Mommies Magazine

All Moms Are Working Moms — even Mother Birds!

Posted on 21. Mar, 2008 by Jodie Lynn.

While the kids are calmly working out the dilemma of who cleaned the basement last (yeah – right!), I’m going to stay by the window and hide behind the curtain to catch the culprit or neighborhood trickster who keeps knocking on the front door and running away. Just as I was thinking I might be losing my mind and started to walk off, “Rat-tat-tat,” there it goes again. What could it be?

As I quietly begin to close the door, all of a sudden I saw her! She ran up to the door and quickly left. Hey, wait a minute, I remember her. I went through this very same episode almost at the same time last year. Although there were no words spoken between us, the glares we had given each other clearly showed how we felt. How dare she come back again this year. Didn’t she learn anything from the previous experience? I can’t believe she is up to her same old tricks!
Nope, it wasn’t a practical joker from the neighborhood. It was Mother Bird. I gathered tiny twigs of off the trees, left remnants of cloth on the branches, yarn and even soft thin strips of colorful ribbon, all carefully placed in a secluded crescent shaped opening at the midpoint of one tree.

Nevertheless, she had made up her mind; she wanted my new spring wreath again this year.
I had just finished making it for Easter, the same as I do each year, and carefully hung it on the door when she began to make trouble.

Just like the previous year, we went through daily confrontations. I would leave in the mornings and come home at midday only to find twigs, dirt, and bits of old newspaper, bug eaten candy wrappers, feathers, twigs, etc., at the base of the wreath leaving a mess at the bottom of the door. I would clear it all off and it would be back the very next day. It astonished me how quickly everything was put back into place the way she wanted it.

Finally, after taking down the nest six or so times, she did not come around. YAY! I had won! My lovely wreath would not have goop from dilapidated dirty bits of trash poking out from it and no bird poo splattered all over the freshly painted door.

After a few days of feeling pretty good about defending my home, I actually started feeling bad about the whole situation. I started wondering where she had gone or if her time had finally run out. I was quite surprised at just how remorse I felt.

The kids ran up the stairs claiming both would not pick up the other’s mess and began the common practice of “let’s see who can out-stare the other” when we all heard the, “Rat-tat-tat,” and ran to the door. “There’s no one here,” said the youngest.

With a little jump of joy in my heart, I told them it was only Robin. “Who is Robin?” – they chimed together. She’s a very persistent and headstrong loving mother bird who insists upon building a nest for her babies in my wreath.

“Why?” – they asked. “I guess because she’s searched around and feels like this is a safe place.”

I clued them in on last year’s experience and before I could finish, they shook their head in agreement, as they remembered the incident. Then, I explained what had already taken place this time.

They gave me a hug and ran off to make “SPECIAL SIGNS” to go on the front door that would instruct their friends not to ring the doorbell and to go around to one of the other doors.

You know, Mother Bird reminds me of someone else long ago who was constantly thrown off course, mocked, and mimicked. Each time something was established, built, or maybe resembled a small step forward; it backfired or tumbled down.

Many made fun of the work and tried to destroy it at every opportunity. The convictions held strong within this person’s heart offered the strength needed to push on with persistence for the insurmountable work that lay ahead.

One day it all collapsed and the vocation was blamed for trying to disrupt the daily grind that everyone was used to following…the same rules and penalties that had been in place as far back as remembered.

The consequence was death.

Today, as signs of spring and Easter grow closer, we are made conscience of the road he carefully paved for us many years ago. His hard work, time, effort, blood, sweat and tears ended with his own life; yet, not all was lost.

The incredible difficult journey paved the way in providing us with an abundance of choices and opportunities to continue with the work he began.

“Rat-tat-tat,” Happy Easter and may the enduring meaning of it strengthen your life and goals as you strive to understand, endure, learn, share and motivate others to love and appreciate the spirit of it all.

©2008 Jodie Lynn
Jodie Lynn is an award-winning, internationally syndicated family/health columnist and host of the new radio talk show “Inside Parenting Success.” Her syndicated column Parent to Parent (www.ParentToParent.com) has been successful for more than a decade and appears in various newspapers, magazines, parenting publications, newsletters and throughout the Internet. She is a regular contributor to several sites and has written four books and contributed to three others, one of which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. In addition, Lynn has appeared in a 3-month parenting segment on NBC. Her latest books are Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) – Having, Doing, and Surviving It All! and Syndication Secrets – What No One Will Tell You!

