Category — networking

I’m realizing that sometimes I have so much going on that I stop talking all-together.  Once I realize it, it’s hard to know where to start again.

This time I want to start by sharing a great event that I attended last Thurs.  National Mom’s Nite Out.

This event was put together in San Diego by Deb of San Diego Momma, Mel, A Dramatic Mommy and Charity and was held at Busters Beach House and Longboard Bar, in Seaport Village (love that place!).  It was a great event, complete with swag, great food, give-aways, $5 drinks and a silent auction who’s proceeds went to support the March of Dimes.  Way to go, ladies!  I had fun meeting everyone and networking with other, local moms who find themselves with an on-line presence.  

One of the best parts of the night was that this event was sandwiched in between 2 other events I had on Thursday (told you it’s been busy!) and Clay was a part of both the other events (HSC-23 Change of Command and the COC party), so we decided it made sense for him to tag along and then we’d head to the COC party afterward.  Hee Hee!  He was the only guy in attendance.  At first, he got some unwelcome glares, but as the evening moved on, he let the ladies know that he was just tagging along with Mommy of Many and would stay out of the way.  He ended up being a welcome addition to the evening and it gave him a glimpse into another part of me (the ladies night out part).  

Thanks to Deb, Mel, Charity and all the great sponsors for making this night possible!

Charity and Mel getting everyone excited about a give-away

Tonya, Anissa (also proud military spouses and busy mamas) and me 

San Diego Mamas having a great night out

Me and Deb

Thanks again ladies!  I hope to see more of you in cyberspace and at other great, San Diego events!

Have a great day~

It’s always amazing to me how things fall together!  

About 2 months ago, I made plans to go to Washington state to visit my friend, Pilar.  When all of my surgery news fell in my lap I thought that I should cancel my trip.  But, I now see that it’s the perfect time for me to have a few days away to gather my thoughts and tie up any loose ends.  

So, today I am trying to get things in order for my family, pack and go to my pre-op apt.  Busy day, but it’s a blessing in disguise because it keeps me from over-thinking.  Then, I’ll board the plane and have a few days to really get my head around everything and to make any plans for the kids that haven’t been made.  The trip ends up coming at the PERFECT time!  

I really appreciate everyone who’s sent messages about their own experiences with hysterectomy.  What a great network!  

Have a great day~

I think that after 3 1/2 weeks of deployment that today was the day that I got into a good groove. One of the things I’ve wanted to do while Clay is gone is to get back to going to the Y. I felt challenged by the idea because Luke-Xavier hasn’t ever lasted there for more than 15 minutes. He throws himself on the floor and screams until they come get me. But today! Today he threw his fit and they just let him throw it until he was done and then he got up and went outside and played. Whoo Hoo! I’m glad that they finally took my approach to the whole fit-throwing thing. So, now it’s up to me go keep up a good routine of going so that he knows it’s just part of what we do. So, don’t tell anyone, but I haven’t actually worked-out there in about a year (maybe longer). Instead I’ve used it (all 15 minutes at a time) to think about show topics and get some writing done. But in the next few weeks if he keeps being good, I’m going to have to find a class and start working this on this body of mine!

After the Y, Luke-Xavier was beat and fell asleep in the car. When we got home I put him in bed and then was able to catch snails with Gabi. Let’s just focus on the “with Gabi” part of that sentence. Icky snails! It was a nice time with her. She’s definitely surrounded by brothers, because for all the wishing she does to become a princess, she LOVES bugs and snails!

Then it was onto a new show idea! Today I was able to record the first of a series of interviews that I’m doing about women and the military. I’m talking to different women who have been touched in some way by the military, whether they are spouses, have or have had a military career or maybe were children in a military family. Today’s interview was with Pilar Hari. She’s a Navy spouse of 19 years, the mother of 3 and the co-founder of the non-profit organization Focus Families. The show will be up in the next couple of weeks. I hope you find her story interesting!

