Read. Write. Mom!

Nagging Mom and Pre-Teen Boy

Posted on September 24, 2017January 3, 2020 by Mandy

Welcome to the Nagging Mom and Pre-Teen Boy Show! There has been a sudden change in my household between my son and I. He is 12 now and not quite a teenager, but certainly not a small child. He’s a great kid. He makes good grades and doesn’t give us any trouble, but we are suddenly butting heads, he and I, over everything and nothing.

“Don’t forget to give this money to your teacher first thing.”

….”OH-KAYYYYY MOM!!!! (insert eye roll here)”

“How was your day”?

….”It. was. fine.” (insert eye roll here)

Mom sings corny 80’s song on the radio…..son gives the stare of death. (insert eye roll here)

You’re So Weird, Mom!

I have officially reached that sweet spot of parenthood. I am no longer cool or relevant. My job is to provide and step to the side, or so he likes to think. If I had a dollar for every time he rolled his eyes and got exasperated with me, I’m quite sure I could run away and return when he outgrows this stage. Not that I would. I’ve waited his whole life to get to this stage and I’m not going out like that!

I can remember when I thought my own parents weren’t cool. I’d get huffy and mad and thought they were just soooo out of touch with reality. I rolled my eyes with the best of them and muttered under my breath about how they treated me like a baby and how I would never do that to my own kid. Now, when I see that my son is in THAT sort of mood, it’s usually one of two things. He’s either really tired or hungry. Feeding him and making him get some sleep works wonders. I know he’s growing up and it’s time for me to step back. Not that I was ever one of those helicopter moms, but I am one to ask a million questions and I’ve just had to realize that I don’t need to ask so many.

I Don’t Have All The Answers

But it’s tough, knowing when to press for more information and when to back off because I don’t have to know every single detail anymore. It’s tough realizing that your kid doesn’t need you to do every little thing for them anymore. His burgeoning independence is a blessing and a heartache for this mama all at once. I mean, thank Jesus he can do his own homework, dress himself, and take care of his self-care. But at the same time, I sometimes miss tying little shoes, zipping up little coats and holding little hands as we walk.

And just about the time that I think about this too much and start feeling like he doesn’t need me for anything anymore, he comes up and gives me a hug right out of nowhere and tells me he loves me. He might also remind me that he needs a random, hard to find item to bring to school tomorrow (it’s 9:30 pm when he tells me this) and by the way, there’s no more toilet paper in his bathroom.

Clearly, I am still needed for something. I’ll wear my nagging mom badge proudly.

Prepare for Emergencies with a Berkey Water Filter

Posted on September 17, 2017September 17, 2017 by Mandy

Disclaimer- I received this item in exchange for my honest opinion. No other compensation was received.

Clean water is something I think many of us take for granted. We simply walk over to our faucets, turn a knob, and out comes clean hot or cold water on demand. As I’m writing this we are in the thick of hurricane season and Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have left a trail of devastation behind them. Having a reserve of clean water to drink would probably be a big luxury for some people right now and a Berkey water filter can certainly help in an emergency situation.

Having a backup plan for clean water in an emergency is so important. It is the one thing, besides food and shelter, that you will absolutely need because your survival literally depends on it. A Berkey water filter can meet this need. There are so many reasons why a Berkey water filter is a great investment for you and your family:

Boil water notices in your city/town.

Emergencies when there is no electricity and pumps aren’t working.

Natural disasters when clean water is not available.

An everyday filter for clean drinking water for you and your family on a daily basis.

Trying out the Royal Berkey Water Filter

When the box arrived I was surprised at how little it weighed and thought that the Royal Berkey water filter surely couldn’t be all in that one box. However, it was and setting it up was super easy! My husband loves putting stuff together, so I let him take over the duties with me watching closely.

We had our Berkey set up in about 30 minutes and immediately filled it up to see what it would do. I can’t tell you how much better I feel knowing our Berkey is at the ready at any time. We use it daily just for regular drinking water and make sure to keep filling it in case an emergency strikes. I like the sleek, stainless steel design and it really didn’t take up as much counter space as I thought it would.

Royal Berkey Water Filter Facts

3.25 gallon capacity

The Royal Berkey weighs 8 pounds empty

The Royal Berkey serves 2-4 people for normal everyday use and fully configured, this system can serve up to 100-200 people a day during an emergency!

