Day 13: Mama Says Watch Your Mouth!!!

So, I was listening to the radio on my way to the car wash today and Akon’s song I Wanna F[iretru]ck You came on the radio.  Have you ever listened to the words to that song?!?!  Well, as I did I started thinking, “What girl in their right mind thinks this song is a turn-on”???  What about “I Wanna F[iretru]ck You” coming out of a strangers mouth makes one want to stop swinging on their pole and hop on a penis?!?!  AND when is this song appropriate to play for a woman?!?!?!?  As I played different scenarios in my head of an acceptable time (or activity) when this song would be appropriate for the average couple to fornicate to, another very confusing song came on the radio…Get Low by Lil Jon.  Why are B[rit]ches crawling from the window to the wall?!?!?!?!?  Why is sweat dripping down his balls?!?!?!?  When is this song appropriate to listen to when you are trying to set the mood…or anytime for that matter?!?!  AND what man is saying this stuff to his woman?!?!  I am just baffled!  However, sadly, I guarantee if you walk into any club this summer you will hear both of these songs and you will see women grinding their butts into a man’s business while the songs are being played…there is so much wrong with that I don’t even know where to start…or if I will cover it all.

Let’s start here…If the song is speaking of a women performing a prostitute-like act (without receiving payment or while recieving payment), WHY are you grinding your business into someone else’s business while it’s playing???  You are reinforcing the acceptance of YOU being devalued as a woman.  I’m not trying to start a new women’s rights movement; I’m just saying you’re NOT going to get respect acting like a hooker! AND that’s the wrong way to get a man’s attention!!!  (Unless you are just looking for a one night stand or booty-call.  If so by all means be an unpaid hooker...or paid hooker.  Whatever floats your boat).  I have news for those of you who do this…the man that you meet during this song, the one you’re grinding your business on, is a PLAYA!!! He IS gonna f[iretru]ck you, then LEAVE YOU and I DARE you to cry about it!!!

Also, HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR YOURSELF!!! I’m sorry but if I hear “all you b[rit]ches crawl”  I’m not going to be dancing and grinding with ANY man.  I am for beaver dam sure NOT gonna be crawling anywhere!  If I did, I would CUUUUUTTTTT someone for addressing me as a b[rit]ch while I was doing it!!!

Ending on a good note…if you are in need of a romantic voice to help you in the OR into the sack, try using your own voice instead of degrading music.  If you are too embarrassed to speak then don’t speak at all!!!  I guarantee you’ll get better results with no words at all than listening to an “ex-dealer who used to move amphetamines” or someone saying “drop dat [p]ass to the floor, who scared, you scared”.  Moral of the story, RESPECT yourself so others will too!!! XOXO! Chat soon!

Mama's Better

I am finally well! Praise the LORD! 

My kidney infection was accompanied by a pancreas and lung infection...which sucked really bad. My house is a wreck and the laundry is piled to my ears. :(

Ending on a good note:  I am feeling better.  Enough said!

Mama Got Sick... :(

I SOoOoOo apologize for my recent absence to blog world...in addition to an extremely busy week I managed to end up in the hospital yesterday with a kidney infection and some unresolved, undiagnosed lung issues…

Just so all of you Mamas out there know...the symptoms of a kidney infection can onset suddenly!  I mean within an hour!!! SERIOUSLY!  When the symptoms make their appearance you feel like you have been hit by a Mac truck traveling full speed ahead at 75 mph!!! After a 5 hour stay in the ER, (not so bad I think), I was able to return home, on a butt-load of medications with instructions to "rest"...whatever that is with four children and a husband...

That being said I am going to “rest” for the remainder of the evening (mostly because it is bed-time for my children and I will have the chance to rest).  Just to reassure all of you (including my dear friend Mrs. NW), I have been making notes day by day to ensure I have real-life material to fill you in on.

