Ever wake up feeling....well, blah? Staying at home with kids is hard....its wonderful...but it is plain ole' hard. I do a ton of running, shopping, entertaining, cooking (well, sorta), CLEANING, teaching, and best of all...I do a ton of loving...BUT, stay-at-home-moms have to find ways to interact with other adults...and sometimes just feel like a “normal” member of society...like we too are making a difference. I might not get to toss on the latest pair of Manolo Blahnik pumps and go to an office where I make a difference....but, I need to feel like my days are more than school projects, diapers, and calling out reminders to “blow your nose,”...or “remember to flush!”
I love Angela Thomas. She is an amazing author and I have read each of her books. I think what truly sparks my interest in her is that she is very real, she writes about the greatest moments in her life, and then she also writes about selling her wedding ring at a pawn shop to pay for beds for her children after her& her husband divorced. She is very strong in her faith, and loves her family deeply. I was able to hear her speak once about two years ago and that was just such a blessing to me.
There is a chapter in one of her books entitled, “Be the Groovy Mom,” I love this. No, she isn't telling us to put shag carpet in our vans, wear tie-dye, and walk around saying “make love not war...” the basis of the chapter was to be the Mom that your children are proud of! Be the “cool mom,” when you can, because in a world of “no's” being a “cool-yes-Mom,” is a bit rare. She talks about getting up, and making yourself feel beautiful inside and out each day. With two kids, and a husband it is hard sometimes just getting a shower! I've found a great love for Pantene's blow-out extender.....I can easily make my hair LOOK like I just washed it :-)
I asked Aiden this evening, “what makes a Mom cool?” His quick...I'm onto something else or on my way to be on to something else response was, “I don't know...” I asked him to really think about it...he said, “well, you are beautiful, so you are cool.” Alright, this is a start. No, I do not want my son to think beauty makes someone cool....but, maybe he doesn't....Aiden knows me well, maybe he see's more. My Grandma always said, “pretty is, as pretty does...if you act pretty and have a pretty heart, you are pretty.” So maybe my 5 year old needs to see his Mom be pretty....
Which, brings me back to my original point. Angela Thomas talks in-depth about the “groovy mom” and what to her kids makes her a “groovy mom.” She talks also about how when we feel good about ourselves outwardly we just feel better...this rings so true with me! When my makeup looks nice, when my hair looks ok...when I feel healthy...I have more confidence..I feel better...and I want to be there...I want to be out...in the world with my family, loving them well. When my heart feels good I feel so much better as well...if my heart is guilty, sad, or burdened its so hard to fair, but, when I have humbled myself and asked for forgiveness, given to someone else who needs more than I do...when my heart is light I feel better. So, maybe we should throw a little “rouge” as my husband calls it on our cheeks, and ask for the forgiveness we need. I really want to be that “groovy mom,” that my kids need. I want my children to be proud to call me their Mom. I had one of those really great affirming moments yesterday. Aiden had a field trip at school that I helped to chaperon....he was in line at the drinking fountain and said to a kid behind him, “hey, that's my mom.” Aiden was proud that his Mom was there.
And, onto my international relations with the Russians...
Today, while doing my grocery shopping I was somewhat caught adoring my little daughter...she was busy laughing at a her new favorite toy and I just couldn't help but smile at her. Two of the kindest little Russian ladies ran right up to me, wrapped their arms around me as if I were there long lost friend, and started adoring Natalie right along with me. We talked for what turned into 20 minutes about the world today and how people can hurt such innocent little babies without a second thought...we talked about our feelings on a recent news story which involved a small 3 year old child...we talked about food...we talked about saying goodbye...and then we began our talks about the Olympics. These sweet ladies made my day. Their compliments to Natalie and I were endless and though they had no idea...they were reminding me that I am doing something very important...I am molding my children. Maybe I am not in an operating room performing surgery, I'm not on Wall St. doing something with numbers (lets face it, if I were we would all be in trouble)...but, I am being a role model for my kids, I am loving them, I am being a wife to my husband...and that is rouge worthy.
I love Angela Thomas. She is an amazing author and I have read each of her books. I think what truly sparks my interest in her is that she is very real, she writes about the greatest moments in her life, and then she also writes about selling her wedding ring at a pawn shop to pay for beds for her children after her& her husband divorced. She is very strong in her faith, and loves her family deeply. I was able to hear her speak once about two years ago and that was just such a blessing to me.
There is a chapter in one of her books entitled, “Be the Groovy Mom,” I love this. No, she isn't telling us to put shag carpet in our vans, wear tie-dye, and walk around saying “make love not war...” the basis of the chapter was to be the Mom that your children are proud of! Be the “cool mom,” when you can, because in a world of “no's” being a “cool-yes-Mom,” is a bit rare. She talks about getting up, and making yourself feel beautiful inside and out each day. With two kids, and a husband it is hard sometimes just getting a shower! I've found a great love for Pantene's blow-out extender.....I can easily make my hair LOOK like I just washed it :-)
I asked Aiden this evening, “what makes a Mom cool?” His quick...I'm onto something else or on my way to be on to something else response was, “I don't know...” I asked him to really think about it...he said, “well, you are beautiful, so you are cool.” Alright, this is a start. No, I do not want my son to think beauty makes someone cool....but, maybe he doesn't....Aiden knows me well, maybe he see's more. My Grandma always said, “pretty is, as pretty does...if you act pretty and have a pretty heart, you are pretty.” So maybe my 5 year old needs to see his Mom be pretty....
Which, brings me back to my original point. Angela Thomas talks in-depth about the “groovy mom” and what to her kids makes her a “groovy mom.” She talks also about how when we feel good about ourselves outwardly we just feel better...this rings so true with me! When my makeup looks nice, when my hair looks ok...when I feel healthy...I have more confidence..I feel better...and I want to be there...I want to be out...in the world with my family, loving them well. When my heart feels good I feel so much better as well...if my heart is guilty, sad, or burdened its so hard to fair, but, when I have humbled myself and asked for forgiveness, given to someone else who needs more than I do...when my heart is light I feel better. So, maybe we should throw a little “rouge” as my husband calls it on our cheeks, and ask for the forgiveness we need. I really want to be that “groovy mom,” that my kids need. I want my children to be proud to call me their Mom. I had one of those really great affirming moments yesterday. Aiden had a field trip at school that I helped to chaperon....he was in line at the drinking fountain and said to a kid behind him, “hey, that's my mom.” Aiden was proud that his Mom was there.
And, onto my international relations with the Russians...
Today, while doing my grocery shopping I was somewhat caught adoring my little daughter...she was busy laughing at a her new favorite toy and I just couldn't help but smile at her. Two of the kindest little Russian ladies ran right up to me, wrapped their arms around me as if I were there long lost friend, and started adoring Natalie right along with me. We talked for what turned into 20 minutes about the world today and how people can hurt such innocent little babies without a second thought...we talked about our feelings on a recent news story which involved a small 3 year old child...we talked about food...we talked about saying goodbye...and then we began our talks about the Olympics. These sweet ladies made my day. Their compliments to Natalie and I were endless and though they had no idea...they were reminding me that I am doing something very important...I am molding my children. Maybe I am not in an operating room performing surgery, I'm not on Wall St. doing something with numbers (lets face it, if I were we would all be in trouble)...but, I am being a role model for my kids, I am loving them, I am being a wife to my husband...and that is rouge worthy.