Where is super nanny when I need her?

I recently joined a Comment Challenge through Blogelina.  It gave me an opportunity to network with other bloggers, and read some blogs that I probably would not have had access to otherwise.  This was an amazing experience.  It reminded me about what I loved about blogging in the first place the opportunity to be speak honestly and simply to get your truth out there.  I think it also gave me permission to share.  Now, they’ve done it!!

I am firmly in the middle of the terrible two’s.  I think most people get a break from the terrible two’s when their little ones go to sleep, but not me.  No matter where she starts out, she will undoubtedly end up in our bed.  Where she kicks me in the back, puts her cold hands and feet on me, and generally just disturbs my sleep.  Putting her back in her bed after she is asleep may or may not work, but either way.  My sleep is not restful.

Today, we went to Home Goods, because I was in dire need of some retail therapy.  I had prepped her for about an hour on where we were going, that she would sit in the cart, and be a big girl for Mommy.  She even seemed stoked to go.   Fast forward to getting to the store.  First, she wanted to sit in the front of the cart, and then the back of the cart, and then she wanted to walk and then she wanted to be picked up.  Mind you this is all taking place while  going down the first two aisles.  She pitched such a fit that I took her by the hand, walked out the store, and drove the twenty minutes back home.

I said all this to say…  HELP!!  My eight year old kind of skipped the terrible two’s and my son who is now 16 years old.  Well, his terrible two’s were a long time ago.  How did you manage the terrible two’s?  I see lots of time outs in this little one’s future.

 

 

 

 

Living In Between Stages

I have never had any desire to be a stay at home.  Well, that is not entirely true, during the eight weeks that I stayed at home with my girls after they were born, I wished I had the option to stay home with them for a while longer.  But, for as long as I can remember, my M-F consisted of dropping the kids off and heading off to work.  I don’t think you realize just how much you miss (luckily or unluckily, when you work outside the home.

Nothing could have prepared me for the changes that were to lie ahead of me.  I think that adjusting to any kind of change can have its twists and turns.  I think at first, I believed that this was definitely a temporary thing, I expected to be back to work in a matter of days at the most weeks. I had read all the accounts about what a mess the economy was in and just how hard it was to find something.  Naturally, I didn’t think that this would be my predicament.
But, I didn’t realize how many things factor into finding a new job.  I had been with the same company for twelve years, and had managed to move up through the ranks.  First, there was location, distance from home, gas and salary requirements.  I learned I was making downtown pay, in a rural area.  So in order to make what I was making in a place where I would want to work, I would have to drive downtown battle Atlanta traffic and then not make it home to my kids before 7.
So after going on several interviews and being frustrated by either the pay or the distance.  I decided to take a break.  My daughter’s eighth birthday party was fast approaching and the holiday season kept me pretty busy.  We had an amazing “memory worthy” Christmas.  Just like the ones I used to dream of having time to create.  And, I was pleased.
But, on the other side of that just like after a wedding is the let down, as I packed up the Christmas decorations.  I guess I packed up 2012 and with 2013 came the need for a new plan.  It was time for me to go back to work.  So, as I spend my days sending out applications and resumes, and scouring every possible job search board I can find.  I also find myself feeling like maybe I need to find  a way to become acclimated to my role here at home.  I guess in a way I have felt like this is not my life, when in fact it is, whether it is for two more days or two more years.  ( I hope its not that long.)
Transitioning and Acceptance go hand in hand, but how do you manage to do both at the same time?
Note:  After reading this over, I felt like I should mention just how blessed I am to have a husband who can adequately provide for us, while I muddle my way through all of this.

Renewals… and New Beginnings!!

I find that almost every year it takes me a while to jump right in with both feet.  I believe the reason for that is two fold.  One, I am normally still recovering from a very busy Holiday Season, and two I always feel the need to purge at the beginning of the year.

This year has been no different except that there seemed to be so many more areas of my life that needed purging.   This year, I didn’t really do any New Year’s Resolutions.  Instead, I tried to fine tune goals that I set out to accomplish last year (that are still a work in progress).

I finally completed an entire year of working out.  I can’t say that it was all strenuous working out, but I kept my body moving for the entire year, and I was able to keep off the 15 lbs I lost for the entire year.  Drinking water, became a part of my every day life.  I spent time with Lord and focused on my spiritual health.  I worked on being frugal through coupons and searching for deals on everything from hotels and airline tickets to socks!!  I stepped out the box and spent some time with hubby at the gun range, and liked it.  I even ventured into the pool in a bathing suit this past summer with the kids.

I moved closer to having the Three Dimensional Life that I put on my Vision Board for 2012.  And, even though 2012 took me through a lot of changes, it was a good year.

In 2013, I vow to not limit myself.  I will work on not forgetting that there really is nothing that is not within my reach with hard work and determination.  I hope that you all will join me on my journey, as all the pieces fall into place!!