Tired Mama.com

Soul Mates? Nah.

I've seen a lot of advertising for Valentine's Day that talks about spending this special day with one's soul mate.

I love my husband. He's a great person, we've been together for twenty-four years and we've been married for almost nineteen years.

My husband and I don't refer to each other as soul mates though, we call each other, 'cellmates'.

Yep, the hubby and I are in this for the long haul, these kids, this mortgage, these car payments - it's a life sentence. 

Besides, what the heck is a soul mate anyway? Isn't that someone we're supposed to be spending our lives looking for and NEVER finding?

My cellmate? He's here day in and day out, helping with kids, making meals, paying bills and emptying the dishwasher. 

I'll take my cellmate over some lost soul mate any day. 

So, Happy Valentine's Day, TiredPapa

I love you.

And thanks for um, doing time with me.

I'm going to visit Minnie Mouse!

We're going to Walt Disney World.

Soon.

My kids are getting a little too big for Disney, or so they tell me, but it doesn't matter because I'm dragging them to enjoy the magic anyway.

You know what I like most about Disney today though? 

I like the fact that when I went to their site to check on my reservation, I was greeted by Donald Duck and a little sign telling me how many days it was until my Disney vacation began.

That is how many days it is until I can walk around outside without a coat.

That's how many days it is until someone else cooks the family meals, does the dishes, makes the beds, dusts the shelves, wipes the counters and vacuums the floors of my living space.

That's how many days it is until I don't have to spend my evenings driving kids to their activies and fighting with them to do homework or practice their music. 

How many days it is until I GET A VACATION.

So yeah, that little sign made me smile.

Actually, I wanted to flippin' kiss the little thing.

The Disney marketing machine? 

It's the best people, simply the best.

Tired Mama's Organizing Tips

The night before my entire extended family came over to my house to celebrate Christmas I took a large cardboard box and filled it with all the clutter in my office.

I then lugged that big box to the basement and shoved it into the back of a closet and closed the door on it.

What can I say? I was out of time and my office is at the front of the house, people were going to see it and I needed a fast way to tidy it up.

It might not have been the best office organizing idea but it sure made that space look a heck of a lot better.

Now, about a week later, I am still enjoying a less cluttered office and I've just realized that I have not yet missed a single thing that I shoved into that box.

A minute ago, when I remembered this box, I contemplated going and digging it out and rummaging through it to see what I actually threw in there.

But I have now decided that I should probably just put the whole box out for trash pick-up or donate it to a charity shop. If I haven't missed it yet then I probably don't need the stuff in it, right? 

And I'm also contemplating doing it with every other room in my house. I wonder if anyone in my family would even notice?

The sad part? I honestly don't think they would.

Sigh.

 

 

Christmas Shopping

I took my youngest daughter out to the local HUGE mall today and we did some Christmas shopping.

It was nice. We talked, we walked, we browsed and then we stood in line to pay for things.

She was so happy to get out to this particular mall that she talked a mile a minute all the way there and then she practically danced through the parking lot in her excitement to get inside.

We got a few things stroked off our lists and we had a nice dinner together too.

But really the best part for me was seeing her so happy.

She was happy to be out and she was happy to be spending time with me.

And at eleven years old, I am probably counting on two fingers the number of years I have left of her being happy to go Christmas shopping with boring old Mom.

But then again, she will still need me to pay for her things for a few years yet so maybe I can drag out this Christmas shopping together thing for at least a couple more years.

Here's hoping....

 

What am I doing wrong?

Are you running around getting ready for Christmas?

I am.

Have you ever stopped to wonder why it's so flipin' hard?

I mean really, all I need to do is buy and wrap a few gifts, put up and decorate a tree and put on a family meal.

That doesn't sound too hard, does it? 

So, why does Christmas take soooo much time and energy?

Why is my to-do list a hundred miles long?

Why? 

Why? Why? Why?

Sigh.

Tis the season...

I was out buying Christmas ornaments today when I met quite possibly the rudest store clerk that has ever blessed the retail world.

I stood in line and watched as the elderly lady in front of me couldn't figure out how to use the debt card machine and this clerk yelled at the poor women and called her a very rude name.

When I got up to the cash, this same clerk actually dropped and broke one of the glass ornaments I was about to buy.

When she went to ring it up I told her I didn't want it if it was broken. She huffed at me and then told me she would give me a discount on it.

