I'm Proud to Run "Like a Girl" and You Should Be Too!

I never thought I would be so inspired by a tampon commercial, but this really hit a nerve with me!

I have no idea what this really has to do with tampons, but it definitely kept my attention!

I have a daughter who is 7-years-old and I NEVER want her to think that doing anything "like a girl" is embarrassing or less than!

I am proud of my daughter for doing things "like a girl"! She's amazing!

My daughter does things "like a girl" and is proud of it!

Me and my 3 sisters were raised to be strong, confident women! I want my daughter and all little girls to grow up the same way! The stigma that comes with the phrase, "like a girl" is hurtful and needs to stop! But, the only way for that negative connotation to go away is to show the future generation of women that doing anything "like a girl" is not something to be ashamed of!

If you have a daughter, this video is a must see! Watch it together!

Divorce Is Not The Answer

I'm not perfect. I am impatient. I can be selfish. I can be moody. I am stubborn. I don’t always think before I speak. I stress over little things. I can be a nag and be overbearing. I expect too much. I don’t always appreciate what I have.

But, no matter what, there he is, always at my side.

My rock. My partner. My best friend. My husband and the father of my children.

I love him very much.

However, I know there are times when I treat my husband like crap.

I don't know why.... he doesn't deserve it.

Even in the midst of a fight with him, I often catch myself wondering, WHY?

Why am I yelling at someone I love?
Why do I always have to be right and have the last say?
Why do I want him to feel bad for making me feel bad?
Why can’t I just let it go?

I know when I'm tired or in a bad mood or if I had a bad day, I find myself directing my anger and stress at my husband. Sometimes the chaos of life causes me to push my husband's feelings to the side.

However, no matter how much strain gets put on our relationship, DIVORCE IS NOT THE ANSWER.

I need to remember to always prioritize our commitment to one another. It is that commitment that started this whole journey that we share together.

We are one. We are a team. We are husband and wife. We need to face all of life's challenges together rather than trying to take it out on one another.

One thing I always tell my friends when they ask how Eric and I have made it work through all these years is that,

"Communication is key."

To me, communication is the most important part of a relationship. Some say it's trust, but if you communicate everything with one another, what is there NOT to trust? It just comes hand-in-hand.

However, sometimes communication can be a Catch 22 because when we do communicate, there are times when it does lead to an argument because one may not be happy with what the other person has to say.

When we argue, I know that I personally don't react to it well. I get very defensive and emotional. I become hard headed and easily annoyed. Everything sets me off. After I say my piece, I shut down. I don’t want to hear what anyone else has to say.

Yes, I am very childish that way and I admit it.

But even though some may be with a person like that and want to end it, my husband knows that DIVORCE IS NOT THE ANSWER.

He usually is very patient with me and level-headed and just lets me rant. Sometimes that's all most people need, just to be listened to. And I mean, REALLY listened to.

However, there are times when I am guilty of not always handling my husband's outbursts as kindly and as understanding as he does to me.

Eric doesn’t get mad at me often, but when he does that’s when it gets bad.

My pride gets in the way.

I fight back. I don't listen. I try to be tougher and I want to win.

Eventually, we become two very angry people who are just trying to one-up each other.

There is a great quote on a "Marriage Rules" plaque that I got from my aunt that states,

"If one of you has to win an argument, let it be your spouse."

I need to be the bigger person, like my husband usually is to me. I need to let him communicate his thoughts to me without getting upset. I need to be there for him and REALLY listen to his problems, his wants, his concerns.

I need to remember that I am in control of my own happiness and I can choose my reaction to any situation.

If an argument arises, I shouldn't let my emotions get the best of me. I shouldn't take my husband's opinions and problems as an attack. I shouldn’t hate him for saying what's on his mind even though what he’s saying may make me want to. I shouldn't bring up the past and I should never attack his character.

I need to just let it go and not make it bigger than it needs to be because DIVORCE IS NOT THE ANSWER.

