Birthday Reflections

It's my birthday today. If I had written the post I had in mind yesterday, it would be completely different from that of today. Yesterday, I was thinking about how birthdays just aren't the same when you have young kids. It isn't your day at all. It's still all about your children. I begrudged that fact a little bit, since I think a birthday should be all about the birthday person, but as a mom you have to give that up for a while.

Growing up, I truly felt like my birthday was the most special day of the year. Cheers to my mom, for it's not an easy feat when your child's birthday comes between Christmas and New Years. Yet, for me, my mom managed to make the 30th of December the absolute best day of every year. And cheers to the mothers of my friends, who happily sent their kids for sleepovers, pizza and scary movies at my house year after year from Kindergarten through high school.

Yesterday, I told my husband that all I wanted today was to sleep in and then later in the day, of course, have champagne and chocolate birthday cake. He agreed, but I secretly doubted the sleeping in part. The Boy is always up early and that means so am I. For the past 7 years, my birthday has been spent taking care of my children, instead of myself, like it used to be.

Yet, today, I find myself surprised and enlightened.

I did get to sleep in - until 10am! That's when The Boy came in to show me he had dressed himself and to tell me that it was almost time for the party! I took my time showering and getting ready. When I came downstairs, with prior approval from my husband and to the sounds of my children rushing about, my wonderful family shouted out, "Happy Birthday!"

The girls had made a "Happy Birthday!" poster, gifts of felt hearts, string and bead necklaces and pipe cleaner rings. Coffee service was set up alongside my favorite biscuits and the smiles of my children lit the room brighter than candles.

Later this afternoon, we'll head out for dinner at a pub and come home to Champagne and chocolate cake. My heart is full as I realize the beautiful truth - Today isn't all about me anymore, it's about my children celebrating me.

That's better than anything in the world.

Happy Birthday!

Merry Christmas!

To all my family, friends and readers:

The spirit of Christmas is not in a gift or a meal

You’ll find in your heart a meaning that’s real

To hold loved ones close, share a word, share a smile

To enjoy time together, if just for a while

And if, like today, we’re far from the ones we hold dear

We send loving wishes for a very

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Love, Tamara

Thoughts from a Cop - Officer Mommy's Holiday Season Safety Tips Part 3

It's our third and final installment of Thoughts From a Cop - Officer Mom's Holiday Season Safety Tips. This weekend will be crazy, congested and you need to put safety first! If you haven't read the first two tips, you can here: Tip #1, Tip #2.

Tip #3 is about Car-Jackings. Though this seems like big-city crimes, it can happen anywhere and with kids in tow, many of us forget to pay attention to our surroundings. Officer Mom reminds us just how important it is to stay vigilant! Take it away, sis! 

Car-jackings are at an all-time high this holiday season, and these criminals don't know (or care) if your children are inconveniently secured into the vehicle they are targeting. The best defense is a good offense in this case. Don't be an easy target. Be observant of your surroundings. 

When gassing up your vehicle, sit inside with your children and lock the doors. When you get out of the vehicle make sure that it is turned off, put the keys in your pocket, and lock the doors (yes, even if you are standing next to the vehicle). Look around for people (and look for people who are looking around...that's your bad guy looking for a target or for the absence of witnesses) and make eye contact with them. 

Look them up and down and take notice of what they look like and what they are wearing. Bad guys don't like observant victims so they will look for the victim with their head down not paying attention to what is going on around them.  

When parking at shopping centers, again, look for anyone loitering around. Everyone is busy, everyone has something to do, somewhere to go, so the person just standing around is the one looking for a victim and an opportunity.

If you think you are being followed as you walk back to your car, make sure you cross over to the next aisle and walk back into the store. Don't be embarrassed to ask someone to walk you to your car. When you get to your car make sure you are looking all around, especially at the cars directly next to yours. Is there someone sitting in it? If so be very mindful of them...they could be lying in wait for you. 

