You're a true soccer mom when...

Friday, May 01, 2009 by Bethany

... you thank God and the moon and all the stars in the sky because both of the weekend games got canceled due to field conditions.

Yes. I am that soccer mom.

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4:54 PM | | 0 comments

True Signs the Stress is Showing

Wednesday, April 08, 2009 by Bethany

When you don't want to admit how often your child asks, "Mom are you just tired? Or are you mad at me?"

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7:17 AM | | 0 comments

Wake Up Call

Monday, November 17, 2008 by Bethany

What's worse, being awoken by the sound of a child vomiting

OR

a one-year-old's persistent, "Meow. Meow, meow. Meow!" Over and over and over again.

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11:22 AM | | 2 comments

Tiring Mama (MB #17)

Friday, August 15, 2008 by Bethany

It's family visiting time. Dress the kids in something presentable, bake and make a dish to pass, pack up the diaper bag, a goodie bag for The Kiddo (to keep him busy), and all the odds and ends that mean and afternoon (to evening) get away.

Come home exhausted, all around. Only good thing? The kids crash fast. A whole 5 minutes in bed and their out (well that is after you can calm them down).

You on the other hand? Just as exhausted but have the dishes to wash, laundry to start, and well... everything. And it's only Friday. At least I have the weekend full of activities right?

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11:04 PM | | 0 comments

Calling a spade a spade (MB#16)

Monday, July 14, 2008 by Bethany

Is it lying when you tell your son that you'll check on him after he goes to bed... and then, forget to do just that? Or say not check on him at all because you know he'll be asleep in 15 minutes anyway?

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6:28 AM | | 0 comments

Naptimes (or not) MB #15

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 by Bethany

Seriously people. How more disgusting can it get than this. 8-month-old daughter takes an hour and a half nap for me on a good day (well 2 of these, sorta spaced out between 12 hours or so). But for the sitter, who is only here a couple times a week-- 2 naps. One for an hour and a half. Another for 2 and a half hours.

Why can't I get one of those? Really. I need it. If not for my own napping goodness, but for work. Real work that has to be done.

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2:02 PM | | 0 comments

Patting, patting, and more patting (MB #14)

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 by Bethany

My arm hurts. Wait my hand hurts. Oh wait, my back hurts.

It's all about getting a baby to sleep. And if you must pat their back for say... 20 minutes straight. It's what you do. For a nap. For a blessed, peaceful nap.

Their nap. Not yours. Though--come to think if it--that ain't a bad idea either.

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1:07 PM | | 0 comments

The Breakfast Debacle (MB #13)

Thursday, March 27, 2008 by Bethany

Letting my son have chicken nuggets and french fries before 9am. It's nutritious (in some countries). And it's food. For breakfast. For a kid that doesn't typically want breakfast-type food. So why fight it?

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9:09 AM | | 0 comments

Rock-a-Bye Baby (MB #12)

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 by Bethany

There's nothing (and I mean nothing), that beats the feeling of a child falling asleep in your arms. Especially when they've outgrown the habit. Or a baby. One that just will not fall asleep until you rock them that one. last. time.

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11:44 PM | | 0 comments

The New Outfit (MB #11)

Wednesday, February 06, 2008 by Bethany

So yes. A cute pink and white onsie, skirt, with pink pants... lovely Christmas gift I am now just getting. The Peanut looks stunning (if I say so myself). I stand her up to see how she looks... and... yep. Blowout. Up her back.

Off to the next outfit. The old one. Will ensure no more blowouts for the day.

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11:48 AM | | 0 comments

That ole choice--shower or lunch? (MB#10)

Friday, February 01, 2008 by Bethany

You know it's bad when you have the 15 minutes of choice--shower or eat--and you choose a shower.

Hey, I haven't had one in 4 days. It's been busy.

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9:37 PM | | 0 comments

Those Eyes! Those Eyes! (MB #9)

Sunday, January 06, 2008 by Bethany

The Help-me-I-Am-In-Pain/Discomfort/Hurting eyes that are accompanied by the crying. The tearful, soulful moans that only a parent could respond to. You know the ones. They go along with shots. Or say first day back at day care after a 3 month vacation with mom and the new baby.

