Mommy's Need Alone Time

**Note: This post is written from the view point of a SAHM/WAHM but this is for all the Momma's! Regardless of your employment situation, I've been there too.**

Am I right or Am I right? I"m with these little creatures 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. Yes, I just called them creatures. That's what they are. You know it and I know it. Someday, 20 or so years from now I hope that I can say my greatest accomplishment is that I produced 2 self sufficient, honest, responsible, functioning members of society. But for now, they are creatures. What? Why are you looking at me like that?!

Moving on...

Before I was married & a Mommy I was the independent, free as a bird, doing what I wanna do when I wanna do it just because I can kinda girl. Yea, that went right down the chute, and quick.

Do you know when the last time I spent more than 10 minutes alone was? And I'm not counting the toilet or the shower because let's face it - we are NEVER alone in there! It's been weeks. Probably months. When I finally got a few minutes by myself, do you know what I had the luxury of doing??  I went to the grocery store. Yup, the grocery store. Now it's important to mention here that I happen to love grocery shopping since I'm like a frugal queen, or something, but that is not the point. Grocery shopping and running errands do not count as alone time, although right now, I'd take it!

Mommy, you NEED alone time. If you aren't sure why, read on!

Alone time keeps you in tune with YOU. Think about it: All you do these days is change dirty diapers, wash dirty laundry, make dinner and clean dirty dishes. You are so busy saving the world one scraped elbow at a time that you haven't noticed that you need a manicure, could use a workout, are neglecting your scrapbooks, or that you haven't touched a single book on your reading list. Losing yourself in parenting is easy to do. I'm guilty of it, obviously, and it sucks. Eventually you wouldn't even know where to begin enjoying yourself if you somehow accidentally stumbled upon alone time!

It will make you a better parent: I've got these little buggers up my rear end all day long. I'm running around like crazy making breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Filling up juice cups, picking up shoes and dirty panties (cause my kid thinks she needs to change 13 X's a day. Little DIVA!), letting the dog out. Then back in. Then back out. Running kids to play dates. Cleaning the kitchen from breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Whatever, you get the point. On a typical day I'm super busy, stressed out and most likely exhausted. My patience are thin and sometimes I'm quick to get angry. And yell. Which I do NOT like to do. My kids don't deserve to be treated that way because they are just being kids! I've found that even a small amount of alone time on a regular basis really helps me to remain calm and patient from day to day.

Your relationship will improve: My hubby hates coming home to a cranky wife. Poor guy, he really gets the shit end of the deal. He comes home, I'm cranky, and he has to take over the kids immediately so I can take a 5 minute break. He is a trooper though! Don't y'all know, "If momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy?" Not to mention, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." 

Run away ladies, hide, be alone! An hour, a day, or if you're lucky enough, a whole weekend away! Make some time for yourself.

What is your idea of alone time well spent?

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Win a $50 Visa Gift Card!

Hey y'all! I'm doing a little giveaway over on my Frugal Living blog, Frugal Finds 4 Friends. It's really simple, take a quick 8 question, anonymous survey and let me know you did it! Voila, you are entered to win. What are you waiting for? Go here to enter!!

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

In All Seriousness...

I just love Miranda Lambert. She's gorgeous, talented and tough as nails. She's got this sassy and sweet but I'm a bad ass so you best not mess with me attitude. I like to think I"m just like her. Or a lot like her. Or at least a little bit. Feel free to pipe in here with the "Oh you are way more awesome than Miranda!" comments.

 I also feel like I really OWE Miranda. She is working so hard and diligently to prepare my future husband for our relationship and I honestly think she is doing a fabulous job. Thanks for getting him all lined out for me girl! (Yea, I love Blake Shelton too!)  I was so darn happy when I found out they were a couple and then again when they got married.

In all seriousness, I want to talk about Miranda's new song "Over You". It's a lot different than the music she typically makes but it is such a powerful song. She co wrote the song with Blake and it's about his brother, Ritchie, who passed away from injuries he received in a car accident when Blake was just 14. Ritchie was 24.

The song has been playing on the local radio stations for a couple of weeks now but I really hadn't heard the entire song all at once until today. Now, I'm a sappy mess on a good day, especially here lately, but "Over You" just broke me down! I was crying big crocodile tears almost instantly!!

But you went away,
How dare you?
I miss you.
They say I'll be okay,
But I'm not going to ever get over you.

My gracious it's like these words were ripped straight out of my heart! I lost someone I love dearly in 2007 to suicide. I can't believe it has already been almost 5 years, but the pain, it doesn't leave your heart! Life still goes on, we keep moving and pushing forward, but we never forget those we've lost. If he was standing in front of me today, I think those lyrics are EXACTLY what I would say to him.


 ©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

My Bucket List Reversed - 10 Things I Never Want To Do

 

A list of 10 things I never ever want to do before I die. 