As you secure your children force yourself to look outside of the car for anyone walking around or toward you. Pay attention and be safe, not sorry. Trust your instincts...if you feel uneasy, immediately walk back to the store. 

Keep this in mind...how many stories have you heard of someone being abducted from a parking lot? How many stories have you heard of someone who was not abducted because they saw something that made them feel uneasy and sought help? NONE! Because THAT person did not get abducted!!

Thanks, Officer Mommy!

If you enjoy these features from Officer Mom, please let me know. "Enjoy" might not be quite the right word, but safety is important, and I for one like hearing the perspective of a woman who is a mother and a police officer, not to mention one smart cookie (I know, she's my sister). Who better to hear from to help us keep our children and families safe! 

If you have questions for which you'd like to hear her thoughts, email them to me at adgmommy (at) gmail.com and we'll answer them in an upcoming post!

Win An iPad Mini with Wet Wipes!

Enter HERE

Wet Ones wants to hear your tips for handling sticky situations! You could be featured in a Wet Ones e-book, win 4 tickets to Six Flags or, if you're the grand prize winner, an iPad mini!
Visit

I entered the contest and shared my story of when I left my daughters alone for too long! Here's what I wrote:


I could hear my two daughters playing nicely. They were coloring, an activity that could keep them busy for hours. They were typically reliable and trustworthy, having been repeatedly told that we color only on paper. 

It was after I realized how quiet they were being that I might be in trouble. When I came out to visually check on them, they had colored all over their faces, hands and legs with not crayon… marker. Not permanent, thank goodness, but not the washable kind either!

Wipes helped to do major damage control! They were only colored for a few days!

My 2 tips: 

Never to leave your children alone for too long, even when you can hear them, and 
Always keep wipes handy! A pack upstairs, downstairs, in your purse and in the car!

 

The artist

and her work

What's the stickiest situation you've ever had?

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Wet Ones. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.

It's Just the Flu

Cat nap on the school run.
Photo by Me. All Rights Reserved.

The flu hit us this week. It's the first time we've all had it. The first year we didn't get vaccinated, with the move it was overlooked. First came, Little Rose, who was sick all weekend and has missed school all week with her typical double dose of illnesses: UTI and the flu. I didn't realize it was the flu until The Boy woke up a feverish mess Monday morning.

I miss school buses at these times. My kids have never ridden one to school, but it sure would be nice. I dragged two sick kids to school to drop off one. Nature Girl avoided getting sick until Wednesday. I was relieved she managed to get through her school play before waking up the next morning a feverish mess.

I left the two younger ones with Papa and took Nature Girl to her performance. I entered her school and realized a striking similarity in layout to Sandy Hook. The office... the younger children's classrooms just off to the left. My daughters are ages 6 and 7.

I stood in the hall where the stage was set up and had to work to keep my composure. Those thoughts of how and why racing through my mind. The What-Ifs. My imagination filling in the terrible details of the scene.

I have steadfastly avoided over exposing myself to this news. I haven't watched any at all, but have read reports, read the names and seen the faces of the adults and children lost and signed multiple gun control petitions. We don't need to immerse ourselves in this to respect and honor the dead.

I've chosen not to tell my children. Fortunately, the English schools aren't bringing it up and it's easier for parents here to shield their young children from news overseas. I turn off the radio when the news comes on, and from previous explanations, the girls understand that I do so when the news is inappropriate for their age. It's my job to protect them. To preserve their innocence.

Today it is my turn. It's hard to avoid getting sick when children are literally coughing in your face. The children are on the mend, hopefully back in school for one last day tomorrow. I'm the only one left with a fever, but I've welcomed the opportunity to cuddle for hours with my little ones, taking turns reading, napping with The Boy. Asking, "Who's going to take care of Mommy?" and having them all wrap their arms around me telling me they will.

In the day to day, dealing with a house full of feverish, coughing, miserable children seems hard. But this week I have perspective. I get to wrap my arms around them and comfort them and be comforted by them. They will get better. My children will have Christmas. My family is together, on the road to health and I am so grateful.