I've been reading over my blog as a whole and I see that in some place I've gotten away from my 'saga' of being a black stay at home mom. So, since the little ones are currently coloring and fighting over crayons (what else is new), I can steer the blog back to the stated direction.
A few working moms have asked me "How do you do it? I would go crazy at home with just the kids." "What do you do with them all day?"
Well, after being strictly at home for the past three years (four in September) I've finally got an answer for those people.
I want to start by saying that in no way do I condemn, judge or even point a finger at those moms who don't stay home. Some moms want to, and can't. Some moms can and don't want to. It's everyone's individual choice and to be strictly honest, I don't care what you do. For those who may (or may not with my track record) comment on the blog about how self-righteous I am or whatever, save your upload bandwidth, because I don't care. Yeah, I 'm being REAL Dick Cheney-ish today. (On a side note, you gotta love the dude for being totally direct and honest, right?)
Ok, here's my secret to being a housewife, homemaker, a Yale-educated black chick who chooses to stay at home. I do it because I CAN, I HAVE to and I LIKE it.
I can: We live frugally enough that I can stay home with my children. My oldest is in a preschool program, so don't get the idea that I'm huddled up with a shotgun, canning peaches and homeschooling by candlelight. (Even though something about that IS appealing!).
I have to: Ever read the paper/listen to the radio. I am a worry wart by nature, but these stories about children getting killed by other children in day care (home-based), babysitters strapping children in carseats to watch DVDs or television all day, unsanitary conditions, babysitter's boyfriends/girlfriends/relatives/friends, whomever, coming in and knocking children around, children being locked in daycare...I could go on and on. And certianly for every organized day care incident, there are parental incidents, where parents are doing the very same things to their own children. Nevertheless, the last time I looked, I wasn't crazy (I checked last week)so my children are safe with me.
Plus, I'm a paranoid person. I don't let my children out of my site in the local Target, so how the heck could I let them out of my site for an entire day while I take care of someone else's children? Nope, as George Bush I says, Not gonna do it.
I LIKE it: Look, they're pretty funny as a whole. I love watching the way they interact with each other and how they "tell each other off" (in a little child way of course.) I've laughed out loud at some of the things they say to each other, especially when they are trying to mock me or DH. Mr. J, at 2 years old, is a hoot when he tells Caleb to "go to you(r) room! :)
"Don't you miss talking to grownups?" Ummmmm, in a word, NO. Hey, I'm not anti-social, but I've worked for 15 years in education, and honestly, I prefered the children to the adults for the most part. Adult conversation is overrated and you all know what I'm talking about.
What do you do with them all day? Well, let's see. I: change diapers, have conversations, look at pictures, make playdough, wield a firm hand, comb hair, pat heads, change diapers, encourage potty use, encourage flushing the toilet encourage washing hands, cook food, serve food, discourage writing on the wall, discourage hitting, discourage tattletelling, admire play dough creations, help find monster trucks, check email, write blog posts, hide out in the bathroom, pick up clothes, watch lovely TV programs like:Miffy (did you know she went to Africa?), Truck Competition (monster truck jam), Curious George, Arthur, Sesame Street, shoo children out of the kitchen,shoo children off the windowsill, read the paper, check email, advision on 3 year old fashion choices....the list goes on.
So I'm real busy. LOL
I do love being at home and being secure in the fact that my children are being cared for by ME. This is not to say that I don't spend a portion of some days hiding out in the bathroom from a droopy-diapered stalker, HOWEVER, I wouldn't change it for the world.
Plus, if I were a working mom, how many hilarious stories would you be able to read?
Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moms. Show all posts
Monday, March 24
Monday, March 17
Mr. Mookie out of Control
I realize that I really have to schedule myself in order to write on this blog on a regular basis. I've got a tremendous amount of topics, as you know the life of a stay at home mom is NEVER dull, but haven't had the time to actually sit down and write about them because of these non-ceasing exciting events.
As many of you may know, I also run a bath and body products business. Well, that's been taking off, but somehow, the children just haven't given me enough time to focus on it. Imagine that!
