From “Hell No” to “Bring It On”

Posted on December 19, 2013 by One Great Mom

If you had asked me a year ago, six-months ago, four-months ago, heck, even two-months ago, if I would ever go back to traditional homeschooling, my answer would have been an emphatic Hell No! It’s not that I have anything against homeschooling, but I really liked the online charter school we’ve been using for the last three years. My kids were learning, the teachers were great, the school was genuinely concerned with the kids succeeding, I could have gone on and on. Well, tomorrow that “Hell No!” will go to “Bring It On!” We’re going back to traditional homeschooling for two of the three kids and I. Cannot.Wait.

Continue reading →

Dear Knee-Surgery Me.

Posted on September 3, 2012 by One Great Mom

Sooo, I had my knee surgery on the 24th of August. Fun times, let me just tell you. Since I am definitely going to need surgery on my left knee and will probably need more surgery (in the form of a knee replacement) on my right, I thought it best to write to my future self. I am not a patient person and this surgery/recovery is definitely a test of the patience I do have. The note is a pep talk to future self from an optimistic me….(note that I still walk with a limp, I still can’t drive, and it still hurts a lot, but I have faith it will heal – at least until the next surgery). Continue reading →

Would You Puhlease Just Do It Already!

Posted on August 20, 2012 by One Great Mom

I searched for an angry bear photo and, not surprisingly, there are none. I’m guessing that’s because an angry bear photo would probably be the last photo you ever took – and that would leave you no time to upload it to Flickr. Much thanks to “goingslo” for posting this happy-go-lucky bear who, presumably, did not eat her since she uploaded the photo.

When the title has the word “puhlease” in it, you know you’re in for a treat. You can’t help but read it with an exaggerated Valley Girl-esque lilt and an eye roll. It’s impossible.

So today, after not getting much sleep again last night and inwardly grouching about my knee and dealing with an upset stomach (thank you very much Papa John’s pizza which I have not had in decades and now I know why), I was pretty much a bear. Not the protective mama bear type, but more the “don’t get in my way or talk to me or look at me or breathe the wrong way” type. Wish you’d been here don’t you?

Continue reading →

What Brings Happiness.

Posted on August 19, 2012 by One Great Mom

I have a habit of being discontent. I have a habit of not finding the joy in everything. Instead, I tend to see the piles of laundry, the stress of homeschooling, the to-do list a mile a long and I, well, freeze. I stop doing, I stop seeking out happiness, and I become, well, even more discontent. And, wow, do I become a joy to be around.