Mommy Mondays: I'm a Mom first, and a friend second!

The following is the opinion of The Review Ballerina and though it may not be shared by everyone, it is a proud opinion!

When I was growing up, I was raised by my Aunt, Uncle, and Grandmother. Sadly, my Grandmother was not really a "Mom" to me but moreso a friend kind of position. The other sad part is I spent Sunday night through Friday morning with her, and only Friday night through Sunday afternoon with my Aunt and Uncle. So I really did not have the "parental" influence in my life as much as I should have. I've seen so many people in the generations after me (with my generation as their parents) become disrespectful, criminals, smart-mouthed, and more all because in this time for some reason society has stopped parenting. Well, I continue to do so.

Mommy Mondays: Reasons I love being a Mom!

Hi Moms! It's Monday! I wanted to write something inspirational and something feel good. I realized, it's Mommy Monday! I should write about, being a Mom (duh!). I know how hard it can be sometimes. You are tired, stressed, running around cleaning and cooking, working, helping with homework. Sometimes you feel so guilty just wanting to hide in the closet with your glass of wine for five minutes. But, remember why you're so happy being a Mom!

1. My child brings me so much happiness! 

Has your husband/spouse ever just come up behind you and put their arms around you? They hug you close and smile and then you feel all your stress melt away? When my daughter rests against me, snuggles, cuddles, "Nuggles" (as we jokingly call it), hugs, or kisses me I feel that same feeling but times a thousand. She's my sweet miracle baby and finding that joy of Motherhood with her is completely a blessing. Life feels so incredible with her, and I know your children make you feel the same!

2. I'm so proud to impact someone's life and guide them in a positive way!

Growing up my childhood was split between two households: my Grandmother, and my Parents. My Grandma really didn't do a lot of "guiding" moreso she just kind of went through the motions in raising me. I wasn't taught how to balance a checkbook, understand about credit card debt, student loan debt, auto loans, etc. I wasn't even taught about how to live on my own and what happens if you don't pay a bill. I think if I'd had more time during the week with my parents they would've taught me so much more and helped me be an independent person. I'm so grateful that now as a Mom, I'm able to teach these things to my daughter. She already knows she doesn't have to attend college, but she can learn a trade (like auto tech) or something along those lines. She's learning about how to handle bullies so she doesn't skip school (like I would), and more. The fact is, being a parent is so rewarding because you get to help guide and lead a young soul into their own.

3. Being a Mother is something no one can take from me, or you!

My situation is very unique in the sense that my Mom, is not my biological Mother. She though, is my Mom and no one can take that from her. Just as no one can take from me that I am my daughter's Mom. I work very hard to ensure she is taken care of, she is loved, respected, and more and that feeling is something that will never be taken away. Do you know that feeling? Whether you carried your child, adopted your child, or helped raise them, you're their Mom!

4. Being a Mother has helped me to be a more caring and giving person, and being more of a nurturing individual!

I struggle with my own medical conditions, and sometimes I can appear grumpy even when I'm not. But when my daughter comes to me because she doesn't feel well, or wants to be snuggled, or wants to tell me something that is important to her, I get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside! I'm sure you do too, because you get to become this big cuddle bunny for your child to not only take care of them, but love and protect them. It makes you a better person too, because you put them before you.

5. I love getting to see my husband be such an amazing Father!!

I saved the absolute best for last, because this is definitely the best part of being a Mom for me. My husband did not grow up with a purely supportive household. His Dad really was never there for him, in fact his Dad was abusive at times. He went through that abuse until he was 15 or so, and then ended up homeless. The one thing he has always told me is he was going to raise his daughter, to never feel he wasn't there for her. My husband is an incredible father, and I adore knowing that I gave him that chance. He has always told me that having me in his life made him a better man, but having his daughter has made his life perfect. 

Elizabeth is a wife to her wonderful husband, a work at home mother to her beautiful little girl and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug", or laughing with her husband, she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

#article #mommymondays #reviewballerina #moms #parents

Mommy Mondays: Top 3 Things to Remember Always Being Home!

I've been working from home since 2012. I have found over the years that many women have moved from working in person to at home, and even though my husband is a stay at home father (explained before and later in this) I tend to do a lot on my own. My daughter is also doing her school from home so during the day I'm not only an employee for a company, I'm a learning coach, and a Mother. Here are just some tips that help me get through the days that may assist you all as you transition!

Mommy Monday: How to keep your Sanity as a Stay at Home/Work from Home Mom!

Mommy Monday -- Picky Eating Children, Such a Mess!

