Taking on the New Year…

Taking on the New Year…

Goodbyes to the old year with comments such as: good riddance, can’t wait to put that year behind and this year has to be better, are normal to find during the month of December. For me, it’s a bit different this year.

My year was filled with such a wide range of experiences and emotion that I can honestly say it was a great year of growing and learning. It began with an opportunity to work for a startup company that showed promise, while hesitant, I took the leap and left my stable position for the unknown. It was an opportunity to challenge and test myself and learn. Even though it did not work for me, I still experienced growth from it.

I was extremely fortunate that a position in the same company I had left opened up, and would allow me to contribute to an environment and job that I love. It was wonderful to return and be graciously welcomed back. Hearing, I admire you for taking an opportunity to grow, we need you back and you were missed, were truly inspiring and made me feel at home once again.

Quickly realizing I would not be able to progress in the way I see myself professionally, I took another opportunity to begin classes at our local community college, having the benefit of tuition reimbursement made this possible. As a single parent of three, with one child in college, it is ethically difficult to justify spending money on myself.

Working, raising children, taking care of a home, serving on different boards and taking classes are definitely a challenge every day and one I welcome. As the New Year begins, I look forward to the rainbow at the end of this journey, but the destination has yet to be seen, as the journey never truly ends….

What a crazy ride the last few years have been... So many changes that I never dreamed of and most of them good. Here I am going to start another stage, it's very exciting and scary at the same time.

I've been running a day care from home for the last 13 years and have had the joy of watching children grow and learn. These children have become a part of me and my extended family. A few even tell people they live at Maura's house. I hope they have had a positive experience with me and that they will come back to visit in the years to come. Now with the state requiring me to cover the playgound with wood chips, 9" no less, it looks like this is the time to change directions. The cost is out of my range but additionally I don't want the wood chips and mess in my yard. I don't feel they are safer than a child falling on the grass off of a swing and am worried that the little ones will try to eat them.

You will find me in the gym a lot more getting back the strength I have lost over the last few months of endless meetings. Running CrossFit kids and CrossFit classes, starting new programs and seeing where it all takes me. I am truly excited and looking forward to the opportunities that are open to me.

Oddly enough if there had to be a time to change directions maybe this is a good one. I haven't stopped running in the last three years since my divorce. Never had the time for a vacation. Hopefully this will allow me to spend more time with my children over the summer and take a break for myself as well. Maybe even get to see friends that I just haven't had time to visit.

Hope to see you soon!

I am Thankful for.....

I am thankful for…...

.every challenge and obstacle that has made me a stronger and more confident person.
.all of the wonderful new friends I have met and all of the old ones that I am fortunate to have in my life.
.my beautiful, thoughtful and gorgeous children who drive me bonkers and brighten my every day.
.the home we live in although very messy at times, it keeps us dry, safe and warm.
.the families that entrust me with their babies and in turn gives me an income to provide for mine.
. my health that keeps me going and lets me keep up with my children.

Next year I think I will have a Thanksgiving breakfast…. That way more people can come and visit. To many times it’s just immediate family that you see on a holiday. I’d like to enjoy it with friends as well. After all, they are my extended family. I don’t need the whole turkey deal to enjoy the day, it’s who you are with that counts. Hopefully you will be able to stop in!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and may you be truly grateful for all you have in life.

My Birthday Present

My Birthday Present

I am most fortunate to have everything I could need or want. It’s not the material possessions that matter. I have the most incredible friends and family I could want, friends that I can call at anytime of the night or day if I need to laugh cry or talk, excited or upset.

For my birthday I ask that you go out and do something for someone else. Smile at someone, just say hello, or pay for the person in the drive thru behind you. You never know whose life you may touch, change or soften. Just make someone elses day better for no other reason than you can.

We all have problems or issues in our lives. When you’re having a bad day just remember there is always someone in a worse situation, take it in stride and move on. Learn what lessons you can from negative things and use them to make you that much stronger of a person. Some days are harder than others but there is always a good one right around the corner.

So, Happy Birthday to me and about 10 others that I know of that I share this great day with!! Have a fabulous new year, I know I will!

Dating in the 21st century

I never thought that I would be 36 and in the dating world again. At first, just the idea of it was scary. Then, the thought that no one would want me because I have three children was petrifying. Another problem, I am not and have never been a bar scene type girl. So, with all of this, where in the world are you supposed to meet someone?

