Comments for My CMS http://freeplaylife.com be free. play hard. live life. Wed, 16 May 2012 22:26:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by michelle in the mix http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-17000 michelle in the mix Wed, 16 May 2012 22:26:16 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-17000 As I read this I am on my somewhat picked up living room floor besides a pile of unmatched socks. Kids are out back in the blowup pool. I can hear them playing . . and I may just drop the socks ball . . . As I read this I am on my somewhat picked up living room floor besides a pile of unmatched socks. Kids are out back in the blowup pool. I can hear them playing . . and I may just drop the socks ball . . .

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by Vanessa http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16998 Vanessa Wed, 16 May 2012 19:28:55 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16998 No lie..this made me tear up. I've been feeling so much pressure lately to be perfect. I've been scrubbing my house non-stop because my mom is coming over this weekend, when her house is actually far from clean. And you made me realize..whythefuckdoIcare???? Lightbulb: I don't. No lie..this made me tear up.

I’ve been feeling so much pressure lately to be perfect. I’ve been scrubbing my house non-stop because my mom is coming over this weekend, when her house is actually far from clean.

And you made me realize..whythefuckdoIcare????

Lightbulb: I don’t.

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by Heather http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16997 Heather Wed, 16 May 2012 15:55:04 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16997 THIS. THIS. THIS. I have tried to explain this very thing to so many people and they never seem to get it. (And I LOVED that picture and immediately thought, "wow, that family looks familiar" and "Who says that isn't what we do when it means they are up all night working on awesome projects with kids across the country?" It is 11:52 here and I have two kids asleep and one up playing online with friends who live in the same timezone. The other two will be up later, hanging out and working on projects (Minecraft among other things) with friends online that live across the country and across the world. I would rather all be working on what we love and able to hang out together when we want than spend all my time worried about appearances. Drove my family (clean freaks with a SCHEDULE) nuts when mine were smaller, nowadays they don't seem to mind so much since the kids are pretty awesome. (If I do say so myself, and I do.:)) THIS. THIS. THIS. I have tried to explain this very thing to so many people and they never seem to get it. (And I LOVED that picture and immediately thought, “wow, that family looks familiar” and “Who says that isn’t what we do when it means they are up all night working on awesome projects with kids across the country?” It is 11:52 here and I have two kids asleep and one up playing online with friends who live in the same timezone. The other two will be up later, hanging out and working on projects (Minecraft among other things) with friends online that live across the country and across the world.

I would rather all be working on what we love and able to hang out together when we want than spend all my time worried about appearances. Drove my family (clean freaks with a SCHEDULE) nuts when mine were smaller, nowadays they don’t seem to mind so much since the kids are pretty awesome. (If I do say so myself, and I do.:))

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by Tiffany http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16994 Tiffany Wed, 16 May 2012 00:18:47 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16994 shoot. didn't mean to STRIKE all of that!!! LOL!! shoot. didn’t mean to STRIKE all of that!!! LOL!!

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by Tiffany http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16993 Tiffany Wed, 16 May 2012 00:18:25 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16993 Oh Tiff!!! If you only knew what a change you have already made in my life!! Just today I was thinking about you at the lake. I was sitting in the shade reading a book whilst the kids begged me to come in and join them!! I thought "What would Tiffani do???" and yeah... I got up and got in the water too!!! ;D I had visions of splashing in and playing but it was freezing so I contented myself and them with hunting for fishes with them instead!! ;D As far as dropping balls....mmmm.... I have dropped the ball regarding kids hair, clean and tidy clothes ( I once saw this woman at the grocery store, she was all dolled up and wearing heels and make up, her two daughters were in, I kid you not, frou frou dresses, ( matching ) with matching hair do's and ribbons. Seriously. I couldn't help but stare as I slobber by in my jean shorts and flip flops with my rambunctious, rat haired, cart riding kids!!! :D I don't make the kids make their beds ( though years of training means I have to make mine... ) and I don't force Jack to bathe more than once every couple of months. I'm really hoping for a LOT of swim time this year, he gets really clean then!! I <strike>don't<strike>try not to force school BUT I do freak out about it once in a while. (This unschooling Malarkey is really tricky for me....!!) I am SOOO much more laid back about our crazy oddball appearance when we are out together but you know what, I'm loving life so much more this way!! ;D I DO clean my house once a week and do all the laundry and stuff... I'm a Flybaby and find it much easier to keep on top of the house that way without it getting on top of me. Hubby appreciates having clean underwear in his drawers and I like that my house is always clean enough for company without me having to run around like a blue arsed fly if someone comes over!! Oh! I never iron anything any more...!!!! But I'm very happy with the status quo around here! If I pick up any balls in the future and realize I'd rather drop them, I will think of you and drop 'em like they are hot! ;D Oh Tiff!!! If you only knew what a change you have already made in my life!! Just today I was thinking about you at the lake. I was sitting in the shade reading a book whilst the kids begged me to come in and join them!! I thought “What would Tiffani do???” and yeah… I got up and got in the water too!!! ;D I had visions of splashing in and playing but it was freezing so I contented myself and them with hunting for fishes with them instead!! ;D

