Mrs. ChildFun

Stand Behind Our Troops!!

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:04:00 +0000

Truly One Of The Best E Mails I Have Seen:

A mother asked this President... 'Why did my son have to die in Iraq ?'
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Things My Mother Taught Me

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:55:00 +0000

Generally, in my column, I like to write original things about my life and family. But, recently, my godmother, Debbie, sent me this wonderful poem or whatever you want to call it. I laughed until I cried, and then I called my mom, read it to her, and laughed more. It is something every mother can appreciate. If you know who originally wrote it, let me know so that I can give them the proper credit. Until then, enjoy!!!

~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~

Things My Mother Taught Me

My Mother taught me LOGIC...

"If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can't go to the store with me."

My Mother taught me MEDICINE...

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they're going to freeze that way."

My Mother taught me TO THINK AHEAD...

"If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job!"

My Mother taught me ESP...

"Put your sweater on; don't you think that I know when you're cold?"

My Mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE...

"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you...Don't talk back to me!"

My Mother taught me HUMOR...

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.

My mother taught me ABOUT SEX...

"How do you think you got here?"

My mother taught me about GENETICS...

"You are just like your father!"

My mother taught me about my ROOTS...

"Do you think you were born in a barn?"

My mother taught me about the WISDOM of AGE...

"When you get to be my age, you will understand."

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION...

"Just wait until your father gets home."

My mother taught me about RECEIVING...

You are going to get it when we get home.

And my all time favorite thing-JUSTICE

"One day you will have kids, and I hope they turn out just like YOU..then you'll see what it's like."

~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~*~

I want to officially take this chance, now, before my babes are teenagers to publicly get down on my knees and beg the forgiveness of my mother. She is a wonderful woman who would move heaven and earth for her grandchildren. She is also the woman who I was once a thorn in the side to on a daily basis. As a teenager, I was rotten to her, and I only hope that she knows now how sorry I am, and how much I adore her. And, of course, how much I really hope that my precious daughter turns out NOTHING like me..LOL

Until next time...

Yes, You Can Afford to Stay Home With Your Kids

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:49:00 +0000

What do you mean you can't afford to stay home with your kids? Sorry, I don't believe it. I used to believe, but not anymore. Here are some helpful tips and major life changing strategies to allow you the power to stay home with your kids.

I used to think we needed a second car. You really don't. Right there, look at all the money you save. Look at your monthly budget and subtract a car payment, insurance, gas, and maintenance. WOW. That is a nice chunk of change right there.

Maybe you need to ease into it? Okay, let's look at your grocery bill. Do you use coupons, if not, why? Buy things in bulk. Look at prices. Shop at warehouse places like Sam's and you can save hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill per year. I know you don't NEED 20 pounds of hamburger right now, but when you can buy it for the same price of 10 pounds wrapped in individually, then it is worth it! Buy generic whenever possible. Don't be a snob, try it out. 95% of the time, they taste the same. The only generic things I won't buy are paper products and lasagna noodles. For some reason, those just aren't as good. Find what you like and you can save hundreds of dollars here.

What about vacations? Do you fly to Disneyworld each year? Get real. What do you think will make a bigger impact on your children in the long run, the fact that you blew a ridiculous amount of money to take a 4 day vacation, or that you were there for them, day after day, week after week, smile after smile, tear after tear? This summer we scraped and saved and scrimped and we are driving to Canada to go fishing for a week. Living on one income doesn't mean you can't live well. You just live different.

As for general entertainment, instead of expensive movie theaters and fast food joints, go buy a kite and make sandwiches and have a picnic in the park. Go for a walk. Ride your bike through the park. Go to art galleries, museums and zoos. Most of these are free or have family discount days.

With cutting back a little in your daily routines, and making major changes like cutting out a vehicle, you CAN stay home with your kids. Now with the internet, computers and technology, there are a lot of legitimate work at home mom jobs as well if you really need extra money to get by. Check out http://www.wahm.com for a list.

Obviously, I am referring to two income families here, so please don't write asking "What about single moms?" For single moms, there are lots of other careers that can be done at home. Home child care is the first to come to mind. Check out our Providers section for more info on starting a home child care.

Until next time...

The Dreaded Reunion

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:46:00 +0000

Oh my, it's THAT time of year. Reunion time. I have to lose 20 pounds, get my hair to grow at least 6 inches and have all my nasty adult acne clear and have beautiful skin, and I need it all now.....

