What exactly makes a good parent?

Well I know this doesn't have much to do with fashion, beauty or product reviews but today, parenting has been reigning my mind.  I was flabbergasted yesterday by a comment made to me by a fellow mother (from my son's class) and made me think long and hard about my parenting skills and what it takes to be a good mother...or father.  Some of you know, that I have a gorgeous little 4 year old boy and while I don't talk much about him here (because I have a frantic paranoia about the internet and my child's involvement with any of it), he is beyond my number 1 priority, way beyond fashion or beauty :) I cannot hug and embrace that little germ bucket enough...when he wakes up in the morning I smother him with all the kisses my lips can tolerate.  He is genuinely the apple of my eye and I bask in every glorious moment of being his mother. 

HOWEVER, 

I must add.  I'm really not the greatest mom.  I don't like to play cars or cops n robbers or really any little childrens games at all.  I'm not the type to get down on the floor and mess around and do all kinds of wacky shit.  But I genuinely love and care for my boy and would give him anything he wanted in less than a heartbeat.  I'm all about places like Chuck E. Cheese, the Little Gym, carnivals, fairs, events, etc. you name it - my son does it.  We even get up at 8am on Saturday mornings to be at Lowe's for kiddie workshops.  But I still always feel like I could be a 'better mom' or that I'm just not quite doing a good enough job.  Its one of those things that hangs on my shoulders like a creepy co-worker.   

So yesterday I was at my son's school for an hour helping the kids with V-day crafts at their Pajama party (it was postponed from last week due to snow) when the mother next to me says:

"you are such a good mom, you really are"

Me: "me? really? thanks"

Her: "No, I'm serious. I've seen you before; the way you handle your son and how you treat him, you're just such a great mother, I mean that"

Like I said above, I was flabbergasted...floored really.  I just couldn't believe someone thought that about ME! The woman who feels defeated by a toddler boy on a daily basis.  The woman who thinks that she can conquer the world, as long as it doesn't involve parenting.  Basically, the woman who feels she is the LEAST cut out for parenthood.  That is me, in a nutshell...how I see it, on my end.  I've been craving another baby for quite some time now but honestly, it scares the bejesus out of me - how could I possibly handle another one? I'm not even good at what I do, with one...but this, my friends, has somehow and some way solidified my parental status.  Not that it even matters for one second what someone else thinks of me (well, a stranger at least) or that, what other people think of my parenting should dictate my future baby makin plans...but for some reason that comment right there just made me feel like the million dolla mama...it was such a great feeling to hear that from someone. 

So it made me think deeper and deeper about what makes a good mother or father...and its not so much that you LOVE to play fireman or that you're the best at Wii...its that you genuinely love and care for your kids and ENSURE that they have the best that you can provide...that's morally, emotionally, physically and financially speaking.  And I absolutely do that.  So guess what...that mom was right...I am a good mom (and might I add...my hubbs is the BEST Dad, hands down) Here's the munchkin and me:

Halloween 2009

Weekend Wonders

Just wanted to wish all of my lovely followers a Happy Valentine's Day...For me, there will be no frilly fancy dancy boxes filled with jewels or chocolates because my friends, I am renovating our bathroom.  Well I'm not, per se, but hubbs is and anything he does I in turn also get credit for :)  So this year we're skippin Vday bullshicky gifts (we went to Melting Pot last weekend instead) Because folks, even with our teeny tiny lavatory it will still be costing us a pretty penny to do the entire renovation; so while we have some extra funds we're going to tackle the shower first.  A tub to shower conversion equipped with tiled walls, tiled floor and new shower head - ooh and those very cute little glass tiled cubby holes too! I cannot wait to see the transformation because our current bathroom is equipped with wretched (fake) wall tiles with fugly little flowers on 'em as well as faux wood peel and stick vinyl tiles, YUCK: I know!

Enough with the construction talk, here are a few Vday options I would go with.  I personally don't care for the color red all that much but an otherwise plain outfit (a la LBD) coupled with a killer red heel (or those fab little heels with the red bottoms) - yes I am in!!!. 

Untitled by justinsmami featuring Black Halo dresses

Up and Coming...

Hey all (5 followers)...Happy Thirsty Thursday.  Considering there's only about a week or so until Valentine's Day I suppose I'll bring up the issue that I have with this holidy.  In my oh-so-humble opinion, the only good thing about the holiday is...

getting dressed up in frilly pinks. No, really - I'm not a fan of overrated holidays and occasions that make you go out and spend tons of money on bullshicky that usually costs 1/2 the price (I know, cynical much).  ALTHOUGH, I must say I don't mind the pre-fixe menus with booze that mosts restaurants tend to offer.  I hate roses and lord knows, I don't need chocolates right now so for me, if hubbs wouldn't mind purchasing a really cute outfit for me....the hopplah holiday may just become enjoyable :)

 :::hint, hint winky eye at hubbs, you know you'll get lot's of brownie points for this and I might even take over dish duty or animal clean up:::

I was FLOORED when I saw these Manolo knock offs for $80 that are very similar to the Carrie (Bradshaw) blue version she wore to her court house wedding with Big -- which, same exact shoe, I wore to my wedding this past July :) In all reality, I wouldn't spend $98 for that purple purse just because it's not practical but it was oh-so-darling with this outfit and I couldn't resist. Now, $3 earrings: that's right up a recessionista's alley and this Arden B. dress is just "so me" ($69 is NOT a bad price for this dress, especially from that store).  I'm really diggin nude fishnets and am getting a pair stat!

So tell me, what do YOU like or dislike about Valentine's Day and do you plan to do anything exciting, where anything special? Would love to hear about it