"The Kitchen" Salon

Lately my life has felt serendipitous. You know the old saying "when one day closes then another door opens"? That seems to be my mantra these days. After the disappointment of losing my column I was feeling a bit wayward. Just when I was on the verge of an existential crisis, people started reaching out to me for haircuts.


I love doing hair. It's so fun to have people join me in my kitchen and chat away while I play with their locks. It hardly feels like work. So, my little kitchen clientele is slowly growing.

Now my mornings are slowly filling up and I'm enjoying it so much. I've decided that my make shift home salon will be called "The Kitchen". I'm even thinking of making little cards for my clients to give out to their friends to get the word out.

My slogan will be "Home of the $25 kitchen cut!" and I plan to put a little picture of a vintage lady in an apron holding up a pair of shears.

It's so refreshing to have a vision. To have this gift appear to me mere moments before I was about to fall into an abyss of misdirection.

Life has a funny way of revealing the important things. I find that in order for the important things to show up, we have to let our old ways go. Sometimes it's a choice but other times, it just happens for us.

I think that one of the hardest things about being a Stay-at-home mom is that you rarely get recognition for your had work. When you have a job, you get all kinds of feedback on your work but when you're at home, the kids aren't throwing praise your way for cleaning the bathroom well or packing a really great lunch for school. It can feel really isolating.

So, I treasure the moment when my client looks in the mirror at their finished cut and I see a light in their eyes. They feel beautiful. It's does my soul good to have their light shine in front of me. (I've only had three cases of tears and dread after I finished but that was way at the start of my career and I'm pretty sure that they had other stuff going on).

Anyway, I'm enjoying this surprise turn of events. I think that it's so important to love the life you live, don't you?

Thoughts on Motherhood : Sibling Harmony

When we came home from the hospital with Koen we did just about everything that the parenting books suggested to make Griffin feel secure about the new addition to our family.

His little brother arrived with a "gift" in his tiny little lap, a peace offering of sorts to make big brother feel special.  I also made him my little helper whenever I could, asking him to fetch much needed diapers and burp cloths. We carved out one on one time together everyday where he had my undivided attention, all in the hopes that it would be a smooth transition.

Much to our chagrin, the transition from being a family of three to a family of four was a bumpy one. I wear many hats around my home but it seemed that as the boys grew older, I wore the hat of referee the most often.

There were many sibling squabbles and spats. I found myself stepping in to pull apart my boys who lunged at each other like competing tigers cubs. My voice raised and finger wagged as I separated them. Their sibling rivalry was intense from the start and often ended in fisticuffs.

At the first sound of battle, I would intervene. After all, my oldest is four years older than my youngest and I had to make sure that no one got hurt in their intertwined wrestling and shouting matches. It was an obvious challenge for our family as frustration levels often rose.

One day, I decided that they were getting old enough to manage their disagreements themselves, I had grown tired at fussing at them for fussing. I made the decision to no longer listen for the situation to get loud but to only step in if it sounded like someone was going to get hurt.

From the kitchen, I heard them arguing over a chair that they both wanted to sit in in the living room. We have a mirror strategically placed in the dining room that gives me a full view of what they're up to in the other room.

In the reflection I watched as they shouted and pushed each other off of the chair. There was tears and name calling. It escalated and I wanted to step in but I hung back instead.

Then something amazing happened, they worked it out together. A compromise was reached and as they both sat down in different chairs to draw, I heard Koen apologize. "I'm sorry that I pushed you."  "It's okay" Griffin said "I shouldn't have pushed you back."

Just like that it was over and they got along great the rest of the day. It was then that I truly learned that often kids just need some space to figure out their little worlds on their own. By my intervening all the time, they weren't gaining the social skills to handle conflicts. Sometimes we need to stand up for ourselves and other times it's important to practice the art of negotiation.

They still have wrestling matches and fisticuffs but it doesn't escalate like it once did. By me letting them argue, they're learning how to solve the problem themselves.

Sibling harmony is taking root in our once wild little home.

Do you have more then one child? Do they get along? How does your family manage sibling rivalry?

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 45

 

I had a night out with the the girls and we

went to a Friday Night Masterpiece class.

Basically, it's a painting class that requires little to no talent

because an instructor walks you through the painting step by step.

Sounded good to me.

   

The best part is that you

can drink cheap wine out of a Styrofoam cup while

you create art.

I instantly become a better artist

after a few sips of wine.

I was a little worried at first 

because my painting pretty much looked like poo

from the get go.

But I persevered and decided to just go with it.

 

It was pretty funny to see how we all responded to the instructions.
It was like a little glimpse of what we must've been like in high school

Some took it really seriously and listened intensely,
making sure to follow every step perfectly.

Then there were those like me
that  spent the whole time
alternating between self deprecation and smart ass comments.

 

In the end, my "masterpiece"

looked like a blind and drunk mouse with

no fingers painted it.

That's okay though,

I still had fun unleashing my inner artist 

with my awesome friends.

I'll do just about anything to get out of doing bedtime with the kids.