Yes, I tried meeting people on my own but with it all being new to me I think I was to focused on it and needed to just relax. I got an email one day about a dating web site and thought well, I definitely have nothing to lose. Let me tell you… there are some nice people and a whole lot of strange ones. Beware of the people that tell you how in love with you they are after a couple dates, or have you meet their parents or children.

Then, there is all the technology we have these days. It may make a lot of things in life easier but dating is not one of them! From cell phones and texting to IM and Facebook, whatever happened to talking on the phone or better yet in person? I don’t mind a text to say hello, I’m running late or I got home safe but I refuse to have an in depth conversation that way. Really, grow up and leave that to the teenagers.

The funniest thing that I have found is that some men are intimidated by strong women. Chivalry isn’t completely dead. Yes, please open the car door a couple times. Maybe even a pretty flower for a surprise, no more roses please. Just an FYI, it is not okay to send a lady you have just started dating anything from Victoria Secrets, at all. I don’t need to have someone, I would like to have someone that I can share new experiences and life with. I am very capable of taking care of myself and am not a damsel in distress and would like that to be respected.

Last but not least, yes, I like to work out. I love to run, lift weights and push myself to the limit. It is a new found passion that I pursue every moment possible. A “man” told me girls don’t do pull-ups or lift weights. I don’t think he could even buy a clue.

Now, I just live and love everyday with passion and joy and laugh at the experiences I’ve had. I’m positive I will meet that person who will make my life “complete”. Sure some days are harder than others but without a challenge life wouldn’t be worth living….

Perspective

The other night I just said forget it, forget everything. Not words you usually hear from me but, this was a positive thing. In between working all day, taking care of the house and three kids, school, running to soccer, baton competitions and parades, girl scouts, CCD and ...well I am sure I forgot something, you just need to say we are taking the night off. It can really bring a beautiful perspective to life.

Scooters and stroller in tow we headed off to Genuardi's to pick up something for dinner and made our way to Valley Forge. All I could do was smile when my three children ran off through the field to the picnic table. Reminded me of a "Little House on the Prairie" episode. We were able to just relax, eat and chat which seems to be a lost art in this day. The kids even shared their food with each other.

Then the scooters came out with helmets. It was wonderful to just see them have fun, for free at that. They were brave enough to go ahead but still cautious enough to circle back to me. No computers, phones or video games, just my family.

We have hit an age where faster is better, more expensive and new are the normal and technology is a must. It is really a disappointment when a family cannot have a conversation, take a walk or stay in on a Friday night and play a board game together.

Being out there with the kids and hearing them say "Thanks Mom" really can put things in perspective. As we head into the summer you will find us out and about much more. If it is raining feel free to stop in and join us for a game or movie.

Life already goes by so fast... I plan on making memories everyday that my children will look back on and just smile and laugh fondly. If the kids end up saying "That was our crazy Mom... " it will be all the better.

A New Beginning

Wow, a funny thing happened to me one day, I woke up and I wasn't even asleep. Just wondering where my life has taken me because I didn't choose this route, at least not consciously. I guess that's what happens when you get married young and without your life goals in mind or even knowing what you would like to do or accomplish. I will never say that the last 14 years have been wasted for, if you know me, you know my children are the most wonderful accomplishment I could ever have in my life. They give me the desire to live and be the best person I can if for no other reason than being the best role model I can. I let them see me struggle and cry, smile and laugh. They understand at a young age that I fight for them and for what I believe in. There is nothing more important that that.


That being said, I am finding my goals and inspirations along the way and the things that I WILL accomplish in this lifetime. I want to be the strongest person I can be mentally, emotionally and physically. I will not be told again that I am weak or a quitter and those words will not be in my, nor my children's vocabulary. I WILL get the degree I want. I WILL continue to volunteer for different groups that I believe can and will make a difference in the lives of others.


I believe that the journey I have had was only steering me in the direction that I was meant to go so that along the way I could meet incredible people and have them touch my life and me theirs in whatever way was needed. I truly believe in "passing it on" in order to help others. The friends I have made are the most amazing, kind and talented people anyone could imagine.


As a single mother of three children, I am not unrealistic in that I will have hard and sometimes unbearable days ahead of me but know that I will learn from those as well and keep moving forward living everyday as if it is... a beautiful day.