Ending on a good note...I am thankful that every stay I have had in a hospital, in my adult life, I have been accompanied by my husband.  He has been there holding my hand, running his fingers through my hair, making me smile, while taking on the role of my health advocate since we got married 10 years ago.  I’m not quite sure how I got so lucky to find him so early in my life, but I’m thankful I did.  I hope all of you have someone who does the same for you!  If you don’t, I’m absolutely positive you will find them soon!  Thank you all for continuing to follow my blog!!! Chat soon! J

I love you B!!! You are my favorite man in the world!

Day 12: Middle-Class Mama Has An “Ah ha” Moment!

Today I sat outside my lab instructor’s office waiting to meet with her when a classmate from last semester came and sat next to me.  He was waiting to meet with her too.  Him and I have the same major, have taken a lot of classes together, and are due to graduate around the same time.  I asked him when he was graduating because I knew it should be soon.  He said, “Yup, I graduate in May. You?”  I replied, “December, I keep putting it off”.  He said he has been doing the same and asked me why I have been delaying graduating.  I replied, “I guess I just don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.  I wish I could be a professional college student”.  He chuckled and said, “I don’t know what I want to do either”.  We sat in silence for a few minutes.  Then he said, “I think you should be a teacher…a college professor.  You would be good at that”. 

Ah ha...

When I started my college career my intention was to be an elementary school teacher.  However, my internship experience quickly changed my mind.  After that horrid experience, I felt drawn to the social sciences (psychology and social work) and decided to pursue a degree in one of those fields instead.  I am very happy with my choice of major but sometimes I still have the urge to pursue teaching.  Usually when I have those urges I take a good look at high school students and the urges quickly pass.  I would love to reach others within my chosen profession on a grand scale.  I don’t want to be stuck at the department of social services as a caseworker all my life nor do I want to be stuck in a lab analyzing data searching for a small sign of some significant finding to publish in an article.  How better to reach others than to teach masses of college students?  Then, I could be a career college student! AND my kids could go to college for free!!! HOLLA…WHOOP, WHOOP…and the cabbage patch and such!!!

AH HA!!!

As I said, I am scheduled to graduate with a bachelor's degree in the fall.  If I took a couple of classes over the summer I could graduate before.  I’m not quite sure I’m that motivated.  After looking into this whole “teaching college” thing I know I still have a long way to go (about four years).  However, I now have a plan with a goal and I am headed in the right direction.  Thanks to a fellow student who was able to see the path I was traveling down before I did.    

Ending on a good note…to all you middle-class mamas out there that have NO IDEA where you are headed, other than to the car-rider line and lacrosse practice like me, keep your eyes and ears open for your “ah ha” moment.  It can be presented by anyone, anywhere at any time. 

Day 11: Good Friends Are Hard To Find!

Happy Monday folks!  I apologize for being silent this weekend; I had a weekend full of evening/late-night birthday celebrations!  Oh, what fun I had! 

One of the parties I attended was a surprise 40^th birthday celebration for a very dear friend.  I stressed for a week over what I was going to wear to the function…  Should I dress cute casual?  Should I dress business casual?  Should I dress cocktail party dressy?  Overwhelmed by all the stress of picking the best ensemble to wear and after my husband’s request of, “umm…could you dress up…you know, dress up, not like a homely house-mom for a change” (yes, he really said that), I decided to do all of the above!  I wore a nude colored floral print cocktail dress with a cute casual nude colored half leather jacket and nude colored business casual peep toe shoes with a little 4 inch glittery gold hooker pizazz.  Just to add a little “homely house-mom” to the mix I bought a pair of spandex shorts to wear under my dress.  (Take that hubby)!  I was uncomfortable (except for the shorts) but cute!

Now down to the party!  It began with a shouted “SURPRISE” for the birthday boy, after that there were HAPPY children who were running, laughing and playing.  Then we all gathered together, sat and enjoyed EXCELLENT food, GREAT wine, and the company of WONDERFUL friends. 

As I sat, reveling in my food and wine while chatting with my friends, it dawned on me how lucky I am.  I am so lucky to be surrounded by wonderful women who are truly honest and loving friends.  There is no competition between us.  If one is succeeding the others are truly happy.  If one is in need of support the others are there to give it by any means necessary.  How many women can honestly say that?  

