How One Momma Really Blogs as a SAHM

My Reality is different than yours!

Have you seen all the gorgeous, glam, put together, stay at home Mommas out there just killing at...everything?

They have the perfect blogs! The latest hairstyles and wardrobes. They can whip out posts, never lacking in the latest trends, most educational toys on the market, healthiest recipes, and my favorites are the income report screen shots!
I'm not that Momma...yet!

I have been dabbling in blogging for over 6 years.
I have gotten more serious in the last 4 months.
My reality is...
Blogging is tough!

It takes so much work. The learning never stops(if you're serious about blogging)
Everyday the terms, techniques, codes, what's popular, etc is changing!
I normally do a Wednesday WIP(work in progress) post. I seriously could do one on solely what I am working on blog related every single Wednesday. I am constantly finding some new aspect that I need to add, remove, tweak or work on within my blog.
But, I don't want to do that today. I don't want to get into each and every thing I have had to put in hours of research to get me where I am inside this blog.
I really want to show you...
What my day actually looks like! How I actually manage to get one, one single post finished and hit that glorious publish button on a typical day as a SAHM!

My day typically starts around 6am.
D#3 can wake up anywhere between 4:45am and 7am...I never know.(seriously, the crickets could wake her or she'll sleep through a tornado drill)
D#2 pretty much gets herself up and dressed, lunch packed and heads out around 7:30am. On a good day I'm already logged on, checking social media, blog counts, news, etc and have a good couple cups of coffee in me.
Once, I've skimmed around and found or pinned 83 more crafts, recipes, or whatever bright and sparkly pin has caught my eye, I try to get the little to eat...something. We aren't huge breakfast people so if she eats a slice of cheese, a few grapes or drinks a Danimal, we are good for a bit.
Now, after we have scanned through Disney(nope still too early for tot cartoons), Nick jr(She doesn't like that show), PBS1, PBS2, and then go back to Disney jr(Yes, Sophia is on!), I jump back to the computer to remember where I left off.
Okay, so I've got this great post idea! My favorite Pinterest recipes! Now, I've only made 4 of these but I wanted a Top 5, sooo I have to find a simple one I can say is easy to make. Oh, now I never take pics of my food...isn't that odd? I'm not on Insta Gram, and I don't really have time to look at every single person's meals all day! (I think I ate a whole meal yesterday?)  Oh, wait, no...yesterday I had half of D3's sandwhich and like 4 raisins...and my coffee.

Oh crap, yes. I forgot your cup of chocolate milk, hold on love. We can play outside when Momma is finished.

Ok, now Pixabay find me a great pic for my post/pin of recipes! OOHHH, that looks yum! Wow, I need food!
Sooo, 4,000 horizontal pics...and 6 vertical..Thanks. No repins on this post! Ugggh, and I already know editing it myself will only make it look Picaso-ish and odd.

I got to go pee.
Yes, you can come too D3.
Let me reheat my coffee and get you more cheese. okay, okay, grapes!

Okay, Thank God, Blogger saved my draft I left open!
So, I've got my so-so image made(text included), and re sized.
Now, I need that wonderful SEO approved heading!
Top 5 Pinterest Recipes, My Favorite Pinterest Recipes....

Should I put the pic at top, sub heading first, bold, larger font???
Now...content. I got this! I've been writing it in my head for a week!
......*crickets*
......
Wait, D3 "why did you dump out the make up bag?" " Is the mascara in your hair?"

Back at it!
I include the ones I've made, how easy, how good they turned out. How to omit or add to make it better or healthier.

I'm almost done here. I just need to wrap up how I found all these and add in all the links back to these recipes!
I need to give credit to these great chefs!
Okay, there. Good. Read over, re read.
Everything looks great, pics aligned, sized properly.
Good, solid, long enough post.
Publish! 
Hooray! Success before lunch time!

Let me just share it on FB, Twitter, and Bloglovin'...Almost there!
CRAP!!! I forgot to add my labels!
And, THAT...is how I get my blog posts up!

This is the real me:

(messy bun up and coffee in hand!)

No Glam!

I seriously hope I haven't bored or scared away any potential readers!
I am always trying to learn and improve!
Sadly, this is my reality. This is a typical day of me trying to get a post out there for y'all.
I do enjoy my blogging life and this is just one day. One Momma really doing this blog thing!
I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday and share your typical "blogging day".

Lessons from the Imperfect Momma

I know we all like to think we have it all,...or most of it together all the time.
News Flash!...We don't!
Most days, we're lucky we keep ourselves alive.(Thank you, Gods of Maxwell House and international creamer!!)
Sure, we have become the Grand Master, Mother of faking it!
WHY?
Why do we constantly feel like we have to prove ourselves or our worth to everyone else?
As if we don't have enough crap to deal with. Pleasing our Lord. Pleasing our children and spouse.
Have we become so wrapped up in the idea that we need to please every human we may encounter that we kill ourselves faking it?

