Unlocking the Door

I’ve officially unlocked the Door to everything that is me!  With the loving encouragement of those close to me, it was expressed that blogging was an unexplored territory that I would simply love. So, here goes! 

A little about me and what this Door could open up to: 

I’m 33, a single mom of two barely teens.  E is 11 and Bis 13.  Oh the joys of parenting teens!  I’m only beginning to see the attitude enduced messes that I will have to learn to face.   At 13, I can still squish him like a bug!  All I have to do is take away his video games or Ipod and he’s a squirming, whining, mess on the floor, ready to do whatever is asked of him.  I can only wonder how long this power will last.  E hasn’t yet found her way into preteen defiance, for that I’m thankful. 

Both kids attend an online charter school, which we truly enjoy.  So far (only since February) they’re doing quite well and the school seems to fit their needs perfectly.  Unfortunately though, our wonderful Governor has hair-brained ideas on education reform for Ohio and all public charter schools, both brick and mortar and e-schools, are staring down the barrel at destruction.  He’s teamed up with the Teacher’s Union to gear Ohio schools toward the government Fat Cat idea and focus more on adults than the kids whom are supposed to be learning.  His plan robs Ohio’s youth of educational quality and selection.  His goal is to eliminate competition for Ohio’s failing district public schools.  Poo!  The kids and I have become involved with the My School My Choice organization and we have been making regular trips to the Statehouse, as well as to local government offices in an attempt to make our voices heard.  The really fun part:  I recently began dating, J,  is a teacher, a district public school teacher.  LOLYes, I’m fraternizing with the enemy, which is SO me.  Thankfully, he’s wonderful and not concerned about the big wig adults pockets or intentions, he wants what’s best for the kids.  He wants for them to have the best education possible.  I’ve happily invited him to join the dark side, but being a member of the Union, he is wonderfully supportive of me, but stays neutral when I hop on my education reform soap box. 

I’m working on the annual Voices Against Violence Benefit Concert, (benefiting my local domestic violence shelter) trying to figure out when to have it around an already busy schedule of wrapping school with the kids, late spring/summer plans, heading up the Night in Swaziland (for the Luke Commission) benefit dinner and auction, and studying for my CFRE. 

I am what some call a Greenie, not the Mary Jane type, but the environmental type.  Processed foods are my enemy.  I am a Whole Foods Nutritionist and use a modified Fiengold Diet with my family. (Which we started because our family lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD, ADHD, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder, as well as migraines and a few other not-so-fun things) Chemical free eating and living is such a blessing!  I love farmer’s markets, having a garden, and making things from scratch.  I make my own cleaning products, bake my own bread, and I’m a serious label reader.  Unbelievably, its not only cheaper in most cases, but tastes/works SO much better!  I tossed out all of my plastic wear a few years ago and now use glass and metal.  I scour yard sales, thrift stores, and the like for the things I need before buying them new.  I make clothing, purses, and other items out of reclaimed fabric.  I’m working on a bunch of projects that are labeled Clothesline Revisited, since they are all made from reclaimed items.  I plan to open up an Etsy shop sometime this summer!  Each week I put out about 15 or so bags of recyclables and only about two bags of trash; My trash man hates me.  One morning I caught him throwing my recyclables into the back of the trash truck.  I couldn’t believe my eyes! 

The kids and I love art and music.  Many of our friends do as well and many of them are artists/musicians, which make it fun.  I have turned my kids into young family band groupies, and they haven’t even finished puberty!  We are friends with the band Full Circle and frequent their shows.  We also gather at the local coffee shop to listen to various local musicians, get a fix of caffeine, and see the artwork that Mindy has brought into her Mom and Dad’s shop.   The kids are learning how to play D&D with friends from Full Circle and Wind Blown, I cook, they play.  This is a new venture, one that the kids are very excited about.  My house will soon become a D&D lair on Sunday afternoons, whoo-hoo!  Did I mention that I know nothing about D&D other than the fact that it works the imagine muscles?  LOL  I am sure to be found reading on the couch while they venture off into the Dungeon.  I’m hoping to use this summer as a time to break into my paints, clay, and other items for my imatination time… we’ll see. 

This blog will be filled with everything and anything, from my joys and frustrations as a mom, to recipies, projects, ideas, relationships, school, causes, and so much more.  Whatever comes to mind basically.  When I said eclectic, I meant it!  At this time I don’t know how regular things will be, but I will be sure to log on at least once a week… probably more.  I welcome comments, questions, and suggestions.  Hearing from you is something I’m really looking forward to!  So, please feel free to comment, e mail, etc and as I said in the Little ‘ole me intro, be mindful with your key, you never know what will be behind the Door!    I’m still learning how this whole thing works, so I may also expiriment from time to time with all that WordPress can do!  Thanks for sharing a part of your day with me, I hope to make this a regular occurrence!

Dog labor symptoms

~ by mina75 on May 18, 2009.