The Royal Berkey system removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts, and parasites entirely and extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 222 and trihalomethanes.

With this system, you can use up to 4 Black Berkey purification elements, though this particular one includes 2. With the 2 Black Berkey elements, it can purify up to 4 gallons per hour, while with 4 Black, Berkey elements you can have up to 8 gallons of filtered drinking water per hour.

If you decide to purchase a Berkey Water Filter you’ll definitely want to also get a stand to make dispensing the water through the spigot a little easier, unless you can keep it on the edge of a counter or somewhere similar.

We’re very much excited about our new Royal Berkey water filter system and consider it a must-have for anyone who just wants to drink cleaner water or just be prepared for an emergency situation where clean water isn’t available. It is a solid investment for your home to provide clean water for your family.

23 Fun, Cool, and Easy Popsicle Recipes For Summer

Posted on June 17, 2017June 27, 2021 by Mandy

The dog days of summer are almost upon us and having a collection of popsicle recipes to choose from to help beat the heat is practically a must if you have kids! Big kids are also included, because my own husband is the biggest popsicle eater in our home. We go through a ton of packages of popsicles over the summer and it finally hit me a couple of weeks ago that I could be making these instead of buying them all the time!

Your basic store-bought popsicle isn’t that expensive, but they’re just that…basic. Wouldn’t they be more fun if you could customize and mix the flavors and colors to your own personal liking? That’s exactly what you can do with your own popsicle recipes, not to mention YOU can control what goes in the ingredients. You can make these super healthy by adding in your own fruit and even vegetables!

Popsicles are super easy to make. All you need is a popsicle mold, a freezer, and maybe some popsicle sticks if your mold doesn’t have its own stick. I love that you can even buy sleeves for your basic store-bought popsicles! I always ended up wrapping a paper towel around my popsicles because they make my hands freeze!

Ready to make your own popsicles at home? Here are some great recipes to help you get started making the perfect summer popsicles!

1. Red, White and Blueberry Popsicles
2. Creamy Pops
3. Strawberry Mango Popsicles
4. Easy Homemade Popsicles
5. Strawberry Banana Smoothie Popsicles
6. Peanut Butter and Banana Yogurt Pops
7. Pineapple Cherry Yogurt Pops
8. Raspberry Lemonade Popsicles
9. Pumpkin Pie Popsicles
10. Raspberry and Coconut Milk Popsicles
11. Cheesecake Popsicles
12. Veggie Popsicles
13. Fresh Fruit Popsicles
14. Orange Juice Popsicles
15. Tart Cherry Mojito Pops
16. Creepy Screamsicle Popsicles
17. Blueberry Popsicle
18. Honeydew Mint Popsicles
19. Yogurt and Honey Popsicles
20. Iced Caramel Macchiato Popsicles
21. Rainbow Pudding Popsicles
22. Coconut Berry Popsicles
23. Rainbow Popsicles

Enjoy your summer and stay cool!

Becoming a Minimalist Might Just Save Your Sanity

Posted on June 3, 2017June 27, 2021 by Mandy

Becoming a minimalist used to sound like a hokey idea to me. When I heard the word “minimalist”, I envisioned kooky millennials in houses with white furniture (the perks of no kids), sitting around reading books chosen from their perfect modern bookcases that housed nothing but books with the same colored beige spines and sipping on chi-chi coffee drinks made from their $300 coffee pots.

Sounded like quite a bore, if you asked me.

Why would anyone want to be a minimalist when it looks so bland? I figured minimalism is just another one of those passing millennial fads and rolled my eyes every time something dealing with minimalism crossed my Pinterest feed.

I’ve always been the type that had to fully concentrate on one thing at a time. I do not multitask well at all. I also hate clutter and disorganization. I can’t think straight when surrounded by chaos and it really affects me to the point where I can’t function well. For example, I can’t sit down to go through the mail, pay bills, or even blog if my house isn’t clean and clutter-free to my impossibly high standards. Isn’t that sad?

Lately I have felt a little agitated and like I needed a project of some sort to focus on and keep me busy. I was also feeling overwhelmed and like everything was cluttered in my head and around my home. I was starting to compare myself to other people (totally unhealthy and unproductive) and finding solace in overspending and just buying stupid crap I didn’t even need. I was rushing from one obligation to the next and not taking time to slow down and just be. All of the “stuff”, online and offline, was making me crazy and it finally dawned on me the other night what my problem was. My life had become one big noise.

