Mommyhood is Tiring

Um yeah, I am too tired to post much. Mommyhood is tiring. I think it was easier to manage my 25 students than it is to  manage two kids under the age of six. I have had moments of peace and happiness with the boys, but more often than not, I am stressed, tired, and surprisingly, hungry. Mommyhood makes me hungry. Do you know that when you work at a job, not only do you get to eat for a block of time, but you also get to finish your whole meal BY YOURSELF? Doesn't happen with kids. I save my really good snacks for during nap time....but then I feel like a closet eater.

This past week has been rough, and I am really not looking for ward to this week without daddy. He's on a business trip in New York and all day, every day, it's just me and the boys. Props to all the mommies that are amazing and smiling through their mommyhood. Not happening over here.

*Waves white flag*

The Key to Staying Sane in Mommyhood

If there is nothing that I learn from this process of writing down about my motherhood experiences, it is that mommies need to take time for themselves on a regular basis. Sometimes taking time for yourself has a negative stigma to others that may think it's the mother's job to always take care of the children. But I 100% disagree with this. If you want to see a mom fail at her job, never let her have her "me time."

I went shopping (escaped) with a friend tonight to "get out". I didn't buy anything except for four shirts for three dollars at Children's Place (I always get good deals there), but it was nice to walk around the stores we went to and get ideas, decompress, talk about adult things, and not have someone calling for me every few minutes. I see other parents wrestling other kids in stores and sometimes I am resentful that they are impeding on my "no-child" time, but then I also think they're pretty brave to take their kids with them and sometimes that's what you have to do. So then I smile at them and secretly wish them luck. And then I thank my lucky stars I have a wonderful guy at home that is willing to watch our boys whenever...and without question. I do not so easily give him his time when he asks to go shooting, or help out moving another family, but he's a great example and I am learning to become more and more selfless.

So I'm going to make a checklist of things mom can do when they feel like they're going to explode...because everyone loves checklists. :)

1. Walking...go to a nice neighborhood if yours stinks! (free and healthy)
2. Dollar movies...by yourself. I always thought that was stupid, but now I crave that quiet. Be alone. That's what most of us want anyway.
3. Work out at the gym (This is especially helpful way to keep you happy and healthy)
4. Walk around stores (Don't take money with you. Sometimes it's freeing just to look)
5. Join a group (Based on a talent or common interest) Public speaking groups, writing groups, comedy clubs, participate in a town play, church groups, knitting, book clubs, the list is infinite. Online groups are also a way to get out without stepping out of your house.
6. Treat yourself...yes I just said that. You deserve a treat for staying at home all day. If it is going to make you feel like you have to run it off later, then choose something healthy and yummy.
7. Go serve. I should have put this one first just because it gives you all the feel goods inside. Serving others is a great way to meet people, forget about yourself, and get some perspective.
8. Go to a park and people-watch...or read. I love watching others, but I haven't figured out if people like when I people-watch them. :)
9. Do something new that you've never done before. Try a new skill, sport, group.. It's amazing what we learn about ourselves when we are challenged and out of our comfort zone.
10. Get a sitter and go with your significant others. Too often, we leave our important person with the kids and we don't get quality time with them. Sometimes it is worth the extra money to get a sitter and make time for that loved one.

Okay, the key to stay sane in motherhood is make time for yourself. Your kids are an amazing part of who you are, but they are not you. There needs to be a person underneath, after they leave the nest, that you still are when there is only you. Be yourself, and occasionally "get out" and go be that person again.

McDonald Makes Mommyhood Better

Seriously, I never thought I would be the type of person that took their kids to McDonald's more often than she ever wants to, but Ronald McDonald was smart when he planned for a "mini-themepark" inside a kid's eatery. Genius, really? Even though Chick-fil-A, my preferred fast food is across the street and has a play place, McDonalds is the only place my kids consistently ask for. This "M" sign strikes chords of happiness, in Freddy especially, that nothing else will. I know it sounds dramatic, but if you want to see it in live action, volunteer to take him, and you'll see I am right on point!

McDongall's...as they call it...is the happiest place on earth to them, despite all of Disney's claims to fame at Disneyland. Let's be honest. The key to surviving Mommyhood is to just get through each day with everyone in one piece and mostly happy, especially mommy.

If mommy ain't happy, ain't no one happy.

Ok that was my southern shining through, but seriously, look at my boys' faces. McDongall's makes them happy. And who am I to deny them an occasional treat that is much more affordable than nutritious options. I know I am going to pay for it later in other ways, so health nuts, I am aware. But I am also aware, that everyone stayed happy the entire day, except for a hot minute when Cameron was overdue for a bottle. :) Mommyhood is better with an occasional trip to McDongall's. So cheers for staying happy!

