This is probably my first actual 'rant' since I've started blogging.

So we all have those little pet peeves that drive each and every one of us crazy. Some more than others and some really  just depend on our mood. You know.... Like when my mom never says goodbye on the phone, but I think she's still there long after she's hung up. When I don't get that 'courtesy wave' when I let a vehicle in front of me on the road. Dishes in my kids rooms. Rude people. People who walk in a crosswalk like they have no where to go and no time limit to get there. My girls socks that are ALWAYS inside-out. I could go on and on I'm sure, but today I'm going to focus on people spitting out their gum out on the ground. It seems lately that if there is a piece of gum on the ground anywhere in this town, somebody is going to step in it and yes.... that somebody is me!

Ok.. First, this to me is like me hitting the fast food joint and throwing my garbage on the ground which directly collides with rude. Secondly, most everything around here either evaporates or melts into some hot goo. In this case.... hot goo. To make matters worse, I'm a flip-flop wearing kind of girl most of the time. What this really translates into is that I flip a string of hot goo up and then it gets flopped right onto my foot. UGH! I have stepped in more gum the past 6 months than ever I think. What the heck? My boyfriend says that I need to watch where I'm walking, but cmon! Do I really have to keep my eyes focused down and out for someone else's scented mouth trash?? Shouldn't I be able to walk with my head held high? Is it honestly that far to the trash can?? No scrap paper ... anywhere??  Ok, I think I'm done.    =)

I've been thinking alot lately about my life.  Maybe it's been some of the current happenings and or the mending of fences so to speak, but it's been alot of reflecting. So many things have changed in my life in just two years. Some huge and some small, but all significant changes nonetheless. Still the same woman with high hopes and dreams just trying like so many of us to weed out what is not working for me in my life. I recently read that the first twenty years are for trials, mistakes and alot of heartache. The next twenty are for healing and then after forty you're just supposed to accept and move on. If only life was that easy. I'd never stop smiling if that were the case, but I'm working on it. I came across this quote and I wanted to share.

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgement, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer,  to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when the technology can bring this letter to you and a time when you can share this with insight or to just hit delete..."

*George Carlin 

So....   

REMEMBER -  Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Summer break. As a parent you think you can take an extra breath. I don't have to wake my children up for school, make sure they're fed and clean first thing in the mornings, taxi them off, pick them up, check on the homework, schedule my schedule around their sports schedule to work for their schedule, make sure the uniforms were clean (which btw I thought would be easier, but turned out to be much harder to stay on top of) Sounds like a little bonus right?? Well I thought so anyway. Suddenly I’m expected to be instant Executive Entertainment Director. Not to say that when I was a child I didn’t have my moments of boredom, but good grief these kids these days! I’ll speak for my three in particular.

So summer break started last Thursday with the final day of school. It was an ‘early out’ day on top of being the last day of school. First off, I never got ‘early out’ days the ENTIRE time I was in school… EVER, but that’s another topic. I have to work throughout the afternoons and last weekend I had several live broadcasts I had to work. Now I understand and even remember how exciting those first few days of summer break can be to a child (contrary to what my children may think). Sleep in, lounge around, stay up late, munch all though the day like a goat on a mission. I remember, BUT… somewhere in the generation gap I don’t understand how my children can be bored in one week! One week… seriously? They’ve gone to friend’s homes, friends have come to ours. We’ve gone swimming, to the mall, movies, BBQs, played Frisbee at the school track and out to eat more than once or twice. That’s a very full week of on goings especially for me when you add my work schedule into it.

It started Tuesday and again today. You know…. the dreaded “I’m bored” and the “what are we going to do today” Ummm I don’t know, how about clean your room or pick up your own mess?! I knew it would eventually come out of their mouths as it does every summer break. I guess I just didn’t expect it so dang soon! The norm is at the end of summer when I long for school to start as well. It baffles me by the boredom levels these days. I honestly don’t remember being a bored child. Do you? Granted those were different times with less bells and whistles to play with, but that’s just my point. How can my kids who have the privilege of so many things I never had growing up still be able to look me in the eye and tell me they’re bored. We’ve got a large backyard, a pool, they’ve got bikes & scooters and friends who live near by. TVs, DVDs, stereos, computers. They’ve got phones which they can and do spend hours texting on. We’ve got a cat and a big playful dog. A school track and field right down the road, games tucked away on the shelf, books galore to read and arts and crafts. Toys and cameras. Only when I tell them I’ll find something for them to do is when they become more creative. Is it just me or have kids lost a sense of imagination or did their thought process just shut off with the last day of school.  

Summer Break they call it? For who is the question?!

Mother's Day seems to mean more and more to me each year. With our day just around the corner I thought I'd take a moment to not only praise my own mother, but to praise all you moms out there young and old(er) alike!

Being a mother is not easy. I am a single mother of three beautiful young beings who fill my days and nights with a variety of emotions depending on what's happening in their life at the moment and mine.

I was one of those women who loved being pregnant. Morning sickness and mood swings aside, I glowed with happiness and anticipation, for I was a mother. The life I felt inside of me made me believe in miracles for the first time. And while I adopted my second child, it wasn't a matter of HOW she was delivered to me but rather the fact that she simply WAS delivered. A miracle just the same. Yes... I'm a believer! My children are my reason and purpose and I wouldn't be who I am without them. I might be rich and living in Italy, but I wouldn't be me.

