The "Bad" Mom Week

I had a "Bad Mom Week". I don't mean that I was a "bad"mom although, my kids may argue that, it was just a really rough week for me as a parent. Things didn't run very smoothly, tempers flared, pretty much the "Murphy's Law' of parenting weeks.  I was burnt out and feeling like I was being taken for granted.  Now nothing is that terrible, I mean, everyone is healthy and all of my kids are kind and polite (in public anyway) but, I had the kind of week that made me feel underappreciated and frankly, not very effective or confident in my "parenting skills."(if there really is such a thing) So, I had a bit of a meltdown which led to my making the decision to halt all of my mom related responsibilities. A "strike" so to speak. No grocery shopping, no laundry, no cleaning, no walking around flushing unflushed toilets (I know you know what I'm sayin') no making lunches, (except for my 4 yr old's who would pack her Rapunzel doll, broken crayons, and Pepperidge Farm goldfish if left to her own devices) No ANY of the day to day things we all do with our eyes shut that run our households.  Now I could list all of the things that led to the "strike" but it's a long list.. including, but not limited to, a child not listening for the umpteenth time in a crowded parking lot which led to child tripping and then accidentally being run over by a shopping cart pushed by moi (*note - she was fine ) Some things may even seem minimal to you..but, trust me, when said things are repeated time and time again they can induce hysteria...mild hysteria but still hysteria none the less. So  there you have the makings of a Mommy shutdown. I was called "mean", "selfish", and I'm sure I heard my teenager mutter something much worse under his breath but, I didn't back down. Yes, I am a Mommy but, I am also ME, someone with feelings, someone who wants to be acknowledged and appreciated, someone who wants to feel like what I do matters. I have good days and bad days just like my kids do and I want them to understand that. I want them to realize that all the "little things" that I do, that we all do, add up to BIG things... love, understanding, caring, compassion, and so much more. As guilty as I felt, I stuck to my "strike' because I felt there was an important lesson to be taught. Everyone needs to feel valued and respected..Moms, Dads, brothers, sisters, everyone! So, my "strike" just ended as you are reading this and you know what? The world didn't come to an end and everyone survived. I am actually feeling pretty good about my "Bad Mom" week because I think now that they just may "get it". After all, it's all those "little things" that really matter ...don't they? Now, I'd better get to the grocery store and figure out what I'm making for dinner!! ;)

DISNEY FAMILY.COM LAUNCHES “HAPPILY EVER AFTER” MONTH-LONG CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS ROYAL

Couples are Invited to Share Inspirational Stories and Photos for a Chance to Win a “Royal Wedding” Celebration From Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons

In honor of the upcoming nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Disney Family.com launched today a month-long online celebration titled “Happily Ever After.”  The website features tips from Disney’s expert princess-makers on how to have a fairy tale wedding or vow renewal celebration; a showcase of Disney Princess inspired wedding gowns; ideas for mom and daughter Royal Wedding viewing parties; and fun and easy tips for moms to feel like a princess every day!

What a fun way to spend time with my daughters!! We had such a great time making the Wedding cake and dressing our Kate Middleton doll in our favorite Disney princess dresses !

Click here to download the crafts and some royal recipes too!

Festivities kick off with a contest at www.Family.com/HappilyEverAfter, where couples who are looking to have their own royal wedding or vow renewal can share stories and photos about their special relationship. The winning entry will receive a grand prize that includes:

·         Royal Wedding Celebration from Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons that includes a Disney’s Wedding Pavilion Ceremony, Disney photography package, cake and champagne toast, limousine transportation to and from ceremony, and arrival in Cinderella’s Coach!
·         4-Night Walt Disney World® Resort hotel stay for winner and three guests
·         Walt Disney World® Theme Park Tickets: four 5-day Park Hopper tickets for winner and three guests
·         Disney Gift Card
·         Wedding dress gift card from Disney Fairy Tale Weddings by Alfred Angelo
·         Roundtrip Airfare to Walt Disney World® Resort for winner and three guests

Contest entries will be accepted until May 9, 2011 and the winner will be announced on or about June 13, 2011.  Official contest rules are posted on the website.

Disney Family.com also offers inspiration for celebrating Prince William and Kate’s nuptials at home, with ideas for mom and daughter viewing parties featuring Royal Wedding and Disney Princess-themed recipes, decorations, party favors, and the site’s popular printable crafts.  Items include a Kate Middleton paper doll that you can dress up in six classic Disney Princess dresses; a printable tiara inspired by the Strathmore Rose Tiara that Kate Middleton is rumored to possibly wear; Princess Aurora’s cake; Ariel’s Wedding crown, and much more.

My Underwear -

Entertaining, educational, silly, and downright adorable!! My Underwear, the new App created by award winning author Todd Parr and Thumb Arcade, will provide lots of fun and giggles for your kids and you. Available for iPad, iPod, and iPhone, each game is a journey into the wonderfully imaginative world of Todd Parr and his lovable characters. You'll meet underwear eating Monsters, race against the clock in a memory match up game of  Todd's friends from his books, play underwear match up with funny creatures and, of course, design and finger paint your own underwear! Pattern recognition, hand-eye coordination, memory, motor skills,and music, it's all there and it's all hilarious fun! You won't be able to stop playing with "My Undewear". My four year old daughter is hooked on the memory match up game and me, well, who wouldn't want to decorate their own underwear?? :) Be sure to check out  "My Underwear" and then let the UNDERWEAR games begin!!  And, Todd, being a wonderful Friend of Macaroni Kid, is offering a FREE download to 2 lucky Macaroni Kid readers. Just comment below with the title of your favorite Todd Parr book for a chance to win! Winners announced in next weeks newsletter!!
For more information and to download the App click here or visit thumbarcade.com

New Leaf

Just got back from an amazing trip in Vegas...Had the opportunity to hear author Lisa Quinn speak, she wrote the book "Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets" Well, I felt as if she were speaking directly to me, I make myself crazy ( well, psycho is more like it) sometimes worrying about things that really just don't matter..are the beds made before I leave the house?, no fingerprints on the windows?, no crumbs on the counter top?..you get the idea..Does anybody even care about that crap except me?..My kids are oblivious to most things ( they'll walk away from a dumped over cereal box on the kitchen floor without so much as a second thought to the pile of Cheerios they just stepped on and turned to dust) my husband doesn't really give a fig either, as long as his stuff is where he left it ( which is not always the case and usually my fault when he can't find something) I am always looking for ways to simplify my life and have lots of great advice , I just need to follow it myself . So, I have decided to turn over that "new leaf" they talk about. I am going to force myself to not clean anything for a couple of days ( barring any unforseen mudslides that enter through the front door)  and see if my OCD self can handle it..I'll let you know how it goes..

So This Is My Blog

Ok, so I finally decided to enter the blogging world.  I am a Mom of four and am always looking for ways to make life easier for myself and my family. ( although I am the first to admit that sometimes I sabotage myself ) My blog will be about things that I have found that make the Mom life a bit easier, family friendly fun activities, events, and places, and about my crazy life in general. Hope you'll stop in and read all the "News from Suze"!