I got a supplement of Real Simple magazine last week–their family issue. It is packed with goodness–one of those issues where I definitely have too many dog-eared corners. But there were four little pages tucked in different parts of the issue called, "meet a Real Simple mom". I loved the questions they posed to the mothers and I couldn’t stop thinking about what my answers might be, if they had asked me. I chose some of my favorites below and answered them. It was really a lot of fun coming up with my answers.
name: molly age: 31 hometown: maryland
occupation: homemaker (I do not like the term stay-at-home mom. It’s as if you’re missing out on something: "Wanna come over and play?" …. "No, I have to stay at home…" But homemaker, that really captures it all.
family members: husband, Dan, daughters Emma, 5; Mary 3; and Elizabeth, 4 months.
I realized I had turned into my mother when…: I said, "I JUST cleaned the house 20 minutes ago, how can you girls have made it such a mess already!" –I never fully understood her frustration behind this.
the last time my children made me laugh: when my talkative three year-old exclaimed that, "I just realized I can breathe, even when I’m not talking!"
the last time I made my children laugh: when I told them that if they went to bed without calling me in again, I would scream my pants off in the morning. ( I meant scream my head off, now it’s their favorite saying.)
when i need to get dinner on the table in a hurry: I go for breakfast–cereal and milk or pancakes and orange juice.
i carve out time for myself by: being diligent about my children taking naps
the last book i read to my child: The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, and The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds and Horse Care. (just paused to read Em a page of that in the middle of this post)
the gadget that saves me the most time: an electric fan. each child sleeps with one on in their rooms. then i don’t have to tiptoe around the house while they are sleeping. i get more accomplished, they get good rest. (the downside? 1. figuring out how to travel with an electric fan. 2. they are making fans too quiet these days. 3. my husband and i both wonder if our children will still be dragging fans along on their honeymoon?)
when I was a kid, I said, "When I’m a parent, I will never…": wake my children in the mornings by saying, (in a loud energetic voice,) "Alright girls! If we each put in one hour in the garden/yard/cleaning the house that’s FOUR man-hours. Think of all the things we’ll get accomplished!" My kids are still too young to use this technique that my mom always used, but with the way things are shaping up, I have a feeling I’ll be using it one day, too.
the invention i would create to make my life easier: drive-up grocery store windows. place your order online, arrange a pickup time, drive up and let them load it in.
what surprises me most about being a parent: how I can be incredibly patient and incredible impatient, all in the same day. how many things I can accomplish with just one hand.
favorite outdoor activity to do with my children: exploring the stream or woods and collecting things.
how i get my children to eat vegetables when they refuse: actually, they’re pretty good about this, but Ranch Dressing. Anything dipped in this seems to go easily into the mouth.
the most fun thing about being a mom: each day is new and full of potential
i hope my kids inherit: my husband’s love of learning, my love of art and craft and music.
the most important lesson I want my children to learn about life: serve God. trust your instincts. never stop being curious. use your gifts.
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some more questions from the magazine that I didn’t take the time to answer:
before I turn off the lights at bedtime, I say to my children:
the most noticeable way parenting has changed me:
favorite tradition I share with my children:
three things my children have taught me are:
the hardest thing about being a mom:
I carve out time for myself by:
when I have 30 minutes to myself I:
when I was a kid, I said, "When I’m a parent, I will never…"
the television mom I’m most like:
one thing I wish I had known about parenting before I became a parent:
*****
Ahna played along, too. Read her answers here:
And some from Georgia. thanks!
just picked up this mag and I’m enjoying the tips and whatnot. as a new mom, I am truly amazed by what I can accomplish with a little one perched on my hip. I think I may have to join the fun and answer the questions myself…
I love this and took your “challenge” and did this for my own blog. Thanks for the great idea.
Love this post. I read your blog daily. I love it – just thought I would comment on the fan thing…My mother put one in our rooms when we napped as children. All six of us. Now…all six of us carry a fan with us while we travel. And (grin) I drug one on my honeymoon! 😉 hahaha The good thing? I will be putting fans on for my kids. No harm in it I think!!
I feel the same way about the SAHM thing. Blah! Homemaker it is! Funny you said this, did you read my post about it?
I do love magazines. Sounds like a good one. Guess I need to put another on my list!
By the way, I saw a great mag at the OBGYN last week. It was called Wondertime – and had a tag line that said something to the effect of “fostering your child’s love of learning”. I asked if the receptionist could copy off an article titled “The Frog Room” about creating super cool kids playrooms (which I am in the middle of doing right now).
I will email you soon and see if we can set up a time to meet up next week!
That was a great post, Molly!
My kids have a noisy, bubbling aquarium in their room. Trust me. Fans are much easier to take on vacation. 🙂
Sorry, but they already have that supermarket thing. 😉
Mine does it, but I’ve never used it.
I love this post! It made me laugh and smile and hold my children a little closer. So thoughtful and fun.
I used a fan in my college dorm, by the way. 🙂
Lvoe your answers…I wholeheartedly agree with “homemaker”, make the same quick breakfast dinners, and I am the same way with naps and a fan. We were planning a trip overseas, and my first question was “What will we do about a fan?”
P.S. — Made a variation of your grandmother’s granola last week and it was a big hit (used molasses and nutmeg. um, and more brown sugar.) Thank you!
love this molly….if i hadn’t just done the whole alphabet, i might jump in!
and we have those groceries here, too. i have never tried it though.
So I am not the only one who turns to pancakes as a hurried quick meal?
Fun! I’ll have to do this myself. I totally agree about the homemaker thing.
Gah!! Thae drive-up grocery store thing!! Genius!
Glad I’m not the only one who goes for the fun “Breakfast for Dinner” easy meals sometimes 🙂
Amen on the drive through grocery store!!
It just kills me that you don’t live right down the street… Love it when you write about parenting/mothering!
Better white noise than a fan…. regular radio with the dial turned all the way to one end so there is plenty of static. Way easier to travel with.
oh yeah a drive up grocery store would be a huge hit!!
I’m with stephanie, we use a radio turned to static (volume is adjustable and it’s frequently available in hotel rooms too)
love this post!
my husband slept with a fan until after we were married.
and, i’ve never liked “stay-at-home-mom” much either. when my first was born i wanted to be called “queen of the household.” somehow, that never stuck.
Just a note: have you thought of a sound machine or 2 for the girls when you travel? They are more compact than fans! You can get them at Walmart, likely in the pharmacy section.
This was a fun post Molly. I myself am a fan lover. It’s hard for me to travel and try to sleep with just ‘silence.’ I agree with you about the quick change in patience levels. Sometimes I have to remember that most of what I’m doing isn’t all that important when my child wants me for something. Though it isn’t always easy!
Beautiful post..thankyou for sharing
I played too…it’s good to take stock of where you are as a mum sometimeshttp://earthgypsies.blogspot.com/2007/08/interview-with-me.html
i loved reading this post.
We totally have the same thing going on with the fan – our 4-year-old can’t sleep without a fan on! It means that travel always involves lugging a fan along… but the overall impact on our lives makes it worth it. 🙂
No fair I thought of the drive up grocery store first! Wouldn’t that be such a bonus..it’s always when you just need milk or eggs or one thing that they both pass out on the way to the store…one time I lucked out and met another mom friend in the parking lot where she was patiently waiting with her sacked out kids…we got to shop by ourselves while taking turns, carwatching!