Motherhood Onset ADD

You've heard of ADD and ADHD. You've probably even heard of Adult onset ADD. But have you ever heard of Motherhood Onset ADD? Well, that's what I have. Let me explain a few of my symptoms. I bet some of you have it too.

I can't sit still.

I have developed the inability to sit still through a church meeting. I have been wrangling children through church meetings for ten years and on the off-chance that I am alone, I can't sit still. I'll play with other people's children, or whisper to my neighbor. I'll fidget or bite my nails. I can't sit still.

If I'm at the computer, I can only concentrate in five minute intervals. And that's the maximum. In reality, it's more like 30 seconds. I am used to being interrupted so often that even if I'm not, I lose my concentration after a few minutes.

I have also developed the inability to finish my sentences. It takes such effort to have a conversation when children are around and I find myself forgetting what I was saying on a regular basis. Many of my sentences start like this: "Umm, I forgot what I was going to say." My sister and I can have whole conversations like this.

I've also discovered that having a lazy, sit-around day at home is now virtually impossible. On the off-chance that I have nothing planned, I find it extremely difficult to just hang out. I get bored. And then I start wondering if I'm forgetting something because we ALWAYS have something on the calendar. Of course, half the time I forget the things that are scheduled.

I know many of you are nodding your head in agreement. But don't hang your head and cry. There's a simple solution. Get rid of your children. Ok, not so simple, but I have a feeling it would rid you and me of many of our symptoms. After all, what we have is merely Motherhood Onset ADD.

Big Slobbery Kisses

O is at the age when you can tell her to do silly things and she will willingly do them. For example, I can tell her to go kiss her brother and she will run off and do it.

Two nights ago, the kids were running through the house creating their usual chaos. I was sitting on the floor with the baby when A started standing on his head. O came and plopped herself down next to me. I leaned over and whispered in her ear.

"Go poke your brother in the belly button."

She grinned and took off. But instead of poking him in the belly button, she leaned down and kissed him, then took off running. A fell over and I started giggling.

"Mom, what did you tell her to do that for?" I laughed because that's not what I told her to do.

M was beside himself, giggling on the floor. O comes over to me and sticks her ear next to my face for another 'secret'. This time I told her to go kiss him. A was on his head again and O poked his belly button, turned and grinned at me.

Over the course of the next few minutes, O gave both her brothers kisses, which were met with much protesting and ewww's. I finally determined that both boys needed big slobbery kisses from their mother. M was easy to hold down and with the assistance of his big brother, I successfully delivered a big slobbery kiss. A knew it was his turn next and tried to take off. But amidst giggles, he fell to the floor. I thought I had him. That was until his very long legs kicked out and got me squarely in the nose.

Boy did that hurt. He was very concerned and came to make sure I was ok. After I recovered, I made sure he got extra slobbery kisses to make up for my injury.

They were all sufficiently wiped off afterwards. He is ten, after all.

Out on the town!

Friday evening I was anxious to get out of the house. I asked the kids what they wanted to go do.

"Out to dinner!" A suggested.

I had to clarify. I wanted to get out of the house and do something "fun and free." I figured that narrowed it down a bit, but the kids didn't seem to get the "free" part very well. I got suggestions of going to a movie, renting a movie, and Chucke Cheese. The "Fun and Free" concept was not being grasped.

Suddenly, A piped up, "Let's make our OWN restaurant! We can make menus and everything." And so began a lovely evening. The kids spent the next hour making menus. It was leftover night, which worked out perfectly. We had quite a few choices on our menu. M was a tad disillusioned when he found out it was just our family coming to our restaurant and that we wouldn't be charging 'real' money. But he got over it and joined in the fun. We set a nice tablecloth on the table and the kids 'drove' to the restaurant.

I dug out an old shirt with my name on it from my waitress days long ago, and became their waitress. Upon arrival, I was informed that A drove the car, but was pulled over by a cop on the way to the restaurant.

They had a grand time calling me Miss and giggled every time I called them 'Ma'am and Sir'. I got a handsome tip from homemade money and they 'drove' home.

Upon 'returning home' I was informed that as soon as Dad came home, we were going out to dinner too. Dad was a little confused when I told him we were going out for dinner, but once in the garage I explained. So Dad and I had a 'date' of sorts, complete with waitresses and a fabulous cook. It was a ton of fun and a very memorable evening.

A told me later that it was definitely the best "fun and free" idea we had ever had!

