MOM of 7 Dates Her Kids! 03/08/2011

Filed under: Faith,family,Ian,Kids — Mom Of 7 @ 3:34 pm
Tags: Divorce, Family, Home, Mothers, Parenting, Question, Time, United States

MOM of 7 Dates Her Kids!

When I was divorcing my first husband my kids and I came up with this “date” concept. Simply, we would take turns having one-on-one time with each other. For three hours or so, generally on a weekend, one child and I would go somewhere (generally they got to pick) and we’d make it fun.

I loved it. I used it as a time to tell them what was going on (with the divorce) and figure out where they stood with all the change. The concept stuck and now several years later, we still do this.

Last weekend, my 10 year old, Ian, was driving me nuts. The first problem is that he is too much like me so we butt heads quite a bit. I love him dearly, but he’s one intense child, very strong-willed and very type A personality. Hmmm, wonder where he got all this—I’ll blame it all on my X husband but we all know that’s a lie! :)

The entire weekend I felt like I was having to correct him, redirect him, set him straight. So by the end of the weekend I was convinced HE HATED ME! Come on, you know how I feel. We’ve all been there. As parents you struggle with correcting/over correcting versus not doing a thing and if you know me I strongly abhor NOT DOING A THING. I have to do something. But after several episodes of confrontation with him I’m worn out emotionally.

So imagine my surprise, in the middle of the rough weekend, he asks ME for “boy time/girl time.” (that’s what he we call it: Boy time Girl Time or Girl Time) Of course, I said YES! Any opportunity to regroup in a positive way with my kids, I’m all about. So we agreed upon Monday night (last night).

Honestly, I haven’t seen this all American, sports loving boy be this excited in a long time. He instant messaged me as soon he got home yesterday. He couldn’t contain the excitement in his 10-year-old brain.

By 5:30 yesterday we were on the road to Dick’s Sporting Goods. He was in Heaven. And I was in Heaven cuz he was spending his allowance money, not my money. :)

But what made this night ultra cool was that once again I was reminded how important it is for us to make one-on-one time for each of our kids. Honestly, I find out the most and greatest information when I take the time to slow down and spend one-on-one time with them.

Yesterday, Ian was in his typical form asking deep question that HE initiated; questions about Heaven and Hell and sex and drugs, alcohol. He asked questions most 20 year olds wouldn’t ever ask their parents. He asked questions that he would NEVER ask if I hadn’t taken the time to be alone with him.

One of the last questions he asked was about hearing the voice of God. How? He wondered.

We finished our thoughts and questions as we pulled into the driveway nearly three hours after we started our “date”. I put the car in Park and Ian said “thanks!” I said…”for what?” He said, “thanks for everything Mom.”

The way he thanked me was so incredibly sincere sounding it truly touched my heart. I thought to myself, I didn’t spend any money on him (he used his allowance) but I gave him my time, and my thoughts and together we made great conversation. And for that, he thanked me from his heart.

My friends, NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE THE POWER OF ONE-ON-ONE TIME WITH YOUR KIDS!

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Always a MOM of 7. NEVER a MOM of 8! :( 03/04/2011

Filed under: family,Kids — Mom Of 7 @ 11:02 am
Tags: Child, Christian, Divorce, Facebook, Family, Home, Lord, Marriage, Oprah Winfrey, Parenting, Relationships, Self-esteem, Shopping

I know it sounds crazy. Totally crazy. Being a MOM of 8 sounds certifiable CRAZY! Right?

When I was growing up I thought I would only have one child as an adult. So I laugh often when I think….God, why did you give me 7?

In my first marriage, I had twins at the age of 28. About 2.5 years later, I had our third child. We were done; HIS shop was permanently closed. Well, fast forward a number of years, and a divorce and now a remarriage and I’ll be honest with you, I struggle GREATLY with the thought that Stephen and I will NEVER have our own children.

Stephen’s shop…closed, yet perhaps reversible. My shop? Different story. A few years ago, just PRIOR (ironic) to meeting Stephen, I had to have a pretty drastic surgery (we essentially had to fry my uterus) that complete prevents me from having any more children.

The desire to have another child is HUGE! I love being pregnant. I love the baby stage. I love, love, love 6 months to about 2 years. I love the smiles, the laughs, the little innocent personality that develops in front of my own eyes.