Ending on a good note…middle-class mom's out there, make sure you take the time to stop and appreciate who you have in your life not what you have.  Your UGG boots can’t wipe your tears and your North Face jacket can’t cheer you on, but those girlfriends that answer their cell phones at 8:50 am when they are trying to get their kids out the door to school CAN!  Even though all of my chicks were not at this particular celebration, I hope you girls (KC, KM, JW, CC, AB, JM, JH…and whoever I forgot) know how much you mean to me!  I love you all SOOOOO much!  I would slash tires for you!!! ;-)  

Day 10: What Are You Looking At?

Why is it whenever I have to discipline (scold/lecture) one of my children in public there is a single, middle-aged white woman staring at me like I just beat my child?  This is beyond irritating to me for several reasons!  

First of all, if I did not correct my children the same middle-aged white woman would be wondering why I didn't.  Probably claiming, "That’s what's wrong with the youth today"...  

Second of all, YOU DONT HAVE ANY CHILDREN!!!  If you do not care for children on a regular basis and do not have any of your own you have NO RIGHT to stare at me when I am lecturing my child about why it is disrespectful to back-talk his parents.  

Finally, it is not polite to stare!!! I lecture my children day, after day, after day about how RUDE it is to stare!!!!!!  Well, you know what?  Tonight I told my four children to turn and stare at the middle-aged white woman staring at us.  Maybe then she got the freakin' hint!!!

To all those women out there who stare at Moms while correcting their children, BEWARE!  I am the wrong one to be staring at!!!  I will embarrass you by pointing you out because I do not care if by doing so I embarrass myself! 

Ending on a good note...my children know they must follow the rules whether in public or at home.  Due to that fact, whenever my children go on play dates I receive nothing but compliments on how well-behaved they are.  Looks like I’m doing something right middle-aged white lady who stares.  So suck it!   

Day 9 (12 hrs late): Chew With Your Mouth Shut Moo Cow!

Well...as planned I opened my eyes today to see every POP of color around me! 

I was sitting in a restaurant today, alone, in a corner booth, peacefully eating a hot meal by myself.  (Those of you who are mommies appreciate the rarity of this occasion).  I was enjoying the food, the music playing, and the unique decor of the restaurant.  Suddenly, all this peacefulness and serenity was interrupted by a CRUNCH!!!

I usually pick a restaurant where I am in "like middle-class" company.  Therefore it is assumed the guests have been raised in a home, not in a barn, and are capable of eating like humans instead of cows.  However, on this particular occasion my booth neighbors stomped that rule all to Hell, Michigan (actually a town, look it up). 

Those of you who know me personally understand that I have no tolerance for poor table manners!!! How do socialized people grow from children into adults thinking it is ok to go out to eat, with other people around them, and CHEW and CRUNCH and SPIT their food?!?! 

With that in mind, I have decided to take this opportunity to educated those who may be reading whom were never taught table manners.  Please see rules below: 

1.      Sweatpants with holes and an old t-shirt are not proper attire to a middle-class restaurant.  (If there is a drive thru window you are NOT at a middle-class restaurant.  If there is a napkin and a wine glass on the table you should just leave because you will embarrass yourself).

2.      When you are served your food, sit down before you take a bite.

3.      Use your silverware unless you are eating a burger, taco or such.

4.      Use your napkin not your sleeve or pants legs to wipe your mouth or hands on.

5.      DO NOT CHEW WITH YOUR MOUTH OPEN!!!  (If you chew with your mouth open and see NOTHING wrong with it…stick to the restaurants with the drive through windows where it is expected and accepted because you look like a cow chewing its cud.  If you have no idea what a cow’s cud is…again, stick to the drive thru restaurants…preferably using the drive thru).

6.      DO NOT TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL!!! (I have not encountered a person who enjoys being sprayed by food their neighbor is eating.  It is gross.  Stop it!).

