30 Day Mom Challenge

I recently saw this posted on facebook and thought I should share it here too.

30 Day Mom Challenge
Mom's Ultimate To-Do List

1. Ask "what is one thing we can do together, this month?"

2. Go the whole day without yelling at your children.

3. Hug your child three times today.

4. Kiss your child while they are sleeping.

5. Tell yourself, "He's only ____ years old. He's still a child." Then treat him that way.

6. Bake, make, or buy them their favorite food.

7. Leave a sweet note for them.

8. Calculate how many more weekends let until your child graduates from high school.

9. Picture yourself at your child's age. Try to remember how you felt.

10. Today's mom focus: joy.

11. Tell your child, "I am so glad you're my son/daughter."

12. Pray for wisdom in mothering your child.

13. Do not criticize your child today.

14. Remember that being a mother is a gift.

15. Be firm when needed, but not harsh.

16. Picture what you want your child to be like at age 25. Mother with that in mind, today.

17. Laugh with your child today.

18. Who is a mom you admire? What quality of hers can you live out, today?

19. Teach your child one thing that he can do on his own today.

20. Today's focus: patience.

21. Forgive yourself when you mess up.

22. How do you want your child to remember you? Be that mom, today.

23. Replace sarcasm with kindness.

24. Don't interrupt your child when he is talking.

25. Ask your child's opinion sometime today.

26. Make it a point to encourage your child today.

27. Do one thing that is good for your health: walk 10 minutes, eat a piece of fruit or get a good night's sleep.

28. Teach your child a new word.

29. Turn off your phone, computer or TV today when your child is with you.

30. Today's focus: love.

Sometimes this will be easy. 3, 6, 17, 26.

Sometimes this will be hard. 2, 13, 14, 21.

I started yesterday, the 9th, on #9. I found myself thinking back to my middle school years, not a great time in my life.

Carter is now in 7th grade. He is trying to find his place. Last year was pretty tough. This year seems better.

While working on #9, I try to have more patience for the preteen angst. I remember trying to get to classes on time, with all the necessary supplies, after going to my locker, the bathroom, checking my hair, and passing notes in the hall...all within 5 minutes between classes.

He is doing all that and getting mostly B's. I should cut him some slack and give him more praise.

I often forget that Hayden is only 6. He likes making his own scrambled eggs for breakfast. He is on the swim team. He runs his own bath. I am always concerned with not letting him be the "baby" of the family. Have I made him too independent? What was I capable of doing by myself at age 6?

The 30 Day Mom Challenge is a great way to focus on one thing at a time. Make one change at a time. Change one bad habit. Start one good habit.

I hope you will join me and share the ways you have accepted the challenge.

Today's mom focus: joy. Time for me to get to work.

Testing, Testing. Is this thing on?

I've been supporting you for over thirty years.

Sometimes I loved you.

Sometimes I hated you.

We've partied all night.

We've spent quiet nights at home.

We cried over spilt milk.

We got a lot of attention together.

I've pushed you up.

You've pulled me down.

I realized I didn't have to take it anymore.

I cut you down to size.

I thought we had come to a mutual appreciation of each other.

This week you have been scaring the hell out of me.

Hopefully before the weekend hits we will know you were just messing with me.

Because even though I love the new you, I wouldn't risk my life for you.

You better watch out....

He's coming to town. And now you can catch him in the act!

Have you seen this?



We did it last year and the boys were amazed!

Grandpa stayed over night on Christmas Eve. He heard the dog barking and went upstairs with his camera and this is what he found.....

When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange who you are, into what your're gonna be

Do you remember that episode?

Jan went to buy the silver platter for the anniversary and ordered the engraving, Bobby's voice started changing during the talent contest they entered to pay for the additional engraving cost.

I am beginning to have a new appreciation for Mrs. Brady, she married a man with three boys.

Things are changing at my house too, things are starting to stink.

Just this week I noticed a foul smell coming from the gym bag. I know you are saying "STOP, Don't do it!."
It was the GYM bag, I never should have picked up anything to smell.

It was Carter's shirt. Seriously, how can it smell like that after one day?

And I thought I learned my lesson, but did I?

Nooooooo.

Last night I sniffed Griffin's armpit.

Why, I do not know. Maybe I didn't think my precious 8 year old could really be the source of that smell.

He was.

How did these cute, great smelling babies turn into these foul smelling young men.



My friends always comment on how nice my house smells. If they only knew my secret.



Plug it in, out of sight, near the front door. When you walk in the door your sense of smell focuses on cinnamon goodness and not the gym bag aroma.

To save all of you from more of these posts, I pledge to not play "What's that smell and where is it coming" again. When it doubt, assume it is a boy.

Tofu: To F U

I got in a fight at Sunflower Market.


Maybe "fight" isn't the right word.


I had a stare down in the dairy aisle.


With Tofu.




Me: Listen Tofu, what are you even doing in the dairy aisle, you big faker.


Tofu: Don't even look at me, I am too good for you.


Me: What are you anyway?


Tofu: I am a healthier alternative to meat. Like I said, too good for you. Go find the Hostess cupcakes.


Me: But, I want to be healthier.


Tofu: hahahaha


Me: Really, but what do I do with you? Soft, firm, extra firm. You look so gross just sitting there in that Tofu juice.


Tofu: Stop squishing me and put me down.


Me: How could I pass you off on the men? They would know I tried to fake them out with Tofu the big faker.


Tofu: Stop staring at me like that and put me down.


Me: If I do buy you, I would need to make you tonight and hid the package way down deep in the garbage. How do make you? How could I pass you off as meat?



Tofu: I told you so.


Me: Told me what?


Tofu: I'm too good for you. Now move along.


And I did.


Tofu scares me.

Is anybody out there?

I am trying to get back into the swing of things. The kids have been in school, sort of, since August 17th.

If anyone is still following my blog, I thought I could catch you up with a list of numbers. This is what has been going on since July 10th.

6 medals (3 gold, 3 silver) Griffin won at the city swim meet

3 days spent at the State swim meet

1 friend who moved to Mexico for a year of immersion

15 cousins and aunts who flew in to celebrate 8/8/09

150 particpants of the Sue DiNapoli Ovarian Cancer 5k run and 3k walk held August 8th

5000 dollars raised for the Sue DiNapoli Ovarian Cancer Foundation I started in honor of my mother who passed away on August 5th 2005. The foundation will help low income women with ovarian cancer screening.

85 friends who celebrated the night away at the early 40th birthday party

2 nights spent in an awesome house in Beaver Creek over my real 40th birthday weekend

3 boys who started school on August 17th

1 Labor Day pool party, sadly 1 pool closed for the season

1 job interview and offer

1 field trip with kindergarten class cut short, see next entry

1 broken arm, 1 ambulance ride, 2 pins, 1 night in hospital, 1 week off school
4 weeks in cast, 4 weeks in sling

1 swimming season over

1 football season over

3 pumpkins cut off the vine

22 pounds of apples picked off the tree

1 and 2 uterus and ovaries removed

14 fantastic friends who brought over food, snacks, flowers during my recovery

1.5 confirmed h1n1 cases in our home

1 unbelievable husband who took a week of vacation to care for his wife and ended up caring for sick kids too

28 vicodin taken during "quiet recovery at home"

5 hats knit on vicodin, now known as "vicodin hats"

0 days all the boys have been in school at the same time since September 28th

0 boys flying over Colorado in hot air balloon

3 boys going back to school tomorrow

What are you going to do when all three are in school?

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