Some how getting a glass ornament with a broken Santa head for 10% off didn't seem that great a deal to me.

I'm funny like that. 

So, I guess we're gonna be one ornament shy on the Christmas tree this year.

I e-mailed the store's customer service department tonight, it'll be interesting to see if they get back to me.

I'm planning on doing more of my Christmas shopping tomorrow at the mall, after today's experience, I just can't wait to see how that's going to go.

Fa la la la la la la la fail.

Sigh.

Let's rethink this. Okay?

In 1928 all kids wanted for Christmas was a Duncan Yo-yo.

In 1983, Cabbage Patch Kid dolls caused a stampede at my local department store.

In 1996, everyone was rushing around looking for a Tickle Me Elmo and in 2007, everyone was gifting the iPod Touch.

This year? This year my youngest asked for a Fijit Friend for Christmas.

A green one.

And yeah, I've been driving all over trying to locate one. 

And yes, I've stood in line at Toys R Us to get a rain check for one on a Friday night at 11 pm.

And yes, I've even considered driving for an hour to do some cross border shopping to get one.

I'm doing this because she didn't really ask for much else this year.

And I'm doing this because they're not really that expensive so, at first, it didn't seem like that big a deal.

And I'm doing this because she asked SANTA for one.

And honestly?

I'm doing this because I'm slightly crazy.

Sigh.

It's not close enough yet...

I was at the local mall today buying myself jeans.

And while I was there I discovered that there is something that can put me in a worse mood then trying on jeans. 

Okay, something that can even put me in a worse mood then trying on a swimsuit or jeans.

This other thing?

Hearing Christmas music on mall speakers on November 1st.

I mean, come on people, I haven't even got my Halloween decorations put away yet. I need at least a week before I can start thinking about Christmas.

Please.

Grrrrr.

Maybe those kids with ear buds and iPods blasting their own music into their heads are on to something....

 

Too much, too soon.

All of my kid's fall activity information is starting to flood my mailbox and in-box.

It is making me sad.

I am not ready for the summer to end. 

We've had a good summer this year with sunshine, REALLY hot days and little rain.

I've sat on my behind and read a few good books this summer.

I've watched the clouds float by this month and I've stood out at night many times and just looked at the stars.

I've spent a lot of time talking and laughing with my children and hubby these past two months.

I don't want it to end. I don't want to be thrown back into the crazy world of school, work, deadlines and children's activities yet.

I want to stop time.

I don't want my little summer bubble to break just yet. 

So, I'm putting my fingers in my ears, singing la-la-la and refusing to face reality for at least another week.

Who's with me?

Rain, rain, go away...

Because we planned to spend lots of time at the cottage this summer I told my kids we were limiting the days they were spending at camp.

I also told them that they had to think long and hard about how badly they wanted to play summer sports because I didn't want to be stuck driving back and forth all summer long from the lake to the city for baseball, soccer or whatever else they wanted to participate in.

So, we are indeed spending time at the lake this summer.

A lot of time.

And today?

Today it's raining.

And all this together time?

Yeah, it's um, a challenge.

But my three kids? They are actually being great - they are playing board games, reading, playing with the puppy, drawing, playing cards together and generally getting along.

It's lovely.

Then however there's my fourth child. Yes, that's the one that is five years older than I am.

I tell you, if I hear one more complaint out of him about how cottages are better in the sun, I will be filing for divorce. Seriously, the man needs a hobby that doesn't include golf clubs or a boat.

Hubby? Have a nap. 

Trust me you need it. 

And I thought toddlers got really cranky.

Sesh.

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We survived.

My kids went back to school about an hour ago. Hubby is back at work and I'm supposedly working again too.

Yeah.

So, with the holiday over it's now time to get back to normal uh, life. 

But first, I need to finish putting away the Christmas stuff, take the cat to the vet, update the day-timer, get rid of the returns, empty out the fridge and do the million other little things that I put off doing because of the holiday celebrations.

And let's not even talk about work, school or laundry.

Let the spin of the hamster-life wheel begin!

Again.

Did I say Happy New Year?

Sigh.

Go home Rudolph. Now.

 
Have you seen any of these around?

Yeah, the stupid little reindeer antlers and red noses that they're now making for cars.

Cars.

I don't get it.