I hate reunions. My 10 year was fun. I was skinny when I went to mine. LOL. I got to flash my skinny tush in front of all the snobbies at my reunion. But, in all honesty, I don't care much about impressing those twits. No, we have the serious reunion this summer. MY HUSBAND'S CLASS REUNION. EEK.

This really wouldn't be so bad, but at Rick's 5 year reunion, I was about 2 weeks away from delivering Conor. I was a beached whale. I was HUGE. My ankles were swollen. Heck, my everything was swollen. And of course, it was the first time I ever met any of my husband's friends from high school. I swore to myself that day that at Rick's next reunion, I would be slim and svelte and OH MY GOSH.....where did the last five years go?

Well, I know for part of it, we had another baby, but other than that, I am at a loss. I still have the same hips though. I am not the slim, svelte creature I vowed to be. This bothered me for weeks after Rick's invitation came. I knew that I didn't have the time to shrink my body to a size 5 in time for the reunion.

But, then I thought long and hard. My husband doesn't love me day in and day out because of what I look like, and if his friends were to judge me for the same, he would not be pleased with them either. Rick loves me for the wife and mother that I am.

I know, at the 20 year reunion I will be slim and svelte...LOL. No I won't. I will still be me, with a little extra padding, and if fate is kind to me I will still be Rick's wife, and he will still love me, extra padding and all.

Edited to add: I wrote this a LONG time ago. Rick's 20 year reunion is next year. I am still me, I still have extra padding, and above all else, Rick still loves me and I am still his wife. :)

Until next time...

Common Courtesy

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:44:00 +0000

Is it just me, or have people become so involved in themselves, in their business, in their troubles that common courtesy has been forced off the road like a slow driver on a race track? Lately, it has become more and more evident to me that common courtesy is not nearly as common as it ought to be.

Driving on the highway, well, it has become ridiculous. People cutting you off, not using their turn signals, speeding recklessly, I am sure you can all identify with this. Some other instances....

Lately, ChildFun has enjoyed some great publicity and new visitors. We have several different discussion lists now. While I think they are great, as do thousands of other parents, obviously, they are not for everyone. Not every person is going to be happy on a list. Okay, so here we have a person who subscribed to a discussion list, decided they didn't like, and wants to get off of it. That sounds fairly simple, doesn't it? So they have a few options. They can follow the instructions to unsubscribe that they were mailed when they joined. What's that, you didn't save that email? That's okay, most people don't, and we understand that. So, we make it easy for you. At the bottom of every single email, we include a url to unsubscribe. It is on every message. Problem solved, right? WRONG! I get letters every day about this, but my favorite was recently. "TAKE ME OFF YOUR D*MN LIST:". How's that for courtesy? Good grief, people. I just don't see any excuse for that. Whatever happened to decency and honesty? Why can't someone just say, "Hey, Jenny, I really don't like your list, and I don't want the mail anymore, can you help me unsubscribe?" Is that so difficult???

Another instance was yesterday at the grocery store. I am standing at the deli counter, and looking at all the goodies laid out before me. A vast array of delectable meats and cheeses. I search frantically up and down the display case, and eegads, they don't have my favorite ham out!!!! I politely ask the young lady at the counter if they still have that particular ham. She says sure, but that I will need to wait a minute for "Ed" to cut it. She then points to a sweet looking gentleman, in his 50's who is helping another customer. When Ed has a pause, this nice lady explains to him that I would like some ham sliced. There is no one else waiting at the counter, and nothing on the back counters, etc. He doesn't look very busy at all. He practically snarls at me, "How much do you want?". I asked him how much per pound it was as I usually buy more and freeze it if it is on sale. He rattles off the higher normal price, and I ask him for two pounds of sliced ham. Well, apparently, old Ed didn't much think that my little two pounds of ham was worth it as he exclaims loudly for all employees and customers in the vicinity to hear, "Oh shit!" I about fell on the floor!!!! He immediately apologized but I was flabbergasted that anyone could be so rude! For heavens sakes, he gets paid by the hour whether he is cutting 50 pounds of meat or 2, I don't see what it mattered. I immediately spoke to a manager about the situation and I was so upset I left without ever buying ham.