Becoming a Minimalist Might Just Save Your Sanity

In order to mentally and physically function well again, I had to start minimizing all the “stuff” in my life.

-Unfollowing people and things that brought me no joy on social media.

-Clearing out all of the extra crap in my life that just presented too many choices and confused me.

-Deciding what is absolutely necessary and what I can live without, and then letting go of the stuff I can live without.

I read blogs on minimalism, made a board for minimalism on Pinterest to organize my thoughts and ideas, and even downloaded a few minimalist podcasts to listen to. Then, I got to work.

I started in my living room and began a small box of random DVDs (that were never even opened), decor, and just other odds and ends that I no longer felt any attachment to. I also perused my bookshelves and purged at least 30 or more books to donate to our library’s annual book sale.

As I purged I also dusted and cleaned and when I was done, I noticed a funny thing. I instantly felt better and my mood had lifted! This is when I realized that minimalism is a good thing for me and it was making me feel more positive in just a matter of hours.

A New Way of Living

Because I work in education, I will have my summer days available to continue this paring down of our family’s things and I know it will take more than just a quick sweep of each room. I have more things to part with and will start back at the first room I started with once I have made it to each room in the house. Cleaning out is probably someone else’s idea of punishment, but I love organizing and I’m so excited to have the time to get to do this.

I don’t ever intend to paint our walls stark white, give up almost everything we own, and take minimalism to the extreme in our home, but I do see how paring down what we have will be good for my mental health, easier on our budget, and provide us with time for more purposeful living.

Imagine an empty inbox, not worrying about what to wear, fewer tchotchkes to dust, and more time for the things that matter.

What It’s Really Like to Quit Smoking Cold Turkey

Posted on June 2, 2017January 1, 2024 by Mandy

I smoked for twenty years, and I quit smoking cold turkey six months ago. I always admired people who could decide they wanted to stop smoking, or anything for that matter, and just do it. These people must have a stronger will than me because I have never been the type to be able just to drop a bad habit and never look back. But I did, and this is the story of how I finally quit smoking cold turkey.

I can remember when I was a teenager, I heard a statistic that said if a person hadn’t started smoking by the time they were 18, most likely they never would. I never wanted to smoke as a teenager, but suddenly, most of my friends started smoking when we were 20 years old, and I got addicted to nicotine. As the years rolled by and we grew up, most of them quit smoking, but I couldn’t and didn’t want to. I loved smoking, even though it was a nasty habit, and if I ever did want to stop, I always reasoned that I could find a patch or something to help me quit smoking.

I considered myself a “considerate” smoker, if there is such a thing. I didn’t smoke inside our home, never at work, and always kept my cigarette butts contained in a place and didn’t throw them everywhere outside. I could go all day at work without one. When people I didn’t know very well figured out I was a smoker, they couldn’t believe it. I didn’t smell like a smoker or look like the type of person who smoked, whatever that meant.

I knew the risks. My own daddy couldn’t stand the fact that I smoked and warned me over and over that I needed to stop before I ended up with lung cancer. It’s always the lung cancer you hear about when you smoke. I always reasoned that it could never happen to me and I honestly had no intention of ever quitting. I liked smoking, and I needed it when times got really stressful.

My Last Cigarette

I had my last cigarette on November 30, 2016, only I didn’t know at the time it was going to be my last cigarette. If I had known, I definitely would have savored that moment and that cigarette. I probably would have smoked a few more. My husband and I were pushing it time-wise to get me to my heart catheterization appointment. I inhaled that last cigarette really fast and looked forward to this procedure being over with so I could have another cigarette to release the stress of having to go through this.

A couple of hours later, I received the news that I would have coronary artery bypass surgery the next day. I wasn’t going anywhere for several days, and there wasn’t time for me to sneak out and enjoy one last cigarette because I was busy being shuffled around for lab work, CT scans, meeting with the anesthesiologist, and generally falling to pieces, not sure if I would live through the surgery. This is the part about smoking that you don’t hear enough about. Smoking contributes to heart disease. I probably would have had this surgery on down the road at some point in my life anyway because of genetics, but smoking probably accelerated that surgery time by at least 20 years.

