Adventures In Motherhood

I vividly remember the years when I managed life with four children in tow, ages seven, five, three and newborn baby. I smiled politely, yet secretly despised the well-meaning adults who admonished me to "enjoy these years; before you know it your kids will be grown!" Never mind my precious young children crying in the grocery store, while I, frazzled and weary from lack of sleep and shower deemed food a necessity. It was extremely difficult to envision any light at the end of the tunnel in the fog of parenting multiple young children, let alone acknowledge the admiring grandparents who fondly recalled these years. Lately, with the glaring light at the end of the tunnel on 'high beam', my daughter a high school freshman, I catch myself admiring the young parents pushing toddlers on swings and walking strollers, wishing I could turn back the clock, yet honoring my pledge to never utter those dreaded words...'enjoy these years' to parents in the thick of it! C...

My seven-year-old son aptly coined the phrase 'jimba' around this time last year. A word so clever and frequently used in our household now, I am compelled to share, as I'm sure you will encounter a plethora of 'Jimbas' this holiday season! I nearly submitted the word to Urban Dictionary, if not for the fact that it already existed, much to my chagrin. Ironically, and to my son's satisfaction, the word jimba means a big green balloon with sexual organs. Of all the luck! You can imagine the hilarious laughter that erupted from my four children when they found the Urban Dictionary definition of jimba. I still ponder how a big green balloon can have sexual organs, for which I blame myself, having lost much of my own creativity in adulthood. I prefer my son's definition of jimba, which is simply 'a very stupid or idiotic person'. Thankfully, jimba has affectionately replaced 'numbnuts' and 'butthead' in our house in full disclosure. ...

My October 13th Twitter feed uncovered a memoir contest to be judged by Cheryl Strayed. I had contemplated publishing my unique story of resilience for years, yet lacked the gumption and time to begin with a busy career and four children. Surely a sign, I thought to myself, having recently completed Cheryl's book 'Wild' with much adoration and appreciation for her mutual resilience. Hemming and hawing all weekend with the October 31st memoir deadline rapidly approaching, I unwrapped a stick of minty fresh gum, popped it into my mouth and glanced at the wrapper. Voila!! It was as if the gods were personally addressing me with a wrapper unlocking the key to my fate on that sunny Monday morning, October 16th. Ultimately living a life with no regrets, this shiny green daring challenge was shouting at me, you only live once lady! #YOLO Carpe diem! With nothing to lose and everything to gain, I undertook an enormous task for two weeks, pouring my heart and soul into the p...