I mean I love all things cute. Little noses on things, big eyes, puffy faces or anything with a cute bitty face and usually you got me. I must have owned a million stuffed animals when I was a kid. I like cute. I really do.

But these car reindeer things? These are just weird.

Now I get that Christmas decorating is a personal thing. Some people like to decorate simple, some people like it glittery and some people like to fill every square inch of their home with Christmas crap. I'm okay with all that too, so when I first saw cars decorated like Rudolph, I thought it was stupid, but I also thought - live and let live.

But reindeer-car-people?

Christmas is OVER.

I know - news flash!

But really, take the crap off of your cars - the reindeers came a week ago.

It's done. Sad, I know, but done.

Christmas lights I can handle being left on until the end of the year, but the whole reindeer thing is for the big red guy and that's a one night gig. 

Honest.

Oh, and if I see this crap stuff still on your cars in June? I'm calling the Christmas police.

You've been warned.

Merry Christmas! (Love, Sloth-Mama)

Do you know what my favorite day of the holidays is going to be?

Tomorrow.

Yep, the day after Christmas.

Why?

Because I don't have to be anywhere or do anything.

Because I can sleep as long as I like and dress however I want.

Because the house can be a mess and I can eat holiday cookies all day.

I love Christmas but, like the turkey, I'm done.

Done, done, done.

Enjoy the rest of your holidays - I'm going to bed.

Ho ho

Zzzzzzz.

Five golden rings!

It's only five days until Christmas and the things I still have to do fill a post-it note.

Yep, I know. Impressive.

It's a rather large post-it note, but at least my list now looks manageable.

Do-able even.

I'm also wondering what I forgot.

Tomorrow my youngest and I are heading into the city to see the lights, the Christmas windows and the huge trees that get decorated at the big mall in the 'big city'.

She and I plan to gawk at everything, do a little shopping, have a nice lunch and then come home on the city train.

It's our second year doing this, and I'm getting the feeling it's on its way to becoming a tradition.

It's going to be nice to spend some one-on-one time with my youngest daughter.

It's also going to be nice to finally be able to relax a bit too.

But I'm still thinking I'm forgetting something.

Several somethings even.

Sigh.

Sing out loud, sing out strong..

Have you ever noticed how people sing a lot at Christmas?

I don't mean at places they are supposed to sing, like concerts or sing-along performances but people seem to be singing around me everywhere these days. 

I was in the mall and people were singing along with the piped-in music as they shopped. I was at the library and people were humming carols in the stacks. While I was walking along the street yesterday I heard kids singing Christmas tunes as they slid along on the ice.

And all these people weren't quiet either, most of them were singing loudly and clearly. Slightly off tune maybe, but that's okay.

So, what is it about Christmas carols that makes people want to sing?

It's weird. 

But you know what?

It's nice. Really nice.  

So, keep singing everyone. I don't quite get it and I'm not sure I'm going to join you, but I I like it.

It's a little weird - but I like it.

Carry on

I've hit my Christmas slump.

I've got lots of things done, but I still have more to do.

I just don't want to do it all.

I'm hoping tonight's elementary school Christmas concert will get me back in the mood.

Sigh.

At lunch today, Tired-Papa called and asked me what I was doing on my lunch hour. 

'Shopping,' I replied.

He paused, and I knew that he was thinking about our Visa statement.

'Are we almost done?' he asked.

'We need toilet paper, milk and a green vegetable for dinner,' I replied.

And that, my friends, in a nutshell is the problem with Christmas - everyday life stuff still needs to happen too.

Somebody send me some cheer, will ya?

I may get my picture yet.

I went Christmas shopping yesterday. I was being totally indecisive so I didn't get much done, but I did have a nice time looking at all the decorations and listening to the Christmas music. My local mall has a particularly nice looking Santa this year, he's plump, friendly and his beard even looks real.

As I stopped for a minute to watch all the little children go up for a visit with Mr. Claus I found myself remembering my own children's visits to Santa. My girls were always a little scared but they usually went bravely up, handed over their letters and smiled for a picture. 

My son? He simply refused to go near the dear old man. My boy was having nothing to do with the mall Santa's and he would pitch a fit whenever my hubby or I would try to encourage him to go up with his sisters for a visit. 

So, in my family album I have many pictures of Santa Claus with my daughters and none at all of him with my son.

