Divorce, Half-Siblings & Life. It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again.
05 Mar 2012 6 Comments
in Children, Death, Divorce, Family, Relationships Tags: Absent Fathers, Children, Death of Parent, Divorce, Half-siblings, Life, Relationships, Starting over
Above picture from Pinterest. Quote from Benjamin Button.
Today I saw some pictures that my half-sister posted on Facebook. They were pictures of a part of my family that I don’t know very well. The pictures included all four of my older half-siblings from my father’s first marriage and photos of my father as a young man.
I only remember meeting my biological father a handful of times before he died. He died while I was in college and he and my mom divorced before I turned one. I have no memory of what he looked like as a young man, and I don’t know much about who he was and what he was like in person. Seeing the pictures of him and his first family struck a nerve deep within me. It’s painful. More
Like this:
For Book Lovers ~ The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (The Full Video)
29 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Books, DVD’s, Music & Video Games Tags: Best Animated Film, Books, Movies, Oscars 2012, Short Film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morriss Lessmore
I couldn’t help sharing this. If you are a book lover, you will love The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. This 15-minute film won the Oscar for Best Animated Short film a couple of nights ago at the Academy Awards. Everything I believe to be true about the magical and transformative power of books is animated in this short film. I love the sweet ending too. Hope you enjoy. 
Like this:
Apology, Krill Oil, and Pain to Gain
24 Feb 2012 2 Comments
in Development, Fitness, Health, Mental & Physical Health Tags: Excercise, Krill Oil, Life, Pain
Photo from Pinterest
First, I’d like to apologize to the Secrets of Moms readers who were sent to the Go Daddy site, which seems to be promoting and advertising “Booty Calls” “Sex With Random People”, and “Married but Playing”. YUCK!! Over the weekend, my domain name expired while I was out of town and apparently, Go Daddy bought it. I won’t focus on how frustrated I am about this right now because there’s no point in whining. I’ll just say sorry for the inconvenience and please change your bookmark to www.secretsofmomsblog.com. If you are an email subscriber, you don’t need to change anything because I already fixed the email link issue.
Okay, now let’s talk about krill oil, pain, and life. More
Life…What is Important?
22 Feb 2012 1 Comment
in Family, Kids, Marriage, Precious Moments Tags: Death, Life, Living Now, Love
Photo of our girls.
This past weekend was emotional. Sunday we heard about three guys who died in an avalanche backcountry skiing at Stevens Pass. My husband and his friends ski back there all the time. As it turns out, my husband went to school with two of the skiers who died. Another one of our good friends, Adam, was there with the skiers when the avalanche hit and he tried to resuscitate one of the men who died. Adam is an awesome man.
It’s always sad when someone dies, but knowing how young these guys were, that they left loved ones behind, and that my husband’s friend was a father of an eight and a ten year old, really hit home hard. You just never know where life will take you so love the ones your with right now.
I saw the below list last week. I think it’s important. More
Stay-at-Home Moms…When The Kids Are In School Full Time–How Do You Feel? How Does Life Change?
31 Jan 2012 7 Comments
in Anxiety, Children, Confidence, Development, Elementary School, Family, Mental & Physical Health, Perfection, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Stay-at-Home Moms, Support Groups, Time Management, Working Moms Tags: Anxiety, Kids in School, Pressure, Stay-at-Home Moms, Transitions, Working Moms
Photo from Pinterest
Here I am sitting in café writing. I never do this-ever! I’m feeling really crunched for time lately. I’m here at the café writing because we live thirty minutes from our daughters’ school/dance classes and it seems silly to drive all the way home and then turn around and drive another half hour back when I’m already commuting a minimum of two hours a day. I’m trying to be more disciplined, organized, and efficient with my time. You’d think I’d have lots of extra time since I’m a stay-at-home mom and my kids are in 1st and 4th grade, but I don’t.
Life is busy and being a stay-at-home mom is busier than it may seem. There are so many things to do every day (I’m not sitting around doing nothing). Sometimes the work that I do seems invisible because it’s repetitive. Like making sure all the laundry is clean, cooking home-made meals every night, making egg-free lunches every day, washing dishes, cleaning the house, driving the kids to and from school and after school activities, helping with homework, volunteering at their school, quality family time, etc. The list goes on forever.
