If Time Stopped(writing prompt)

*Either my writing skill is slipping or my weekly writing prompts are becoming more of a challenge,but I'm up for it. So here it goes...*

When I ponder over the idea of if time stopped and automatically think of Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle". What is the numero uno thing i would do?
Well, if it time stopped, right now, at this moment, I'd be happy. Today started off a little later than most as my three sons all had a delay. My oldest, FT, was promised a ride to the bus stop, and he got it. Just in time for the bus, he safely made it to the end of our street and told me "It's been real, mom." That was a moment were if time had stopped I could just hang in the air with a big smile knowing that I had made my son's day by just giving him a 30 second ride.

If Time had stopped when I woke up, that would not have been so bad as I was the first to wake up at 8:30, yes, 8:30. My children have inherited the "i like to sleep in" gene from me :). From a complete different perspective, the quiet was a beautiful thing. It's almost as if I was a rechargeable battery that was being juiced up.

If time had stopped when my Middle son, TJ, woke up, and had his blanket pulled atop his head so he looked like a Shepard, I'd definitely had scooped it up and placed it my Captain America coffee cup. He was smiley and calm. And what a beautiful although toothless (he lost another tooth last night) smile it was!

If time had stopped when I scooped up my baby, my final child, AJ, that hug would've stuck to me all day like sweet sticky glue. To be stuck together like said glue, would have me wish for time never to start. I could just hold him, feeling those chubby cheeks against my own roundish face, and watch the world, or at least my world, around me.

If time had stopped - with my husband, that might quite possibly be that opportune moment to just be with him ....We tend to take each other for granted, everything but us seems to be on our minds. Embracing, and loving and watching what we've made, My husband and I would just sit back and relish in the the moment.

Being Real (latest writing prompt)

I'm cutting it down to the wire here getting my writing prompt blog in, but the reality is that all my balls are up in the juggling air and I can't be everywhere those darn balls are going to land.

Just sitting here, I sip my English breakfast tea and look out at the light snow falling that will eventually snowball(pun intended) into the Blizzard of 2013. In reality, we are supposed to get over two feet of snow.
Somewhere between the snow, my kids being home all day, and the baking I'll be doing this domestic goddess is keeping it all in perspective and in the moment.

The reality is while I go along with the present moment, my kids are thinking about lunch at breakfast time.
Honestly, I am not sure what to write,  i know my life is a bouquet of wonderful smelling flowers that wilt, and lose petals after awhile. I'm gonna enjoy the beauty of those buds while they are around, but their scent will forever remain with me.


To be real is is truthful, and I'm as real as I'm going to get. I don't always tell the truth, I don't always do the right thing, but part of being human is making mistakes in which I've learned a lot from over the years.

This is as real as it's going to get. Be you, and strive for your best.

Speaking up for Anthony

He's a rock star!

On My little guys' behalf, My Ant, who is a hard working little bug, I Speak Up.

Anthony may not be talking like other kids his age or running around in circles(he tends to walk in circles instead), but he is a person, just like the rest of us. We all run on different circuits, choosing when we want to eat, talk, and laugh. So, in his honor, I say, Anthony, like many other children with the extra chromosome, will be chattering away and dashing around like a Pixar character in his own time. So, please don't ask me when he will talk. Maybe if some people would be quiet for awhile they might hear him say, hi or baba. I understand it's just how many start a conversation, and I'm okay with that.

Having Anthony has opened me up a lot - I do speak up more - and I realize that like us people with any form of special needs/disabilities are people. People are people (and Depeche Mode, I need not quote), and we all want the same thing - to be accepted and to not be judged based on our looks, our lifestyle, and in my Ant's case(and many others), an extra chromosome. They didn't ask for that, yet they do the best with it and are amazing people!

I know this is just how the world is, there are lots of ignorant, mean, and downright nasty people.
So I speak up - to everyone -
Insensitivity and cruelty are more horrible than having an extra chromosome could ever be.
To those who abuse the word "retarded" I speak up - well, mostly those who use the word in a derogatory way, especially those that see nothing wrong with saying it when there is a whole community that is trying to help those with special needs be treated more like the rest of us.

