Motherhood Incorporated

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

Wow, the holiday season is fast approaching! We’ve barely put away the dishes for Thanksgiving and it’s time to start thinking about Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza.  With these tough economic times anything we can do to save money is a bonus.  It is possible to decorate your home for the holidays on a budget while keeping the kids busy and enjoying a little family togetherness. That’s what the season is all about, celebrating with family and friends.

A pack of construction paper in different colors, some ribbon, scissors, and glue can go a long way in creating decorations for your home.  Old holiday cards can be recycled into decorations by cutting out pictures on the front of the cards and pasting them on a background of colored construction paper.  These can be used as decorations for your Christmas tree or placed on your mantel or walls to create some holiday spirit.

Your children’s wallet size school pictures or even 3 X 5 photos can be mounted on a piece of construction paper or placed in a frame of popsicle sticks with a ribbon attached—you can even add a handwritten message like Christmas 2009 at the bottom.  These are great for your home or even as a gift for family, especially grandparents. 

Snowflakes, draedels, menorahs, or Kwanza candelabras can be cut out of construction paper to decorate your home or windows.

Be creative!  These are simple ways to get the whole family involved, keep your kids busy, and get your house decorated without breaking the bank.

Good luck and Happy Holidays from Motherhood Incorporated!

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
• .
• Topping
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation:

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

As a single mom, are you looking for an all-inclusive resource that will provide you with articles and tips on various topics related to single moms and their kids? SingleMom.com (www.singlemom.com) is the site you have been searching for. It provides tips and resources on a variety of topics including:

Education & Career- financial aid and scholarships, articles and tips and employment resources
Help For Moms In Need- basic needs resources and drug and health care programs
Housing – housing programs and owning a home
Finances- resources and articles and monthly advice
Parenting – advice and resources
Day To Day – articles and tips
Health and Well Being – healthy living, articles and resources
Cooking and Recipes – eating healthy
Kid Stuff – kids learning
Legal Issues- Information including child custody and domestic violence and victim assistance

A lot of the information on this site is particularly helpful late at night – when you are totally worn out and trying to get everything done – yet spending time surfing the web for new ideas.  It is totally overwhelming at times – trying to be both mother and father…and trying to provide for your kids the same way a dual couple would.  But, with two hands and two incomes – it is very hard – and sometimes demoralizing for a single mom to keep up.   Though there are no races and no competitions – it can and continues to be a challenge for every single mom out there.

The above is a complete list of topics, but only a partial list of the sub topics under each topic. For more resources you may also want to visit www.singlemotherresources.com .

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

The holidays are fast-approaching so here are some tips for you as a single mom:

Shop online and start early, especially since you don’t know how long items may take to ship. I find that making a list and heading to www.amazon.com and taking advantage of their free shipping to be helpful. I also have a credit card with www.llbean.com and find that using it for free shipping, no sales tax (for California) and free monogramming a great way to give useful and monogrammed gifts.

Spend your money wisely. Be sure not to go crazy with the clicks of your mouse. I set a budget for each person – including tax and shipping.

Shop the clearance section of the web site.  You don’t know what you may find and you will save money at the same time.

Take the time to look for online coupons and other promotions. It’s about getting the most for the money.

Usually you can get free shipping if you spend the most money in one store or online store so try to get the most gifts at one place so you qualify for free shipping or other promotions if possible.

However, remember that if you only want one or two items, it would be cheaper to go directly to the store- that is if you don’t mind spending the gas and time to get there as well as possibly fighting crowds.

Keep a positive attitude during this season when you are shopping. Try not to let the crowds, traffic and overall chaos upset you. You can shop from the comfort of your home and save time by shopping online.  Good luck and may your dollar stretch beyond your wildest dreams.

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

It’s the season.  No, not just the holiday season but the cold and flu season as well. Millions of people will contract or a cold or the flu in the next few months.  So what can we as mothers do to protect our families from the flu? What about flu vaccines? How do we explain to our children why it is so important to stay healthy?    