These are just two instances, but I am sure you can add plenty of others to this list. It is so sad. There is just no excuse. If everyone would just step back for a moment. Try to say thank you to someone who helps you. Don't just mumble off thanks. Genuinely say thank you and let them know they are appreciated. Say please. Hold the door open for the person behind you at the store. Let that person waiting at the corner cross the busy street. Smile at people. It's really worth it. It will make you feel better. Let's all work together to bring courtesy back to our world. Thank you for taking the time to stop by ChildFun today and thanks for reading this article. See how easy that is? :) Have a great day...

Until next time...

I'm Just a Mother?

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:42:00 +0000

I came across this in my mailbox the other day and it was to good not to share! Enjoy!

I'm Just a Mother?

Author Unknown

A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation.

"Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded. Before I could answer - and I didn't really have one handy - she blurted out the reason for her question. It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her "occupation," Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "Do you have a job, or are you just a ......?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title, like "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar" "And what is your occupation?" she probed. What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm....a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in mid-air, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters).

Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---age 13, 7, and 3. And upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model (six months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant. I had scored a beat on bureaucracy. And I had gone down on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another......"

Home...what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door.

Send this page to another Mother

Until next time...

Quit Competing and Just Live

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:39:00 +0000

We moved into this house almost 5 years ago. We were broke. We had two kids. Our landlord had sold the house we were living in, and we needed a place to live, and fast. This place was "cute" (read that as small.) It was cheap, less than rent, and it was available. After jumping through the 8 million hoops that our bank required, we were able to get the loan, and within a few days, we moved into our very first home.

It was so neat! I could paint and not ask the landlord. I got to cut the grass. (yeah, I am one of those weirdos who actually enjoys this task). I got to check the box for "homeowner" on surveys. It was heaven! The only catch was that we lived by the railroad tracks. They were right across the street. At the time, we were desperate enough not to care. Our children were 9 months and 2 years at the time, and we planned on moving in a couple of years, so we didn't worry much about them. That, and they were the coolest thing to our boys.

They'd be mid-tantrum, you know, the bawling so hard my face is turning blue kind of fit, when suddenly the train would come by, smiles would instantly show up, and their nose was glued to the window until the train went by. My boys learned to count by watching how many cars went by. They wanted books on trains. Everything. The trains were a great learning tool.

Well, five years later and another child later, and we haven't moved yet. And, the boys have outgrown the trains. After you've seen 5,000 of them come by, they're not so cool. And my daughter? Does she giggle and watch them as her brothers did before? Ummmm, NO. A resounding, very ultra negative NO. She hates them. She cries, she shakes, she screams. They wake her up, they wake me up, they bring no joy to her small world at all.

Well, it could be because Railroad A is planning an expansion in our area. What does this have to do with a two year old you ask? Well, it seems that Railroad B is not thrilled about Railroad A moving in, so the Railroad B guys are pulling some nasty tricks to get people down on trains and thus vote no to the planned expansion. The Railroad B trains have been driving faster than usual here through town, enough to shake the whole house, they have gone whistle happy, blowing their horns ridiculously, excessively loud at all hours of the day and wee hours of the night and just in general, trying to irk our community enough to vote out Railroad A.

So, this is my public vote for Railroad A to come to our community, build a quieter track, build a fence, build a sound barrier and quit scaring my children. My whole point? (Like I ever have one....) Well, competition is my point. There are lots of other parenting sites out there. Do I rip on them? Do I try to outdo them? Do I try to make the public angry over them? Again, a big fat no. I work with them. I support them. I share articles with them. As we all grow towards a purpose, everyone has something to gain. Look at your competition. Are they worth giving yourself a bad rep? No way.

Look at your own life. Look at yourself. Are you trying too hard to compete with your sister in law? Your siblings? Your parents? Your neighbors? Imagine what your life would be like if you quit worrying so much about what everyone else around you was doing, and instead worried about your own resposibilities and worried about how you could help people around you. Now, quit imagining and do it. And please, quit blowing your dang horn!

Until next time...

High Heels to Golden Slippers

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:37:00 +0000

I've done "the career thing". You know the shirt, been there, done that. Wouldn't ever wanna do it again! Let me explain why I say that.

I worked as a top sales representative for a large corporation. Bonuses and incentives included goodies like a 26' color tv, and a romantic free vacation to Cancun that my husband and I shared together while the kids stayed at Grandma's house. It was a fun job. I met interesting people. Made lots of money.

Then one day, literally, out of the blue, I woke up and realized how sick and twisted that was to me. Was money more important to me than being with my kids? They spent day after day at a child care provider's house. Eating her cooking. Having her read them stories. Learning her values. Having her kiss their owies. Letting her see their triumphs and joys and their sorrows. And I was missing it all.

