WHEN/THEN

Are you pining away for an exotic vacation, an exciting life, playing the WHEN _______ happens THEN I can _______.  My friend Jayne and I always have the very best conversations during dinner.  Jayne is so very well read, remembers everything and has taught psychology at the college level for a very long time.  We have delicious conversations and the food isn't bad either!  She recently joked (maybe) that she should start a WHEN/THEN support group.  Are you guilty of when/then thinking?  I certainly am.  She reminded me and several others that if you do not follow up on your dream you may see, for example, your idea for a book written by someone else.  I think she would have a LOT of takers on the when/then group.  It was a poignant reminder that each moment is significant...that once it passes...it is lost.  Do we/I really want to spend those precious moments in time playing the WHEN/THEN game? 

Two of the granddarlings recently spent the entire weekend with me...apart from a beautiful shiner and pure exhaustion...we had a lot of fun!  They remind me of those precious moments in time when a sprinkler system and a puddle of water rivals any grand resort...when the ordinary becomes extraordinary!

Children live in the moment.  Absolutely no WHEN/THEN thinking for them.  How about you? 

The Price of Children

Mother's Day passed in rather a blur this year...from The State Newspaper I am sharing excerpts from a Mother's Day article that was funny, sweet and in honor of Mom's and "mom-like" women everywhere...to those with their own children I honor you, to those without I honor you (most of you are "moms" anyway)

the following comments are from a group of second graders:

Why did God Make Mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of there when we were getting born

What ingredients are Mothers made of?

1. God makes Mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world - one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What's the difference between moms and dads/

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time

2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.

2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it, not me.

The Price of Children:

"The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. That doesn't even touch college tuition...(skipping some)

It breaks down to about $24.24 a day, just over a dollar an hour...What do you get for your $160,140?

Glimpses of God every day. Giggles under the covers every night. More love than your heart can hold. Butterfly kisses and velcro hugs. Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds and warm cookies. A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kits. Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you have an excuse to: Keep reading "the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh". Watch Saturday morning cartoons. Go to Disney movies. And wish on stars. You get to frame rainbows, hearts and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day. For a mere $24.24 a day you get to be a hero for: Retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof. Taking the training wheels off a bike. Removing a splinter. Filling a wading pool. Coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power - to heal a boo-boo, scare aways the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is a quite a deal for the price." (May5, 2009 The State)

ALL THAT AND SO MUCH MORE AND IF YOU ARE REALLY LUCKY YOU MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR GROWN CHILDREN! YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN AND GET TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN (except for the yucky parts and we let THEIR Moms and Dads handle that stuff)

I am thankful for ALL the women that have impacted my life and those that continue to do so...Thanks Mom! We all nuture each other in so many ways. I hope each of you has a glorious weekend!!!

As the Days of Our Lives Turn Around the World

Natalie of CurlyWurlyGurly fame has thrown down a challenge for the rest of the mere mortals.

She has suggested a themed posting for our otherwise manic or marginal or magical Mondays. My title gives little hint as to the theme...give up...SOAP OPERAS!!! The Sassy Ladies of Blogdom are a clever, amusing and resourceful group with a dash of competitiveness thrown in for good measure. I am a good sport so I'll play along.

Yes, my name is Connie and I have watched soap operas. It began innocently enough with my SAHM (stay at home mom)...during my middle school and high school years I would come home, get a snack and watch General Hospital with Mom....during the Summer, I would watch Days of Our Lives too. Time to graduate, figure out what to do with your life etc. and soap operas are not thought of in a very long time. Fast forward to the 8th month of pregnancy with daughter #2 , yep while daughter #1 was napping I partook of the daily drama that is soap opera land.

Fast forward a bit more, between all nighters with a baby and chasing a toddler around I was feeling frazzled, frenzied and frumpy. Picture a light bulb above my head...I will dress up like they always do on my "soaps" As morning dawned, hot rollers were stuck in my head, make up applied and a lovely satinesque blouse with ruffles was donned. It was the eighties, after all so everything was a bit overdone. I put on large dangly earrings and affixed a giant rhinestone brooch to my blouse. Feeling good and ready to tackle the day. Daughter # 1 says I want pancakes for breakfast, yes dear. Mommy you look pretty...can we go play in the sandbox, want to go swing in the hammock, FINGER PAINT? Daughter # 2 (a mere babe) YAK!!! I don't think soap opera moms play outside or finger paint. Can you imagine the dry cleaning bills? Soap opera moms have someone else to change diapers and wipe up puke. Soap opera moms don't wear sweat pants not even to work out their glorious bodies. Soap opera moms have matchy matchy outfits to wear to the gym or tennis court. Soap opera moms aren't cleaning up after kittens, dogs and rabbits. Or picking green beans with their children in the 100 degree heat of the South. That time is so fleeting and days were filled with the more important function of teaching and entertaining my children.

In the days of "DVRing", Tivo etc. I could easily record soap operas...as an empty nester I have the time to watch them...what is lacking is desire...I'd rather be a participate in my somewhat frenzied, frazzled sometimes frumpy life than to watch the drama of a made up life. Real life is messy, disappointing...real life is REAL, beautiful, joyful and dramatic enough for this gal!

P.S. Besides after 20 years you can tune in and pick up the story line...Have fun...I am going to create something!!!