Originally posted at Red Van Ramblings.

Dear Jacob,

Eighteen years ago, on this day, the most amazing thing happened and life, as I knew it, changed forever—all because of you.

We had…

I can’t believe it has been 2 years since little Anna Laura joined our family.  When I first found out I was expecting, I was completely shocked and admittedly a little scared.  It had been 17 years since I had my last child, and for some reason my body didn’t handle pregnancy very well.  My son was born 6 weeks premature and with my other daughter I was on bed rest for 4 months.  So I was quite anxious about what was in store for…

As I waited for my first child to arrive I had all of these glorious ideas about parenting. I never was going to put my children on time out, snap at them and would some how manage to keep up with everything I was doing at the time. I was going…

Originally posted on my personal blog at http://heatherchristenaschmidt.com/2012/09/06/four-parenting-lessons-i-learned-from-my-mom/

People sometimes tell me I look at the negative side of everything. I always think it's funny when they say that, though, because it is only through being honest with yourself about a situation that you can make it better.…

I'm so glad I have older kids. I want to start by saying that.

I just spent the last 24 hours of my life the sickest I have been since my kids were born. (They are 10 and 7 now, for some reference.)

No idea where it came from, no one else got sick, but late Sunday night it started. I was nauseous as hell, spent a good few hours in the bathroom (use your imagination). I ended up stumbling to bed, curling up in the fetal position, and passed out. Woke up bright…

Listen, hear and process the valuable lessons that are being handed down and over to them.

Nothing satisfies a mother/parent more than knowing that they've efficiently equipped their children to handle the ways of this…

Disappointing them.....…

http://pattyperkowski.com/hops-badges-and-linkies/

1. Pokemon, Bakugan, LEGOS, Ninetendo DS…(Whatever it is) ROCK

There will be something that your son is intensely interested in (obsessed with) that you could not care one flying leap about. He will talk about it incessantly and in great detail until you feel the need to stick a fork through your ear canals in order to free yourself from the pure torture.

2. Once he pees outside he will never stop

I know it must be grand to whip it…

A few months ago I was reading blogs and darn it...I ended up on Ebay. That ever happen to you? Yes, here's the post that inspired such fun. Maybe I was just bored. Tired of the monotony of cleaning. Or thinking buying skates would be easier than dying my hair (never done that one still). But I ended up browsing skates and buying some that day.



And cha-ching, a week later my purple-white skates arrived all…

I've been telling my husband lately that my life is a lot like Groundhog's Day.



Monotonous. Yes. But I'm actually the one choosing to shape it that way, since it keeps everything flowing smoothly and sanely here.



My personal Groundhog's Day is complete with:

* Anticipating hunger by pre-preparing snacks.

* Thinking of meals in as far advance as I can stand, so I don't end up in a…

Argh! YOU DID WHAT?!



Yes. That's me on many an afternoon. Make that morning. OK, truth-be-told, it can happen at any moment. Today it was the crayon-covered rocker that did me in.



And despite the fact that children are not the behaviors they exhibit, I honestly have difficulty sorting the two when my impatient Aries-anger ignites.



Whew. Deep breath. Calm down. Re-focus. Now move forward.



Yes, having children who are ages 1, 3 and 5 can be challenging. But…

It's storming outside tonight. Again.



I'm craving sunshine. Yes. This rain-loving, born-in-San-Diegan wants warmth from the sun and natural, bright light.



But, it is still May. One more day anyhow. And another shower can't be bad for the rainforest that surrounds us here. So, I'll just write about last night. When it wasn't raining. When it was surprisingly cold out and the sun was setting beyond the forest's edge.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~…

Recently, I had a friend that was distraught over a look she got from her mother-in-law, after yelling out in panic over her young child running into the street in front of their home.

I'm not sure if it's because I have four kids, or because I have never really been one to worry about what other people think of me, but I couldn't give one fuck about what other people think of my parenting skills.…

Thank you Babble, for sharing this.  I simply had to do the same and pass along to all you out there. Especially Newbie Moms. And all you Empowered Moms out there!

To all you Newbie-Moms.  Be afraid. Of all the Moms out there who have it ‘all figured out’.  Because, guess what?  They don’t.  And if they say they do, they’re lying.

Here’s some of the Moms you, no doubt, will come in contact with.  A a few tips to identify the…