When a woman has a bad day, almost all of the time she calls her mother, her sister or 1 of her dearest female friends. Sometimes it is a long conversation on the phone, sometimes it is a long conversation on the way to work, or sometimes it is a long conversation at the nearest Tim Horton’s.
We are a network. A combination of women with the same goals, the same home situations and the same little “issues’. There are just some things we cannot discuss with our husbands. They just don’t get it. They don’t understand the pressures, issues and sometimes, the stupidities that go on in our heads.
When our children are sick we call for advice. When we argue with our husbands we call to vent, and when we are worried about something we call for support. We are always given the best advice, at the time, from our women. They know, because they can sympathise and emphasize with us. We know we can go on and on, and not be interrupted with a judged statement. We know when to listen and we know what to answer.
We love to share our proud stories with each other, and we know when to share our deepest secrets with each other. We call for recipes and we call for tips. We just call to catch up. When we are having a bad day, sometimes all it takes is a quick call from one of our female friends to make us laugh or giggle. We call when our kids had a bad day at school, or when we were up all night with them, just to discuss the situation.
A woman knows when to lay off, a woman knows when to lay in and a woman knows when to intervene. We are part of the sisterhood of life. We stick up for each other and we need each other. We know when enough is enough and we know when it’s just not enough.
Men sometimes laugh. They think we are nuts and that we just don’t “get” it. When in fact, we all know darn well, it is them that do not “get” it. We all know men are all the same. We also know, men really don’t understand us. We are ok with that too. We actually enjoy laughing about it. Our husbands just can’t figure out what is so funny on the other end of the phone, or why we feel the need to hide in the bathroom to talk..lol. (You can bet they are trying to listen through the door, and we know it..lol)
A woman needs another woman. We need the support, we need the help, and we need the laugh. There is no man that can ever replace the relationship of a “sister”. There is no man that can ever truly understand what it is like to be us.
We look forward to get togethers, not because we are bored, but because we really need them. Whether we talk about the chick at the gym, or the last episode of The Bachelor, we have fun doing it. We can go from talking about the pair of shoes we saw at Brown’s to the horrible accident we saw on the news. We can cry and laugh at the same story. We can bad mouth our kids and husbands (with love..lol) and not feel bad about it. We can ask for an opinion and really get the answer we needed.
We are women. We know women. We need women. There are many different relationships we need in our lifetime. The love of a parent; the love of a husband; and the love of our children. All these relationships cannot replace the other, that we know for sure. We also know that when times get rough, when times get tough, or when times get sticky and we need to talk, we know we can pick up the phone, make a call and in 5 minutes we can be on our way to release our frustrations with the women in our lives. It is the power of women, the power of friendship and the things we teach our own daughters; it is Girl power...even if we can just get it for 1 hour!
That’s my peace today!
Salmon with shredded cabbage
1 fillet of salmon
chopped parsley and basil
1 clove garlic crushed
1 whole green cabbage
1/2 red onion sliced
1 red pepper sliced
salt and pepper
olive oil
In a baking dish place salmon in the middle. Spread basil, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper and drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil. In a bowl, mix cabbage, onions and pepper. Drizzle 3 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Arrange around the salmon. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sometimes it sucks..in a good way
My kids are getting older. This does not always mean it gets easier. I mean, I know the older 2 don’t need me to dress them or put their seatbelts on, but they still need me. My twins are almost 21 months and they are definitely pushing their terrible 2’s...times 2! These days, I have been feeling like I need the Energizer bunny to knock on my front door and take over.
I know we all have these days. The days we want to just stay in bed, and the days we just want them to go to bed..at 5pm..lol. It is a part of the parenthood package. The part of the unexpectable days of “how did I get myself into this mess anyway??” package. I have been going through this lately, and let me tell you, it is getting a little hard ignoring the wine cabinet..lol..I sometimes wonder if it’s normal to want to drink at 9am? Lol..of course I refrain but maybe, just maybe, it will help somewhat..lol. With all the waking up in the middle of the night and the constant reminders to the older ones, I sometimes forget my name and their names. Now I know why my mother would always call me 1 of my sisters..lol..she just forget my name at the time.
Every one person can think that what they are going through at a time is their own cross to bear, and I know it is not as bad as it we make it seem, but it is still hard to us. Yesterday I went to the gym (it is a GREAT stress reliever) and 1 of the women came in with her 2 kids that she just picked up from school. The 2 kids were arguing and bugging each other, their mother was getting upset, asking them to stay quiet. These kids were not that “small”...11 and 9 to be exact. That is a line I always find funny, “Oh it must not be so bad because you have 2 “older” kids”..lol..ya sure, if anyone knows...the older ones most always cause more drama and work, than the other 2. So anyway as this mother was getting changed into her workout clothes she uttered..”Ahhh the days when I was single”..lol. I then sat there and gave some advice to the young receptionist, “Enjoy every home cooked meal that your mother makes for you.” She just laughed.
When we live at home with our parents we do not realize how “good” we really have it. Meals cooked, clothes washed and everything cleaned up. It is only until we do it for our own children that we realize it. Having a family is something I always knew I wanted. The fairytale of the wedding, the pregnancy and the new born babies. It is as wonderful as I thought it would be. My kids are my life. They are the individuals that help keep me focused and help me stay on the right track of life.
