Thursday, August 1, 2019

Fireflies in a Baby Food Jar 2019


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Fireflies in a Baby Food Jar
and other summer time memories...
by: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez


Copyright 2018 World of Writer Mom


Summer time as a child felt like the release of a long breath after diving into the deep end of a pool. It was inhaling deeply upon coming back to the surface and looking up to the sun. There was this feeling of being released from winter's wrath, school days, and the pressures of homework when you'd rather play.  Summer time was magic, and felt like it would never end.  Sometimes I have a need to remember those moments, and  realize my children deserve these stress free times too.  
Here are some of the things I loved as a child...



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1. The sound of morning, unhurried, as you slowly awaken and 
realize there is no hurry to get to school.



2. Dressing in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals instead of the school 
uniform blue plaid jumper over a crisp, white, peter pan collar 
blouse.  That red criss-cross tie...enough said.



3.  Filling the red Kool-Aid canteen (ordered by mail) with water 
and riding all over the neighborhood on a banana seat bike with the 
weird handlebars. 



4. Swim lessons at the local school where you challenged yourself 
to see how far you could swim to earn your certificate.  



5. Going to the park where you could play forever on the swings
 and slides while your dad played basketball with whomever was 
on the court at the time. 



6.  Collecting aluminum cans so they could  be recycled for a little
 extra spending money.  One summer, we filled garbage bags with 
beer cans collected from the local park after ball games.  The entire 
garage smelled like stale beer, but my parents still let us do it.  It
 was a great day when we loaded up those bags and took them to 
the recycling center.



 7. Walking to the 7-11 for slurpees (icee drinks) with my siblings.
 That money from those recycled beer cans had to be spent!


8.  Weekly trips to the library where we loaded up on books. There
 was never a shortage of adventures and imagination thanks to 
reading all summer!


9.  Late nights (at least to us) where we played outside until the 
street lights came on. Collecting lightening bugs in baby food jars 
helped us learn about science, nature, and that lightening bugs 
really do need to be freed before going to bed. (They are not, in 
fact, a night light. But as a kid, you wish you could take them to 
your room and watch them until you fall asleep.)


10.  Falling asleep to the sound of crickets and a fan whirring 
near an open window (because we didn't have air conditioning) 
after a bath and clean jammies
 That feeling of contentment was 
priceless.  Only we didn't realize it at the time.


Life isn't perfect. There are moments when you wonder how your family ever got through things as a child. 
 Then as an adult you have those same concerns about making it through those tough times.  
That is when it helps to remember the pleasant, peaceful, childhood memories.
 (Like summer time, carefree, fireflies in a baby jar kind of moments.)

Copyright 2019 World of WriterMom
Isabella S.Rodriguez, Photo credit



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Wishing all of you a week of adventures,
solutions to your challenges,
answers to your prayers, and
"Fireflies in a Baby Food Jar" Summer Memories!


Kindest Wishes,


~ Mary

Copyright 2019 World of Writer Mom

Please note that I donate 100% of any commission earned through sponsored links 
 to a non-profit school for my children.







Monday, June 24, 2019

Life of A Vacuum - and other clean up tales

 A drama about cleaning your child's room
Written by: M.B.Varville-Rodriguez


 Calvin & Hobbes


I truly feel bad for what we have put our vacuum cleaner through lately.  My children are not of the ordinary, simple, garden variety species.  They create, play, and make messes like nobody's business. I don't know where to begin when I enter their rooms.  Yes, I do expect them to help, but sometimes the room begs for my version of "Mom approved clean."  You know what I'm talking about!

 They look so sweet and incapable of the exploits I share.
Copyright 2019 World of Writer Mom

Kids version of cleaning up is as follows:

Copyright 2019 World of Writer Mom

 
Basic surface level only clean up. (The superficial, fake clean.)
 
 Anything fits into a garbage bag.  No sorting required.  
 
No need to throw away wrappers, empty containers, or papers.  

 
It's perfectly acceptable to throw away dirty socks, underwear, & items that have become ripped when you don't want mom to find out. (Even though she already knows when you complain there are no underwear or socks in your room.)
 
 Mixing of items in a bag is okay.  In fact, mixing wrappers with clothing is ideal.  No time to decide what goes where anyways!
 
