You're busy, I get it. Life has its way of taking over sometimes. But, please! Just stop whatever it is you're doing and take a minute to read some very wise words from my five-year-old, Mr. President #1.
Yesterday was a typical, busy Saturday for our family. The day began with a quick breakfast (while still half asleep), followed by a basketball game; a visit to Grandma M's house; lunch at our Jamaican go-to spot; a store run for diapers, milk and the regular essentials; fulfilling of a promise for a toy pick-up at Target; another fulfilling of a promise to see Kung Fu Panda 3, finally ending with an impromptu decision to have a late diner at the AG Kitchen.
By the time we finished the movie, I was about ready to crawl in bed and get lost in my covers. But everyone was hungry, the smell of really good food was in the air, and we were surrounded by restaurants, which pretty much made our decision to dine out a no-brainer. When we walked into the restaurant, the music was loud, there were people everywhere, Mr. President #2 was whining, Mr. President #1 had started doing the potty dance, and my husband was pretty miserable. Did I really just decide to take the family out to a restaurant? Well...we were there, it was cold outside, and we were hungry, so WE WERE STAYING!
When my husband and I finally got everyone situated, things went pretty smoothly. The kid orders for the Presidents came minutes after placing the order, and the adult orders followed fairly quickly. The food was amazing, and all-in-all, it was a pretty good night!
As we were packing up our leftovers and getting everyone bundled up to head outside, Mr. President #1 said to me, "I kind of liked this dinner, Mommy!" Wait a minute...WAIT A MINUTE! Really? Did Mr. President #1 just say that he LIKED DINNER? What? But he wasn't finished there. He had even MORE to say: "I like how we ate french fries, colored and shared. I have fun spending time with my family. We should do this more often!" I had to pick up my jaw off of the floor. I could not believe Mr. President #1 had just told me that he had fun spending time with his family and even suggested that we do it more often! You know what, though? He is absolutely right!
As we were walking to the car, I took a minute to really think about what he was saying to me. We always get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, we don't make time to value the things that really matter -- family. Don't worry. It's okay to admit it! I'm a victim of being overcome by life too, but sometimes we need to pause and really take a minute to appreciate the most important things in life.
I have to say...I'm a little disappointed with myself. It shouldn't take a statement by my five-year-old to remind me to spend time with my family, but boy, am I glad that happened!
I have a challenge for you. Take a little time this week to spend time with your family, or dedicate a portion of your day to doing something that is important to you. You know why dinner was so great? Because it was just us. No cell phones, no ipads, no television, no gaming devices...just family, good food, and good conversation with a two and five-year-old.
​We won't survive this thing called "motherhood" if we don't take time to appreciate our children and the things in life that really matter. Yes, it is important to take care of YOU, but you must make time to spend it with your loved ones. I know life is precious, and if you're anything like me, you're worried about wasting some of that "precious" time to get things done! But remember this: Life is not only precious, but it's short. Spending time with your loved ones is NEVER A WASTE OF TIME. Now, enough rambling from me! Go ahead and start your challenge! Aren't you glad you took some time to read these very wise words from my five-year-old?

It was a typical noisy and rowdy Friday evening at our home, and Mr. President #1 and Mr. President #2 were very energetically watching a recorded episode of Paw Patrol in the family room! I, unfortunately, had to do a little cooking that evening, so I was in the kitchen cleaning up from dinner and doing the dishes.
When I looked over at the Presidents, they seemed to be having a good time -- jumping up and down chanting, "Go...go...go," so I just knew they would be happily occupied for a while longer.
Thinking I had bought myself some extra time, I ran up the steps to throw a load of clothes into the dryer. When I was in the laundry room, I heard a bit of music coming from the downstairs family room and noticed that Mr. President #1 and Mr. President #2 had suddenly gotten awfully quiet. I could only image what was going on down there.
I turned on the dryer and quickly tip-toed down the steps so I could see what those two were up to without distracting them...you know what I mean!! Now, don't ask me how they got this on the television, but the Presidents were somehow watching a Beyonce' concert!! Yes -- you read that correctly! Beyonce', LIVE, wherever she was! Mr. President #1 and Mr. President #2 were standing completely STILL, directly in front of the television, watching Beyonce' perform in concert with her remnants on.
I said to the Presidents, "How did you two get Beyonce' on the tv?" After I received not a single response from either one of them, I said, "Hello?? Can you hear me? I'm talking to the two of you!" Still nothing, but I did notice one thing. Depending upon which direction Beyonce' was moving her body in or shaking her hips, Mr. President #1 would turn his head directly that way. If Beyonce' went left, Mr. President #1's head would tilt to the left. All I could think to myself was, "Uh oh...here we go."
I reached for the remote to put something a little more "clean" and educational on the television, and Mr. President #1 (still glued to the screen) says to me, "I wish THAT was my mom!"
Mr. President #1 stopped me in my tracks for a second, but I couldn't even be upset at his remark! After all, Beyonce' is talented and she is definitely sexy, lol! It's such a good feeling to know that my darling first-born son is soooo "Crazy In Love" with me!

I'm sure all of our kids go through the jumping on the bed phase...heck, I did it when I was a kid! Mr. President #1 now has Mr. President #2 picking up his bad habit and jumping on the bed too!!!
Well, the other day, Mr. President #1 decided he was going to start jumping on his bed. The sound of jumping on the bed just drives me nuts, but the images that pop in my head of someone flying off of the bed, bumping his head on the dresser and losing a few teeth drives me to someone you haven't met just yet...Crazy Mommy! Yes, that's what Mr. President #1 and #2 like to call me.
But I digress...my husband happened to be home during this jumping on the bed session, and trust me, he goes even more nuts when he hears the sound of the kids bouncing on the bed. My husband slowly and quietly walked up the steps, stuck his head into the doorway of the bedroom and yelled, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" He startled Mr. President #1 so much so that he literally jumped right off of the bed! Don't worry...no teeth flew anywhere.
But I guess my husband's firm voice and the minor injury he sustained still wasn't enough to stop Mr. President #1-- he just kept right on jumping. As the sun was starting to set, and it was getting a little dark in the bedroom, my husband was a little more serious the second time around and said to him, "You need to listen, son. This is the last time I am going to tell you. I don't want you in here jumping on the bed in the dark!"
Although Mr. President #1 probably knew that he had just gotten his final warning, he decided to keep jumping on the bed anyway. My husband and I looked at each other like, "Did he not just hear me tell him to stop jumping on the bed," so my husband made one last effort to tell Mr. President #1 to stop jumping on the bed. When he walked in the room he said to Mr. President #1, "Didn't I just tell you to stop jumping on the bed?" Mr. President #1 responded by saying, "No. You told me to stop jumping in here in the dark! I turned the light on!"
Well, there you have it! Kids say the darndest things. And just when you think they aren't listening, they probably heard every word you said. Needless to say, we laughed a little before my husband went and grabbed Mr. President #1 off of the bed.