A Moveable Mom

I've been in a bad place-like the very worst (in my opinion.) That place where you ask your child to "wait" while they are trying to get your attention because you are responding to a work email. Nevermind that they are likely bleeding from the eye or leaving town with a biker gang! I wouldn't know-I'm emailing, texting...GAH! I've been spending "quality time" with them, too-you know, where you tell them it's 'Family Movie Night' and you pick up a pile of papers, computer,etc...and NEVER know what happened in the movie. If I looked up I may have found that they weren't even my family (because I don't have daughters!) There's really no telling. I digress and I move on and laugh (a lot) at myself and my failed attempt to SUPER parent and SUPER excel at work and have SUPER productive and caring relationships with others. My Super Bloggess status is a bit questionable as well since it seems that my last log in was New Years Day 20...

As I watched 'Rudolph's Shiny New Year' with my boys on New Year's Eve, I thought about this past year. Would I visit 2013 in the Archipelago of Last Years? I didn't climb Everest (a feat I was SURE I would accomplish by my 30s.) In fact, I don't recall leaving town-really... I didn't change jobs. I didn't update my wardrobe (although, I would have LOVED TO!) I didn't create my backyard oasis...AGAIN! in 2013, I laughed-ALOT!!! I laughed with family, friends and mostly AT my kids (particularly when they made genius comments and showed me that magic and innocence still exist-the oldest, for instance, wants to go to college and enter the 'Scare Program'...go for it, dude! I believe they're calling it the 'School of Education', now...Just Kidding ;) and myself (sometimes I think that I'm kind of a big deal in the universe's Reality TV scene...not quite Honey Boo-Boo level but certainly full of ridiculous segments!) I took cha...

I love Pema Chodron-have you read her? She's wonderful. Whatever you are feeling, especially those negative, funky feelings; she's gotta good book for you! So, I picked up 'How To Meditate.' I've shared in past posts, how I am similar to Julia Roberts in 'Eat, Pray, Love'...translation= I struggle. Sure, I know that meditaton is the best thing for my skin, stress, relationships, existence...I get it-I'm just no good. One of my strengths, though? I'm no quitter! So-here I am reading...but, it's kinda the same thing that I've heard before-"try 20 minutes to start with" it begins(try 2?) So, I have spent the day trying to translate what the experts and gurus are telling me and like everything else I TRY to do (emphasis on "TRY.") I reflect on what that may look like in my life; when have I felt full, ZEN, relaxed, enlightened...? I was drinking coffee before work this week-my boys were at the LEGO table; mass destruction was ...

I am a believer in music therapy. It takes time and it is NOT easy to find the right tunes to turn around or to improve some interesting moods! I have different types of tunes for different parts of the house; calming for the bath, Buffett and Reggae for the backyard, a variety of genres in our family areas...for the variety of moods and personalities that arise from the 4 of us! I like to have music playing all the time-keeps my spirit and body moving! There are only a few weeks out of the year where, however, I DEPEND on music-beginnings and ends of school years. (Just so you know, Christmas music at the end of the school year. You heard it right, I can't explain it. It just works.) So, being an educator-with children in school-you can imagine the importance of finding the right music to keep our hearts happy when there is so much new-ness and unknown during the beginning of the school year. My family and I survived the first week of school (there should be a shirt for that...and...

My purse! (Handbag, satchel, pocketbook...whichever noun applies to you and your region of the country!) I spent two weeks carrying around an absolutely ADORABLE, weaved, red & blue...too small purse. My "stuff" (i.e. my life blood, security "blanket",etc...) was just busting out all over the place! I would reach in for my singing phone and had keys-money and all sorts of embarrassing goodies falling down around me. I have had a lot of missed calls these past few weeks. So, today, it was just me and the boys-translation: I needed to have my "stuff" together! Who was I kidding-"absolutely ADORABLE" + ME = disaster, disorganization, the list goes on and on. Old Faithful got pulled out-the one that I can fit a water bottle, kindle, 'Daring Greatly' book by Brene Brown (upcoming blog-I SWEAR, she and I would make the best of friends!!), epi-pen (I am a HOT mess sometimes!),...the list goes on and on. You're picking up on some patterns...

I love my job-don't get me wrong. It is the greatest, most stimulating, challenging and oh, so rewarding profession! As a mom of super silly boys, though-my summers "off" (fellow educators know why "off" is used very loosely!) have been the best (and most tiring)payment for a job well done during the school year. I got up early today for my first day back to work and just thought about these precious summer months that I spent with my boys. Time that I was able to fill with simple and humbling (humiliating?) experiences. Our bathrooms, filled with bathing suits-where you just felt around in the morning for the least damp one, threw it on, and topped it with shorts and a shirt. There-you're dressed...SUCCESS! My husband, the cook in our family-it's obvious why-especially on these weekday mornings when he abandons me...without frozen waffles! Nothing warms a momma's heart like the whiny tones of "daddy makes food we like" or my new personal f...