Because of oxygenation issues after surgery (due to my smoking), I had to stay on the ventilator longer. The suckiest part of waking up in recovery after heart surgery had to be breathing over the ventilator because I felt like I was strong enough to breathe on my own, and then having to be suctioned out while I felt like I was slowly choking to death and there was no way for me to communicate to the nurses because I had a tube down my throat and my hands were strapped down. It happened a couple of times in recovery before I was finally able to be weaned off the vent.

The crazy part of all of that was that I couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital and have a cigarette, even after all I had been through! Then I had a random cardiologist who was on call one morning to look at me, and he told me in a not-so-nice way that I could absolutely smoke again if I wanted to but that he would see me in a couple of years to do this all over again. And THAT is what did it for me. I do not ever want to have open heart surgery ever again.

What It’s Really Like to Quit Smoking Cold Turkey

So, what was it physically like to quit smoking cold turkey? I’m guessing it’s kind of like an addict going through detox, only on a smaller scale. I was agitated, to say the least. I couldn’t sit still when my cravings got really strong (and it was usually always at night). I squirmed in bed. I know it helped at first that I was confined to my hospital bed for five days straight and couldn’t physically get up to smoke. But as I healed and got stronger, the cravings never really went away, and I even DREAMED about smoking. Six months later, I still do. The first time I had to be around someone smoking, I nearly crawled out of my skin that night because I couldn’t sleep, sit still, and wanted a cigarette so bad. I could even smell a cigarette a mile away if someone was smoking nearby. I had a short fuse and was just a little snappy at times. I even considered vaping because I could still get that hand-to-mouth action I craved without it being too bad. How stupid is that reasoning? Seriously?

So, were all the withdrawals, mood swings, and insomnia worth it? Yes, but it sucked going through it, plain and simple. It was hard, but I can finally be around someone who is smoking and not have it make me feel like I’ll go crazy if I don’t have a cigarette. Do I still want to smoke? Yes, I really, really do, even though I know how bad it is, but I won’t. I still even dream about it. I’m not even going to sit here and say that I feel better because other than just not having that constant smoker’s cough and being able to breathe a little deeper, I can’t tell a huge difference so far health-wise, even though I know my body is probably thanking me. Maybe someday I will feel differently, but I still miss smoking and quitting is complex, and there is no easy way to do it, period. It’s work.

Heart Surgery Update- 6 Months Since Double Bypass Surgery

Posted on June 1, 2017July 17, 2021 by Mandy

Today officially marks six months since my double bypass heart surgery. My heart surgery journey starts here if you’d like to follow along from the beginning.

I’m truly amazed at how much better I feel. I’ve felt empowered and strong and have more energy, for sure. I wasn’t able to return to work until 3 months after surgery. I was really self-conscious about my scar and debated at first whether or not I should cover it up at work because I didn’t want to freak my young students out, but when I was finally able to return to work at the three-month mark, I talked with each class, they saw my scar, and they didn’t make a big deal or seem upset about it, so I decided to carry on as usual. One of my sweet little kindergartners asked me if I took my scar off at night to sleep! Ha! I wish!

So, here I am at the six-month mark since heart surgery, rocking my zipper:

My cardiologist seems pleased with my progress. I go see my surgeon for a check-up in a couple of weeks. I don’t go for another stress test until next year (at the one year mark).

How I’m Feeling

Physically, I have to be careful about how much I lift, but I’m doing things I never thought I would do again after heart surgery like mowing the yard and digging a garden all by myself. I still feel a few funny flutters from time to time, but physical activity makes me feel better. I’m off for the summer, so a regular exercise regimen of walking is about to become the norm, as it should have been months ago.

I’m also looking into switching to a mostly plant-based diet, starting slowly at first with maybe only eating lean meat two or three meals a week. I’d eventually like to switch to an all plant-based diet. My scar is really starting to itch here lately and I can’t see a whole lot of healing up with that. It’s very pronounced and I’m anxious to see if the surgeon thinks this is normal looking. Also, I can tell you almost within a few days that rain is coming. It’s like they’ve installed a barometer in my chest. My sternum really starts feeling tight when the weather changes.

Dealing With Feelings

Emotionally, dealing with this surgery has been tough, and it’s a battle I have to fight every day. I never ever wanted to have heart surgery. I’m still in a little disbelief that this is my life now. I still cry occasionally, but I’m trying so hard not to let myself slip into a depression. It takes me a little longer to do the everyday things I used to do. I was really ashamed and hard on myself about that at first. It’s getting better, though. I also have a little trouble remembering the littlest things and give myself a hard time about it, but I shouldn’t. I really think this is a normal part of the whole process. I’m really trying to focus on my blessings and stay positive.

