Give Your Kids a Hug

Today I just want to send the message out to be sure to never take any moments in your life for granted. Enjoy every moment you have been given with your kids, your family and your friends. I found out today that a woman I had gone to nursing school with was killed in a car accident yesterday. When you hear news like that, it feels like a blow to the stomach, and the air has been knocked out of you. She lived in the same small town as me, but I hadn't seen her much in the last couple of years as I hadn't been working. It is very hard to believe that this has really happened, and she will be missed by so many in the community. She was in her 50's when she started her nursing course, and she was a role model to alot of people. So, please, don't ever take your time for granted. Go and hug your kids, tell your friends and family how much they mean to you when you have the chance. And, like she did, go after what you really want from life, no matter what you think your limitations are. Who knows what you can achieve if you really want it. We'll miss you Kitty, and all of us in your class were proud of what you had done.

Article for Moms

The reason I am posting again today, is that I forgot to mention that I had an article published in an internet article directory. It was kind of exciting. It is an article about starting an online business for moms--basically just advice before starting out. If you want to check it out try
http://ezinearticles.com/?id=274944. I am kind of proud, I think it has some good advice. Anyway, until next time...

Choices

I haven't posted anything for a couple of days now, I have been so busy. I'm sure alot of people think that because I am home all day, I should be able to get more done. Well, I don't know, I think I have some serious time management problems! I feel like I never seem to get anything done (ie. housework, yardwork, etc.), and yet I can't seem to figure out where my time is going! Anyway, that isn't really what I wanted to talk about today (maybe the fact that I tend to get distracted easily could have something to do with my time management issues).
Yesterday, I was going through some old papers and trying to decide what I could throw out. I came across all my paperwork from when I applied and was accepted into the nursing program that I took. I can't really explain how it made me feel to look at all that stuff again. It was only 6 years ago, so it still feels pretty fresh. Anyway, I just remembered how excited I felt when I was accepted, and then when I started classes. It was kind of hard to look at, because it made me feel a little sad. I don't regret staying at home with my kids, but sometimes I wonder what would have been if I had made other choices. I know alot of people really questioned my decision when I decided not to go back to work. No one could ever know how hard that decision was for me. I had wanted to be a nurse my whole life, and I was so proud when I graduated. I know my mom and dad were too, and all the others in my life. I have often wondered if I have let them down for not continuing in my career. I never really had the chance to actually practice for very long before I became pregnant, so I know alot of people thought that I had wasted my time by going to school. I don't think I did. I really enjoyed it, and I proved to myself that I could do it. I guess at the end of the day, that is who we really have to make happy - ourselves. It's easier said than done sometimes though! I am reading a book right now that really puts things into perspective about the simple things in life. I find sometimes when I am feeling bogged down with everything going on in my life, if I read a motivational book it really helps to lift me up. Anyway, this book is great! It is called "Life's Greatest Lessons: 20 Things That Matter" by Hal Urban. It is just so true! It basically talks about the choices we make, and how we can decide how we live. I have put a link on the left hand side of this page if you want to check it out. It's a good book for anyone who wants to really find what is important in their lives.

Teddy Bear's Picnic

I have just come home from a teddy bear's picnic that was held in my town. It was so much fun! My little girls had a great time, and there were alot of other kids that looked like they were enjoying it too. I am so grateful that I am able to be here to take my kids to stuff like this. On those bad days when I question exactly why I decided to stay at home, I need to remember the days like this. Anyway, I have been trying to find the time to work on a website that I am designing for us moms, and I have got to tell you, it is not easy! I think it will be great though, when I am done, so I will keep pluggin away at it. Remember, I said that I am not very knowledgable when it comes to this computer stuff, so I am learning as I go. I will try to keep updating as I go along, so I hope everyone keeps checking back!

No More Mommy Wars

Is anyone else tired of the ongoing "mommy wars"? We have all heard of it--working moms vs. the stay at home moms, and who is right. I, for one, get very frustrated with the whole thing. We are all moms and we are all just trying to do what we think is best for our children. What may be ideal for one woman, may not necessarily be what is best for another. No one can know anyone else's situation, and we really should not be so quick to judge each other. Women can sometimes be so hard on each other--we are often the harshest critics. I personally cannot understand why it has to be this way. Would it not be better if we tried to be more encouraging and supportive of each other? We all have enough pressures in today's world--the working and the stay at home moms--without causing more for each other. I know there are alot of women out there who feel very strongly one way or the other, and are not willing to see the other's point of view. I say, let's first walk a mile in each other's shoes before casting any more stones.

For My Mom

This entry is for my mom. She was a stay at home mom, and I know she has never been properly thanked for everything she did for us.
I always remember my mom being there for us. In all my memories, I know she was there. There were four of us (2 girls and 2 boys), and we lived in a very small house out on a farm. I will never know how she managed all of those years--she must have nearly gone crazy! And yet, I don't ever remember hearing her complain. I know there had to have been days when she probably felt like "throwing in the towel" and going to sit in the corner to cry. Maybe she did, all I know is that there were alot of times that she went without in order for us to have what we wanted. (In fact, she still does!). I know now how she must have felt so underappreciated for everything she was doing.
My teenage years must have been a nightmare for her! I was a little on the wild side, and I know I said things to her that I regret to this day. Things like telling her to get a "real job", and that when I grew up, I was going to have a "real career", awful things like that. I know now how much those words must have hurt her.
So, this one is for you mom! You have been the greatest role model I could hope for, and I pray that I can raise my children learning from your example. I never said thank you, but I know that every one of us truly appreciated knowing that you were always there for us when we came home. I want my kids to have that same security.
You never got paid for what you did, all we can give you is our thanks!
Thank you Mom!

My Stepping Stone

I am sitting here trying to think of something witty and insightful to start off with, but my oldest daughter (Morgan), seems to have other ideas of what I should be doing! This I guess is the basis for life of the stay-at-home mom! What I wanted to write about first is a bit of a background. I have absolutely no computer experience or knowledge, so this blog is my first foray into the technological world! I have been searching and searching for ways to be able to make some money from home (living off of one income can sometimes be a bit hard to do!), but the information out there can sometimes be overwhelming and misleading. I have become excited so many times over an idea, only to be seriously discouraged after doing some research. There are so many false promises out there, and often the people who get sucked in are the ones who need the help the most. Anyway, I have done ALOT of research over the past few months, with alot of disappointment. But I have come across some ideas that I do think can be helpful, which I will share with you over the next weeks. I will use this blog as my stepping stone into the online world, and I will keep you all updated as to what I am finding works for making money, and what is a waste of time. I want you all to get to know me and to know that I promise to be honest in anything I recommend or ideas I will share. And lastly, I ask you all to be VERY patient with me while I learn all the technological ropes. Truth is, I still don't know the difference between html., URL, http -- basically anything you need to know about computers, I don't know! So the sad truth is that I will pretty much be "winging it" for awhile, so I need you to bear with me while I try to learn! I guess I could be the poster child for "if she can do it, anybody can!"

Welcome to the Moms at Home Blog!

Hi! I would like to say welcome to everyone who has taken the time to check into the Moms at Home blog. I really hope to be able to provide quality content for you all to enjoy! I plan on focusing on issues that are relevant to all moms, with my main focus obviously being that of stay-at-home moms. I intend to use articles that I feel will be of some interest and provide advice when needed. As a mom, I also think humor has to have a place in our lives, otherwise we could never cope! My goal for this site is to provide a support network for all of us - sometimes our decision to stay at home can make for some days where we wonder if there really are other adults out there! We need to have a place to go for ourselves, where there are others who are going through the same experiences. I encourage comments and ideas for future postings.