Those cries. and those teary eyes. The ones that make you want to just hug the kids until those awful feelings go away.

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9:50 PM | | 1 comments

Designer Diapers (MB #8)

Friday, December 28, 2007 by Bethany

You know it's bad when you are choosing the diapers off the department store shelf based on what characters are portrayed this month--instead of you know, just buying the damn diapers so you can get out of the store before the baby wakes up.

Case in point, Huggies decided Mickey Mouse wasn't there thing and changed to a baby Pumba. I was pleased. But hey, small things color me a happy mom these days.

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6:06 PM | | 0 comments

That Smile (MB #7)

Saturday, December 08, 2007 by Bethany

When the child is cranky--grumpy even--and screaming as if hell were life on earth. You do all you can to pacify the little beast, including but not limited to: bouncing, rocking, wiggling, changing positions, burping, cooing, singing, shhhing... you get the idea. And finally, with a resignation sigh you place them on the floor/changing table/flat guarded surface. What does the little kidling do?

Beams at you. One of the largest, biggest, cutest, most genuine smiles one could imagine.

And the world melts. All that hell on earth stuff? Gone.

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7:04 PM | | 1 comments

Exhaustion at 11pm (MB #6)

Saturday, November 24, 2007 by Bethany

It's funny isn't it, how parenthood (my case motherhood) takes the energy out of everything. Well, at least it is sorta funny. In a tired, exhausted, I-Can't-Lift-Another-Finger kinda way. Even at 11pm at night. When in my pre-kid days, I'd just gotten ready and left for a night on the town.

Boy. Things have changed.

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11:03 PM | | 0 comments

Coordinated Sleep (MB #5)

Saturday, November 17, 2007 by Bethany

When, by some miracle, all the children of the house cooperate and go to bed at (roughly) the same time. Or unexpectedly fall asleep at the same time in the afternoon for what I like to call a "coordinated nap."

Ah the joys of some non-kid time, even when they are just in the other room down the hall.

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12:37 AM | | 2 comments

Driving a Cranky Baby (MB #4)

Tuesday, November 06, 2007 by Bethany

Gotta love it when a cranky baby (and I am not talking about a little fussing here, it is all out screaming), calms down just enough to strap her in a car seat and go for a ride. Because then... she falls into a deep (deep) sleep.

Driving can solve cranky baby syndrome (almost) every time.

Let's hope this nap is a long one. I need it!

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3:57 PM | | 0 comments

12 Words a Mom Just Loves to Hear (MB #3)

Wednesday, October 24, 2007 by Bethany

"My tummy hurts. I feel like I am going to throw up."

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4:21 PM | | 0 comments

Motherhood Bytes (#2)

Thursday, October 18, 2007 by Bethany

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Bath Time Boredom is definitely a downer.

Really, what does one do during bath time? For The Peanut at 7 weeks, it is in and out of the tub for her. I mean, swash the water around, scrub a washcloth with gentle soap all over the place, rinse, and take her out. Well, I get completely doused in water myself. And I might as well jump right on in there with her, but it gets done.

The Kiddo? Well another story. Long games of imaginary play involving the entire drawer of bath toys. And I should be in there with him to make sure there are no accidents. Who am I to interrupt his tub time? He has a good time. But what does a mother do?

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11:36 AM | | 0 comments

Motherhood Bytes (#1)*

Sunday, October 14, 2007 by Bethany

Child induced insomnia.

This one is oh so annoying. Imagine this: A child wakes crying (in my case, lately, it is a 6 week old that needs to nurse). You get your sorry ass out of bed, to tend to said child. Then you lie back down to sleep, but lo-and-behold, you are wide awake.

It happens at 3 am, 5am, and even as early as Midnight. And we're stuck, staring into the darkness waiting for sleep. Only to fall back into, just as the child wakes again for a little TLC.

On any other normal night, you'd fall back asleep in pure exhaustion. Not only is it annoying, frustration, and just pure hell. It just plain sucks. Welcome to the harder part of mothering.

* A new regular post series here on MW, Motherhood Bytes are tidbits of why we love (and hate) being a mother.

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6:21 AM | | 0 comments