10. Jump from a perfectly good, still in the air, airplane.

9. Sink to the bottom of the ocean via a cruise ship.

8. Wrestle with a pit full of venomous snakes.

7. Ride cross country on a motorcycle (sorry hubby!).

6. Land in the Hudson river.

5. Fly to the moon.

4. Be a 'crazy cat lady'.

3. Have 20 kids & counting.

2. Be Famous.

1. Get locked up abroad.

What's your #1?


The post is part of a Writer's Workshop.

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

D.I.Y. Valentine! "52 Things I Love About You"

Some of you may be aware by now that I am a Pinterest Addict! I found this great D.I.Y. Valentine's Gift idea and decided I HAD to do one and make it my own. Don't fret, if you want to do something similar YOU STILL HAVE TIME! I'm also a procrastinator which is why it took me so long to finish and get this posted! Don't be like me!

This is so simple, yet so very thoughtful. First things first, you  need to come up with 52 things you love about your significant other. I initially thought it might be a difficult (I know, that's awful!) but I ended up having to narrow my list WAY down. It was tough! Now gather your supplies; All you need are a deck of cards, some glue (I used modge podge) a hole punch, and some binder rings. You can hand pen the "52 Things I Love About You" if you don't have a printer at home. I printed mine out in a navy blue to match the color of my cards and I used a pretty little font for a tad bit extra flare. I also used scalloped scissors to cut each piece of paper out.

Next you need to assemble your "book". Punch holes in each of the cards, make sure they line up! Cut out your 'things' to fit nicely on the cards. I used a glue stick to glue each one on to the card and then I went back over them with modge podge to make sure it would stick. The longest part is waiting for the cards to dry. Once they are dry you just slip the cards over the binder rings and Voila!

I used a mixture of humorous and sentimental things I love about my husband. I figure he'd appreciate the laugh.

The really great part of this project is that it is totally customizable. There are different types of glue that you can use to make the cards look worn. You could add pictures. Or bling or whatever you wanted!

Don't be afraid to think outside the box with this one. Not only is this a great gift for your significant other, but what about your kids? Your mom? Or your best friend? I think with just a few tweaks it could be fitting for anyone in your life.

Bottom line, this was a fun project that came from the heart. I hope my husband likes it. I will let you know tomorrow! :)

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Find me on Facebook!

 Hey Y'all!! I just wanted to let you know that you can now find me on facebook!

"Like" my fan page so you won't miss out on any of the fun. Any post I make here will also appear on my facebook page! See you there!

XoXo

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Well, That Sucked.

I have a great life. A wonderful husband, beautiful and healthy children, a loving family, a nice home, everything that I need. I'm blessed. That's all there is to it.

So I try not to complain when things aren't going my way because really, complaining never got anyone anywhere.

BUT, life is not perfect and sometimes things happen that you have no control over. Like tonight. I had to explain to my daughter, my 4 year old daughter, that her Nanny is sick. Parenting does not come with a handbook and I was in no way prepared to explain to my 4 year old what Cancer is. You see, my mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer two months ago. I knew I was going to have to explain things to Addison eventually because she is old enough to realize something is just not right.  I just wasn't ready to do it yet. I didn't know how to do it, but today, I knew it was time. I really expected her to have a full blown melt down.

She surprised me though! You know what she said? "Well, when we go back to Nanny's house I'm going to have to take her some food. Some fruit, like apples and bananas and pineapples and plums. And some celery. And if she gets sick and throws up, I"m just gonna have to clean it up. But I'm gonna need a wash rag that is already wet, okay mom?" You know what else she told me? "Mom, I don't want you to take Nanny to the doctor anymore. You can just take me to Nanny's house and I will take care of her while you take care of Daddy and James."

Then I had to explain to her that Nanny's hair was going to fall out because of the medicine she has to take, but not to worry because her hair would grow back. Do you know what she said? "Mommy, what color will it be when it grows back?"  I said to her, "Well Addison, it will probably be dark brown or black, just like it is now." She says, "No, I bet it will be orange and white like your shirt. OR maybe it will be PINK cause that's my favorite color!"

Yea, I knew I was going to cry while we had this talk, but I had no idea I would be crying tears of sorrow AND tears of pride and joy. I am so proud of my little girl. While she may not fully understand the depth of the situation, she understands that our family is hurting. Instead of crying and getting sad, she just stepped right up and figured out the best way she could help. I was so terrified that seeing such hurt and pain at an early age would take a little piece of her innocence away and make her grow up just a little bit too fast. Maybe it will, but she is taking it in stride and I couldn't be more proud of her.

For the record, my mom is going to be just FINE. All of the cancer has been removed from her body and she is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments. They suck. Cancer sucks. Seeing my mom suffer sucks! Telling my sweet, innocent 4 year old that her Nanny has cancer, sucked! BUT, we are STILL  blessed.

When life hands you lemons you make lemonade, right?

©..And They Call Me Mommy,2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to ..And They Call Me Mommy with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.