Throwing Stones

WHAT?! You must be saying. TWO posts in one day?

Crazy, right?

I had actually planned to just post about the DIY Challenge this morning, but then found out that my article would be going up on the Dad’s Roundtable website today. When I was writing THAT article, I also wrote this post ABOUT writing that article. Yeah, a lot of thinking has been happening in this ol’ brain.

So, here you go… my thoughts behind The Mom Inch….

 

I’ve had an idea floating around in my head for a post that I want to do on the Dad’s Roundtable website.

This idea has been floating around for weeks. Maybe even months. And every time I start typing up my thoughts, I think “no, someone is going to get mad at me” and delete my writing. This has happened a half-dozen times so far.

Lame, right?

I mean. It’s not like I intentionally want to make people mad at me. I certainly don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. It’s just that sometimes you need to write your feelings out. And you CAN, because they are how YOU feel.

Maybe I should just put a big “NO OFFENSE” sticker on the top of the post?

ARG!*

The idea is that there is that no matter how “equal” or “fair” your family tries to make life… it’s not. SOMEONE always has to do just a little bit more. And in our family, that someone is me.

I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way to my husband, because he is pretty darn awesome. There aren’t many men out there that would feel confident enough in themselves to spend Wednesdays home with their son and ignore the crappy comments of their co-workers.

It just seems like there are things only seen by my eyes. Like the big pile of dishes in the sink. Or the unmade bed. Or the pile of laundry that is on the floor and not quite in the laundry basket.

I call it the “Mom Inch” and part of me thinks it’s really stupid to talk about it on the DAD’S Roundtable. I mean, isn’t that like attacking their dad-ness?

I hear complaints of stay-at-home moms who are angry that their husband doesn’t contribute enough with the excuse that staying home with the kids “is their job.” But what about those of us who work full time AND still have all those duties at home? I can’t be the only one who after a full day of work and a full day of being Supermom, still has a bit more to do. Right?

All this and more is why I wrote “The Mom Inch” which was published on Dad’s Roundtable today. Stop by to check it out and let me know what you think.

 

*That’s my frustrated pirate noise. FYI.

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Do you REALLY need a diaper bag?

I’m doing something crazy. It’s flying-by-the-seat of your pants crazy in the mommy world… I’ve gotten rid of my diaper bag.

{I can hear the parents out there with their shocked gasps now!}

Ok, it’s not that crazy. And if you’re not a parent you’re probably wondering why it’s even a big (ok, medium-sized) deal. Honestly, I do feel a bit naked and maybe even uneasy with this change.

For the past 20 months, every single time I’ve left the house with Jack I’ve had my diaper bag.

diaperbagIt’s not your typical diaper bag from Baby’s R Us or Target… it’s actually a large purse from Fossil that I fell in love with and asked my parents to buy me for Christmas two years ago. It has worked great for lugging around everything you need when you have a baby: bottles/formula, cups, a changing pad, spare clothes, diapers, wipes, medicine, snacks, my wallet, etc.

But, it’s HEAVY.

And you tend to just throw things in there and later pull out three used cups, 8 empty snack containers and 3 socks.

I came to the realization a few weeks ago (and I’m almost afraid to share it because I might jinx myself) that I never change Jack’s diaper when we are out and about. Never.  I change his diaper before we leave and he’s typically mostly dry for a few hours at a time. Also, Jack prefers to be home when he has his own personal twosie time… so I’ve never had to do that ‘oh no my kid just launched a poo granade’ thing in public.*

lunchbag
Skip Hop lunchie (Source: www.Skiphop.com)

For most trips, I’d find myself leaving the diaper bag in the truck and just grabbing out my wallet. So I had the bright idea to just give up on a diaper bag altogether. Instead, I packed a cute Skip Hop lunchbox that we had gotten from Citrus Lane with the necessities – 2 diapers, a small pack of wipes, a change of clothes, teething tabs and an emergency pacifier – and left it in my truck for good. I also packed a gallon baggy containing 2 diapers and wipes for my husband to keep in his truck. So now, for our normal trips I’ll just throw a baggie of goldfish in my purse and be done with it.**

So much easier, right?

And if we do run into a changing emergency, I have everything I need in my truck without lugging it around daily. Why didn’t I do this months ago?!

Part of me feels a little sad because I most likely carried my diaper bag for the very last time, but another part of me feels so much lighter – mentally and physically – without the heavy bag o’ crap on my shoulder.

If you have kids, how long did you carry your diaper bag? Is there something that you think I should add to my truck ‘necessities’ bag?