I've spoken my piece and Peace out...

At the end of the day....

I rest, I let my mind and body go limp and hopefully if all went as planned, I have a bit of quiet time to relish in.
Don't get me wrong, I love my time with my children and family, but for me, to be better as a person, but mostly a mom, that last hour of my day is my time to decompress. My boys all understand that about me. Mommy needs a time out but it is a different kind of time out.

Although something else I like to end my day with is to do a scan of my day and wonder what I could have differently to help my children be better people.  The same goes for myself, I think back of the day and wonder why I said or did certain things.

At the end of the day, hockey has wrapped up, or we've just watched a movie, and it's time to rest our heads. We all go to sleep wishing for a better day ahead.

Helping others, jello shots & Walmart

At the moment, I am volunteering at the library. For the most part, I just sit here and babysit used (and many look pretty darn good) books that the Seekonk Public Library sells. There are also movies, games, children's books, puzzles, and magazines up for grabs.
I could spend hours just sitting here and reading. Today, I brought my laptop and am doing some writing.  It's probably not the best thing to be doing, but I am usually texting a friend.

However, when there is someone perusing and asking me questions, I am there for them. For me volunteering/helping others is the equivalent of having a few shots of jello injected with vodka or even a good long walk on a beautiful sunny day. Basically, I feel more alive and good about life when I've made some one else's day. The best part about it is I've not just helped someone but I've given them something you can't put a price on - a smile. : )

Why I write

Why do I write? Over the years, the reasons I write have been different, but now, I feel like the true reason is more about how it makes me feel. While it would be nice to get paid for my writing, I am just loving what I do.


It makes me feel happy, busy, less stressed, and lately more writer like. Between The Institute of Writing for Children, Diana Ross(not the singer, but my first editor), Abigail Crocker, 9my second editor, for a short time, but the Patch article was a great experience) and Sarah Erlandson (not an editor but one of my school friends), I have discovered, learned, created, and been compensated for my writing. Diana, if you read this (and I hope you do), you have been a true friend as well as a huge help in my writing. Thank you!

I write because it balances me. So, if I am having an off day, tell me to go do some writing.

Resolutions for 2013 - Writing prompt

It's the final day of 2012. It's also time to shake up the etch a sketch of life, and get a clean slate. Think long and hard about what we want to draw on it, not just for one day, but for the year.

I could sit around in my pjs' all day pondering about my own resolutions, but I digress. It's as simple as 1 2 3 and 4

1. R E S P E C T - Treating others as I'd like to be treated. Not always as easy to do as it is to say, however, if everyone stopped and thought about what they do and say to others, this world would be a much better place. I want to also teach my children how important this is.

2. Swear less - Sadly, even though I am a mom of young kids, I swear too much. Sometimes like a truck driver, maybe even worse. This doesnt' mean I am going to swear like that Mack truck's driver all day today. The swear jar goes up on the shelf tomorrow, and if I mess up, it's 25 cents gone out of my change purse! - I need those quarters for my coffee.

3. Write Every day - No matter what my day brings, I WILL write every day. Even if it is just a long 'note' on Facebook about my attempt at a new recipe or a review on Amazon of the last movie I watched, I can't live without it. Whenever I stop, or go even a few days, I feel off. From my fingertips, to the keyboard (or pen, yes, sometimes I write longhand), to the words flowing out, it's like a shot of prozac..haha..never had that, but it just sounds good.

4. Take care of myself - Just like my writing life, when I do not eat right, and get some form of exercise,  I feel horrible! Rather than sign up for a gym membership or join weight watchers, I want to make better food choices, and do a variety of different exercises so I don't get bored. And also, be supportive of others that are on the same pilgrimage to be healthier and more fit.

Happy New Year to you all!! I wish everyone luck on their journey down Resolution Road. Cheers!