Lyons Den Mom

A working mom's stay at home sabbatical

I recently took a few weeks off between jobs. I was burned out, needed a break and really yearning for some quality time with our little Lyons Cubs. Having only known the life of a WM (Working Mom), I always wondered what it would be like to be a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom).

I officially joined the workforce as a gift-wrapping teenager back in the 80’s and since then, my only time off has been maternity leave… nine weeks when Liam was born in 2004, sixteen weeks when Ciara was born in 2006 and twenty weeks when the triplets were born in 2008.

I had mixed emotions about my maternity leaves… perhaps because I had mixed emotions about motherhood. With Liam, I was petrified of this little human that I had no clue how to care for; I was honestly surprised that they thought me capable enough to send us home from the hospital together!

No 'typical' day in the life of the Lyons Den

Last week I had the good fortune to organize a girls night out with a bunch of local moms.  Some I knew, some I didn’t and all seemed to have the same question:  “Tell us about a typical day.  What is it really like with all of those kids?”

One reply would be that there is nothing “typical” about any day in the Lyons Den.  While routine reigns supreme, much like our rules, our routines are quite often broken.   We do our best to just roll with it -- something that does not come naturally to me!  With that in mind, here’s a glimpse into a recent day… let’s call it Tuesday… a Tuesday when the sitter and I both had the day off from work and I was the full-time LyonsDenMOM that I love to be!

      5:45AM     Wake up.  Reluctantly drag sluggish self out of bed,  bundle up for run, stagger to turn on coffee pot on way out.

A Mother's baby photo albums and memories

This Saturday we did something we rarely do: nothing. There were no birthday parties, no sporting events, no family obligations and no errands that couldn’t wait for another day. As we lounged around our living room, something high up on the bookshelf caught my eye. It was my baby album and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to share it with my kids.

They had a hard time believing I was ever so small and I had a hard time believing that my Mom had committed so much time and energy to putting this album together. In addition to all the expected inputs (locks from my first haircut, pictures of my first bath, first Christmas and, alarmingly enough, at ten months, my first beer!), it also has some unexpected inclusions.

A "Pretty Neat" way to get organized and let go of perfection this year

Last Friday was our first official snow day of the year and I have to say, I was as excited to hear the news as the kids were... until I realized the implications for me. My day began by digging under the (dried out, dead!) Christmas tree, in the closets, basement bins and front hall bench desperately searching for five snow jackets, five pairs of snow pants, five pairs of winter boots and ten water-proof mittens. You'd think that by January 7th, I would have located all of these items but, since we were visiting my sister in San Francisco and missed the Christmas blizzard, well, I haven't! It's daunting really, getting five tykes outfitted for a frolic in the snow. Just as it's daunting to take down our now decrepit tree and get all the Christmas decorations away. Sometimes I find it easier to ignore these types of tasks until they demand to be tackled. Like on Friday, thanks to the snow storm. Or this past weekend, when we finally had to say farewell to Christmas and all of it's merry adornments.

As much as I pride myself on being organized and buttoned-up, the missing gloves and sagging tree reminded me that there's always room for improvement and it was with this in mind that I recently read a great book full of practical, useful tips -- Pretty Neat, the buttoned-up way to get organized & let go of perfection (by Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch) is a must-read for anyone who shares my new year's ambition to be more present for my family -- to spend less time stressing the small stuff and more time enjoying the little things that really matter. Pretty Neat is full of tactics, tales and tips that will help you (and me!) to do just that.

Resolutions or Life-long ambitions? Turning 40 makes this mom wonder, what’s the difference

2011 has officially arrived.  Much to my own disbelief, this is the year that our oldest will turn seven (yikes!), our princess will turn 5 (and go to KINDERGARTEN!!!) and our triplets will turn three (however can that be?!).  This is also the year that I will turn 40. I have to say, I’m kind of looking forward to it.  Maybe we’ll have a big party.  Or perhaps  find a way to finagle a weekend away from all of these kids… a girl’s gotta dream, right?  For me, hope springs eternal about what the future will hold and, never more so than at this time of year.

This year, as I teeter on the edge of 40 and ponder what 2011 may hold, I’ve decided to rethink my resolutions.  I’ve decided that since there’s an undeniable pattern in my annual goals (exercise more, save more, find time for date nights!), why limit them to a calendar year?  Why not think of resolutions as long term ambitions?   Maybe it’s a cop out.  Maybe I’m letting myself off the hook by lifting the 12.31.11 deadline but, on the other hand, maybe I’m giving myself the chance to truly be a better person and lead a better life.  It is with this hope, intention and optimism in mind that I share with you my goals for 2011… and beyond.

I would like to yell less and listen more.  I’d like to really listen, to actually hear what my children and my husband have to say.  To take the time to digest and respond to their comments, thoughts and requests with more than my typically breezy “yup, uh-huh, sure” or “what’d ya say, hon?”