Don't Let Fear Take Over

Today’s post is part of The Secret Subject Swap hosted by Karen over at Baking in a Tornado. This week 12 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.  My subject is:  What is the thing you are most afraid of? It was submitted to me by the lovely host Karen of Baking in a Tornado.

 

Fear is an odd emotion. You never quite know what is going to bring it on and the reasons may not always make sense. Let’s be honest there isn’t a human on this planet that doesn’t have a fear of something.  Some fears will take you by surprise, like my 6ft 2" husband’s fear of ponies. Yes that’s right a grown man afraid of a pony. It makes me laugh too. I have a fear of spiders and heights. Put me on a high dive with a daddy long leg and you will be able to hear me scream for miles.  (I will also never speak to you again just so we’re clear.) There was a time in my life when I would have answered Karen’s question by telling her without any doubt that my greatest fear was heights, but I have children now. Having children is a game changer. Suddenly all the things you thought you feared and thought you knew are turned completely upside down.

My children are young, five and two to be exact. We are in the throes of the terrible 2’s as well as the “I know everything already 5’s”. We are also however still in the stages of cuddling, playing together, talking about everything together and being one as a family unit. Our weekends consist of the four of us together, always.  I look at my boys and think to myself where is the time going? After all it feels like just yesterday I was coming home with my oldest as a newborn and today he is in Kindergarten.  I feel like I am going to blink and he will be in high school.  

That being said young kids are no walk in the park. After all it’s what we do now that will affect them later in life right? Ahhhhhhhh wait if I read that out loud I may in fact have a panic attack. Let me say that one more time. What we do now is what will affect them later in life.  In other words don’t mess up MOM!  I can tell you I am far from perfect. In fact there are nights I tuck the boys in and finish cleaning up only to get in bed and feel like one big giant failure. Maybe I lost my patience one too many times that day. Maybe I told the 5yo I didn’t have time to read him a second story. Maybe I chose cleaning the house over getting on the floor with the 2yo to do 6 puzzles that day.  Maybe just maybe I secretly wished to be anywhere but here that particular day.  The guilt we put on ourselves as moms to be on 100% of the time is a real killer.   After all there are plenty of days I read that second story, do those 6 puzzles and wouldn’t dream of being anywhere BUT here.  I can’t help however being afraid that I am not doing it right, this parenting thing. That one little thing could forever alter the outcome of my children and our relationship in the future.

When it comes down to it my biggest fear is that I am not a perfect parent and that I will somehow permanently damage my children because of it. After all you don’t get a do over. This isn’t a sport. This is life and it’s happening whether I’m prepared for it or not. When you bring a baby home life is all about feeding, cuddling, changing and playing but as they grow you begin to realize that there is so much more to this than you could have ever imagined.  

Sometimes I find myself thinking way too far ahead.  What if they don’t make any long lasting friends? What if one of them gets bullied? What if one of them IS a bully? What if they come home with questions I’m not prepared to answer? How will I talk to them about drugs? What will I say about sex? What if someone hurts them? What if, what if, what if????

Then I take a deep breath and realize the only way to deal with fear is to deal with it head on. So I am going to climb to the top of the high dive and look that Daddy Long Legs in the eyes and get over it already. Or I am going to just take this parenting thing one day at a time. I know not all of our days will be great ones, but some of them sure will. I know that I am doing the best I can. I know the boys feel loved and are happy. I know how they treat people now and I will do my best to make sure it remains that way. I will make sure they know how to stick up for themselves and when it comes to the really big things in life well we will have to tackle them like we do our weekends, all together.

You see fear can only take over if you let it and when I look at my two boys I can’t help but think how on earth can I possibly be scared. I’ve got this. We’ve got this.

