Featured Blogger-Literal Mom

11 Jan By

Please give a warm welcome to my friend, Missy! She’s the woman behind Literal Mom, one of my favorite blogs.

literal mom

I really can’t remember how I met Missy. I know that makes me seem like an airhead, but I just feel like I’ve known her forever. We took a blog class together last year, but I knew her before that…it just goes to prove what I would tell you about Missy, which is that her writing draws you in and you connect with her stories right away. So often I read her posts and I can relate to every single word. We’ve shared more than one “great minds think a like” moments, and I value her take on motherhood and parenting. I just know you’re going to love her!

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School Breaks Then and Now

My family and I just finished Winter Break last week.  Over the course of the break, I started thinking about School Breaks when my kids were younger and School Breaks now.  And while it’s not a specific mess, there are certainly messes in each break we have, so I’m hoping this still qualifies as a Mommy Mess moment!

School Breaks Then:

I’d pick them up at the last possible moment.

School Breaks Now:

I pick them up early to get a “jump start” on our break.

Then:  I scheduled trips according to the Break.

Now:  I schedule them when I want.  If they miss a few days of school, oh well!

Then:  I would get as much rest as possible before the break started, because it was so exhausting.

Now:  I still get as much rest as possible.  Because I’m always tired.

Then: I made cookies and had them help!  And hated every minute of it.

Now:  I make one batch of cookies for us.  And if everyone’s licking the bowl, who cares?  We’re the only ones eating it!

Then: I would crawl the walls at home, trapped by schedules and naptimes.

Now:  We do what we want when we want because everyone’s old enough to handle it.

Then: They had to go to bed at the same time because they still got up at the crack of dawn.  Or earlier.

Now: They go to bed later and get up later throughout the break.  It’s awesome.

Then: I felt mad 80% of the time.

Now: I only feel mad some of the time.  They’re still kids, they still have the potential to annoy the crap out of us!  But it’s so much less.

Then: I worried about how much junk they were eating.

Now: I don’t.  They’ll detox it out eventually.

Then: Santa came to us in Florida.

Now: Santa comes early – it’s impossible to take gifts home on the airplane!  And shipping is no fun.

Then: I focused on the commercial side of Christmas so much and didn’t understand why they didn’t want to go to Mass on Christmas Eve.

Now: I focus on the “reason for the season” much better.  They are much better at attending Mass.  All 4 times we went over this break.

Then: I ate my way through the season, usually gaining 5-10 pounds.

Now: For the first time ever, I didn’t gain weight this season!

Then:  I couldn’t wait for it to end and send them back to school.

Now:  There’s never enough time with them before they have to go back.  And I hate to see them go.

Do you have any Then and Now stories to share about breaks?

Thanks, Adrienne, for having me over today!  It’s such an honor!

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See? Isn’t she great?

Missy Bedell blogs at Literal Mom, where she encourages parents to think about their parenting.  With anything in life, if you think about it while you’re doing it, rather than go on auto-pilot, you automatically do it better (even if only a little bit).  The same is certainly true with parenting.  She hopes.  She combines wit, humor and sometimes even tears to share her message.  

missy

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Adrienne

Somewhere along the way I picked up homeschooling two boys and blogging. When I'm not scrubbing toilets or answering endless questions, I'm usually here, over sharing it all! My writing is always honest, sometimes sarcastic, and never perfect. I hope to keep my kids from seeking adult therapy. I know. Pipe dreams...You can find me as @TheMommyMess on Twitter and on Facebook.

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28 Comments

Comments

  1. Missy | The Literal Mom says:
    January 11, 2013 at 9:13 am

    I’m so honored to be here Adrienne! And thank you for the very kind words! I appreciate being able to share this “then” and “now” comparison at your lovely home, because I know you understand!
    Missy | The Literal Mom recently posted..I’ve Made a Mommy Mess. Have You?My Profile

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  2. JDaniel4's Mom says:
    January 11, 2013 at 10:38 am

    JDaniel loves to lick the bowl while making cookies and not after they are on the sheet. It drives me nuts, but I am learning to “chill out” too.
    JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..ABCs of Exploring Books with Children: R-ZMy Profile

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  3. Greta @gfunkified says:
    January 11, 2013 at 10:57 am

    “They’ll detox it out eventually”. Ha! Love it. Only two of my kids are even in school, but I’m already embracing the breaks. Why not?! No schedule, late mornings, we do what we want. EXACTLY what you said. Lax parenting? Yeah, what of it? :D
    Greta @gfunkified recently posted..Every Day I’m ShovelingMy Profile

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  4. The Anecdotal Baby says:
    January 11, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Hi, Missy! Congrats on your guest post, and The Mommy Mess, I’m excited to check out your blog for the first time!