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This Valentine’s Day – Can you call me Sweetheart?

Posted on 07. Feb, 2008 by Jodie Lynn.

What does your hubby call you? “Sweetheart, Honey, Darling, Sweetie, Sugar Plum, Girlie, Sweetie Pie, Beautiful, Hon, Baby Girl, or Hot Mama?”

For example, on any given day when my husband walks through the door after a long hard day at the office expecting a nice warm home cooked meal, loving wife (nice smelling and good looking too) and peaceful house – I’d like to give him a home cooked meal……….right in the kisser! And, especially when he starts with, “Man, today was not a good day. My back started aching right off the bat, probably because I ran into the umpire at last night’s softball game….what’s for dinner Sweetheart?”

I work at home — what could be easier?

DON’T EVEN GO THERE! Well, for the sake of making a point — let’s do.

A day in my life might begin similar to other work-at-home moms:

6:30 a.m. — rise and shine (except some of us don’t shine — right?).

7:30 a.m. — get the kids up — no — they’re still not up!

Anyway – boring stuff until the kids are dropped off at school. So — let’s skip that part.

What? Ya mean ya want to know how I handle my mornings before the kids go to school. I simply scream, holler and yell ’til they get their bodies out of the door and into the car — like the rest of you! (Only kidding.) OK, OK, I do scream sometimes. There, I admit it.

Now – drop them off and return home to my home office. Read and answer emails. Check planner for deadlines on various projects. Take puppy out to potty. Grab a package of crackers for a snack. Answer the door — wrong house. Return to computer and deadlines for a couple of hours….. Answer phone. “Hello – yes, I’m the Book Fair Chairperson……….Sorry – I thought we had delivered all prepaid special book orders. Oh – yes, I’ll run up to the school and see if I can find it…perhaps someone turned it into the office.”

Go up to school — look everywhere for the book. Nowhere to be found……….call Scholastic… “Can you send us another one?” AHHHHH – squared away. Oops – forgot to call the mom back. Leave message on machine. Now – back to work — right? Wrong!

Answer phone — “Yes, I can come pick up my son — he threw up where — on whom? I’ll be right there.”

Back up to the school ………….Back home………..get son settled down – read him a story and take an Advil for my headache. Back to computer and attempt to reconnect to previous train of thought.

“MOM! I just threw up on the couch,” yells my kiddo. “No worries, I say, as I run into the living room, wipe his mouth, check his temperature and offer a fresh set of clothes. How do you feel? (He rolls his eyes.) “I mean, sometimes when people are sick and they throw up, they feel better. Since this is the second time, maybe you don’t feel as nauseous?”

Let me back up a tad. This is one of three kids who almost never runs a temperature. This makes it very difficult to know when he’s really sick, as in calling the doctor‘s office and begging for an appointment. Like now — no fever. He’s also one of those kids who can throw up and almost never get any on himself or his clothes, but wants to change them anyway. (Haven’t figured that one out either.)

As I make room for him on the recliner by moving clean laundry to another spot to be folded yet another day, I offer to read him another short book or maybe just make up a story about one of his favorite subjects. He says no thanks but that he would consider sipping on some Gatorade and listen to soft music (to soothe his nerves, don‘t ya know).

Once I get him situated, set up with a small amount of Gatorade to sip and dry toast cut into small pieces to munch on, I sit close by his side for a while. As we sit and listen to soft music together, I watch and observe him to be sure that he‘s going to be OK, as all moms do. Thirty minutes later, he’s fast asleep.

So, back to my desk, computer and current project. Work diligently for ………………oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!! Time to get in gear for p.m. carpool and pick up kids from school. I quickly call a neighbor to ask if she would mind coming over for a few minutes…’til I get back from carpool. She’s delighted to do so. (YAY!)

Pick up kids, drop each one off at their own house, and make a mad rush back home with mine. Check on son who has just woken up. He seems to have a little more color in his pale thin face. Thank neighbor who wishes me a Happy Valentine’s Day. “Same to you,” I say as I notice that I’ve not adjusted my calendar to reflect the merry old month of February. Wow — time flies — doesn’t it?

“Thanks again, Mary, I really appreciate it.” She smiles and joyfully bellows, “NO problem…Dan is taking me out for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, so no pots and pans for me tonight…have anything special planned?”

