It's All About Perspectives

Recently I found an email I sent to a friend whose baby was born a few months after mine. At the time of the email my kiddo was about 6 weeks and she was still pregnant. We were talking about baby sleep and books we had read on the subject and I said... and I quote... "I think we're just lucky because he's a naturally good sleeper." I SAID THAT! I TYPED THOSE WORDS!

So I was trying to remember WHY I would've possibly said that... Was I intentionally lying? Was I trying not to scare her? And I realized -- he was only six weeks old. He probably did sleep well for a newborn. Everyone expects a newborn to get up every few hours. From the perspective of a first-time mother of a six-week old I really thought I had a naturally good sleeper. People do not expect a two year old to be up every few hours... which is what I'm working with right now... <sigh>

And there are much more serious issues that should be kept in perspective. I love the Twitter hashtag of #firstworldproblems. Examples of this include -- @Mr_Micha_ "Trying to get my fireplace app on my iPad to play over AirPlay on my flat screen. #firstworldproblems" and @MBvisor  "I'm getting a pedicure and can't figure out how the remote to the massage chair. #firstworldproblems" This hashtag basically gives western teenagers, hippies, yuppies and suburban moms permission to complain about the trivial problems in their life while acknowledging that said "problems" are, in fact, relatively insignificant.

I'm guilty of this too. I do it all of the time. I get pissy when kiddo is being needy or hubby is late getting home from work or my mom can't watch kiddo for a few hours so I can clean the house. I forget to be grateful for my sweet son or my husband's job or the fact that my mom has been cancer-free for almost 5 years. 

So even though it's no longer Thanksgiving, it's still the holiday season and a time to remember to appreciate all of the "gifts" in your life.

Merry Christmas

Moms are funny too...

The super-hilarious Tina Fey was on Fresh Air the other day. She read this excerpt from her new book "Bossypants" and it's awesome. 

The Mother’s Prayer for Her Daughter

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither the Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches. May she be beautiful but not damaged, for it’s the damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the beauty. When the crystal meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half, and stick with beer.

Lead her away from acting, but not all the way to finance – something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes and not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture, midwifery, golf course design? I’m asking you because if I knew, I’d be doing it, dammit.

May she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her own hearts with the sinewy strength of her own arms, so she need not lie with drummers. Oh Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers and the online marketing campaign for “Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.”

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a bitch in front of Hollister, give me strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, for I will not have that nonsense. I will not have it.

Worst Week Ever -- And It's Only Wednesday

My sweet boy is very sick. Not life-threateningly sick, but in a lot of pain sick. He has an ear infection that  has been around for several weeks and now he has hand, foot and mouth disease (not an actual disease -- just a virus). He has sores all over his mouth and hasn't been able to eat, drink or sleep much in days. It even hurts too much for him to really nurse. I feel so sorry for him. I have a million things I need to do, but all else fades away when my little monkey is feeling bad. The worse thing is that there's absolutely nothing that can be done about the HFM -- I can only hold him and let him cry and tell him mama loves him. It's really heartbreaking at my house lately. I'm hoping it only lasts a few more days :-(

Top Ten Mama Necessities Money Can't Buy

Welcome to the March Carnival of Natural Parenting: Natural Parenting Top 10 Lists

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared Top 10 lists on a wide variety of aspects of attachment parenting and natural living. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

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I've found myself writing a lot about baby "stuff" lately. And I know why -- baby "stuff" is fun. I'm a touch addicted to all the cute hippie baby accoutrement that comes with natural parenting. I love everything from baby legs to teething necklaces, from ring slings to nursing jewelry. But it's important for me to remember that the "stuff" is necessary. The most important mama must-have can't be bought in stores (or online).

Crunchy(ish) Mama's Top Ten Mama Necessities Money Can't Buy

1) Supportive Partner - I went the old-fashioned route when it came to forming a family, but whether you're raising your child with a spouse, best friend or same-sex partner their constant love and support is invaluable.

2) Your Mama Body - I have the same body issues as 99% of other women, but there's nothing like having a child to make you appreciate how perfectly designed your body is. Birth, breastfeeding, even carrying my son on my hip, have made me realize that all parts of my body are beautiful and have purpose.

3) Extended Family  - My parents, in-laws and sister live within an hour of me and it is awesome. I have no idea how people raise children without the help of their families.

4) Online Resources - The online expecting mothers forum I joined when I was 8 weeks pregnant has shaped the way I parent. The mothers on that forum introduced me to attachment parenting and truly changed my life. My two favorite online parenting resourses are Kelly Mom and Natural Parents Network.

5) Mama Friends - This may be bad, but I really don't like to go anywhere with kiddo and friends who don't have children. Only another mother understands that what should take 10 minutes may just take an hour because your toddler insists on doing it himself.

Beautiful Quotes on Motherhood

Once you bring life into this world, you must protect it. We must protect it by changing the world.

-Elie Weisel

A woman with a child rediscovers the world. All is changed – politics, loyalties, needs. For now all is judged by the life of the child…and of all children.

-Pam Brown

If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do well matters very much.

- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

- Sophia Loren

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.
She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.

- Rajneesh