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If a genie in a bottle washed up on the shore and I was the luck one to be granted 3 wishes I tough to find the 3 things that would be worth surpassing all other wishes for. 

I don't think I would wish for money because having more wouldn't necessarily curtail any wishes for more money over and over again.

WISH #1

I wish Cancer got Cancer and died!  Oh how I would love to be rid of cancer.  I could stop asking, what has my body done with all the designer drugs I have offered it over the last 12 months? I have done the best of what I knew to do, but my body is acting like there is nothing out there that would abliterate the cancer.   (ok, if I increased my wish to something a little broader than the end of cancer I might ask for perfect health which would include being thin, energetic, and cancer free- oh, and I wouldn't snore)

WISH #2

I wish for an annual family vacation FOR-E-V-ER.  No limits here- Disney World, Denmark, Norge, Spain, Destin, FL, ... Every year a minimum of 2 weeks restful, rejuvinating, wonderful VACA. Plus 1 week visiting out of state family. 

WISH #3

I would wish for my kiddos - to get them to adulthood with the tools they need.  The resources to attend the college of their choice. 

What do you wish for?

Beach Vacations are the Best

From the end of one trip to the beach until the begining of another I am always one deep sigh away from daydreaming of myself sitting in warm sand and watching schools of fish roll through the waves.  I can feel the tingling of salt water mist on my skin.  I can hear the squeak of the boardwalk as flips flop against the sun-bleached wood. 
I love going to the beach.  I always had a fantasy about how cool it would be to live near the ocean since growing up in a land-locked state.  We took vacations to the most beautiful mountain peaks in Wyoming and camped in Yellowstone National Park.

I miss the mountains.  I used to go camping every Sunday afternoon.  Driving up and down switchbacks has a way of unwinding the kinks in your nerves. I like being out there alone and just wandering wheerever I felt like exploring.  I loved living in the mountains and having campfire dinners with my family.  I love how being in the mountains together helped everyone to be a little calmer when life with a house full of girls got too intense. 
But, the thought of leaving the short 4 hour drive to the coast and even average quality beaches seems like it would be a much bigger sacrifice.
Here are some cool things to check out when you are at the beach again.
1.  Sea Turtle Releases
2. Surreys and Bike Rentals
3. Rocking on the Porch over the water
4. Photography - but if you are taking snapshots of your friends and family, be ready to photoshop!  I seem to blow-out my pictures with all the reflection off the water.
I <3 the Beach!

Working Mom or SAH Mom

Initial Disclaimer:  I am not suggesting that Mom's at home don't work, I am just using this convenient phrase.

Before my first child was born I lamented about the possibility of returning to work after maternity leave.  I was sure that if I had to go back to work I would die of a broken heart.  After 9 months of struggling every waking and sleeping moment I decided to quit my job in healthcare insurance and be a SAH mom.
It was bliss.  The house was neurotically clean and I embraced homemaking, sewing, and being part of a circle of SAH moms.

But, before my second child came along my ex-husband had been fired from his job and I was working again to support our family as our marriage was well into its phase of dying.  From this point on I worked or attended school continuously with few breaks of SAH mom-hood.

But here I am, Thanksgiving morning.  We are being totally lazy here at our house and I am realizing that if you are a SAH mom you don't get paid holidays.  Working Mom's get this change of pace day that allows them to live their SAH dream for a snippet of time.  If I were a SAH mom this morning would have been the same as any other morning.  I would be in the daily routine without much thought.  The kids would expect the same as every day.

As a working mom, we have been talking about our 4 day weekend coming up for weeks.  Mornings when the kids just couldn't stand getting up another day and going to school I reminded them of the number of days until we could all stay home and relax.

SAHD (Stay-at-home-days)  in our house are truly a holiday.  Some of my friends use these days to work as a short-order cook and make anything each kid wants for breakfast.  Others cram all the activities and crafts they can't do because they work.  Chez moi, it is a "do what you feel like" thing.  The girls know I may or may not sleep in, and lucky for me they are old enough to take care of themselves either way.  They know I may suggest an outing, may sit and watch movies, lay in bed and talk, or get up and clean the house.

I would love to be the supper mom who doesn't have to have a paying job too.  I would volunteer at the school, run PTA boards and activities, sew, craft, decorate, and so much more.  I would have clean vents, ceiling fans, and walls.  My kids would be a little smothered, but they are too young to mind.

But, I am a supper mom who gets paid to spend 10 hrs commuting to and working towards the objectives of an organization. My work gives me a break from house keeping, sometimes I appreciate that, sometimes I miss the days of clean organization.

And, I like being trained to treat today like a holiday.  I am not in my regular routine.  I hope you SAH moms out there make today your holiday too.  Whether you cook, clean, lounge, or scout out Black-Friday sales today is a holiday!  Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Cheers!