things I love lately

My writer's apathy is in full force, so sorry.  Bleh, but in mimicking Lindsay's list- I'll just toss out some of the things that I have loved lately in case you're up for a little weekend inspiration :)

The Motherhood Around the World series over at Cup of Jo.  Each interview has been so fascinating and interesting.  I have especially loved the Congo and Abu Dhabi Moms' stories.  (thanks for introducing me to the series, Allyson!)

Using pinterest for meal planning.  My meal planning has been going great since January and large part of it is due to the fact that I don't feel bored with re-creating meals over and over in the weeks with the help of Pinrecipes. I have loved trying new recipes and my family has enjoyed tasting them.  Recently, some of our favorites have been:  American Goulash, Mustard & Dry Rub Country style pork ribs (a little spicy for the kids but B and I loved them), Oven-baked Chicken Fajitas, and Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes.

Visiting playgrounds and parks during the morning.  I've come to realize that our days go much smoother when the kids are sufficiently worn down after playing, exploring, and running.  So we've been spending 2-3 mornings at the local playgrounds and parks for at least an hour.  Our afternoons have been much easier as my kids are always better behaved after releasing energy.  At first it was hard to feel like this was a 'productive' part of my day considering we were just playing - but soon it became obvious that once home, I am able to get double the amount done as the kids are more calm after being let loose all morning.  As part of my sahmhood - I've come to realize that playing is part of the job.

Setting my phone timer to avoid 'leaving tantrums'.  Since the kids obviously never want to leave the playground without throwing a fit, I've started setting timers for when it's almost time to go.  So instead of saying, 'time to go!' and then try to explain to them in 34 different ways why it is time to go.  I set the timer for 3 minutes (when it's almost time) and announce, 'When you hear the music from the timer, that means it will be time to go."  Somehow the music is an easier transition for them than just me telling them it's time to leave.  Like it's not Mum saying we have to go - it's just the way it is.

I've also been trying to 'play a game' with myself called "How long will they keep doing this if I don't interrupt them?"  I'm sorry to say that I am usually the one to stop the kids from playing or doing whatever they're doing out of my own sheer boredom.  I mean how long are we going to throw rocks into this puddle?  Or how many times are we going to read No, David on repeat in one sitting?  So, I've been actively trying to see just how long things will last if I don't make it stop.  The other day, I pushed them on the swings for over 15 minutes...until I just couldn't take the boredom any longer.  I cannot be the only mum out there who's tolerance for boredom gets bested by their children daily, right?

This post about what a four year old should know.  It has helped me to realize that my kids are right on track with their education by learning to balance while they climb and walk on the rocks at the park.  That we are on schedule with learning when we feed bread to the ducks and copy their quacking noises for several minutes.  That we are perfectly on time with learning when we make huge messes while baking cookies together and scoop icing right out of the bowl with our hands.

Someday they'll learn to read and write and count to 100.  But today they are 3 and 1 and they they are learning how popcorn pops out of the machine and about how grass feels wet in the morning on our bare feet.

What are some things you love lately?
Happy Friday!

Mum time

Now that I'm in the swing of my sahm schedule, I've been able to make some adjustments to our daily life that I'm getting some solid 'mum time' in just to myself.  It's revolutionary.  

As I mentioned before, I've been running on a regular basis (5-7 days a week).  I started out so slow and just running the perimeter of our yard (which 4 times around is a mile!), but now that I have more confidence in my breathing and abilities - I've been jogging the trails behind our house and around the neighborhood.  In the beginning I was only able to run a mile and I was cursing and having trouble breathing the whole time.  After a few weeks now, 2 miles feels great and 3 miles feels good in a challenge sort of way.  

And can I just be honest here and say, it's awful to get started every morning - like battling myself, but it's actually my body that wants to get out and run, it's convincing my head that's the worst part.  I like to go first thing in the morning since no one else is awake yet and I can get it done when I know there will be no interruptions.  As soon as I get outside and put on my sneakers though - I automatically feel better and excited to start.  

Sometimes I do end up having to take the kids because of an early rise for them or a late start for me.  Those runs are always a little shorter and start-stop-start-stop kind since it's a battle to get them to either sit still in the stroller and run alongside with me.  The farthest distance with them in the stroller has been 2miles and that was a really hard one.

