I have officially been a mom for almost eight years.  I have been busy being pregnant, birthing babies, changing diapers and raising kids.  I am not complaining…I love every minute of staying home with my kids.  But there is one truth we all share as mothers.  It is really hard to take time for ourselves.

I recently shared a conversation with a mom I admire beyond words.  She was telling me how her only time to workout was after her kids went to bed.  My jaw dropped at her dedication and work ethic.  By the end of the day I am usually pretty worthless. 

This is something I feel we all struggle with, keeping up our homes, raising happy kids, keeping up with the bills, homework assignments and oh, I almost forgot…taking time to take care of ourselves.

This is an area where I have failed.  I often feel exhausted, frustrated and unable to get the exercise and personal study time accomplished each day.  I feel like I can’t continue to put myself last.  I need to somehow make a change to get my exercise and quiet time each day. 

My children are getting older and I feel like I finally am at a point where I can join a gym.  There is a small amount of guilt I feel inside by putting my kids in the daycare area.  When I start to feel this guilt, I remind myself how important it is for me to take care of myself so that I have the energy each day to keep up with them.  I also remind myself that I want to be healthy and strong to be here for them for as long as I can.  Here is to a summer of health and excercise for mom!!

**I took this picture while I was in Utah of a girl biking…it inspired me!

How do you take time for yourself while keeping up with all the responsibilities of motherhood?

I wish I had an acutal picture of me juggling but that would involve a laptop, two boys, a husband, a dog, a house and a few other miscellaneous items. I could really hurt myself, be laid up for weeks and then we all know what would happen to all those items up in the air.

I know how lucky I am to be able to be home with my boys but I still have so much on my plate some days that my neck starts to hurt and I start snapping at everyone around me. As of this moment I have five part-time jobs….yes, I said five, in addition to my roles as mom and wife. The summer has exploded into me taking two classes and teaching four. Throw in prepping for my preschoolers in the fall and I am one busy lady. That said, I am strangely content with all that is going on – at least on most days!

I work hard to take time to relax and to step away from my computer and have some time with my family. You can tell from other posts that I am also a fan of the vacation…. I know at the end of all it we will have some extra money to allow us to go away and relax for a week. I look forward to it and need it.

I like to look at summer as lots of fun with some work thrown in for good measure. It helps keep me current in my career and gives me some time to interact with other adults. Don’t get me wrong….there are days when I do drop one of  the balls and I wonder why I try to do so much. Luckily, a glass of wine and a good night’s sleep are usually all it takes to get me back on track.

What do you do to keep things running smoothly?

With the summer heat, pools can be quite enticing.  However, sometimes the preparation can be daunting.  You have to make sure to be prepared!  Sunscreen, pool toys, water to drink, extra clothes, snacks, hats, sunglasses,  towels, etc. are just the beginning  Last week, we ventured out with friends and the whole experience was great! 

I learned that as prepared as I thought I was, I had still neglected some key things; like remembering to reapply sunscreen.  It was an overcast day and the most dangerous for those harmful rays.  Plus, add the cooling relief of the water, it can often go unnoticed until it’s too late as my tween found out. 

Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

1. UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute to skin cancer, such as melanoma. Because UVA rays pass effortlessly through the ozone layer (the protective layer of atmosphere, or shield, surrounding the earth), they make up the majority of our sun exposure. Beware of tanning beds because they use UVA rays. A UVA tan does not help protect the skin from further sun damage; it merely produces color and a false sense of protection from the sun.   My friend had brought this to light as we talked about spray tans, etc.  It makes you feel tan and “protected,” but really does not offer a true base.
2. UVB rays are also dangerous, causing sunburns, cataracts (clouding of the eye lens), and immune system damage. They also contribute to skin cancer. Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is thought to be associated with severe UVB sunburns that occur before the age of 20. Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, but enough of these rays pass through to cause serious damage.
3. UVC rays are the most dangerous, but fortunately, these rays are blocked by the ozone layer and don’t reach the earth.

I found this article that gave more tips and hints about sun safety, especially with kids and tweens.  Although familiar, it is always nice to be reminded.  We are a fair family with an over protective healthcare worker in the family who insists we avoid prime time in the sun and that we cover up as much as possible.  We are trying to teach our children that fair is beautiful, although I feel as though we wage a war against media imaging.

What do you like most about pool playtime?  Do you discover new tricks with each trip?  If so, please share!

There is never a dull moment around our home.  My husband loves to have his hands busy with projects.  I love this about him, but I love it even more when I see the children taking an active role in helping him with projects.

I find it hard sometimes to let go of doing a project and allow the kids to throw their little helpful hands in and take part.  There is something that happens inside my tween when he picks up a hammer and helps his dad.  It is like this sense of pride and accomplishment washes over him.  There are so many positive things that come from allowing children to help with the things we are doing.  The project will definitely not get done ANY quicker, but it will be a positive experience for the child.  Isn’t that what we want for our children?  We want them to have as many positive and rewarding experiences at home as possible.

There are also so many opportunities to give them chances to be creative with projects.  I love seeing the fun things other moms do with their children.  Whether it is making necklaces, tiara’s or sand castles, there is always an opportunity to help foster their creativity.

Here are just a few ideas to try out this summer:

-  Give them a magazine some snapshots of themselves and some glue and poster board.  See what kind of ‘art’ they come up with.

-  Give them some scraps of wood, some paint, paintbrushes and a few thumb tacks and see what they come up with.

-  Give them some edible ingredients and see what type of treat they can make on their own without any help.

These are just a few ideas to get your mind going………have fun with those kiddos, the summer will be over before we know it!

How do you involve your tweens in at-home projects?

The term “quality time” gets tossed around a lot. Every time I hear it, I wonder what it really means. Does it mean being in the same room as your kids? Does it mean actively engaging in an activity with them? Does it mean showing up at their events? do they all fit the definition? I have come to the conclusion that they do. 

Quality vacation time at Busch Gardens

As most of you know, I keep busy at home with several part-time jobs. I spend a good part of my day on my computer or at least within arms reach of it. I take a break to watch some TV with the boys or I’ll help with an art project, but the majority of my day is just spent being near them. We are all home together..if they play outside I will take my laptop on the patio (if I have work to get done) or I will sit out there and read while they play. It means a lot to me (and them I think) just knowing that I am here for them if and when they need me. 

Other times we do go out to the pool or visit the aquarium and it is just the three of us, all focused on the same thing. Another favorite thing for my husband and I is taking the boys on “dates” for some one-on-one time. These moments are nice and important, but I feel like our time just spent in each other’s company, with all four doing different things, is just as important. 

I want to spent lots of time with Jake and Sam, but I also want to make sure they learn to be on their own and with each other just as much. Merriam Webster defines quality as “superiority of any kind” and I think these two different ways of being with my kids are both superior…in their own way.  

How do you define quality time with your tweens?