But let me get to the title of my post, as it is so easy for me to go off on a tangent, especially when I'm trying to write as well as oversee the building of a skyscraper in my living room.
The children were enjoying their TV time when I peeked in to see what they were watching. Hmm, Big bird is on, but the hour is not quite right. Basically, Sesame Street starts at the top of the hour, which means Elmo's World begins about twenty to the hour. Elmo was jumping around about twenty five after the hour,so something was up. Turns out, Mr. Mookie ordered a Sesame Street ON DEMAND. This is what he told me he did:
"I pressed 'on demand' (which is a big button on the remote.)....I scrolled (I kid you not) down to Kids (how the heck did he know the word kids)...then PBS then I chose Sesame Street."
Mr. M also knows how to turn the television to his other favorite channel, the Speed Channel.
He's five. FIVE!!! How is this little dude ordering Sprout on Demand????
As many of you may know, I also run a bath and body products business. Well, that's been taking off, but somehow, the children just haven't given me enough time to focus on it. Imagine that!
But let me get to the title of my post, as it is so easy for me to go off on a tangent, especially when I'm trying to write as well as oversee the building of a skyscraper in my living room.
The children were enjoying their TV time when I peeked in to see what they were watching. Hmm, Big bird is on, but the hour is not quite right. Basically, Sesame Street starts at the top of the hour, which means Elmo's World begins about twenty to the hour. Elmo was jumping around about twenty five after the hour,so something was up. Turns out, Mr. Mookie ordered a Sesame Street ON DEMAND. This is what he told me he did:
"I pressed 'on demand' (which is a big button on the remote.)....I scrolled (I kid you not) down to Kids (how the heck did he know the word kids)...then PBS then I chose Sesame Street."
Mr. M also knows how to turn the television to his other favorite channel, the Speed Channel.
He's five. FIVE!!! How is this little dude ordering Sprout on Demand????
Sunday, December 9
Christmas is just around the Corner
Dear readers, I don't have anything especially significant to say today, but just wanted to check in with everyone before the gap between posts got too large and I would have to write yet another 'mea culpa' post. Nevertheless, your entertainment in reading this blog comes first and foremost, so I will attempt to give a quick overview of what has been happening in the last three weeks.
I have been working hard on my website and am in the process of filling basket orders for Christmas. Wow! Last year at this time, I had a barely functional website, only one product and was basically giving the stuff away. Now I have more that four products (yes, I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but when you're making the stuff by hand and testing different formulas, that's a lot!! Now I am considering going natural and totally eliminating the dyes from my product. Notice I said considering!!!I really like the look of some of the colored product, which is why I have an all natural and a nearly all natural section to my website. If you're interested, click the banner at the top of the page.
The little ones are doing quite well - no colds, no one is sick - and my oldest is taking well to his swimming lessons. One day he came home and said to me "I hate swimming." Now, swimming is an integral part of the preschool program, so I wasn't having any of that. So I used that good ol' reverse psychology on him - "Oh really. What's the best thing you like about swimming?" And he proceeded to rattle off a list of things he actually liked about swimming, so another diaster thwarted. I wouldn't want to have to pick him up from school early because he didn't like swimming.
You know, talk about a non sequitur, but what the heck is up with Tyra's hair? Is it me or does it look like she just put a mop on her head? That straw look does not look good on her - I hope she goes back the burgundy!!
Well, that's really it for now - pretty uninteresting, I know, but ya know, that's life....that's what all the people say.....you're riding high in April...Shot down in May.
We're going to be getting our Christmas tree soon - this is the first year that my 19 month old will really be aware of what is going on...let's see how long it take for him to rip all the ornaments off the bottom half of the tree.
I have been working hard on my website and am in the process of filling basket orders for Christmas. Wow! Last year at this time, I had a barely functional website, only one product and was basically giving the stuff away. Now I have more that four products (yes, I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but when you're making the stuff by hand and testing different formulas, that's a lot!! Now I am considering going natural and totally eliminating the dyes from my product. Notice I said considering!!!I really like the look of some of the colored product, which is why I have an all natural and a nearly all natural section to my website. If you're interested, click the banner at the top of the page.
