Spunky, Charger, and Mom

Nicknames can be fun. When Oris George started calling me Charger a few years back, I admired the concept and loved hearing the name. It fit. A single parent for more than twelve years, I've been dedicated to my children and determined to raise them well. I have great children, who have become great adults. Three of the four have crossed that plateau, one still clinging to mom's apron strings (he doesn't realize yet, that I've cut him loose), and one still in high school, hanging onto every minute of youth.

Spunky came as a surprise a few weeks back, from a friend here in Denver. She answered the phone, "Hey Spunky, what's up?" She couldn't possibly know how much that new nickname meant, or that it's kept me reaching for the next step on the ladder to success for the past three months. I've struggled to keep up, and life seems to be getting in my way recently. But, having someone give me a nickname that reminded me that I'm spunky, gregarious and motivated helps to keep me in that "charger" mode.

Motivation sometimes comes from knowing that my Hope never fails. I love the positive power of faith in my life and knowing that I can achieve all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Charge!

Tebow - The Slice for Today!

In case anyone wonders about Charger-Mom, I'm Charger "the Mom" not the mom of a Charger. But that question isn't likely to come up on a day when the Chargers fall to their demise at the hands of Bronco's best, Tebow.

Tebowing is a family event these days, as we take our bow before the Lord a humble and prayerful moment of Thanksgiving, revealing our favorite pose. Tebow rocks! I'm grateful to the man who made bowing in Praise of our Lord once again an acceptable behavior in the realms of football fans, the world over. Even in these days of religious turmoil, the "Tebow" act can be recognized the world over, as people take the pose.

Today, just for the sake of recognition... The Broncos BEAT the Chargers in a massive GAME Day win of 16 points over 13. And the world took the Tebow. Amen

Charger Mom - Football Season

It's that time of year again and football season is in full on attack, one kid is fighting a cold, two more are fighting for the privilege of attending the game and another one just wants to be held. Great Gramma is begging for attention while my daughter and I chase around, wishing we had time to give attention to anything other than everyone else. Life at our house continues, rampant with dogged remarks, rushed moments and harried phrases that need finishing.

Did you ever feel like you were on a treadmill going just a half a mile faster than you could run?

When I realized a few weeks back that I'd be taking care of my mom for a while, I thought it might be nice to incorporate a few special "moments" in that care taking time. It may have been possible for the first few days, but shortly after, those moments became a random thought exclusive of ignorance. As we rushed from Doctor place to Doctor place, I realized the likeness of "special" was missing.

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So... lacking the ability to forget about my desire to make this time special, I stopped by my Dad's place and invited him and my nephew and his family to dinner. The world stopped turning for an hours worth of minutes as we attempted to eat at a family favorite diner. My mother's favorite place to go for food, costs an arm, two legs, a kidney and half a lung for a meal, when she eats less than two ounces and can't keep any of it down. But, paying it becomes a privilege, when I realize any monumental bite she takes may be her last.

A trivial moment in time for the average person, but this moment in time is precious, as my mother struggles to eat just one more bite of food. Then it occurred to me, during that meal. No matter how trivial, each moment we spend with mom... now, is special, because it may be the last one we have the privilege of spending with her.

Football season came in with such a rush of "to-dos" that I barely recognized the colors changing on the trees. The season was headlong into full force before I realized that if I leave the windows open, I can hear the boys practicing football on the field just south of the house. I've always loved listening to their "heave" and "lunges" as they cheer the boys of fall in their favorite sport. Football.

Am I a charger-mom? No, I'm not the mother of a prized football player, my boys chose not to play the autumn sport, but rather instead to run the courses in other sports. I am however a mom who charges in where angels fear to tread when the need arises, toting another barge, carrying my light high to light the world, and daring on the last moment to make a difference in the lives of teenagers, young adults and children everywhere. A life well lived is one that moves through each day, dedicated to the decision to live well, under any circumstances and find the happiness that comes with each moment, no matter how difficult the moment maybe.

I'm the mom in the checkout line spending my last dollar on toilet paper, smiling. Because I know that God is aware that's my last dollar, and he'll send me another when I need it. ;)

Why am I a "Charger" Mom?

This morning, like many mornings, my daughter is reading over my shoulder and asks a question about the language used in my blog post... The big question today, "Why are you a Charger Mom? They are like our biggest rivals and I hate the Chargers."

Ahem, I'm definitely a Denver Bronco's fan too, but the reality is, Charger Mom has nothing to do with the Chargers football team. Oris George, after an extremely hectic meeting and week of writing, saddled me with the nickname "Charger". Well, it stuck. A few weeks later, I was working with another writer to create a blogger site and the easiest way to do that is to create a blog. I have to say, I enjoy my mommy blogs, so Charger Mom came out of that experience.