I quit my job the next day. My husband and I bit the bullet. We didn't HAVE to get a new house that year, and we could live without a second car. We could go without eating out as much. We knew we could live on one income if we got rid of some unnecessary things and cut a few corners.

Even though my children seemed happy in daycare, and adored our provider who they lovingly called Grandma, they were absolutely thrilled when I told them they wouldn't be going back. Hunter, who was just over 2 at the time grinned and said "You mean you are gonna be our momma all the time?" OUCH! It took a long time before I could forgive myself for ever having put them there in the first place.

They were only there for a few months, and I regret those months more than any others in my life. Now my days start out with robe and slippers and relaxed morning breakfasts where my children and I plan our day. I get all the hugs and kisses and loveys. Sometimes for a brief moment or two, I miss life in the fast lane. I miss the high pressure deadlines and the fancy clothes and bonuses. But I have realized there are better bonuses.

Like when I saw Cassidy walk her first steps. Or watched Conor wrote his name alone for the first time without my hand guiding his. Or when I stood proudly by after the training wheels came off Hunter's bike. Or when he introduced me at school and when he got to the part about "mom's career", he said to his whole class, "I am the luckiest kid in the world, because my Mama stays home and takes care of me and my daddy and brother and sister and I love her so much". WOW. That is such a neat bonus!!

It beats color tv's and trips. This year, we still have the same tv, and our vacation will be a family fishing trip. I am so glad that I made the choice to raise my kids instead of letting someone else do it for me. I don't want to miss another moment of them growing up. They are learning our values, and we are seeing all the goodies, and the best part? We get all the kisses and hugs. I'll take my golden slippers over high heels any day!

Until next time...

I Loved You Enough

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:34:00 +0000

Ah, now I understand this. I read this once many years ago, and never quite understood. Now I know why my mom did a lot of the things that she did, and now I know enough to do the same for my babes...

I Loved You Enough

Some day when my children are old enough
to understand the logic that motivates
a parent, I will tell them:

I loved you enough...
to ask where you were going, with whom,
and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough...
to insist that you save your money and buy
a bike for yourself even though we
could afford to buy one for you.

I loved you enough...
to be silent and let you discover that your
new best friend was a creep.

I loved you enough...
to make you take a Milky Way back to the
drugstore (with a bite out of it) and tell the clerk,
"I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it."

I loved you enough...
to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned
your room, a job that would have taken 15 minutes.

I loved you enough...
to let you see anger, disappointment and tears in my eyes.
Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.

I loved you enough...
to let you assume the responsibility for your actions
even when the penalties were so harsh they almost
broke my heart.

But most of all,

I loved you enough...
to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it.
Those were the most difficult battles of all.
I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.

I loved you enough...
To let you hate me at times.

Until next time...

Time Is Flying By

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:32:00 +0000

Sigh. It is happening already. The summer flew by. The day Conor, my middle child, has waited his whole life for is finally here. September 9th my little boy starts preschool. I have some serious mixed feelings about this.

Last year, when Hunter started kindergarten, it was so exciting. My first baby off to school to learn new things, make new friends and it was so FUN. But my baby leaving me??? Umm, I don't know what to think. He is not my only baby, of course, I still have Miss Cassidy here for a couple more years at least.

Conor is SO excited. This is the very first thing he will be doing out of his big brother's shadow. Conor has always done everything on his own. So, in a way, I am very excited for him. This is his chance to bloom and grow and become his own person. But sheesh, why does he have to go do it somewhere else? LOL.

Seriously, I was totally unprepared for this whole "kids grow up" thing. I swear they never mentioned this at the hospital when they handed me that sweet little bundle. No one told me that my child would be thrilled to bits to go someplace else. The last few years have gone so fast. I am sitting here trying to figure out what is happening while simultaneously trying to drag my feet and slow down time.

My oldest son, all of 6, is almost as tall as I am, and my daughter, who I swear was just born, is starting to talk. I called my mom and asked her if she knew anything about this phenomenon and she told me that it was after 9pm and I shouldn't be on the phone as I have school in the morning. Hmmm. Big help she is.

Then, as I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself, it came to me. The answer to it all. How to make it last. Savor it. Don't waste a minute. Don't end up one day sitting around wishing you had worked less and played more. Kiss your family as often as possible. You know the old line, "Have you hugged your kids today?" Make sure you don't have to ask that question. Play with them, listen to them, get to REALLY know them.

