Mommage

To All You Dads

What Makes a Dad?

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad
Author Unknown

Happy Father's Day!

-Contributed by the Mommage Moms

Hello Mother, Hello Father...

For many parents, Summer Break is looming.  For others, it's already begun.  While the kiddies are counting the hours with gleeful anticipation, many parents are wondering, "What on earth am I going to do with them for six whole weeks?"  It's great to see your kids having fun and relaxing, especially in a time when even 3rd and 4th graders are complaining of a heavy workload, but sometimes a week or two spent kid-free can be a real blessing during the summer months.  And that's where summer camp comes in.  Summer camp can be a great way to give your child a structured but still fun environment, but how do you know which camp to choose?  Every kid is different, but there is help out there.  Summercamp.org has a list of frequently asked questions, and some answers too!

I'm Outta Here!

Laundry's done.  Bought soda and snacks.  Gotta stop tonight and pick up cat food, fill up the gas tank, and get the car washed and then I am on my way tomorrow morning, just as early as I can. 

Are you traveling this weekend for Memorial Day?  I decided the family (mostly meaning me, of course) needed a get-away so I booked us into a four-star lodge on the edge of a national forest for some much needed R & R.  I can feel the tension of everyday life starting to take hold in my upper back, below my shoulders, so I know it's time to do something about it.

You better watch out, brown trout, because I am coming for YOU!

"Nature, the Gentlest Mother"

Nature, the gentlest mother,
Impatient of no child,
The feeblest or the waywardest,
Her admonition mild

In forest and the hill
By traveller is heard,
Restraining rampant squirrel
Or too impetuous bird.

How fair her conversation,
A summer afternoon,--
Her household, her assembly;
And when the sun goes down

Her voice among the aisles
Incites the timid prayer
Of the minutest cricket,
The most unworthy flower.

When all the children sleep
She turns as long away
As will suffice to light her lamps;
Then, bending from the sky

With infinite affection
And infiniter care,
Her golden finger on her lip,
Wills silence everywhere.
~Emily Dickinson

~Contributed by Venice

Happy Earth Day!

So Earth Day is BIG doings in my house. 

I find the whole history of Earth Day to be fascinating.  In September 1969 U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson spoke at a conference where he announced that April 22, 1970 would be the first nationwide protest to showcase environmental issues.  And it sort of snowballed from there.  Today we see huge open-air concerts, attended by millions, across the globe in order to promote environmental awareness.  Going green, as Paris Hilton would say, is HOT.

I am not sure what they are teaching about the environment in the public school system today, but it's caused my son to become a raging environmentalist....  it's like living with Al Gore.  Without the beard.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

It's official.  My kids no longer want to color Easter eggs, and they don't want Easter baskets anymore either.  Instead of feeling a sense of relief, I must admit that I'm sad and disappointed.  These traditions go back a long way in my family, and the idea of abandoning them is very upsetting.  After giving it a lot of thought, I finally figured out what is causing this current dry spell of enthusiasm. 

 

At every point in my life there were children in the family,
and Easter traditions were honored each and every year with activities such as egg coloring, egg hunts and baskets.  At the present time, there are no children to motivate the holiday festivities, and the grown ones just are not as interested as they used to be.  So I guess you can say I'm in limbo right now, patiently awaiting the next generation.

 

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a joyous weekend!

~Contributed by Venice

Don't Be This Parent!

So we had a little bit of computer trouble at our house this weekend ~ it basically stemmed from His Majesty deciding to be lazy and yank on the vacuum cleaner cord instead of grasping it at the plug like he's been told approximately 26,195 times.  His yank broke the electrical receptacle, which killed the internet connection as well as the TV and cable and the lights in one room.  On the weekend.  Of course.

I had to call upon my dear friend Greg, who's a master electrician, to get him to come over on Sunday to fix it.  I called him on Saturday and he was at an Easter egg hunt.  By the time he got back in touch with me, boy was he peeved.

This Year I Resolve To.....

Lots of women (and men) have made New Year Resolutions to lose weight.  I've made one in fact ~ it's a gentle and simple plan for 2008.  I want to lose 15 pounds.  That's all ~ 1 1/4 pounds per month.  I've been doing research on the food in my current diet and feel like if I tweak my diet just slightly (add in more raw veggies and replace soda with water) and add in some additional exercise, I will be able to succeed.  There is none of this "I want to lose 50 pounds in 12 months", because let's face it, losing that much weight that fast isn't healthy and chances are good that it's not going to be permanent either.  Also, I don't need to lose 50 pounds.

Weight is a fairly common problem for women.  I'll be 36 in a matter of days and my metabolism just ain't what she used to be.  So I was reading with interest, the letters that appeared on PlanetFeedback recently about a weight loss group known as Kimkins.  It's Atkins to an extreme. 

Christmas Recap

A fine holiday was had by all yesterday.  Gifts were well-received and appreciated and we spent the afternoon watching Pirates of Caribbean and noshing on the most delightful ham sandwiches ever made and Christmas cookies.  All Tuesdays should be that much fun.

My son had THE remark of the holiday ~ you know the one I'm talking about.  The one that's repeated year in and year out after it's made with tears of laughter pouring out of your eyes.  The kind of comment that lives on in holiday legend.

'Twas Mom's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode
Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.
The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of Nintendo and Barbie, flipped through their heads.