7.      When you are finished eating DO NOT slurp, suck or pick the food from your teeth.  (This is also disgusting).

8.       If you are confused by any of these rules, just stay at home and eat…while you are home read a book on table manners and etiquette. 

      

*The above titles can be found at www.barnesandnoble.com .*

Ending on a good note… Unfortunately, the only pops of color I was able to see today were that of chewed tortilla chips and hot salsa spraying from my neighbor’s mouth!!! Wasn't the inspiration I was hoping for, but inspiring none-the-less. 

Day 8: Middle-Class Mom's Run On Auto Pilot!

When trying to decide which episode of my day I would like to expose the world to today I drew a blank!  I started replaying my day over in my head from start to finish searching for some interesting detail to write about, find humor in or learn from.  I realized I couldn't even truly remember my commute home.  Today I wasn't operating manually; I was operating on auto pilot.

This fact was startling to me!  A whole day had went by and I failed to wake up from my daily routine long enough to notice, well anything.  This is scary!  Did I stay far enough from the back of the car in front of me on my commute to and from school?  Did my children's clothes match when they went to school today?  Did my clothes match when I went to school today? Did I use the bathroom today?...Grr...a gray and rainy day with a gray and rainy haze over my life.  Impairing color from jumping out and saying, "Hey, look at me"!!! 

My goal for tomorrow is to be conscious of my surroundings and notice everything.  I even want to notice those things that would normally mean nothing!

Ending on a good note...no matter how gray your day is consciously open your eyes to see the POP of color in front of you.  If you don't, you may miss something important or inspiring!  

Day 7: Mama's Tired (REVISED)!

Today I spent my day in the Emergency Room with my Dad who was in a car accident this morning.  He was rear-ended by a young boy who was reaching for something, didn't see my Dad's blinker, or didn't know my Dad was turning...who knows which story is correct...pick which one you want to believe because those are the three he gave to the officer.  My Dad is home and doing well...stubborn but doing well... 

Ending on a good note...I am thankful my Dad was not severely injured today.  I am also thankful for my family's ability to laugh through a bad situation!  Hug your loved ones and tell them every chance you get how much they mean to you!  Goodnight all...chat soon!

*I love you Daddy! <3

Day 6: Middle-Class Moms Worry!

As you can guess yesterday is weighing heavy on my mind.  On my commute this morning I heard a song on the radio that inspired me...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6dMFF_yts&ob=av2e.  Maybe it gave me a new perspective, maybe the mixture of several different genres of music compiled into one song spoke to me...I don't know.  I do know I found comfort in it, and now I feel a bit better.

Ending on a good note...music can soothe your soul.  Chat soon!

Day 5: Knock, Knock it's Your Wake-Up Call!

Today, to my surprise, my alarm clock was the Maryland State Police.  Yes, you read correctly, it was the Po-Po Ho (in my Medea voice) knocking on my front door.  I would like to take this opportunity to put out there, for my curious neighbors (YES, I seen all of you drive by....at least twice), the reason those police officers were in my driveway is none of your beaver dam business! Clean your closets before you go trying to peak into someone elses!

Every day as an adult I am faced with new challenges.  Some of these challenges leave me feeling helpless, disappointed, hurt, confused, enraged; however, some challenges leave me feeling happy, enlightened and thankful.  You know what?  Regardless of the challenge we as adults must pull ourselves together, put on our big girl panties and big boy pants and continue to live life heading in the right direction.  We cannot dwell on what could've been, should've been or would've been while playing the role of the helpless victim. 

It is my experience that there are some people who, unfortunately, will have to travel down the wrong path to get to the correct one.  As the kind officer said, as we discussed this topic, "Our goal in life as citizens should not be walking a completely straight line.  Our goal in life as citizens should be to walk a crooked line that doesn't interfere with anyone else's life.  Because, if we don't make mistakes we will never learn from them".  What an amazing thing for an officer of the law to say and believe!  I am thankful this particular officer is who knocked on my door this morning.  I am thankful this officer recognized the importance of interacting with my confused family.  I am also thankful for the officer's ability to show concern and compassion for us as citizens.  In meeting him today I have learned a lot about the crime in my community, about those keeping us safe, and made a new friend while doing it. 

