Anniversary

I spent this whole week anticipating the fact that the 1 year anniversary of this blog was coming up today.  I got the kids down early, set the DVR to record Modern Family, sat down to write, and then realized when I went back thru my archives, that I wrote the first post on Sept. 28th, not 29th as I had originally thought.

Day late and a dollar short.  Story of my life.

So anyway, Happy Belated Anniversary to me.  I know I've told those of you who I get to see in my every day life how much I love this blog.  It's like a baby to me- except less exhausting and I didn't gain any weight giving birth to it, unless you count the pounds I put on this year with my kettle chip and wine obsession.  (Which I don't.)

And please don't roll your eyes, because I know that I get repetitive with this, but I do so love those of you who check in and read me on a regular basis.  Not to get all existential on you guys, but my favorite thing about this whole entire human experience is that everyone, everyone has a story.  Wrap your brain around that.  Everyone!  And all I'm doing here is turning my daily life into little written stories, and you guys come and read them and then you come back again.  I love it!  Thank you!

Those of you who've been faithful followers this past year have been with me as I've joyfully abused the Power of Santa, learned way too much about alternative uses for breast milk, tried my hand at a cooking blog, and traumatized my children with the Tooth Fairy.  By far however, the most eventful occurrence of this last year was when my stepson lost his mom to brain cancer.  That was something that was so personal to 9 and Michelle's family that I almost didn't write about it.  However, it was a personal thing for me too, and I was so grateful to be able to process it here on Meanie Mom.  As I wrote at the time, it felt like something that was too big to stay in my head.

It's with that post in mind that I want to write the next few paragraphs.

I may call myself a Meanie Mom and I may spend a lot of time here on this blog complaining about the drudgery of motherhood- the clean up, the sleep deprivation, the fighting, the refereeing, the crazy schedule.  But something has changed for me since last January.  Sometimes when I'm frustrated with one of the little kids for whatever reason, and maybe I'm yelling at them, or maybe I'm huffing around, or maybe I'm slamming things and showing anger, I'll look up and see 9 in the room and I think "My god.  What must he be thinking of me?   Here I am having a conniption fit over the tiniest blip in our day, when his mom is not even here anymore.  I must look so dumb to him."  Then my mountains become molehills, and a new perspective comes into focus.

With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and with it being this blog's anniversary, and since I'm not a big enough blogger to do giveaways and stuff like that :), I'd like to ask you guys to please just dedicate a few quiet moments of your day today to thinking of any mothers you may know who are battling or have battled cancer.  Give them a sweet shout out in your mind.  Thank them for their strength and for their bravery.  Then please thank God, or Jesus, or Allah, or the Universe, or whoever you happen to pray to for another day with your own little mess makers.

I'll be thinking of Michelle and my big, tall, camaro-driving, Harley riding, beautiful, blonde Aunt Charna, who passed away in 2004 from breast cancer.

Who'll you be thinking of?

Good night!