Living All In

I usually write about Motherhood from the trenches because that’s where I am. Mother’s Day is a bright spot when you’re in the trenches. It’s a day your kids actually say thank you for all you do and your husband endeavors to give you a private bathroom break. He doesn’t succeed, but he tries really hard. And when he doesn’t succeed, he gives you flowers, or a wind chime, or, in my case, a unicorn. (See my Pinterest for the joke.) Motherhood is a strenuous occupation with no paycheck and no red carpet. Most days, I don’t know if I’m doing enough. Except on Mother’s day. On that day, my family showers me with love and appreciation. Unprompted. That’s the beauty of holidays like Mother’s day and Valentine’s day. Guys who don’t do “hints” validate women who have trouble asking for what they need. It’s funny how complicated/controversial Mother’s day has become. We want to celebrate Mom's sacrifice and labor (because they deserve it!) while not causing pain to women experie...

So….last week, I had the brilliant idea to take a breath, slow down, smell roses, bake bread.   Aannnddd….life blew a big, fat, juicy raspberry at me. I went straight from the library to haircuts, from haircuts to ball pictures and an extra practice, then fell into bed exhausted.   Life does that sometimes.   It takes the plans you had and upends them. In those situations, only one thing matters. Attitude. Charles Swindoll, author of The Grace Awakening, said: “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.” With each situation last Tuesday, I had a choice.   I could have been aggravated that an extra practice was scheduled on the ONLY free night I had all week, and that I had to pick up special “for boys only” protective equipment without my husband or the kid in question. Instead, I took advantage of the fact that Academy Sports is right next to PetsMart and picked up live plants for my fish. Then my toddler and I bebopped over...

I keep seeing these cutesy nick names for blog posts, so I’ve decided to name mine.   Since the theme of this blog is ‘living all in’ and I’m a closet football fan (shh...don’t tell anybody) we’re going to have “Tackle-it Tuesdays.” Photo By Maryland State College of Agriculture (now the University of Maryland). (University of Maryland Libraries) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons I like Tuesdays.   First of all, they’re not Mondays. Can I get a witness? Second, that’s the day I started blogging. And third (I firmly believe you should have three reasons for everything) it keeps me on a schedule, which gives my Type A personality ‘all the feels.’ They will always be short and sweet.   Mostly because I’m creating these works of genius while my 4 year old blessing regales me with tales of super heroes and snot. But also because, like my (almost) 5 foot self, good things come in small packages. This week, let’s tackle Spring Break My kids are ...