Mrs Hannigan's Home for Girls

So the other day I was feeling defeated in the “Trying-to-be-my-best” category. I was probably tired. Probably because my husband was out of town leaving me to do everything by myself. I fell asleep wondering why I even bother.

We all have days like that.

I awoke about half an hour after I laid down to a high pitched scream right in my ear. Evelyn had a nightmare, I guess. She was crying “it’s gone” and “she taked it.”

I was shooshing her. Not very nicely, either. I think I said “Oh my God just go to sleep.” With Daddy gone, my room turns into a King-sized nest. Grace (4) sits up, bleary eyed, and pats Evelyn on the back and says “It’s gone?” Evelyn replies “yeah. she taked it” and Grace says “I will get it back for you, just lay down sweetie. I love you.” And Evelyn lays down and goes right back to sleep. Gabriella lays her hand on my cheek and says (still half asleep) “Mom, you are the best person in the world.” I said “Thank you honey” feeling totally unworthy but flattered nonetheless.

That’s why I even bother. If I can’t convince her that I’m not the best person in the world, then I better at least not suck completely.

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FeedBurnerhooked you up. Seriously, you’ll be glad you did this. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about a few things.

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So the other day I was feeling defeated in the “Trying-to-be-my-best” category. I was probably tired. Probably because my husband was out of town leaving me to do everything by myself. I fell asleep wondering why I even bother.
We all have days like that.
I awoke about half an hour [...]

Watching kids learn naturally is one of the most amazing things in the world. Today Gabriella asked how much a plane ticket was. I said about $400. Within minutes she had found several ways to calculate what it would cost for our family to fly somewhere.
We were in the car, so she pointed [...]

Discovery Health recently aired a special called “Radical Parenting” where they profiled three “extreme” families. One was an Attachment parenting mom, who spoke about extended nursing, co-sleeping and elimination communication. Another was a feminist mom who took care not to expose her sons to the idea that toys, clothes and colors had sexual connotations. [...]

My husband is away in Alabama, working on a film for the next 32 days. I have a stack of books to keep me busy. I’ve actually started reading each of these, my goal this month is to finish them. Here’s my reading list. Nope, I lied, it’s not really 32 books, but [...]

A middle school mom, Ann Wentworth of Fon du Lac Wisconsin wants these books banned from her daughter’s school district.
She’s petitioned the school (at the expense of local taxpayers) and lost the first request for censorship. She keeps adding books to her list. I imagine every time she reads one it [...]

The kids got some money from their Grandma recently and Grace (4) spent her money in the store of Emilee (16) & Meagan (13). Emilee & Meagan tend to set aside some trinkets and things they know the little kids will like and when the little kids get any money, the older girls will [...]

I’m number 15. See,

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Imagine that. I’m not sure what the point of it all is, but 15 out of a gazillionty is really good. I think I’ll celebrate. Anyone wanna run circles in the yard with me while the kids chase us? Didn’t think so.

If deep [...]

A few years ago, when Grace (now 4) was a baby I drove all 5 kids down to California. I was a bit nervous about being 1200 miles from home and not having another adult to share road-trip responsibilities. Think about it; every potty break for 1200 miles involved unbuckling 3 kids in car seats [...]

One goal of mine has been to get the income from my websites up to a point where I wouldn’t ever feel “forced” to work. Well, I haven’t felt forced to work for the past ten days. TEN DAYS- that is a miracle for me, I find it way too easy to be glued [...]

It’s about 9:30 p.m.
My 2 yr old is reaching for a basket. She’s in my arms and it’s just out of her reach. She grunts and says “Help me reach it mommy” (but not like that, it’s more like 2 words “hewlpme reachitmommy”) and I lean over so she can reach.
I discover she was really [...]

Last August when grace turned 4, I don’t know if I posted pictures or anything. Sure, I could go back through the archives, but that always takes so long for me because the “search posts” feature never works like I want it to and I end up rereading a bunch of old memories and saying [...]

I’ve had a collection of thoughts “gelling” together this week, and I think I’m just about ready to poke them with a fork.
OK- let’s go back in time, like 50 years ago. TV was just invented and families would sit around together and watch TV. You’d ask someone what they’re doing tomorrow [...]

Dear kids
Sorry I suck
Sorry I’m not the sparkly mom who wears makeup and jewelry all the time, even though you’re so good about giving me pretty things, I rarely decorate myself. Sorry about that.
I also wanted to apologize for not being the mom that controls every minute of your day. I was really surprised when [...]

Because honestly I just want to talk about the calendar I bought. I feel like my blog is somehow related to my calendar now because of what happened last year and everything.
So, my kids got a Borders gift card for Xmas and I brought them in on the 28th to spend it. While we [...]

I have a new little buddy, he’s a monster. See him in my sidebar? Here he is, below, in case you’re an email subscriber:

Isn’t he cute?
This is a new magazine for ANYONE who likes to read inspiring stories of personal change.
Y’know how those chicken soup stories are quick little quips that [...]

I don’t even know why I’m bothering to write this because my feedburner subscription thing is all messed up and I’m not sure how to fix it, so probably no one will even know this is here. It could be google’s fault.
Either way, I have to say that I hate kids menus. [...]

I really love it when I realize I’m failing at something because it gives me a clear and present opportunity to improve. Seriously.
So a friend of mine, who is enrolled in a political science class, emails me to send me a quote from a Supreme court judge who is dealing with a case where a [...]

This post was resurrected from last summer. I don’t know why it was still in draft form.Grace and Evelyn just love ladybugs. We bought about 300 of them for the garden and they love to pick them up & bring them back to the tomatoes every chance they get. grace is the official ladybug relocation [...]