There are times when I do feel like throwing in the towel. There are days that I want to call my own mother and ask her to come and take over because I need a break. My kids are a full time job, but it is an important one. I am raising babies into adults. I want to do the best job I can. These are the little people that I brought into this world. Nothing good comes easy, and I am sure it will all be worth it. On the days that are rough, I need to stay focused. I need to remember why I chose this life in the first place. I need to remind myself how lucky I am to be a mother to 4 beautiful, healthy, vibrant kids.(see look... I am trying to convince myself..lol)
One day it will seem easier. It will be a little less hectic and little quieter. My 2 terrible 2’s is a little more than I can handle on most days, but that too will pass. When my kids are all grown and they become adults the job will “look” like it is almost done. Everything looks easy when it’s all finished, that is what makes the process even more important. We have good days; good nights and we have not so good days and nights. Being a mother is the hardest job in the world, and when you start you cannot look back. You must learn to keep your head above water and iron out the wrinkles. It is not always as flawless as we want it to be. It is not as peaceful as we want it to be, and sometimes, just sometimes a job of a mother can suck....in a “good way”..lol
That’s my peace today
Pork Loin Roast
2 small pork loins
garlic salt
chopped parsley
black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 white wine
1 white onion chopped
Place loins in a roasting pan pour white wine, spread garlic powder, pepper, parsley and oil over the pork. Place onions around the pork. Place in oven at 385 degress for 1 hour and half.
I know we all have these days. The days we want to just stay in bed, and the days we just want them to go to bed..at 5pm..lol. It is a part of the parenthood package. The part of the unexpectable days of “how did I get myself into this mess anyway??” package. I have been going through this lately, and let me tell you, it is getting a little hard ignoring the wine cabinet..lol..I sometimes wonder if it’s normal to want to drink at 9am? Lol..of course I refrain but maybe, just maybe, it will help somewhat..lol. With all the waking up in the middle of the night and the constant reminders to the older ones, I sometimes forget my name and their names. Now I know why my mother would always call me 1 of my sisters..lol..she just forget my name at the time.
Every one person can think that what they are going through at a time is their own cross to bear, and I know it is not as bad as it we make it seem, but it is still hard to us. Yesterday I went to the gym (it is a GREAT stress reliever) and 1 of the women came in with her 2 kids that she just picked up from school. The 2 kids were arguing and bugging each other, their mother was getting upset, asking them to stay quiet. These kids were not that “small”...11 and 9 to be exact. That is a line I always find funny, “Oh it must not be so bad because you have 2 “older” kids”..lol..ya sure, if anyone knows...the older ones most always cause more drama and work, than the other 2. So anyway as this mother was getting changed into her workout clothes she uttered..”Ahhh the days when I was single”..lol. I then sat there and gave some advice to the young receptionist, “Enjoy every home cooked meal that your mother makes for you.” She just laughed.
When we live at home with our parents we do not realize how “good” we really have it. Meals cooked, clothes washed and everything cleaned up. It is only until we do it for our own children that we realize it. Having a family is something I always knew I wanted. The fairytale of the wedding, the pregnancy and the new born babies. It is as wonderful as I thought it would be. My kids are my life. They are the individuals that help keep me focused and help me stay on the right track of life.
There are times when I do feel like throwing in the towel. There are days that I want to call my own mother and ask her to come and take over because I need a break. My kids are a full time job, but it is an important one. I am raising babies into adults. I want to do the best job I can. These are the little people that I brought into this world. Nothing good comes easy, and I am sure it will all be worth it. On the days that are rough, I need to stay focused. I need to remember why I chose this life in the first place. I need to remind myself how lucky I am to be a mother to 4 beautiful, healthy, vibrant kids.(see look... I am trying to convince myself..lol)
One day it will seem easier. It will be a little less hectic and little quieter. My 2 terrible 2’s is a little more than I can handle on most days, but that too will pass. When my kids are all grown and they become adults the job will “look” like it is almost done. Everything looks easy when it’s all finished, that is what makes the process even more important. We have good days; good nights and we have not so good days and nights. Being a mother is the hardest job in the world, and when you start you cannot look back. You must learn to keep your head above water and iron out the wrinkles. It is not always as flawless as we want it to be. It is not as peaceful as we want it to be, and sometimes, just sometimes a job of a mother can suck....in a “good way”..lol
That’s my peace today
Pork Loin Roast
2 small pork loins
garlic salt
chopped parsley
black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 white wine
1 white onion chopped
Place loins in a roasting pan pour white wine, spread garlic powder, pepper, parsley and oil over the pork. Place onions around the pork. Place in oven at 385 degress for 1 hour and half.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Dream a little dream
We all have dreams. We start from when we are small. If you are a little girl, you fantasize about princesses and wedding dresses. Boys; fantasize on superhero’s and action characters. We dream; we plan the wedding, we even design the dress. Toy stores build on these dreams. They sell dolls, action figures, play houses, Barbie wedding resorts. Whatever your dreamy child is looking for; it is available for them to buy.
We teach our children that anything is possible in life, as long as you believe and do not give up on what you want. We tell them practice makes perfect and that they can be anything or anyone they want to be. We ask them to set their minds to what they really want, and it will come true. We encourage them to do better in school, or in hockey, or in dance, because we want them to feel confident in everything they do. We let them know that they can become doctors, scientists or that they can walk on the moon. We want them to know that they can achieve anything they want, because that’s what parents do.
This past Friday we witnessed the opening of a new Olympics; 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The event started off on a sour note. 1 of the athletes lost his life during a practice run. He waited 4 years to compete in the world’s race to the best, and he died trying. There are athletes from all over the world. They are all gathered to show off their talent and their trained skill. These people have been practicing for this event their whole lives. Some are new to the event, some are veterans. There is nothing greater to see, than a person doing what they love to do. These athletes train and practice every single day to be perfect; to make it to the Olympics. Their goal; Go for Gold!
It all goes back to our childhood. We have classes in elementary school when a parent comes in and explains what they do for a living. We may think it is excited or we may think it is definitely something we do not want to do. My son wants to be an NHL player. He is convinced he will be playing in the professional league of hockey. My daughter; she dreams of being a hairdresser..lol. Yes, that is exactly what she wants to be. Who am I to tell her not to follow her dreams?
A dream is what you make it. You can wish of a new home, a new car, or to be a parent. You can practice every day for something you want badly. You can study everyday for a professional position you want. The world is an open venue. It is a place where you can have everything you set out to get. There are no boundaries and there are no limits. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little “extra”. This is what we teach our growing children. This is what the teachers teach our growing children. This is what the coaches teach our growing children.