The influenza virus changes every year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) evaluate what form of the influenza virus is likely to be most prevalent each year and alter the vaccine to protect the general public from that particular influenza virus.  This year, of course, we have H1N1 to contend with as well. 

Unless your child has allergies to egg, flu vaccines are generally safe for children of all ages.  If you aren’t sure if your child should take the vaccine, contact your pediatrician.  Most children can take the inhaled (live virus) vaccines. It’s painless and quick. There is even an H1N1 vaccine that can be inhaled.

But vaccinations are not the only way to protect your family from the flu.  Something as basic as handwashing can protect you and your children from many viruses, not just the flu.  Hand sanitizer is another great way to kill germs when soap and water are not readily available and you can get one that hangs on your keychain or on your child’s backpack.  

Children need to know that it is important to stay healthy so that they can get the most out of life.  Tell them that a healthy lifestyle is a happy lifestyle. 

Don’t forget the age old adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them!  Should have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

If you are looking for crafts do with your kids ages 3 and 6, check out Family Fun Crafts at http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crafts-by-age/ You can search for crafts by age, including toddler, preschool and school age. You can also search for crafts by season, so if you are looking for a craft as a mom to do with your young kids for Thanksgiving or Christmas, this is the place to look! A few of the crafts for those seasons are:

Thanksgiving Table Decorations
Colorful Turkey Caddy
Tissue Paper Turkey
Pilgrim Napkin Rings

Turkey Crafts
Say It With Feathers
Turkey Hat
Turkey Napkin Rings

This is just a small sampling of the Thanksgiving-themed crafts that the site has to offer. For more ideas visit http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/holiday-seasonal-crafts/thanksgiving-craft-decorations/ There is also a tab at the top of the page specifically for Thanksgiving if you are looking for other information.

Christmas cards, stockings, crafts and decorations are available when you feel like doing something for that season.

If you are looking for printable crafts, simply click on the Printables tab at the top of the page for those ideas.

I haven’t provided specific crafts here due to the copyright rules on the Family Fun website. Hopefully the links above will be helpful.

Tags: Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated, www.motherhoodincorporated.com, Craft ideas, kids, all ages, holiday crafts, Thanksgiving

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

Thanksgiving is a holiday with many family traditions ranging from Grandpa at the head of the table carving the turkey to Grandma’s famous pumpkin pie.  It is a time for family and friends to gather and give thanks for the many blessings they have had throughout the year.

You can start your own new traditions as well and involve your children in the preparations.  If you have an older child that is able to write, have them create placecards for everyone at the table.  They can decorate these as well.  Placemats can also be created for everyone as well and younger children can be involved in this craft as well. These can be simply a piece of construction paper with drawings by each of your children.  If you are feeling really creative have your children make a handprint with paint on each placemat to make the feathers of the turkey and then cut out construction paper in the shape of a bowling pin for the body of the turkey.  You can add googly eyes  etc. as you see fit.

You and your family can write down all of the things you are thankful for (little ones can dictate these to you).  Make a paper flower  for each of these things you are thankful for and attach it to wooden kabob sticks or popsicle sticks and place them in a vase for a simple yet meaningful centerpiece for the table.

By involving the whole family in creating these thanksgiving mementoes you are creating your own Thanksgiving memories as well.

We at Motherhood Incorporated wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving !

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

Childhood obesity is on the rise. It’s a fact, one that at least for me is hard to swallow.  It is up to us as mothers to do what we can to combat this problem head-on.  Our children will follow our example, whether we like it or not.  So we have to change our own lifestyle in order to get our children to follow suit.

Have you ever noticed that most fast food is brown or tan in color—so blah!  Why not add a little color to your diet and in the process eat healthier. It’s all about the colors.  If it’s pleasing to the eye, it will likely be pleasing to the palate.  Restaurants use this technique all the time—it’s all about presentation.

Vegetables and fruits come in a variety of colors. Make a salad incorporating many different colored vegetables.  For example, a green salad with red,green,and yellow peppers cut up in it as well as radishes, mushrooms, or even squash is not only colorful but healthy.  You could give it a Mexican flair and add black beans, salsa, and sour cream or a sprinkling of cheese.  A fruit salad with grapes (green and red), pineapple, red or green apples, and raisins can be a healthy snack for hungry kids.