We can't allow petty arguments to grow big enough to destroy our relationship.

I have seen so many great relationships end and I don’t want us to be another statistic of high school sweethearts who didn’t make it.

I am not perfect nor will I ever be perfect. I am thankful that my husband has always accepted me through all my imperfections. But I know he can only handle so much before he reaches his breaking point.

I need to make a change within myself.

For some, change can be difficult. It may at times seem easier to not put in the effort and to just give up, but DIVORCE IS NOT THE ANSWER.

As long as your love was created with a strong foundation of communication, faith, humility, compassion, and respect, it will be strong enough to withstand all of life's tribulations.

Our love is beautiful and the life that my husband and I share together is something worth saving.

Don't ever take our love for granted. It is something that requires constant work and commitment and needs to be nurtured to continue to grow.

My husband deserves a woman who builds him up and supports his dreams. He deserves a woman who appreciates him and respects him. He deserves a woman who allows him to voice his feelings and concerns without judgement. He deserves a woman who gives him hugs & kisses and tells him "I love you". He deserves a woman who wants him and needs him. He deserves a woman who is patient, understanding, nurturing, and kind.

I will strive to always be that woman.

I shouldn't allow the stresses of life to prevent me from treating him with the love that he deserves.

He makes me want to be a better version of myself.

And that's what spouses should do:

"Inspire each other to grow and be better every single day."

Photo credit: Michael Yenor Photography

My Children are Only Little Once

This morning was the first time in a long time when I actually woke up before my son did. He usually is our whole family's alarm clock. Waking us up around 5am everyday. So, when I woke up to no Liam yelling "Mum" into the baby monitor, I went to check on him.

 

I looked into his room and there he was still sound asleep. So, I sneaked over to his crib, careful not to wake him, and snapped this beautiful photo of our baby boy.

 

I literally sat there for 15 minutes on the floor next to his crib just watching him breathe and sleep. It's moments like this that remind me how precious life is.

 

This little boy sleeping like an angel with not a single worry in his head. Even though the world around him is chaotic, busy, and sometimes scary, here he is in all his innocence and vulnerability, with such a gentle peace around him.

 

It made me reflect and remember to slow down.

 

 My life is a constant go, go, go. I work full-time, I go to school. I'm a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend. And recently I have started this blog and am now my daughter's Girl Scout troop leader. With all the action around me, I sometimes forget to savor everyday moments with my kids. Getting them dressed, eating meals with them, taking them to school, the library, and the park, and even just talking with them or watching them play are moments that I need to soak in and appreciate.

 

 

But every time I forget, my children have a way of always reminding me to cherish every moment. I make sure to appreciate every hug, kiss, snuggle, laugh, cry, and smile because one day those little faces that look up at me every day will be grown men and women. They will no longer want to play tea party and build forts. They will no longer sing nursery rhymes with me. They will no longer need me to push them on the swing. They will no longer rush to the door every time I come home. They will no longer need my kiss on their boo-boos. They will no longer need to hold my hand as they cross the street. They will no longer need to be read a bedtime story or for me to tuck them in at night.

 

As I am writing this my heart is breaking because I realize that I take these moments for granted. These moments that seem so simple and routine are ultimately the big things that I know I will miss once it's gone. I need to remember to just take time and see the beauty in the little things.

 

 

Seeing my children just be children is something that I value so dearly, but I know I am guilty of putting pressure on my 6-year-old daughter especially to do well in school and to learn responsibility. I need to learn to let go sometimes and just let her be a kid. I want my children to enjoy their childhood and be children for as long as they can. I don't want them to grow up too quickly. I want them to be my babies forever. But I know one day they will be grown men and women and my only hope as a parent is for them to grow up and have wonderful memories of their childhood. The innocence of childhood is something that is so important to retain and can never be given back.

