A few minutes for Mom!

I read this column in the paper today. And I can completely identify with it. The answer and the question! Believe it or not people do feel the way the "writer" does. Take my word for it. I've experienced it personally. I can not possibly elaborate any better than Carolyn does with her answer. So enjoy!



Dear Carolyn:
Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group . . .
Okay. I've done Internet searches, I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don't do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy -- not a bad thing at all -- but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.
--Tacoma, Wash.
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Relax and enjoy. You're funny.
Or you're lying about having friends with kids.
Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them.
Internet searches?
I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand, while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom-friends are either lying or competing with you, is disingenuous indeed.
So, since it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. In list form. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, clean, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces the kind of checkout-line screaming that gets the checkout line shaking its head.
It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15.
It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier.
It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends, well-meaning and otherwise. It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.
It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything -- language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity. Empathy. Everything.
It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy, and then, when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend, a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you to mutual friends, or marvel how much more productively she uses her time. Either make a sincere effort to understand or keep your snit to yourself.

Tractors, Ducks and Fun Oh My

Evan has been on the go these days. The weather has been so incredible. We try to take advantage of it every chance we can. I have no idea what I'll tell him when Winter comes!!

OK lots of pictures and 3 VIDEOS!!! That should hold you for a while!!

Evan had a big day last Saturday and we visited the John Deere Tractor store near our house. Oh my did he love it! He was completely infatuated with all the wheels and machinery! As most of you know my son is completely amazed by things that have wheels and an engine!

Here he is with his new John Deere collection!

Playing with Dad on the deck. Evan plays like this all the time. He's such a good boy. His cars can keep him occupied for quite some time!

Video of Daddy and Evan playing outside on the deck.

Believe it or not my little guy liked the Goat Cheese Spinach pasta that I make! It is really yummy!!

How cute is this video?



Wednesday we went to Baker Park with some Little Gym moms.

Evan and his friend McKenzie enjoying the ducks! Evan tried to mimic me making a quacking sound! How cute is that little curl?Eventually Evan scared all the ducks back into the water. One last video! Evan playing with the ducks! QUACK QUACK

Evan Sprinkler Video

BONUS there's a video!!! ALSO....Look at the Little Gym Posting too, there is a new video added there as well! The video was soooooooooo popular I'll defnitely add more!!! I guess you folks just love to see Evan in action!!

FINALLY RIGHT??? The noise in the background of the video is Evan's DAD laughing so hard he could hardly breathe.







Evan's first sprinkler June 14, 2008

Evan's 2nd Father's day and his Dad's 25th Father's Day!

We really had a spectacular Father's Day Weekend. Chris and Koren both made it home and of course so did Evan! :) On Saturday we attended a cookout at my cousin Phillip's house. We had family in from Georgia and got to see many I haven't seen in a few years. Some have never met Evan and fell in love instantly of course!

Then on Sunday we enjoyed the weather after cooking breakfast for Jim's Dad. Evan got to runt through his sprinkler for the first time ever. He was so cute and had a blast playing in the water.

So here are some pictures from our weekend.

Evan was such a good boy, here he is on Aunt Melissa's lap.

Jim and Koren goofing off, Jim more than Koren!

Evan enjoying a banana on the drive home from Baltimore.

Who knows what Chris is doing...acting goofy as usual

Evan's 1st run through a sprinkler

Recovering from his first run!

Allow me to get a closer look at this thing.

Hanging out on a sunny Father's Day...with his Dad!

Evan's turn to goof off!

Trying to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time...

I think it's going to be impossible...

Yeah....probably not going to happen!

Evan graduates at the Little Gym!

*****NEW VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST**** JUST ADDED 6.24.08

Well, yesterday was the last day for Evan to be a "Birdie" at the Little Gym. We start on Monday and now he moves up to the 19 month - 2 year class and they call them "Beasties". So now instead of going on Thursdays we will be going on Mondays! This class has been so beneficial for Evan.



He really loves going there and has made so many friends! They had a presentation at the end and all the kids got medals and Certificates of Achievement. It was so cute.



Here are some pictures....



Evan entering his "Little Gym" He can't wait to get started!!









Our little guy receiving his medal and Certificate of Achievement. He looks so cute examining his medal and certificate. What a proud moment!

Perhaps he was reflecting on the past few months and the transition from Bird to Beast!

Almost the whole class!! It's hard getting all these kids to sit still....although Evan loves to sit on "steps", so he was in his element.

Evan still amazed by his medal. He really just loved it! What a cutie.

What else can I say but....CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZ
Evan and his mom! Evan and I just love going to the "Little Gym" and are excited to start the Summer Semester!! Evan will be with bigger kids now and he's sure to learn a lot! Good and Bad! (I really wish I would have done my hair this morning!! ARGH)

Evan's Certificate of Completion of Fall/Spring Little Gym Semester!! Way to go!!

Little Feet at the Little Gym. Can you see his "Sandals Tan?"

Evan goes flying and swimming!!

This baby travels IN STYLE!!!

Then of course we opened up the Pool!!!

It was too hot to take pictures!!! We promise more later on this week!!! Stay cool everyone!