JAK CHAT

The MAY-hem Continues If you read last week's blog, MAY-hem : A Mom's Life , you know that I am, just like many of you are, especially those with school-aged children, in the midst of probably THE busiest month of your parenting year. May, while crazy busy, is joyfully filled with spring concerts, recitals, banquets, tournaments, graduation celebrations, layered on top of your normal practices, games, and other extra-curricular activities. You ever wonder why they (who is they anyway? Hallmark?) throw in Mother's Day in May? Read More... ? Is it suppose to provide us moms with a day of respite while in the mix of mayhem? Perhaps, if you hit up a brunch.  Or on the other hand if we as moms weren’t spearheading the creation and/or purchase of gifts to celebrate our own mothers and mother in laws, etc.  Or if you are “lucky” enough to have hosted the celebration at your home, which was our case (thank you hubs) you are in a mad mad rush to get your house looking presentable fo...

Or So I Wish It Were I suppose it depends on the day, the hour, the weather, the circumstances....It's pretty unpredictable. Sunday marks yet another one of my kid's birthdays.  Not that every birthday isn't special, it absolutely is, yet this milestone is my oldest daughter's "Sweet 16" birthday. Just like a lot of moms and their teenage daughters, our relationship is a bit strained.  All I want to do is, especially in light of her birthday, is to create a special, happy memory. So I threw a couple of "surprise party" ideas past my husband asking him what he thought she would like to do, on top of the standard big family party (including grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a few other VIPs considered family). You never know, as he answered, "Honey, you are damned if you do, and damned if you don't"  You see, on top of the challenged relationship, my daughter suffers from clinical depression and January is a real beast ...