But yesterday, as I stood watching all the little children line up for their visit with the red dressed guy, I noticed that this year my mall has fairies working as Santa's helpers.

These aren't just any fairies though; our local Santa has cute, teen-aged girl fairies working for him this year. He also has these adorable teen girls all decked out in short skirts, glittery wings and tight-fitting low-cut tops. These young ladies all had long legs, brilliant smiles and gorgeous floaty hair.

Did I mention my son is now thirteen?

Hmmm.

I may have finally found a way to convince my son to visit Santa.

Hello fairies? Can I ask you for a favor?

And could you get him to smile for a picture too? 

It's that time of the year...

I'm too busy to blog. It's Christmas!

I'm shopping.

I'm baking.

I'm putting up Christmas decorations.

Have you ever noticed that EVERY magazine you pick up these days has an article on its cover about how to simplify Christmas, or how to have a stress free Christmas?

Tomorrow, I need to do my Christmas cards and finish putting up my outdoor decorations.

I don't have enough stocking stuffers for my kids either so I plan on going shopping.

We got the tree yesterday and put it in the stand, but we still need to decorate it.

Hmm, I'm behind on the laundry and we need groceries too.

I wonder what all those magazine articles actually say? Stress free? Simple?

I'm thinking - no.

But really? Who has the time to actually read the darn things and check?

Sigh.

Yeah, I know.

It's December.

How the heck did that happen?

For my family December means that Christmas is coming.

That means I have to get shopping, baking and uh, decorating.

This also means that I have to wrap, clean and entertain.

Really? It means that my already over scheduled, super-crazy timetable is about to be put into overdrive.

Yes, Tired Mama is about to become even more tired.

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to all of this.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Sigh.

Scary Mama

My girls had camp this morning and as I was standing in the kitchen trying to figure out how to create them some lunches from the nothing that was in my empty cupboards, my eldest walked into the kitchen.

'Wow,' she commented to me. 'You look nice.'

'I showered,' I replied and continued to making a lunch for her.

Two minutes later, my youngest walked into the kitchen. 'Mom,' she exclaimed, 'look at you, you're all dressed up!'

My problem with this? I wasn't. I had on clean clothes, I had showered, dried my hair and put on some make-up, but I was far from dressed up. I was clean and made up, but I hadn't put ANY real effort into the way I looked.

What they were comparing me to however, was my look this past weekend at the cottage where I had spent two days in dirty, unmatched clothes, where I had bathed by swimming in the lake, and where I wore no make-up and sported frizzy sun dried hair.

It was a work weekend up north where we were cleaning, sorting and burning trash.

I probably looked a mess, but honestly? I didn't pay a lot of attention to it.

But, in retrospect we did have a lot of people drop by this weekend to deliver things and several friends who just dropped by for a quick visit.

Now I'm wondering what did I look like all weekend? If my kids are noticing a big enough difference to comment on it I must have been a real mess.

Oh, boy.

Maybe I need to move a bigger mirror up to the cottage and possibly some mascara and a hair brush too.

Or not. I think I might just be getting too old to worry about it.

So, long live messy! Maybe it'll make my family appreciate me all the more when I do dress up and uh, shower. 

As long as they don't copy me - that could get a little um, smelly.

Sigh.

It's all good

Tired Papa and I have been married for seventeen years tomorrow.

Seventeen years.

That's a long time. 

As my youngest daughter and I were driving to dance tonight she told me that her Dad and I should do something special for our anniversary.

'Like what?' I asked.

'Like go downtown and go out for a romantic dinner,' she replied.

I reminded her that on our anniversary her father and I would be running between her two dance recitals and her brother's baseball tournament. I don't think we'll even have time to have a burger together tomorrow, never mind a whole romantic meal.

'That's bad,' she said. 

But you know what? I'm not so sure it is. 

If you had told me seventeen years ago that I would be spending my anniversary today still happily married to the same guy and that I'd be spending the day enjoying activities with our beautiful healthy children, I think I would have been okay with that.

I'm still okay with that.

Happy Anniversary Hun.

Oh, but can I get a rain check on the whole romantic dinner idea? That sounds kinda nice too.

Take them, please.

My children are officially on spring vacation break.

My kids have been home for one day. My eldest doesn't even start spring break until next week.

But I am ready for the school to take them back.

Please.

Sigh.

The downside of Christmas

Is it just here or is anyone else's house um, trashed?

