Things I Ponder....hmmm....

I ponder a lot of things when it comes to my kids. Am I doing this right? Did I make the right decision? Should they really have watched that TV show? How do I explain _____ to my kids? Was I being too harsh? There's all sorts of things I wonder about and hope that I made the right decision.

One thing I go back and forth on in my head is, where is the best place to raise my kids? I grew up (well, age 11 on up) in a small, small town - and hated it. For many different reasons, but I won't go into those. :) Prior to living in the small town, my family lived in a large city, so I've seen both extremes.

We don't live in a small town now, but I would say it's still fairly small compared to most of the country and it's a very rural area. I can see the positive side of living in a smaller community - less crime (usually), good schools (here, at least), nice neighborhoods with other kids to play with, you get to know people, etc. Then the other part of me starts thinking, where is the diversity here? There's not much. There's not much in terms of interesting or unique places to go. I sometimes feel like they are missing out on things. I guess I want them to know that the world is so much bigger and there's so much more out there than what they see here. Not that things are bad here; we have a great neighborhood and great neighbors that all watch out for each other, nice schools with good test scores, not a lot of crime (though, that does seem to be increasing lately...), and we have family nearby.

I guess I just think about my years growing up in the city and remember all the things that I got to do and see that they don't get to do - maybe just on a vacation, if we ever get around to taking one of those. So, all in all, I don't think it's detrimental to them living where we do - I just wonder if I could be offering them more?

Oh, sometimes I just think and worry too much. I'm going to go take a tylenol now. :)

Winter Wonderland

The snow is falling today - oh joy! It's very cold and very windy. Now, I'm what some people like to call a "Debbie Downer" when it comes to winter. Winter weather puts me in a seriously bad mood and I just can't find any good in the winter months (besides birthdays and Christmas, of course).

The bitter wind blowing in my face hurts and angers me. Slipping on the ice makes me swear. I curse the snowpants, boots, hats, and mittens I need to dress the kids in each morning. Scraping ice off the car is frustrating. I could go on and on (because I'm a Debbie Downer, you know), but I think you get the picture.

There are many people where I live that love winter and actually look forward to it. They claim they find it calming, peaceful and beautiful. I try to understand where they're coming from, but I just don't fully understand. Sure, watching snow fall quietly outside from my living room window is nice - as long as I don't have to leave the house for the next few days!

I sometimes wonder if I might have a touch of that SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder. Or maybe I'm just not a "winter person". Or maybe, I'm just a Debbie Downer. :)

BUT, the one good reason for living where I do is family. My family is all nearby, which makes it worth it....for now at least!

Is there ever enough time?

I may be a little too hard on myself, but I feel like I should be Wonder Woman or Super Mom - able to handle any situation at anytime, no matter what. All done patiently, gracefully and while looking not the least bit disheveled - ha! Don't get me wrong, I think I'm a pretty good mom, but I'm always wishing I could do more and do it better. Don't we want to do it ALL for our kids? **sigh**

All the thoughts that run through my head during the day is exhausting! - Need to buy thank you cards so my son can write thank you's for his birthday gifts, sit down and help him write said thank you's, buy bananas, french toast sticks and milk so breakfast goes smoothly in the morning, making mental lists of Christmas gift ideas, paying bills, returning library books, remember to clip the kids fingernails because they are getting a bit too long.... Oh, it goes on and on in my head. I know I'm not the only one with a busy family life, but once you get caught up in your daily hum drum of breakfast, school drop-off, work, pick-up kids, dinner, baths, bed it's easy to start feeling a little...blah. I'm so descriptive, huh? Love my kids to the moon and back, would do anything in the world for them, but a little mom/grown-up time is always welcomed!

What do you do when you get some time to yourself??

I recently went out and had a couple drinks with a fellow "mom friend", which I can't even remember when the last time I went out for drinks was! It was for only about an hour and we talked about kids most of the time, but the company was so nice. Very much needed. Feeling refreshed. Now I'm wondering what and when my next grown-up outing should be...perhaps to go see the movie New Moon? Team Edward!!