I like to tell myself that, "I don't care what people think of me!"
We all say that to ourselves, Don't we?
So, why don't we actually feel that?
Why can't we just be accepting of ourselves AND others?
Isn't that the lesson we teach our littles?
That everyone is special in their own way.(I know I'm some kind of special!)
To love and accept others as they are.

And the honest truth is...
We probably aren't thinking about you nearly as much about you as you'd like to think we do.
Or, should I say, You don't think about me as much as I stress and believe you do.
That is more likely the reality.
Social media has made us believe that our outside appearance and every single aspect of our mothering is being judged 24/7! That we have to look, do, and be our best at all times.
That is so sad to me. It is absolutely detrimental to all mothers and future mothers.
We were given these little blessings as a GIFT from GOD!
And how do we show our love, appreciation and thankfulness for these gifts??
We brag about Susie's new wardrobe from The Children's Place(Look, how posh my toddler looks in her name brand clothes)
I honestly don't care where you buy them(that was the first store that popped into my head).
Susie could be wearing her brother's torn jeans with a Spongebob pajama shirt, and she would still be YOUR GIFT!
We want to bash the momma who breastfeeds in public!
Oh! What shame she endures to feed her child a healthy meal in the view of others...while your  letting little Dougy eat fries off the floor in the mall!

Here's the thing, Mommas! We all live and do the best we can! Every day!
It is a learning process and none of us have all the answers.
Yes, I want my child to eat and be healthy. That is the goal!
And, yes! She has chocolate milk and Pez candy for breakfast!
It happens! Life goes on!

I have three daughters and while I have tried to teach them the best I can. I mess up!
I have honestly said to them...I don't know!
I don't have the right answer!

There are some wonderful, (and hilarious) Mom authors that have written books about just how imperfect being a mother is. This is what motherhood is. Not photoshopped or edited. Real and Raw. Some stories are a hoot, some will have you crying, but every one of them will ease your idea that there are perfect moms.

They do not exist!

When Did I Get Like This? By Amy Wilson

Confessions of a Scary Mommy By Jill Smokler

Motherhood Comes Naturally: And Other Vicious Lies By Jill Smokler

Ketchup is a Vegetable:And Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves by Robin O'Bryant

Are You There God? It's Me, Mommy By Robin O'Bryant

RealMoms:Exploding the Myths of Motherhood By Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall

These are a few things I KNOW I have taught my daughters! 
And I am totally cool with them learning these lessons! I'm imperfect! They know it. I know it. My lovely husband knows it. God knows it!

1. Brushing your hair is optional! Washing it is not!
Hail praise to the woman who invented the "messy bun"! She is my secret idol!
Me+ 3 daughters= hair nightmares!
"Ain't nobody got time for that!"

2. Bare feet are preferred!
I don't care. I'm a hillbilly, true and through.
I hate shoes, they hate shoes. Yes, we own them and will wear them when it is required, but it will not be done willingly or happily.

3.I love Jesus and I cuss a little. Well, I'm being honest.
It happens. He knows it, so why hide it.
I say SH*T...a lot! I wouldn't say, I'm proud of that, but I'm not completely ashamed either. It is what it is.

4. If you can win an argument or make me laugh by bursting out a movie quote...your punishment will most likely decrease.
Me: "Let go of your sisters (hair, toy, book, etc)"!!
Kid:"Let it Go, Let it Go..."
(This one is worn out! Y'all need new material!)

5. You have to at least try what I make.

 I'm not a professional Chef, but you won't die!

I am a fairly good cook, some dishes I can rock out, others I bomb. I do what I can and hope for the best.

6. Hugs, kisses and prayers are mandatory!
You will give me hugs and kisses at my every request, and prayers will not be skipped.
I try to pray with them every day, or at least remind them to say their prayers.

7. I'm not doing it all! I have good, productive days and I have days when I don't even care if you brush your teeth!
If you want food...the kitchen ain't moved.
(make me a sandwich while you're in there!)

8. We don't need the television!
It is a luxury, not a requirement. You can do something other than watch TV in your free time!
"What you're bored?....Wannna wash a dish, scrub a toilet?"

9. I will forget.
I'm sorry..not sorry.
I remembered to fill out your athletic form, and I remembered the lunchable(cheese pizza, not pepperoni), your raspberry cereal bars, red Powerades, bikini, not brief pack of new underwear, and your 2 rolls of "Volleyball" ribbon for Monday. I forgot your only white, ankle, not shin lengths socks.

