Matter of time...

"Mom, this is a Chipmunks song!"

We were listening to "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga......

Question 1: When did Olivia watch a Chipmunks movie?

Question 2: How on earth did "Born This Way" figure into the movie plot about singing chipmunks?

Question 3: Am I approaching a time when my daughter is going to start informing me of styles and trends?

According to the latest ranges, I'm technically a part of Generation Y.  I'm still in my early 30's and under the impression that though I may not participate in many trends, I'm generally aware of them.   I base this statement on the fact that I typically have some level of recognition of at least one item on the cover of US Weekly.  However, my proximity to the "pulse" of what is going on, my grasp on the hip and happening is slipping, or arguably has slipped, or if you want to be really nasty – evaporated circa 2005.  I'm not completely out of touch, but there are definitely trends, sayings, and happenings that aren't targeted towards me and likely will be targeted towards my kids in the near future.  I don’t know if we’re there yet, and certainly my hope is that my interest in trends will keep me holding hands or in the outer circles of zeitgeist for a few more years, but I think my daughter just shared a very common phrase with me that will be echoed throughout the years ahead..

Thank you Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

It's a smelly lifestyle.....

My thought this morning, after providing breakfast, OT treatments, cleaning up rooms, doing PRT with my son, and cleaning up the kitchen all before brushing my teeth is that…..

 Mothering is a smelly job.

No, change that.  Mothering is a smelly lifestyle.   I’ve been struggling a lot lately with my “job” of being a mom.  I know it is super selfish and ungrateful and that I’m a horrible person, so you don’t need to tell me how lucky I am to have the opportunity to complain about being a mom since so many don’t get a chance to be in this position in the first place.  But it hit me this morning.  I’m looking at being a mom as a job, when really it is a lifestyle choice.  Just as being married is not a job, it is a choice you make (typically in a large white dress surrounded by friends and family) that changes your life trajectory.  I am hopeful this shift could help me relieve some of the stress that I’ve been under lately.  And keep things in perspective.  For example; if being a mom is my “job”, then I feel I’m failing at it miserably.  I haven’t been able to cure my child of his autism.  His tantrums and struggles break my heart and I cry a lot throughout the day out of frustration and anger. Also, while I think I am doing a pretty good “job” at raising my 4 year old, she does not have perfect manners, is not fed strictly organic food and thinks her mom is crazy (in a fun and loving way, but definitely crazy).   If being a mom is my “lifestyle”, maybe I can have a bit more leeway…… Maybe I can work at all of the things I am trying to achieve for my children, implementing better diet choices, researching new therapies and discipline strategies, but if they don’t instantly “work” then I can just keep trying them, keep plugging away at what I’m trying to create in our family (peace, love, harmony, good will towards men) and not measure myself against metrics that I can never quite hit…...?

Just a thought about a new way to attack the modern mommy problems.  You know, the ones we created for ourselves because we want the absolute BEST for our children and want them to become the most well-adjusted, healthy people they can be and we need to make it look effortless and like we have no struggles at all because everyone else seems to make it look that way.

Alright, I’m off to brush my teeth.