*The only exception to this is that Jack apparently likes to poo on planes.

** For longer trips, like when we go to Hershey Park, I’ll put some necessities in a backpack or in a small bag to keep in the bottom of the stroller.

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Reviewing Citrus Lane: The February Box & A Rant on FunBurglars

Before I go into my bi-monthly review of the Citrus Lane box we received, I want to take a minute and vent.

When you sign up for a subscription box service, you are purchasing a surprise. The whole idea of the subscription box is that YOU DON’T KNOW what will be inside. It’s like a gift – you might love it or you might hate it. That’s the fun of the game.

You would think that everyone who signs up would understand that, but obviously some don’t. And those people are the ones that I have decided to name the FunBurglars.

Last week, Citrus Lane posted on their Facebook page that most of the February boxes had been delivered and they hoped that people enjoyed them. Well, it was like someone sounded the alarm to release the FunBurglars because some of the comments on their status were just ridiculous. My favorite was the person who complained that the “plot was so so” for a book her baby received. Um, it’s a BABY BOOK – what kind of plot were you expecting??!book

Look, I get it. Sometimes my kid doesn’t like things – whether I purchased them myself or received them in our monthly Citrus Lane box. But you know what, kids are fickle creatures. One month they might not be into books and the next your little guy might sit on the floor entranced with the sensation of turning a page back and forth and back again. So, here’s my advice to you: CHILL THE FRICK OUT.

If you cannot handle not knowing what is going to be in your monthly subscription box, cancel your subscription.  Don’t buy a box and then whine about how your kid doesn’t like the particular packaging on an item. Take that $25 and go buy yourself whatever it is you wanted in the first place!

However, if you’re checking out blog reviews to see what TYPES of things might be in the boxes and are excited to try them out, go for it. If you go in with an open mind and a good attitude that you may or may not love everything initially, you’ll probably be pretty darn happy with the experience.

Ok, rant done. Now let’s get into talking about this month’s box. Here’s what we got:

I Spy in the Ocean book from Chronicle Books – This is a typical sized board book with holes cut out so that your little one can see through to the next page. Jack thinks it’s also pretty fun to poke your little fingers though the holes while paging through the book. The book is beautifully illustrated and I’m happy to add it to our collection.

Toddler Tambourine from Hohner Kids – This lightweight and durable kid’s tambourine is AWESOME! So far I’ve rocked out like a crazed belly dancer (which delighted Jack and scared my dog), we had a family jam session with both my husband and I jumping around, AND Jack has shook the tambourine so hard he fell over. LOVE THIS TOY!

Here… doesn’t it look like I’m having fun?!

me and my dancing

Little Buddy Wipes from Me4Kidz – A cute little pack of wipes for wiping off your messy kid’s hands and face. They’re useful, they smell good and they’re small enough to fit in a diaper bag.  Works for me!

toothbrushingTooth Gel from Branam – We just started with kiddie teeth brushing at our house and so far Jack is a fan. This teeth gel is free from fluoride, SLS and saccharin, so I’m happy to have the FULL SIZED tube to try out.

Lip Balm from Pangea Organics – YAY, it’s a MOMMY GIFT! Pretty much my only complaint over the last few months is the lack of mom gifts and this one is incredible. It’s a brand I haven’t heard of and an item I’d never buy myself, but that’s the point! It’s a yummy lavender cardamom scent and does a great job of keeping my lips moist and kissable. And when you’ve got a cute little guy running around the house, you tend to kiss him a lot!lipgloss

So, now it’s time for the important question… Was it Worth It?

YES. We liked every single thing in this month’s box, but even if we didn’t it was fun to get a box of gifts in the mail. I love trying new products from companies I might not have heard of. I especially love having something new delivered to the house each month to entertain me AND my toddler!

I do find it interesting that Citrus Lane didn’t list the value for each item in this month’s box. However, maybe that’s better so that people aren’t adding up the exact value of every box and using that fuel to light their fire of unhappiness.

My typical disclaimer: I was not rewarded by Citrus Lane for reviewing their box on my blog. I review the boxes, because I feel like other mom’s would be interested in seeing what they’ll get if they sign up for the monthly service.

However, if you decide that you would like to sign up for your own subscription and use my link, I will receive credits on my account. Click here to access the Citrus Lane website with my special link and you will receive $10 off your order!

If you would like to see any of my previous Citrus Lane box review posts, click on the “Product & Company Reviews/Recommendations tab on the right hand side of this page.

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