Calgon take me away!!

I promised to get real on this blog and today I am going to let you in on a little secret. I firmly believe ALL moms share in this secret but only a few will admit to it. Are you ready??!! School vacations are NOT enjoyable! Now all of you know I love my kids and try really hard to be a good parent but honestly something happens during school vacations which makes getting along with my children almost unbearable!!
Let's start with my angelic son, any change in his usual schedule seems to alter his inner core. The once friendly, loving child turns into "black spiderman". We call it that for a reason, honestly It is like his mouth opens and out of nowhere fangs and an evil roar come out of him. In day 1 and 2 of vacation he actually hit me! Now on to Lena, there is a genetic aspect to my dear daughter's behaviors. My mom did it to her mother, I did it to my mom (I'm SO SORRY Mom) and now Lena does it to me. It's like it is the role of the daughter to point out all of her mother's weaknesses and failures and in just one sentence, a daughter can bring a mother to tears! So on Day #1, Lena crushed me by pointing out the fact that I had done No holiday baking, No christmas decorating, and yes, the Ultimate No No...No gift for her teacher!!! She summed it all up in one brief sentence," I guess THIS year we are getting rid of ALL our traditions huh??!!

Every vacation is the same, it's like we have to get reaquainted. It's like I am saying, "Hello kids, I am your mother and this is the way we do things at home." It's exhausting! Through this process I have to remind myself, I love my kids, I love my kids! Because if I don't, I think I would run away and join the circus!

But the good news is,  it's now Day #4 and we seem to be working it out and making a new routine. This morning, I woke up to a quiet house, and as I tiptoed to get in my 1st cup of coffee before the kids woke up, I noticed empty beds! They were both quiety watching tv! I think we are all going to make it after all!(:

Hugs and Raspberries!

L

Quality Time

As I scramble to find the "perfect" gift for my loved ones, bake, decorate, renovate and calculate (yes, A little hommage to INXS), David was responsible for reminding me what Family truly means.  This Wednesday afternoon, David spoke the words I dream to hear everyday! After picking him up from school, we came home to a lawn full of leaves. Those leaves have been a thorn in my side for about a week now, and I knew today needed to be the day I cleaned them up. So, with David looking on, I began to rake them all in a nice neat pile. I then turned to him and said, "Mijo, this pile is for you." With a huge smile, he jumped in and started making leaf angels, we played in those leaves until the sun went down. Then it happened..he turned to me and said, "Mom you are the best mommy ever!!" We finished our day eating mac and cheese and watching cartoons. Today was a good day.

Man Up!

So, today Lena came home from school with some very good news. She took her Reading Placement test and as a sixth grader she scored a perfect score on the test.  This means, she is reading at a college level. I gave her a hug and told her how proud I was of her. She continued to repeat this info over and over again and each time I told her how proud I was of her. We called her dad, we called grandma and even told her Tio. Then she turned to me and asked, "So, do I get a Party?" I replied by explaining to her that when you grow up there is not always going to be someone there to throw her a party when she does good. I told her this is why it's important for her to learn how to be proud of herself and do things not for recognition but because it is important to her. Shortly after, I had to return back to work to give a presentation and as I was walking to the classroom I couldn't help but revisit my response to her. Was I being too rough on her?? I will admit I am rougher on my daughter than my son. Why? Because I know how hard it is for a woman to suceed in this world. I am not going to get all feminist on you..honestly I just see myself in my daughter and I worry that this strongwilled, intelligent, imaginative little girl will lose herself in this cruel world. So, was I too rough? Do I need to celebrate more her accomplishments??? So I went back to the basics..In my parenting classes, I always tell the parents, when in doubt ask yourself, what are you trying to teach your child with your actions?? Then I realized, I already taught her something, I taught her to strive to be the best and today she accomplished that, She was the BEST in her Reading. And you know what? That deserves a party!!! After work I stopped by the store and got her a snowman cupcake. After dinner the family shouted hip hip hooray and gave her a round of applause. So, does my little girl need to learn to be tougher and Man Up and not show her emotions? Maybe, but not when she's around me!! Now everybody go get yourself a snowman cupcake!

Hugs and Raspberries,

L

You look GOOD!

Twenty years and twenty pounds ago, I use to hear that every now and then. But during the past 10 years, there has been  this gradual shift in the reaction I get from others..Now it is not until I share my age of 38, that I receive a response and the response is ALWAYS the same, "You look good..For Your Age!" What does that mean exactly? Is that a compliment or an underhanded insult??!! This past week I decided to research this a little more..What does 38 look like? To my surprise, all of the people I thought were my age were actually younger than me!!! I have included for your entertainment a list of the top 10 people in popular culture who are in fact younger than me. Here it goes..
1. John Mayer
2. Alicia Keyes
3. Jason Mraz
4. Chelsea Handler
5. Eva Longoria
6. Ryan Seacrest
7. Jillian Michaels - Biggest Loser Trainer
8. Seth Meyers
9. Tiffany Pollard (New York)
10. The ENTIRE How I Met Your Mother Cast

Ok, so at the end of this intensive research what have I decided?? Yes, I am getting old! But, hey I DO look good for my age!!(:

Happy Thanksgving to all!

