Manday

Happy Manday to all my lovely followers.  I hope that all my mama readers had a wonderful day yesterday, I know I did. 

I received blueberry pancakes and fresh fruit...although not in bed, on the couch - which is equally as good because frankly, I wouldn't eat in my bed. 

I was then treated with a mini-shopping spree which turned out to be a jackpot day of quick shopping with my own mother.  In about 2 hours, I turned out some realllly cute stuff.  Went home with a pair of sandals, wedges, 5 dresses, 1 belt, 2 tops and a pair of shorts -- all for $250!!! I'll do IRL pictures when I wear them.  Unfortunately its a bit chilly today in Jersey and I couldn't wear any of my new spring/summer stuff. 

Me and mama then topped off the afternoon with a fabulous pedicure which we both were in desperate need of and came home to a feast of lemon/dill fish and king crab legs -- way to go hubbs ;)

...awfully, I further capped the night off with a DQ Brownie lovers blizzard cellulite special but hey, it was Mother's Day I deserved it.

How was your mother's day? What did you do for your mutha?

And of course, Manday.  Featuring the very late, great and handsome Heath Ledger:

 

Housewives

This post is 2 part/2 meaning. 

First, let's talk about being a housewife. A legitimate housewife, that is. To me, a legitimate housewife is one whose husband has a stellar career that financially allows for the wife to not have to work.  In my humble opinion, if you do not have children there is no reason to be a housewife.  Because then what would the reason be you are not working? As a housewife, you look after/raise/educate the children including but not limited to taking them to and from exploratory classes and ventures, play dates, doctor's appointments, etc.,  you cook the meals of the home and you clean your humble abode as well as run most of the household errands and if applicable, pay/manage/organize the household builds. Enough things in a day to basically take you from 9am-5pm.

I'm a part time housewife.  I work a 9-5 every day and am currently embarking on a new venture.  As much as I would have loved to stay at home and raise my booger from birth to kindergarden, I did not have that luxury by any means.  It was a terrible thing to have to return to work when my babes was only 8 weeks old but that's what I had to do. 

That being said, I think housewives tend to get a 'bad rap' from those of us who are 9-5ers.  I'll admit it, too that its somewhat from an envious standpoint.  However, I cannot stand to hear a woman who has the leisure of not being forced to work to complain about how exhausted she is or how she couldn't get 'this' done or 'that' done because frankly, I get it done...AND I worked all day so my time is basically limited to 3 hours a day and then weekends and that includes
1. dinner
2. cleanup
3. errands.
4. walking the dog
5. family time
6. gym
7. bath time
8. story/bedtime
9. Then throw in your occasional dinners with the fam, visiting with friends (and their children), after school activities, fundraisers, school programs, continuing education for the parents, sports, recreation and birthday parties!

And did I mention....ALONE TIME! No, I didn't because that's non-existent. Did I mention a social life? Nope, not much of that either.

Don't get me wrong, there are pah-lenty of housewives out there who get every last thing done, every single day without missing a beat...and they don't complain about it and their children are top notch! But there are more than that who don't...but don't worry their bodies are hawt, their hair is perfectly highlighted and their shopping trips are abundant.

Part 2...Here is the reason why most of the housewifes act the bratty ass way they do:

Don't get me wrong, folks I love me some Real Housewives on Bravo...because its entertaining.  But the sad reality is that its become 'cool' to be a non-productive wife/mother as long as you look fabulous. 

Now don't get it twisted because I am all about being fabulous, looking hot, having hot shit...but don't be a brat too.  And don't act like your life is so friggin tough that you personally can't even raise your own damn kids.  You don't need a nanny and you don't need a chef...because guess what darling? That's YOUR job and if you're like me and you do work, then it's partially your job and the other part belongs to your hubbs.

It just rubs me the wroooonnnngggg way when a mother is more concerned with her botox and breast implants than she is her own damn kids (a la Tamra in RH of OC) or how about Theresa (RH of NJ) who doesn't teach her darling little girls shit except how to drop $10K on summer clothes, wear lipstick and be an actress at the age of 5 oh wait! Then there's Alexis (OC) who has like 3 nannies...the woman only has 3 kids!! and she does not work, at all - ever! -- this little excerpt is derived from Bravotv.com "Keeping up appearances is important to Alexis, who devotes two to three hours each day to personal maintenance including working out, waxing, tanning, manicures and various other beauty treatments" Wow! Just wow! 

It's becoming socially acceptable to have other people raise your kids and do your 'duties' and it aggravates the bejesus out of me. I'd love love love to have the opportunity to even be home with my boy for one month straight let alone an entire childhood and I find it hard to swallow that so many people take complete and utter advantage of their own opportunity. 

enuff said, i guess.

Comments, anyone? I'd love to hear your take -whether be housewife or 9-5er? Am I too harsh or right on the money? Thanks for reading.

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