Ending on a good note...today I thought I was presented with a dark cloud.  I am thankful that what I initially perceived as a dark cloud was actually a ray of sunshine.  I urge each and every one of you to greet your challenging situations at the front door.  Face them head on whith honesty and conviction and don't look back!  For my southern end of the county neighbors, we should be VERY THANKFUL and find comfort in knowing that the state police officer patrolling our area is genuinely looking out for the safety of our community and that he's NOT a Type-A cyborg on a POWER TRIP!

*Officer K, if you ever read this, if there is a next time please ring the door bell and Thank You...for everything! DNR it is! :)

Day 4 (a Day Late): So You Say Middle-Class Mama is Just a Friend?

Yesterday I spoke with a long-time friend who happens to be male.  We engaged in conversation as usual, How are you?, How have you been?, etc., etc.  I asked about his children...they are growing.  I asked about his job...he's being stationed in Okinawa, Japan in two months :(.  I asked about his wife...oh, she's fine...she doesn't know I'm talking to you.  I'm not allowed to have female friends...............

STOP THE BUS!!!

What is up with that? I said, "What because I have a vagina you're not allowed to speak to me?  I can assure your wife that you have male friends that would cause more trouble than I would.  I am happily married with four kids, five dogs and two cats"!  Seriously (thats meant in the "is this female dog kidding" sense of the word) !!!

Are my husband and I the only crazy people who don't get upset by the other having opposite sex friends?  Why is this such an issue? 

So people out there in computer screen world...give me some feedback here!  

Ending on a good note while awaiting insight...I was able to speak to my friend before he was shipped over-seas.  For that I am truly thankful!  Also, this middle-class mama, is blessed to have a husband that does not care what my friends are packing between their legs!

Day 3: Middle-Class Moms Can't Change Stupid!

Cheers to the freakin weekend y'all!!!

If any of you 25 and ups are daydreaming of going back to college, I'm here to tell you BE PREPARED to bite your tongue, turn your head and pretend your deaf! If you cannot do any of the things suggested you should probably get your degree online!

First encounter with stupidity today...I was sitting in the library, studying for an S&P exam when two guys walked by to enter the men's room directly behind me...together.  (I thought girls were notorious for going to the bathroom together, but whatever).  I heard the stall doors shut, then some very gross and horrible noises!  I instinctively looked up and around to see if anyone else was hearing what I heard (according to my husband I have super-sonic hearing so I'm never sure)...  When I looked up I met eyes with three people sitting around me, also within hearing distance, who were OBVIOUSLY wondering the same thing :)  Meanwhile, toilets flush, trashcans slam and the door opens.  The two guys come out together (Weird but whatever).  One guy says to the other, "Man, that was epic"...the other responds "Yeah man, that sounded painful"...WTF[IRETRUCK]!!!...REALLY?!?!.....REALLY?!?!  We all just heard you SHIT[AKE] mushroom! REALLY?!?!   

Second encounter with stupidity today...apparently it is appropriate to lay out in your bikini in barely 70 degree weather.  Why do I say this you ask?  Well, as I was walking across campus to my car during a tornado advisory, I passed three girls freezing their ass[ignments] off trying to look HOT by laying out on the campus lawn in their bikini's...goosebumps, hard nipples and all!  My message to them, "Baby girls, 70 degree weather equals short sleeve shirts not bikinis. Go on now, put some clothes on"...."bless your little hearts"!  

This next encounter with stupid is not related to college in any way, shape, or form....I wish it was...

