When your days are crazy busy and you feel like you’re giving everything you can emotionally, physically, and financially to support your family, what can you do when your son says you love work the most? Sam’s words broke my heart. But I’ll tell you what I did. I’m sharing this as part of a sponsored series for CURAD
in my life for Socialstars #CURAD #SoothePlus.
I started this blog as a sort of love letter for my newborn, Sam. I so wanted to do something special to celebrate him on his first birthday and when I began exploring options, I didn’t find what I wanted.
That’s when I began the journey that birthed Spaceships and Laser Beams. This blog that began with showcasing birthday party ideas for little boys has grown successfully—but as with any job, it has cost a lot of time and effort.
And work sometimes takes focus away from family.
If you’re a working mom (and aren’t we all, at home or on-site?), I’m sure you also feel the push-pull. Whether it’s creating an awesome birthday party, getting good meals on the table, or earning a paycheck to help make those things happen, we do it for family.
But kids can see it as you don’t have time for them.
On one of those recent days when I was squeezing in “just one more thing”, I was aware Sam was standing nearby, studying me. As I looked up from my computer into his lovely brown eyes, he simply stated, “You love working the most.”
It broke my heart.
I have been working and traveling more than usual. I’ve dealt with family sickness and funerals in recent months and the rest of my responsibilities haven’t gone away. I’ve shorted myself in sleep; I’ve tried to juggle all the pieces of my life. Yet, here were words that said it wasn’t enough.
What did I do?
Like those cartoons with an angel and a demon on each shoulder, there was this inner dialog that berated and defended me. Another assessment of how to work smarter. Another debate about priorities. All the usual working mom-stuff.
Then I knew what to do, at least for this stage of life. I need to be more conscious about closing my computer when Sam comes home from school.
So that’s what I’m doing.
Just when I’m looking for ways to make the most of every day, wouldn’t you know we’ve been having record rain falls? Our playground beach is flooded and sandbagged.
Mike and I decided it was time for a new “big boy” bike for Sam. It has seven speeds and Sam loves riding it.
Timed races around the traffic circle on our quiet street have become quite the family thing. Sam’s best is 10.5 seconds. Mike’s is 10.65. Mine clocks in at a very slow 11.35 seconds (and she huffs and she puffs).
I went to take photos for this post and Sam ended up falling. Real life but not what any mom wants!
It wasn’t a bad accident, but even a scraped elbow is reason to pull out the first aid kit. CURAD (hospital approved so you know it’s the best care possible), Unicorn Ice Cream (kid approved by the best kid possible), and parental attention work wonders.
Here’s the recipe for magical Unicorn Ice Cream. It soothes scraped elbows and helps mend broken hearts. After you close your computer.
UNICORN BIRTHDAY CAKE NO-CHURN ICE CREAM
Print Pin RateIngredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup oil
- 4 egg whites
- neon food coloring
- 2 cups cold whipping cream
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine cake mix, water, oil, and egg whites until well blended.
- Divide into four bowls and color each serving a different color.
- Pour into four corners of a 9x13 baking pan and gently swirl batter together to create a tie-dye effect.
- Bake according to package directions. Remove from oven and cool completely.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip cream until increased in volume and stiff peaks start to form. Do not over mix. Turn the mixer on low and pour in sweetened
- condensed milk.
- Break up large chunks of cakes and stir into the ice cream mix.
- Pour into a bread pan and top with crumbled cake and sprinkles.
- Freeze for 6-8 hours or overnight.
Very good and delicious.