There is No Getting Sick in Mommyhood

Ha, yeah right. The end of my first day did not turn out so hot. Something I ate last night (probably dairy) gave me a sour stomach and flu-like symptoms. I was about to claw my eyes out and finally asked Fred to come home from school 30 minutes early. I survived three hours of that feeling although, and will probably have to endure much more unpleasant moments. I have often felt the uneven weight of sicknesses with Fred and found this comic amusing and accurate for my family.

If there is one thing I have learned, momma doesn't get breaks. Luckily, I have a fantastic husband who was willing to pick up where I left off. Major props to single moms, military families, anyone else just trying to make it! Seriously though, it was such a good day before that and I was happy only the last three hours out of...you know 11 hours went well. Cheers to Mommyhood and all its needs and wants.  This momma is calling it a night!

Mommyhood Requires a Good Night's Sleep

Staying up that extra hour last night to blog and catch up on writing was a bad, BAD idea. Somehow kids don't understand how adults need ten times as much rest as they do. So our day started rough, with me on the couch with one of the boy's blankets and the TV as the babysitter until I could properly function. I warned Freddy if he woke up early, he wouldn't get breakfast until 8:00. Hopefully the message will sink in, but I am not holding my breath.

We had eggs and toast for breakfast, and then my body started to wake up some and the boys played in their room while I showered. I swear that must've been the hardest part of the morning. How do mothers get their showers in peace? I must have stopped the water 3 or 4 times so I could hear what this or that crash or scream was all about. I'll take one gift card of a kid-free shower, please. :)

But to summarize, showers are important  to someone who stays at home all day. I can't function without a shower, and I was much less beastly after feeling clean.

Supposedly our church play group was meeting, but when we walked down to her house, she was just as surprised as I was that it wasn't happening. And then she told me it met on Wednesday. So we walked back up at the hill, stopping at Sr. Olpin and Sr. Christensen's house. Seeing adults on a regular basis is going to be important for me, especially in the winter. I am very much a people-person, and I need to make sure to get out of the house on days I am feeling down. Today (after a breakfast and a shower) I am sunshine and daisies. Talk to me again in a few hours when the boys wake up from their naps.

And naps...aren't they glorious. Right before lunch, my eyes started to droop, and I knew I would be napping with the boys. But guess what, that crack chicken we ate over rice just popped me back up, and I started moving boxes downstairs (because we have alot that need to be processed). Instead of napping, I am writing and working. Crazy, right?

I feel naptime is the only time to breathe though, and I gotta get some me-time in sometime. Why would I sleep through it? Also, talk to me by Friday, and I am sure that I will have laughed at this and will be quietly snoring in my room during naps.

Day One of Fulltime Mommyhood, and I have learned a lot.

1. Get more sleep- Do not stay up extra to watch that last show. You will hate yourself in the morning
2. Eat so that you fight the grumpiness
3. For heaven sakes, shower. It will wake you up in the best kinds of ways.
4. Visit people. Get out of the house. I am hoping that the kids and I all find service opportunities through this, meet new people, and make long-lasting memories together.

<3 Jenny

Choosing Mommyhood

Tomorrow, I start my real Mommyhood. I know that seems silly since technically, I have been a mom since Freddy was born. But sending my children off to other people to care for while I work doesn’t feel the same, and I strongly believe that my new calling of teaching two boys will be much more difficult than my classroom of twenty-five.

I have always admired stay-at-home moms…but that title has always seemed a little negative. If mothers are at home, it is usually because they have chosen to stay at home with their children. I have never wanted that path for myself…and even now, the light is still dim. But I do know it is the path I am supposed to follow right now, and that is why I have finally decided to embrace Mommyhood.

For years, I have been the other spectrum. We needed more money to make ends meet and I loved my job, so I hope that I never offend in my posts and that others see that whatever choice they make for themselves and their family is usually the right choice. I see advantages and disadvantages to both career paths.

Mommyhood is definitely also a career path and should never be discounted. It is something that needs to be chosen and worked on each day.

Tomorrow would usually start my first day of summer, and I would have a few months to unwind, or start my second-full time job of being a mommy. And I have to be honest, it is almost easier to show up to work each day and put in an 8-10 hour work day then it is to tackle my two kids for the same amount of time. The real reason- because that job never ends. There is no clocking out. No vacation time. No sick days. Even if you have a supportive significant other, the weight of raising children is heavy.

So I am only writing this post to let others know, I am up for this challenge. I will most definitely fail many days of the week, but I want to keep this blog to show that there are joys within Mommyhood to celebrate. Cheers to my new job and the hopes I don’t screw it up J