I'm The Type of Mom

I'm the type of Mom...

~that when I find a car toy in my pocket, it makes me smile.

~that can somehow manage to sit at a kid picnic bench and color with oversize crayons.

~that lets her kid lick the bowl because that is just fun...and yummy.

~that can dance ridiculous moves along side my toddler with the windows open and neighbors watching.

~that makes up silly songs just to make my little guy smile.

~that procrastinates on things for me but is proactive with things for my little man.

~that lets my kid play with Christmas decorations even after spending forever putting them up.

~that always remembers the special things that my son loves...pacifiers and his monkey.

~that works hard just to provide for my family.

~that will order something different on the menu for my guy because I know he'll like it more.

~that looks forward to every pick up because it brings such beautiful smiles.

~that researches fun activities and takes my son to them even when I'm tired.

~that is proud for my son's accomplishments more so then anything I have ever accomplished.

~that will protect my son above anything and all things even if it means sacrifice.

~that will watch countless episodes of Sesame Street throughout the week instead of tuning into shows I like. Sesame Street + 3. Oprah -3.

~that will spend whatever money I have on my son, then husband and lastly me and I love doing it.

~that will build countless lego towers only to have them knocked down by Godzilla baby.

~that contemplated kicking a goats ass (a literal goat) because he threatened to hurt my son.

~that blows so many bubbles on bubble days that it gives me headaches...thinking about investing in a bubble machine.

~that finds new ideas and writes them down...so buying that crayola crayon maker.

~that will admit that I am not super Mom, even though other Moms pretend to be.

~that shrugs my shoulders at a mustard stain on one arm and ketchup on the other. I haven't worn a shirt that didn't get stained by food for over two years...I'm over having a clean one.

~that doesn't mind when my son wants to copy every morning routine I do. I can't tell you how many times I have put on fake deodorant, fake foundation, fake eyeliner and fake lip stick on him. At least he is willing to brush his teeth and that is fine with me. Plus one for Mom!

~that can look at my son and look at my husband and see the man my son will grow to be...confident. I am still wondering if he'll have my husband's patience.

~that is determined to show my son culture, respect people and not be intolerant of people just because they are different.

~that doesn't care what my son's chosen profession will be, as long as he is happy and its legal.

~that remembers to smile even when having a bad day. Kids shouldn't know adult stresses.

~that has never taken a mental health day for me but has taken LOTS with my son. He's a spectacular date.

~that loves nothing but a good nap with my little sleeping boy snuggled by my side.

~that reminds my son his manners even if he doesn't vocalize them, he can sign them.

~that prays with my son daily.

~that will share (however sadly) my last bit of favorite dessert.

~that remembers that kids should get messy and should get messy with food, mud, paint, and everything else. A peck of dirt never hurt.

~that knows even if I clean up every thing, tomorrow it will look like I never did a thing. Welcome to the eternal house of mess, but it is a fun mess.

~that sees what works for one family won't necessarily work for mine.

~that can now say that some of the things on television is annoyingly inappropriate for kids, even those on demand commercials.

~that will sit outside on a cold Fall day after collecting several acorns only to throw them back in the same direction I got them from.

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What type of Mom are you?

Happy Thanksgiving

Okay the title of the post is a day premature, but I doubt with all the busy things going on tomorrow that I will be blogging and wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving ahead of time.

This year I will be celebrating Thanksgiving at my Mom's house. This is a first for me and a first for my Mom. Although I have always celebrated Thanksgiving with my Mom, in all of her 39 years of being married she never had Thanksgiving at her house. We have always been to either my Nagypapa/Nagymama's, my sister's or my sister's in laws house. I believe this will also be the first Thanksgiving that I am not celebrating with my sister as well.

