{"id":19033,"date":"2016-08-20T07:48:31","date_gmt":"2016-08-20T11:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=19033"},"modified":"2016-08-20T13:40:00","modified_gmt":"2016-08-20T17:40:00","slug":"life-as-i-know-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/life-as-i-know-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Life As I know It: This is me, crazy, little me."},"content":{"rendered":"

By Laura MacLean<\/p>\n

I\u2019m at a circus. I\u2019m a clown balancing on a ball with 100 plates in my hands trying to keep steady so that none of them fall. This is me. This is my life since I had kids.<\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone><\/strong><\/div>\n

I want to take this opportunity to really introduce myself to Doppler readers. I\u2019m going to start contributing a regular column, every three weeks is what my publisher and I agreed on. No more excuses. I need to do it. I want to. I love to write. It\u2019s what I was born to do. It\u2019s my high. It gives me pleasure, fuels my fire \u2013 all that jazz. It makes roar like the mighty woman I am.<\/p>\n

It is my hope, through this regular column, that I am able to say what people think but are often too shy or maybe even embarrassed to admit. Who got the idea that everyone glows when they are pregnant? I didn\u2019t glow. I barfed the entire nine months and had heartburn to the point that I\u2019m seriously surprised I still have an esophagus. And afterward, when the baby came out and screamed for what seemed like an eternity, am I the only lady out there who actually wanted to shove the baby back \u2018up there\u2019? Breastfeeding is a joy\u2026 For real? That hurt, really badly. I have orangutan tits now. They will never be the same as they were before two tiny lives depended on them as their main food source.<\/p>\n

I love every minute of motherhood but in the same breath I\u2019m utterly exhausted. I\u2019ve learned so much on this beautiful journey, like that a giant maxi pad is not a good substitute when you run out of diapers for your toddler. It simply can\u2019t hold the heavy flow of nighttime urine. And sometimes, in situations of pure chaos and sheer insanity, a time-out for mom isn\u2019t such a bad idea. Walk away, deep breaths, regroup, a little positive self-talk, and resume care and control. Sometimes, it\u2019s okay to admit being a mom is a tough job.<\/p>\n

\"This

This is what my bedroom looks like almost every Sunday, the always-dreaded laundry day.<\/p><\/div>\n

My life is a roller coaster. A never-ending one. It\u2019s full of ups and downs and twists and turns and unpredictable moments. Yes, there are times when I want to close my eyes and scream at the top of my lungs and I wish that for just five minutes it could be only me in the house. And yes, there are times when I\u2019m filled to the brim with pride and joy because I was blessed enough to have two beautiful, happy, healthy boys .<\/p>\n

I\u2019m definitely uptight, but I love when I\u2019m able to let loose. My friends would probably tell you I\u2019m way too sensitive. I hate that about myself. I cry at anything; definitely once a week and I\u2019m not sure that\u2019s even healthy. I\u2019m ruled by my emotions; overflowing with empathy and sympathy and it\u2019s easy for me to internalize other people\u2019s problems. I feel too much. I don’t like conflict and I never want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Ever!<\/p>\n

I love the colour purple, glorious sunsets, collecting beautiful rocks and my dad. He\u2019s my greatest hero and my biggest supporter. I believe in karma, respecting Mother Nature and that there\u2019s nothing wrong with hugging a tree. I care about how I look, although I don\u2019t wear makeup on Sundays. I always despised my big boobs, but then when my mom lost her right breast to cancer I had a totally new appreciation for my girls.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As crazy as life can get sometimes I think it\u2019s important to stop and smell the roses. Appreciate the little things. Don\u2019t sweat the small stuff. Dance like no one\u2019s watching. All that good stuff. When you have kids, it can be so easy to forget about yourself. But when you have kids it\u2019s even more important to make time for yourself. Don\u2019t forget about what you love to do.<\/p>\n

Everything was going splendid in my life until my mom died. It really threw me off balance, off kilter. I\u2019m still a mess, still reeling from the loss. I knew it was going to be hard to deal with her being gone, but nothing could have prepared me for what it\u2019s been like living without her. But life goes on. It has to. Especially when you have kids.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t miss out on Doppler! Sign up for our free, twice-weekly newsletter here<\/u>.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/broadstreet-zone>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Laura MacLean I\u2019m at a circus. I\u2019m a clown balancing on a ball with 100 plates in my hands trying to keep steady so that none of them fall. 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