Overall, I’m doing pretty well and have resumed a mostly normal life. I will still update here and I definitely plan on writing more blog articles about heart surgery to share my experience in case someone else might benefit from it.

Come see my one-year post-surgery update here!

How to Get Free Diapers for Your Baby

Posted on May 31, 2017July 5, 2023 by Mandy

On average, a newborn goes through approximately 10 diapers a day. When you multiply this number by two or three years, it adds up to hundreds (even thousands) of dollars worth of diapers per child. That being said, I have good news! There are several ways to get free diapers for your baby. Consider the following options.

Have a Diaper Party

A diaper party is traditionally a baby shower of sorts for a father-to-be. Guests are asked to gift the host whatever brand and size diapers they choose. It’s a good way to stock up on diapers in multiple sizes. This isn’t just for the father-to-be, either. This is a great way to shower the mom-to-be, also!

Going to a diaper party? A diaper cake is the perfect gift to give! You can make them yourself or buy them pre-made with so many colors and themes! It’s sure to be a hit!

National Diaper Bank Network

The National Diaper Bank Network aims to help low-income parents keep their children clean and dry. At this time, NDBN has distributed more than 98 MILLION diapers through hundreds of local chapters nationwide. Visit the website for more information.

Contact Diaper Companies

Thanks to the convenience of email, it’s super simple to contact diaper companies to request free or high-value diaper coupons. Why are they willing to honor your request? It’s simple. These companies rake in millions due to brand loyalty. In theory, once parents decide on a brand, chances are they’ll stick with it until their child is potty trained.

Pampers, Luvs, Huggies, and Goodnights give diaper coupons and other goodies to those who register on their sites. It’s definitely worth the little time it takes to do this. Many also have rewards clubs to earn points for every purchase, which can be used to stretch your savings even further.

Coupons

Sometimes you can run across some valuable, high-dollar coupons for diapers. If you can catch some of those diapers on deep clearance and stack those manufacturer coupons with a store coupon, you might luck up on some free (or super cheap) diapers.

These are just a few ways to obtain free diapers. You probably won’t acquire enough of them to cover the whole time you need them. But every diaper you get for free means one less you have to pay for, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!

I Let Facebook Ruin Mother’s Day for Me

Posted on May 30, 2017May 31, 2017 by Mandy

I thought I was above letting social media “get” to me, but I let Facebook ruin Mother’s Day for me this year. I’ve been Facebooking for years, tweeting for just as long, and have always embraced the social media I used as a way of staying connected. I’ve always had a healthy relationship with social media and often wondered why in the world anyone wouldn’t want to participate. I simply couldn’t understand someone’s reasoning when they told me they weren’t on Facebook.

Not on Facebook? Surely, you are kidding, right?

It took me a few years to understand, but I can totally see now why someone wouldn’t want to have a Facebook account. This epiphany came to me the week of Mother’s Day. I was feeling a little moody, the end of the school year was reaching that breaking point where the kids are just stir crazy, and any patience I had was just about zilch. Nada. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. Facebook was probably the last place I needed to be while in such a funky mood, but there I found myself becoming gradually annoyed with every little thing.

As Mother’s Day approached, my husband asked me what I wanted for that special day. Last year he really outdid himself with a new writing desk (which he lovingly put together after hauling the heavy box of parts upstairs) and a gorgeous wind chime that we still haven’t hung. Because of my heart surgery, I’m focusing on paying off my hospital bills with any extra money we have, so I promptly told my husband I didn’t need or want a thing this year. Isn’t that what all selfless mothers say? Isn’t that supposed to be the way I felt, down deep in my heart…just thankful to be a mother at all? Besides, I knew he would sing my praises publicly on Facebook and it would make me feel good and he’d probably also get me something even though I said not to.

So how did it go when Mother’s Day finally rolled around? I woke up to him telling me Happy Mother’s Day and handing me two cards, one from him and the other from my son. He made sure I had a good breakfast and when my son finally rolled out of bed I got a half-hearted, sleepy “Happy Mother’s Day” before he crashed again on the couch.

And that was it.