As far as dropping balls….mmmm…. I have dropped the ball regarding kids hair, clean and tidy clothes ( I once saw this woman at the grocery store, she was all dolled up and wearing heels and make up, her two daughters were in, I kid you not, frou frou dresses, ( matching ) with matching hair do’s and ribbons. Seriously. I couldn’t help but stare as I slobber by in my jean shorts and flip flops with my rambunctious, rat haired, cart riding kids!!! :D I don’t make the kids make their beds ( though years of training means I have to make mine… ) and I don’t force Jack to bathe more than once every couple of months. I’m really hoping for a LOT of swim time this year, he gets really clean then!! I don’ttry not to force school BUT I do freak out about it once in a while. (This unschooling Malarkey is really tricky for me….!!) I am SOOO much more laid back about our crazy oddball appearance when we are out together but you know what, I’m loving life so much more this way!! ;D I DO clean my house once a week and do all the laundry and stuff… I’m a Flybaby and find it much easier to keep on top of the house that way without it getting on top of me. Hubby appreciates having clean underwear in his drawers and I like that my house is always clean enough for company without me having to run around like a blue arsed fly if someone comes over!! Oh! I never iron anything any more…!!!! But I’m very happy with the status quo around here! If I pick up any balls in the future and realize I’d rather drop them, I will think of you and drop ‘em like they are hot! ;D

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by Shannon http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16991 Shannon Tue, 15 May 2012 19:32:00 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16991 In thinking about this more, it occurs to me that I felt I had to kind of apologize for liking to do some cleaning, for enjoying washing dishes while I look out the window. It's funny that no matter that community you are in, there are rules or standards for being "cool." I didn't, for example, list some of the other balls I've dropped lately, like the news. I don't keep up with current events. I don't follow politics. I don't read blogs either, nor do I write a blog. Why didn't I mention those? Probably because in my little world, it's cool to have a messy house but very uncool not to know watt Mitt Romeny said yesterday or not to be part of the blogosphere. So while I do take time away from my son to wipe cupboard fronts, I spend a lot less time on the computer, keeping up with Jon Stewart and Angela Merkel. In thinking about this more, it occurs to me that I felt I had to kind of apologize for liking to do some cleaning, for enjoying washing dishes while I look out the window. It’s funny that no matter that community you are in, there are rules or standards for being “cool.” I didn’t, for example, list some of the other balls I’ve dropped lately, like the news. I don’t keep up with current events. I don’t follow politics. I don’t read blogs either, nor do I write a blog. Why didn’t I mention those? Probably because in my little world, it’s cool to have a messy house but very uncool not to know watt Mitt Romeny said yesterday or not to be part of the blogosphere. So while I do take time away from my son to wipe cupboard fronts, I spend a lot less time on the computer, keeping up with Jon Stewart and Angela Merkel.

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by Shannon http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16990 Shannon Tue, 15 May 2012 19:03:37 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16990 I admit I like a clean-ish house. I have 2 cats, a dog, and a parade of boarding dogs through my house, so I sweep every day so that our socks don't look like cats and about once a week I clean the cupboard fronts of dog saliva and nose goo. I don't like to have a sink of dishes or counters so covered there's no room to make a sandwich. I like a table that things don't stick to. But I clean those things for *me,* and I don't care if other people don't do it at their houses. Some cleaning tasks are meditative and calming for me and some definitely aren't, like scrubbing the tub, mopping, and dusting, which rarely get done. Since my son was born, I've helped him take care of the things he wants to (he likes his fossils organized into display cases, his stuffed kitties must have collars and tags, he's upset when his clothes look dirty) and learned to let go of other things. He's 8 and only washes his hair when he gets it cut (4-6 times per year), we never make a bed, we get up when we want, there are no "square meals" at our house, game rules are made to be modified, and we do not read plaques at museums unless we really want to. I'm still trying to drop the balls of going to museums at all, of checking out non-fiction picture books (that sit untouched), and of "family dinner." I let go for periods of time, and then I forget and keep trying to keep those balls in the air. I admit I like a clean-ish house. I have 2 cats, a dog, and a parade of boarding dogs through my house, so I sweep every day so that our socks don’t look like cats and about once a week I clean the cupboard fronts of dog saliva and nose goo. I don’t like to have a sink of dishes or counters so covered there’s no room to make a sandwich. I like a table that things don’t stick to. But I clean those things for *me,* and I don’t care if other people don’t do it at their houses. Some cleaning tasks are meditative and calming for me and some definitely aren’t, like scrubbing the tub, mopping, and dusting, which rarely get done. Since my son was born, I’ve helped him take care of the things he wants to (he likes his fossils organized into display cases, his stuffed kitties must have collars and tags, he’s upset when his clothes look dirty) and learned to let go of other things. He’s 8 and only washes his hair when he gets it cut (4-6 times per year), we never make a bed, we get up when we want, there are no “square meals” at our house, game rules are made to be modified, and we do not read plaques at museums unless we really want to. I’m still trying to drop the balls of going to museums at all, of checking out non-fiction picture books (that sit untouched), and of “family dinner.” I let go for periods of time, and then I forget and keep trying to keep those balls in the air.