The little ones are doing quite well - no colds, no one is sick - and my oldest is taking well to his swimming lessons. One day he came home and said to me "I hate swimming." Now, swimming is an integral part of the preschool program, so I wasn't having any of that. So I used that good ol' reverse psychology on him - "Oh really. What's the best thing you like about swimming?" And he proceeded to rattle off a list of things he actually liked about swimming, so another diaster thwarted. I wouldn't want to have to pick him up from school early because he didn't like swimming.
You know, talk about a non sequitur, but what the heck is up with Tyra's hair? Is it me or does it look like she just put a mop on her head? That straw look does not look good on her - I hope she goes back the burgundy!!
Well, that's really it for now - pretty uninteresting, I know, but ya know, that's life....that's what all the people say.....you're riding high in April...Shot down in May.
We're going to be getting our Christmas tree soon - this is the first year that my 19 month old will really be aware of what is going on...let's see how long it take for him to rip all the ornaments off the bottom half of the tree.
Sunday, November 11
Once again....
Oh, dear, dear readers! Once again I have left you hanging for over a month without any updates to my exciting life as a stay at home mom!!
Let's see, what have I missed updating you with? Well, for starters, Mookie was sick again! That durn preschool has as many germs as that nasty Monica Lewinsky dress. I mean, really, he only is there three times a week for 3 hours at a time. I really must get on all of the little ones about the importance of handwashing. However, his sickness did not develop into the crisis it was in September(see here for the full story. Anyway, I only had to hit him a couple of times with the Xopenex, but I took him to the doctor just to be sure. Not that I'm a big worrywart, but the Goddess will NEVER let her little Mookie get to that crisis stage again, not if she can help it!
So, after Mookie got sick, so did the Diva and Squeaky. Nothing is as heavenly as wiping three runny noses at once and running back and forth in the middle of the night because the Diva woke up and her nose is stuffed up. What a drama QUEEN! "Oh, my dose, my dose my DOSE" I wanted to tell her, look honey, stop all that screaming, concentrate on breathing and you won't have a problem. But, how do you reason with a three year old? Answer: you don't!
Now, the business. I've been workign on the website, making products,taking pictures and on top of that all, trying to keep the house in some sort of working order. My husband is a saint, because he doesn't balk when I call after a particularly difficult day and say "can you stop and pick up...." He will be rewarded greatly when my business takes off!
Anyway, dear reader, that's my sorry excuse for not keeping you thoroughly entertained for the last month. I promise to be much more diligent in the future!
Let's see, what have I missed updating you with? Well, for starters, Mookie was sick again! That durn preschool has as many germs as that nasty Monica Lewinsky dress. I mean, really, he only is there three times a week for 3 hours at a time. I really must get on all of the little ones about the importance of handwashing. However, his sickness did not develop into the crisis it was in September(see here for the full story. Anyway, I only had to hit him a couple of times with the Xopenex, but I took him to the doctor just to be sure. Not that I'm a big worrywart, but the Goddess will NEVER let her little Mookie get to that crisis stage again, not if she can help it!
So, after Mookie got sick, so did the Diva and Squeaky. Nothing is as heavenly as wiping three runny noses at once and running back and forth in the middle of the night because the Diva woke up and her nose is stuffed up. What a drama QUEEN! "Oh, my dose, my dose my DOSE" I wanted to tell her, look honey, stop all that screaming, concentrate on breathing and you won't have a problem. But, how do you reason with a three year old? Answer: you don't!
Now, the business. I've been workign on the website, making products,taking pictures and on top of that all, trying to keep the house in some sort of working order. My husband is a saint, because he doesn't balk when I call after a particularly difficult day and say "can you stop and pick up...." He will be rewarded greatly when my business takes off!
Anyway, dear reader, that's my sorry excuse for not keeping you thoroughly entertained for the last month. I promise to be much more diligent in the future!
Saturday, May 12
Black Moms Push Their Kids’ Educational Aspirations More Than White Moms
Haven't had a chance to read it thoroughly,. but will write more later!
