Day 19 #31DBBB "Warning: Highly-Participatory Mom"

I am working backwards on the Problogger Challenge trying to catch up.  I think Day 20 was a long time ago, but I hope to get an "E" for effort!

OK, today's task is to write an "opinion" post.  I don't normally go out on a limb like this in my blog.  I just read the other day, "Opinions are like belly buttons.  Everyone has them."  I like to keep my blog light and narrative, but the task has gotten me thinking.  Getting to know my opinions is another way I can share with my readers!  It is not in my nature to "shove them down people's throats" though, so no worries.

I'm going to use a topic that's relatively benign as there is enough conflict in the world (and in my house right now).  It's also a concept that's near and dear to my heart.

I have mentioned before that I am a self-titled, highly-participatory mom.  Read "Andy's News" in the following post:

www.somanykidssomuchfun.blogspot.com/2010/07/wednesday-news-july-14.html


Some may say that I am trying to relive my childhood, but I'm not.  I just love playing with my kids and being with them in their moments (and ENDLESS questions about EVERYTHING)!  Some of the things I have done is feed slobbering animals at the petting zoo against my will, actively watched my kids' karate classes and baseball games (when I would have loved to have caught up on my reading on the sidelines), ridden rollercoasters (I believe I've linked to the rollercoasters too often lately so I'll spare you here) and gone on waterslides even though I hate getting my hair wet.  I also have had to wait longer for something to cook because everyone had to take a turn stirring, pouring or tasting.  It's also a challenge when you even have children show up in the kitchen while cooking, but I love a challenge.

So, I laugh giddily, get messy, get wet, get hit with balls and generally make a fool out of myself.  I also face my fear of heights when I agree to ride with my daughter ABOVE THE TREELINE on a gondola and again, the rollercoasters of course.  Why? I do it all for my kids and you know what?  It's an enormous amount of FUN and I don't care what people think of me while my kids are beaming from ear to ear!

I remember as a child how much more fun things were when my parents did them with me.  I also have a commitment to give my kids my undivided attention when they're doing something that's important to them.  When Andy asks me if I saw his slide into second base, I can say, "Yes, I did!"  Watching the big kids' activities is becoming easier now that the twins are older.  I must admit, but my heart was always in it even if I had to nurse someone or go change a diaper.

Now, I don't underestimate the importance of taking time for myself.  It is a struggle to carve it out.  My  husband is extremely supportive of this.  We just have to work together on weekends better.  Weekday evenings have been consumed by sports since April and will be for some time.  I have a lot more fun when my batteries are charged up for my job (which, by the way, is the best job in the whole world!).

Here's my opinion: I think parents have a more full experience in their lives when they participate as much as possible in what their kids are doing (both physically and mentally)!

Any thoughts?  Opposing viewpoints?  Bring them on!  In addition to a challenge, I also love different perspectives!

Day 7: Link Post

Since it was hubby's birthday yesterday, we had TWO family parties and I got a little behind in the Problogger Challenge!  So, here is my attempt to catch up from Sunday AND Monday, Days 7 and 8!

Day 7's task was to write a link post.  It entails linking some posts that you like from other bloggers!   By the way, I would LOVE to be linked in case you're wondering!  Hint!  Hint!


1)  As I commented on this blogger's post, my husband and I used to love Beavis and Butthead!  Yes, I know it's juvenile, but at the time, we were both working a lot, I was going to graduate school and applying to doctoral programs.  I thought I was stressed then...totally a different kind of stress than I have now!  The stress I had then was somewhat under my control, now it's under the children's!

So, the totally primal, pre-adolescent humor fit right in to release the stress!  I particularly loved when MTV showed a video and they'd comment on it!  Hysterical!  OK, I'll stop dating myself.







http://housewifeblogger.blogspot.com/2010/07/beavis-and-butthead.html


2) I thought this post was very clever!  She does it every Monday!  This lady also visits me regularly which I REALLY appreciate!

 http://thegapgirl.blogspot.com/2010/07/not-me-again.html

3) I linked to this blog because she visits me regularly (thank you!) AND I think she has the most beautiful backyard!

http://www.therefluffednest.com/2010/06/04/finally-the-new-patio-cushions/

Day 2 "A List Post" #31DBBB

Good day, all!  The intention of this post is to provoke thought and have some fun!

These are a "few of my favorite things".  Not only is it fun to share, it helps keep with the focus of the power of positive thinking because it gets everyone else to think about things they like too!

Here goes:

1. My favorite ice cream flavor is Mint Chocolate Chip.

2. My favorite sport to watch is baseball. 

3. My favorite movie is Arthur.

4. My favorite thing to do with my family is play board games.

5. My favorite thing to do when I have some time to myself is read.

6.  My favorite TV show is:

 

7. My favorite child is (just kidding!!!!).

8. My favorite way to exercise is running.

9. My favorite food is fresh, hot pizza from a pizzeria (yup, just like a kid!). 

10. My favorite activity is laughing with my friends and family.

11.  Bonus!  My favorite drink is coffee!

31DBBB Day 1 "The Elevator Pitch"

I'm so excited to have this opportunity!  It will be one year ago this week that I started my blog.  I have always had a love of writing, even when I was in elementary school.

However, I had all of these stories of my family and my life just spilling out of my head and falling onto the floor.  I decided that I MUST chronicle them!  BMB (Before My Blog), I would share our family adventures with my friends and they would say, "You should write a book!"

Now, I also thought that I should finally have some kind of family history written down somewhere since all of our photos are all in film-developing envelopes from the "long ago" days of the film camera or on my (other) computer.  One of my posts from last week explains how my main computer is on the fritz.  I miss my picture files!  They'll be back soon though!

New Tagline: Playing Together, Staying Sane and Finding the Silver Lining.

Short Elevator Pitch: The chronicles of our family life and the ability to live in the moment and HAVE FUN!

Long Elevator Pitch: There are just too many humorous stories around here being a stay-at-home mom of 4 kids 4 years apart (including a pair of identical twins) and a traveling husband.  I just had to share!

While most of my goal is to write down the stories for others' enjoyment, it is a type of tapestry of our day-to-day life that we will look back on and remember as a family one day.  I chose both my title and my tagline, however, to really keep the focus on the positive.  I want people to read my posts and think, "I don't know how I would've gotten through that!" or "If she can keep smiling after that, so can I!"

I am a strong believer in positive thinking.  I evolved a great deal in this area after having my kids so close together.  It's really easy to just throw your hands up and close out the outside world, wallow in your misery, be NEGATIVE and let the wonderful, short time go by when your kids are home with you.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT!  Get out there and make memories!  I want to inspire you to do that and some days, when I need inspiration myself, I read one of my posts and realize that I got through that day, no matter how tough it was!