Category: Being a Mom

A couple amazing things happened today.

My house became sparkling clean.

My back deck got stained.

And I had nothing to do with it.

Let me back up for a moment.

A few months ago, I read this post from our friend Susan at Working Moms Against Guilt. When I read the opening line (“I am a big fan of outsourcing. Cleaning and landscaping are two of my favorites. There’s something wonderfully freeing about coming home to a clean, fresh-smelling house or a neatly trimmed lawn in the summer.”), I was immediately intrigued. Susan’s point was that we all have so much to do, and sometimes it’s nice to outsource the tasks we dislike most, so we have more time and energy to do things we like.

That, coupled with the experiences Jenny and several of our friends have had recently with EcoMaids of Dayton, convinced me that it was time to start outsourcing. I asked around town, got some recommendations, and found someone who comes in once a month and does an absolutely amazing job cleaning my house and it makes me so happy. It is worth every single penny.

Similarly, all last summer Andy and I talked about how badly our deck needed to be stained, and somehow we managed to not get around to doing it. That kind of thing is not our forte, and we were intimidated by the size of the job. So, we hired a good friend of ours who knows what he’s doing, and it’ll be done by Friday.

I have to tell you, this has been liberating! We are having a cookout over the weekend and it’s great not to have to worry about getting the house ready to go. I just have to find a way to keep my kids out of there until Sunday. Details, details.

So, what’s something you outsource – or wish you did?

Saturday morning as I was gearing up for a visit to the Fort Rapids Water Park with Emily and our families (which we’ll tell you about tomorrow!), I did that crazy thing that we women must do when the jeans come off and the shorts and swimsuits go on – I shaved my legs.

And of course, like I do, I cut myself.  And Summer, that greedy season, got it’s blood sacrifice, the one it always demands from the legs of the big and small who go running and jumping around in the nice weather.  I call them “Summer Legs”.

On her last day of preschool, Sophie stumbled as we were getting into our van and scraped her knee pretty good.  It bled and everything!  It was very tragic.  And very fitting to have happened the second she was released from school and into the summer sun!

Since that moment, her legs have never looked back.  At every park or backyard play date we’ve had, they’ve taken another hit, another ode to play.  What can I say? The girl has her mother’s grace.

I have used the term “summer legs” so often the past couple weeks, that the other day when I was wiping a big smudge of dirt off of her legs (nothing like a quick baby wipes bath when you’re in a hurry, right!?), she said, “Thank you for helping me clean my summer legs.”  Such a cutie!

Joshua’s legs have mostly been protected by school uniform pants, but he gets out tomorrow at noon, so his legs are sure to get summery soon.  (And hopefully tan. Man, my kids are white!)

It’s summer!  Wednesday we’ll celebrate both big kids being out of school by hitting the pool.  How are you celebrating?  And how are your kids’ “summer legs” looking?

I ran across this video the other day… perhaps you’re one of the 1,223,008 people who watched it before I did, but if not, take a look.

Is that not the best idea ever? I only wish I’d thought of it seven years ago. Maybe if I had, I would remember exactly what Kate’s first word was and stuff like that. Because – and I am ashamed to admit this – I kept up her baby book for approximately three days. That’s the #1 reason I’m glad we have this blog, because this way at least she’ll know about what a nut case her mother is and other various moments in her life. But still – I think I’m going to set up an email address for her and Sam. I just think that is the coolest idea.

This brings me to another subject I’ve been thinking about lately… how old should a child be when he or she gets an email address?

My dad texted me the other day with a message for Kate, which is what prompted this train of thought. I am not going to get my seven year old a cell phone to text with, but I thought it might be fun for her to correspond with my dad and Joshua and other family members. She loves writing and loves the computer. But then I think of all those Dateline online predator shows and reconsider.

So, what do you think? When did/would you let your kids have their own email account?