10. I'm not giving you "free money"
I buy what you need, and you can earn money or activities.
You don't work for it, you ain't getting it.
Don't hate, Appreciate! xoxo

I know this isn't the best list, but hey, I'm not the best!
I'm just a Momma trying to keep it going...one cup of coffee at a time!

I guess the lesson here is, this post isn't about what we teach our children, it's about what we can teach ourselves and other moms.

I want you to know:

It is ok if Timmy walks into church with jelly on his face.

It is ok if you haven't given them a bath in 2/3 days.

It is ok if they come running in, mud caked.

It is ok if they stay up too late.

It is ok if you forgot to schedule their dentist appointment.
It is ok if you've fed them McDonald's three times this week.

Mommas! It is ok! They will be ok! You will be ok!

We all have got to start being kinder, more helpful. We need to be less judgmental, less scolding!

I need a refill.
What are some wacky lessons you have taught your children? 

Did you teach them intentionally, or did it sort of just happen?

What have YOU learned?
How do you honestly feel about some of the lesson you have passed on?
I love feedback and other opinions.

Toddlers in the kitchen?....It can and should be done! WIP Wednesday!

Toddlers in the kitchen.

Yes!

I really feel this is so important.

I'm a strong believer that toddlers are the most impressionable creatures and we need to use it to our advantage!

If we push them away or don't allow them to engage, they will quickly lose interest. They will learn that the kitchen is a "bad" place or that they aren't wanted there.( or anywhere, but today, it's the kitchen)

I know from experience, this can cause them to yell repeatedly from another room until you leave the kitchen to find them and what they want!

(Mom, mom...Come here! Come to me!... Just, come here mom!!!)

I know, I'm guilty myself. We get tired, in a hurry, try to just get one meal finished without interruption, chaos and multi-tasking! And that is totally okay!!

I'm not saying they have to be attached to your hip for every single meal prep or underfoot  for every detail of the meal.

Find a time, meal and area that works for everyone. Prep work is a GREAT place to start with the littles!

If we really think about all that we put into each meal we fix for our families, we can find tons of little ways to get our kids involved. 

Teach them from the beginning how we decide,find a recipe, grocery list, shop, prepare or store the food, gather ingredients, pots, pans, etc. 

Think about it!...All this before we even get cooking!

These are great ways to teach our kids soooo many lessons.

Planning

Organizing

Shopping

Budget

Learning Plants, Veggies, Meats, etc

Reading a Recipe(for older kids)

Using Utensils properly

 Kitchen Hygiene

Kitchen Safety

Okay, sorry, I've gotten a bit off topic. I wanted to share a few ways I have introduced my toddler to the kitchen and how I let her help out.

1. Making decisions: 

What veggies will we have tonight?

How many potatoes will we need for 5 people?

Kids love being included in the decision making. They feel like their opinions matter(as they should). They like to feel important, just like you!

2. Gather Items:

Do you have a garden? Let them be a part of it!

Can you bring me a big spoon, whisk, bowl...?

They want to be and feel helpful.

Can you find the green peppers?

Let them show off what they know! Identifying is huge for toddlers!

3. Wash and Rinse:

This is important for you, them and the produce they will be handling!

Show them the proper way to wash their hands and any food they are helping prepare.

Get them their own scrubby brush. They will feel this is "their job" and be more willing if it is something you have entrusted them to do.

4:Cut and Peel

Obviously with supervision and caution!

I'm NOT saying turn your three year old loose with a meat cleaver!

My daughter actually uses her play/tea set "silverware" to help cut soft foods.(mushrooms, as seen in pic, grapes, cheese, tomatoes, etc)

Also, this could be a great way to teach smell, texture, taste

Why is the potato "bumpy"?

Can you smell the onion?

What does the carrot taste like raw?

Peeling oranges by herself  is HUGE in this house! She knows she can do it...and she DOES!

5: Putting items in a bowl, blender, pan

This is the part where they start seeing what this is going to be or what they are making.

Explain why we put A with B or why we need to "dump" everything together.

With veggies, let them see the different colors going into the dish. 

Can you name all the veggies we've used?

What colors do you see in our food?

6. Shake, Sprinkle, and Roll

This is should be the easy and funnest part!

What kid doesn't want to shake things up? Sprinkle a little LOT of cheese in the mix!

How many spices did we use?

How much cheese does it need?

Does it go on top of the dish or mixed in?

7. Stirring

They love to be hopped up on the counter top and given a wooden spoon or whisk!

I don't know why every kid I have ever met thinks this is the best part EVER of cooking or baking!

Just go with it Momma!

Unless it is eggs...

Let them stir, stir, stir their little hearts out!

p.s. D #3 wasn't quite sure about the mushrooms at first

What are you WIPping up today?

What is your Work in Progress?

#toddlersinthekitchen

Here is a great list of kid friendly recipes I found on Pinterest:

My Life and Kids

MY Preschool/Homeschool 101 (WIP) Learning together

Have you ever thought about Homeschooling?