Last year I wrote a post on how I used to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family throughout my growing up years. We would make the long drive to Cleveland, Ohio to my Nagypapa and Nagymama's house and spend a little less then a week there. I loved spending time there with loving Grandparents and running around with my cousins. The day after Thanksgiving we would ride downtown on the rappies (the metro in Cleveland) to see the store windows and do some shopping. After my Grandparents passing we no longer go up there and made different traditions locally. However, it still feels foreign to me in some ways not making the big drive, not seeing my Grandparents happy faces as they greeted us at the door and not going to downtown Cleveland the day after Thanksgiving. Its just life...things change, but I'm happy to have those fond memories.

This year I wanted to write again on all the things I am thankful for. I think its a must during this time of year, to reflect on the good and not so much the day to day stress, so here it goes...

I am thankful for:

1. Having the most beautiful, energetic little boy that fills my days with laughter, love and affection.

2. My husband who has the patience of a saint, that loves me unconditionally, fights for his family and puts up with my silliness.

3. My parents who are my rock other then my husband. They are the most dependable, supportive and loving parents.

4. My Mom's health, which is improving since her last heart surgery and seems to be regaining more and more strength as the days progress.

5. My nephew who has the sweetest little smile and certainly voices his little opinion with conviction.

6. The spacious and most comfortable house that fits my family perfectly.

7. My faith, which has lead me through some pretty rough times and thankful that when everything seems lost, prayer and God is a constant.

8. That I still have a job, even though its rocky at best...I still have one.

9. For the first time in my life, I have girl friends that truly believe in me, love me and support me.

10. For the food on the table and my husband's amazing ability to take whatever is in the fridge and make a DELICIOUS meal.

11. For my husband's Mom (whom I call Mom) and her boyfriend and the fact they really do love their Grandson.

12. For my son's Great Grandparents that even though there is a language barrier between me and them, I know they love me as a Granddaughter and think the world of their Great Grandson. I am also very thankful for their health and their AMAZING courage to immigrate to a new country late in life. It is so nice to have them here!

13. That I have so many beautiful memories of most my Grandparents growing up. Knowing that they loved me and supported me in so many different endeavors...really means a lot. Nagymama, I think of you every time I work on my book.

14. That my husband cleans and doesn't stereotype certain household duties as "woman's work"...even though men don't say it I see plenty that act on it. Remember actions speak louder then words.

15. For my ability this year to pay off so much debt and thankfully will have one car paid off very, very soon.

16. For my very expensive blanket my husband bought me for Christmas last year. It sounds silly, but I REALLY love it.

17. Sesame Street. Yes, I said it. When I need to cook, clean or just take a moment of sanity my son will watch an episode to let me do what I need to do.

18. That my little boy has gusto and will about him. This could be thought sometimes as a negative thing, but I know in his life it will play out well. He'll never be bullied and he'll someday grow up to be a man that will fight and go for what he wants.

19. My husband and I both love hockey. Its bonded us and really...I love watching it even when multitasking.

20. That myself and all my friends have beautiful healthy babies.

21. My Great Uncle George, who without a doubt brings me to laughter every time I think of him. Being 85 years old and fixing roofs, chasing women and having a zest for life like he is twenty is hilarious to me. He reminds me so much of my own Grandfather...feisty.

22. Being in an area with so many opportunities with great schools and great job.

23. My husband's beautiful green eyes and sexy scar. Is that weird? His scar that goes along his eyebrow line makes him look like a bad ass. LOL...he's so going to think that's weird.

24. That my husband will think of me and gets me girly movies, cool Jane Austen sequel books and yummy treats just because.

25. For nap time. God in his understanding knew that parents desperately needed nap time.

26. That Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday so we can all spend some special times with our families and remind us what we should be thankful for.

27. Lubeh. God I love that band.

28. My son's ability to make me smile even during the most stressful times. He's a rock star!

29. Another thing that is silly but thankful for, I finally found pants that I can fit into because for the longest time (okay over a year) any pants that I found were either too big or too little as I was between a size. It really sucked!

30. My education and that my Mom saw to pay for it. She wanted her girls to be able to be independent and have the gift of an education.

I have so many more to list, but I figure I'll keep my thanks at a nice round number and something that most people could read (if you wanted to).

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

We're Off To See The Wizard!

