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Monthly Archives: September 2014

September 30, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Exercise, Health, Nutrition
exercise, Health, Stress Management

Take care of yourself – even when it’s tough to do so

September 30, 2014 Exercise, Health, Nutrition Leave a comment
Good morning, Mommies. Happy Tuesday. Take care of yourself day. But what about when it’s really hard to take care of yourself? When the kitchen’s a mess, or you’re worried about money, or you didn’t get that one thing done. When there’s not enough money, or time, and there are a ton of things pressing down on you?

Like, daily?

You may have noticed, these lives we’ve chosen are many wonderful things, but easy isn’t one of them.

If we wait to take care of ourselves until it’s easy, it will never happen, and it is so crucial that we fit this in. CRUCIAL that we make time to take care of Mamma.

Eating right — affects your energy, your mood, your vulnerability to diseases from cancer to diabetes. If you are having trouble staying disciplined, get a text buddy who will join you in ‘fessing up every single thing she is eating, and text each other every bite. Accountability. It works.

Exercise — affects your bone mass, your energy, your mood, and your vulnerability to diseases (cancer and heart disease especially). Join a gym, find a class, get a workout partner — exercise, like so much else, is easier when you are not trying to go it alone. Strength training is especially important for women. Younger Next Year for Women is a hugely funny and brilliantly educational book that details why exercise is so critical. Delightful read. Great information.

Sleep — I know this one is tough because it is, in part, dependent on what the kids did last night. (I’m going on about two hours right now myself; should be an interesting day.) You can catch up on sleep to a certain extent on weekends. Naps are wonderful. Over the course of many sleep deprived years, I have napped on planes, in the chapel at the hospital where I worked, on the floor of my office, and in the back seat of my car in a parking garage. (Isn’t that why cell phones come with those little count-down timers? 20 – 30 minutes, bliss.) I know from past experience, two hours of sleep in one night is not enough for me: there is a nap in my very near future.

Laughter — connecting with great girlfriends, moms, sisters, the great fabric of woman love. Letting go of the stressors long enough to truly enjoy the charming antics of your toddler. Putting down the newspaper or turning off the TV to read a book by Paul Reiser or Bill Bryson. Laughter is good for the body and soul. Seek it out.

Take the time, Mamma. You are the engine that powers your family. Taking care of yourself is taking care of them.

And the irony is that if you take the time to take care of yourself, so much in life gets easier.

With love,

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September 29, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Household Management, Husband, Joy, Saturday - play day!
gratitude, Household Management, Husband, parenting, Saturday

Mamma-Taxi Taxi-Mamma

September 29, 2014 Household Management, Husband, Joy, Saturday - play day! Leave a comment
Good morning, Darling Mommies!! Taxi-Mamma, Mamma-Taxi?

Happy Play Day, girl. I hope you get to enjoy the day, even if you are Mamma-Taxi today.

I woke up this morning mentally running through the go-here, go-there of the day ahead. Husband and I have our three, plus two bonus kids this weekend to get to various sporting events, birthday celebrations, and bonfires. This is by no means our busiest weekend ever, but it’s up there.

How does Mamma recharge her batteries when the schedule is packed from 6:45 A.M. till bedtime, with activities involving five kids (in various combinations) in six separate events?

Well, honestly, I don’t know that Mamma does… and that’s okay. Mamma can still be happy.

This is still my life, and there is still joy here. Even if the day isn’t quite my own, even if a chunk of it will be spent in a car. Even if, this is still my one and precious life, and it’s still wonderful.

Nobody is shooting at me, or my kids. We get to be out and about, because no one is in the hospital. And we have friends and family that love us and invite us to stuff, how blessed are we?

Our weekend doesn’t quiet down until tomorrow night. In theory, at around 5:15 P.M., all the family members, and just the family members should be here, with no further activities or events requiring our participation. Should I live for that moment? What? And miss the next day and a half? No way. I’m going to be fully present for every crazy minute of today (please God), and I’m going to enjoy it.

Not every weekend is blissed out lazy-lovely. Not every Play Day is easy. But, as husband said when he was leaving at 6:45 A.M. this morning with Kid #1 to Activity #1, “Nothing good comes easy.” Then smiled and headed to the door. At the last minute, he turned, and giving me his most mischievious smile, raised his hand in goodbye and added, “Peace out.” He left laughing.

Have a great weekend, Mamma-Taxi, Taxi-Mamma. See blessings everywhere.

With love,

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September 28, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Health, Nutrition
Health, Sugar

Sugar and dementia

September 28, 2014 Health, Nutrition Leave a comment

Another great reason to moderate sugar intake.

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/above-normal-blood-sugar-linked-to-dementia-201308076596

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September 26, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Husband
Divorced, Husband, Marriage

Better wife this time

September 26, 2014 Husband Leave a comment
Happy Friday, Mamma! Happy date night!