Throughout the day I watched on Facebook as all the Mother’s Day wishes and posts rolled through my feed. One friend’s husband sang her praises as if she was an angel on earth. Another kid told his mom she was his whole world. OK, so maybe that was a little exaggeration, but on and on and on it went. All. Day. Long. I saw pictures of new jewelry, families out to celebrate mom with nice brunches, and perfectly dressed perfect little freaking perfect families perfectly attending their perfect church services. My husband had already left for work, but I just knew he would make it Facebook official that I was a great mom and wife before the day ended. It was the least he could do, right?

At 11 PM I found myself in bed, crying and super mad at my husband. My Mother’s Day had essentially sucked. He had left for work and my son is a typical twelve year old with his head stuck in video games. My own mom had been busy with church things that day (we had celebrated with her the day before) and so Mother’s Day was just a little lonely this year. I felt like a horrible mother (whyyyyyy???) who didn’t deserve anything anyway because I was so petty. My husband texted me and I sent back a cryptic message, laden with sarcasm about how special I felt and thanking him for making the day so great. I cursed that stupid holiday. I cried some more and then fell asleep.

The next day and for a couple of days after I felt so emotionally (and socially) drained. It dawned on me that Facebook was making my life so noisy and miserable. My husband had apologized profusely and I was left feeling horrible and shallow. Who in their right mind lets Facebook determine their worth? Or gets mad that their husband doesn’t write sweet sentiments about them for all the world to read? Only insecure, emotionally needy people, right?

Hello, emotionally needy and insecure self. Nice to meet you.

I had become what I never wanted to be online. Here I was, blessed to be a mother at all (after YEARS of infertility and failed treatments). Some women never get to be mothers. Some women miss their own mothers terribly on this day, and here I was mad because I wasn’t showered with presents and public displays of admiration on social media.

I oficially sucked.

I don’t know how sinking to this new low happened in my life. I had to step back and see how much I was caught up in social media and what purpose it was serving me. I have over 700 friends on Facebook. I maybe speak with a handful on any given day. I only claim a couple of good friends and family members. The rest? I had collected them over the years of my life. Childhood friends. Classmates. College buddies. Former co-workers. Best friends that moved away when we were ten years old. Did I ever meet you somewhere along the way in my life? I remembered you and we are friends on Facebook. Would you like to find out who your REAL friends are? Go through a death or a major illness. People will send their prayers and wishes along on your wall, but how many will show up to your house and actually be with you when the going gets tough? Not many, I can promise you from personal experience.

And so that week I went through my feed and unfollowed the people who brought nothing positive to my Facebook feed. The girl that always posts a selfie everyday for attention, the individual who posts pictures of hurt animals and children to raise awareness (it just saddens me), the “perfect mom” who is beautiful and has her crap together in every area of her life, the individuals that won’t stop posting about what they sell (I ain’t buying!), the weekend warriors that live a better life than you do as they travel and seek adventure every single weekend. The people who post cryptic lyrics as their posts, the wannabe chefs that share every single thing they eat, the political nutjobs, the holier-than-thous, the social justice warriors, the made-up holidays I am supposed to celebrate now (Only Children’s Day?!) and every other individual who I just can’t quit because what if I need to get in touch with them about something important someday?

I tried leaving Facebook cold turkey for one whole day and felt instantly disconnected. Like it or not, this is how our culture communicates now. This is how we receive our news and information. I also have a blog page to maintain and it hides my blog’s social media presence when I pause my Facebook account. I tried to quit, but found that unfollowing the people, pages, and things that didn’t bring me joy was a better way. And you know what? My feed is boring. Sometimes a whole thirty minutes goes by before I see something new in my feed, and I’m ok with that. Feel like you might need a little help with your own social media addictions? There’s a book for that! Unfollowing people let me choose to stop seeing them but not hurt their feelings (if it even would) by de-friending them.

Now that I’ve somewhat cleared my head and mind of all the noise I am deeply ashamed of the way I reacted to Mother’s Day this year. I have so much to be thankful for. I still can’t believe I let myself get so caught up in all of the social media hoopla and let it ruin an otherwise perfectly good day becaue I was seeing what I thought I was supposed to have and get on this day because Facebook said so. Years ago before Facebook, when I wasn’t working and we were barely affording to pay our bills, on Mother’s Day my husband would hand me a card and tell me what a great mother I was and I believed him and it was enough. That’s exactly how I want to feel about the day again from now on. I don’t ever want to feel like I need public validation for our private feelings about one another.

More importantly, I don’t want to feel I need validation from social media in any form at all.