Spend some time with them after school talking about their day. Get involved in their extra curricular activities. Know their teachers, and know their friends. You can still be close to your kids as they are growing up without being hovering and overbearing.

Of course, they will still do that grow up, move away thing. It's inevitable. Last night at the dinner table, my sweet little Conor told me that if he had to move out, he would only move 2 miles away. I can live with that. For now though, I have a serious Nintendo rematch that I promised my oldest son, and I promised to get Mancala out and play with Conor, and Cassidy really needs some serious tickling and chasing around. Remember, don't let it fly by....fly with it...and enjoy every minute!

Edited to add: This little boy, this little Conor is now an eighth grader! He is taller than me, and is still the light of my life, and I still savor every hug, laugh and kiss.

Until next time...

It Is Just Stuff!

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:29:00 +0000

Why is it that when you meet someone, fall in love, get married, have children and think you have the most wonderful life, that immediately when you think everything is perfect, stuff starts to break? As I sit here with no clean socks, lamenting the death of my washing machine this weekend, I am kind of looking back over the last seven years and thinking, "Geeesh, we've had a lot of stuff break." Our family motto is "What's broke now??"

Where to start? With lawnmowers that don't run, a very special 85 Blazer that made my husband get really skinny for awhile as he was always walking and burning lots of calories cursing, a furnace go out, a dead dishwasher, a jammed garbage disposal, sewer lines in our basement back up, Blazer breaking again, air conditioning not working, Hey, Rick, the Blazer broke again? Well, you get the idea. It's just been one thing after another. I walk very carefully in my house now in fear that something will break just by my looking at it too long or walking by it.

See, life likes to fool us. We work our butts off, just finally start to get caught up on bills and get that foolish notion that we might actually be able to put some money away, then wham, I have a washer with a transmission that has gone out. And would someone PLEASE explain to me why we have these stupid service contracts on everything in our house, and the only thing that they never cover is the stuff that goes wrong at my house?

I was really angry earlier today. I even kicked said washing machine in frustration, and it really didn't make me feel any better at all. I sat here feeling sorry for myself that I have to go to the laundromat as I cannot afford to get a new washer. As I was dragging the clothes into the laundromat with my three children, it dawned on me how lucky I was.

That broken washer? It was bought for me by a husband that adores me. That broken washer? It was worn out from cleaning mud pies, spilled Cheerios and finger paint off the clothes of my three beautiful, healthy children that God blessed me with. That broken washer? I spent an hour at the laundromat playing silly games with my babes, and laughed so much that 6 hours later, my ribs are still a bit sore. That broken washer has shown me just how wonderful my life really is, and how unimportant that stupid washer really is.

So, God has blessed me with many things, and somehow, I will find a way to get a new washer. What have I learned? Things are never as bad as they seem. Rick and I have been through some awful rough times, and somehow, we always come out stronger. There are more important things than "stuff". Stuff can be replaced. An hour of laughing with my children, now that is priceless. As each year passes, things become clearer, possessions mean so much less, and laughter and love have become oh so much more precious. So, take a moment, hug your children, kiss your husband, call your mother, just to tell her you love her. Trust me, doing the laundry can wait. I guarantee it. Things aren't nearly as broke as they seem sometimes, it all just depends on how you look at it....

Until next time...

Mean Moms!

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:26:00 +0000

My friend and "internet mom" from The Partyworks sent me this.....

Was your Mom mean? I know mine was :-) We had the meanest mother in the whole world!

While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast.

When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch,we had to eat sandwiches.

And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them.

She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work.

We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, and all sorts of cruel jobs.

I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds. Then, life was really tough!

Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.

While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.

Because of our mother we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced.

None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime.

It was all her fault.

We never got drunk, took up smoking, stayed out all night, or a million other things other kids did.

Sundays were reserved for church, and we never missed once. We knew better than to ask to spend the night with a friend on Saturdays.

Now that we have left home, we are all God-fearing, educated, honest adults.

We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today. It just doesn't have enough mean moms anymore!

Make sure to share this with another mom!

Until next time...

I Need More Time!

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:23:00 +0000

What do you mean that it is the middle of the week already? I swear, I am about the most disorganized person in the whole world. I walked around all morning thinking it was Tuesday. It was not. It's already Wednesday. I missed a whole day? Ever get that feeling? Ever feel like you have so much to do that you can't keep track of anything?