As I pass the clock in the hallway walking her to the front door — YIKES! Need to get dinner started. “Not that I’m aware of; with one of the kids not feeling too well, guess it’s for the best. Who knows, maybe my knight in shinning armor will bring home dinner, flowers, and the whole works.”

Wave goodbye and rush into the kitchen, fling open the freezer to grab something for dinner and ———–Oh yuck — what’s that smell — GROSSS! — forgot to let the puppy out! Take puppy out anyway, so he’d associate going outside to (what?)…after he’d done his business inside, he gets to go outside to smell the fresh air. Go figure.

Come back in and clean up mess, wash hands and return to living room to check on kids who are deciding which afternoon 30 minute program they want to watch. Run back into the kitchen to check on dinner and just about knock my hubby over as he was walking inside through the side door mumbling, “Man, the traffic was horrible, my boss was yelling all day, someone borrowed my desk chair and forgot to return it — wished I worked from home where there’s peace and quiet with a leisurely no-hassle schedule and no surprises…what’s for dinner sweetheart?”

Well, as you know, many tiny details have happened during the day that I’ve not included in this work-at-home scenario. In trying to keep it brief, why bother? Let’s face it, when you have a bad day, it seems like it just keeps going downhill, and as usual, every insignificant moment ends up adding to the momentum of the ever-spiraling downside of the day and before you know it, well basically, YOU‘VE HAD IT!

In fact, no sooner had my hubby finished his last word than my eyes quickly filled with tears and I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs and crack him over the head with the still frozen tray of pork chops. “My schedule has been anything but peace and quiet today…to top it all off, it’s Valentine’s Day Cliff!

Just once, I’d love for you to come through the door with an amazing dinner, hand me an adorable Hallmark card, maybe some beautiful flowers and to-die-for chocolate, and…” He stops in his tracks, stares at me for a second and goes back out to the car, opens the door, reaches in and — “You mean like these?”

Woohoo!!!! He remembered! I don’t believe it! He actually remembered ………… “Yes, you can call me sweetheart!”

…NOTE TO SELF: I’m trying my best to work from home and make a difference in the world without jeopardizing my relationship with my family…but every once in a while, I will be still long enough to look forward to hearing my hubby call me sweetheart, while we sit together and eat chocolate after feasting on a delectable grown-up meal while the kids make do with a sandwich of peanut butter and jelly.

©2008 Jodie Lynn

Jodie Lynn is a former Teacher and Women and Children’s Fitness Instructor.  Currently, she is an award-winning syndicated family/health columnist of Parent to Parent, Radio Host and best-selling author.  Lynn has written four books and contributed to three others, one of which was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Her latest books are, Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer) – Having, Doing and Surviving It All!  and  Syndication Secrets – What No One Will Tell You!  To learn more about the author or to buy Mom CEO (Chief Everything Officer)™ merchandise, see www.parenttoparent.com for details.  Check out our new CEO Mom and Chief Household Officer logos!

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Yo-Yo Dieting Doesn’t Work

Posted on 07. May, 2007 by Jodie Lynn.

Summer will soon be here and everywhere you look, there are ads for this diet and that diet pill, regiment or a “lose 10 pounds the first day” plan.

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Moving and New Communities

Posted on 13. Apr, 2007 by Jodie Lynn.

You may be thrilled to be moving, or you could be scared to death! Moving can leave you sad, glad, or a mixture of all. Don’t worry – I have done this too many times not to be able to help out. Here are some ways to help make moving into a new community easier.
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Pregnant Moms Are Healthier When They Eat Fish!

Posted on 13. Mar, 2007 by Jodie Lynn.

Moms who ate more seafood while pregnant can expect to have children who are not only smarter, but also surpass their peers of moms who ate less or none.
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Kids Who Head Off to Camp May Need a Little Extra Help

Posted on 13. Mar, 2007 by Jodie Lynn.

Parents are always happy and eager to find the perfect camp for their kids. Needless to say, sometimes the kids are not as excited. Some experience separation anxiety, as well as other challenges.
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Twenty MUST ASK Questions in Selecting a Preschool

Posted on 08. Feb, 2007 by Jodie Lynn.

Many parents will be visiting preschools as early as February with an eye toward enrollment for the upcoming fall. Everyone needs guidelines when it comes to choosing a preschool. Don?t just ask your friends and relatives – go check it out for yourself. Take your preschooler with you, but not if he/she is not tired, hungry or sick. Take a quick tour and come back later for more questions.
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