 

I know that I'm not perfect. I do sometimes lose my patience with my children and wish that they would "grow up" already, but I need to remember that they are only little once. Even though my life does get overwhelming and I do sometimes focus my attention on other things, being with my children as they learn new things, discover new things, and experience new things is truly a blessing and I need to appreciate it as such!

 

One of my favorite quotes is "Collect moments, not things" and I need to make sure that every moment I spend with my children is always stored close to my heart. <3

 

25 Truths from a Modern Mommy

All mommies enter motherhood with a set of expectations and assumptions of the kind of mother they would like to be, but there are times where we fall short. We are human. We aren’t perfect. But you know what, THAT’S OKAY. 

Being a mommy is tough and we put so much pressure on ourselves to be "perfect" or "super-mom", but I've learned that sometimes you just have to let go and LAUGH! We do silly things. We do things that we're embarrassed to admit. We have weird mommy quirks that not everyone can understand. So, today I'm sharing with you 25 of MY Mommy Truths to let you know, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! However, if you ARE a mommy who is NOT guilty of ANYTHING embarrassing, then at least you can have some giggles at my expense! :)

1. Sometimes I let the TV babysit my kids so I can clean the house or cook dinner.
2. When I’m exhausted and the kids pick a long book, I’ll skip multiple pages and paraphrase some sentences so that “the end” comes quicker. (But now it’s harder to fake it since my daughter can read!)
3. On nights when I’m too lazy to cook, fast food it is!
4. I pretend to use the bathroom to have some quiet time.
5. I can stare at my kids sleeping and listen to them breathing for hours in a creepy, stalker-ish kind of way. But, one time my daughter woke up and it freaked her out, so now I mostly just do it to my 16-month-old.
6. I wake up my kids when they are sleeping soundly in their beds and make them cuddle with me in mine just because I miss them or if there’s a thunderstorm.
7. Every time my daughter asks me for a toy, I tell her that I’ll get it for her birthday. But that only works for so long because now she remembers EVERYTHING!
8. Sometimes I bribe my kids with food and/or money.
9. I eat my kid’s Halloween candy or goody bag treats after they go to bed.
10. When I give my daughter a choice of 2 things and she ends up choosing what I didn’t want, I say things to convince her to choose what I really wanted. (I’m pretty sure I use this technique with my husband too).
11. I eat my kids’ leftovers. Even if they’re cold and there may be a chance that they have been chewed and spit out beforehand.
12. I dance silly in public to embarrass my kids. That's my excuse for dancing badly and I'm sticking to it!
13. I have accidentally fallen asleep while playing with my kids.
14. Chuck E Cheese is my worst nightmare.
15. I'm the sappy mom who cried on the first day of school and didn't leave until she entered her classroom.
16. I make sure my kids nap or have "quiet time" just to keep my sanity.
17. I realize kids are a great excuse to get out of things I don't want to do.
18. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed that I need a mommy time out.
19. I'm so protective of my babies that I’ve thought about beating up the mean kid at the playground that pushed MY baby, but then I think “mmm… better not.”
20. I tell my kids “mommy and daddy were just wrestling.”
21. I sometimes have more fun playing with my kids' toys than they do!
22. When I'm supposed to be "tough" mom or have my kids "cry-it-out", I sometimes sneak hugs and kisses to them so they don't feel bad.
23. I will make my kids re-enact moments just so I can catch it on camera! (But to be honest, it’s never as good as when they first did it! Boo.)
24. I like the way my kids smell. Sometimes I just like to sniff them.
25. Changing a poopy diaper is the worst! I will never get used to it. EVER.

So, there you have it! Those are 25 Truths from a Modern Mommy! I am FAR from perfect and I am a bit embarrassed to admit many of these things, but so what! I don’t do these things all the time, but they are things I have done or thoughts I have had at least ONCE during mommyhood and there is nothing wrong with that! That doesn’t make me a bad mom! It just gives me some funny stories to share!

 If you are a mommy (or even a daddy) and have your own "Truths" to ADD, please COMMENT them below! (And you can be ANONYMOUS if you want!)