Eating healthy by eating your colors can start when your children are infants.  Baby food comes in many different flavors and colors, you can even make your own. Starting healthy eating early in life will likely carry on as your children grow.

So add a little color to you and your family’s dinner plate and reap the reward of building a healthy family.

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them!  Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

Sandra Beck Motherhood Incorporated

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

Recently I was ambushed by a few of the moms who work at Motherhood who tease me mercelessly about the photograph of me that appears around the web.  When it was taken I had just given birth to my son Zach and three years later the photos dubbed “the lightbulb head” is still floating around the web.

“Why don’t you get new photos done?” ranks up there with “Would you like a root canal?”  It brings up all my insecurities as a mother, a woman and a human being ravaged by time.   As a single mother with two small children there just isn’t room in the budget for Botox or a lift – though both would be appreciated.

I was speaking to a few moms today who feel the same anxiety as the holidays come upon us with the dreaded family holiday card and holiday pictures.  There is no advice to this post – simply a sister friend to another complaining about the dreaded but necessary photographs.

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should  you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com  and www.sandrabeck.com

By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

Making Time for Play

As a working mother I never feel like I have enough time to just play with my kids.  There always seems to be another deadline to meet, calls to make, and a pile of work on my desk that needs my immediate attention.

My two sons, ages 6 and 3, are very active and would love to have my undivided attention.  However, duty calls and work must be done if the mortgage and the bills are to get paid.  Try explaining that to a 3 year old…let me tell you, it’s impossible. 

What is possible is to carve out time in your day to play and release your inner child at the same time…how refreshing.

Day planners are made for just that.  Plan out a block or blocks of time each week that you can dedicate just to the kids.  If possible, plan these around times in their schedule where other activities don’t interfere—for example, naptime for your 3 yr old or karate class for your 6 yr old. 

Playtime can be indoors or outdoors depending on the weather but have a variety of activities for the kids to choose from.  This gives the kids some control and allows them the independence of choosing an activity.  Playtime can be as simple as kicking a soccer ball around or getting down on the floor and playing cars or building blocks or as involved as taking a nature hike outdoors.

During play time, put on the answering machine and turn your cell phone off so that the kids know this is their time.  Avoid any unnecessary interruptions.  Get down at your child’s level. Encourage creativity.  You can ask the older children to write down a list of activities that they might enjoy doing with you during “play time,” this engages them and teaches them how to make the best of their time too. 

While not easy, scheduling quality play time with your kids while still maintaining your business is not an impossibility.  It just takes planning.

I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them! Should  you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com  and www.sandrabeck.com

by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

 Ah, I just opened my windows for a little unseasonably warm pre-spring air, and came to the realization that today would be a great day for a little me time with my favorite little ones.  Hmm… Did I just say me time with my kids?  I sure did, and I’m proud of it!

Me time is all the rage these days.  The media bombards us with the idea that the only way we moms will ever keep our sanity, or at least keep up the appearance of it, is to spend oodles of time pampering ourselves in one way or another.  Let’s be clear, I am in no way opposed to pampering, but I’m also a realist.  I work out of my house.  I’ve got one kid in school, and one in diapers.  I’ve got to take my me time however it comes, and frankly, I deeply enjoy relaxing with my children.  That’s why I work at home in the first place, isn’t it?

No wonder we’re all stressed out.  Not only do we have to take care of everyone that crosses our paths, but now we are supposed to have the strength and energy left over to treat ourselves like a queen at the end of the day.  Now is the time to simplify.  Everything I need to burn away the stress of the week is right here by my side.

The reality is that what matters most is not how we appear to our neighbors, or how much spoiling our money can buy us.  What does matter is that we make the most of the time we have each day.  So why not shut the computer down every now and again while they are young?  I want to spend all the time I can with them now, because someday there will be more me time than I care to think about.