So, after the excitement of trying something new for the show, I was back into the “M.O.M.” routine and picked kids up from school, took Mariah to an appointment (with time enough for a little bonding stop) and then back home to make dinner. I feel like it was the first night since Clay has left that I really embraced the whole nighttime routine as mine. Usually Clay brushes the kiddos’ teeth, reads the stories and tucks them in. It’s funny to say “usually” because his schedule varies so much, but it just seems like it was “his” thing. But tonight I didn’t drag my feet or assign tasks to the older girls. I gathered everyone around, read 2 stories, said prayers, led them to the bathroom, brushed teeth, clipped nails and tucked them each in. Go M.O.M! It’s just after 9 pm and I feel drastically different than I did last night.

Let’s hear it for the routine! Let’s hear it for the whole “deployment reality” finally sinking in! Let’s hear it for M.O.M getting in the groove!

Good night~

No is a powerful word and as parents I feel that we need to feel confident in using it to set limits for our children, even when it means that we go against all the hype happening around us. It can be hard to stand firm, but I feel that it’s crucial so that our children learn to appreciate the true gifts in life.

Thank you for coming to MommyofMany.com. I look forward to your questions or comments. You can email me at Jen@MommyofMany.com

Have a great day~

When I read or hear or see something great, I want to pass it along.

I love Reader’s Digest. I’ve been a subscriber for many years and have always read it cover to cover. I love to read but since Gabi was born, I’ve had a hard time being able to sit down with a whole book. I’ve managed a few, but for the most part, my reading enjoyment over the last 3 years has come from picking up my Reader’s Digest and going through the articles. This month’s issue has an article on debit card use that I found eye opening. Whenever I’ve been asked “debit or credit”, I found it more annoying than anything else. I always figured there wasn’t much of a difference. This article made me think again.

Have a great day~ 

Alright, I’m no computer whiz, so I am hoping that I am going to add a link to this blog that will lead you to an interview of a woman, Trish Berg, who is the author of a book about supper swapping. I had never heard of her and found her link on another blog. When I listened to her interview, I wanted to share it. I think it’s so important for women to band together and share with/help each other. I know that I love to share baby clothes. It saves $ and it saves space. Plus, let’s be honest, we ALWAYS have too many clothes for one baby to wear. So, I call friends who have a baby who is the size and gender of the clothes that are in my garage and then they are put to good use, instead of taking up the room in my garage (or cupboard, drawer, closet, storage unit, etc.). When they are done with the clothes, they pack them up (free to throw away anything damaged or add anything they bought) and either hand them back to me so that I can pass them on again OR they can hand them to another mom who’s baby can use them, with the understanding that they will again be returned or passed on. The mom who starts the clothes sharing always knows who has the clothes and can have them back if she needs them for another child when the mom using them is done. I love it and I always like to see what’s been added. BTW, I have baby boy clothes from newborn to size 12m. that are waiting for someone to use them. Any takers?

If it all keeps going the way it has for the last week or so, I am going to buy a Lottery ticket! God is GOOD! The planets are aligned. Or maybe it was the itchy palm I had a couple of weeks ago. Call it what you will, but things are just good right now. People are friendly, kind and encouraging/I’ve been treated to free coffee drinks on 4 occasions in the last week/our local Barista cleared out the pastry case into a HUGE bag for us to take home because they didn’t want to throw it all away……….so, if I show up with pastries to anything tomorrow, I’m not being overly generous, I am just sharing the goodness. Anyway, this little run of good luck/receipt of kindness has been nice to have and will be something to draw on in those times (that always do end up coming around) when you wonder if anyone is caring anymore.
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The kids’ imaginations have been flourishing recently and tonight they donned their Speedo goggles and Max buckled on his bike helmet (he doesn’t need the goggles because he has laser eyes) and they prepared for living under water. It’s the little snippets of the day like this that are important to grab. Sure, there was arguing over who sits where in the car or turned up noses at a lunch packed with the bits of stuff left in the fridge (ok, it’s the last few days before payday. You know, that LAST stuff) etc. But there’s always some little, good thing to find in the day to turn it around. Taking the time to write a little each night has been a good tool in helping me to find those moments. I mean, really, how interesting would it be to write about all the yucky or angry stuff?!
I hope you can each find one happy snippet to grab from today.
Good night~