So next time you and your kids are itching to get out but need something "fun and free", I highly recommend having an in-home restaurant! What a memory maker!

Messy Monday

Welcome to the return of Messy Monday! Last week I was a little under the weather and took a hiatus from Messy Monday. The whole house was Messy. It was a tad depressing. But I'm better and Messy Monday is back!

This week's Messy Monday is brought to you in part by shoes. Shoes and socks will be the death of me. (The laundry may help.) I've tried to organize them, but they seem to multiply in the night. They go in the baskets. The flaw is that when one of the kids can't find a shoe, they chuck the rest of the shoes out of the basket onto the floor. And of course they don't put them back. Before long, it's a hazard getting out the garage door.



Where's your mess today?

Sleep

I lay in bed, wrapped up in my comforter, trying to ignore the noises coming from the bedrooms down the hall. They aren't sad noises, just awake noises. I pry my eyes open and glance at the clock. It's 6:45 a.m.

All the books and websites tell me that my children should be sleeping until at least 8 a.m. because that's how many hours of sleep they supposedly need. They've obviously never met MY children.

I close my eyes and lay there for a few minutes. There have been times that I've considered being the super-organized mom. You know, the mom that gets out of bed at six and is all ready for the day before the children are awake. That thought usually lasts a whole five seconds. I like my sleep and I dread the day that my oldest goes to Junior High. He will just have to be self-sufficient because anything before 7 a.m. is still the middle of the night in my book.

I hear O telling Don Juan to get out of her room. I know there's no going back now. She's definitely awake and she hasn't learned that Mom doesn't get up early. Then I hear a little squeak that I know is E.

I groan a little and sit up. I rub my face, stretch and start thinking about my day. It's Friday, and there's not much on the agenda. But I've been under the weather all week and the house needs some TLC now that I'm feeling better. I sigh and reach for my glasses that are on the end table next to the clock.

I walk down the hall, wondering how in the world E could be awake already. I am well aware of how little she slept during the night. I peek into O's room. She grins, knowing she has permission to get out of bed now. I walk into E's room and peek into her crib and I am immediately rewarded for all my hard work. E sees me and instantly smiles. I pick her up and hug her to me. I smell her head and kiss her little cheeks. Who needs sleep anyway?

First ever blogging award!

I am totally flattered to have received my first ever blogging award! Thank you Brianne for the lemonade stand award! Check out her blog for some cute moments that will definitely make you smile!



I'm a novice at this, but here are the rules:

The rules are as followed:

- Put the Lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
- Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
- Link the nominees within your post.
- Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

My first nominee is The Prana Mama.She has a wonderful blog centered around motherhood and yoga. She definitely has a great and calming attitude!

Nikki, over at The Housewife Chronicles makes me giggle. And Christine at From Dates to Diapers, a fellow mom to six, also has a great attitude amongst the chaos!

I also quite enjoy Nancy at If Evolution Works. So funny!

This next one goes to a blogger that is an incredible writer and who I've come to see as a kindred spirit, albeit halfway around the world. Her blog is definitely worth the time, but make sure you have a minute to read! Thank you Kerry for some truly amazing stories!

Next, is an amazing lady with quite the story, raising twins. You can find her at
Half of a Duo Raising a Duo.

The last one goes to a blog I've recently discovered.
Naomi writes a wonderful blog, has a great attitude and shares my love for babywearing!

Phew! I know that's not quite ten, but all that linking was hard! I hope you enjoy these amazing ladies as much as I have!

Who's the Mom Here?!?

"Me, or all of you?"

"But MOM! She spit out ALL of her CANDY!" M declared loudly.

It seems that there's an overabundance of Mothers in our little home. You'd think one would be enough. Apparently not.

I remember being so aggravated with my own mother when she would declare to me that she WAS in fact the Mom. And now it's my turn to declare the same thing to my own children.

The children seem overly concerned that justice be doled out evenly amongst all of the siblings. They leave me no wiggle room, no chance to ignore a behavior if I'm just not in the mood. I am constantly telling them that yes I know Odessa is snitching chips, AGAIN. I am not unaware, I am just choosing my battles.

It doesn't help that the main offender at this moment in time is two and very mischievous.

"Moooom! O hit me!"

"Mooom! O is eating candy."

"Mooom! O stinks!"

Aside from being little informants I hear myself being repeated.

"K, get your fingers out of your mouth."

"A, you better not do that or you are going to get in TROUBLE."

I think the only cure is for them to grow up and produce little mothers of their own.

But seriously, who's the Mom here?