    Well, Missy, I’m a stickler for keeping schedules since the bug is only 21 months. And I guess I made a bit of a mess for some family members this Christmas season because adhering to her schedule even though it’s Christmas – “she’s only little once and it’s only one day” – made me look like a mean parent and makes it difficult for others. But at this stage? She (we all) can’t afford to skip nap schedules. And it works for us. So, I can relate to your “then” moments of resting, keeping nap times, and laying off the junk. I guess you do what you need to do to keep yours and your family’s sanity, and your kids healthy! I totally agree on scheduling trips when you want (or work best for your family) and if a few days of school are missed, oh well; especially being that our family has a lot of travel opportunities. There’s just some things worth bending the “rules” for and some that I won’t even if I “crawl the walls at home, trapped by schedules and nap times” even if it is messy.
    The Anecdotal Baby recently posted..Mammoth Mountain Family VacationMy Profile

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  5. Amber says:
    January 11, 2013 at 3:10 pm

    Awesome post. I did eat my way through the break. It’s what helped keep me sane.
    Amber recently posted..Chocolate ThiefMy Profile

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  6. Alexa
    Twitter: katbiggie
     says:
    January 11, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    I am SO living in your THEN and as much as I adore having tiny little ones, I am looking forward to getting to your NOW. Because I am this.close.to.CERTIFIABLE from lack of sleep!!!! :-) Loved this post. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!
    Alexa recently posted..Attack of The Dead Sea Soap – FTSFMy Profile

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  7. ilene
    Twitter: fiercedivablog
     says:
    January 11, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    I clearly need to keep reading your blog, Missy – and hopefully, I will get some of your “Easy Does It” by osmosis! I’m still a little rigid – but I DO let them lick the bowl. It is so nice to see you here! xo
    ilene recently posted..One WordMy Profile

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  8. Kate F.
    Twitter: katefineske
     says:
    January 11, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    I would totally agree with your last “Now” statement: “There’s never enough time with them before they have to go back. And I hate to see them go.” This is something I could have never imagined I’d say until the last couple years when 2 out of 3 of the kiddos are now gone all day at school most days. :)
    Kate F. recently posted..Where Did the Busy Week Go? {Edition 14}My Profile

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  9. Marilee Haynes says:
    January 11, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    Missy –
    I loved this! I’ve been feeling so conflicted lately about my three littles getting bigger. The time with them seems to be going so quickly and yet, the older they get the more truly enjoyable things are. This Christmas break just flew by.
    As always, you put into words so well what has been rattling around in my brain. I still cried over filling out preschool registration for my littlest, but in part of my brain I’m excited for her to get that little bit older and to be able to experience life a little bit more.

    Reply
  10. Chris Carter
    Twitter: TheMomCafe
     says:
    January 12, 2013 at 1:25 am

    What a fun post!! It’s so nice to meet another mom blogger friend! I will definitely be checking out your blog Missy! I am with you…on. EVERY. Then and Now!!! SO glad I am closing in on the NOW!!!! ;)
    Chris Carter recently posted..Overwhelmed?My Profile

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  11. Katie E says:
    January 12, 2013 at 10:30 am

    Great to see you here, Missy! I’m also much more relaxed about school breaks now that my kids are older. And it makes the breaks much more relaxing – imagine that!
    Katie E recently posted..New Year, New Habits: Mother Daughter JournalsMy Profile

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  12. renée a. schuls-jacobson
    Twitter: rasjacobson
     says:
    January 12, 2013 at 5:43 pm

    Missy! You look just like this chick I saw running on the beach! ;)

    THEN: I was taller than my son.

    NOW: I look up to him.

    It’s true. And it happens quickly. Enjoy the time you can with your children. Change is a-comin’. You’ll see. You’ll see.
    renée a. schuls-jacobson recently posted..Lessons From A New York Vagrant #SoWrongMy Profile

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  13. Mary @ A Teachable Mom
    Twitter: ateachablemom
     says:
    January 13, 2013 at 12:21 am

    Adrienne – Great choice for guest blogger! I adore Missy and her blog and find myself relating to everything she says. Missy – Love this! While I still don’t let my kids lick the bowl (raw eggs give me the heebee-geebees), everything else you said applies. I hadn’t thought about how much easier breaks are now, but they are and I’m grateful (now that I’ve read your post!). Here’s to enjoying our kids!
    Mary @ A Teachable Mom recently posted..How To Be A Popular MomMy Profile

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  14. Susi says:
    January 13, 2013 at 11:20 am

    Missy, a lot of this sounds very similar to the way I feel. It seems as they get older I stress a lot less about what needs to be done and try to relax more and just enjoy the time with them!
    Susi recently posted..Picture Perfect Weekly #2 {The Things Only Edition}My Profile

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