So if you're searching online for a mom of a member of the Chargers Football team... Um... I'm not it.

Pregnant Sisters - the Joys and the Triumphs

Watching daughters share the joys and triumphs of pregnancy gives new meaning to parenthood. Just this morning we discussed what we call little boys.

My granddaughter is a Princess, Little Missy, Chica (okay, not often), Girly, Sassy, Sissy and Goose. My grandson on the other hand is Mr., Little Man, Big Boy, Mr. Colm (since Colm is his name), and The Mr. --- not to mention, Mr. Moose.

Rarely do we refer to Elizabeth as Miss Elizabeth, although it does happen on occasion. But, Colm often hears his name as Mr. Colm. Is it really a boy/girl thing, or just the process of giving children nick names?

What ever happened to Prince Charming or Handsome Little Prince?

As the days come closer, and we anticipate the arrival of Colm and Elizabeth's little cousin --- whether he's a Mr. or she's a Miss ---- the discussions surrounding babies, pregnant mommies and parenting abound. We all have a new little nickname for the baby, and some of those have been, Little Hummer, "The Basketball", or Baby Bump. No matter what we call the next arrival, you can be assured that this Charger Mom can hardly wait for another grandbaby to set the world on fire.

Charger Mom - The New Super Woman

I used to think superwoman wore a gold bra with red and white spangles all over what little parts of her body she covered. But over the past few weeks, I've come to recognize a different sort of Superwoman.

She's not wearing a swimsuit with meager proportions, and her hair doesn't remain in place no matter the weather. Sometimes her eyes are red from crying and she'd pop out of a swimsuit if she dared to try one on. Her view of life isn't presented before a golden staff, and she doesn't fly from place to place, although there are times when her wings are gilded and her halo holds a perfect shine. The glimpse of a tear in her eye will tell you, beyond any shadow of a doubt that she's not the superwoman figurine, she's a real mom, the total woman, Charger Mom.

Through the Pages of Parenthood, I'd like to introduce you to another Charger Mom, who takes her position and her responsibility very seriously. This mom is single and has fought out the battle that will eventually bring her great success and the privilege of knowing that she's accomplished great things and through her own efforts, her daughter, like my daughter, will know that life offers greatness, wonderment, and the thrill of parenthood.

Sandwich Generation - Home School Solutions

If you're stuck between a rock and a hard place (okay, this guy isn't stuck, he's just there) with kids who need your attention and parents who require your time, you can feel squeezed. There's got to be a solution to the time crunch of life in the sandwich.

As a single mom, I feel the time crunch even heavier than some of my married friends (at least according to them). I've always wondered how they do it with two sets of parents to do for, take care of, and manage with children still at home.

I have one set of parents and two children still at home, two grown and a granddaughter. My life seems to never stop. Even when I do lie down at night, I feel the pull of work left undone. Those hours between bedtime and daylight when I'm supposed to be sleeping are often filled up with concerns about how I can get one more thing done than I have time for the next day. Sometimes, I wonder how I can be in two places at once, then I realize I can't be in one place. Something has to give.

The struggle to maintain a life and live in the sandwich gets to be too much. Generations cover you up and overwhelm your day, even when life is going normal. By home schooling my children, I've learned that there are times when I can do more than one thing, using time to teach as part of my work time. While I'm working at a writing project, I can instruct my children or help them with research. Often a research project for them becomes a writing project for me. I give them an assignment and write my project, while they're researching theirs. (That may be why some of my writing projects seem a bit on the outside of normal.)

As a single Mom, I must carry it all. There isn't any one to pick up what I drop, so I have to carry the load. At least that's the thought that crosses my mind on those nights when sleep doesn't come and I've left work undone.

Would it be easier if I wasn't home schooling my children? When this question came up during a conversation a few weeks back, I realized that my children often share part of the load. By participating in our lives 100% of the time, they often carry part of the load. Not necessarily work, worry or stress, but their education is based on our lives, so we're not rushing off to a basketball game in the middle of math class, but rather math class is part of our experience of life, the basketball game is free time. Attending a basketball game can be family fun or even playing basketball can be an afternoon out. Home schooling makes education a part of the life you live, rather than education being what you do in life.

The solution is to get involved in the life around you. Whether it's older parents, children, college age adults or toddlers, do whatever you choose to do with gusto and dedication. Give it all you've got, joyfully, and experience the moments, each and every moment.

Take time to feel the joy!