Everybody has a story…I was taught that growing up. Everyone wants to tell their story is what I often forget.
After leaving a children’s program this morning at our local library with my two kids, I needed to quickly run into the grocery store for some milk and a few other items. I have been going to this grocery store for the last four years, and being a mom-it feels like I am ALWAYS at the grocery store! I recognize almost everyone who works there and could probably tell you what department of the store they each work in.
It was time to check out, and at the end of the checkout counter was an older slightly grey haired woman who was bagging my groceries. This woman has bagged my groceries numerous times. She always ties my bags in little slip knots so nothing falls out. Her blue eyes are hidden behind her coke-bottle glasses and her wrinkled smile is always a constant.
It was cold this morning and she insisted on following me out to my car with a separate cart, I really didn’t need help, because I only bought a few things but I agreed.
As we walked to my car with kids in one cart and groceries in another we made small chit chat. This chatter of course led to talking of the weather which in turn led to where she was from. “Michigan,” she said. “Oh, I used to go to Northern Michigan every summer growing up as a kid,” I replied. There was no quick reply…..
“I grew up in a home for kids with my other 6 siblings, outside Lansing, Michigan,” she uttered. I slowed my walk down and looked at her….she was crying. Tears were bubbled up in her eyes. She then apologized and said she hadn’t thought of her childhood in a long time. I stopped my cart, I could tell she just wanted to talk. I was then told about her mother and father. Her father died of cancer when she was young and her mother was deemed “unfit” to raise her children. She then spoke of how thankful she was to grow up in that home for kids. It provided her a safe place to live and in the end she was able to get college paid for. I couldn’t help it but to just hug her. With cars driving by and my son probably wondering what the heck was going on, I stood there hugging her. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled, she wasn’t upset but happy to talk and share. We talked about God’s never ending love and the way He blesses us when we are often not aware.

As I drove home I could smell her perfume on my shirt and I was reminded in that moment of that phrase I heard growing up as a kid “everyone has a story.” Often it’s so easy to get caught up in the “hurriedness” of life and not slow down enough to listen.

You see everyone has a story and they would like someone to tell it to…be that someone.

I just have to take a moment to get this off my chest because I have been hearing it a lot lately! I might offend some people and frankly I don’t care, no one is forcing you to read this.

I have lately been in a few situations where I hear mothers, who work outside the home, say how amazing it is that they are able to “have it all.” My assumption, because I have yet to ask, is that this is in reference to having kids and a career.

I worked outside the home until I had children. There was a point where I was making very good money and would have been considered “successful.” I interviewed for a very high paying job right before my husband and I decided it was time to start a family. My husband and I made the decision, knowing there would be several sacrifices, that I would stay at home with them while they were young.

So….this phrase of “I am able to have it all” just needs to check itself at the door…..

What exactly does “have it all” mean?
Does it mean having a job and children?

Because you have a career outside the home and I don’t…does that mean I DON’T “have it all????”

What exactly is “having it all?”

I first and foremost don’t need society’s “atta boy” in telling me I DO or DON’T – “have it all.” Just because some bra burning feminist years ago thought they’d tell me what “having it all means” does not mean I am gonna bite that hook.

And I certainly don’t need sympathy in the fact that I have chosen to stay at home and be physically present and available to my children throughout the day. I in my heart am making the decision to make this my current career. Just because I don’t get a paycheck for it every two weeks does not mean I don’t “have it all.”

And yes…I called staying at home with my kids a “Career.”
Career: an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.
I believe there’s definite room for progress as a human being in caring for the ones you love the most, morning, noon and night.

I also want to say that I not for one moment think working outside the home is to be belittled in any way either. Mothers who have chosen to work outside the home should be commended for the hard work that they do as well.

But enough of this phrase! Enough of throwing this term around as if there is some correct definition……I mean Seriously….

There is so much more I could say on this topic….enough for a book…

It is up to No one but oneself on whether one “has it all” or not.

I found it thoroughly amusing when I watched Candy Crowley interview Rand Paul (who I love) and ask him if he’d ever consider being a Democrat.
Why would this amuse me? Well because it’s a stupid question.
There’s no such thing as a stupid question…I beg to differ…there are some questions that are straight up stupid and this is one of them.
There are some that “like” qualities in both parties and some that absolutely detest both. 
I get it, the whole political scene is quite disgusting, I won’t argue that. Both parties trying to get there way-grown adults throwing tantrums and refusing to compromise. Neither party really wanting the other to succeed and forget about what’s best for the country!
Republicans are viewed as stingy conservatives who refuse to help those in need and Democrats are seen as progressive socialists forming a one world government.

(perhaps there is some truth in both)

But you first have to know yourself before choosing or not choosing a party.

I think when you truly know what you stand for and what you are about, converting to something else just isn’t a possibility. So when Ms. Crowley asked Senator Paul that question, it implied Senator Paul not knowing who he was, or what he stood for.

At the core of each political party there are key fundamentals that each party openly embraces…your job is to KNOW what these are….and do they agree with who you are and what you stand for.

I believe we are approaching a day in age where you must know where you stand on issues. There are some things where there is no “grey” zone. There are some areas where there is no compromise…there are some areas where the answer is clear but not easy.

Like Shakespeare wrote: “to thine own self be true.”

Yes, it has been forever since I have written anything on my blog…trust me I am aware. To say I have been “busy” just wouldn’t suffice.
When I was entering my 9month of pregnancy this summer with our second child, our house went under contract. Crazy…yes…I know! Chasing a 16month old around the house, packing a house all on my own and of course going into labor on moving day have prohibited me from writing 🙂
Now we are settled and I have a moment.

I just wanted to mention something that has stuck with me since I heard it about a week ago. I was in a store with my two little babies and an older woman stopped me and wanted to know my children’s names and how old….she then looked me squarely in the eye and said “don’t blink.” Now I have heard “cherish every moment, ” “it flies by” “before you know it, they’re grown.” but for some reason when she said “don’t blink,” it got me thinking.
I think as mom’s we are always looking ahead…it’s natural…we are planners. It annoys my husband even, -I am the type that wants to know what we are doing three weekends from now 🙂 But we have to ‘plan’ just to have some since of order…though we operate the majority of our time in chaos…having a ‘plan’ or ‘schedule’ gives us some sense of sanity.

I don’t know if we “cherish” every moment as moms…I mean it’s hard to when you have a 1month old wanting to be nursed, while your 18month old is screaming to get out of the high chair. When you gage your day on whether or not it was successful-if you were able to take a shower and the kids have gotten out of their pj’s by lunch time 🙂 To me “cherish” isn’t the right word and let’s be honest-it’s impossible not to “blink.”
I think as parents, we often look ahead to milestones and miss the moments. We often look ahead to the day of the 1st smile, 1st crawl, 1st step, 1st word, 1st day of school, 1st day of high school and often forget the days in-between. I will say this,  I have or I am learning to “be” in the moment. To be present…because I do know that this moment will pass…so with every diaper change, outfit change, bath time, story time, late night nursing (while I am half awake) I am learning to be in THAT moment and not the one that lies ahead. Just thought I’d share what has recently been on my mind as a new mom of two.

new posts to come 🙂

Nearly half of all pregnancies were unintended
37% percent of women obtaining abortions identify as Protestant and 28% as Catholic
About 61% of abortions are obtained by women who have one or more children

Many believe if they had this right….than others should also.

But this silence is not empathy…..

Voting pro-choice will not justify the act that took place, instead it will continue the cycle of loneliness and isolation.