Archive

Posts Tagged ‘family’

NEVADA, USA: Traditions

One of the great things about being a part of a community like World Moms Blog, is the diversity. Every day (okay, once or twice a week when I can finally catch up) readers are given treasured glimpses into a culture much different from their own. I read stories from all over the world, learning about the traditions these mothers have taken from their own heritage and brought into the lives of their children.

I’m left to wonder: what have I brought from my heritage to share with my own child? Read more…

PHILIPPINES: Waiting on Baby Number Two

Me and Vito“When are you going to have another baby?”

I get asked this question at least once every week. At least, it feels like I do.

It seems that whenever an acquaintance runs into me while I’m out, or when we’re visiting extended family, the matter of when I’m going to give my little boy a new brother or sister has become a conversation piece.

It’s like the default question everyone asks me, perhaps when they can’t think of anything else to ask.

The pressure to have a second child has never been more real to me than it is now. Read more…

SOUTH CAROLINA, USA: Breaking Down and Building Up

April 30, 2012 11 comments

We all, I think, have our hard times when we think, “that’s it!  I’m done!  I cannot take it anymore!”  Life throws us curve balls that we don’t expect and some are much tougher than others.

As I have written about before, we have moved around a bit in the last 5 years: 4 times to be exact and 3 of which we thought were going to be permanent.  No, we are not in the military.  My husband just seems to be in the wrong field at the wrong time.  He works in research and when the economy is down, there is less money available to support research.  His last 2 jobs were lost because of funding cuts.  It’s been tough.

When my husband got his last job about 8 months ago,  we had to move again, but we were filled with hope.  He was going to make a comfortable salary, it was in a place we both liked, and we were close to family.  Things were going well for months and although it has taken some time to adjust to living in an entirely new area again, I have felt so content and happy.

Since having my kids, all I have wanted was to be able to stay home with them, have a good school for them to attend and that I could be a part of, live in a nice place and take care of our needs.

Read more…

ISRAEL: Television Is Ruining Our Happiness

I have a love/hate relationship with TV.

I either love it, as in addicted and couch potato like. Or I hate it, as in I want to throw the TV out of the window and never bring one back into my house. Unfortunately, my husband is addicted to his sports teams so a television free household is not even a remote possibility. Hubby is staying, so the TV is staying too.

I have to admit, at times, television does have its attraction.

Not only is it a free babysitter (well not really if you have cable TV) but it is entertainment that requires no energy or input from you. You sit there passively and just watch. You don’t really have to do anything, except for occasionally laughing or crying.

For many, television is a way to unwind and forget about the stresses of your day. I know because I too am often guilty of vegging out in front of the TV and wasting (unwinding) for hours upon hours. Read more…

VIRGINIA, USA: Ode to Joy

March 29, 2012 12 comments

As mothers we’re all pretty tired most of the time, worn down from the demands of raising the most important people on earth, and we need each other’s company to share in the difficulties and confide in the hardships.

Sharing helps us feel less alone in our endeavors and assuages our insecurities and doubts. It was very therapeutic for me to start writing for WMB a year ago, especially during a particularly difficult period when I shared my motherhood experiences while living in Mexico in my post “Living Under House Arrest“.

It is a great gift that we can learn from and lean on each other by sharing the difficult moments,but today I need to write about the immense joy that I feel as a parent. The joy that is still expanding inside of me since last night, forcing me to find an outlet to wax on about how happy I am before I explode.

In my sharing, I hope to celebrate my joy with you as well as allow all of us to remember the fleeting moments that make this whole parenting thing so immeasurably worthwhile. You will know what I mean… Read more…

NEVADA, USA: Parenting Is a Learning Process

March 14, 2012 6 comments

A few weeks ago, my son had a friend over for a sleepover. This friend is just a few months younger, but they are in the same pre-K classroom and have developed quite a wonderful friendship.

I let the boys stay up late watching movies and playing superhero games because, why not? When I finished up the project I was working on, I told the boys it was time to brush their teeth and get ready for bed.

The friend went straight into the bathroom and started brushing his teeth. My son came to me so I could brush his teeth.

And suddenly I noticed that I might be babying my child, without even realizing it. Read more…