Am I just lucky, or are all children born with a radar system that tells them when Mommy is not available? Mia and I had just finished our workout this morning, Alexandra was down for a nap & Mia was happily looking at her books when I decided I’d try to get a little work done. I’m not even kidding – the MINUTE I picked up the phone Mia decided that she needed something to eat or she was just going to DIE! So, I got her a few apple slices and a drink, got her situated & sat back down to work. I had no sooner gotten on the phone with the office when Alexandra starts crying, and I’m not talking about the little whimper that says “I’m awake Mom” – I’m talking full-blown someone-poked-me-with-a-pin hysteria. Of course, I told the person on the phone that I would call back later & ran upstairs to find Alexandra lying in her bed pulling her own hair & screaming hysterically. As soon as I got her fingers untangled from her tender little baby hair she quit crying & after a few minutes I managed to get her back to sleep. PHEW!! “Okay” I thought, “NOW I’ll get downstairs & get some things done.” Riiiiight.
I sat down at the computer, had just gotten “in the groove” writing an article which was already very late, when I heard these little feet sneaking up behind me. I ignored them and kept on writing – I mean, I just HAD to get this done!! Pretty soon, I felt little hands pulling a three-year-old body up on my lap. “Fine,” I thought, “I can type with Mia on my lap – no big deal, I’ve just got to finish this page.” But of course, Mia has to sit with her head right in front of mine, effectively blocking my view of the keyboard, the bottom of the screen, or anything really useful for that matter. After trying repeatedly to resituate her so that I could actually see what I was doing I totally lost my cool when she started “typing” with me. All of a sudden little aowihehaej a;lk iht words started appearing in my perfectly crafted article. “MIA!” I shouted, “What are you DOING?! Why can’t you go play for five minutes?!”
Denim blue eyes framed with long black lashes looked back at me with a mixture of shock, fear and hurt. “Mommy, I just want to be like you.” Ouch.
The article can wait. Today we’re blowing bubbles.
So, that being said, it’s also important to pay attention when you start thinking that your goals are getting too complicated. They probably are! Keep it simple and keep yourself crossing off items you’ve completed. That is one of the best feelings in the world and it’s great motivation to keep going!
The number of overweight Americans in pain has been increasing over the last fifty years. Over the counter medications such as Advil or Tylenol have become commonplace as a “one-a-day-vitamin” and for many Americans, a “first thing in the morning” routine. Sixty years ago there were 2 brands of such pain releivers – today there are 8, and that doesn’t begin to touch the growth found in prescription-level pain control drug use.
When I was five years old I had a blood disease and was hospitalized for a few weeks (I used to think I went through a lot…until I had kids…wow! My parents sure went through a lot!!). It turned out that the only reason this condition became so serious was because the doctors couldn’t figure out the right diagnosis. Finally, after my entire family was at the point of thinking I wouldn’t survive, a doctor discovered the actual cause of the problems I was having and I was treated and survived (obviously 
About Monica Cardone