When I read the post for this week's Parent of the Week, I thought, 'I like her. We could be friends.' I think you'll all feel the same. Julie is down to earth, funny, creative, and just plain awesome. She blogs over at Ad Bits - check it out after you read her post!
As always, if you'd like to be a Parent of the Week or would like to nominate someone, email me at deluna.jamie@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
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Tell me a little about you- Who are you? What do you do? Hobbies? Do you dance in the car?
I am a thirty year old mommy to two little girlies (Molly, 3 years and Adrienne, 20 months) and a Sheltie (Allie, 7) and wife to one handsome guy with big ears (the better to hear me with!). The girls and I stay at home and play normal things like school, dress-up, and Candyland, and some not so normal things like, “smell my feet and say ‘ewwww!’” or the “Mommy-is-a-sick-dinosaur, but-I-have-the-magic-crystals-to-save-her” game.
When I’m not picking play-dough out of the carpet or scrubbing Jell-O off the wall, I like blogging (obvious!), writing, reading, knitting, jogging (short distances at a slow pace is my style), and caring for my exotic doorknob collection. Just kidding about that last one. I also like stupid jokes.
I do dance in the car! And sing and apply make-up and read and talk on the phone and eat and do ab exercises. But never text.
Tell me a little about your children.
Oops, I jumped the gun on this one, didn’t I? I already introduced Molly and Adrienne, but of course I’m happy to tell you more about them! Molly is a 38 pound ball of blonde energy. She’s not scared of anything (even T-Rexes!) and will tackle anything or anyone. I love her confidence and silliness. Adrienne is the opposite of Molly. She is cautious (crossing thresholds makes her nervous- anything could be on the other side!) and quiet. Adrienne won’t just give smiles out unless a person has earned it. She is sincere and sweet and will always take time to snuggle with her Mommy.
What surprised you most about parenting?
The guilt! I always thought my parents punished me for fun. I truly believed they enjoyed it, but the truth has come out. It’s awful! Parents don’t want to be cranky! We don’t want to give you a time-out! Being the bad guy stinks! Kids, when you’re upstairs crying, there is a good chance your Mom is downstairs crying.
The only thing that surprised me more than the guilt was the complete adoration. I think any mom will agree- all the clichés are true! Kids really do change your life. I really didn’t have any idea I could love somebody so very much. They really do give my life new meaning. True, true, and true!
How have you had to be Avant Garde as a parent?
I read all the books like every mom-to-be, but I had no game plan going into motherhood. Should I be strict or lax when it came to nap times? What about nursing? I knew I was going to do it, but had no plan for a schedule. Co-sleeping? I couldn’t make up my mind! I am very much a Libra and pregnancy just magnified my indecisiveness.
Once my babies arrived, I just started winging it (and I still do- but don’t tell them; they seem to think I know what I’m doing!) As it turned out both girls put themselves on a nap schedule. I just fed Molly whenever she was hungry, but Adrienne did better with planned mealtimes. I didn’t co-sleep with either girl until they were nine months old and then only for a few months, until they started kicking the crud out of me.
Now that the girls are a bit older innovation and creativity seem critical in a different, how-to-keep-them-entertained kind of way. Some of my most innovative moments have come from sheer desperation. What mom hasn’t masterminded some sanity-saving game (like “close your eyes and guess what’s in my purse”) in a waiting room to appease crabby, crying kids? That’s a breeding ground of innovation for we mommies, right?
Thank you so much Avant Garde Parenting for letting me be Parent of the Week; it is such an honor!
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Julie and Past Parents of the Week: Feel free to grab the Parent of the Week Badge:
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