Hugs and Raspberries,

L

A Love Letter

I am a changed woman! This past year something new and beautiful was introduced into my life. It is a world where I am in control and my every desire is met promptly and willingly. I am in so deep that I can not bear even one moment without my new love. I know I am in love because when my love is not near I can hear it calling me. My new love is my IPhone!
Before you mock me, let me explain, my IPhone is my everything. It is my entertainment, my organizer, my babysitter (ok maybe not so proud at that one), my brain (too many passwords not enough brain cells). Not to mention the fact that my IPhone is the only love in my life who answers all of my random questions at any time of day or night ( By the Way, did you know Mr. McSteamy, Eric Dane is one year younger than me!!! I found THAT out at 3am!)
So to my love I say Thank you! Thank you for being my everything! Thank you for reminding me where to be every minute of the day. Thank you for always playing my favorite songs. Thank you for keeping David occupied while I go shoe shopping with Lena. Thank you for reminding me that we need milk again!! Thank you for helping me win bets against my hubby who doubts my knowledge of tv, movie, cartoons, and all things popculture.
I Love You!

Overachievers Anonymous

My name is Lisa and I am an overachiever.
I know, I know big surprise huh? (: But, it wasn't until recently that I realized how that effects my life.
Everyone who reads this blog will agree, I can be quite critical. All of you have received my 2 cents in the form of unsolicited advice on a regular basis. But what many of you may not realize is I am about twice as critical of myself than anyone else (Although my dear hubby is a close second, but that is another blog). Now take a moment to process that...pretty scary eh? I think this is why I have become pretty thick skinned. You see, the criticism I receive from others pales in comparison to anything I haven't said about myself. But, as I continue to nurse myself back to health after being sick for about a month now, I now realize I strive for greatness in every area but one.. taking care of myself!! Let me get very real about my self-care. In general, I don't actually eat a meal until about 2pm. I live off of caffeine. I sleep an average of about 5 hours a night. I haven't exercized in about 6 months now (I calculated that the other day while dusting the treadmill!), and I really don't have a hobby...Not convinced yet? This is another thing I realized this week. My hubby gave me a gift certificate for a 2 hour spa experience for my birthday. It's been 40 days and I have yet to use it. Why? Because I can't seem to find 2 hours when I will allow myself to be free from responsibility. So, last Friday I took my first step to recovery. I bought myself a starbucks gift card!! This may sound sad to you, but I've got to tell you I think this is the best idea I have had in a very long while. Let me take you back to the days of my youth. When I was younger, for my birthday my grandma would always send me a birthday card and it never failed in the card would be a 5 dollar bill. I grew to depend on these cards because this would be the only time during the year that I would allow myself to spend it on something totally selfish and unrelated to my lifetime or immediate goals. So, this is what the Starbucks card symbolized for me. I gave myself some rules... if I used the card, I was not allowed to do any work, parenting, or household activities. I had to just sit and chill. So last Friday I woke up early, went to starbucks and just sat in the car for 20 minutes doing nothing!!! No work, no cleaning, no emailing, no worrying, no planning, NOTHING, I even set my alarm on my phone so I couldn't even worry about the time!! I haven't felt so energized and rested for a very long time..

I have set a goal that by January, I will find the time to enjoy my 2 hour spa experience. But for now, I will focus on baby steps..

So to my readers.. take a few minutes today to do something nice for yourself, because everyone deserves some "me time" even us overachievers!!

Love and Raspberries,

L

Welcome to my blog

After the constant harrassment I have received over NOT having facebook, I have decided on a compromise. So welcome my friends and family to my blog. This will be my way of keeping those who are important to me informed of the daily happenings in my life. This will also be my way of giving a true picture of what it is like to juggle life, family, and work. So why Mommy 2.0?? Because I am a very REAL example of what moms go through everyday just trying to get by. So my first topic for discussion...How young is too young to discuss Religion?
Before having children, I decided rather than choosing their religious beliefs for them I was going to let them choose for themselves and focus more on raising independant thinkers. Today David asked me, "Who was the 1st person ever?" I responded by giving a very impartial discussion of the whole Creation vs. Evolution debate. At the end, I turned to him and asked, "So, what do you think?" He responded, "I think it was my daddy!"   Sometimes I really do overanalyze this mommy thing...

Love and Raspberries,

L