Top 10 Mommy Posts – See you in 2011!
Posted on December 21, 2010 by FoBaM-Jamie
For some of you, the momentous celebrations of the season have already come and gone, for others, the highlight of the holidays is still a few, frantic, days away. On this winter solstice (which also, by the way, features a full moon and a lunar eclipse – watch out for crazy kids!), we wanted to take a moment to thank you for being part of our Fans of Being a Mom world this year. Your unfailing enthusiasm, camaraderie, and sense of humor is what inspires us to do what we do. Each time we post, we are so touched by your responses. Your thoughts, tips, and encouragement mean so much to the thousands and thousands of moms who visit Fans of Being a Mom each day. You’re the reason those moms come back – the reason we come back. You’re what makes this place so special.
So, we want to thank you and wish you all the best – all the joy, magic, and love – of this holiday season. We’re signing off now until 2011 so that we can step away from our computers and enjoy these special days with our loved ones. Here’s hoping you get to do the same. And – in case you need a quick mommy fix while we’re gone – here are ten of our favorite posts from 2010.
To a happy, healthy, and rockin’ New Year!
- Your biggest fans, Meredith & Jamie
The secret of a mother’s courage – Because it takes courage of all kinds to be a mom
Motherhood from A to Z – An ode to moms and their little ones from guest writer Cindy Schieffer
Grandmother’s Journal - There is magic in the word “grandmother”
Mom Guilt and Broken Bones - A mom’s worst nightmares
Mama’s Murphy’s Laws of Motherhood – 13 irrefutable laws of motherhood
MomFAIL - We all need to know we’re not alone
Top 10 Non-PC Reasons I Love Being a Mom – We admit our guilty glee at the perks of motherhood
Mom is Forever – Truer words were never spoken
If You Give a Mom a Minute – She’ll almost get something done …
Need a Mommy Lifeline? – You asked great mom questions and author Karen Maezen Miller answered them
Image Credits, top to bottom: Still Burning, cheerytomato, jazzlog
Don’t Ever Change
Posted on December 13, 2010 by Guest
No matter which holiday you celebrate, there is a certain magic that children bring with their exuberance and unquestioning belief. Today, guest writer Wendi Brandow shares her wish that children never lost that sense of innocence and wonder.
Dont ever change, dont ever change. I whispered these words to myself as I lay snuggled up to my husband, who in turn cocooned our soon-to-be, five-year-old son. We were laying beneath a pile of blankets on top of a mountain of pillows watching The Polar Express for the tenth time since Thanksgiving. Santa had just announced who would receive the first gift of Christmas and my son erupted in a burst of applause. His wonder had gotten the best of him. It was as if he had never seen it before and he was so excited he couldnt contain himself, as if he himself would be receiving the first gift of Christmas.
More and more lately, a part of me needs to believe he will always be that innocent and filled with delight. He seems so big lately. He has grown an inch-and-a-half in the two months since he started school. He has stopped hugging me as much and needs far fewer kisses. He has also started to be judged, and not always kindly, by the opinions of others.
Holiday gifts with heart
Posted on December 7, 2010 by Guest
Today, guest writer Wendy Thomas shares a gift with us – the gift of a Highly Economical Christmas. No matter what holiday you celebrate this year, this story is sure to inspire you to remember that it’s not so much what you give as the spirit in which you give. We’ll be taking some of Wendy’s advice and creating some special holiday memories of our own.
Every year around Christmas, you start seeing stories in the newspapers of families that are struggling financially. Donations are requested and toys are collected in an effort to give families a “nice Christmas”. Last year, this spurred some discussion in our house about financial priorities, self-sacrifice, and creativity.
I wanted to prepare my kids for a tough life if that’s what came their way. I told them that Christmas was not dependent on money but on the spirit and sense of togetherness it evoked. I declared that we were going to have a “Highly Economical Christmas” where I was going to provide them with a memorable celebration that would not cost a dime. Not one little penny.
One month before Christmas I started collecting things that came to me free – two boxes of cereal samples, broken candy canes, a bag of chocolate chips, mints from a restaurant, bits of paper, decorations, and cards- and put them all into a large bag. A few days before our celebration, I pulled all the supplies out and started creating gifts and activities. What are you doing? My kids asked me. Shhh, go away, it’s a surprise, I told them as I hid my work from prying eyes. Read More…