Yesterday my husband surprisingly turned on a movie classic, The Wizard of Oz. I figured he did as more or less there was nothing on and nothing child friendly recorded on our DVR. I half thought my son would ignore the movie and continue playing with his cars as he does on occasion when we turn on other kid friendly movies, but I was certainly wrong!

I think what got his attention was the tornado in the beginning of the movie. I was half hoping it wouldn't scare him as I tornadoes certainly scare the heck out of his Mom! He stared and while I half held my breath watching him watch the movie, he stood at the steps of the living room engrossed on what was on the screen. As Dorothy's house landed in Munchkin Land and she opened the door to a world in color, my son ran to the couch, covered his lap with a blanket and sat down to watch what would happen next. For the next 45 minutes the little man watched Dorothy meet the classic characters; the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and that horrible Wicked Witch of the West. In all he loved it. I am not sure if it was the singing, the beautiful colored (now in HD) scenes or the characters themselves...there was Toto you know and my son LOVES dogs.

I couldn't help but smile. Usually I am more or less concerned the material my son watches in making sure it doesn't have inappropriate things my child doesn't need or shouldn't see. I don't agree with some kid shows...eww for Grossology. However this was different. I remember my Dad commenting how he was afriad of those flying monkeys when he was a kid. I remembered when I was girl thinking it so peculiar that "nice witches" existed, that my favorite character was the Scarecrow and really wished I could go see Oz (even with the fake Wizard). Now for the third generation, my son was watching this classic tale that has yet to rid of its magic. Its kind of amazing to see that even after all these years that this story, this movie still has an impact on the children that watch it. Thats just amazing.

My Son's Generation

It occurred to me the other day how my son's generation will not experience some of the things my husband and my generation has. Its strange thinking the things that I see as normal or what once was will not be something my guy will know.

Here's my little list...

~ Costco (or equivalent) has always existed and used as a secondary grocery store.

~ Michael Jackson's alleged child molestation (thank God) will never be on the news. MJ will be a distant memory and known as a pop icon.

~Oprah won't be on at 4 o'clock.

~Dial up is something no one uses.

~VCR tapes will be looked at as strangely and foreign as we looked at our parents 8 track tapes.

~ Sesame Street has always had Elmo.

~Pay phones is probably something my son's generation will never use.

~Having a DVD player or a friend having a DVD player in the car is pretty normal.

~Teachers won't ask if you have a PC at home, it will be a given.

~They won't know what floppys or 3 1/2 is

~Computers have always come equipped needing a mouse.

~Stores like Hechingers, Linens and Things, Tower Records, Circuit City, Sam Goody, Bombay Company, KB Toys and Hechts will be places they never remembered going to.

~Places like Apple, Starbucks, Best Buy, Target, and Chipotle have always existed.

~They don't have the unique appreciation of commercial free shows (hello DVR, On-Demand and TIVO) like the older generations do. For them its a given.

~Answering machines never came separate with the phone.

~Cordless phones is a norm in every household.

~Unless they watch 80's flicks they will have no idea what a "boom box" is.

~Ipods would have always existed.

~Having cell phones is the norm.

~Cars having GPS isn't unheard of.

~The internet would of always existed.

~They will never use an actual paper card catalog in the library.

~DVDs are the size of cds and not the size of records.

~They won't have a memory of where they were on Sept. 11th.

~Unless it somehow is aired on Cartoon Network or we find them online they won't know kid shows like The Wuzzles, Rainbow Brite, The Gummi Bears, Jem, The Snorks, Heman, Fraggle Rock or Double Dare.

~Thankfully not know who the Garbage Pail kids are

~Will know kids allergic to peanut products unlike their parents (really I knew none nor did my husband).

~ Guys like Bon Jovi, Axel Rose, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Kirk Cameron, Michael J. Fox are thought of more as "old" then old celebrity heart throbs.

~Chevy Chase is an old guy, not some funny young guy that could possibly do another Lampoon movie.

That is all of the things I can think of for now and for me it is weird to think all that will be lost/forgotten or thought differently in this new generation.

Do you have any to add?