I look at friends baby pictures on Facebook and I just LONG for a baby. I see videos like this one and my heart aches to experience this stage once again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4abiHdQpc&feature=player_embedded

Stephen says we need to look forward to our kids having kids. Um, I say…no thanks. Not ready for that! :) I want MY OWN! LOL.

So, my reality is this….7 is enough. I LOVE our 7. I also know the Lord had a different plan and Stephen and I were never meant to have our own children. Our “plates” are full with 7 and the challenges are huge and days are long. But I’ll be honest with you, I think I will always be a little sad that after finding amazing love and a real partner in life with Stephen, that the two of us will never know what it’s like to have a child of our own.

Cuz shoot…..if we had a child of our own, that would be ONE REALLY TALL child!

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MOM of 7: Down and OUT! 02/22/2011

Filed under: Coping — Mom Of 7 @ 11:24 am
Tags: Charlie Sheen, Dina Lohan, Facebook, Good Morning America, Home, Lindsay Lohan, Parenting, TMZ.com

Mom of 7: DOWN and OUT!

Well, it’s been a long four days. I checked out of the world late last week and succumbed to the flu that has been working its way through every member in our house. It took a while but it caught up with me. UGH! So MOM of 7 has been off the radar and nowhere near Facebook or http://www.momof7.com

Talk about feeling OUT OF TOUCH!!!! Today, I’m back….a little.

So in honor of being sick and completely out of touch with the world I’m going to share the TOP 5 things I learned while being DOWN and OUT! Here we go:

5. No matter what day it is or what year it is, Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan will ALWAYS be making news!

4. No matter how “stocked” with groceries you believe you are, you NEVER have exactly what you need/crave when you are sick.

3. DayQuil tastes SO MUCH worse than NIQUIL! Why can’t they taste the same?

2. When you’re sick, the highlight of your day is taking a shower. It’s just a shame you don’t have any energy left once you turn off the water. So back to bed you go.

AND THE NUMBER 1 THING I LEARNED WHILE BEING DOWN AND OUT…..drum roll please…..

1. …that walking downstairs and seeing a dirty kitchen, while you are sick, only makes you sicker/angrier/more p.o’d.

(and no, this isn’t a picture of MY kitchen. :) Mine wasn’t nearly this bad…but when you’re sick everything seems to be exaggerated!!!)

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35 mins – 300 calories = MOM of 7 hates herself less 02/16/2011

Filed under: Better Life — Mom Of 7 @ 1:09 pm
Tags: Brain, Business, Career, Family, Guinness World Record, Home, Mother, Parenting

35 Minutes – 300 Calories = MOM of 7 Hates Herself Less

Yesterday just stunk! I’m tired of the cold weather. I’m tired of the lack of sunshine. I’m tired of looking at my backyard and wishing I was splashing in the pool. I’m tired of looking at my skin and thinking “could I get any whiter?”

I’ve decided that February has to be the MOST depressing month of all. It seems to me that February is the “darkest” month before everything comes back to life. Come on Spring…..hurry up and get here.

But as I was whining to Stephen over the phone last night I realized that while February does stink and winter just sucks, my real problem is the fight I’m having in my brain. I keep hearing this little voice tell me to work-out for just a few minutes, but I keep trying to ignore the voice.

Three years ago I made a major career change and in doing so I went from a job where I was buzzing around a television station like a bee to sitting down all day and negotiating contracts over the phone. When I get home, my brain is a little fried and I step right into my OTHER full-time job, being a Mom. So by 8pm I’m usually laying in bed chilling. So honestly, I’m pretty sedentary during the day. NOT GOOD!

The voice in my head got so loud yesterday that I could no longer ignore it.

(And the Q-tip I was trying to shove in my ear to quiet my brain wasn’t working)

I got on the bike and rode my little heart out until I had burned 300 calories. I also prayed while on the bike….I was asking God to help me cuz I have no desire on my own, to exercise. I need His help!

The voice in my head won! I am convicted!

So 35 minutes later I had burned the 300 calories (my goal) and as I got off the bike I thought 3 things:

1. Am I going to fall when I try to walk? :)

2. WOW! I feel great! I no longer hate myself and I was able to silence the destructive voices in my head telling me I was lazy.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY I THOUGHT……

What other voices am I trying to ignore? Because I bet if we were all honest with ourselves we would admit to ignoring voices in our head that are trying to convict us TO DO THE RIGHT THING!

MOM of 7

….life AMPLIFIED by 7 kids!