INTRODUCING MOMSPACE!!!!!!!

Well the past few weeks have been interesting to say the least, what with the kids both starting back to new schools this year. My 14 year old just started high school. He was in an extremely small Middle School for 2 1/2 years and then spent the final semester at a local Middle School. Over the summer, we encouraged him to go out for cross country to become familiar with some of the kids and the high school. That helped slightly, but he still doesn't know the team member's names. He has ended up as Team Manager, which is great, because he's not really an athlete yet, having not even had much in the way of PE at the small middle school, which catered to kids with emotional disabilities. He is now fully mainstreamed at the local High School. The second week of school involved some challenges for him when he decided to do some rule bending, but we hope we've nipped that in the bud, so that week was a wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-nighter worrying about how to best handle this new situation with new people!

Then this week he lost his new $100 running shoes, wahed his dad's fancy HP calculator, and misplaced a homework assignment that was designed especially for him. We got new batteries for the calculator, I found the homework in his keyboard case, and I had to order new shoes from Overstock.com for 40% less. The shoes haven't arrived yet, so meanwhile he's running in his school shoes. Ugh. Yes, the new shoes are coming out of his allowance!

In the meantime, my father-in-law went into the hospital, which we didn't know about until 3 days later because my sister-in-law assumed my husband reads his e-mail. How to politely tell her I basically act as his secretary, so she should always e-mail me??? I think she understands now.

But wait, the week continues. My sister-in-law, who still has one left in High School, took time off work to spend 10 hours in the emergency room to get told there's no bed. They move him to another (better) hospital. Whew! She's in Escondido, the inlaws are in San Diego and we're in LA.

When things finally settle down, she goes to watch her son play his first football game. Its in the final seconds of the game, he goes out to catch a pass, is tackled, and... he can't get up. Its his knee. They carry him off the field and he'll be out for the season and they're not sure he'll play again! Ugh.

Meanwhile, my daughter, just starting kindergarten, finds out not only will her class be split into early and late starting times, but they have a brand new teacher and room starting this monday. I've already registered her for a gymnastics camp that begins at noon on Fridays, but late starters don't get out until 12:23, (yes, twenty-three, something about instructional minutes). So I'm hoping for the early start and that she likes her new teacher!

Then I hear from my sister that my 7 year old nephew has an infection on his head that may cause permanent scarring and hair loss.

As of today, My daughter got early start and likes her new teacher (thank-you), my son is vowed to be more responsible for his work and possessions, my father-in-law is scheduled for surgery next week, my nephew-in-law had surgery on his knee last week and prognosis is better than they expected, my husband now plans to go to San Diego twice monthly to help his parents and take the load off my sister-in-law a little, and my little nephew is slowly healing...life goes on. That's just the past two weeks. - Ann

Yes! Trying to train little minds while not loosing yours! This is the key. We all need to remeber that, it is through the trials that we (both children and adults) learn about life and the things that are truly important. It is a wonderful and difficult roller coaster ride - and I wouldn't trade it for anything!
This site sounds great!

Hi , I read about your blog on Peachheads and wanted to make a comment in support. You say, "It seems like every mother I meet, even if she's not going off to an office every morning, is doing something on the side. I think of these Moms as the most creative microentrepreneurs, each one the CEO of their own little family operation. I'm one of these Moms, trying my darndest to hold down a job and mind the kiddies too -- all while being reasonably nice to my husband. I know how I do it, but I love hearing how all the other jugglers do it too." I agree 100%, especially about being "relatively" nice to my husband. Poor guy, always gets the tired cranky me who has given it all to my wonderful kids and every one of my own creative and business endeavors as well as volunteer at my son's school. I am a Realtor but I also feel like I am a stay at home mom. I seriously don't have enough hours in my day to devote to all of my passions. I LOVE my work and I LOVE my family and I want to give it all to both of them. I think my clients and my children get the best of me because I am so passionate and give them my all when I am with them. Oh well, sleep really is over rated.

I look forward to reading more!!

Rosanna Caira

Great idea! I'd love to hear how other moms manage to stay sane (I'm not sure I have). I'm a mom of 2, work full time as an attorney (environmental -consumer product labeling), volunteer for Healthy Child Healthy World, have a book in progress, teach at the Pump Station (Smart Mama's Green Guide), have a website - www.thesmartmama.com, and - almost forgot - have a husband. I usually feel like I'm going nuts.