Be Outrageous With Your Descendants

I found this while clearing paperwork and other items from my parents home. I've no idea who wrote it, who sent it or why they kept it. Regardless, I was happy to find it and share it.

Why Older Mothers Have a Tough Time 

 If we are concerned,  we are over protective;
   if we are unconcerned, we are neglectful.
If we nurture generously, we are smoldering;
   if we nurture less, we are withholding.
If we are successful, we are intimidating;
   if we are unsuccessful, we are poor role models.
If we are available, we encourage dependency;
   if we are busy ourselves, we are detached.
If we offer advice, we are controlling;
   if we refrain, we are disinterested.
If we phone, write or visit often, we ae pests;
   if we don't, we are thought uncaring.
If we give or loan money, we engender resentment;
   if we don't give or loan money, we are cheap.
If we help with their tasks, we are drudges,
   if we don't, we are considered lazy.
If we lover our husbands or lothers best, we put them first;
   if we love descendants first, we have no life of our own.
If we put ourselves last, we have no self love;
   if we put ourselves first, we are narcissistic.
If we hide our needs, we are martyrs;
   if we reveal our needs, we are demanding.
If we provide for our old age, we are selfish;
   if we don't provide, we are burdens.
If we pitch in, we question their competency;
   if we don't pitch in, they question our competency.

If all of this is true, we might as well
  do what we wish and do it OUTRAGEOUSLY!

    -- Author Unknown

Of Puppy-dogs' Tails

Snips and Snails and Puppy-dog's Tails

They say that Man plans and G-d laughs. Oh, did she ever!


I planned and planned. I spent my whole life planning to be a Mom.

While other little girls played house, I mapped out my family. There would be 4 children; the first 2 would be two to three years apart (only one in diapers at a time, thank you very much!). Later, when the perfect ones had started school and my house was a little calmer during the day, I would birth the next set, also 2 - 3 years apart. I never even noticed the chuckle from above as I drew our perfect family in 2nd grade art class.

Being a child of the sixties meant that change was all around me. Stay-at-home-moms weren't de rigueur any more.  Women were expected to do it all. You know, bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and never let you forget you're a man (with apologies to Peggy Lee and Enjoi). I also saw that amongst the working Moms were the divorced Moms - all of which were expected to be all things to all people. This is when I decided I would be Boss Mom. I didn't know what I would do, but I would have my own business, make my own schedule and be able to juggle it all with ease. I'm sure the day's thunder was to drown out the laughter from over head.

Time passed, I got married, I had my first child, I started my own business. All in all, I was pretty happy in life. The girls were 3 and a half years apart and the plan was in place. Of course girls have their own ups and downs, they can be like kittens clawing at each other one minute then the very next curled up together and inseparable the next.

As more time passed, the plan started to fray at the edges a bit. The kids were all in school and the marriage ... well, you know... things change. 9 years and one husband after the last birth, little Bamm-bamm came into our lives.  And the laughter turned into a roar.

Episode 1: How to Lose a Sleeping Baby

Our little bundle of boy could not crawl yet, but it is amazing how far they can get without crawling.  You put them down at one end of the crib and when you come back, they have squirmed their way to the opposite end, waking up with a gentle cooing and giggling at their happy toes.   At least that was the plan. 

I entered the brightly painted nursery, fully expecting to find my little baby boy in his crib on the mattress, under the watchful eye of the musical mobile's farm animals.

Instead, I found an empty crib. No big yawn and blinking eyes greeted me while I stood there dumb founded, wondering if I had left him in the playpen downstairs. Am I that forgetful? Yes, I concurred and ran downstairs. Still no baby!

Could I have left him at the school with the other children? After all, sleep deprivation is a nasty animal. No, not possible - I wasn't even at the school this morning. The once perfect children had boarded the school bus hours earlier (I hoped).

Dashing back to the room, I saw the mattress move, ever so slightly, but it moved - I was sure of it. Lifting the mattress up for the first of many times I found Bamm-bamm. He had unbelievably lifted the mattress and crawled under it creating his own fortress of nap. My tears of relief and joy were met by his gassy expulsion and laughter, also the first of many times.

This was not the plan. Did I hear someone laughing?

Cys Bronner's resume holds the various and extremely impressive titles of  Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Author, Speaker,  Entrepreneur, Social Network/Community Builder, and lover of all things cycling. When she is not trying to save her sanity by thinking 3 steps ahead of her kids or the rest of the family, you'll find her with her 2 dogs and a cup of coffee. Come to think of it, you'll always find her with a cup of coffee.

Ain't it the truth?!

“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” ~Doug Larson

Stay On Track

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want now"
  - Zig Ziglar

Make Kitchen Magic With Only The Basics on Hand

You know your kitchen should have basic staples on hand; things like flour, eggs, milk, etc. But did you know that beer should be a staple too?

Keep a bottle in your cupboard at all times for last minute marinades or quick bread making.

My favorite quick prep for pork is beer, rosemary and on occasion an addition of basil. This works for other meats as well. Want something without fresh herbs? Easy - Beer and dijon mustard!

"But what if I fail?"

"But what if I fail?"

You will.
The answer to the what if question is, you will.
A better question might be, "after I fail, what then?"
Well, if you've chosen well, after you fail you will be one step closer to succeeding, you will be wiser and stronger and you almost certainly will be more respected by all of those that are afraid to try.
-- Seth Godin
Click to see this and more from Seth Godin

Roasted Daikon Radishes Made Easy

We had a bit of a busy kitchen day over at our house. I've more than a few items to share with you but thought I'd start with the easiest, Roasted Dakion Radishes.

I'm a sucker for fresh from the garden items. When there isn't any of that, I tend to commit to finding the freshest in season items at the market. I was stunned to see 3 arm length Daikon radishes for $.99 and knew I had to do something with them.

All I did was slice up the daikon radishes, red pepper and added baby carrots. I drizzled olive oil with a bit of chopped garlic.

Not only was this nummy dish a "set it and forget it" item, but I was thrilled to see the little stars in each radish slice!

This winter dinner item fit perfectly into my 8 week challenge as well as my daughter's move from being a vegetarian to vegan.