The End of the day is like mile 23 of the marathon

mommy-2

The end of the day is like mile 23 of the marathon…so so tired, not a lot of fans (at least that’s how it was for me in the Marine Corps Marathon, Washington D.C.) and just craving the finish line (in this case, it’s bed- for them).

It’s six pm and I am weary, like the muscles in my shoulders are sore and tense from picking up little one, picking up toys, and being on my feet all day, simply tired of battling every step of the way – hearing the ever constant favorite saying of a two year old- “NO!” – the groans and moans, hitting each other, and the constant repeating “no,” by me.

“Can we please stay at the park?”

“Can I have more cookies, more fruit, more popcorn, more, more, more!” They always want more.

“Can I eat ice cream for lunch?”

“Can I eat on the couch?”

NOOOOO!!!

Then there’s the bringing them to gymnastics, the park, and the usual madness that occurs in my house.

I look at the clock- three hours to go…as I am serving them dinner, – oh great, another mess to clean up as little is up and out of her seat every two minutes, touching the chair, spilling on the floor, and running to the family room- I swear she has food ADD, she cannot sit and finish her food- she takes a bite or two and then runs around…

OH NO! She gets this from me, I cannot sit and eat either, I take a bite, and then I’m up cleaning something, but that’s because I am just trying to multitask and get everything done – it’s kind of like a game- that I never win!

I feel that if I can be on top of the cleaning and the clutter, I can score a moment to myself, to go sit on the stairs and take a breath.

But, they always find me…take today, for example, it was 4pm and I was finally eating lunch, and I sat down with my yogurt and strawberries, and within 30 seconds, Ari was like “Oh strawberries, can I have some, can I have some yogurt?”

Ugh- I don’t want to deny my children food, especially when it’s healthy, but she just ate…but then my mind starts thinking, Well, what if she is hungry? But it’s so close to dinner- but she doesn’t eat very well anyway, might as well make her a yogurt snack.

Ok, get up to make her yogurt mixture, dollop of the honey, shake of cinnamon, handful of raisins and strawberries.  She takes one bite and is off and running. Sigh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last thoughts on stopping writing

For the past four months I have written many posts, 55, to be exact, and clearly, I am a bit of a thinker.  Those of you who know me intimately are probably laughing- a bit of a thinker is the understatement of the year.  I am downright OCD.

AND I APOLOGIZE TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE HAD TO HEAR ABOUT STOPPING WRITING, STARTING WRITING, WHAT THIS BLOG SHOULD BE ABOUT, ETC…BLAH, BLAH, BLAH pretty much since I started writing- I can see all your faces and I promise – no more blog talk.

A friend of mine was like “Well you write because you feel better, right? Your just venting, getting it out, right?” Someone else suggested it gives me a sense of purpose.

This blog has done neither, but I have found that I like sitting down and writing.  Writing focuses me and makes me feel like I am doing something other than park, playdates, and playdough.  The comments from readers are nice too. Makes me feel connected to the outside world.

So I am just going to keep going with the Girly Reports until I don’t feel like writing about mom stuff anymore.  I will write about whatever, the boring, the silly, the adventures, but keep my anxiety “issues” for another blog.  Contact me if you want find that blog.

I don’t want to “emerge” anymore as my previous blog description stated.  I just want to complain about the annoying, share the good stuff, or maybe confess that I drank a lot of wine and housed four pieces of pizza because I was so stressed out – And finished it off with some chocolate!

Life is hard enough, right? I’m closer to 40 now – I think I am pretty much cooked in the changing personality department and learning about myself and quite frankly, who cares!

So I leave you with this picture—I wanted to be mad but she made me laugh!

giaspag

 

Oatmeal Squash Muffins

Every time I opened the fridge, I stared, uninspired by the yellow squash (and might I add organic)- yes, sort of getting on the organic bandwagon.  I personally don’t like yellow squash, the kids don’t like any vegetables lately.  Ari throws them on the floor saying, “Disgusting” and Gia just moves them all over her plate- typical kids, hating their veggies- actually squash is a fruit- Did you know that? I just learned that from the Internet.

But hubs bought the annoying squash- he sometimes does the grocery shopping, which he should really stop – I just got back from the second trip to the grocery store to get all the stuff he didn’t get…he goes on Sunday, when I am not in “work mode.” Too lazy to write a list, head a bit foggy from a slight hangover from usual Saturday night fun- oh yea- this mom still parties…granted the party scene is a bit different these days, my wingmen, are actually girls and they’re not super helpful with helping me score…they are more like the blocker types…with their late night crying and refusal to go to sleep.

So, sick of looking at squash, I decided to make these muffins.  I found the recipe on modernbeet.com.

Gia saw me cutting the scorned fruit and said, “Ew, squash, I hate squash!”  She really does.  I tried pureeing it and mixing it in with macaroni and cheese (one of her faves) but to no avail, she detected it. I have scattered, smothered, covered, and chunked this fruit among other miscellaneous produce (I knew my college days would come in handy- thank you Waffle House!) mmm – Waffle house, remember those late nights my southern friends…

Here’s a pic of Gia and what she thinks of the muffins.

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“Yuck! Where are my oatmeal cookies?”

But I did get her to eat one and she said she “loved them,” but only with a bit of jelly, of course.  She is my sweet tooth. It’s funny because Gia doesn’t like chocolate and Ari does, but Ari rather have a salty snack and Gia prefers a sweet snack… Just goes to show you we are all so different.

Anyway, I feel proud of my healthy muffins and use of yellow squash- See, I told you we were moving on from cookies and donuts!

Here’s the recipe

1 c. all-purpose flour*
1/2 c. whole wheat flour*
1 c. rolled oats
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon

1 egg

1 c. milk
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. honey
1 1/2 c. grated summer squash or zucchini

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Combine flours, oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and mace in a medium-large bowl.

In a medium bowl, combine egg, milk, oil, and honey. Mix well. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just moistened. Gently fold in squash.

Fill lined or well-greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

*Note: feel free to use whatever flour combination you want — all whole wheat, all AP, whole wheat pastry, white whole wheat — just make sure it adds up to 1 1/2 cups in total