Go for what you want, and you will not be disappointed. To quote Gretzky, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This February there are hundreds of young hopefuls, going for their ultimate dream to materialize. They have fought hard, fought right, but the point is..they fought to get to the Olympics. These individuals have the honour of representing their country and what an honour that is. None of these athletes would have ever been there if they did not set a goal in their mind. If they did not work hard to get there, and if many years before they did not dream a little dream.
That’s my peace today!
Chicken Burgers
1 pound ground chicken
1/2 white onion chopped
4 tbsp chopped parsley
1 egg
1/4 cup bbq sauce
1/2 cup bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients. Flatten and shape into hamburger. Pan fry with oil or bbq for about 10 minutes each side (no longer pink).
We teach our children that anything is possible in life, as long as you believe and do not give up on what you want. We tell them practice makes perfect and that they can be anything or anyone they want to be. We ask them to set their minds to what they really want, and it will come true. We encourage them to do better in school, or in hockey, or in dance, because we want them to feel confident in everything they do. We let them know that they can become doctors, scientists or that they can walk on the moon. We want them to know that they can achieve anything they want, because that’s what parents do.
This past Friday we witnessed the opening of a new Olympics; 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The event started off on a sour note. 1 of the athletes lost his life during a practice run. He waited 4 years to compete in the world’s race to the best, and he died trying. There are athletes from all over the world. They are all gathered to show off their talent and their trained skill. These people have been practicing for this event their whole lives. Some are new to the event, some are veterans. There is nothing greater to see, than a person doing what they love to do. These athletes train and practice every single day to be perfect; to make it to the Olympics. Their goal; Go for Gold!
It all goes back to our childhood. We have classes in elementary school when a parent comes in and explains what they do for a living. We may think it is excited or we may think it is definitely something we do not want to do. My son wants to be an NHL player. He is convinced he will be playing in the professional league of hockey. My daughter; she dreams of being a hairdresser..lol. Yes, that is exactly what she wants to be. Who am I to tell her not to follow her dreams?
A dream is what you make it. You can wish of a new home, a new car, or to be a parent. You can practice every day for something you want badly. You can study everyday for a professional position you want. The world is an open venue. It is a place where you can have everything you set out to get. There are no boundaries and there are no limits. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little “extra”. This is what we teach our growing children. This is what the teachers teach our growing children. This is what the coaches teach our growing children.
Go for what you want, and you will not be disappointed. To quote Gretzky, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This February there are hundreds of young hopefuls, going for their ultimate dream to materialize. They have fought hard, fought right, but the point is..they fought to get to the Olympics. These individuals have the honour of representing their country and what an honour that is. None of these athletes would have ever been there if they did not set a goal in their mind. If they did not work hard to get there, and if many years before they did not dream a little dream.
That’s my peace today!
Chicken Burgers
1 pound ground chicken
1/2 white onion chopped
4 tbsp chopped parsley
1 egg
1/4 cup bbq sauce
1/2 cup bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients. Flatten and shape into hamburger. Pan fry with oil or bbq for about 10 minutes each side (no longer pink).
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
"Ma ma...mommy...mom..MOTHER"
So my twins will be turning 2 in June and it is a really amazing time. Although they are into everything in the house, and no stone is left unturned, it is a wonderful feeling to be able to witness them grow. It will be almost 2 years ago that I brought home Michael (who was only 4 pounds 12 ounces) and Jenna (who was only 5 pounds 1 ounce) when we came home from the hospital. Over the past 21 months, I have seen them grow both physically and mentally.
“Ma ma” was pretty much the first words they uttered, actually all my kids said “ma ma” first. When they cry, or when they want something, or when they see me in the morning..it’s “ma ma”.
My older 2 quickly moved on from saying the primary “ma ma” to..mommy. It was “Mommy can you get me water, mommy can you help me put my pj’s on, mommy can you tuck me in, mommy can you clean my bum”. It is such an endearing word. It makes me feel so loved. I remember before I was a mother, I would see these little kids run to their mommy’s and hug and kiss them, and I would think that it must have been such a great feeling. Now I get to experience it firsthand. My daughter will be 6, so she is still “little”. She still lets me bathe her, she still asks me to tuck her in, and she still let’s me give her kisses when I ask for them.
I have been told from many people to enjoy these days. To enjoy the times with all my little kids at home under my roof, because once it is gone, it is gone forever. There will never be the time we have now, ever again, with our kids. My parents remind me that when we lock our doors at night, our kids are safely tucked in their beds and under our roof. I understand when they tell me, but sometimes I can hardly wait to see them all as adults. I sometimes feel anxious to raise them well, and see them grow into their own.
My 8 year old son has changed a lot this year. He will be 9 in April and he is beginning to be a little shy with me. It hit me all at once. There was no warning. I mean, some mothers that went through it did warn me, but I still was not ready for it. The other night we were sitting on the couch and he bravely asked me this, “Mommy, can I start calling you mom?” I was shocked. “What? Why the sudden change? Do you not want me as mommy anymore?” He just explained to me that mommy sounded a little too babyish and that he was growing up. I will admit, I felt so upset because he wanted to move to the next level. All those thoughts I had in the past about wanting to hurry up and raise them just passed my mind. How could I have wanted this? Why did I want to rush the process so quickly? All the days of him as an infant and a baby flashed before my eyes. I didn’t know how to answer him so I said this, “Joseph, I will always be mommy to you. You can call me what you want, but it will never change the fact that I am your mommy.” He respected the answer and just turned to continue watching TV.
I remember the days of when I called my own mother, mommy. It feels like just yesterday to me. When I spoke about her it was “My mommy does this” or “My mommy said this”, and then it changed. She was no longer mommy. I couldn’t bare talk about the woman that gave birth to me and raised me as “mommy”. I was a mature 10 years old and I had to act that way. It was “My mom gave that to me” or “My mom has this.” Just like that, she was no longer mommy to the outside world.