Third and most recent encounter with stupidity today...just before I left, as I mentioned when discussing bikini's, there was a tornado advisory alert sent out campus wide.  I didn't think anything of it.  I got in my car and started home merging onto Rt.13 then on to Rt. 50.  Traffic was HORRIBLE.  I got behind a women who's kids have four paws, whom attended UMBC and also attended JHU.  (I gathered all this information from her bumper stickers and window decals).  This highly educated animal lover was driving 15mph in a 35mph zone, driving with two feet (stop & go) and then proceeded to turn left without using her blinker! Grr!!! "USE YOUR BOOK SMARTS TO PRETEND YOU HAVE COMMON SENSE LADY", I yelled at her as I drove by!  Oh how I wish this was the encounter with stupidity I am referring to, but its not (sigh)...  I continued on my way home driving along singing to Sirius Hits 1...then my mom called.  I was chatting away with her (hands free)...still driving along...before I knew it I was half way home.  I turned by NDHS towards Hurlock and noticed a strange looking cloud.  I said to my mom, "There's a cloud right next to me that look suspicious"!  Didn't think anything of it...  Meanwhile she's yelling and carrying on that she can't hear me because I'm breaking up...blah, blah, blah...storm...blah, blah, blah...get off the phone....blah, blah, blah...storm...I don't know what she was saying we were breaking up!  I got off the phone.  Didn't think anything of it...  I was not paying any mind to the suspicious cloud next to me, the lightening around me the gusts of wind beating against my car or my phone breaking up.  As I got closer to Preston I encountered puddles falling from the sky making it almost impossible to see the road in front of me.  Didn't think anything of it...  I got to the school, swam to the door to meet the kids and then swam back to the truck to load them up.  Then, completely saturated, we headed home.  It wasn't until I got home, seen the face book updates and added up the facts that I realized I was probably driving parallel to a tornado and directly through a severe thunderstorm.  Yay me!!! No wonder that cloud looked suspicious!!! (Unfortunately, due to my own stupidity I do not have a picture of the cloud).

Ending on a good note....while this middle-class mama cannot change stupid I can definitely learn from it.  Lesson one: NEVER take a shit[ake] mushroom in the library.  Everyone will hear it!  Lesson two:  DO NOT layout in my bikini on the campus lawn when it is only 70 degrees because people will be able to see my hard nipples!  Lesson three:  ALWAYS USE YOUR BOOK SMARTS MRS. M TO PRETEND YOU HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE!!! :)

Day 2 Epilogue: Middle-Class Mama says, "Lesson Learned"!

Happy Friday! All my girls in the house say WHOOP, WHOOP!

So, as you all have read, I gave my little brother 24 whole hours to explain why installing a surveillance camera on my house was necessary before I sold the camera on the Internet.  I guess he must have thought I was bluffing until he seen me headed towards the door with a screwdriver in my hand!  He, in a panic, explained to me that someone has threatened to vandalize his vehicle and he installed the camera to catch them on video.  "Please don't take it down", he begged.  How hard was it to say that in the first place??? How hard was it to ask??? Why did it take all that trouble and waisted time, coming up with a punishment, for him to come to me and be honest??? Ugh!!!

Ending on a good note....The camera is still on my house...and if a PUNK chooses the wrong vehicle to vandalize I will have their face on camera...and you best believe I am not above punching* a "just-barely-an-adult" for touching what belongs to ME!  Step-off! You don't know what I have in my purse!

*Mrs. M does not promote unnecessary violence!

Day 2: This Middle-Class Mama's Gonna Teach You a Lesson!

Hello all!  Bare with me, I had a margarita with dinner...

As I mention in my opening post my brother lives with me.  I love my brother, unconditionally.  He is ten years younger than me therefore is treated more like one of my children than like a sibling.  That being said, I feel it is my duty to teach my children and him life lessons including those on respect.

A few days ago my husband discovered a surveillance camera installed on our house.  Since we did not put it there that only left my 20 year old brother as suspect.  Shocked and appalled, I felt it necessary to approach him immediately!  He nonchalantly admitted to installing the camera one night while my husband and I slept.  (I'm talking screwed to the soffit, wires ran behind knee-walls type install and he saw nothing wrong with it).  My first reaction...I found the fact that my brother found it acceptable to install a fixture on my home without permission disrespectful...i was hurt!  My second reaction...that little f[iretru]cker* is gonna get smacked!  My third and most rational reaction...this middle-class mama is gonna teach him a lesson!!!  I sat idle for a few days pondering the best way to go about it and this is what I came up with...today I gave him 24 hours to provide me with a good reason why it was and is necessary for a surveillance camera to be installed on my house and why it was not necessary to request my permission first. (His current reason of "because it's cool" is unacceptable)!!!  If after this 24 hour period he is unable to provide a viable reason for his actions it is understood that I will rip the camera off of my house and sell it on-line to the highest bidder.  Which you can bet your bottom dollar I will do!