 Small items not easily seen (but able to inflict pain upon impact) are to be left on the carpet.  It's more fun to watch the vacuum wheeze, smoke, and grind to a halt.
 
 Dirty dishes, glasses with toxic sludge, and dinner plates that won't be missed (according to a child's point of view) might end up in the throw away bag if you can get it out the door quickly. 
 
 It is assumed that Mom will forgive the nails (toe, finger, and picture hangers), push pins, tacks, screws, and miscellaneous home improvement tools on the floor if she is able to safely extricate them from her feet, hands, and fingers. 
 
 (Mom chuckles maniacally at the idea of "home improvement" items entering a child's room unaccompanied by a responsible adult.)  Yet, that is exactly where these items magically navigate by none other than "Not Me"  and "I Don't Know."
 
 Tools find their way to the room, probably out of loyalty to the push pins, nails, and screws in the carpet.
 
Spare change has an amazing ability to end up in corners, under furniture, and even inside clothes baskets.  

I have a nice jar started toward my future retirement.


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 Mom's Version of Clean-Up is as follows:


Copyright 2019 World of Writer Mom

 Enter room to assess the damages. This involves looking 
in  the closet too! 

Take your anti-anxiety medication to reduce the heart palpitations and quell that dizzy, nauseated feeling.

 Affix large garbage bag to the door knob. (Throw out 90% of what you find.)

 Begin piles for clothing in the hall or living room, which ever is the nearest place to toss darks/lights/whites/towels, etc...

 Start sorting!  Be prepared for the stench of ass and frustration.
 
It's best to let your mind wander to your happy place as you scrape gum off the base boards, pull sticky candy from the carpet, and carefully remove nails, push pins, screws, and pennies (Oh, soooo many pennies!) from the floor.

 Assign each item a new "home."  

 Put aside any items that require a "follow up" conversation with your child/children.  (You'll know what I mean when you find it.  No other explanations necessary.)

Leave the clean clothes in a pile for your children to fold and put away.  They at least need to do this!  (Once you have conversations regarding #8, it's unlikely you'll get too much resistance.)


Children old enough to wash their own clothing should do so.  If you're like our family, have the kids carry the laundry to the car and load it for a trip to the laundry mat.  

Have them help with all other aspects of this family adventure once you get there.  



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Hope these lovely lists help.  
Hope you at least laughed and found comfort 
 in the fact you are not alone.  





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I'm sure most parents struggle with the clean room dilemma. 
Hope your week is going well and your troubles are limited
 to whether or not your vacuum will survive. 


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Wishing all of you a week of adventures,
solutions to your challenges, peace,
and answers to your prayers.
Happy Summer!


Copyright 2019 World of Writer Mom

Kindest Wishes,
~Mary 








Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Dear Humans on the Road

Dear Humans with whom I share the privilege of driving each day, 
Please accept my apologies for the following comments, 
lightly dusted with sweet sarcasm. Enjoy!


Copyright 2018 World of Writer Mom


1. I tend to stop at all red lights prior to turning right. It's not something I made up just to make you irritated while you are on your way to work. I'll assume that the kind gesture you offered as you zoomed past me was a "Hey, girl. How ya doin?" 


2. When there is a shirt load of construction going on as I try to exit my building, it can be difficult to see around the gates, cones, and barricades that have been erected. Additionally, I need to watch out for the students who need to cross the 4 lane road to get to school across from my exit. When I finally see some clearance and have my turn signals on, that is NOT a sign for you to speed up, hug my arse, and honk that I have gotten in your way. (Yes, I intentionally spelled arse that way.)


3. When I need to change lanes to avoid missing my exit, I would appreciate it if you took notice, stopped tailing the cars so closely it is impossible to merge into traffic, and did not take it as a personal challenge to compete with me for road space. I have enough challenges without that extra stress.


4. Pay attention. PLEASE! Get off your cell phones and just...DRIVE! I'm tired of watching out for you as you swerve into my lane. 


Finally, please help me understand how honking at me and showing me your "special" communication finger is making the world better, safer, kinder? 


This post is dedicated to the wonderful people who provided three horn honks and two finger gestures this week. (And it's only Tuesday.)







Now...Go buy something nice for your mamas!