Ok, here it is:
Here is the link to the article: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/momssurvey511
Well, I finally had a chance to read the story and I am ambivalent about the results. Now, as a married mother of three, I do expect my children to complete some sort of higher education, but I do not feel that graduate or professional school is a must. Although I do have my master’s degree (recently completed), I would be perfectly happy if my children chose a non-traditional path such as contracting (building) or writing. Everyone does not have to be a doctor or a lawyer, and to be honest those two career paths are certainly not as glamorous as they may seem on television or in the movies. For one thing, the malpractice insurance that you have to carry as a doctor is insane!! All lawyers don’t dress in great clothes and drive fancy cars – some of them are like that lawyer in that move Dark Water, who has an office in his car and goes to movies alone.
Now that I have digress enough, back to the article. I found it interesting that first of all, more white women than black women answered the survey. Even in 2007, it is obvious that more whites, no matter what the income level, have more internet access than blacks. True, the gap is small ( I don’t have the exact stats), but there is still a gap. Further, many of the black mothers who answered this survey were either never married or divorced – only 36 percent of the black women, out of @293 who answered the survey were actually married, compared to 65 percent of the white women. So it would stand to reason that in this sample, black moms are the driving force behind getting their children an education because they are the only parent in the home.
I expect my children to go to college. I don’t work, but I do have a graduate degree. I truly believe that education open doors to everyone regardless of race. I also believe that racism is alive and quite well in 2007. Therefore, I want my children to get the education they need to be successful in this world, whether they need to form their own companies or practices or what have you. This is expected and will be emphasized by both my husband and myself as my children get older.
Ok, here it is:
Here is the link to the article: http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/momssurvey511
Well, I finally had a chance to read the story and I am ambivalent about the results. Now, as a married mother of three, I do expect my children to complete some sort of higher education, but I do not feel that graduate or professional school is a must. Although I do have my master’s degree (recently completed), I would be perfectly happy if my children chose a non-traditional path such as contracting (building) or writing. Everyone does not have to be a doctor or a lawyer, and to be honest those two career paths are certainly not as glamorous as they may seem on television or in the movies. For one thing, the malpractice insurance that you have to carry as a doctor is insane!! All lawyers don’t dress in great clothes and drive fancy cars – some of them are like that lawyer in that move Dark Water, who has an office in his car and goes to movies alone.
Now that I have digress enough, back to the article. I found it interesting that first of all, more white women than black women answered the survey. Even in 2007, it is obvious that more whites, no matter what the income level, have more internet access than blacks. True, the gap is small ( I don’t have the exact stats), but there is still a gap. Further, many of the black mothers who answered this survey were either never married or divorced – only 36 percent of the black women, out of @293 who answered the survey were actually married, compared to 65 percent of the white women. So it would stand to reason that in this sample, black moms are the driving force behind getting their children an education because they are the only parent in the home.
I expect my children to go to college. I don’t work, but I do have a graduate degree. I truly believe that education open doors to everyone regardless of race. I also believe that racism is alive and quite well in 2007. Therefore, I want my children to get the education they need to be successful in this world, whether they need to form their own companies or practices or what have you. This is expected and will be emphasized by both my husband and myself as my children get older.
Thursday, April 26
Ahhhh...Freedom
On Wednesday, I had the distinct pleasure of spending a total of three hours away from everyone in my family - don't get me wrong, I do love DH and my three dear children, however, day in and day out contact can wear a bit thin. I took the time, with the help of a lovely friend who gave me a gift certificate, I visited the Skin Deep Day Spa in New Providence. What a lovely experience! I had a great mini-facial - who knew that someone else washing your face could feel so wonderful!
The ladies who work there are were very nice and the spa atmosphere was simple and calm. I almost fell asleep in the skin treatment room and the pedicure stand chairs were massage enabled. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated when I left and would certainly visit again - I am looking forward to the hot stone massage!
The ladies who work there are were very nice and the spa atmosphere was simple and calm. I almost fell asleep in the skin treatment room and the pedicure stand chairs were massage enabled. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated when I left and would certainly visit again - I am looking forward to the hot stone massage!
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