I can do this!!!!

I have been blessed with the ability to juggle the things in life that matter to me. Yes, it is possible to be a working mother, soccer mom, PTA mom, domestic housewife (yes, I clean my own house) and still have a social life. One of the things I struggle with most, is guilt. I think that having a job outside the home adds another layer to the guilt that every mom feels.
 I have really struggled with is finding a true mentor in my current work place - someone who I look at and think that I want to be exactly like her. In the field of nursing, that can be quite challenging but, at least I do know the type of woman that I want to be...she's not perfect, but she works hard. She is a good nurse, wife and mother. She honors the Lord in all she does and raises her kids with dignity and love. All of this comes with sacrifice.
I find it quite comical that people often approach me and ask me ‘how I do it all?’ I find it funny because a lot of people see the ‘calm, cool, collected’ me that has it all together when it comes to balancing motherhood and being a somewhat workaholic. How can people think that I do this so easily? Only my husband sees some of the frantic episodes that occur more frequently than you think. So I'm going to burst your bubble...I can’t always ‘do it all’, but instead I have found what works for me. Fulfilling my dreams to become a nurse came with many sacrifices. Some sacrifices were not a big deal and others were painful.
 How did I become OK with that you might ask? A lot of prayer! I am the first to admit that I can be one of the world's worst about taking things into my own hands instead of waiting for God's direction. I recently had one of these times...I leaned heavily on my own abilities and ended up frustrated. I did finally come to a point where I came on my knees to God, asking for his path for my life. I'll admit that the answer I got wasn't exactly what I expected, but God granted me with a true peace about it.
So when you see me working double shifts, getting up for boot camp at 0500am, volunteering at the kids school and rushing home to have dinner with my family…know that I am grateful for every minute of it.

How To Be Cool In A Minivan

It wasn’t until I traded in my minivan for the big SUV that I kept hearing people say….they will never, ever drive a minivan. Secretly, it was the single best decision we’ve made since the birth of our three children. Well crap, after 10 minivan driving years, I felt the same way and upgraded to a large SUV but, sad to say that I miss it.
Before the big SUV: there I was, lined up in the school parking lot, alarms going off, automatic doors opening … anything I could do to locate my silver dodge caravan in a line of 20 others just like it. But I loved it. The convenience, the leg room and all the ‘happy’ kid features.

When I had my van, it’s true…I felt like such a “MOM” but I was proud of that. My kiddos needed the room for all their sports equipment, folding chairs, and many different toys. I can’t even tell you how much I miss the trunk that keeps groceries from rolling all over the back seat. It could be the next best thing to sleeping in late or getting all the laundry done.

I realized that it is NOT the minivan itself rather than some of us mommy-van drivers that have given it such a bad name.
So, in honor of my minivan and other minivan mommys out there, I have come up with some things, that can help the ‘coolness’ of the minivan come back.
1. Get a sunroof, if you can. They automatically make the van more appealing….at least for the driver. 2. A van, car, SUV…whatever….please stop putting stickers on the car, including “My kid is an honor roll student,” the acronym stickers with black letters on the white oval to indicate your favorite beach or school, or the sport stickers—including, but not limited to the ones that look like a ball has broken your window and you chose to leave it there.
3. Keep your van clean, nothing is worse than opening that sliding door and having juice cups, snacks and toys fall out…yep I’m guilty of that one.
4. Under no circumstances is it ok to sing and dance to loud music in the van…so not cool. I’m guilty of that one too! Heehee
5. Do anything you can to have date night with your husband, or a girls’ night with friends, and NOT drive the van. Your cool factor goes right out the window when you step out of the minivan with your new hairdo and high heels.

That being said, it doesn’t matter what you drive. Any car can be cool if you want it to be. A minivan is a minivan no matter how often they change the body style or come out with new colors….and if you ever have the chance to own one, you would see why they are sooo cool!

Coffee Break

I have to say that my night shift experience has been a great one. At night, your fellow coworkers are your only resource and it's amazing how strong a relationship can be when you are helping each other get through a very long, sleepless night. It was nice to be home during the day, sleep in late, and be home when the kids came home from school. Fresh coffee at 0200am, getting silly at 0400am and eating dinner for breakfast have become daily traditions but, a "normal" sleep schedule will be very beneficial. After over ten years of sleeping all day, juggling moods, becoming addicted to caffeine and trying to balance my bowel patterns......I am officially on day shift and I could not be any happier! I look forward to many new adventures and SLEEP!

I'm a soccer mom, hear me whine

No one asks to be a soccer mom When people ask you what you want to be when you grow up, few little girls respond with ‘soccer mom’.
This year my son has begun his 7th soccer season in rec league. Do you know what this means? I’ve been a soccer mom for over four years!!! I love it but, it’s a new indoor soccer season at the moment, so here I am again with the soccer mom talk and yes, I’d love some cheese with this whine.
As Ethan’s biggest fan, we take soccer seriously now. No more joking around with the juice boxes and the snack sign-up sheets and let’s not keep score out loud so it doesn’t hurt the kids feelings, people. No more reading Cosmo on the sidelines. (Or wait, was that just me?)
Soccer means war. Stuff like,other teams with names and numbers embroidered on custom-made backpacks, and wearing matching shoes.....there is like body-checking, and slide kicking and jersey-grabbing and it’s apparently all legal and I’m just waiting for them to poke eyes out and go all “Three Stooges” on each other!
I'm scared. I’m the reluctant soccer mom, who’d rather be weeding the garden than sitting on a sideline trying to think of something to yell to my poor kid, who’s getting pushed around for two 20 minutes halfs on this big, big field.
Just SHOOT me!

A Thankful Moment

There are days when you just know that it is a good day, when your family is healthy, your friends make you laugh, and you have a warmth in your heart. Yeah, I know that i sound pretty cheesy but I am living in this moment.....and I must brag, for just a moment.
At this time: my family is healthy and happy, I have a beautiful home, wonderful neighbors, I am loving my job, my patients are loving me and I was offered a day shift position at work. Only a nurse that has worked 12 hour night shifts can truly appreciate this. It is a wonderful opportunity and it's my time.
ahhh, that's it now it's time to enjoy the rest of my day with my happy little family. ;)