Many of you know I’ve been divorced and was remarried about fifteen years ago. I’m a better wife this time around… I am, I own it. I learned some tough lessons. This time around I…

Never speak badly about my husband in public. Ever. ESPECIALLY in front of him. Pointing out a husband’s flaws in public isn’t funny, it’s mean. If I am frustrated and looking for guidance, I have one spectacularly trustworthy (and wise) girlfriend that I can turn to, but I am very aware that words have power; and I watch my words.

Say, “I love it when you…” Not, “I hate it when you…”

Am more forgiving, because I’m not perfect either. I don’t jump on his every flaw; I make mistakes too. And there is nothing intrinsically superior about Jane Austen over monster truck races. They both have their place in entertainment. (Lord, did I really just say that?)

Say it. I say what I am feeling. Say what I want, say what I need. I tell him softly and lovingly, or I tell him with tears streaming down my face, but I get the words out. He is not a mind reader. Sometimes (like last night) the back and forth is stilted and awkward and fraught with tension, but I persist. I go away (and give him time to process) and then I come back again, “we need to finish talking about this”, and in the end, it’s okay. In the end, we hug, and apologize to each other for our share of the tension, and we know each other better. I was afraid to talk in my first marriage. This time around, I say it.

See his dirty t-shirt is on the towel rack again, and know that it means that he is working hard, still alive, and that he came home to me. Could I complain about this habit of his? Of course. But it IS his habit, and in the grand scheme of things, I can live with it. I decided a while ago to replace the irritation with gratitude that he is still here.

I have a better understanding of his physical need for me. I know to wrap my arms around him and press my body into him when he is scared, frustrated, sad. He needs it. He may need it before he can hear any words about it.

We make a point to eat together. Even if, like last night, we are having dinner at 8 o’clock at night.

We laugh together, thank God. We laugh at ourselves too. Gift of humility and forgiveness.

I let him feed the kids crap food every once in a while. Allowing for “do you remember when dad let us…”, is worth the loss in nutrition for a day.

We pray together. The first time I did this with my husband it was odd and scary and awesome. Now it’s comforting and wonderful. And powerful.

We hold hands. I touch his back when I walk by him in the kitchen. He kisses my shoulder as I brush my teeth.

We talk about money. How much is coming in, how much is going out, how much is getting saved? If we stay on the current path we’re on, where will it get us ten years from now? We save for emergencies. Because there will be emergencies.

We have traditions. I can’t emphasize enough what a joy this is. These activities, unique to our family, these returning touchstones of this-is-how-we-do-it, have meant so much.

I let him see me naked. (Cringe, am I really talking about this? Lord.) He doesn’t care that my body isn’t perfect. Men are visual creatures. This is me bringing him flowers.

When I screw up, I say I’m sorry. I say “I’m sorry” a lot.

When he does something nice, I say thank you. I say “thank you” a lot too.

There you have it. My hard-learned marriage lessons (while still-only-partially-coffee’d, so please forgive me any awkward phrasing…)

Finally, I know that pretty much no matter what is going on, we will be fine. There are precious few true disasters in life. Time heals, situations change, people learn.

Happy Date Night.

With love,

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September 26, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Courage, Gratitude, Parenting
Joy, kids, Stress Management, Toddlers

I got you

September 26, 2014 Courage, Gratitude, Parenting Leave a comment

I got you.  Gracie and Will on the dock.

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September 25, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Health, Nutrition, Stay connected with kids
Family dinner, Health, kids, older kids, parenting

Teach your kids to cook

September 25, 2014 Health, Nutrition, Stay connected with kids Leave a comment
Good morning! Happy kid connection day!

When I was researching sugar addiction I came across a Jamie Oliver TED talk that was so powerful. I’ll link to it today; it’s well worth the twenty minutes. In fact, I encourage you to carve out the twenty minutes, I think his message is that important.

He talks about cooking with our kids. Preparing meals together.

I spent 45 minutes this morning looking for pictures of me cooking with my kids. There are pictures of us hiking and biking, rock climbing, water parking. There are pictures of us shopping and restauranting and being silly in the house. There are pictures of sleeping kids and reading kids and tree-climbing kids. Of course picures of every holiday from Christmas to the Fourth of July. But not cooking?

I am left to conclude that this isn’t something I have considered worthy of celebration and recording. And that’s kind of a shame.

Because cooking is one of those essential life skills that will affect my children for the rest of their lives. It is a visceral, warm, and can be a delightful activity that will not only connect us, but have a massive impact on their pysical health.

We do cook together — sort of. At our house the chore rotation is: laundry, kitchen clean and meal prep. Sadly, I haven’t made as big a deal of meal prep as I could have. Meal Prep Kiddo usually sets the table, and may help me with some of the cooking, but ironically, the preparation of the food isn’t the real focus for us. It’s as if it’s the thing to rush through to get to the eating that must be done to get to the good stuff.

Tonight, please God, I’m going to let the cooking be the good stuff.

I know we’ll be in a rush. I know I’ll be tired. It’ll be after sports practice and in the middle of homework and husband won’t get home till just before we sit down to eat.