<div style="text-align: center;"> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/stuff2/2875824415_abeaebc155_m-2-1-1.jpg" /></a></div> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br />

Winner : Fancy Nails Edition

We have a winner for this week's installment of Freakshow Friday. Please take note that my super hilarious and non biased best friend was the judge. Here are the top three in no particular order.

Karen Mortensen

Say hello to Mrs. Scissorhands.

Mooooooooog 35

Meet the future Mrs. Fred Krueger.

Linda D.

Sally Boo Boo (Honey Boo Boo's older sister)

 just couldn't understand how her nails grew together overnight,

 until she found the super glue
hidden in her little sis's underwear drawer!

 and the winner is...
 Karen Mortensen

Say hello to Mrs. Scissorhands
Karen Mortensen

is the funniest blogger in all the land

Please visit her blog

and marvel at the awesome award she earned.
 

Thanks to all the people who played.
Tune in this Friday for another installment of Freakshow Friday!

Freakshow Friday : Fancy Nails Edition

It's time for another installment of Freakshow Friday. Where I ask my readers to come up with a caption or story for a funny photo. My best friend will be the judge and she's one hilarious freakaziod. So, bring it! Here is this week's photo, this lady is intense.

Peek-a-boo

You got a better one for me?

If so, you may just when this
super duper brand new awesome award
and have bragging rights forever.
Oh...do I ever have an award for you!
You will win this brand spankin' new award!!

If you win then I'll link up to your
Blog and make a big deal
about how funny you are.
Simply leave your funny caption or story
in my comments section.

The winner will be announced on Monday.

My Going Away Party

So, I decided that before I say goodbye to 

my column for good that we would have a little

going away party for me.

So, put on your virtual cocktail dress 

and meet me over at Athens Patch

to celebrate my favorite musings.

You know that I love a good party.

Here are the top articles that I wrote for Patch.

They may not have gotten the most comments

but they are the ones I enjoyed writing the most.

An Ode to my Backyard

Punk Rock Barbie Starts Trouble

Stay at Home Moms vs Working Moms

Everyone is a Winner

Motherhood and Milestones

Are You a Superhero or a Sidekick

Dealing with Gender Letdown

First Day of School Freakouts

A Thankful Heart

Resolve to Slow Down

Now I'd like to make a toast before we go,

so please raise your virtual glass.

I'd like to say thank you to all my readers

who took the time to read my column from week to week.

I'd like to thank those of you 

that joined the conversation and left comments on my stories.

I'd like to thank those of you

who tried to comment but could never 

figure out how to actually post it to the site.

I'd like to thank my editor, Rebecca.

Who taught me to never use a fifty cent word

when a ten cent word will do.

Okay, the party's over.

Everybody get out of my house!

Love ya!

*smooches*

Head Space : The Day the Stars Arrived

A big change happened in my life last week. Athens Patch decided to cut all funding for freelance writers, which means they no longer need my services for my weekly column. My beloved column is no more.

At first I was sad. Like, really sad. Writing my column gave me so much pleasure in so many ways. My experience at Athens Patch made me feel like a legitimate writer. I was actually getting paid to do something that I loved. I enjoyed meditating on what the topic would be each week. I thrived on having a weekly deadline. I loved having an editor that I respect so much. I was proud to tell people that I was a columnist. Even though it was a bit small and local, it became a huge part of my identity.

Now all of that is gone. I felt lost at first. This space fills a void but had to take a back seat for a bit while I focused on learning to write for a publication. My blog is safe and Athens Patch was out of my comfort zone. My head needed to expand and I think that in that expansion, my readership fell here. I miss so many of my readers.

Honestly, being a writer can feel really isolating when you pour your heart and soul into your work like I've been doing for the last few years. Don't get me wrong, I love it. But there have been days where my head would be spinning from opening my life up and letting it all fall out on my blog or my column. Days where no one commented. Days where I felt exposed and vulnerable. Sometimes I wonder, why do I bother?

I write because it gives my life meaning. I write because I have a voice. Mostly I write because I'm yearning to feel connected.

I was laying in bed with Griffin the other night, snuggling and watching him drift off to sleep. My mind wandered here and there. I felt unfettered and followed one thought to another.  I do this often at quiet times, just sit and listen to my thoughts. My mind led me to a topic that I wanted to cover for a Moms Talk. It's become a habit for me to brainstorm.

Just as soon as the thought entered my mind I remembered that I didn't have my column any more. It hurt for a moment but then it dawned on me that I have some space in my head now. My crowded brain has a new a corner freed up. A place where I can focus on other things in my life that I need to do.

The truth is that I have a story. I've been holding onto it for years because I don't think that I was ready to write it yet. I have draft after draft saved on my computer but I've never made it so far as to write the words "The End".

I have dreams about that day.

My writing has been missing one essential ingredient-confidence. Now, after writing 81 articles for Athens Patch, I'm feeling more capable than ever. My head is full of ideas. I needed that space to be cleared.

I feel like tiny stars are circling above me now and all I have to do is reach up and grab them. Snatch them up and claim them.

Leaving Athens Patch may end up being the best thing to happen to me.