I have to embrace the other 3 that still want to call me “ma ma” and “mommy”. I have to appreciate the wonderful sound of those innocent calls from my kids that still look at me in the ever so perfect “My mommy is beautiful and perfect” eyes of theirs. I know that one day; the words of “mommy” will graduate to the next level. The “my” will eventually fall from the word “mommy” and I will have no choice but to be ready for it. I also know, from my mother’s own experience, that even “mom” will be replaced. I know that one day, my little children will look at me (mostly when they are upset) and just call me “mother”. My own mother will laugh because I think she secretly waits for all these things to happen to me so I can appreciate everything she went through with me..lol.
In our lifetime of motherhood, the stages move too quickly, we barely have time to breathe. We barely have time to think and we barely have time to appreciate. We will miss the names our children used to call us. The innocence of “ma ma” to the endearing “mommy” and then the day will come when it is just plain old “mom”, and I know one day, my 4 little innocent children that I have been raising with all my love, will refer to me as just “MOTHER”. So let me enjoy all the “ma ma’s” and “mommy’s” I can get from now until then!
That’s my peace today!
Crispy oven baked Chicken Drumsticks
8 - 10 drumsticks
1 egg beated
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 cup bread crumbs
4 tbsp olive oil
1tsp salt
Ziplock bag
Wash the chicken, then dip in the beaten egg and parsley. Pour the breadcrumbs and salt in the Ziplock and put 1 chicken at a time in the bag, shake it to make sure it is well coated. Continue until they are all done. Place on a baking sheet, drizzle oil and cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees. Remove foil and crisp for another 15 minutes.
“Ma ma” was pretty much the first words they uttered, actually all my kids said “ma ma” first. When they cry, or when they want something, or when they see me in the morning..it’s “ma ma”.
My older 2 quickly moved on from saying the primary “ma ma” to..mommy. It was “Mommy can you get me water, mommy can you help me put my pj’s on, mommy can you tuck me in, mommy can you clean my bum”. It is such an endearing word. It makes me feel so loved. I remember before I was a mother, I would see these little kids run to their mommy’s and hug and kiss them, and I would think that it must have been such a great feeling. Now I get to experience it firsthand. My daughter will be 6, so she is still “little”. She still lets me bathe her, she still asks me to tuck her in, and she still let’s me give her kisses when I ask for them.
I have been told from many people to enjoy these days. To enjoy the times with all my little kids at home under my roof, because once it is gone, it is gone forever. There will never be the time we have now, ever again, with our kids. My parents remind me that when we lock our doors at night, our kids are safely tucked in their beds and under our roof. I understand when they tell me, but sometimes I can hardly wait to see them all as adults. I sometimes feel anxious to raise them well, and see them grow into their own.
My 8 year old son has changed a lot this year. He will be 9 in April and he is beginning to be a little shy with me. It hit me all at once. There was no warning. I mean, some mothers that went through it did warn me, but I still was not ready for it. The other night we were sitting on the couch and he bravely asked me this, “Mommy, can I start calling you mom?” I was shocked. “What? Why the sudden change? Do you not want me as mommy anymore?” He just explained to me that mommy sounded a little too babyish and that he was growing up. I will admit, I felt so upset because he wanted to move to the next level. All those thoughts I had in the past about wanting to hurry up and raise them just passed my mind. How could I have wanted this? Why did I want to rush the process so quickly? All the days of him as an infant and a baby flashed before my eyes. I didn’t know how to answer him so I said this, “Joseph, I will always be mommy to you. You can call me what you want, but it will never change the fact that I am your mommy.” He respected the answer and just turned to continue watching TV.
I remember the days of when I called my own mother, mommy. It feels like just yesterday to me. When I spoke about her it was “My mommy does this” or “My mommy said this”, and then it changed. She was no longer mommy. I couldn’t bare talk about the woman that gave birth to me and raised me as “mommy”. I was a mature 10 years old and I had to act that way. It was “My mom gave that to me” or “My mom has this.” Just like that, she was no longer mommy to the outside world.
I have to embrace the other 3 that still want to call me “ma ma” and “mommy”. I have to appreciate the wonderful sound of those innocent calls from my kids that still look at me in the ever so perfect “My mommy is beautiful and perfect” eyes of theirs. I know that one day; the words of “mommy” will graduate to the next level. The “my” will eventually fall from the word “mommy” and I will have no choice but to be ready for it. I also know, from my mother’s own experience, that even “mom” will be replaced. I know that one day, my little children will look at me (mostly when they are upset) and just call me “mother”. My own mother will laugh because I think she secretly waits for all these things to happen to me so I can appreciate everything she went through with me..lol.
In our lifetime of motherhood, the stages move too quickly, we barely have time to breathe. We barely have time to think and we barely have time to appreciate. We will miss the names our children used to call us. The innocence of “ma ma” to the endearing “mommy” and then the day will come when it is just plain old “mom”, and I know one day, my 4 little innocent children that I have been raising with all my love, will refer to me as just “MOTHER”. So let me enjoy all the “ma ma’s” and “mommy’s” I can get from now until then!
That’s my peace today!
Crispy oven baked Chicken Drumsticks
8 - 10 drumsticks
1 egg beated
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 cup bread crumbs
4 tbsp olive oil
1tsp salt
Ziplock bag
Wash the chicken, then dip in the beaten egg and parsley. Pour the breadcrumbs and salt in the Ziplock and put 1 chicken at a time in the bag, shake it to make sure it is well coated. Continue until they are all done. Place on a baking sheet, drizzle oil and cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees. Remove foil and crisp for another 15 minutes.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The International language of Mommy
When you give birth, you automatically become a “new” and “different” kind of person. People look at you differently, they treat you differently and they have a new found respect for you. You become “woman with child”; it’s like you mature or drastically change into a domestic Goddess. We all know that we inherit the so called “mother’s instinct”. The instinct of what to do to make your child stop crying, or help their tummy ache, and the instinct to know when they need you to hold them. It is a connection that remains for life.