Still. I’m going to watch Jamie Oliver’s talk one more time, and tonight, I’m going to think to myself about the world I am opening for my kiddo’s by teaching them some simple cooking skills.

Menu tonight says turkey burgers, roasted cauliflower and green beans with bleu cheese. I’ll have kiddo (daughter is on Meal Prep this week) coat the cauliflower pieces with olive oil, lemon juice and pressed fresh garlic. We’ll talk about the joy of making food that is delicious and nutritious. We can make the turkey burgers together. I’ll make sure we have Pandora going too. Wish me luck

With love,

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September 25, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Health, Household Management, Nutrition
ideas for family activities, Meal planning

Teach your kids about food

September 25, 2014 Health, Household Management, Nutrition Leave a comment

If you haven’t seen this TED talk by Jamie Oliver, buckle up.  He’s funny, and grimly serious as well.  Important stuff, Mamma.

 

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September 24, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Gratitude
gratitude

Grateful

September 24, 2014 Gratitude Leave a comment
Happy Wednesday, beautiful Mommies! What are you grateful for today?

I’m grateful for the title Mommy. That I can be Independent Woman and Wife. That I can run races and lounge sleepily on the sofa. That I can be strong and soft. That I am blessed to go through life caring for and being loved by the most wonderful people.

I’m grateful for coffee (which so often makes this list…)

I’m grateful that I can laugh at myself.

I’m grateful that God always has my back. Even when I don’t see the path, I know He’s here.

I’m grateful for laptops, smart phones, GPS, and all the other technology that has allowed me to work and make it to the baseball games. Well, most of the baseball games.

I’m grateful for Grandma. My lovely and loving mother, best childcare-backup bar none, graceful hostess, unwavering support on the toughest days.

I am grateful that I can study intend-to-win negotiating and bake chocolate chip cookies. I am grateful that I am strong enough to stand up for myself and my values when pressed, and that I am strong enough to give ground, when compromise is called for. I am grateful for those times when the greater good is clear to me.

I’m grateful that I have women stronger than me that I can reach out to on the days I don’t think I can make it. We hold each other up and are held up in our turn.

I’m grateful for Matisse. And Monet. And Mary Cassatt.

I’m grateful for Walt Whitman and Walt Disney.

I’m grateful for soft pajama pants, ancient yoga hoodies and bare feet tucked up under me to keep them warm. For cast iron pans, hand-thrown-thick pottery mugs, paper plates.

I’m grateful, so grateful, that we get to do this every Wednesday. I so look forward to these lists.

What are you grateful for?

With love,

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September 23, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Health
Finding strength, GRIT, Sugar, support

Sugar addiction

September 23, 2014 Health Leave a comment
Good morning Happy Tuesday! Take care of yourself day.

I need to talk this morning about sugar addiction. Because I myself have fallen off the wagon and need to get back on. So, I talk to myself as I talk to you, and hope you get value out of the discussion too.

It’s been SUCH a stressful month, goodness Lord. Too busy to workout every day, and so easy to comfort myself with a sweet treat, I’ll just have one. But I never have just one. Guh.

I’ll link to an NIH article (wildly brainiac, enjoy) that details the neurochemical evidence that sugar is an addictive substance. Most of us who have ever eaten an entire box of Girl Scout Cookies (and were left wanting more) already knew this.

Why do we crave sugar? It’s comforting. To say “it tastes good”, doesn’t even come close to describing the array of neurochemical bells and whistles that sugar sets off in our brains and bodies. Sadly, like all drugs, we are left needing to eat more and more to get the same effects. For some of us, this effect is more pronounced than in others.

If sugar was a neutral substance to my health, this would not be a big deal. However, there are so many negative effects to an overload of high GI sugar consumption (fresh fruit being an exception to this) that I need to be concerned about it.

Among the negative health effects of added sugars (not naturally occuring): increased risk of death from cancer and heart disease, increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of high cholesterol (by stimulating the liver to dump fats into the bloodstream). There is SO MUCH evidence of the negative effects of added sugar, that I cannot possible link to all the JAMA, NIH and Harvard Health articles about it.

I KNOW too much sugar is bad for me. I know it is addictive. What I need to do is break the addiction monster. (Again.) So, what I’ll do, starting today, is: add more fresh fruit to my diet (God’s own candy) as a way of feeding the monster in a healthy way, get back to daily exercise as a way of elevating my body’s healthy processing of sugar and cholesterol (no more weekend warrior, exercise needs to happen every day), and find a different way to reward myself (a phone call to chat with some of my favorite girlfriends is as quick a pick-me-up as a high GI treat).

If you, like me, have struggled with this, then you have my deepest, deepest sympathies. Let’s get back to good health together, shall we?

It starts now.

With love,

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September 23, 2014
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christincrollcarlson
Health, Nutrition
Sugar

Sugar addiction

September 23, 2014 Health, Nutrition Leave a comment

A ridiculously brainiac article on the reality of sugar addiction:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/

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