Thinking about going on Strike

I recently found and read an article about Jessica Stilwell, a mom who went on strike.  While I was reading I began to realize that my own family is suffering from me doing to much for them.
My children have chores that they need to do.  We even rotate the jobs around weekly so they aren't doing the same thing all the time.  They are also supposed to clean up after themselves.  Lately my husband and I have had to nag to get the chores done.  And I'm often cleaning up their messes after them. 
This past week has been incredibly stressful because I've been spending alot of time with my Grandma in the hospital.  I've had very little time to do what I normally do for my family, and NO time to do the extras.  On Friday and Saturday I was sick, so nothing was done.  I spent almost all of Sunday, with my husband, cleaning our house from top to bottom.  This afternoon when I came home from work I could barely see the kitchen table and the dishes were beginning to pile up in the sink.  In fact as I'm sitting here writing this, my oldest is cooking herself something to eat before her field hockey game.  I can almost assure you that when I head out into the kitchen there will be more dishes left about.
I'm beginning to think that a strike might be in order.

~Earthy Mom

How do you say goodbye?




My Grandmother had her 96th birthday last month.  She is an amazing woman.  She has survived cancer, a heart attack, and losing the love of her life to cancer.  She has eight grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, one soon to be two great, great grandchildren, and a great granddog.  My Grandma helped raise me so my parents could work. She took me to school, and sat outside my classroom because I cried and wanted to go home.  She drove me to my after school activities.  She is like my second mom.
My Grandma is a woman I aspire to be.  She's strong, speaks her mind, courageous, stubborn, and not afraid of doing anything. 

I've got the Blues

I've been struggling with some serious negativity over the last couple weeks and it's got me really down.  It's also affecting my family.  There is much grumpiness going around.

I've almost always embraced being a mom and everything that goes with it.  Sure there are times when the kids are driving me crazy or I'm feeling stressed from all I need to do for/with them.  But generally I Love being a mom and caring for and doing for my family.

So what's changed?  I just don't know. 

I could say it's our crazy schedule:

First Day of School

Last week the kids had their first day back to school.  Two days before were spent prepping for the first day.  I made Rice crispie treats and chocolate chip granola bites.  The chocolate chip granola bites have been a big hit. I'll have have to make some more.  I also think I may have bought out the grocery store of fruits, bread, and other lunch making items.  Three of the four kids regularly bring lunch to school.  My older son seems to like school lunches better than homemade ones, so we don't fight him. 

I started a first day of school breakfast/snack tradition back when the Ladybug started kindergarten.  I make them cinnamon rolls.  I buy the Pillsbury kind and just cook them up in the morning.  I've thought about making my own, but I'm not sure if I would be able to find the time.  Either way the kids love the treat and look forward to it every year.  One year I forgot and they let me know.  I had to buy two rolls this year.  Otherwise my husband and I wouldn't have gotten one, let alone the two we let everyone have.  The extras we heated up a couple days later so the kids could all have one more.
My husband made lunches for all the kids.  A treat for the older kids.  We usually only make Potato's lunch for two reasons.  One he moves in super slow motion and two he's still young.  We hope as he gets older he'll be making his own lunch too.  Sometimes I try and slip a little note in their lunches when they're not looking, for a little surprise.

Lunches were made, bags packed, breakfast was had, everyone was dressed, and made it out the door in time to catch the bus.  I'd say we had a very smooth first morning.  My fears were definitely less.  My husband and I even left the house on time to get to our jobs.  I am fortunate to be home when the kids come home from school.  The girls get home first and both of them had a good day.  Duckling was please to tell me that she knew at least one person in all of her classes.  Ladybug was happy to share that she saw lots of her friends.  Monkey came home as I was leaving to pick up Potato.  We stopped in the driveway and chatted a bit.  He had a good day and was happy to see his friends at school.  He likes his teachers, especially his scout leader who teaches science.  Potato and I talked in the car about his day.  He sits with one of his best friends in class, and his teacher is super nice.

The first day turned out great!  Now I hope the next 179 days of school are just as good.

 

~Earthy Mom

Back to School time fears

With the school year starting next week I thought this would be a good time to talk about my fears and concerns for the coming year. I know I really shouldn't have any fears by now. School should really be old hat for us, but it just never seems to happen that way.


Let's start of with my girls. They are starting freshman year and I've spent a fair amount of time on the phone with the high school. Most of that time has been asking questions to figure out what we need to register Duckling for school.

After not so great 8th grade year out in Wisconsin; we decided to have her move back with us and go to school here. A long story for another time.

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

About a week ago I was nominated for two blog awards by Serenity Raven of The Domestic Pagan. Thank you very much for nominating me for these awards! Now I get to spread the love and give these two awards out to others!

One Lovely Blog Award

About a week ago I was nominated for two blog awards by Serenity Raven of The Domestic Pagan.  Thank you very much for nominating me for these awards! Now I get to spread the love and give these two awards out to others!

M is for The Morrigan

Letterbox carving/stamp of The Morrigan
from the Warrior Women II postal

The Morrigan was the shape-shifting Celtic Goddess of War, Fate, and Death.  Her name is interpreted in various forms..."Great Queen", "Phantom Queen", or "Queen of Demons."  She was said to hover over battlefields in the form of a raven or hooded crow.  She frequently foretold or influenced the outcome of a battle.  The Celts believed that, as they engaged in warfare, the Morrigan flew shrieking overhead in the form of a raven or carrion crow, summoning a host of slain soldiers to a macabre spectral bane.  When the battle had ended, the warriors would leave the field until dawn in order that the Morrigan could claim the trophies of heads, euphemistically known as "The Morrigan's acorn crop".

~Earthy Mom