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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Thrift-Shopping to be Fancy

Last week Molly scored a new-to-her coat at the thrift shop. We walked in, her eyes darted here to there, and then honed in on this brown leopard coat. She plucked it from the rack like she was born for this thrift-shopping gig and declared that this is what she wanted to buy with her money. 


Meanwhile I had Macklemore's "Thrift Shop" playing in my head and I approved that brown leopard coat purchase ASAP. 


When she put it on to wear it to school for the first time, Anthony promptly declared, "Molly, you look rich....and so fancy!" 


I completely agreed.....and Iggy Azalea's "I'm So Fancy" started playing in my head. 


Can we all just agree that it would be super awesome if music would really play during all our different life situations instead of just in our own heads? hahaha 

If that were the case, every day I'd be heading downtown to go thrift-shopping to buy something fancy because girls just want to have fun and it would make me happy. ;) 

HA! 

With love,
Mama Hauck

Thursday, February 18, 2016

The Constant Struggle for Balance

Recently I haven't been doing such a great job keeping up on my blog, and that really pains me. I promised myself that I would never waiver on the importance of my blog to myself and my family and I would always make sure to carve out the time for it. My blog is one of the few things I do for myself and it's an important time capsule that holds great value for me. It seems as if I have not kept up on that promise. 

There are many things in life that keep vying for the spotlight and I continue to struggle with finding a balance. If I concentrate on one thing, another thing gets pushed to the back burner and neglected. If I'm concentrating on Cub Scouts, then the painting I need to get done to fill custom orders just simple doesn't get done and I have to tuck my tail between my legs and tell people I'm sorry about my lack of ability to get their stuff done in a timely fashion. If I'm finally working on getting custom orders filled and prepping for the start of the Farmers Market, then I fall behind in what I need to be doing for Cub Scouts and then all hell breaks loose with that. And lets not forget the everyday things like cooking, keeping up with all the housework, maintaining relationships with my friends, doing things for myself happiness and health wise, and giving my children the attention they need and deserve. And my blog. My most sacred keeper of memories. 





I'm trying my best to keep marching forward, toward the light of peace, balance, and happiness, but I feel stuck. I think maybe something has to go, but hell if I know what I should be giving up. Every option leaves me disappointing someone. Why is it such a struggle to find balance? Why do I constantly struggle with it? Why can't I just figure out what decisions need to be made, cut the cord to stress, and move forward with peace? 

People tell me to focus on myself and my family and make decisions off of that.....but why does that still not make the decisions clear? 

Cub Scouts is for my son. I do it for him. And for all those other boys who I have come to care for. If I quit that, who will do it for him? For them? So far there are few people who are willing to step up to the plate. Cub Scouts is hard work when you feel like you lacking the help you need. It's a lot more work than I thought it was going to be.....that is, if you're doing it right. I don't want to disappoint Anthony, the other boys in my Den, or the Pack as a whole, but I'm really feeling the stress and I wonder how much longer I can continue on like I am. If I could just stick to my role as Den Leader, I might be alright, but I have my hand in pretty much every aspect of it in some way, shape, or form, and that is where my stress comes from. Cub Scouting brings me great fun, joy and satisfaction, and I do kick butt at it....but Cub Scouting also brings me all that unneeded stress. Being a Leader in Cub Scouts needs to be left for someone who is more mature in life, with no young children, and an abundance of free time on their hands. Any volunteers out there? 



I do Country Bumpkins for myself and the family....it provides me with a creative outlet, a sense of happiness through crafting for others, and a sense of community while at the Market. Selling at the Market also provides us with extra spending money for fun activities we otherwise wouldn't have the extra money for. Or for birthdays. And Christmas. You get the idea. If I quit that, then I have to tell people no more painting for them. Will that disappoint them? Maybe, maybe not. I know we will be missed at the Market and I would miss the mingling and community. And there goes my extra spending money on fun. On the other hand, my wrists have really been feeling the pain of constant painting and I'm on strict orders from my Dr. not to overdue it already. Maybe a break would be welcome? But the sadness.....ugh.

 

Maybe I should quit doing photo shoots? That isn't a constant in my life, but it does eat up a lot of time when I do them, and again....the pain in my wrists with holding my camera for long periods of time and then the post work on the computer. I love being able to get a great shot and supply people with memories though, as armature as I am. I would miss that.


Should I tell the kids no more extra curricular activities after school? We live 20 minutes out of town and the bus ride is sooo long....there is very little time after school to do HW and dinner the way we should be before hopping in the car and being on our way to town for an activity. There is no calm after school, just a whirlwind of crazy and then bedtime. That rush can feel toxic to a happy and calm family life sometimes. No, of course I can not take out wrestling and Soccer. They need those. It's so good for them. We most definitely endure the crazy so they can be part of a team. It's important. 


Can I give up cooking and cleaning? Hahaha, is that even possible? Stop making an effort to see my friends? Ignore my blog? Quit my new yoga practice and go back to my neck, shoulders, and back killing? To all of those, I think not.
  You see, I really suck at finding balance. I don't want to let anything go, but I might have to. I might have to bite the bullet, make a decision, and just stick it out...no matter who I disappoint. I'm afraid of what might happen if I don't. 