It gets worse the older I get. Now I know that I did about 17 loads of laundry the other day. Couldn't have been more than 2 days ago. This morning, my husband says, "I don't have any clean socks." How in the heck? Has it been that long? Is he bringing them to work and giving them to his friends to wear? I peek down the basement stairs and gasp at the giant pile of laundry down there that has obviously been piling up for at least a week. We have a laundry chute in our bathroom. A wonderful, convenient device. Only problem? I forget it's there! I keep hoping the laundry fairy will grab things as we throw them down the chute and magically place them neatly folded back into my drawers. It never happens.

And my desk. HAHAHAHAHA. I am lucky I can even find my keyboard under the pile of mail, books, toys, things I took away from the puppy so she wouldn't chew on, a couple empty popcans and a baseball and some air freshener, a box of wipes...hey...who's stuff is this??? I couldn't have left all of this here?

My kitchen. Ha. solved that problem. Our doorway between our kitchen and living room is open, airy and bright. I can see my kitchen from my desk. Oh gosh, looking at the desk is bad enough. I went Menards, bought a door and some hinges, and whew....there's that kitchen problem solved.

Now, this is just the inside of the house. Now add in a husband, three kids, two dogs, one new puppy, a cat and wrestling, boy scouts, preschool, open houses and pack meetings and friend's birthday parties and religious education classes, doctor's appointments and trips to the grocery store, library, mall, Walmart, and on and on and on. And that doesn't even include working on the website!

What was God thinking when he only gave Moms 24 hours in each day? I think this is the ultimate proof that He has a delightful sense of humor. I want to start a petition to God to allow me an extra 8 hours after my children are safely tucked in bed. 8 hours to clean, organize, pay bills, take a shower, get some work done, do laundry before my husbands feet freeze, actually speak to my husband without anyone giving me a booger, wanting to show me something, no one tattling, the works!! Can you imagine? Oh, and I might even use a couple of those hours to sleep.

Someday, I swear, I am going to hire a housekeeper. I already told my husband that is first on my wish list when we can afford it. Until that day, please don't laugh when you look at my desk.

Until next time...

Call Your Mother

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:20:00 +0000

Call your mother. Please. Just tell her you love her, just say hi, anything, just call her. Email her. Write her a letter. Go see her. Tell her how much she means to you and how important she is in your life.

My own mother is not in the greatest of health. She called me yesterday to tell me that her doctor has put her on home oxygen becasue she is not breathing too well. She tried to make light of it. Tried to say her doctor said it was no big deal. But I know better. I could hear the edge of fear in her voice. I could hear that it is a big deal. I know she doesn't want to worry me, but I am.

My daughter is only almost two. Will my mother be around to see her get married? I worry about that. I pray she will, but I take it one day at a time. When I got married, I was so sad that my own grandmother was not there. Neither was my father, both had passed away years before. I hate to think of how much of my life they missed.

Sitting and listening to my mom yesterday, it made me realize just how precious and fleeting things are. I look around the world, and I see people worrying about bills, working too much overtime to make ends meet, shopping at the mall, driving too fast....and it all looks to me as though everyone is always in a hurry. Hurry up and get things done, too much to do, not enough time.

You have to make time for family. You absolutely have to do this. Sit down and make a list of what is truly important in your life. Your priorities. How high up does telling your husband and children that you love them rank on that list? How far does calling your family to say hello rank on that list? How high up does taking five minutes of your busy day to read a story to your children rank? Are your priorities out of whack?

Mine sometimes are. I admit it. There, the big secret is out. I am not the perfect mom. LOL. But, lucky for me, I have gotten a big old serious reminder. Of course I am not glad my mom is ill, but I am thankful that I have the chance to remind her how much I love her and that my children really know her. I have the chance to sit down and sort out my priorities and figure out what really matters most. So, the dishes slide another day. As the old saying goes, in a hundred years, who's going to care what my kitchen looked like? Are people going to remember me for that? Doubt it.

I remember things like my mom making me chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches cut in perfect little triangles when I was sick. I remember laying my head on her breast and crying my heart out when I skinned up my face sledding. I remember the hours and hours she spent sewing costumes for plays and dance classes. I remember her sitting on the sidelines at every single soccer game. I remember telling her about my first crush. I remember hearing the delightful gasp come out of her when I announced she was going to be a grandma. I remember the look on her face when she held her grandsons and daughters for the first time.