I’ve thought a lot lately about how working moms do it. I feel inadequate when I think about it. Sometimes I feel like maybe I should do more…Then I think about everything I do and I circle back to—I am doing a lot. I’m productive; I’m not lazy. How do working moms do it all!?!
Something has to give, right? More
Is Fear Holding You Back?
25 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Uncategorized Tags: Confidence, Development, Discipline, Goals, Mental Health, Pressure, Self-Esteem, Transitions
Pictures from Pinterest
I turned 39 last Sunday. It was kind of a crazy day. We had spent the weekend at a house in the rural foothills of Eastern Washington surrounded by nearly four feet of soft powdery snow. It was beautiful! When we arrived on Friday, we had to snowmobile in with our bags part of the way because our vehicle couldn’t get through part of the road that hadn’t been plowed. When it was time to leave on Sunday, we had to hike three miles with our kids and cat/dog because our vehicle had to be towed out part of the way because it was stuck on an icy road on a steep hill. If I had known the roads would have been so tricky, I probably wouldn’t have gone…but guess what? I do know what the roads are like and we’re going back this weekend! We’ll just be a little more prepared (with chains) this time.
I know it probably sounds crazy (at least that’s what my mom says), but honestly the almost 72 hours of fun, beauty, adventure, and relaxation we experienced was worth the several hours of hiking and digging that we had to do. I’ve realized that there are probably many things I haven’t done in the past out of fear. More
Like this:
Why I Admire Ma Ingalls by Janell Kaufman
20 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Children, Family Tags: Children at Home, Family, Ingalls, Pioneering Women, School's Out, Snow Days
I grew up on “Little House on the Prairie”. The TV show, the books, even my imaginary friend, Laura. I used to run home from school so that I could watch the rerun at 3:00 in the afternoon. I admire so much about the pioneering spirit and all that those who took the chance and moved west accomplished. If it weren’t for those pioneers I would not be here on the Far West Coast. The Westward movement has become my favorite era in history. Today I am admiring Ma Ingalls for those long winters spent in a one-room cabin with two little girls when it was too cold and snowy outside to leave the house. More
What do you know about who is speaking to your children? Does it matter?
16 Jan 2012 1 Comment
in Abuse, Eating Disorders, Education, Elementary School, High School, Middle School, Sex, Teachers, Teenagers Tags: Abuse, Addiction, Eating Disorders, Education, Facebook, Friends, High School, Illness, Legal Obligation, Mentors, Rape, School, Self-Esteem, Sex, Speakers, Teens
Photo from Pinterest
This past weekend, some serious allegations were brought to light regarding a group (more specifically the group’s co-founder) who was scheduled to visit several high schools in my area next month. The result was the co-founder, who was also one of the lead speakers, resigning. I’m guessing he resigned because his past has been highly publicized in the last several weeks causing major uproar and because his current published writing is viewed by some as über controversial, damaging, and inappropriate. More
Like this:
What’s For Dinner? Easy Crock Pot Beef Tacos
13 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment
in Food, Picky Eaters & Feeding Issues Tags: Beef Taco, Slow Cook Meal
Photo from Pinterest
My daughters liked hard shell tacos, my husband liked the mix in a soft tortilla, and I enjoyed mine out of a bowl. I added Pico de Gallo salsa and chips to my bowl. So good!
After the dish has finished cooking, you can embellish with avocado, sour cream, salsa, jalapeno, habenaro, green onions, black olives, cheese, hot sauce, or whatever else you love. More
Body Image, Self-Esteem & the Box
10 Jan 2012 4 Comments
in Beauty, Body Image Issues, Confidence, Perfection, Self-Esteem Tags: Beauty, Body Image, Confidence, Progress, Self-Esteem
Photo from Pinterest
When I read If This is Progress Where the Hell Are We Going? — The Girl Revolution, by Tracee Sioux, I felt compelled write about this topic. Tracee is asking the question: what is progress when it comes to body image and self-esteem? I’ve been pondering this question for quite some time now. More
