Life of Larisa or LOL

Year round school presents a number of changes in your way of thinking...the biggest one, the idea of a shortened summer break. So, we crammed in as much fun as this mom could handle... With cups of coffee thrown in whenever I could... And Canadian bacon s'mores helped my cause. We are also taking the perspective of "it's only three summers". Three shortened summers while Gabe is in middle school. We will survive this hardship. 😎 And if not, there's always books to drown our sorrows in. Especially deep reads like The Cat in The Hat, and the intoxicating sequel---The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. While everyone else is enjoying beach vacations and ice cream cones and ice coffee, we have been school supply shopping, labeling said supplies, and already have two weeks of seventh grade under our belts. But not to fear, come August, when these scenarios apply to everyone else?  We will be sipping our ice coffee and juice boxes on the beach----enjoying intercession break. ...

CAMPING WITH YOUR KIDS—a lesson in conserving, getting outdoors and being active. As parents (I am mom to two boys), we are alway searching for ways to keep active, do things outdoors, but also teach the value of having an “environment conscience”.  We also like to “kill two birds with one stone”.  This is where CAMPING comes in---where we  are able to get out and be active and teach about the value of nature.  Three times a year (at least), we like to pack up the kids, put away our electronic devices (groan), and be one (ish) with nature.  We trek into the great outdoors!  I have many fond memories of camping when I was a kid.  And now, I enjoy sharing that fondness with both my boys with our tri-annual campouts.  I know when many of you (especially parents of small children) hear the word camping, you tremble with fear and anxiety.  We did too at first.  Now, we find that camping is just the opposite.  We see it as an opportunity ...

We recently met some butterflies. Butterflies, those colorful fluttering outdoor nectar loving symbols for metamorphosis. Our $3 visit with them in the mall was well worth all the thoughts it provoked. It dawned on me that we are all butterflies.  Right now, I find myself newly emerged from my cocoon and ready to spread my wings. Ready for some exciting new projects and opportunities heading my way. And my kids? Spreading their stinky little boy wings. Zach is just about ready to emerge from the cocoon of home and go to pre-school. Gabe is making his way through the ever frightening Middle School chrysalis. Here are the ways we are similar to our free flying friends--- Butterfly wings are brightly colored, a strategy used to avoid predators---Gabe also employs this philosophy with his daily flourescent fashion statements. Day glow all day, every day. We feel safe from predators.  Just as the butterfly is drawn to sweet sugars, so too, are the Majors---well, half of the flock a...

The First Three Years of Life: Mommy Wars   A big thanks to Larisa for having me guest blog today! She's been a constant source of support on Facebook for my adventures in the writing world. My newest story,  “Rapunzel: Stay at Home Mom,” gives the classic character a modern parenting twist.    I'm embarrassed to say that when I was a new mom, I passed judgment on the other parents I knew, like:   Sheila's having a baby?  But her and Kyle still play video games till 1 in the morning.      She's not quitting her job? What's the point of having a kid if you're not gonna be home?   Kyle's quitting his job? Do dads even know how to take care of kids?   Wait, that means they’re gonna bottle feed. Call CPS!   It was like having a baby gave me Supreme Court status. The right way to rear a child was clearly my way.    Breast feeding was the first area to give me a clue that I was a little too holier than thou. First of all it...

... to be a couch potato. Today, I find myself at home with a sniffling, congested little boy. And while I know the worst thing in the world (even more dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes) is...a child watching television, that's what we are doing. Guilty. Again. It's the most wonderful time of the year and he doesn't feel well and I don't feel like dealing with Christmas crazies. So here we are. Staring at one another. Singing along to the Magic School Bus theme song. Reading a little. Checking Facebook a little. Sipping a second cup of tea. And he's eating a bowl filled with raisins, Cheerios, and carrots while sitting in PJs on the floor. Not glamorous for sure. But it's today.  I haven't updated my blog for a bit because I thought I didn't have any earth shattering news to share. But then I realized, life at home with kids is rarely earth shattering...it's glass shattering, and nose wiping, and scolding, and goldfish smushed in the carpet. It...