Again: TOPICS!!!
May 10 & 11 — Courage May 12 & 13 — Happiness May 14 & 15 — Memory May 16 & 17 — Lust May 18 & 19 — Yes The topics are broad. General. You can tweak them however you want. They can be funny, introspective, academic, vulnerable. Whatever you wish. Be creative. Be daring. But most of all, be yourself. Two things of note: The last topic, Yes, is in honor of Aidan Donnelley Rowley’s debut novel, Life After Yes, which hits bookshelves on May 18th. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, right? I’m excited to read it. [...]
Read More in Sarah Writes, three kids