Being a mother is the most glorious and draining task I will ever accomplish. As mothers, everything changes instantly. Our priorities change. We lose time with our friends, our work, our signifigant others and ourselves. Gone are the days of 'before baby' life. This is it and we're in it for life! It takes extaordinary women to be a mom. The confidence and commitment it takes to raise children is enormous and deserves a gold metal in itself. Maternal by instinct maybe, but it doesn't mean we don't have to learn everything we do. We will absorb our advice, but it's through trial and error and a whole lot of patience is what usually works for most of us. New mother's are scared to death. Why do you think we turn to experienced mothers for help? We can instinctively pave a road, but it doesn't mean our child will walk on it.

We watch and support our children as they grow and discover all their powers and abilities. They pick up speed as the changing years go by and head straight for complete independence. This may be the ulitmate goal but it doesn't make it any easier. Letting go is just as hard. No easy way around it. We go from having precious little beings depending upon us to the bitter-sweet delight of independence. From hugs and kisses to .... "You can drop me off here... don't pull in front."  EEK!  Or from going places with them to ... "No thanks, but can you drop me off at the mall?"  SIGH  When we finally have more time to share is usually when they don't. School, friends, activities, computers, texting. Go figure. They contribute to our lives like no other and hopefully we do the same.

We're not just the cooks, taxicab drivers, maid service, hair stylists, nurses, psychologists, authority figures, financial providers, Dear Abby's, Dr. Suess and Dr. Ruth's.... we are SO much more! We are the experts. We are the creative thinkers who expect to always expect the unexpected. The visionaries and dream pushers. We share our treasures and heartache with our children, we share our experiences. We discipline with guidence. We are the first to come to our childs rescue and nothing will stop us. Mama Bear we are indeed! We are the shoulder to cry on and the rock to stand on. We are stronger than we will ever know or admit. We will pry for the sake of good , but we are listeners. We will forever give unconditional love even if we don't like the behavior... for it's who we are.
Although we are all different in how we were raised and have our own parenting skills, we have a sisterhood. A common bond that will never go away. We are mothers.

So my shout out to all you beautiful moms out there... HOOT! HOOT! HOOT! You go girl! Pat yourself on the back, squish you kids if you can, but treat yourself today... you deserve it!

We all know there are obvious differences between we women and you men. I grew up with three older brothers and my young son is a constant reminder of the BIG differences between the genders on little things. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but here is what I have come to find.

PINK - We can aimlessly wander the mall with nothing specific to buy for hours. Set in "just in case" mode. When someone asks if they can help us find something and we say 'no'.. we mean it. If we DO find something, we leave with a gleeful satisfaction and even more so if it's on sale. Bonus!

BLUE - On a mission... get in, get out.

PINK - Shoes... God bless shoes! High heels, low heels, sandals, flip flops, high flips, flat flips, flats in general, high boots,  low boots, ankle boots, slingbacks, clogs, slip ons, tie ups, zip ups, mary janes, pumps, open toed pumps. those red heels I've never worn I have in my closet, but swear I will one day.

BLUE - Work shoes and not work shoes.

PINK - We can lounge poolside or beachside for no other reason then to enjoy the day. You know.. sun, breeze, relaxation, tastey beverage?

BLUE - Only if there's "PINK" lounging to enjoy the day. I think the reasoning is completely different.

PINK - We can talk to our friends on the phone for an hour.... everyday! No we don't run out of things to talk about and I know I just saw her this morning. Not the point. Blah blah blah

BLUE - "What up?? See you Friday?? Cool."   ..  Done

PINK - We like to get dressed up to go to some casual place we've been 100 times in our torn jeans and tees.  You know.. The movies, happy hour, breakfast, lunch or dinner.  For me, I really don't get much of a chance to dress up. I'm casual and comfortable most of the time. But when that ONE moment hits me that I need to dress up... I do. Why? I am woman.. hear me roar!  Sorry "BLUE"... I'll just be a few more minutes.

BLUE - "Change?? I'm not out to impress anyone. Are you?? Let's go!"

PINK - We can sit with a friend, or two or three, a box of Lil' Debbies, a box of tissue and watch one movie after another on the Lifetime Channel during a free afternoon and cry for hours... and be ok with it! The whole chick flick thing does a body good every so often, especially for we sensitive souls. Haven't you ever just felt the need for a good cry??

BLUE - Now I've known guys to watch a chick flick but usually because his "PINK" has talked him into it. Not to say that it wouldn't happen, but it's just hard for me to picture too many "BLUE" calling up Mike and Joe and asking them if they want to come over and make a night of watching the Notebook. (Great movie btw) If they did... they'll never tell!

PINK - "That's NOT funny!" 

BLUE - "That's flippin' hillarious!"  ..  I find that with some of the sense of humor issues they are not age restricting. If my father is laughing, so are my brothers and my 6 yr. old son. It's usually something totally  inappropriate and disgusting.

Well there's just a handful of those BIG little differences that I've come to not only notice, but live with. If you've got some others please feel free to leave a comment. I know there are soooo many more! And BLUE... this means you too. Just be nice. =)