I remember yesterday all too clearly the fear in her voice when she told me about the oxygen tank in her living room. It's my turn to comfort her tears and make her soup. And I am so glad I still have that chance. Wherever you are, quit reading this, and call your mother...you'll be glad you did, and so will she.

Edited to add:

Mom passed away on March 5, 2005. My children were 12, 11 and 8. She didn't see them graduate, get married, or any of those things. But now it is my job to make sure that they never forget her...

Until next time...

I Am Glad I Had The Chance....

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:18:00 +0000

To My Dearest Grandpa,

I remember when I was little, and I would come to your house. You used to sneak me across the street when Grandma wasn't looking and buy me ice cream. You used to always make me laugh and tell me silly jokes that everyone else thought I wouldn't understand. You bought me pretty dresses and made me feel like a princess. Staying at your house all the time was like heaven to me. You and Grandma were my favorite people in the world.

As I grew, you helped me learn how to take care of your garden, how to make a perfect martini, and what to say to boys. You taught me how to swear, how to spit and how to make the perfect homemade bread.

When the phone call came that my dad had died, it was your house I was at. It was your chair I snuggled in and bawled my heart out in. It was your half gallon of ice cream I ate. It was your arms that held me. It was your strong arms that carried my small body to bed, exhausted from hours of crying. It was your strength and wisdom and love that helped me to manage and get through the funeral.

When Grandma died, I was only 13, and not really old enough to understand or offer you the comfort you so needed. We grew apart, and I grew up. Through the years we met at holidays, laughed, played and smiled, but without Grandma, the sparkle in your eyes was gone.

I grew older, moved out, married, had babies. Oh, the joy on your face when you held them in your arms. You looked so young again and so full of life. The sparkle in your eye twinkled for a moment or two and then blinked out again.

More years passed, my babies grew, and we grew further apart. The whole family has. I know I don't come visit as often as I should, and I am sorry for that.

But this last Saturday was magic. Seeing you. Spending time at your house that I should have spent a long time ago. Seeing my daughter in your arms the way I used to sit there. Seeing my boys eat your ice cream like I used to. Seeing the sparkle in your eye and the roar of your laugh. It was like the past all over again.

I just wanted to take this chance to say I love you. To say thank you. To say that you will always be in my heart as the best grandpa ever. I am glad I had the chance to hear you laugh again. I am glad I had the chance to have you hold me in your arms again. I am glad that I got to see children laughing and playing in your house. Yes, I saw the sparkle in your eyes. Thank you, Grandpa, for bringing so much magic into my life over the last 30 years....

Always,

Jennifer

Edited to add: He passed away in 2000, but this letter will forever remind me of that day.

Until next time...

Tips for a Long Lasting Marriage

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:16:00 +0000

So, I am looking at the calendar here, and I get reminded that soon I will have been married to my wonderful husband for 16 years. Hmmm. Not bad by today's standards. So, three kids later, a house, a mortgage, a pile of bills, hubby working overtime, school clothes to buy, car repairs to pay for and oh so much to worry about, how do we keep it together?

I have a lot of people ask me the secret of a happy marriage. I think if I had to pick one single thing, it would be our commitment to one another. I may not always be passionately in lust with my husband, and I may occasionally be frustrated with him, and I am sure that I have irked him many a time, but when you cut to the bottom line, we made a promise and a commitment to one another. That commitment gets us through the rough spots and on to better places.

So, we have the commitment that holds us together, but what about the rest? Obviously by looking at today's divorce rate, it is just not enough. People often ask me how we stay happy and in love with each other. My answer? He is my best friend in the whole world. I married someone that I truly and deeply love to be with. Even if I wasn't married to him, I would want to be his friend. We enjoy a lot of the same activities, and we think alike and agree on most things. We spend time talking with each other, and we spend quiet time just enjoying that the other is there.

Okay, so I have this great commitment with a wonderful friend. Hmmm. Still not enough for a happy marriage. So what else is there? Romance and lust don't last. If you build a marriage on that, it probably will not work. But, throw romance and lust into the mix of commitment and friendship and you have a recipe for a long lasting adventure. Although I am not walking around like a teenager on her first crush, my husband still has the power to melt my knees with a smile. We have our lulls and our rough spots like any couple, but in the end, I know that he is the man of my dreams.