Ending on a good note...We as parents, older siblings and guardians, middle-class or not, need to keep it real!  If taking his camera and selling it on Craig's List or EBay makes me mean, than so be it.  I'll wear that label along with the wrinkles on my forehead.  Because, at the end of the day, I know that I did my part as a responsible adult. Not only have I reprimanded him for vandalism, I am also teaching him that it is not acceptable to walk through life doing whatever you want with no regard to how it will affect others around you.

*I have given up using profane language for Lent...due to this I am forced to come up with clever ways to express myself through what would usually be a curse word. 

Day 1: Middle-Class Moms wake up with wrinkles because they cannot afford Botox.

Today I woke up with wrinkles.  I am 98.75% confident they were not there yesterday.  I'm also pretty sure I could label the gross long wrinkle across my forehead STRESS and the little wrinkle above it WORRY.  Unlike those in the socioeconomic class above me, I cannot financially afford to run off to the local dermatologist to seek out Botox treatments.  No, I have to wear them across my forehead like battle scars...battle scars of life...

While on the subject of lack of money, I often wonder if my middle-class comrades realize we are the working poor.  As middle-class college students it was necessary to take out loans to pay for an education because we were not poor enough to qualify for assistance and not rich enough to pay cash.  We were assured that our college degree would lead to gainful employment that would more than pay for our student loans it would buy us houses, cars and college funds for our children.  We graduated college, found jobs and bought houses, cars and college funds, then SPLAT!!!  We were all standing around wondering,"What is that foul smelling substance that just hit that fan over there??  Wouldn't it figure, just when we dug ourselves from the middle-class trench and were sitting on the green grassy edge of the lower upper-class there was a mud-slide, and we fell back in.  Now we are struggling.  We as a social class are lucky to have jobs even with college degrees.  We as a social class cannot pay our student loans.  We as a social class have been forced to clean out our children's college funds to pay for the mortgage, groceries, heat and electric.  (I'm aware that this theory does not apply to all).  Wouldn't you almost rather be poor! Then the state would pick up part of the bill...

Ending on a good note...if we have hit bottom economically there is no place to go but up.  I will keep clawing and scraping my way out of the middle-class trench to show my children that you never give up.  Even when the odds are not in your favor.  Also, if wrinkles are the battle scars of life, I will wear them proudly.  Even if they are attributed to stress and worry...they are proof that I went to battle against stress and worry, that I fought in that battle against stress and worry and that I won...  So can you! Hang in there middle-class wear your wrinkles like a new Coach bag!

 

Hello world of Blog!  I'm pretty sure you've heard of the Tiger Mom...ever heard of the Middle-Class Mom?  This is a group of mom's that clean their own homes, dye their own hair, give themselves mani's & pedi's, are members of the PTA, work full-time* and know how to make a weeks worth of groceries last two.  How do I know?  I am a middle-class mom.  

I am 30 years old.  I live in a small town, in a large house with my husband, my four children, my brother, five dogs and two cats.  I work part-time from home, attend a local university full-time, volunteer for the local athletics organizations and volunteer at the local elementary school.

With all that going on in my life why blog you ask?  To expose each and everyone of you to my awesome venting skills.  I will post the trials and tribulations of my life everyday for a year.  Sit back, relax and enjoy as I expose what life is really like for middle-class American moms!

*I feel I should share my definition of working "full-time".  If you are a "stay-at-home mom" you work full-time.  If you do not work and your lack of employment is not related to a disability or bad economy, you live off of the state and at one time gave birth, I do not consider you a stay-at-home mom.