Babies, Brownies and Blessings

I don't really know how to dance, at all. I mean, I can manage a slow dance with my man and really enjoy it but, I don't follow well. All the step forward, back, quick and slow, ugh. I'm not so graceful. But THIS morning? I felt like I was fumbling to learn the tango as I was getting the three kids up and out the door! Slow slow quick quick slow... Wake up the middle SLOW Open the door of the little SLOW Get the Big in the shower QUICK Make a favorite breakfast QUICK Urge the little out of bed SLOW Remind Big to be nice to middle SLOW Move middle into the shower SLOW Pick out little's clothes QUICK Grab the burning French toast of the stove QUICK Help little get her clothes on SLOW Continue to quickly move the middle along without prompting an eruption of emotion. Wrap them in hugs (Big turns around in the embrace). And for the grand finale- they made it out the door with smiles on their faces and I stand here applauding! Now where's my m...

Ok, don't hate me but I've already started nearly finished my Christmas shopping. I LOVE buying gifts (and getting them, too, if I'm honest ;) ), and since we've budgeted for them all year, it's fun to start spending that money! If you're like me, you're so grateful to the wonderful men and women who nurture, teach and direct your kids for 40+ hours a week that ANY gift seems inadequately small. So if I can scratch the itch that makes teachers feel loved and appreciated, I'll be tickled pink! Every year I'm stumped on teacher gifts so this year I got a little help from my friends who are teachers (thanks, Facebook!). *Teachers, we know you appreciate anything/everything so don't worry, we don't think you're being picky or ungrateful! :) 1. Gift cards, gift cards and more gift cards Overwhelmingly, this was the most appreciated gift! Whether for practical items like groceries and gas, or pampering items like pedicures and massa...

Dear Nursing Graduate, As you are wrapping up several years of intense schooling, 100s of hours of clinicals, countless sleepless nights and frayed nerves, let me assure you of this: You already are a Nurse. It's your heart, your care for others and your ability to assess and act that makes you a nurse. You've already got that. While it may seem like there's an endless number of things you don't know, that will take years to learn (and that's true!), you are a Nurse. I'm almost 15 years into the world of hospital nursing and here are a few things I have learned and wish I would have known starting out. You aren't supposed to know everything. As you walk into your first job, new (cute) scrubs on, stethoscope, black and red pen, highlighter, calculator and flashlight, ID clipped to your top, you're going to be nervous. Watching your mentors/preceptors as they artistically dance through an assessment with ease and finesse, you're going to be t...

On our way home from soccer practice, I caught a glimpse of my past that gave me pause. Driving through town we pass our old house. It's right on the main drag and we can't get home without driving by. For the first year after selling, I looked at that house every single time passed it. It was the home that provided the backdrop for the first 12 years of marriage. We celebrated new jobs, college graduation (mine), brought home 3 babies to that sweet little 900 square foot slice of heaven. From the arched doorways to the crowned ceiling, plaster walls and phone cutouts, old hardwood floors tucked beneath nasty carpeting...not a bit of that place was untouched by our family. Tears, sweat, baby puke, big kid puke and TONS of slimy fingers. The current homeowner was in the bay window, washing it as the evening sun shone in. I was transported back in time to the many many times I had washed that window as the western sun shown fiercely, highlighting every finger print, mou...

I had a weird experience yesterday. As I as walking with my neighbor and her baby, a car came around a corner rather fast requiring us to take evasive action. Our road has lots of blind corners and whenever walking it we are on the defensive, watching for cars in front and behind. In a reactive moment, I held my hand up to the car (hand, not finger!) as a gesture to slow down a bit. We continued walking and were commenting that the car seemed to be going rather fast and yikes! In short order, that car returned and a guy in his 20s slowed down to talk to us. Assuming he was lost, I walked over to his window and greeted him. He promptly stated "don't ever hold your hand up to me, I was going the speed limit." Oh. Ok. What followed was a ridiculously disrespectful and just crazy conversation. I responded that we were walking with a baby and it felt like he came around the corner fast. My goal was just to express concern but that's it! He came back wit...

You know how it goes. Sometime in the middle of the week (or towards the end?) your husband says something like "so, what do you want for Mother's Day?" The moment of truth. Should you say something noble like- a day with you and the kids is all I want! Or perhaps something closer to the truth- an uninterrupted shower, meals planned and prepared for me, and maybe a quiet afternoon of solitude? Is one of the answers right and one wrong? Ah the guilt! I opted for honesty and said shower, meals and solitude sound perfect! And if you must, go ahead and get the obligatory hanging basket of flowers. What I didn't really think of was the little ears that were tuned into the conversation until my oldest piped in and suggested paintball tag as an option for the day (sounds like JUST the thing on Mother's Day, kiddo) So did he hear all that I was saying in that exhausted voice of mine? My demeanor definitely suggested some sort of eagerness for a break. Break f...

It feels a lot like emerging from under water to capture a deep breath of air before the next wave hits. Expecting to go back under quickly, you're surprised to find that you actually stay above the surface. Not just for a second, but for a minute, or two. An hour even. This is the evolution of motherhood as you go from diapering, feeding and wiping everything in view to coaching, refereeing and teaching older children. This is the beginning of you returning to YOU. The you that married that man you couldn't stand being apart from. The you that danced in the rain (and didn't care if your glasses got wet and your hair looks awful). The you that was spontaneous and actually had hobbies. The you that didn't mind buying a gift, decorating for a holiday. The you that gets to take a deep breath without being smothered by one of those delightfully clingy children you love dearly but just need to not to touch you...just for a minute?? Ah, the wonder of coming up...