Now, throw in trust, humor, (lots of it) and a little quiet time alone and you have a good recipe. Even if it is just a night out at a movie, or as much as a weekend at a hotel, you HAVE to make time for yourselves. I love being a mommy, but sometimes you have to let your husband see the non mommy side of you too to keep things fresh and romantic. Corny as it sounds, throw a love letter in his lunch box. Call him at work just to tell him that you miss him. And never, ever let him leave the house without kissing him good bye and telling him that you love him.

I am not an expert on marriage, and I don't claim to know all the answers. On my 70th anniversary maybe I will probably have more advice, but for now, I hope this helps someone :)

Until next time...

The Basics of Loving Yourself

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:14:00 +0000

With all the action and excitement going on with running ChildFun, it is so easy for me to get caught up in the business, the site design, the business end of things, that sometime I lose focus of what my life is all about.

Being married with three children, plus running a home business to boot, it's easy to get too busy with daily activities and by the time I know it, my day is done. Sometime I sit back and think, "Wow, where did my day go?"

I am trying hard to be different. I actually have a strategy! Sometimes, when life begins to overwhelm me, I need to sit back, relax, take time for myself, my husband and my kids, and set my priorities straight.

Here is a few family time/stress breakers to help you cope through your busy week!

1. Every day, as many times as you can, tell your husband and children that you love them. And mean it! Take the time to stop what you are doing, touch their arm, or give them a big hug and tell them that they are important and that you love them.

2. Make time for yourself. This gets tricky, I know, believe me, I know! Even if it's five minutes on the front steps listen to cars go by, or sneaking in a luxurious hot bath, you need to take time for you. The better shape you are in mentally and physically, the better your life, relationships and attitude will be.

4. Laugh. Laugh loud. Laugh often. It's a medical fact that laughter is good for you. It increases blood flow and oxygen in your body. It produces chemicals in your brain to relax you. My favorite way to laugh? Spend 15 minutes in my 6 year old's bedroom. Hide and seek, wrestling, anything. He always makes me smile.

5. Take a nap. Okay, so you don't have time for a nap? Take a cold, wet wash-cloth, and five minutes with your feet up and a cool drink of water or the beverage of your choice. Just a few minutes of rest can be incredibly rejuvenating.

While these tips aren't exactly new strategies, they work for me and my family! Remember, share, love and laugh. Follow those rules, and things will fall into place!!

Until next time...

Forever Friend

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:13:00 +0000

Someone incredibly special to me sent this to me awhile back. Every once in awhile, when I am feeling down, I take it out, and read it, and think of our friendship. It always lightens me up. Thank you, Lisa, for being my friend and for sharing this with me....

Forever Friend

(Author Unknown)
Sometimes in life,
you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.
This is Forever Friendship.

When you're down,
and the world seems dark and empty,
Your forever friend lifts you up in spirit
and makes that dark and empty world
suddenly seem bright and full.

Your forever friend gets you through
the hard times, the sad times,
and the confused times.
If you turn and walk away,
your forever friend follows.
If you lose your way,
your forever friend guides you
and cheers you on.

Your forever friend holds your hand
and tells you that
everything is going to be okay.
And if you find such a friend,
you feel happy and complete,
because you need not worry.
You have a forever friend for life,
and forever has no end.

Until next time...

Attention Children

Jenny Wanderscheid — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:01:00 +0000

I swear, I am hanging this on my door! A friend sent this to me awhile back, and it's just SO perfect...enjoy!
Jen

Attention Children:

The Bathroom Door is Closed.
Please do not stand here and talk, whine, or ask questions.
Wait until I get out.
Yes, it is locked. I want it that way.
It is not broken, I am not trapped.
I know I have left it unlocked, and even open at times,
since you were born, because I was afraid some horrible
tragedy might occur while I was in there, but it's been
10 years and I want some PRIVACY.
Do not ask me how long I will be.
I will come out when I am done.
Do not bring the phone to the bathroom door.
Do not go running back to the phone yelling
"She's in the BATHROOM!"
Do not begin to fight as soon as I go in.
Do not stick your little fingers under the door and wiggle them.
This was funny when you were two,now it's not.
Do not slide pennies, Legos, or notes under the door.
Even when you were two this got a little tiresome.
If you have followed me down the hall talking, and are
still talking as you face this closed door, please turn around,
walk away, and wait for me in another room.
I will be glad to listen to you when I am done.
And yes, I still love you.

Mom

Until next time...