Nana

I am one of the lucky ones. I have a terrific mother-in-law. She raised eight children- six boys, (I don't know how she survived), and two girls.

We lived with my in-laws when we first got married. I feel lucky that I got to know her so well. She is one of the most welcoming people I have ever met. When you enter her house you feel totally at ease. She shares EVERYTHING that she has and makes you feel completely loved. My children love to cuddle up with Nana. She gets down on their level and makes them feel so important.

I have learned a lot about supporting your spouse from Merrily. She "stands by her man". It really is neat to watch. During tax season, instead of complaining that her husband is too busy for her, she drives to meet him every night for dinner. She doesn't like to leave during tax season because she wants to support him. It seems this is a lost idea in today's society.

Merrily will send little packages to my children which they adore. When one of my sons was really struggling with some health problems, a beautiful quilt from Nana came in the mail.

It looks like I will be having my share of daughter-in-laws! I hope they can say the same about me!

Mom

Because it is Mother's Day weekend, I wanted to do an ode to the mothers in my life. My own mother is one of the most amazing people you could ever meet. She raised ten kids and gave each one the same opportunities they would have had if they were an only child. Now that is not to say that we were spoiled or had financial advantages. On the contrary. My father was a professor. But if there was ever a dream we wanted to chase, she helped us chase it.

I can not imagine how she did it now that I am a mother. Someone was always entering an art, piano or speech competition. There was always someone in a play which meant she was driving us to practices and many of us played sports. Because we couldn't afford vacations, she found a way to send us on them. One year my brother won our family a trip to Lake Powell complete with a house boat and speed boat. When my father had the opportunity to go to Oxford, England to be a visiting professor for one year, unpaid, she went for it. She did it in the true Susan fashion though. We rented a 400 year old bed and breakfast. She had a mini fridge and no dishwasher of course. I was only eight so all I remember is the amazing excursions we went on. Anywhere we could go for free, we would. We saw England through different eyes than most visitors would. I can not imagine piling all of those kids on the underground subway, but she did it. We would pack up a lunch and see the white cliffs of Dover or maybe go to a place where we could pick blackberries. When I watch the videos we have from that time she is always hanging out clothes or scrubbing dishes. Yet I only remember the fun we had with her. Even after the year was up we were not through. We loaded in our small van, all 10 of us, (one was on a mission for our church and one was married), and went to Scotland, the land of our ancestors. We camped to save money.

She can find a use for anything. She finds the most ingenious uses for things that most people would think of as garbage. Recently she has been making piggybanks with old encyclopedias for her grandchildren. She modgepodges the pages together and cuts out and opening for the money to hide safely. There is always a project for the kids to get involved in when they visit grandma's house.

When I was growing up she could often be found at her sewing machine making someone a costume or dress, or in the kitchen canning. You may havefound her in the backyard picking raspberries or some of the other bounty of her amazing gardens.

But one of my very favorite things about my mother is that she loves people. Not just people she knows, but everyone. She will strike up long conversations with anyone and she was always helping someone in need. People always knew that they could turn to her for anything. If someday my children can feel the way I do about her, I will know I have truly succeeded.

To Be a Kid Again

I just had my birthday. It is strange because I feel just like I am twelve. I look around me and feel like I am learning so much from others and I have so much left to learn. I woke up with my five year old inches from my face. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" It woke up the entire family! He smiled at me and said, "Mom, today- for your birthday- you get to be a kid again!" I thought it was interesting that even at this young age he had already figured out how great it is to be a kid. How I would love to have no cares or responsibilities and nothing to do but dress up, search the dirt for bugs and in general jut BE.

But then the troops descended on me and after a delicious breakfast in bed, I realized there is no escaping adulthood. As much as I would love to, just for a day. But I feel lucky that I get to enjoy childhood all over again just by watching them.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is aroung the corner. One of my newest prints or cards would make a unique and completely fat free gift! Find this and others at my shop, http://www.peekabooprints.etsy.com/.

Raindrops on Roses and Dirt Busting Products

I want to start doing some posts about my favorite things. Many of you may know I LOVE the Don Aslett cleaning supplies. My husband always teases that when he is gone I may choose Don Aslett to take his place. Hmmm... I don't think Don leaves dirty socks on the floor honey. Anyway, this stuff is amazing! Really, his stuff can cut your cleaning time in half. If you ever make a trip to the hospital, take a peek at the cleaning carts. They are almost always stocked with his products. They have great scents- they don't smell like chemicals at all. Some of my favorites are the Astro Turf mat. I was really sceptical- mostly because it is not so attractive, but this thing traps so much dirt! We don't wear shoes in our house but just entering the mudroom can track in so much.

Another favorite is the Scrubbee Doo 2. The concept is similar to the Swiffer mop but you don't waste money on new pads that you throw away. Also the microfiber seems so much more effective. There are many different kind of pads you can buy, all washable. Even scrubbing pads that you can use in the shower or applicator pad to put on finishes. I love this thing. Now only if their was a magic wand for organization! Happy spring cleaning!

Check out more at http://www.donaslett.com/.

Part II

The same concept that I wrote about in my previous post can also apply to spouses. This Sunday morning at our house perfectly illustrates my point.

Middle Mac was really getting sick and I knew that he would never last through church. His eyes were goopy and he had a fever and cough.



Me: "You know, I better stay home with him. "



Diamond, (his long time nickname), not wanting to get the short stick: "Ahhhhh... well maybe I should."



Usually I may have a preference but I really didn't this time so I said okay.



Diamond: "Well maybe I'll go."



Me: "Fine."



Diamond, (very confused at which was the better option and thinking I must be tricking him,): "No, actually I will stay, you take the others."



Me, (catching on): "Terrific."



Diamond, desperate now: "How about we just all go."



Ahhhh- the awesome feeling of POWER! Hmmm... I must remember this for next time when I actually might care.

Power Struggles

How to Nudge Your Children in the Direction You Would Like Them to Go:

It's breakfast time at our house and Little Mac finishes his pancakes but leaves his eggs. Middle Mac emerges from the bedroom seconds after Little Mac leaves his plate. I look down at the full plate of eggs and, not wanting to be wasteful, hand the eggs to Middle Mac. "Have some eggs honey."

notice the omni present keys around the neck

"Hmmm...someone else has dipped into these eggs." He pushes the plate forward with a grimace on his face. Not wanting to lie I say, "what makes you say that?"

Middle Mac: "I can see spaces in them and the edge has jam on it."

Me: "Jam? Sounds delicious," still being truthful.

Middle Mac: "I don't know about this. I don't think this will work."

Me: "WORK- Guess what I got to work? Your flashlight! Good as new!"

Middle Mac, now eating Little Mac's eggs while inspecting the flashlight.

"Good! I need this in my bed mom."

Case closed. Hmmm.... maybe I am learning a few things about manipulation- I mean mothering.