 

This has been a Secret Subject post. I hope you enjoyed it. Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite cocktail and go read what the amazing other bloggers had to write.

http://BakingInATornado.com                               Baking In A Tornado

http://themomisodes.com/                                   The Momisodes

http://www.justalittlenutty.com/                           Just A Little Nutty

http://mooreorganizedmayhem.blogspot.com/       Moore Organized Mayhem

http://crazyasnormal.com                                    Crazy As Normal

http://singlemumplusone.blogspot.com                  Searching for Sanity

http://www.homeonderanged.com                        Home on Deranged

http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com                       Dawn’s Disaster

http://www.theinsomniacsdream.com/                  The Insomniac’s Dream

www.theblacksheepmom.blogspot.com                 Black Sheep Mom

http://www.bethteliho.wordpress.com/                  Writer B is Me

 

It Comes With a Price

Today’s post is part of The Secret Subject Swap hosted by Karen over at Baking In A Tornado. This week 11 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.  My subject is: You wake up one morning and find that little elves have taken over the cleaning of your home. But, it comes with a price: The elves what to raise your first born as their own. What happens next? It was submitted by:  Melissa of Home on Deranged . It isn’t easy to write about a topic that is not your own. It’s a challenge and I have to say I love a challenge!

 

The other day I woke up just as I normally do, still tired and longing for more sleep! I walked down the hallway and rushed to get my first cup of coffee only to find a group of little elves cleaning my house. Um yeah I know it sounds crazy but it’s true! My first thought was how on earth did they get in here? Then when I saw how they were cleaning my second thought was:  Who the hell cares how they got in here as long as they keep cleaning. My floors were shining, my cabinets were gleaming and I was elated…all before 8am! 

As I brewed my first cup of coffee I approached the elf I had determined was the leader. I determined this from the way he was bossing around all the other elves. “You missed a spot!” he yelled at the one in the blue shirt. “Pick up the pace.” he said to the one in the yellow shirt. I thanked him and said: “I don’t know how you stumbled upon my house but I am sure glad you did. I literally went to bed last night feeling like a hamster on a wheel and wishing that someone would appear to help me keep up.” 

“I’m happy to hear we were able to grant that wish for you.” he replied.  “Of course I plan on paying you.” I said. “Well that’s the thing; we don’t want your money.” “Oh?” “We would like to raise your oldest as one of us.” “Um as an elf?” “Yes.”

I stood there looking at an elf and I thought to myself of course. Of course this is too good to be true. Then I thought does this guy even know what he is getting into? I mean my five year old can be quite the handful. He’s whiney when he’s tired. He talks back when we ask him to clean up his toys. He’s ALWAYS flipping hungry.  He’s really cute though. Oh and so funny. He has such a sarcastic sense of humor and I’ve always adored it. He laughs at all my jokes. Who would laugh at my jokes if he wasn’t around?  He’s so smart.  I love watching him think things through. Oh and I can’t forget thoughtful. He is so thoughtful.  After all these thoughts raced through my head I looked around my house and while I did love how clean it was I knew it didn’t compare to raising him all on our own minus the elves. I looked at the elf and I told him thanks but no thanks. With that the elves packed up their cleaning supplies and were on their way.

Suddenly I heard a loud beeping sound and I rolled over to discover it was my alarm clock. Of course that was a dream! How could it not have been a dream? Elves? Bwahahahaha now that is funny. I walked down the hallway stepped on 16 Legos, one dump truck and a toy train. UGH! My five year old was up mere minutes later. He threw his pajamas on the living room floor and proceeded to spill his orange juice all over the kitchen next. Hmmm maybe elf life wouldn’t have been so bad.


Here are the links to all the other phenomenal bloggers who participated in this Secret Subject Swap. Sit back, click around and enjoy.

http://BakingInATornado.com                            Baking In A Tornado

http://hypnoticbard.blogspot.com/                      The Insomniac’s Dream

http://annisbubble.blogspot.com                         Anni’s Bubble

http://www.mypersonalaccent.com                      My Personal Accent

http://www.theblacksheepmom.blogspot.com       Black Sheep Mom

http://www.homeonderanged.com                       Home on Deranged

http://www.eviljoyspeaks.wordpress.com             Evil Joy Speaks 

http://dates2diapers2.blogspot.com                     Dates 2 Diapers

http://www.rocksnosaltmommy.com/                   Rocks, No Salt Mommy

http://themomisodes.com                                  The Momisodes

June Secret Subject Swap-The Invention That Will Change Mothers Everywhere!