Did you entertain the idea long before your little one was even old enough?

I have considered the idea for quite awhile. I have 3 daughters. They are quite spread out in age. 

19 years, 14 years and my littlest will be 4 next week!

Wow! 4 years old...NEXT WEEK!

I've been a stay at home momma and have always tried to do the basics, as most parents do. A,B,Cs..1,2,3s, write their name, know the colors and shapes, etc but I always feared they would be behind every other 5/6year old starting out in Kindergarten.

Can she count as high as Susie?

Does she read as well as Hailey?

Sure, I'll get daily or weekly reports from teachers and hopefully will be notified of any concerns throughout but, I'm not there to monitor their every lesson progress. Do we really know what they are being taught??? Or how they average out. I know here in Ohio there are crazy tests and requirements. Dates and data. Black and white score sheets to tell you and your government just how your child is fairing in the oh so wonderful public school systems.

I mean everything is based off of these scores. Teachers salaries, grant money, school supplies, etc.

Every day, every year this world gets crazier...scarier!

I honestly worry about whether my child will be taught based off of how much money and help her school receives! How sad is that?

And so many more concerns...

peer pressure, exposure, bullying..

Not that they live under a rock or won't have to live in the "real world" but I would like a good chance to explain and really teach them...My way? I don't know, just maybe give them a fighting chance before we throw them to the wolves!

I'm am an admitted control freak so maybe this is a somewhat selfish choice(I know I will hear it anyway). I do plan on educating myself before I jump in with both feet, but while I do still have almost 2 years(before Kindergarten) to figure this out; I am dipping my foot in the puddle to see how we do.

So, here is my pre-journey...

I am trying to find, research, save, pin, print and read anything and everything I can to get a good idea of what will be required of me, as a preschool/homeschool teacher!

There are so many wonderful resources out there today. This is one of the great uses of the internet!

Before, I jump into that, here is my super enthusiastic three year old, ready to learn!

Isn't she the cutest?

And she already has her own desk!!

My wonderful Mamaw has given us an antique desk. It is in wonderful condition!

I'm talking Laura Ingalls looking(ink well holder included) and it is amazing! She loves it!

Recourses:

I am trying to get started with a few free and basic printables and there are TONS on the web!

You can find whole lesson plans, themed plans(Christmas, Fall, Animals, etc), even personaliz-able worksheets to practice writing their name.

I'm telling you the free resources are endless!

Here are a few of my favorites that I have found.

From Pinterest:

Mommy Is My Teacher

Kingdom First Homeschool(Christian based)

Preschool Mom (great flash cards)

I also love these:

The Relaxed Homeschool

The Measured Mom

So, here we go on our homeschool journey.

I hope we can learn and thrive together. I will likely try to do a weekly update and continue to share any new resources that I find. 

Please!!!

Share any and all that you know of or come across. Mommas need all the help we can get!

I hope we can support and encourage each other!

Keep the coffee hot and the minds open!

This is my Work In Progress...Homeschooling

Happy Wednesday

Plans?...Pshhht

Ever have one of those days where you wake up feeling like, today is it? Today I will get up, dressed, ready and be productive! Sure, we all have days we think like that.
 How many days do you actually accomplish anything worthy of being considered productive?

Okay, let's not be too hard on ourselves. Maybe it is just a different kind of productive than you had originally planned. And most days that is perfectly okay!
Maybe more so for us Stay-At-Home moms. Our days are not structured by a manager, boss, CEO.We don't have set times to clock in and out or even to eat or use the restroom.(I'm not looking for pity or controversy, just stating)
Honestly, most days my entire schedule from morning until bed is completely centered around the demands, whims and desires of my 3 year old!
Now I'm not saying my kid is some lunatic that just runs around throwing fits and demanding things 24/7(even if it can feel that way) but as her mother and her full time caretaker it is my job to make her my #1 priority.

I really wanted to get the yard cleaned up, work in the garden and mow the lawn. Those were my top 3 big jobs to get done today. It was gorgeous out and already 80* F by 10 am.
I tried to include her in the smaller/safer tasks but she had her own "plans" to help.
All of her pool babies/toys have developed that horrid gunky, algae film and quite frankly, her dolls' hair and ponies' manes look like they escaped a torture chamber by the skin of their teeth.
We decided we could use the "little pool" as a bath tub. Soap suds and all.
But...that meant we were both going to be wet.
Bathing suits on and by now it is after noon and around 85*F
I never did get the lawn mowed or the weeds pulled.
Every toy we did  pick/clean up is still out there floating around in the "bath tub".
I am totally okay with that.
We had fun, she cleaned her toys and I got to work on my tan! Score..How bout' that?
We were productive!