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by shannon http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16989 shannon Tue, 15 May 2012 17:14:26 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16989 Sorry, I can't participate in this challenge. Why ??? Cause all year long I've been dropping balls. I quit my job. I let the dishes sit until I need to wash them cause we run. I hoop instead of doing laundry. Most recently I started only cooking dinner when I felt up to it, or wanted to. There's always cereal for dinner. So when you say find five things to drop, I honestly to goodness can not find five things in my life that I do that I don't wanna do! I'm one lucky lady. Reading this though made me feel super good about a whole bunch of choices I've been making on this crazy mommy journey. Side note : children wearing the same clothes for five days in a row = less laundry it's a total win win .. happy kids less laundry .. booyah 2nd side note : My husband had a friend visiting for a job interview and asked to borrow my iron. I said "Iron hmm I don't think I have one of those.' He was mortified and I suggested he just drop it in the dryer and pull it right out when the buzzer went. Oh and why would I ever make my bed I"m just going to get back in to .. at some point Sorry, I can’t participate in this challenge. Why ??? Cause all year long I’ve been dropping balls. I quit my job. I let the dishes sit until I need to wash them cause we run. I hoop instead of doing laundry. Most recently I started only cooking dinner when I felt up to it, or wanted to. There’s always cereal for dinner. So when you say find five things to drop, I honestly to goodness can not find five things in my life that I do that I don’t wanna do! I’m one lucky lady.

Reading this though made me feel super good about a whole bunch of choices I’ve been making on this crazy mommy journey.

Side note : children wearing the same clothes for five days in a row = less laundry it’s a total win win .. happy kids less laundry .. booyah

2nd side note : My husband had a friend visiting for a job interview and asked to borrow my iron. I said “Iron hmm I don’t think I have one of those.’ He was mortified and I suggested he just drop it in the dryer and pull it right out when the buzzer went.

Oh and why would I ever make my bed I”m just going to get back in to .. at some point

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by Brittany http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16988 Brittany Tue, 15 May 2012 16:06:40 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16988 well, i think you sound like an absolutely awesome mother. i don't even know where this drive me to perfect comes from. these 'perfect' people are often so stuck up i get an urge to just smack 'em. and the last thing they come across as is loving, that's for darn sure. as for what to drop the ball on, i'll have to think about that. this is very thought-provoking, but in a good way. :) well, i think you sound like an absolutely awesome mother. i don’t even know where this drive me to perfect comes from. these ‘perfect’ people are often so stuck up i get an urge to just smack ‘em. and the last thing they come across as is loving, that’s for darn sure.
as for what to drop the ball on, i’ll have to think about that. this is very thought-provoking, but in a good way. :)

]]> Comment on Freeplaylife Challenge::Week 16! by kathy s http://freeplaylife.com/2012/05/freeplaylife-challengeweek-16/comment-page-1/#comment-16986 kathy s Tue, 15 May 2012 15:27:44 +0000 http://freeplaylife.com/?p=5558#comment-16986 I think if more of us moms spoke up we wouldn't be the minority. My girl gets her hair brushed on special occasions only...I can't even remember when the last time my son brushed his hair...hehe...just this morning we were calling him a peacock. I love that photo and if I homeschooled we would be sleeping in..why not? I'm sure u go to bed later than us too...it makes sense. I've lived my life dropping balls on a regular basis...I just need to learn not to feel so guilty about it. The one ball I dropped and refused to pick up for the last 12 years is doing my hubbys laundry...mother in law be damned...he's doing his own. I think if more of us moms spoke up we wouldn’t be the minority. My girl gets her hair brushed on special occasions only…I can’t even remember when the last time my son brushed his hair…hehe…just this morning we were calling him a peacock. I love that photo and if I homeschooled we would be sleeping in..why not? I’m sure u go to bed later than us too…it makes sense. I’ve lived my life dropping balls on a regular basis…I just need to learn not to feel so guilty about it. The one ball I dropped and refused to pick up for the last 12 years is doing my hubbys laundry…mother in law be damned…he’s doing his own.

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