So, I’ve resolved that this afternoon my me time will consist of a decidedly slow walk with two puddle-stomping toddlers, a golden retriever, and one small piece of dark chocolate.  There you have it, pure joy without the need for sitters, aromatherapy, or a wad of cash.  I’d love to say more, but I’ve got some puddles in the yard with my name on them.

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  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

If you’ve got a knack for computers, then web development could be the work-at-home career for you.  You don’t need a lot of extra schooling to become a web developer, though it can be helpful.  Whether you have a formal education or are self-taught, what matters most to employers and clients is your ability to set them up with an outstanding website.

The Technology

To work out of your home, you will need a computer with Internet access.  Since web design projects can be large scale, project management skills are also important.  At-home web design can be done on a flexible schedule, making it very family friendly.

Getting Started

Start out by building your own website.  Potential clients and employers will expect a web designer to have a top-notch website showcasing her skills.  This is a great opportunity to experiment with different ideas, and get a sense of your personal style.  Be sure to include your resume and contact information.  You never know when a hit on your website will result in a new client.

Building a Portfolio

Showcase your talents through a portfolio.  As you build websites, collect a record of your professional experience through examples of the quality work you provide.  If you are willing to work hard and give your all to a few friends or organizations free of charge, your portfolio will quickly come together.  Don’t know anyone looking for a website?  Try volunteermatch.org.  The site will pair you with nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers.  Not only will you gain experience, but you will also be helping out a cause close to your heart. 

Choosing a Niche

Once you have a few jobs under your belt, you may find it beneficial to choose a niche or specialty.  Maybe you excel when working with nonprofits, or prefer the informal touch of a personal website.  Capitalize on your strengths and interests when choosing a niche market.  Specializing will help you gain credibility with your clients.  With a little planning, and a lot of hard work, you will be a professional web designer from the comfort of your home before you know it.

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By Denise Bosey R.N.

H1N1 is the hot topic these days.  Should you or your family get the vaccine? How can you protect yourself and your family from contracting this? What’s the difference between the inhaled vaccine and the injection and which one is best for you and your family?

H1N1 (or the Swine Flu) is a very potent strain of the flu. It can be as mild as a low grade fever and a cough or powerful enough to put you in the hospital.  It affects people of all ages, from infants to the elderly.

It is suggested that all people from the ages of 6 months to 24 years should be vaccinated as well as pregnant women or people over 24 with chronic medical conditions such as asthma.  The inhaled vaccine is a live virus and can be given to children or adults with no chronic medical conditions.  The injection is a dead virus and is suggested for pregnant women and people with medical conditions.

Protecting yourself from getting H1N1 is as simple as washing your hands regularly and using hand sanitizer in between.  Teaching your children not to share food, drinks, or personal items with their friends and classmates will go a long way in stopping the transmission of H1N1.  Staying home from work or school when you are not feeling well can also slow the progression of this sometimes deadly virus.

So, get plenty of rest, eat well, wash your hands, and most of all get vaccinated and protect you and your family from H1N1.

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

You’ve worked in an office for years.  You’re good at your job, but dread the morning commute.  You long for a flexible schedule that works with your family needs, not against them.  If this sounds like you, you could work at home as a virtual assistant.  Virtual assistants provide administrative services to their clients via the Internet.  Though not required, experience as an administrative assistant can be helpful. 

The Technology

To work out of your home, you will need a telephone line, personal computer, printer, and Internet access.  A fax machine is also helpful.  If you would rather not invest in a fax machine, try an online fax service.  For a monthly fee, you can send and receive faxes by email.

Certification

Some virtual assistants find certification helpful in keeping their skills at peak performance.  The skills improved upon through certification include executive support, business decision-making, customer service, and project management.  Certification is also helpful in gaining credibility among your colleagues, and potential clients.  Try vacertification.com for more info on becoming certified.