Babies have that same connection to their mothers. From very early on, before they can even see, they know when their mothers are entering or leaving a room. They know when their mothers are holding them, and they know the voices of their mothers. It is one of the first words a child learns. Ma Ma (although some learn Da Da first, it only means that they cannot pronounce the “m” sound yet..lol’) A mother and child bond, is a bond that no one person can ever break or replace. It is an unconditional love. A love of non-judgement, and complete and utter acceptance and support.
Mothers understand each other. We know what it feels like to utterly adore, worship and love our children. When you have a baby, you become part of the realm and world of the “I know exactly how you feel and what you are going through” world. We just get it. We know what a woman will feel, and most of all, expect, from motherhood. Before having children, there is very little to understand about children and their behaviour. We do not comprehend that sometimes children have to go pee after their snow suit is already zipped up. We don’t understand that when you leave the house with a child, you must pack half your kitchen. We don’t get the whole idea of licking our own fingers to wipe off the chocolate from our kids cheeks.lol. It is all just a big mystery that we really do not care to even learn about.
Not only do we change our opinions about babies, child rearing, and discipline after we become mothers, we also change our personalities. We somehow feel like we become mothers to all children. When we see a child in need, a child falling from the slide, or eating the sand in the sandbox, we feel the need to intervene. We hurry to the scene and take control, to make sure we get the sand out, or pick up that child that just fell 3 feet from the air. We know we would want another mother to do the same to our child. We don’t get grossed out at the sight of green boogers, or freshly scraped skin. We do not flinch at the sight of vomit, or diarea. Dirty diapers are just another thing we have to change, and we do it without thinking.
Sometimes when we are not even with our own children, we are still in mommy mode. We turn our heads when we hear another child screaming “mommy.” We grab a tissue when we see another child’s nose running. We pull out that extra lollipop we have stored in our purse “just in case of an emergency”, for the child that’s crying. We hurt when other children hurt, and we laugh when other children laugh. We are mothers, and we are always mothers. There is no time off, or no punching in or out our time cards. It is a full time, 24 hour 7 day a week job. We have the instinct, the intuition and the “bug” of motherhood. It is the language of love, the language of “I get it, your child is having a moment”, and the language of, “OMG, that child is falling from the swing”. It is an unspoken understanding of an unbreakable bond, an unconditional connection, and a lifelong commitment; it is the understandable, international language of Mommy.
That’s my peace today!
Beef broth
1 piece of Veal or Beef shank
1 sweet potatoe
2 carrots peeled
1 onion
3 springs parsley
1/2 butternut squash peeled
1 celery stalk
salt to taste
Place beef or veal in large pot of water, bring to boil and remove any fat that gathers at top of pot. Add all veggies (leave whole) and boil on high for 15 min. Lower to med-high and boil for another hour. This broth is perfect to serve with small pasta.
Babies have that same connection to their mothers. From very early on, before they can even see, they know when their mothers are entering or leaving a room. They know when their mothers are holding them, and they know the voices of their mothers. It is one of the first words a child learns. Ma Ma (although some learn Da Da first, it only means that they cannot pronounce the “m” sound yet..lol’) A mother and child bond, is a bond that no one person can ever break or replace. It is an unconditional love. A love of non-judgement, and complete and utter acceptance and support.
Mothers understand each other. We know what it feels like to utterly adore, worship and love our children. When you have a baby, you become part of the realm and world of the “I know exactly how you feel and what you are going through” world. We just get it. We know what a woman will feel, and most of all, expect, from motherhood. Before having children, there is very little to understand about children and their behaviour. We do not comprehend that sometimes children have to go pee after their snow suit is already zipped up. We don’t understand that when you leave the house with a child, you must pack half your kitchen. We don’t get the whole idea of licking our own fingers to wipe off the chocolate from our kids cheeks.lol. It is all just a big mystery that we really do not care to even learn about.
Not only do we change our opinions about babies, child rearing, and discipline after we become mothers, we also change our personalities. We somehow feel like we become mothers to all children. When we see a child in need, a child falling from the slide, or eating the sand in the sandbox, we feel the need to intervene. We hurry to the scene and take control, to make sure we get the sand out, or pick up that child that just fell 3 feet from the air. We know we would want another mother to do the same to our child. We don’t get grossed out at the sight of green boogers, or freshly scraped skin. We do not flinch at the sight of vomit, or diarea. Dirty diapers are just another thing we have to change, and we do it without thinking.
Sometimes when we are not even with our own children, we are still in mommy mode. We turn our heads when we hear another child screaming “mommy.” We grab a tissue when we see another child’s nose running. We pull out that extra lollipop we have stored in our purse “just in case of an emergency”, for the child that’s crying. We hurt when other children hurt, and we laugh when other children laugh. We are mothers, and we are always mothers. There is no time off, or no punching in or out our time cards. It is a full time, 24 hour 7 day a week job. We have the instinct, the intuition and the “bug” of motherhood. It is the language of love, the language of “I get it, your child is having a moment”, and the language of, “OMG, that child is falling from the swing”. It is an unspoken understanding of an unbreakable bond, an unconditional connection, and a lifelong commitment; it is the understandable, international language of Mommy.
That’s my peace today!
Beef broth
1 piece of Veal or Beef shank
1 sweet potatoe
2 carrots peeled
1 onion
3 springs parsley
1/2 butternut squash peeled
1 celery stalk
salt to taste
Place beef or veal in large pot of water, bring to boil and remove any fat that gathers at top of pot. Add all veggies (leave whole) and boil on high for 15 min. Lower to med-high and boil for another hour. This broth is perfect to serve with small pasta.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Blow the dust off
Last night, it was the end of the weekend. My husband and I were sitting in the family room and all 4 of our kids were around us, playing and running around. Sometimes, I still look at them and I cannot believe that they are mine. As I was sitting there staring at my offspring’s, I turned over and asked my husband, “Did you ever think so many years ago when you talked to me for the first time, that one day we would have 4 kids together?” He just looked at me and said very openly, “No.” Lol..ok so then I said “Thanks, I was pretty much planning our future after the second we met and you were pretty much trying to get my number so we could just hook up for some fun..lol” I guess that is the difference between men and women; we are all about love, and they are all about...well...you know..lol.
