I am NACHO success story...

Well, with the greatest of intentions, I haven't been following through on my NACHO MAID intentions. My house is grosser than ever and the kids are no closer to putting their own clothes away and the dishes still call MY name and I am regularly stepping over backpacks to get to the bathroom.

I feel like I need to get the house in complete cleanliness and organization and then it'll be easier?! Am I just kidding myself or is there something to this?!

As Spring Break nears, that calls out to the relatives to come visit. So, with impending house guests, perhaps I'll get the house to where I want it and then with no homework etc., I'll have a fighting chance of getting the kids to participate. It's no one's fault but my own. Time to follow through!

Am I alone? Or is anyone out there having success with this philosophy!?
I'm going to give it a go. So far, as a Mom, I haven't backed down from a challenge... so I'll prepare myself.... for....

May the luck of the Irish be with me!

It's just a cough...

That keeps us up all night.
That makes my husband ask what we can give her.
That sounds like she is going to barf a lung.
That makes people think I take my sick kid out in public.
That makes teachers think I should take her to a Dr. (even when I already did)
That has no miracle antibiotic that she can take to make.it.stop!
That has me giving her Benadryl at night to help us all get a few consecutive hours of sleep.

Its just a cough that goes away for a week and then comes back again. GRRRRRR!

I loathe the “just a cough” diagnosis. Can't she have pneumonia again? I just want to give her something to take her cough away so that I don’t have to explain to everyone and their mother that she is "NACHO" contagious.

“Nacho” Mama: When did I have a 4th child?

 From the Nacho Maid "mailbag":

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I got married when I was a bit older. I had a career, bought a house and got married (in that order) to a man that had lived on his own for more than 10 years. He had lived in several apartments since moving out of his parents’ house in his early 20s. He had to cook, clean, do his own laundry and all that goes with living as an adult in this world. We got married and then quickly had two children (twins) before our first anniversary. But as time went on, and we added another child to the mix, I began to realize that I had not three but four children.
“Mama, I can’t find my shoes. Mama, I want breakfast. Mama, where is my Justin Bieber shirt?”
Yes, I understand that they are just little and can’t always remember where they put it, where it is kept or how to open the cabinet and pour a bowl of cereal. I get that, they are learning.
“Betty, where are my keys? My socks? My underwear? Can you mail this? Make me a lunch? Do anything that I should be able to do for myself?”
Seriously? You are an adult. Find it. I am “Nacho” Mama.

Betty

An "aha" moment.... well not mine exactly

My parents are growing up. I know it's a small miracle. They have had their "aha" moment, and it couldn't come soon enough. They are seeing a therapist and it's not me...YAY! Now they can burden a perfect stranger with their problems and drama. I no longer have to hold my breath when I see the caller ID with their name on it.  Maybe now I can stop avoiding phone calls and conversations. Maybe it won't solve anything, or maybe it will. Either way, I feel like I can breathe again. Normally I say how proud of my 7-yr olds I am, but I'm happy to say I'm proud of my parents today for stepping up and doing the work that needs to be done. Hmmm... maybe you're never to old to learn new tricks.

-Thelma

I am NACHO superhero!

A super hero would have endless supplies of patience and teaching ability, don't you think? I don't. I'm not going to promise that I won't lose my schmidt on them, cause I just did. Turns out being a un-superhero has some advantages. When you pitch a mommy sized fit, they get scared. They get quiet and what's that? Ready for school 15 mins. early?! Nice! Now I realize this isn't a long-term solution. I'm not a complete idiot. (I reserve the right to be an idiot again, however...)

So, when I see the quotes from the news feed of US and PEOPLE and celebs on Twitter saying they "Love spending time with their family, they are everything to me". I cry BS! You love spending some time with them. Too much togetherness can be a bad thing. How are they going to learn to live without you if you are never apart? It's good for everyone involved! That's why there are Girls weekends and Boys weekends.

While I have enjoyed my kids much more in the last few years and relished my summer with them, I still need time away. I just booked my airline for our girls' weekend in May and I'm struck by the irony of the day. They whine and argue with me and cry and pitch fits about absolutely nothing and on the Thursday before I leave they will cry and tell me that they want to come with me and say they will miss me and they will cry that I'm going to be gone. (Making hubby feel like gold, I'm sure!)

