The Low Key Family Birthday Party vs. The Pinterest Party

Now, I just want to preface this with saying that I don't have anything against pinterest.  I actually like pinterest but I really feel for moms these days.  Pinterest parties are just not reality.  They are expensive and time consuming and I think down right stressful for young moms.  Most children just want a happy mom, a few friends or family over and an easy cake with some presents and they are happy.  No need to spend a ton of time and money on a 4 year old's party and especially a 1, 2 or 3 year who won't even remember the party anyway.  I'm so glad that I had most of my children before there was even pinterest or the pressure to have these elaborate bday parties.  Notice my very "homemade" looking birthday cake.  Patrick picked out what he wanted on top and said he wanted chocolate and that was that. Our family is a party in itself (another good reason to have siblings for your children.)  Then we bought and made him some presents.  He was a happy boy, I was a happy mom and all my other children just loved seeing him be the little prince for the day.  So I just want to say, don't feel that you have to go to great lengths to have some fancy, unique themed party for your children.  I think most of it is just for show anyway and ends up being way to much time and trouble.  This is another area in life where I think keeping it simple is your best bet.  Happy Birthday Patrick!!!

Staying Calm, aka Keeping Our Cool

Not very calm or cool here.  Can you tell? I had just gotten 10 kids plus myself ready for a family wedding and we were cutting it very close.  You can't be late to a wedding! (Oh, and I wasn't too happy that my husband snapped this picture)

I think staying calm and cool is a really hard thing to do for us moms in the 21st century.  Maybe it's just me and my mom friends, or those of us who can tend to be perfectionists, but I think it's a pretty universal mom problem.  I love how in the first "Cheaper By the Dozen" movie when the mom yells, "Mom's loosing it.  She's going to loose it!"  I feel like this quite a bit.  So, how can we keep our cool in stressful, rushed, annoying and other child situations that just seem to push our buttons.  Well, let me be the first to tell you, that I'm still learning how to keep my calm and cool.  See, I'm not naturally a patient, calm person.  I'm a little on the hyper side and if I've had too much caffeine, then I'm a little on the irritable side.  But here are some tips I've learned over the years that maybe will help during this stressful wonderful, holiday season. 

1.  Don't drink too much caffeine.  It can make you irritable and snappy.

2.  Be aware when your hormones are bottoming out.  Don't make any major decisions on how you "feel" at the moment.  You will probably "feel" different in the morning.  No, you WILL feel different in the morning.  And don't plan too much during those "hormonal" times or even during sickness.

3.  Keep eating and drinking.  This may sound pretty obvious, but us moms forget to feed ourselves sometimes and many times impatience and anger could be diverted by eating a good apple with peanut butter : )

4.  If a child is really getting to your nerves and pushing those "I'm gonna loose it" buttons, remove yourself from his or her presence.  Many times, this means for me to send them to their room.  They may not necessarily be in trouble, but you both need your space.  Then wait at least 10 minutes or so before you make "peace" with them.

5.  Allow extra time to get ready for big stressful events or really anytime that you need to be someplace on time.  Delegate at these times too.  Maybe the only one you have to delegate to is your husband because all your children are still small. That's OK, just make things plain to him.  In a nice way, tell your husband, children, babysitter or whoever, what you need them to do and how they can help.

6.  If you have something to do that requires all of your attention, wait until at least most of your children are out of the house or in bed.  I've found that when I'm doing something important and I can't be interrupted, that when I am interrupted (and of course I will be), I get very irritable and snappy.

7.  Smile. Laugh. Sing a funny song.  Just do something besides yelling, screaming or crying.  And pray, pray, pray : )