I rounded up the troops, put on their pj’s and plopped them in bed. It was Sunday night and I needed to rest before the week began. As I was flipping the channels, I stopped on SLICE (I love that Network) and there was the ever so popular “Till Debt do us part” show on. I like to watch it because it just amazes me to see how these people get themselves into these financial messes. As I was watching this marathon of money problem people, there was a newly married couple that were already having problems due to their financial funds. This couple had no children because they were only married 18 months. In the background in their home, there was a large 24x24 wedding picture hung on top of their mantel. I couldn’t help but laugh because I was remembering the days of my first year of marriage. I remembered caring so much how large our perfect wedding picture was going to be, and exactly where we were going to hang it. I was so proud the day I picked it up. We picked the most perfect frame for it, and we proudly hung it up for all to see. It was not too long after our son was born, that the picture we wanted so badly the year before, was moved to a more “private” part of the house.
I did not know then, the day we got married, that eventually that picture was going to be used to hide a hole in the wall. I did not know then, that our wedding picture would have been just as special if it was only an 8x10. As soon as our children are born, we automatically think that the “us” that existed before they arrived, should be forgotten and placed away in a closet. I don’t think we intentionally do it; it just happens that way. We think that pictures of our kids around the house, is much more interesting than the people we were, before they were born. We forget to look at our wedding video because it is long gone, and part of the past. Instead, we pause, rewind and play all the wonderful first steps of our babies, and all their special moments.
Sometimes we forget that before our children were born, we were a couple. A “real” couple. A couple that went to the movies, or went to dinner. We were a couple that fell in love enough to spend the rest of our lives together and make babies together. It is very hard to remember that while going through the motions of parenthood. We become a tag team of chaos. High fiving the other to take over a sticky situation, that needs refreshing.
Last night when I was looking at my beautiful children, I realized that Franco and I made those little critters. We are the 2 people that are responsible for their perfect little toes, their perfect little arms and legs, and their perfect little faces. Maybe we don’t have our 24x24 wedding photo hanging up for all to see, and maybe we don’t watch our wedding video on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. But what we do know is that, we are the ones that brought 4 children into this world, and we are the ones that got married many years ago, because we hoped for a family with lots of kids. We met, fell in love, got married and we were blessed to experience parenthood..together. Last night, I felt like I wanted to refresh my memory and look at some old pictures. Some pics of when we were dating, some pics of our lives before we became parents. It didn’t take much to do. It didn’t take a lot of time. All it took was for me to rummage through some photo boxes, open up some albums, and just gently wipe the dust off.
That’s my peace today!
Ricotta Quiche
1 tub ricotta
1 pizza dough
2 eggs
1/4 grated parmesan
4 springs chopped parsley
6 small chopped bocconcini
Spread dough onto pan. In a bowl mix all ingredients until combined. Spread on dough. Place in middle rack of oven at 425 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes. (Until golden)
I rounded up the troops, put on their pj’s and plopped them in bed. It was Sunday night and I needed to rest before the week began. As I was flipping the channels, I stopped on SLICE (I love that Network) and there was the ever so popular “Till Debt do us part” show on. I like to watch it because it just amazes me to see how these people get themselves into these financial messes. As I was watching this marathon of money problem people, there was a newly married couple that were already having problems due to their financial funds. This couple had no children because they were only married 18 months. In the background in their home, there was a large 24x24 wedding picture hung on top of their mantel. I couldn’t help but laugh because I was remembering the days of my first year of marriage. I remembered caring so much how large our perfect wedding picture was going to be, and exactly where we were going to hang it. I was so proud the day I picked it up. We picked the most perfect frame for it, and we proudly hung it up for all to see. It was not too long after our son was born, that the picture we wanted so badly the year before, was moved to a more “private” part of the house.
I did not know then, the day we got married, that eventually that picture was going to be used to hide a hole in the wall. I did not know then, that our wedding picture would have been just as special if it was only an 8x10. As soon as our children are born, we automatically think that the “us” that existed before they arrived, should be forgotten and placed away in a closet. I don’t think we intentionally do it; it just happens that way. We think that pictures of our kids around the house, is much more interesting than the people we were, before they were born. We forget to look at our wedding video because it is long gone, and part of the past. Instead, we pause, rewind and play all the wonderful first steps of our babies, and all their special moments.
Sometimes we forget that before our children were born, we were a couple. A “real” couple. A couple that went to the movies, or went to dinner. We were a couple that fell in love enough to spend the rest of our lives together and make babies together. It is very hard to remember that while going through the motions of parenthood. We become a tag team of chaos. High fiving the other to take over a sticky situation, that needs refreshing.
Last night when I was looking at my beautiful children, I realized that Franco and I made those little critters. We are the 2 people that are responsible for their perfect little toes, their perfect little arms and legs, and their perfect little faces. Maybe we don’t have our 24x24 wedding photo hanging up for all to see, and maybe we don’t watch our wedding video on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. But what we do know is that, we are the ones that brought 4 children into this world, and we are the ones that got married many years ago, because we hoped for a family with lots of kids. We met, fell in love, got married and we were blessed to experience parenthood..together. Last night, I felt like I wanted to refresh my memory and look at some old pictures. Some pics of when we were dating, some pics of our lives before we became parents. It didn’t take much to do. It didn’t take a lot of time. All it took was for me to rummage through some photo boxes, open up some albums, and just gently wipe the dust off.
That’s my peace today!
