Smiling Mom

About a month and a half ago I was watching Oprah. Don’t laugh!  I’m sure you have your vice too.  Mine hap­pens to be Oprah. And Dr. Phil And Ame­ri­can Idol. And What Not to Wear…But I digress.

In the Oprah epi­sode I’m spea­king of, Oprah inter­vie­wed Seal and his wife Heidi Klum.

“Wha­te­ver,” I though, “I know nothing about them, and I’m not too inte­res­ted. But then they began tal­king of their love for each other, their kids, and their prio­ri­ties.  And somewhere during that show they dis­pla­yed their family necklaces.

Family nec­kla­ces. What a cool idea!! My hus­band and I got tal­king. We wan­ted a family nec­klace too.… finish rea­ding this article at SVMB.

Recap:

Hubby hurt his shoul­der at work, Sep­tem­ber 01, 2007.

Hubby went on disability.

Novem­ber 15^th-ish he got surgery.

Hubby’s been out of work for a very long time.

Six months.

And you know what??

After the ini­tial adjust­ment of having him home all.the.time. I’ve actually enjo­yed spen­ding our days together.

The kids are flou­rishing and we’ve found a way to work with, and around, each other without get­ting on the other’s nerves.

I actually like having him home.

Gasp.

It’s true.

But if you see him, would you kindly keep that infor­ma­tion to yourself??

We don’t want to unne­ces­sa­rily inflate his ego, you know.

So any­way I’ve been expec­ting that Hubby would return to work some­time around May.

Late May.

I could handle that. It gave us a bit more time together. I’d be almost done with school for the year, and child­care would not be an issue.

Then he went to the doctor’s office today.

Ver­dict:

Return to work in two weeks.

Two Weeks.

TWO WEEKS.

Frack.

The news hit me pretty hard.

We had plans in April. Plans to visit San Diego.

We spend time together in the evenings.

The kids see him all day, every day.

We have a gym rou­tine each mor­ning. As in, we actually go to the gym.

Together!

I know, crazy, huh!?

But now my time with Hubby is dra­wing to an end, and I’m sad.

I’m not sure if I can remem­ber how to parent alone. He’s been such an asset to have around the house.

And frankly, I’ve also really enjo­yed this time to recon­nect and remem­ber why we were actually married in the first place.

Two weeks.

Sigh.

Two weeks.

And the count­down begins.

I knew I had to wake up from this dream at some point.… I just didn’t know how soon it would be.

My one year Blog­ging Anni­ver­sary just pas­sed. Um hello, where was I??

Oh and today is my birthday.

Yeay me!

Last year I was all , “oh look at me, I’m going to cele­brate the big 3–0. Why fight it…I’m going to grow old gracefully…yada yada yada.”

That was then. This is now. Last year I tur­ned thirty.

Thirty was a doa­ble number.

Thirty.

Just thirty

Like, I’m not old yet thirty.

Thirty.

Now I’m not thirty.

Oh no. Not thirty anymore.

I’m not just out of my twen­ties thirty

I’m in my thirties.

On my way to thirty five thirty.

Oy.

Where does time go?

Any­way…

Last year I gave myself a gift.

The gift of atten­tion. I took time to learn who I was, be who I am, and stand tall for things I believe in.

I’m proud to say that I think I’ve done just that.

This year, as I enter my thirty one-dom I’m more sett­led, con­fi­dent, and able to say what I mean and need.

Oh ya!!

So in kee­ping with this theme of growth, I’ve deci­ded to focus on another aspect of my life.

Giving atten­tion to others.

Like real attention.

Not lap­top on lap, remote con­trol in hand, phone on ear, “Yes dear, I’m lis­te­ning…” type attention.

Disc­lai­mer** I NEVER do that that, I’m just sayin’.…

Ahem.

But rather eye-contact, TV pau­sed off, lap­top clo­sed type atten­tion.

Like get on the floor and play with my kids more attention.

Like I hear what you are saying, Honey, and although I don’t agree, I still think your point is valid attention.

Whew. That’s going to be a toughie.

It will take some serious chan­ging of some really bad habits.

But I’m in need of a change.

Bring on the growth.

It’s time.

So happy birthday/blogging anni­ver­sary to me.

I hope this gift will serve my family and me well.

This is an email I recei­ved by my friend. She’s about as preg­nant as you can be without actually giving birth. And she’s frea­king hila­rious! She really needs to start a blog, hint-hint.

So here’s rea­son # 100 why Cash’s Mom should really start a blog…

So V (her sis­ter) and I (Cash’s Mom) went to the mall today– and I stop­ped by the Bene­fit eye­brow bar, because seriously the cater­pi­llar had to go!!

 

They were having some sort of MEGA event and one of the super fierce little Bene­fit hot­ties con­ned V into get­ting her eye makeup done.

 

So I’m sit­ting there wai­ting (with super hot bad ass eye­brows) and this really fun spunky Bene­fit gal con­vin­ces me to hop in a chair and shows me some “hot mom” makeup tips.

 

The entire time I’m get­ting my makeup done, peo­ple are floc­king around. This lady asks them to get this they run and get it they are all com­men­ting on, “how fab this looks on me,” and yadda yadda…

 

Now at first I thought I was get­ting the hard sell, but after quite a while of peo­ple stop­ping and watching (gaw­king even) I rea­li­zed it’s because I’m a super fierce hot mom. Heidi Klum watch your ass, because when I drop this truck load of baby off… I’m hit­ting the run­way. HOLLA!!

 

Any­way as I’m chec­king out (I bought some bad ass eye sha­dow) V says, “You know that was like Miss Bene­fit her­self right??” This lady is the REASON for the big Bene­fit event!!

 

WHA WHA WHAT???

 

All the girls in the store were gushing and couldn’t believe that Arianne Dam­boise, known as Bene­fit Cos­me­tics’ “Makeup Maven” just did my make up….

 

PRO: I look AMAZING and this is the first time I’ve felt hot in WAY too long..

 

CON: All those peo­ple gazing on at how abso­lu­tely stun­ning I am… yeah they were there watching her.

And that folks, is why I love her. Please Cash’s Mom, start a blog! Please!