Livin' the Dream...

Welcome. Benvenuto. Aloha. Bienvenue. 

Listen people, I'm not the blogging type. I don't feel like the world wants to know my every move as a mother. I also don't think I have any more "mama knowledge" than any other mom taking the time to skim through this blog. Frankly, I haven't showered in two days and I have enough laundry to fold that would probably outfit a small country. I am FAR from perfect... I have also made plenty of parenting mistakes. 

BUT, I DO love my kids. I love them to the moon and back! I do the best job I can at teaching them, as well as being a good Mama to them. I really try to love my precious children as well as I know how... like many of you. That, my Mama-Friends, is the most important fact. That's all that matters on my blog. Really, that's the only reason I started this "cyber-stopping-point". No one is perfect. We're all just doing the best we can.  

Hi there. My name is Jenny. I have three boys ages 7, 4 and 2. I have SO many things to write about, so many (hilarious & honest) stories to share with you (!!); But, I'll start briefly by just introducing myself. I'm 34 yrs old. I've been married to a loving and supportive husband for over 10 years; whom I truly consider to be my best friend. He travels often being in the field of Sales (which can be challenging at times with three young kiddos). He also drives me crazy at times with his silly annoying habits (Oh please, I know you can all relate, and yes, I annoy the hell out of him too... with MY annoying habits...welcome to marriage), but I love him to pieces. Unconditionally. Through thick & through thin. He is the most amazing Father to my boys. He is also the most loyal guy I have ever met. His laugh is hilarious; yet contagious too. He's a keeper. I hit the jackpot. 

OK, back to me. Haha! I grew up in a wonderful family of 5. I have two younger brothers, so I quickly embraced my love for playing sports - particularly softball (I was a pitcher) and I loved it. I was lucky enough to receive a softball scholarship for my Freshman Year at IU. I officially decided to major in Elementary Education at Indiana University, and realized after my Freshman Year that I wanted to focus on my future. For me (personally), that meant giving up my love for sports (along with my full-ride scholarship...yikes...thanks Mom and Dad for lovingly supporting my decision). Looking back, I believe that I made the right choice... for me.

Ok, so fast-forward 4 years. I graduated from IU and spent 6 years teaching at an Elementary Magnet School (called King Lab, K-8) up in Evanston, IL. I most certainly value everything that I learned about teaching during those 6 years. I loved how our laboratory school was linked to the University of Chicago along with Loyola University. As a result, we were constantly experimenting with new teaching ideas and new curriculum (such as, Everyday Math, which is currently being taught in the Carmel Clay School System). I quickly learned that every kiddo has their own special way of learning, and there are unique ways to teach each and every one of them as an educator. I look back fondly at the incredible friendships I made during that time (I miss my teacher-buddies dearly!!!)... along with ALL that I learned as a teacher (and as a future-parent). I definitely thought I had this "parenting thing" all figured out. It was my major in college! I was an experienced teacher! I mean...I could teach & successfully discipline 24 plus kiddos!! 

NOTE TO TEACHER-SELF: You are stupid. It is COMPLETELY different when you have multiple children under your care for 24 hours a day. Not to mention, they look like you and act like you (crap). I get SO annoyed with teachers/parents that "claim" (mainly on Facebook)that they could "handle other children" (in a retail or grocery line) better than the given parents. GET OFF YOUR HIGH-HORSE parents/teachers who haven't walked in their shoes! Step down, and realize that you are not aware of their detailed situation. You will be humbled by your own children one day. You will most certainly have an "ah-hah" moment when you realize that you were wrong. But, it's OK. We've all been there. Whoops... I shouldn't have judged. 


So anyway... moving on. I (personally) don't think it matters what *&$#@ method you use to "sleep train" your child. It doesn't matter if you use Born Free, Dr. Brown's or Avent Bottles. It doesn't matter if you put your baby on his/her back in a, strangling-burrito--sleep-sack-straight-jacket, every single night because you are/were afraid that they might die if you do something different (I'm confident that "sleep methods" will soon change in about 5-10 years. Our kids will soon talk about how they 'survived' the "burrito-swaddle-on-your-back-method". ha! PS-we all slept on our stomachs and lived). I hate to break it to you people, but if you breast-fed your child for 50 years (or 5 months), your kid probably isn't going to be smarter than Bobby Joe who was bottle fed from birth. Hey, I breast fed all three of my kiddos until they were 7 months, 9 months and 1 year old. It was HARD WORK! SHEESH! I can confidently say that my kiddos are succeeding in school...I'm very proud of them... I also didn't have to pay for formula. I'm also sure that they are succeeding equally along-side all of their bottle-fed peers.

Unfortunately, I truly believe that The Mamas of today are very caught up in the world of Facebook and/or Pinterest. I'm guilty too. There seems to be a pressure from the "cyber-world" to be perfect and to do it all. You (and I) may spend spare hours at night (instead of showering) sorting through the Facebook or the Pinterest Feed. Maybe you just spend your extra hour thinking about how your friend, or the Mom down the street, seems to have it 'all figured out'.  

***BREAKING NEWS: NOT TRUE***

INTERNAL DIALOGUE: "She's always happy, well-dressed, in great shape and her kids always seem to be well-fed and well-behaved."  OR... Maybe... you think about how you wish you could go back to work so that you could just have some ME time. You know, go to the bathroom without an audience ?? I get it. Ok, now turn the page. Maybe you work because you want to set a good example for your son/daughter by working hard each day at a job that you love. Or, maybe you are (internally) glaring at the moms who have the financial means to stay at home & be with their kids on a daily basis while you work your tail off to earn some extra money for your sweet family. You totally rock too. A lot. 

If you are a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) or a working mom (WM), I just want to take a minute to say that YOU ARE AMAZING. 
Each. And. Every. One. Of. You.  NO ONE may understand or respect how much you sacrifice for your family. NO ONE may understand or respect how hard you work from the minute you wake up until the minute your head hits the pillow. And, can I please ask, from a "Switzerland-peacemaking-neutral-standpoint" that ALL moms support each other, not judge, and (please) love one another well through this crazy-parenting-journey? Merci beaucoup.

So... if you haven't noticed already, the reason I am blogging, is because I would like to connect on an honest, REAL basis with other Mamas out there. Being a parent is freakin' HARD! 

Parenthood. There are days when being a Mama finds me feeling invisible, defeated, upset & insecure. There are also days when being a Mama finds me feeling incredibly blessed, hopeful, unconditionally loved & joyful. It is the hardest job in the world, but (on most days) I am also convinced that being a parent is the most important job in the world.