Ahhhhh, I can still hear the cries now. Mom my nose is bleeding, the skin is gone on my knee, I scraped my elbow……….. again. OR My favorite I need a spongebob band-aid. “Why” I would ask when said injury had no blood. “Because it makes it feel better”. Wow the band-aid companies really have  kids bamboozled.  Whatever works! A couple weeks ago my glittering acrobat was sitting still (so she says) and a gushing nose bleed started. While she made her way into the bathroom leaving a grisly trail behind her I kept thinking, they didn’t tell us about this in mommy class. I remembered from my high school years in softball to pinch the bridge of the nose. Well that didn’t work. Now my lion tamer has decided to join in on the first aid front. He insists that we put ice on the bridge of her nose. That didn’t work either. Mind you we are trying to entertain some friends while all of this going on. After about 30 minutes of frustration and thinking we may need a trip to the ER. I opened the bathroom cabinet and staring at me was a box of tampons. The light bulb went off, I mean the Dr. friend of Mariandas’ in Sex in the City did it. Maybe it could work. I took out a tampon and cut it lengthwise and put it in her nose. It worked! My acrobat was absolutely mortified and refused to come out of the bathroom. I left for a minute to explain to our guests what was going on. Upon my return my lion tamer was trying to explain to my acrobat what those “sticks” were really used for. I stepped in and gave a full explanation. Now ever more mortified my acrobat wanted to get away from us and go play. I removed the first set of “sticks” and put fresh ones in place and sent her on her way. No worries, I cut the string off.

My circus, all dressed up for the next performance!

A circus, a circus , a circus has come to town. Yes it definitely has (but without the creepy clowns and caged animals) This is my life, a literal circus everyday. I have had several friends and family members tell me to write about my daily “freak-show”. So I will attempt to share with you my crazy life in the hopes that you will laugh with me as I accomplish day to day tasks as a mother with 4 (ok 5 if you include my husband) sideshows!  I will start with my oldest son. A 13 year old boy going on 23. He is growing at an astonishing rate and is forever surprising. I have to frequently do a double take when he speaks, I expect this sweet little voice and in turn hear the beginning of an obscene phone call. He is full of whit and actually has a great sense of humor. (Thank god for that) He is an amazing child with magic at every turn. I will call him the “Magician”.  Next is my 9 year old daughter she is truly wonderful , a daredevil and has no fear! We used to find her walking on the 2nd story deck railing at age 3. She is always sparkling both in personality and in her choice of clothing. A specimen of physical ability. I will call her the “ Glittering Acrobat  “.  My 6 year old son is next in line. He is surprising and has a slight double personality. He is the sweetest most snugly child one minute and the next asking me what the insides of dead squirrels look like. He is incredibly strong for a little guy. Mostly because he has to defend himself from his siblings. He is very creative and likes to draw “sounds” I will call him the “Tattooed StrongMan”. In December my youngest daughter graced us with her presence. She is also a great performer. Very loud (if you want to be heard around here you gotta be loud) this summer it was hard to distinguish between her and the fireworks outside. She is a very easy baby (I know I will regret that I have said this) and loves her brothers and sister. She is also very stubborn and refuses to drink milk from a cup, bottle or spoon. (We will see who wins in the end of this battle) I will call her my ‘Firecracker”.  Next is my husband, my parenting partner, my best friend (come on no gagging) He is there to listen to my daily outbursts. He is really the one and only person who truly can make me return from the “parenting darkside”. When things get tough he is the cool one that puts out the mom vs child fires. Of course he is sometimes annoying but it would be more difficult to run this circus without him. I will call him the “Lion Tamer”. That leaves me, I am a self proclaimed “Ringmaster” I attempt to control the chaos that is my circus. I most likely would have been fired by now if I were working for a “real” circus.

One thing stands clear in the land of animals, clowns and funny cars. I love my family and my job as a mother. We all have to laugh, because “Mothering is Funny”

World renowned author and mother-baby activist Suzanne Arms is coming to Kalamazoo. She is the author of 7 books including the New York Times Best Book of the Year “Immaculate Deception”. She is also the founder of the non-profit organization Birth the Future. She is currently finishing a television documentary for PBS entitled simply”Birth”

Her lecture, Journey Into Life: 15 Ways to Make Any Birth Better will be held on Wednesday October 22nd at 7:00pm at the Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts 6350 West KL Avenue

A suggested donation of $10.00 will go toward her organization.

This event is sponsored by Birth Kalamazoo www.kalamazoodoulas.com

Kalamazoo area Moms join us for the Stroller Strides Fall Open House, Monday October 13th at the Courthouse Athletic Center  7365 S. Sprinkle Road. The workout starts at 9:00am followed by a creative movement playgroup at 10:00am.

A morning full of fun for moms and kids. Free goodies, raffle, and prizes.

For those of you that are unfamilar with Stroller Strides it is a total fitness program for pregnant moms and moms with their babies. A great way to get out and meet new friends and take care of yourself!

For more information call Maureen Weston 269-978-7079 or email her maureen@strollerstrides.net

The brand new CoCo pattern. I am placing an order soon. If you want to be the proud owner of “CoCo” I will gladly add yours to the order.

Check back as I will give you a preview of what is to come on MamaKazoo.com

Visit us soon to read about Leigh’s adventures in motherhood.