Yep, there have been three children and a husband home for the last week or so and I don't think any of them have done any cleaning, picking up or tidying. 

There is Christmas clutter on top of normal clutter on top of uh, more stuff.

It's a mess here.

I don't want to clean up. I don't want to argue with my family about tidying up.

But really? This has gotten out of hand. Our house is a mess. We NEED to start cleaning up and putting stuff away.

Let the nagging begin.

Sigh.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

Yes, I know it was yesterday but I was thinking about you. Honest.

Christmas here at our house was nice. It was quiet because a lot of our extended family spent Christmas looking for the sun down south, so it was just us.

We had turkey, we opened presents, we spent the better part of the day in our PJ's. It was low key and lovely.

But now Christmas is over.

So, now comes the hard part. This week I have to pack-up all the Christmas clutter and start to think about what I want the new year to bring. Should I go back to work full-time? Should we continue the house renovations? Should I focus and try to earn some real money with my writing or should I just spend 2010 trying to lose some weight and working on cleaning out the basement.

Blah.

Blah to all of that.

You know what? I have a week before the new year starts, I think I'll worry about all this stuff then. 

Right now I think I'm just gonna take a nap in front of the fire. 

Turkey leftovers and thinking about the future make me tired.

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree - your ornaments are history.

Why yes, that is in fact our cat's butt backside behind sticking out of our Christmas tree.

Sigh.

Christmas cards are beautiful

I'm still working on my Christmas cards. Yes, I know it's late. I got um, distracted by uh, life.

The card I am sending out this year includes a picture of my three children. The picture is one that I took at my niece's wedding a few weeks ago and, since all three of my children are smiling and looking at the camera in it, I decided to use it this year and save myself the expense of a trip to the Sears Portrait Studio.

This is another nice Christmas card.

Joy to all.

Do not open the Visa bill.

I am blessed with having two beautiful, talented, brilliant and sweet daughters. One will be fifteen in a few months, the other is nine.

As I was sorting my Christmas purchases into piles this morning, I couldn't help but notice that one of my daughter's piles was rather large and the other one uh, wasn't.

Why is it easier to buy for younger children than older kids?

Why is it so much cheaper to buy big sparkly things for younger children?

Why do the things for my younger children look so much bigger than the things for their big sister?

I've actually spent more money on my older daughter than on my younger daughter, it just doesn't look that way. 

Santa, if you have any free time I could use some help over here.

Sigh.

Maybe I'll just wrap my older daughter's presents in bigger boxes....

Smack me

Climate change is at a crisis point.

Millions of children around the world are living below the poverty line.

Babys are being aborted because their parents cannot afford to raise them.

Our hospitals are full of people who are injured or terminally ill.

Um, and here?

I'm fussing because I can't get my Christmas garland to hang properly on the stairs.

Oy.

Advent Calendars are evil

Advent calendars are evil.

Yes, they are.

Why? Well, they are evil mainly because they cause stress.

Every time I look at our advent calendar I am reminded of how few days there are left before Christmas and then I start to panic about everything that still needs to be done. 

Advent calendars = Stress = Evil.

I also made the mistake of buying one of those pretty little advent calendars that you can fill yourself.

3 kids + 25 advent calendar pockets to fill = 75 things = More Stress = Evil.

Yes, I have to come up with seventy-five different things to put in the advent calendar every December. On top of the stockings, presents, cooking, cleaning, card writing, decorating, visiting, celebrating and gosh knows what else, I also have to come up with seventy-five love notes, chocolates or small toys to fill the stupid advent calendar with.

I don't have time for all of this.

It's evil, I tell you.

Eeeeevil.

It's beginning to look a little like...

It's the first of December.

So far this month?

I've already killed a poinsettia by over watering it. Seriously, it's December 1st, isn't there a law or something that says you can't kill a poinsettia the first week you get it?

Secondly, I forgot to fill the advent calendar before the kids came down this morning. Sorry, guys.

And finally? The cat is eating the Christmas village. It seems our kitten likes the taste of those little green plasticy-woody pretend tree things. All of my little village trees have tiny cat bites out of them now, it's like something out of an old Japanese monster movie. If they could, all the little village ceramic people would be running away and hiding.

Oy.

Can we just skip through to January? I'm not sure I want to continue preparing for Christmas if this is the way things are going to go.

Sigh.