Pump Up Your Resumé

Is your resume looking a little thin in the experience category?  If you are willing to volunteer your time, you can quickly gain the experience you need to succeed.  There are a number of websites available to connect you with a nonprofit organization in need of your skills.  Try idealist.org, volunteer.gov, or volunteermatch.org.  Beneficial to your career and the charitable cause of your choosing, this match is a win-win situation.  Work hard and you will likely accumulate some professional references as well.

Choosing a Niche

Once you have established yourself as a virtual assistant, you may want to consider choosing an area of specialization.   Most virtual assistants choose to specialize in a field of interest, such as real estate or medical transcription.  Make the most of your expertise and interests when choosing a niche market.  Specializing will help you gain credibility with your clients.  Over time, you will become an expert in your field, all from the comfort of your own home. 

Sources:

(2007). The Media’s Virtual Assistant Survey Results.  Retrieved March 7, 2009 from VA Networking Website:

http://www.vanetworking.com/survey/virtual-assistant-statistics.htm.

(2004). Virtual Assistant Skill set.  Retrieved March 7, 2009 from Virtual Assistant Certification Website:   http://www.vacertification.com/skillset.htm

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When Beadphoria has a product that it loves, we like to share. Recently, we found a publishing program that will make your small business look like a large corporation in just a few clicks.  Beadphoria is a huge fan of Motherhood Incorporated so we wanted to share our good fortune with the readers over at Motherhood.

Printshop Pro Publisher Deluxe version 23 by Broderbund is a must for anyone that is looking to bring their business to the next level. With over 23,000 templates, 900 fonts, and 420,000 images and graphics, the combination is almost endless. The quality products produced look like you paid for a high priced graphic designer instead of publishing from a home printer.

The program comes with what would be expected with a publishing program, such as mail merge, saving as a pdf, and photo editing tools, but included are a few surprises. A logo creator, business form tool, and a small business center by Entrepreneur.com will make desktop publishing a breeze.

Beadphoria has used Printshop Pro Publisher for their business cards, brochures, faxes, and receipts with rave reviews. The best part is what you would normally pay hundreds of dollars for desktop publishing is only $89.99! Go to their website for a fall 10% off sale or check your local office supply store to find this extremely useful tool for your business.

FTC Notice – Beadphoria has not in any way received any payment to endorse this product.

If you have any questions about beading, or jewelry business marketing tips, please feel free to contact me at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com. Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson ofSuzann@Beadphoria.com. Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

 by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

 Do you need a few more minutes to concentrate?  Are you finding it hard to focus with a two-year-old climbing in your lap?  This is a challenge many work-at-home moms face while their children are young.  Here are five items you may already have to entertain your toddler in a pinch:

Empty Boxes

Most of us have seen a toddler open a gift only to find the box more interesting than the present so thoughtfully tucked inside.  Hang on to a few empty boxes of varying size, and pull them out when your child is bored.  Set up large boxes as a fort, or open the ends to make a tunnel.  Smaller boxes make a great bed for stuffed animals, target for balls or beanbags, or can be used for sorting games. 

Tissue Paper

Young children love the crisp sound of tissue paper rustling in their hands.  Set aside some gift wrapping tissue, and give it to your child when he is bored.  Let him crinkle, cover and tear, while you meet your deadlines.  Just be prepared for a bit of a mess later.

Index Cards

A little tape, some crayons, and your toddler’s imagination add up to reusable fun.  Make your own flash cards by having your child draw on index cards.  If you have some time, cut pictures she likes from old magazines or use pictures of your family.  Tape the pictures to the cards, and cover them with clear contact paper to use again and again.

Paper Bags

An assortment of paper bags can be hours of fun for your little one.  Large bags can be used to play grocery store, or as a target for tossing soft balls or bean bags.  Smaller bags come in handy for making puppets.  Have your child decorate the puppet, and then show him how to make his new toy talk using his hand.

Old Greeting Cards

The next time there is a birthday in your house, save a few of the greeting cards, along with their envelopes.  Toddlers love the brightly decorated cards and will have fun taking them in and out of their envelopes.  Pair them with a shoe “mail” box, and the two of you can open your mail together.