 

Today’s post is part of The Secret Subject Swap hosted by Karen over at Baking In a Tornado My subject is: You're the creator of a magnificent new invention! What is it and why did you invent it? It was submitted by Daily Dose of Damn  This was so fun to participate in and I hope you will have fun reading it.

 

Mom Brain, according to the Urban Dictionary it is the phenomenon known to mothers where their brains become useless piles of goo after being around their children for too long. I would say this is 100% accurate. My brain has officially become a pile of goo. I will walk into a room on a clear cut mission but once standing in said room I couldn’t tell you what that mission was even if you offered me money.  I go to the grocery store with a full written list in my hands yet somehow I get home and find out I have forgotten at least three things on that list.  I have been known to have full conversations with my husband and forget the content completely. It’s awful. I for one am sick of it. I want my brain back. So it got me thinking there has to be something that will help my goo turn back to brilliance. (Okay that may be pushing it but stay with me).

I’ve invented something and you are going to want it. The other night I was sitting in my bed stretched towards the wall while trying to tweet on my charging phone and it hit me, why can’t we recharge our brains? So mom’s I invented the brain recharger. It’s simple really and requires no electricity. Please let us not take up another outlet as they are all filled with phones, lap tops, IPads, IPods, and the like.  The mommy brain recharger comes in one simple package. You send away for it at www.bringmemybrain.com and 5 weeks later (when we remember to send it to you) it arrives on your doorstep. When you open the box you will find, bubble bath,  wine, an unbreakable wine glass, ear plugs, an eye mask, a neck pillow,  a gift certificate for a mani/pedi, a business card for a free babysitting service run by only the best, background checked, Mary Poppins like women. You will also find a mandatory order to take a random 2 hour nap at a paid for hotel while Mary Poppins plays with your little or not so little rug rats. Your house will be clean, dinner will be made and your kids will behave better than you could have ever imagined when you get home. 

The best part is when you get home your brain will be with you mama! You will be able to think again like you did back in college, okay high school, okay whenever you were actually at your best.  You will walk into a room with a purpose and you will not forget what it is. You will have conversations again without losing your train of thought and suddenly thinking about a poop diaper. You will be focused and ON YOUR GAME! The best part is our Bring Me My Brain package comes with a money back guarantee and if you buy it within the next two weeks and mention this post you will get the package valued at *Too expensive for you* for 26 easy payments of $19.95. How can you beat that?!  I mean honestly I don’t think you can really put a monetary value on having your brain back do you?

So what are you waiting for pick up the phone and dial: 1 800-my-brain-is-goo these packages won’t last long. 

 

Disclaimer: Not all mom brains can be cured with one package. Some women may require a series of packages before seeing a noticeable difference. Some women have been known to order repeatedly. You may experience sadness once you are finished with the package.  Under no circumstances are you to hold the baby sitter hostage. Once you return home she goes home. Some women may lose motivation to return to normal household duties.

This woman clearly took it too far.

Some women may hide in the bathtub for longer than expected. If any of these side effects should occur please don’t call us we barely have time to send out the packages let alone answer the phone.

 

The preceding post is a work of fiction an invention or fabrication as opposed to fact. If you should attempt to call 1800-my-brain-is-goo or visit www.bringmemybrain.com you will be met with disappointment.

This has been a work of fiction sponsored by Baking In A Tornado and inspired by Daily Dose of Damn 

Go take a look at the other June Secret Subject Swaps. It’s fun and no one ever gets hurt I promise.

 

http://BakingInATornado.com                                 Baking In A Tornado

http://singlemumplusone.blogspot.com                    Searching for Sanity

www.theblacksheepmom.blogspot.com                    Black Sheep Mom

http://indianamericanmom.com                              Indian American Mom

http://dailydoseofdamn.blogspot.com/                     Daily Dose of Damn

http://aworkingmomswhoas.blogspot.com/              A Working Mom's "Whoas"

http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com                         Dawn’s Disaster

www.akashicwindow.blogspot.com                         Akashic Aisles:The Basement View

 

www.thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com                    The Pursuit of Normal

www.homeonderanged.com                                   Home on Deranged

www.eviljoyspeaks.wordpress.com                          Evil Joy Speaks