The real reason that I keep running is because I love seeing my miles stack up for the week.  It feels like a gold start sticker at the end of the week when my miles equal 8 or more.  And at the end of the month to see how many miles in total I've ran is also a big motivator (I use RunKeeper).  That total miles part is what gets me running everyday, even if its only a short/quick run - at least it was contributing to the overall total. 

I initially started running thanks to a dose of major inspiration from Ashley from the Big White Farmhouse and also in preparation for a 5K my whole family & two family friends signed up for called The Gladiator Rock & Run.  We actually ran it this past weekend and while the kids played and hung out with Ninna and Uncle Jonny - we all ran, climbed, scaled, and swam through a 3mile course of 10 obstacles and a whole ton of mud.  It was such a great time.

Another very exciting 'Mum time' activity that is starting this week - is my enrollment in Jessica Roscoe's How to Write a Novel E-course.  Jessica writes over at The Creative Mumma and she has designed a course specifically for Mums who want to write a novel but can never find the time with the responsibility of, ya know, keeping children alive and all.  I read this from her e-course description and knew I needed to sign up:

Jessica Roscoe - The Creative Mumma

The first week of the course starts this Friday 9/13/13 (so you still have time to enroll and get the earlybird rate on the enrollment price!!  Come be my classmate!!)  The 12 week course is scheduled to cover topics ranging from goal setting, fears & insecurities, to editing, and self-publishing.  Public shout-out thank you to my friend Jamie (hi, Jamie!) who introduced me to The Creative Mumma site and will now have to have a special thanks in my acknowledgments section of my novel.  She is always introducing me to inspiring things and half-nude pictures of Joe Manganiello (which in and of itself are inspiring).  thank you Jamie! 

And this writing course is coming at great time considering I've been experiencing a serious case of writer's apathy.  bleh, sorry for the lack of posts recently.  working on overcoming my apathy :(

What are you doing to make sure your creative and Mumma sanity gas tank is full these days?  

Resume of a Mum of a preschooler

I recently landed an awesome job at a very comfortable work place where I have taken on the top level management position, full-time.  Officially my title is Stay-At-Home-Mother-for-a-preschooler-and-toddler, but I like to keep things lighthearted and just call it 'Mum.'

What this generally means is that I oversee all things related to, representative of, and created by this team of very interesting, unique members with varying levels of capability.  Other employers or businesses may not see how much of an asset this position is and will have afforded me in the future if I ever decide to change jobs again.  However, after taking time to put together a resume that reflects my current position, I think it's obvious that I am receiving invaluable and meaningful experience in my current position.

The best part about my job, is that as the head of management; I get to use my personal creativity and talents to help accomplish day to day tasks.  It has been interesting, as time moves along, to see how our individual team members continue to bring their own interests and talents to our daily interactions as well.  It really makes for opportunities of surprise and delight to see how each of our own personal strengths play off of one another and how we can help each other in areas of weakness.  I can say, it has truly been a learning experience from the start!

The worst aspect of this position is that I was told upfront that someday our team would outgrow us and move into their own selected fields.  Even though I know that this won't occur for many years, it is still startling to see them walk into a meeting and recognize that their face has changed ever so slightly, or that they use the word 'necessary' in the right context.  It's a constant reminder that the day will come, but I am also keenly aware that the main objective for MY job is to make sure they are ready for it - no matter if management is or not.

As time moves on, I have heard from others that my position will change to reflect the current make-up of our team.  In a place of great growth opportunity, I have the chance to expand into other positions including Guidance Counselor, Chauffeur, PTA Lobbyist, Interested Applicant Interviewer, Fashion Police, Human Resource manager, and Strategic Planner.

The pay isn't great and there's no vacation or sick leave, but somehow it all balances out in the end.  And as a bonus, there is almost always cookies in the break room and we celebrate every single holiday - even made-up ones like half-birthdays and first day Archery season.  This sort of workplace atmosphere helps build a tight-knit team like we have - my team members know that I am fully invested in them; as I feel that they continue to understand that their sadness is shared sadness, and their joy- double joy.

For references, please feel free to contact my team members*:
Greyson Rudy
Gemma Rose

*preferred hours are anytime excluding 1p-3p (naptime), and our bewitching hour (generally between 5p-6p).

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if you'd like a hard copy of my Mum of a Preschooler Resume, you can find it here.
hehhehe.