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by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

 If you are a creative, outgoing problem-solver, then Public Relations Consulting may be the work-at-home job for you.  Public relations consultants build and maintain positive relationships with the public.  Their clients include individuals, businesses, nonprofit organizations, government officials and agencies.  Their responsibilities include writing press releases, speeches, and articles. They may also be responsible for arranging press conferences, and setting up speaking engagements.  A college degree in public relations, journalism, advertising, or communication can be very helpful in this field.

The Technology

You will need to set up your home office with basic communications equipment, such as a computer with access to the Internet, an email account, printer and fax machine.  An online fax service may be a viable option for those who prefer not to invest in a fax machine and second phone line.  A quick search of the Internet will turn up several providers.

Getting Started

A portfolio of previous work is key to finding employment in the public relations field.  Include items such as published articles, television or radio programs, press releases and presentations in your portfolio.  Build a portfolio by taking on a part-time internship or volunteering your services to a nonprofit organization.  Joining a professional organization will help you gain contacts within the industry. 

Certification

Certification can be beneficial to a career in public relations.  Professional recognition as a certified public relations consultant will demonstrate your expertise, and your dedication to the field.  Certification also helps you gain credibility with potential clients and employers.  Both the Public Relations Society of America and the International Association of Business Communicators offer certification designations.  Both of these organizations require candidates to have at least 5 years full-time work experience, in addition to a bachelor’s degree.  Candidates must also successfully pass an examination to receive certification.

The public relations field is expected to grow more rapidly than most careers through 2016.  Public relations consulting, when paired with a self-motivated, enthusiastic individual can be an outstanding career choice for the work-at-home mom.

Source:

(2008). The Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition.  Retrieved March 9, 2009 from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Website:  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos086.htm.

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by Shannon Penrod

Okay, I admit it, I’m crabby today.  And don’t tell me it’s hormonal, that just makes me crabbier.  Is it just me?  I know I got an extra hour handed to me over the weekend because of Daylight Savings, but does anyone else feel like it came at the cost of ten or so other hours?  It reminds of when I go to big sale at a department store, 50% off of everything, only everything was marked up 75% to begin with.  Did I mention I’m crabby?

Where does the time go?  On Friday there was the trip to the Pumpkin Patch, on Saturday the trip to the Fall Carnival and trick or treating afterward.  Yesterday there was a birthday party.  Sure I gained an hour, but it was spent on the Halloween treadmill.  

Don’t get me wrong I love the holidays, all of them.  I love anything that interupts the monotony and gives us a reason to celebrate and create memories.  I love it, but I am always glad to get back to normalcy.  Today was supposed to be normalcy.  I scheduled it.  It’s in my plannner.  Which apparently no one else bothered to check. Noooooo.

Instead the powers that be decided to change school picture retake day to today!  Except in my planner it is clearly written that the picture retake is tomorrow.  Today is taking my son to get a haircut, to fix the hack job I did on it so he could be Spock for Halloween.  Today is the day I am going to wash and iron his blue shirt for the picture.  It’s in my planner! Today is not the day that we are taking pictures!  Except it is.  So now I am home finding another shirt, muttering, grabbing scissors and running back up to school to give my precious bug at least a trim so he doesn’t have the life long horror of a first grade picture that looks like his mother was drunk when she cut his hair. 

I get to school just in time to hear one of my son’s classmates say that his head is itching again.  This is the little boy that has had lice outbreaks twice this year already.  So far we have remained louse free, but really how long do we think my luck can hold out at this rate? Heavy sigh.  Lice is definately not in the planner for today.

I know that in the realm of things these are small problems.  I know that my frustration and inability to go with the flow has to do with the estrogen that is leaving my body like rats abandoning a sinking ship.  It all comes down to time.  Time is passing.  I’m getting older by the minute, more importantly my child is getting older by the minute.  There’s so much I want to teach him, so much I want to do with him. There is never enough time.  The time succubus marches on.  My job is to learn to release my expectations, relinquish my control issues and enjoy the moment.  Yeah…..well wish me luck with that.  Maybe if I schedule it in my planner…..