What the hell does everyone else do? Is everyone else just as flustered and burnt out as I am? I'd really like to know. Do we all just put our best face forward and don't say anything to anyone else for fear of looking weak? Well here I am telling you I can't flippin do it all. I'm not superwoman. I'm just a stressed out Mama trying my best to do everything that's been put on my plate to the best of my ability, all the while trying to keep up with my own health and happiness. 



In a year or more, when I look back and read this post, I hope I am light years away from the stressed out Mama trying to find balance. I hope I made the decisions that needed to be made. I hope this post will act as a reminder to me to constantly evaluate where my time and energy should be placed. I hope I found balance. 

With love,
Mama Hauck





Friday, February 12, 2016

Future Novel Reader

Anthony got a reading award at school this past Wednesday! Timothy and I went to the Primary School's assembly to watch him receive his award. Anthony was super stoked and I am super proud of him! 


He has made so much progress with his reading. Last year he struggled a bit with his accuracy, words per minute, and even his desire to read. We read together every night, but that didn't mean he wanted to. I get it....when you don't feel like you are so great at reading, you don't want to read! 

I love to read, and have since I was a kid. I remember rushing through my homework just so I would have time to read a few chapters of the Dean Koontz book I was reading before bed time! haha 

We've always read to the kids, since they were just a babe on our laps, and we have a large selection of books too. Molly and Timothy are totally into their book collection, but Anthony....ehhh, he'd rather not spend his time with a book. What can I say, all kids are different. 

While being in the reading program at school and our continued reading at home worked to help with Anthony's reading abilities, I made an effort to help him with his reading desire. I made sure to frequently check out books from the library at his reading level I thought would pique is interest. By the end of last school year, Anthony had tripled his words per minute average and was well above with his accuracy as well. Wowza! 


Anthony continues to progress with his reading and we are just so so proud of him! I can say he'd still rather go play outside than sit down and read, but that's just the way he is and honestly, what kid at this age wouldn't choose outside play over a book!? I'm just so pleased we're not butting heads when it comes to reading time anymore. I say it's time and he does it, either to me, his siblings, or to himself. And you know what, I think he's even starting to dig reading a little bit more too. Perhaps he'll be reading Dean Koontz with me in no time at all. ;) 

With love,
Mama Hauck

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Valentine Tic-Tac-Toe

In what grade do they stop holding Valentine's Day parties and having the kiddos give out all those sweet little Valentines? It'll be a sad year when the classroom Valentine fun fizzles out! Somewhere along the line, kids are bound to think Valentines silly. I get it. When that time inevitably comes, I hope they at least still smile when they take out the Valentine I sneak in their backpack or lunch sack because I won't be stopping that anytime soon! 

I really love helping the kids make Valentines for all their friends. Typically, in past years, the kids and I liked to put together little goody bags filled with pencils, balloons, candy, and other fun little trinkets that we found for their friends. This year, however, while scrolling Etsy, I came across a super cute classroom Valentine idea....

Valentine Tic-Tac-Toe! 

I purchased a download from Mod Pod Designs on Etsy that I printed up on card stock and then cut out with my paper cutter. I hit up the Dollar Store for some Valentine colored pom-poms, Joann's for some bags, then grabbed Anthony and Molly for some Valentine making fun! 

They each went down their class list, writing a name of one of their friends on the back of their tic-tac-toe card, and then picking out the color pom-poms they wanted them to have. I in turn slipped everything into a bag and sealed it with a sticker. Voila! 


The finished Valentines! How cute and fun are these!? I hope all the kiddos love them! 


This year I'll be joining Anthony in his classroom for his class Valentine's Day party. I don't have a babysitter for Timother, but Anthony's teacher said no worries about bringing him with. We signed up to bring crackers and bananas to share. It'll be fun to join his class for their party! 


With love,
Mama Hauck

Monday, February 1, 2016

Mama, Pick Me Up

Timothy, 

The time is soon coming where I will no longer be able to pick you up. Not only that, but you won't need me to. This deeply pains my heart and fills my chest with such a heavy sorrow. 


Yesterday, while out and about shopping, you asked me to pick you up and carry you a few times. I was surprised, as usually you fight me when I want to hold your hand while out of the house. I'm not sure why you needed that extra closeness so much yesterday, but I didn't mind. How could I resist those little hands reaching up to me and your sweet voice calling out, "Mama, pick me up, pweas." My back and arms protested, and my wrists ached later in the day, but all I could think about was how close I am to not being able to carry you at all, and how close you are to never asking me to pick you up again. 

I don't think my heart is ready to not have a "little one" in the house. But there is no stopping time and there is no denying that you are becoming more and more independent with each passing day. Growing and learning and showing everyone what a sweet young boy you are. 

Promise me you will at least let me hold your hand as I walk you into Preschool next fall. And if for some reason you need me to pick you up.........I will. 


Love you, Hunny Bunny. 

With love,
Mama Hauck