Ricotta Quiche
1 tub ricotta
1 pizza dough
2 eggs
1/4 grated parmesan
4 springs chopped parsley
6 small chopped bocconcini
Spread dough onto pan. In a bowl mix all ingredients until combined. Spread on dough. Place in middle rack of oven at 425 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes. (Until golden)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
A framed moment in my mind
The other night I was lying down in bed and my twins decided to come and jump on me. They are so adorable. They do everything as a team. They eat at the same time, they sleep at the same time, they poo at the same time, and they jump on me..at the same time. They are just wonderful, they just turned 20 months and it feels like they were just born. Although I knew I was having twins, nothing could have prepared me for my life with twins.
Every day as a parent, is a journey. There are new obstacles to pass, and new lessons to be learned, and it is all done within 12 hours. We wake every morning wondering what we will find when we put our feet on the floor. Sometimes we wake up to laughter, sometimes to tears, and sometimes we just feel like putting our head under the blankets and telling anyone that comes near us “No hablo anglais.”..lol. But we have no choice, so we get out of bed and we begin our day.
It sometimes feels like the days are long, and the nights; even longer. We feel unmotivated and frustrated, but then we look at the calendar and it all comes into perspective. The days are flying, the months are passing, and the years have come and gone. The other day I was watching a Baby Story on TLC and there was a woman who had 2 kids and then she got pregnant with twins. I was watching the show and I felt like that was me, everything she was saying hit home. She was explaining how her older 2 were the ones that were giving her a hard time at the beginning. She went on to talk about breast feeding twins, changing twins, and trying to raise twins.
I felt like it was 20 months ago, all over again. All the emotions came back to me. The stress, the chaos, the confusion, the wondering if I should have gone for a 3rd child… moments. It was a very hard year when they were born. I cried a lot, I screamed a lot, and I questioned a lot.
My older 2 were driving me nuts. They were the ones that I thought would be easy, but instead, I did not realize that they were still young and still needed my attention too. If my mind goes back to those days, guilt comes to me, and emotions run wild in my mind. I remember crying to my husband one night and saying to him, “You were right; we should have stayed at 2.” He couldn’t believe I was saying what I was saying. I knew what I meant, I knew it didn’t mean I didn’t love them; I was just overwhelmed and hormonal. He thought I meant what I really said..lol.
Since then, life has gotten a little easier, a little less hectic, and a little more comfortable. We have gotten used to being a family of 6, and we are loving it. Our mornings are crazy, are nights are crazier. There is constant noise, yelling, laughing and screaming in my house. But it is a house filled with young children; my young children. God had a plan for me and my family. He knew that times would be tough, but the pay off would be better.
As I was watching a Baby Story on TLC and remembering the early summer days of 2008, I felt proud. I felt proud that I was able to relate to this woman. I felt proud that I was given the gift to know exactly how she felt the day she gave birth to her twins. I felt blessed to know what life is like with 4 beautiful children. It brought me back to the day June 2nd, 2008 at 8:25pm when I pushed out my first twin baby Jenna, and 19 minutes later when I pushed out my second baby twin Michael. It was a moment in my life I will never forget. It is a moment in my husband’s life that he will never forget, and it is a moment in my other children’s life that they will never forget. I am humble to have been able to experience such a miraculous event. An experience that no words can describe; an experience that will forever be a framed moment in my mind.
That’s my peace today!
Spagetti in Carbonara
10 strips bacon
1 chive onion
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pack spagetti
3 eggs
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
2 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish
Boil spagetti as directed. Drain. Meanwhile in a pan cook bacon until crispy, add chopped onion and sautee put aside. Add the oil in the pan, heat and add spagetti, toss, add bacon and onions, toss and throw in the beated eggs. With a fork or tongs toss until egg is cooked (you may want to put a lid for the heat to stay). Add the parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley.
Every day as a parent, is a journey. There are new obstacles to pass, and new lessons to be learned, and it is all done within 12 hours. We wake every morning wondering what we will find when we put our feet on the floor. Sometimes we wake up to laughter, sometimes to tears, and sometimes we just feel like putting our head under the blankets and telling anyone that comes near us “No hablo anglais.”..lol. But we have no choice, so we get out of bed and we begin our day.
It sometimes feels like the days are long, and the nights; even longer. We feel unmotivated and frustrated, but then we look at the calendar and it all comes into perspective. The days are flying, the months are passing, and the years have come and gone. The other day I was watching a Baby Story on TLC and there was a woman who had 2 kids and then she got pregnant with twins. I was watching the show and I felt like that was me, everything she was saying hit home. She was explaining how her older 2 were the ones that were giving her a hard time at the beginning. She went on to talk about breast feeding twins, changing twins, and trying to raise twins.
I felt like it was 20 months ago, all over again. All the emotions came back to me. The stress, the chaos, the confusion, the wondering if I should have gone for a 3rd child… moments. It was a very hard year when they were born. I cried a lot, I screamed a lot, and I questioned a lot.
My older 2 were driving me nuts. They were the ones that I thought would be easy, but instead, I did not realize that they were still young and still needed my attention too. If my mind goes back to those days, guilt comes to me, and emotions run wild in my mind. I remember crying to my husband one night and saying to him, “You were right; we should have stayed at 2.” He couldn’t believe I was saying what I was saying. I knew what I meant, I knew it didn’t mean I didn’t love them; I was just overwhelmed and hormonal. He thought I meant what I really said..lol.
Since then, life has gotten a little easier, a little less hectic, and a little more comfortable. We have gotten used to being a family of 6, and we are loving it. Our mornings are crazy, are nights are crazier. There is constant noise, yelling, laughing and screaming in my house. But it is a house filled with young children; my young children. God had a plan for me and my family. He knew that times would be tough, but the pay off would be better.
As I was watching a Baby Story on TLC and remembering the early summer days of 2008, I felt proud. I felt proud that I was able to relate to this woman. I felt proud that I was given the gift to know exactly how she felt the day she gave birth to her twins. I felt blessed to know what life is like with 4 beautiful children. It brought me back to the day June 2nd, 2008 at 8:25pm when I pushed out my first twin baby Jenna, and 19 minutes later when I pushed out my second baby twin Michael. It was a moment in my life I will never forget. It is a moment in my husband’s life that he will never forget, and it is a moment in my other children’s life that they will never forget. I am humble to have been able to experience such a miraculous event. An experience that no words can describe; an experience that will forever be a framed moment in my mind.