Sorry kids, this un-superhero is going to recharge her un-super batteries and laugh and sip on margaritas poolside while checking out the families dealing with tantrums and whining and know that for 3 short days, I am #winning and for that, the whole family will be #winning when I return!

Just booking the ticket makes me a better Mom, I'm just sure of it! (Or we'll find out after school!)

"Bonnie"

Top 5 Things That Make Me Go From Ignored to Wanted

It's amazing really. I can sit in the same room with my kids for hours and they barely notice me. Sometimes I'm afraid to move for fear that they will take notice that I'm actually there. There are a few things, however, that draw the attention of all beings in my home (kids, animals, husband) and make me the most wanted woman. It also turns every mundane need into a "drop everything now" emergency.

1. Going to the bathroom (as Louise mentioned here). It's not like I'm in there for an hour, like some people who shall not be named. I'm usually out in a couple minutes. Yet as I sit down, here is the sequence: the cat saunters in, the dog comes to see what the cat is doing, and one (or two, sometimes all 3) of the humans starts calling for me in an urgent tone that makes me think the house is burning down and we must evacuate this second. For the love of Maude, can I get 60 seconds??!!


2. The Phone call. It doesn't happen that often. It's not like I'm  Miss Popularity, plus I prefer to text. The second they sense that I am engaged in a phone conversation, I am immediately bombarded by needs, questions, and complaints. The more important the phone call... the more they interrupt. "Mom, can I make my Christmas list?" ....it's January.

3. Cooking. This brings all the animals around. The dog plops in front of my stove, causing me to have to hover over a dog while attempting to cook a meal that my kids will not eat. Then the cat comes to check out what's cooking, meows at the dog in contempt and moves on. The kids ask every five minutes about what we are having for dinner, proclaim that they are starving and then proceed to whine about whatever it is I have decided to make. Husband walks in and declares he is so hungry and can't wait, eats left overs and isn't hungry for the dinner that I cooked while standing over the dog. So if you're keeping track, the only one eating my dinner is ME. Christ on a cracker... I could of made a sandwich.

4. Eating. This one has been setting off alarms since the kids were born. The minute I sit down to eat, someone cries, throws a fit, or needs something. It's a miracle I eat any food. Do they not know that if I don't eat not only will I be a cranky bitch, but they won't have anyone to do their bidding?


5. Showering. Typically I save this event for when the kids are at school and the husband is at work, but it can't always work out that way. No matter how much I prepare them ahead of time and ask if they need anything before I get in the shower, it never fails that someone come sauntering in interrupting my 10 minutes of bliss. The cat likes all doors open, so when I close the door to the bathroom he meows regardless of what side he is in. So I have to listen to his howling the entire time. The kids usually require some arbitration of a disagreement, which obviously can't wait until I have some clothes on. The husband comes in to oggle my bits and pieces just because he can.....sigh.

I'm not sure when I signed away my rights to privacy, but I'd like to review that contract ASAP.

-Thelma

Even the NACHO maid needs time to herself.

I remember when the twins were about 18 months old and I was so excited that I had finally reached this great milestone.I could take a shower while they were awake and cruising. No longer did I have to waste precious napping time for the MUCH needed shower. I hated squandering that quiet 2 hours by shaving my legs and drying my hair. Instead I would rather be on the computer chatting for adult interaction or napping. Not sure which I treasured more at that time.

Now, at the ripe old age of double 5 and 7 I have decided that its time to mark off a new milestone in the baby book. The one where Mom gets to "potty" in quiet. I swear as soon as my @$$ hits the porcelain God someone starts screaming, "Mom!" "Mom!" "Where are you?" Or even better, "Honey?" And by that time I scream back, "I am on the freakin' toilet!" Its as if a light goes off in the family room to alert my kids and husband that Mom has finally sat down. Beep! Beep! Beep! "We have contact on the loo. I repeat, contact on the loo!"

Now, I lock the bathroom door and turn on the fan. And I no longer answer to the people of this house summoning my whereabouts during my time on the WC. Soon, I may just even read a magazine...