Darling Diva

I would have judged me if I saw me with my little 5 year-old daughter yesterday.

I would have had thoughts like "Some things are meant for adults, this is why we're raising a generation of entitled, spoiled assholes."

You know what, though?
I would do it again.  In fact, I cannot wait to have a good, solid, reward-like reason to do it again.

My Abby was such a perfectly polite, lovely and mature young lady.  She was so happy to be pampered, she said "thank you" and "excuse me" and sat still and cooperated like this was a routine she had gotten used to years ago...

And while I know that taking your 5-year old daughter for a mani/pedi is not something to make "routine",  I do know that it was worth every minute, every penny and every ounce of self-control I will have to expend to not do it again...  tomorrow.

Georgia on my Mind.

Ok, not Georgia, specifically, but a few things.  And who doesn't love that song?  And...  while we're at it, who doesn't love Designing Women with Dixie Carter and that fat woman?  And while we are on topic - who doesn't love a southern accent?

Anyway.
I went to Wal-Mart tonight because our printer was not scanning with our freshly updated Mac software.  The only reason I buy professional pictures is so that I can scan them and give them out as gifts...  and make a gorgeous Collage Poster for myself...  So, I needed to remedy the situation quickly.  Easter is right around the corner and I need creativity time as well as shipping time.
Approximately 5 years ago I picked up a printer/scanner in WalMart for something around $40.  It served us well so I figured I'd try my luck again.  WalMart's prices never disappoint but the store, the people that work in the store and the people that shop there - on Friday nights especially (I find that all the freaks shop on Friday, no matter where you are) - they make me feel dirty.  I need a shower. 
But I got my new Printer/Copier/Scanner/FAX machine and I'm pretty psyched about that.
  "It's pretty cool!"

After I left WalMart I headed out to P-Chop, Price Chopper to the rest of you...  this is part of why I posted on Facebook about feeling "lame".  I try to make it to the chiropractor once a week.  I try to make that appointment at a time where I can leave the kids at home.  Can I bring the kids?  Sure.  Is it a thousand times  more relaxing and therefore, more effective, when I can relax and be on my own?  Yup.
So, it has become a bit of our routine that when Jay is home for the weekend, he has alone time with the kids on Friday night and I have alone time with myself.
It works out beautifully because I can get out without paying a sitter - and I do need it after non-stop one-on-one time Monday through Thursday - and Daddy gets alone time with the kids...  that way he can remember why flying on 4 planes every week, week after week, really isn't all that bad.
I kid, I kid.

Anyway.
I went to the chiropractor and then to WalMart and then to the grocery store.
And I loved it.  I find alone-grocery-shopping very relaxing.  It's using that "buy-high" properly, really.
Leading up to that FB post, I was feeling a little insecure about this simple act that brings me such joy.  But after posting it and hearing back from so many of my mama friends that they, too, recognize their lame-ness, and texting with one particular Love, I realized something.
A few things, really...

1.  This stay-at-home-mom gig can be very isolating, very lonely at times.  Connecting through Facebook, Text and Twitter keeps me from letting myself go completely.  I shave my legs and wax my upper lip on a regular basis even though I rarely see anyone that would notice or care.
2.  I have a lot of mama-friends that I like a lot.  My day-to-day is full of social activities for me and the kids that make us happy.  I love living in this town and staying involved.
3.  When I am not best friends with every single one of those mama-friends, (sometimes I don't even actually like all of them!) I need only spend a moment alone with myself to remind myself that I have a short list of very good, loving and fabulous friends that make it all worthwhile. 
Friends that love me for me - faults and fabulous - and I feel the same way about them.

The older we get, the more time and treasure we harvest with those friends.  I love that.  I love that my kids have best friends that live outside of our zip code.  Growing up, my parents didn't hold onto many friendships and I can't even count on one hand who my friends were that weren't from school or Shore Drive.  I admire the kids that could, and still do - and I am so happy that we are providing that kind of childhood for our kids.  And without trying to...  it's just how we roll.  That makes it even better.

Treasure your day to day.