That’s my peace today!
Spagetti in Carbonara
10 strips bacon
1 chive onion
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pack spagetti
3 eggs
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
2 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish
Boil spagetti as directed. Drain. Meanwhile in a pan cook bacon until crispy, add chopped onion and sautee put aside. Add the oil in the pan, heat and add spagetti, toss, add bacon and onions, toss and throw in the beated eggs. With a fork or tongs toss until egg is cooked (you may want to put a lid for the heat to stay). Add the parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley.
Monday, February 1, 2010
A team is made up of players, but not all players make up a team
Yes, another piece about my son’s victory in net. I had to endure another stressful hockey game; 3- 15 minute periods. It was another nail biting, heart palpitating game. My son’s team is now going in the playoffs in 1st place. They won 2-0. My son got another shutout! After the game I overheard a little boy telling his uncle “that goalie was just too good.” Lol, I have to admit, that is one of my prouder moments in my life.
I don’t think they won only because of my son; they won because his team worked together. In life, everything important that has to be done, or with any major decision that has to be made, is done with a group of people. When a woman has a baby, it is not only her that pushes the baby out, there is a team of people around her; helping, assisting, and cheering her on.
Saturday night my husband and I attended a “Pink affair” fundraiser in support of Breast Cancer research. The 2 people that planned this whole event are 2 young 25 year old girls. Last year they decided to start this big event to raise money for the weekend to end Breast cancer walk.
It was a success, so they decided to make it an annual event.
Although these 2 girls poured all their heart and soul in their planning, they needed other people to help with the fundraising. They could not do it alone. All the guests, the sponsors, the supporters; were all a part of the grand process. When a Politian wins an election; it is not he/she that wins it alone, it is all the people that helped them get there. The voters, the writers, the planners; they are all part of the win.
A team is not made of 1 star player. It is made of a bunch of people that know how to work together. Each one has a role to play, and when they do it well; the payoff is sweet. When there is 1 person who truly believes that the victory was all theirs, or that they were not able to do it without them; that is not someone who is really a part of the team.
We teach our children all the time. A family is a team. A mother and father; team members. There is coaching involved, teaching, preaching, listening and sometimes disagreements when members come together. I tell my kids all the time, they need to work together every day at home; at school. As they get older they will realize that when they work together, they will achieve their goals without effort.
This weekend, I witnessed examples of superior team work. When people work together, good things happen. It is the positive flow of synergy and energy. There is not 1 successful person that did not have a team behind him/her. So when that little boy made the comment that his team lost because the goalie was just too good, I wanted to say to him, “It was not only the goalie that made the team unstoppable, it was the whole group of little boys that skated their hearts out the whole game.” This boy will learn on his own, that playing together, working together is what leads a team to victory. He will also learn one day, that a team is made up of players, but players don’t always make up a team.
That’s my peace today!
Chick pea and Ditalli pasta with tomatoes
1 can chick peas
1 pack ditalli pasta
1 can plum tomatoes
1 clove chopped garlic
1/2 white onion chopped
1/4 c olive oil
3 large springs chopped fresh basil
In a pan, add oil, garlic, onions, basil, and chick peas. Cook for about 5 minutes, add tomatoes for another 20 minutes and salt. Meanwhile boil ditalli as directed, drain and add to chick pea mix, toss and serve.
I don’t think they won only because of my son; they won because his team worked together. In life, everything important that has to be done, or with any major decision that has to be made, is done with a group of people. When a woman has a baby, it is not only her that pushes the baby out, there is a team of people around her; helping, assisting, and cheering her on.
Saturday night my husband and I attended a “Pink affair” fundraiser in support of Breast Cancer research. The 2 people that planned this whole event are 2 young 25 year old girls. Last year they decided to start this big event to raise money for the weekend to end Breast cancer walk.
It was a success, so they decided to make it an annual event.
Although these 2 girls poured all their heart and soul in their planning, they needed other people to help with the fundraising. They could not do it alone. All the guests, the sponsors, the supporters; were all a part of the grand process. When a Politian wins an election; it is not he/she that wins it alone, it is all the people that helped them get there. The voters, the writers, the planners; they are all part of the win.
A team is not made of 1 star player. It is made of a bunch of people that know how to work together. Each one has a role to play, and when they do it well; the payoff is sweet. When there is 1 person who truly believes that the victory was all theirs, or that they were not able to do it without them; that is not someone who is really a part of the team.
We teach our children all the time. A family is a team. A mother and father; team members. There is coaching involved, teaching, preaching, listening and sometimes disagreements when members come together. I tell my kids all the time, they need to work together every day at home; at school. As they get older they will realize that when they work together, they will achieve their goals without effort.
This weekend, I witnessed examples of superior team work. When people work together, good things happen. It is the positive flow of synergy and energy. There is not 1 successful person that did not have a team behind him/her. So when that little boy made the comment that his team lost because the goalie was just too good, I wanted to say to him, “It was not only the goalie that made the team unstoppable, it was the whole group of little boys that skated their hearts out the whole game.” This boy will learn on his own, that playing together, working together is what leads a team to victory. He will also learn one day, that a team is made up of players, but players don’t always make up a team.
That’s my peace today!
Chick pea and Ditalli pasta with tomatoes
1 can chick peas
1 pack ditalli pasta
1 can plum tomatoes
1 clove chopped garlic
1/2 white onion chopped
1/4 c olive oil
3 large springs chopped fresh basil
In a pan, add oil, garlic, onions, basil, and chick peas. Cook for about 5 minutes, add tomatoes for another 20 minutes and salt. Meanwhile boil ditalli as directed, drain and add to chick pea mix, toss and serve.
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