I am a Mother to an extremely picky eater. No matter what I do, and no matter what I introduce her to, her meals usually come from the same three or four food options from Peanut Butter to Chicken Nuggets. I've introduced vegetables to her and she won't touch them (though she still loves the pouches!) and I'll try to get her to try meats and she will only eat chicken. According to her pediatrician she is very healthy, growing just fine so they aren't too concerned in terms of health. Her prior pediatrician said it was perfectly fine and actually very normal for children her age to be picky. But her current pediatrician says no, this is not right and it needs to be changed. Hard to do, but when you are wanting to make dinner on a limited budget the hardest thing to do is make two separate meals. 

Mommy Mondays - The Best Part of Christmas for a Mom:

When I was younger, Christmas was something I could not sleep about. On Christmas Eve, I'd listen to the music on the radio, glance out my window for Santa Claus, even sneak into the living room to stare at the Christmas cards on the front door before being shooed away by my Grandma (I was good though, I never once looked at the tree!). Once I had my daughter, I started to get just like that again. But the reason was completely different; it wasn't for me anymore it was ALL for her. The look she gets when she sees what Santa brings her, the way she sings the Christmas carols and gets excited about baking the cookies. It's all such a magical thing and I love it.

Trick or Treating: Door to Door or Trunk? (Mommy Monday)

In the last few years, the words "Trunk or Treat" have become more and more common for you to take your children on Halloween. Instead of going door to door, you now drive your costumed children to a location where people open their trunks and pass out candy. Sure people decorate the trunks and make them all fantastic but the excitement and thrill of Trick or Treating was going door to door. You'd see neighbors you never knew existed for that one time of the year, you'd remember which houses gave you that awesome chocolate mini bar and which ones passed out popcorn balls. So what is it that makes Trunk or Treat so special now?

Halloween 2012

As a child, I did door to door trick or treating. It was awesome, I'd dress up every year in some costume that was rarely store bought. One year I was a purple genie that won me 1st place in a costume contest held at Brookshire's (My prize? A microscope...every young girl's dream haha). Another year I was a dead 50's girl in a poodle skirt, a collared top and my Mom decorated me in bloody make up. My last year I went "Trick or Treating" I was actually in my 20's and my now husband and I dressed up our dog as a lion and went to a more upscale part of Plano, Texas called "Deerfield". These mansion sized houses would go all out and you'd have a blast. My husband played the role of a "zombie" that night, and I still have amazing memories. Sadly, Deerfield is now overrun by selfish, self-absorbed, greedy pre-teens and teenagers who would rather step on a young child than leave a piece of candy so we can't do that again. BUT, I'm going off track...

Halloween 2013

My daughter was a year and two days old for her first Halloween, and we only lasted about twenty minutes going door to door. We had to carry her, she was already exhausted by night fall, and yet once she realized going to the door got her goodies she loved it! The next year was a lot better, but a bit different. A neighborhood in Arlington, Texas is specifically known for door to door trick or treating. The whole neighborhood of 4-5 streets was jam packed with people from all over the city coming to enjoy collecting candy. The best part was, my husband decided to wear a horse mask like you'd see on the internet (before it became popular to wear the horse mask and it's later mimicked copies). He was stopped in the middle of the street just to take random pictures with strangers! But do you get this same feeling with a Trunk or Treat?

Halloween 2013

One reason the Trunk or Treat was started was for safety reasons. It's hard these days to know if your neighbors are nice or not. Also, there are a lot of fears about tainted candy and this way you figure if everyone is together doing this in a crowd, it's safe. But I also feel it's just a bit lazy. Instead of walking your children door to door, you just walk them in a short area of a parking lot then take them home. I've seen parents follow their kids who are trick or treating by driving 5 mph down a crowded street never getting out and I can't help but roll my eyes. Having a child/children is an amazing experience and you should take every advantage you can to have those experiences with them. Do I think a Trunk or Treat should replace the experience of door to door Trick or Treating? No way, but I won't judge those who choose to do it instead. 

Halloween 2014

My daughter's school is doing a trunk or treat next weekend, and I'm contemplating taking my daughter but I'm not sure. Besides the fact we may have plans that day, I just don't know if I want her to get that easy candy. I'm worried she'll also go "Hey, I go to this trunk/car and get candy!" and then if someone offers it and I'm not around (which if I'm not around and she's alone outside we got issues!) she'll go right up expecting candy again! I just feel like a Trunk or Treat is just not the same as traditional Trick or Treating and I wish we could get back to that wholesome fun.

Elizabeth is a work at home Mother of a sweet and beautiful daughter. She is a wife of seven years and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug" she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!

Top Ten Favorite Bedtime Books (Mommy Mondays)

All below are great ideas for "Santa's Seasonal Suggestions"!!

Mommy Monday: Is Profanity Truly A Bad Thing?

Every Mother goes through this argument in their minds. If you were raised around profanity and you know when and when not to use it, you automatically assume your child will figure it out as well. If you were raised without profanity then you automatically assume it's wrong and there's no reason it should be used. This debate has been a big one in our household for many reasons!